Transcript Highlights:

• and this was a measure that activities and this was a measure that our<00:52:51.160><c> association<
• </c><01:02:27.400><c> and</c> those pre re elction activities and those pre re elction activities and
• </c><01:11:36.760><c> that</c> uh you know Soros funded activities that uh you know Soros funded activities
• He said it relates to our laws around lobbying and what is and is not a lobbyist.
• </c> relating to uh our laws around lobbying relating to uh our laws around lobbying and<01:27:52.440

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• requires an unemployed individual, in order to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, to actively
• Instead of the current model of completing one vaguely defined work search activity per day, four days
• This model emphasizes activities that will actually help people get back to work in a job that suits
• a lot of the activities they're already doing as apprentices would qualify, Mr.
• And again, we threw in that any frivolous activity.

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1036, which would tighten unemployment insurance eligibility by requiring five weekly work-search actions, weekly reporting, cross-checks against data sources for fraud or ineligibility, and employer reporting of refusals to return to work or accept suitable work. The sponsor argued the bill would reduce fraud and improve program integrity, while DES said it was neutral but warned of system-update costs, added workload, and more appeals; some members raised concerns about apprenticeship programs and administrative burden. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then recommended the bill do pass as amended on a 4-3 vote. Next, the committee considered SB 1054, a strike-everything amendment to make city and town emergency measures subject to referendum. Supporters, including Payson’s mayor, former mayor, and council members, said local governments had abused emergency clauses to push through tax increases and bond measures without voter input. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns opposed the measure, arguing it would undermine true emergency powers and slow city responses. The committee adopted the amendment and then recommended the bill do pass as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then heard SCR 1022, which would increase the House from 60 to 90 members beginning in 2033, with a later amendment delaying implementation to 2043. Senator Mesnard said the change would improve representation by reducing the number of constituents per member and nesting three House districts within each Senate district; some members and a public witness supported the idea, while others questioned cost, feasibility, and the effect on legislative power. The committee adopted the amendment and recommended the resolution do pass as amended on a 5-2 vote. Finally, the committee quickly passed SB 1271, barring municipalities from penalizing businesses based on the number of emergency calls or the value of stolen/damaged property, with exceptions for malicious or false calls, and SB 1437, requiring public records to be provided in the least expensive electronic format with fees limited to material costs. Both measures received unanimous or near-unanimous support after brief testimony, and the committee also began hearing SB 1439, a strike-everything amendment creating a Conservative Grassroots Network specialty plate, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shelby Dunbar with Lobby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
• Lobby is the state's Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturing Association, representing more than 2,000
• Dunbar with Lobby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
• Lobby is the state's Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturing Association, representing more than 2,000
• Question for Lobby: Do y'all have any, how many states are doing the caps?

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first took up HB 51 by Rep. Villio, a constitutional amendment to prohibit post-conviction bail for people convicted of aggravated offenses against minors. Members adopted a technical amendment to simplify the ballot language, heard a 6.8A report explaining the committee’s authority over constitutional amendments, and then adopted the report and passed HB 51 with amendments. Support was noted from law enforcement and district attorney groups. The main item was HB 526 by Rep. Dickerson, which would cap general damages in civil cases at $500,000 in most cases and $1 million for severe permanent injury, while leaving economic damages uncapped. The bill drew extensive testimony from trucking, logging, business, and insurance-reform advocates who argued that unpredictable verdicts and “nuclear verdicts” drive up commercial insurance costs and push businesses out of Louisiana. Opponents, including attorneys and victims’ advocates, argued the bill would unfairly limit recovery for seriously injured people and could harm sexual assault survivors and families in wrongful death cases. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying the cap applies per individual plaintiff rather than to the action as a whole, but then rejected a motion to report the bill; the roll call was 4 yeas and 5 nays, so HB 526 remained in committee. The committee then heard HB 173 by Rep. Bamberg, which would bar recovery for bodily injury or property damage by a driver who had failed to maintain required auto insurance for at least 30 days before the crash. Supporters said uninsured motorists contribute to higher premiums and should not recover large awards, while opponents warned the bill would punish innocent spouses, children, and other people who may be unaware coverage lapsed. An amendment was adopted to add the 30-day uninsured requirement, and the bill moved to opposition testimony, but the transcript cuts off before any final vote on HB 173.

Transcript Highlights:

• for anything that would happen at any of our public schools around the state, should there be an active
• I have two ladies who are receptionists, and they're really exposed when you walk into our lobby.
• To allow access, that will allow people to come into our lobby, but they're secured in the vestibule.
• When I was at Midwest City, we put bulletproof glass in our lobby area.
• OSBI has it at their lobby area. We just don't have it, and those two ladies are exposed.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy UCSA Lobby Day.
• They're here for their student lobby conference. Go Tritons.
• They're here for their student lobby conference.
• It helps them develop leadership skills, and most importantly, it helps them become active community
• I have seen him active on this issue in our overlapping districts, and I know it means a lot to you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He left active duty as a lieutenant to pursue his medical and academic training. Thank you, Dr.
• Lisa, president of the Arizona Food Marketing, Trish Hart, and her team that are here from Arizona lobbying
• Maybe we shouldn't accept free ice cream outside when we have some lobby days.
• Maybe we shouldn't accept free ice cream outside when we have some lobby days.
• The bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's cuts to active transportation and also passenger rail-based funding.
• There's cuts to active transportation and also passenger rail-based funding.
• There's cuts to active transportation and also passenger rail-based funding.
• Investment in active transit is also critical in reducing greenhouse gases.
• </c><00:21:31.440><c> transportation</c> the Met Council's active transportation the Met Council's active

Bills: HF2438

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, we embrace the automated system solutions, and we're actively working locally and with our
• To be clear, we embrace the automated system solutions, and we're actively working locally, To be clear
• How can they touch us via electronically, phone, lobby, et cetera? But that's how you do outreach.
• And therefore, we're required to do a work participation activity.
• We go into lobbies. We talk to clients. We call into call centers. We talk to staff.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• last year, the Natural Resources Committee, the Coastal Commission sent a government-paid lobbyist to lobby
• last year, Natural Resources Committee, the Coastal Commission sent a government-paid lobbyist to lobby
• They've ramped up their lobbying corps to oppose legislation exactly like this, and they are responsible
• We should go a lot stronger than this, and I hope to never see the Coastal Commission show up lobbying
• And oftentimes, you know, when you think about kind of the political activism in our democracy, and we

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then took up a series of procedural motions and a large third-reading file focused heavily on housing, wildfire recovery, insurance, and related regulatory changes. Early actions included a successful motion to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 on the third-reading file, followed by a unanimous vote on SB 26, a cleanup measure related to lemon-law civil discovery procedures and automaker opt-outs from the AB 1755 framework. The chamber then moved through a package of urgency bills tied to the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires and broader housing affordability concerns. Measures approved included AB 311 allowing displaced tenants to temporarily house wildfire victims and pets, AB 299 extending hotel/motel/short-term rental stays beyond 30 days for disaster-displaced families, AB 226 giving the California Fair Plan access to bond financing in catastrophic-loss scenarios, AB 253 allowing third-party plan checks when local review exceeds 30 days, AB 301 aligning state permitting timelines with local deadlines, AB 306 imposing a six-year pause on new residential building-code updates, AB 462 exempting certain ADUs in Los Angeles County coastal zones from coastal development permits, AB 493 requiring interest to be paid to homeowners on insurance proceeds held by lenders, and AB 597 tightening rules on public adjuster solicitation, fees, and contract transparency. Each of these urgency bills passed, generally with strong bipartisan support and mostly unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Assembly also approved several non-urgency measures, including AB 293 on groundwater transparency and board disclosure, AB 251 on elder abuse litigation standards when evidence is intentionally destroyed, AB 59 removing a sunset on Reclamation District 108’s hydropower authority, AB 417 streamlining EIFD and CRIA financing tools, and AB 312 updating procedures for agricultural theft proceeds. In addition, ACR 6 was adopted by voice vote, recognizing Black April Memorial Month and the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, with extensive remarks from Assembly Member Ta and support from other members. The consent calendar was adopted, and the body later heard adjournment-in-memory tributes for David Myers and Olivia Guerrero before adjourning to April 3, 2025. Several vote changes were announced after adjournment, including changes on AB 251 and AB 417.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the activity is moving north.
• The activity is moving.
• It's very active.
• They just put a pause on their drilling and completion activity.
• That's really all that is in those elevator lobbies.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Adjusters control the activities of these vocational counselors. As Rep.
• Madam Chair, I'm Pat Robinson with Lobby. Lobby opposes this bill.
• Patrick Robinson with Lobby is present and would like to speak.
• Pat Robinson with Lobby.
• Lobby opposes this bill and has real concerns about it from a safety aspect.

Summary: The committee first voluntarily deferred House Bills 460 and 561, then took up House Bill 1101 on workers’ compensation. The sponsor said the bill would define maximum medical improvement, adjust fraud provisions, shorten temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit periods, and revise vocational rehabilitation rules; an amendment removed proposed age-based termination language for benefits. Business groups including LABI supported the bill as a way to reduce Louisiana’s comparatively high indemnity costs and align the state with regional norms, while injured-worker advocates and attorneys strongly opposed it, arguing it would cut benefits, shift medical and disability decisions away from treating physicians and judges, broaden fraud too far, and potentially push costs onto public programs. After debate, the committee voted to report HB 1101 with amendments. House Bill 282 was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 293, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Louisiana employment discrimination protections, drew generally supportive testimony from the sponsor and supporters, with some members raising questions about religious exemptions and federal law. The committee ultimately voted against reporting HB 293 favorably. House Bill 390, providing unpaid leave protections for domestic abuse survivors at larger employers, was presented as a tool for survivors, but the committee split 6-6 on a motion to report it favorably; the tie resulted in the bill being voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand workers’ compensation petition requirements and allow employers or payers broader access to file disputed claims and seek discovery. Supporters argued employers currently lack a practical way to obtain records and challenge claims without first cutting off benefits, while opponents said the bill would revive a rejected 2012 approach, increase litigation, and undermine the no-fault workers’ compensation bargain. The discussion centered on whether the bill would preserve benefits while allowing discovery or instead encourage more disputes and penalties. The transcript ends with testimony still underway on HB 456, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• decades working with trade associations, reform groups, and ultimately as a legislative advocate for lobby
• One time I asked him point blank if an issue he was lobbying me on was a good vote for my. district and
• I think largely because certainly he was a great advocate. and would come in and lobby on behalf of his
• Fred was an active member of the community and a staunch supporter of the area youth.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of these activities.
• But here's the thing: the Boise activity stipend is not for union activity.
• involved in lobbying and political activities.
• But if you look in the bill under the union activities, it says in there that one of the activities is
• We're just saying, here's the activities.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let their work be guided by a deep sense of care and an active compassion for every citizen of Mississippi
• </c><00:09:33.040><c> compassion</c><00:09:33.680><c> for</c> of care and an active compassion for of
• care and an active compassion for every<00:09:34.200><c> citizen</c><00:09:34.800><c> of</c><00:09:35.000
• They've left us a gift on our desk, and they will be in the lobby downstairs at 1:00, and I'd invite
• downstairs at 1:00, and I'd the lobby downstairs at 1:00, and I'd invite<00:21:31.120><c> you</c><00

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 3 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy UCSA Lobby Day.
• They're here for their student lobby conference. Go Tritons.
• They're here for their student lobby conference.
• It helps them build confidence, develop leadership skills, and, most importantly, become active community
• I have seen him active on this issue in our overlapping districts, and I know it means a lot to you.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and brief procedural business, including approval of the prior day’s journal, suspension of certain rules for guest introductions, and moving AB 568 to the inactive file. The chamber then recognized several visiting groups, including a fourth-grade class from Marigold Elementary School, representatives of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and its Royal Court, and students from the University of California Students Association on lobby day. The main floor actions centered on two resolutions. ACR 147 by Assembly Member Lackey designated March 9, 2026 as California Special Olympics Day. Members from both parties spoke in strong support, sharing personal connections to Special Olympics and praising its impact on athletes, families, and volunteers. The resolution received 70 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. H.R. 89 by Assembly Member Patterson declared March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Speakers emphasized rising colorectal cancer rates among younger adults, the importance of screening, and new testing options including blood tests. The resolution also received 70 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. After the resolutions, Assembly Member Rodriguez offered an adjournment in memory of Bob Yuloa of Chino, a Navy veteran and longtime community servant. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee and floor session dates and adjourned until Thursday, March 12 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• He left active duty as a lieutenant to pursue his medical and academic training. Thank you, Dr.
• Lisa, president of the Arizona Food Marketing, Trish Hart, and her team that are here from Arizona lobbying
• Maybe we shouldn't accept free ice cream outside when we have some lobby days.
• Maybe we shouldn't accept free ice cream outside when we have some lobby days.
• The bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and a series of guest introductions and proclamations, including recognition of Arizona Statehood Day and National Ballet Day honoring Phoenix Ballet and artistic director Slawomir Wozniak. Members also announced committee substitutions and several bills were placed on the House calendar after second reading. On third reading, HB 2190, which would add an article relating to the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants, failed on a 20-38 vote after debate over whether it was needed to support licensure compacts and workforce access. HB 2206, relating to SNAP and rulemaking, passed 33-25 after a brief dispute over whether it improperly delegated authority to the executive branch. HB 2396, also relating to SNAP and restrictions on purchases, drew extended debate over food deserts, personal choice, public health, and whether the state should limit what low-income families can buy; it passed 34-25. After announcements about upcoming committee meetings and events, members moved to reconsider the failed HB 2190 vote, and the motion carried. The House then recessed and reconvened later in the day, where it handled additional committee substitutions, withdrew several bills from committees for reassignment, and read HB 2999 for the first time before adjourning until February 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shelly Dunbar with Lobby. Representative Zarin?
• We also have to be, yeah, Mardi Gras and all the activities, but you also have to be cognizant.
• Jim Patterson with Lobby. President and opposition would like to speak. Mr. Patterson.
• I came to lobby in 1991, so I have seen these permutations occur, and they were, I think, thought out
• Patterson, but members, this is the first time I've heard from Lobby on any opposition with my bill.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee took up several House bills dealing mainly with ethics, elections, and legislative procedure. HB 858 by Rep. Riser, creating a public records exception for GPS data on wildlife and aquatic life held by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, was reported favorably without objection. HB 661, which expands existing nepotism exceptions to allow school board members and superintendents to hire immediate family members as paraprofessionals and janitors, drew support from members concerned about staffing shortages in schools; the Ethics Administrator noted the board’s concern that repeated exceptions erode the nepotism rules, but the bill was still reported favorably without objection. HB 359, a cleanup bill on the death of a non-major-party primary candidate, was also reported favorably without objection. HB 258, which clarifies that volunteer firefighters are not subject to dual office-holding restrictions and allows retired judges to serve on certain boards while still being available for ad hoc judicial service, passed on an 8-4 roll call vote. Rep. Newell’s HB 705, which would strengthen contempt of the legislature penalties and add provisions addressing disorderly conduct and interference with legislative proceedings, generated the most debate. Members raised concerns about the proposed jump in fines from $1,000 to $50,000, due process, and the breadth of language that could be read to cover ordinary advocacy or passionate testimony. After discussion, the author agreed the bill needed more work, and it was voluntarily deferred in committee. The committee also heard HB 177, allowing retired court reporters to return on a contractual basis to address shortages, which was amended and then reported favorably without objection. HB 238, which would remove a waiting period and population-based restriction for former school board members or certified psychologists to return to work in school districts, prompted a lengthy debate about the judiciary and per diem rules because of related ethics concerns raised in the discussion; the author ultimately asked to voluntarily defer the bill, and the committee agreed. Finally, HB 398, which would cap lodging, meal, and incidental expense reimbursements for state officials and employees at GSA rates and limit emergency exceptions, drew sharp opposition from several members and a retired judge who argued the current judicial per diem is reasonable and tied to safety and travel needs. The author said he would work on amendments and voluntarily deferred HB 398. The committee then began discussion of HB 752, which would move the timing of regular legislative sessions into joint rule and change the session start/end dates, with the author explaining it was intended to give the Legislature more flexibility without needing constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yorkers are not unduly burdened by clean energy surges and that funds collected in their name are actively
• I am, and I'm sure my colleague and many others have been lobbied by the food industry.
• I AM, AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN LOBBIED BY THE FOOD INDUSTRY.
• He noted that the coalition of giant food producers that are heavily lobbying against this bill does
• In fact, they have been lobbying for more than a decade to prevent this loophole from being closed at

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, who offered remarks about gratitude, diversity, and support for Kosovo’s independence. The Journal was approved, and the chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Resolution 1516 commemorating the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence and Resolution 1317 honoring the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya for winning the NYSPHSAA Class C state championship. Both resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors were authorized to seek additional co-sponsors. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures on environmental conservation, education, public health, civil service, penal law, public service, labor, and a retroactive real property tax exemption for the Silver Lake Foundation. Most bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from a small group of senators. Senator Fahy explained her vote on a bill renaming an OASAS scholarship in honor of Father Peter Young, emphasizing his work on addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. Two items drew extended debate. On Calendar 141, Senator Walczyk appealed the chair’s ruling that an amendment to a public service bill was nongermane; the Senate voted 21 to overrule the chair, so the ruling stood, and the bill then passed 52-6. On Calendar 213, Senators Kavanagh and Borrello debated a food-safety bill concerning disclosure of certain food ingredients and chemicals; supporters said it would improve transparency and protect children’s health, while opponents argued federal action was already underway and a national standard would be preferable. After the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar, it passed 56-2. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• lengthy review periods hinder housing production by delaying the transition from approved projects to active
• last year in natural resources committee, the coastal commission sent a government paid lobbyist to lobby
• showing up in committees this year, as they've—you've read the articles—they've ramped up their lobbying
• And I hope to never see the Coastal Commission show up lobbying against bills like this.
• And oftentimes, when you think about kind of the political activism. in our democracy, and we talk about

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She added that much of the activity is co-occurring and that Louisiana is already doing this kind of
• This is for lobby.
• Yes, ma'am. is for lobby.
• We have Shelly Dupree with the Louisiana Retailers Association and Jim Patterson with Lobby.
• We have Shelly Dupree with the Louisiana Retailers Association and Jim Patterson with Lobby.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 1088, which would authorize state and local sales and use tax rebates for certain items used in aerospace facilities and activities. Chairman Bacala, LED Secretary Susan Bouchois, and governor’s office representative Julie Emerson argued the bill would help Louisiana compete with states like Texas and Florida for aerospace and defense investment, build on Michoud’s history, and attract high-paying jobs. Members asked about job growth, the scope of aerospace versus defense, and whether downstream activities like jet fuel production could qualify. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then approved HB 1179, which extends the ad valorem tax exemption for certain manufacturing establishments to aerospace manufacturing establishments, also reporting it favorably without objection. HB 1122, a placeholder bill tied to a future path toward reducing the state income tax rate, was voluntarily deferred by its sponsor after brief explanation. The committee then heard HB 515, which would let political subdivisions sell certain adjudicated properties directly to buyers at appraised value if the property is under $50,000. The sponsor and supporters said the bill was intended to help parishes clear long-vacant blighted properties and return them to commerce and the tax rolls. Members raised concerns about transparency, competition, title issues, and possible conflicts with recent tax-sale reforms. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment requiring the property to have been offered at public auction within the preceding 12 months before an over-the-counter sale could occur, and HB 515 was reported favorably as amended. The committee next considered HB 440, a constitutional amendment allowing parishes to increase the homestead exemption above the current level. The sponsor said the exemption has not been updated since 1980 and argued that raising it would provide relief from rising property taxes, insurance costs, and cost of living pressures. Amendments were adopted requiring parish approval and a local election before implementation, and delaying effectiveness until 2030. Several members and LABI warned the change could shift tax burdens onto businesses and other taxpayers, create parish-by-parish disparities, and affect bond ratings. The committee voted 5-9 against reporting HB 440, and the sponsor voluntarily deferred the companion bill, HB 543. Finally, the committee took up HB 614, presented with help from eighth-grader Elijah Brown as part of a civics competition. The bill would rebate state sales taxes on lodging and meals for utility company workers performing disaster or emergency-related work. After discussion, the committee adopted a large amendment set that narrowed the bill to water, gas, and electric utilities regulated by the PSC, limited the rebate period to 10 days after a declared disaster, tied eligible lodging and meal costs to federal per diem rates, and capped annual rebates at $55,000. Members asked about administration, eligible workers, and fiscal impact; the Department of Revenue said it could administer the rebate with existing resources. The discussion was ongoing at the end of the transcript.