Transcript Highlights:

• > the<00:12:07.760> plaintiff<00:12:08.280> will<00:12:08.400> need<00:12
• Moving<01:12:07.520> to<01:12:07.640> general<01:12:08.000> public<01:12:08.360>
• :12:10.840> we'll<01:12:10.960> go<01:12:11.040> to<01:12:11.120> the<01:
• <01:12:27.400> Chairman,<01:12:28.040> members<01:12:28.360> of<01:12:28.440
• :12:17.760> of<03:12:17.840> time<03:12:18.040> to<03:12:18.160> get<03:12

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment number two would be on page 12. We are... Amendment number two would be on page 12.
• That'll go into effect January 1, 2027. So we're in the process of adopting that.
• That will go into effect January 1, 2027.
• It's like 12:02 or something. I got one minute left of morning, but I'll take the afternoon.”
• I've been a practitioner for 12 years.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment number two would be on page 12. We are... Amendment number two would be on page 12.
• That will go into effect January 1, 2027. So we're in the process of adopting that.
• That will go into effect January 1, 2027.
• But we do have officers that have received enough time to be vested, which is a 12-year vesting.
• I've been a practitioner for 12 years.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 5 minutes and then heard House Bill 578, which would define sex in Louisiana law as biological sex, replace references to gender with sex in various statutes and forms, and direct the Law Institute to make conforming changes. Supporters from the governor’s office said the bill would bring clarity and consistency, while opponents argued it could create conflicts with existing law and weaken protections tied to gender identity. After debate, the committee reported HB 578 favorably. Members then considered House Bill 1250, a measure aimed at aerospace-related litigation. The bill would allow a special motion to strike certain claims against aerospace flight entities when the claims are preempted by federal law. Senators raised concerns that the language was broad enough to affect airports, airlines, contractors, and even unrelated incidents, and the author said he was willing to work on narrowing amendments. The committee nevertheless reported HB 1250 favorably. House Bill 718, dealing with liability protections for private airstrips used for recreation, was amended to narrow its scope and then reported favorably, while House Bill 163, a narrower related airstrip bill, was voluntarily deferred so the committee could work from the other measure. The committee also approved House Concurrent Resolution 61, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to review possible conflicts between the constitution and statutes on expropriation. House Bill 180, defining foreign adversaries and agents of foreign adversaries for a proposed constitutional amendment, and House Bill 192, a constitutional amendment barring foreign adversaries from expropriating land in Louisiana, were both reported favorably. House Bill 1008, which sets out academic freedom and whistleblower protections for higher education, was rejected on a roll-call vote after concerns about its scope and limits on university discipline. House Bill 638, a prompt-payment bill for contractors, was set aside while amendments were being located. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 71, which would extend existing liability protections for justified use of force to properly trained armed security guards. The author and the Board of Private Security Examiners said security officers receive training and often face dangerous situations, but opponents argued the bill would give too much protection to personnel with far less training than law enforcement and could shield bad shootings. After debate, the committee voted to defer HB 71. The last measure discussed was House Bill 1082, which would change venue rules for lawsuits involving the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System so actions by the system would be filed where the employer is located; the author said the bill was meant to help small municipalities, and members indicated they were open to narrowing amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The county's putting skin in the game; we will have a feasibility analysis completed by January.
• Overall, over this time period, which is January through the end of November, we have 72% accuracy.
• This is the last 12 months because it's technically a year.
• This thing... ...will give us, in one minute of air, it's equivalent to sampling for 12 hours.
• You know, we lose 12 miles of beach at a time. Our beaches and our economy.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental Quality/Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials informational hearing focused on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is long-running, cross-border, and severe enough to require federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as an environmental and public health emergency affecting beaches, air and water quality, marine life, tourism, and residents’ quality of life in South Bay communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Senator Padilla said the issue is underappreciated because of where it occurs but has major public health, economic, and educational consequences. Congressman Mike Levin’s office reported more than $650 million in federal funding secured for infrastructure and cleanup, along with federal legislation and requests for CDC and EPA involvement. Supervisor Paloma Aguirre gave a detailed overview of county efforts and the scope of the crisis, citing decades of sewage flows from Tijuana, nearly four years of beach closures, and the county’s expanded water-quality monitoring. She said the county is pursuing warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, an epidemiological study, soil testing, an economic impact study, and a feasibility analysis to remove the “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard, which she described as a key local source of airborne pollution. She also pointed to binational funding for treatment plant upgrades and said the county is seeking state support, including from Proposition 4 cross-border river funds, to expand relief and mitigation efforts. Scripps researchers Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented scientific findings on water and air transport. Giddings described a high-resolution forecast model that predicts wastewater movement and beach closure risk up to five days ahead, using real-time observations and showing about 72% accuracy against county measurements. Prather said the main exposure route is through air, not just water, and reported that turbulence at the river hot spot aerosolizes pollutants, with hydrogen sulfide and other gases spiking at night and dropping when river flow is diverted. She said the team has identified thousands of gases and linked measurements closely to odor complaints, while also noting that air purifiers can reduce indoor exposure but are not a permanent solution. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados added that community health surveys and CDC assessments show widespread symptoms, sleep disruption, anxiety, and daily life impacts, especially during nighttime odor events. She said her team has found more than 900 contaminants in river water and 106 chemicals uniquely associated with the Saturn Boulevard hot spot, with passive air sampling showing similar chemical fingerprints in nearby homes. The panel discussion ended with questions about standards and accountability, and witnesses and legislators agreed that the crisis requires updated air-quality standards, more health research, and continued coordination to reduce exposure and address the source of pollution.

Transcript Highlights:

• On Labor Day weekend 2022, a 29-foot vessel carrying 14 people, including 12 teenagers, A 29-foot vessel
• carrying 14 people, including 12 teenagers, struck a channel marker at nearly 50 miles per hour.
• Next, we'll take up tab 5, CS for SB 1618 on pre-kindergarten through grade 12 education, by Senator
• In January, the Office of Election Crimes and Security sent us their report on the 2024 election.
• And that's how, in fact, in the main report that was submitted in January, it was through those types

Summary: The committee first took up CS for CS for CS for SB 462 on transportation. A substitute amendment was adopted that would require counties receiving transportation surtax proceeds to report how the money is used to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, prohibit certain airport fees tied to collegiate aviation flight training, create a Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority pilot program, and dedicate $10 million annually for a traffic signal modernization program. The amendment also removed several provisions from the bill, including a sales-tax transfer to the State Transportation Trust Fund, a bid-protest-related contracting requirement, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. A late-filed amendment was tabled, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for CS for CS for SB 628, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless operation. After the sponsor withdrew a pending amendment, the committee heard emotional testimony from Lucy’s parents and others in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee next considered CS for CS for SB 700, the Florida Farm Bill, under a strike-all amendment. The bill’s major provisions included removing non-purity additives from public water systems, requiring clearer labeling for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, criminalizing drone harassment over farmland, updating agriculture disaster recovery programs, creating an honest services registry for charities tied to countries of concern, expanding FFA-related scholarships and school infrastructure, and allowing the state to repurchase certain former agricultural lands converted to solar fields. Testimony included strong support from agriculture and related groups, opposition from the Florida Bankers Association over a private right of action related to financial discrimination, and criticism from speakers opposed to fluoride removal. The bill was amended and then reported favorably despite some opposition. The committee also reported favorably SB 796, which authorizes DEP general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems to replace failing septic tanks. The committee then took up a large strike-all for CS for SB 1618, a K-20 education package. The amendment combined provisions on VPK flexibility, early grade success, agriculture education, financial literacy, reading intervention, teacher assignment transparency, restrictions on spending public funds for political or social activism, emergency opioid antagonists, corporal punishment consent, teacher certification pathways, and other higher-education and workforce items from SB 1624, including guardrails for certain private religious postsecondary institutions. Members questioned the new prohibition on using public funds for political or social activism, with the sponsor saying it was intended to keep public schools from being a battleground for ideology; Equality Florida and the ACLU opposed that section. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee began extensive debate on CS for SB 7016, a major initiative-petition reform bill. The sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse documented in a large Office of Election Crimes and Security report and would impose tighter rules on petition circulators, including Florida residency and U.S. citizenship requirements, training, shorter submission deadlines, stronger penalties, new identification requirements on petitions, and a 25% invalid-signature trigger for investigations by election-crimes officials. Senators raised numerous questions about due process, public records, penalties, the treatment of volunteers and former felons, the verification process, and the practical effect of the new deadlines and thresholds. The discussion was ongoing when the transcript ended, and no final vote on SB 7016 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.159> or<01:12:00.400> this<01:12:00.560> you<01:12:00.719> may<01:12:
• 12:05.440> answer<01:12:05.760> is<01:12:06.239> the<01:12:06.480> final
• 01:12:31.520> sometimes<01:12:32.000> is<01:12:32.239> a<01:12:32.480> back
• They<01:12:34.000> don't<01:12:34.239> get<01:12:34.400> to<01:12:34.560> say
• on um<01:12:39.920> on<01:12:40.159> getting<01:12:40.400> tasers,<01:12:40.960

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused primarily on House Bill 1087 and House Bill 123, both related to firearms. HB 1087 was introduced as a Second Amendment measure, but after questions from the chair and discussion with law enforcement, the sponsor agreed it should be set aside and referred to a study committee for further review, rather than advanced as written. The New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association testified in opposition to the bill as written, while also indicating support for the sponsor’s proposed amendment or a study approach. The bulk of the discussion centered on HB 123, which would require the return of firearms after a not guilty verdict or dismissal. The sponsor and several members described the bill’s purpose as speeding up the return of property, but law enforcement and judicial branch witnesses raised concerns about federal law, the need to ensure a person is still legally eligible to possess firearms, and the bill’s 24-hour return requirement. Witnesses from the State Police and judicial branch explained the current process, including background checks through the state police gun line, and said the existing procedure already aims to return firearms promptly while allowing time to verify disqualifying information. Members and witnesses discussed possible amendments, including removing language that would bar background checks and instead tying return of firearms to completion of the check within a set time frame. Judicial branch and State Police witnesses said a process that requires a background check and return within a reasonable period, with notice if there is a delay or denial, would better address safety and legal concerns. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee closed the public hearing and indicated it would continue working on the language before executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:12:27.520> uh<01:12:27.600> can<01:12:27.840> reduce<01:12:28.719> um
• officers um<01:12:32.719> to<01:12:32.960> put<01:12:33.040> them<01:12:33.280>
• Finally,<01:12:39.040> we<01:12:39.280> think<01:12:39.360> this<01:12:39.600>
• > uh<01:12:43.840> for<01:12:44.719> uh<01:12:45.840> people<01:12:46.560
• <01:12:50.320> to<01:12:50.480> be<01:12:51.199> uh<01:12:51.920> criminals.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs recessed briefly for a joint hearing, then reconvened and took up House Bill 2494, which would limit warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations, require officers to document arrest justification, expand citation-in-lieu-of-arrest use, and direct the Judiciary to create a standardized citation form. The chair also outlined hearing procedures and testimony time limits. Committee members later received an overview from the Policing Project about national trends in expanding citation use. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Policing Project, argued the bill would reduce unnecessary arrests and pretrial detention, lessen jail overcrowding, save law enforcement time, and reduce harms such as job loss, housing instability, family disruption, and recidivism. They also said the bill preserves officer discretion through public-safety and flight-risk exceptions, and several supporters urged the committee to adopt a standardized citation form despite the Judiciary’s request for a delayed implementation date. Opposition came from the Department of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, county prosecutors, Honolulu Police Department, and other individuals. They argued the bill would unduly restrict law enforcement discretion, create administrative and data-processing problems, and make it harder to identify repeat or habitual offenders because of changes to citation information and fingerprinting. The Judiciary requested implementation no earlier than January 1, 2028 and said the citation form would need major changes. Opponents also warned the bill could increase litigation, suppress evidence, and not meaningfully reduce overcrowding because most jail populations are held on felony matters. The chair reported 14 testimonies in support, 21 in opposition, and one with comments; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:12:01.680> out<00:12:02.519> how<00:12:02.720> does<00:12:02.959> how
• by destroying<00:12:14.920> uh<00:12:15.240> the<00:12:15.480> renewable<00:12:
• <00:12:23.440> other<00:12:23.800> questions<00:12:24.680> yes<00:12:24.920>
• :12:36.959> viewing<00:12:37.360> the<00:12:37.600> national<00:12:38.360> uh
• :12:43.920> question<00:12:44.639> that<00:12:44.800> I<00:12:45.399> have

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money from New Hampshire’s renewable energy fund back to electric ratepayers. The bill sponsor argued the measure would lower energy costs, noting recent utility rate increases and estimating annual savings of roughly $2.5 million to $7.3 million for ratepayers. Supporters said the fund has accumulated money that should be returned to customers rather than used for subsidies, and they emphasized that the state has already rebated similar funds from RGGI for years. Opponents, including Rep. Kat McGee, argued the renewable energy fund is a successful, nonlapsing dedicated fund that supports local clean-energy projects, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and private investment. McGee said the fiscal note overstated the benefit of rebates and understated the loss of investment, claiming the average annual rebate would amount to less than $10 per customer while the program has helped leverage significant private dollars and nearly 10,000 projects. She urged the committee to reject the bill as a poor deal for the state and ratepayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal note, the size of the rebate, whether the bill would set a precedent for other dedicated funds, and whether the program’s incentives amount to picking winners and losers. The Department of Energy testified neutrally, explaining how the renewable energy fund works, including renewable energy credits, alternative compliance payments, and the fund’s use for renewable energy initiatives. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:01.760> So,<00:12:01.920> we<00:12:02.160> do<00:12:02.320> have
• The<00:12:29.360> Zoom<00:12:29.760> chat<00:12:30.160> function<00:12:30.639>
• As you can see,<00:12:35.839> I<00:12:36.079> don't<00:12:36.240> have<00:12:36.399
• :37.519> so<00:12:37.920> I'm<00:12:38.160> not<00:12:38.320> going<00:12
• <00:12:46.959> attempt<00:12:47.279> to<00:12:47.519> rejoin<00:12:48.000>

Bills: HB1881, HB2218, HB1956, HB2151, HB1845, HB1844, HB2103, HB2424, HB1650, HB376, HB2599, HB1861

Keywords: land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, public lands, public trust resources, community co-management, co-management agreement, community-based organization, Native Hawaiian, malama aina, ahupuaa, subsistence, cultural resources, religious practices

Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• SENATE BILL 356 WOULD DESIGNATE JANUARY 27 AS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY IN FLORIDA. THE UN GEN.
• BY FORMALIZING, FORMALLY RECOGNIZING JANUARY 27 WE STRENGTHEN OUR COMMITMENT TO CONFRONTING HATRED AND
• WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT REQUIRES THE GOVERNOR TO ANNUALLY PROCLAIM JANUARY 27 AS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE
• Simon: PRESIDENT, I WOULD SAY THAT IS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T PASS P.M. 12 OR THREE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :12:03.839> saying,<00:12:04.800> "Wait<00:12:05.120> a<00:12:05.279> minute,
• this<00:12:11.920> this<00:12:12.880> bill<00:12:13.120> that<00:12:13.279>
• You get down<00:12:39.920> in<00:12:40.240> C,<00:12:40.639> the<00:12:40.880>
• > only<00:12:41.200> place<00:12:41.440> where<00:12:41.680> we<00:12:41.920
• That's the only place<00:12:46.480> it's<00:12:46.800> in<00:12:47.360> in<00:12

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 209, which would require schools seeking building aid for construction or reconstruction projects to use an owner’s project manager. The chair explained an amendment that would remove the bill’s requirement that the manager be engaged before application and instead revert to current law, while updating the project threshold from the older $1 million figure to a more current amount and clarifying that the manager’s role is to protect the project owner’s interests. Members asked about the cost of hiring a project manager over several years before a project is funded, the 1.5% fee in rule, and whether the rules already define the manager’s duties. The chair said the amendment addressed those concerns by leaving the timing to current law and relying on existing administrative rules for qualifications and responsibilities. The committee then voted 18-0 to adopt the amendment and 18-0 to recommend SB 209 OTPA, placing it on the consent calendar. The committee then moved to SB 99, which concerns allowing students enrolled in career and technical education programs at receiving comprehensive high schools to take additional academic courses there. The chair said the bill was intended to make it easier for students to access CTE without being blocked by scheduling conflicts in their sending schools, and to clarify how agreements between sending and receiving districts would work. He described concerns about the bill’s cost formula, transportation, part-time versus full-time status, and whether the proposal could unintentionally create open-enrollment or athletic-transfer issues. He said the amendment would mirror existing treatment for homeschool and charter school students, use a familiar funding model, and limit participation to students already enrolled in one or more CTE classes at the receiving school. The chair also emphasized that comprehensive high schools already have a statutory definition and that the bill would help more students participate in CTE, which he said currently reaches only a relatively small share of students statewide. He noted that transportation would be covered only when a CTE bus is available, otherwise students would be responsible for arranging travel as under current practice. After brief discussion, the committee voted 18-0 to adopt the amendment and 18-0 to recommend SB 99 OTPA, also placing it on the consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE OR IMPACT IN OUR ABILITY TO REMOVE VESSELS STATEWIDE WAS THE HIRING OF 12
• THE FINAL INSPECTIONS HOMEOWNERS REIMBURSED THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALL THROUGH DECEMBER 2024 SO WE ENDED JANUARY
• IF YOUR HOME WAS INSPECTED IN JANUARY 2023 BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU DON'T APPLY FOR A GRANT UNTIL
• THE HUNDRED 12 FACILITIES ARE LARGELY MULTITENANT OFFICE BUILDINGS.
• ROOFTOPS OF THOSE DNS MANAGERS AROUND 112 SO IT'S LESS THAN HALF OF 1% BUT IT'S A LARGE FOOTPRINT AT 12

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:03.200> your<00:12:03.440> support<00:12:03.760> for<00:12:03.959>
• > and<00:12:05.639> would<00:12:05.839> appreciate<00:12:06.279> an<00:12
• and<00:12:09.000> consideration<00:12:09.839> and<00:12:09.959> I<00:12:10.040><
• > can<00:12:11.720> hand out<00:12:16.639> thank<00:12:16.800> you<00:12:
• <00:12:21.800> seeing<00:12:22.199> none<00:12:23.199> I'd<00:12:23.360> like

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 561, sponsored by Representative Nancy Murphy, which would limit the state’s ability to discontinue, reclassify, or revert state-owned highway property to municipalities without local approval. Murphy and other supporters argued the bill would protect towns from unfunded mandates and prevent property tax increases caused by taking on costly road maintenance. Representative Wendy Thomas, Rosemarie Rung, Merrimack Town Council Chairman Finley Rothhouse, and Town Manager Paul McAuliffe all testified in support, describing the financial burden of the planned transfer of Continental Boulevard in Merrimack and warning it would set a harmful precedent for other communities. The Department of Transportation’s Steve Leon explained the department’s current authority and processes for discontinuance and reclassification, said active highways are not surplus property, and noted that the Supreme Court’s Town of Nelson decision held such reclassifications were not an unfunded mandate. The committee then closed the public hearing on HB 561. The committee next took up House Bill 578, presented by Representative Mooney on behalf of Representative Bill Boyd, to require sound barriers along the F. Everett Turnpike in Merrimack. Supporters said widening the turnpike would increase noise in nearby neighborhoods and that a 2019 NHDOT study identified 17 neighborhoods with noise levels above federal standards, though only four were included for mitigation under the current project. They argued the remaining neighborhoods should also receive relief and cited quality-of-life and property-value concerns. Senator Tim McGuire also testified in support, saying residents were experiencing unexpected and severe noise impacts and urging the committee to act outside the usual criteria to approve the barriers. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote or action on HB 578.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.000> and<00:12:00.120> all<00:12:00.200> the<00:12:00.320> work<00:12
• :01.400> that<00:12:01.960> uh<00:12:02.080> we<00:12:02.280> would<00:12
• <00:12:04.280> out<00:12:04.360> a<00:12:04.400> way<00:12:04.520> to
• <00:12:04.800> to<00:12:04.880> wrap<00:12:05.080> our<00:12:05.320> our
• around<00:12:05.960> this<00:12:06.200> and<00:12:06.520> and<00:12:06.600><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number 12, AB 725, Solache, with a motion of do pass as amended to Appropriations.
• As noted, we held public meetings on June 27, 2024, and January 28, 2025.
• If approved by CMS, the new benchmark plan would take effect January 1, 2027. Thank you.
• Items number 10, 11, and 12 are on consent and have been dispensed with.
• Items number 10, 11, and 12 are on consent and have been dispensed with.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health bills focused on access to preventive care, behavioral health, hospital services, and patient safety. Early items included AB 554, which would expand and protect access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP, including injectable forms and coverage protections; supporters said it would shore up access amid federal threats, while insurers opposed it as a costly benefit mandate. AB 577 would limit insurer and PBM practices that steer medications away from physician offices and require more transparency and patient consent; doctors and patient advocates supported it, while health plans and insurers warned it could raise drug costs and disrupt specialty pharmacy networks. AB 546 would require coverage for portable HEPA purifiers for vulnerable enrollees during declared emergencies, especially wildfire smoke events, with support from air quality and public health groups and opposition from insurers concerned about benefit expansion and cost. The committee also heard AB 224, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark plan after a public review process, adding infertility treatment, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment if approved by CMS for the 2027 plan year. DMHC said the state had completed the review and needed legislation to meet federal timing, and the measure drew broad support. AB 1032 would require plans and insurers to reimburse up to 12 additional behavioral health visits for enrollees in wildfire-affected counties for a limited period after an emergency; supporters argued it would fill gaps in trauma care after disasters, while insurers said existing parity and continuity-of-care rules already address the issue and that the bill could create inequities. AB 849 would require trained chaperones for sensitive ultrasound exams and training on how to observe and intervene; it was backed by a survivor and patient advocates, with hospitals and health districts raising staffing concerns. Later, AB 1196 would direct the Department of Public Health to update outdated rules requiring three surgeons for certain heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass; supporters said the rule no longer reflects modern practice and strains staffing, while cardiology representatives had no formal opposition but wanted to review amendments. AB 1113 would codify a right to wear a mask for health reasons in public spaces, with support from disability and public health groups. AB 1386 sought to add perinatal care to the list of basic hospital services, prompting testimony about maternity ward closures, workforce shortages, and rural access; the author said the bill would be amended further and that the committee would need to revisit timelines and implementation details. The committee also heard AB 1429, which would address Kaiser’s repeated mental health parity violations and improve access to behavioral health care, though the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill is shown. Several bills were moved with motions and seconds, but many were held for quorum; AB 1196, AB 1113, and AB 1386 were among the measures advanced to a roll call or held on call, and the committee repeatedly noted that final votes would occur when quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to slides. 11 and 12.
• Early January we published I want to say seven January. Okay.
• We normally publish it first week in January, right before legislative session.
• Idle 12 loans, which are loans from the Federal Treasury to allow us to pay benefits.
• That 7.2 who basically allowed us to pay off the Title 12 loans.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh we are<00:12:44.480> very<00:12:44.880> appreciative<00:12:45.360> of<00:
• > our<00:12:51.839> nursing<00:12:52.240> workforce<00:12:52.800> and our
• > through<00:12:54.079> our<00:12:54.320> office<00:12:54.560> of<00:12:54.720
• :56.320> And<00:12:56.480> they<00:12:57.120> because<00:12:57.519> of<00
• And they because of your generosity,<00:12:58.880> we<00:12:59.040> have<00:12:59.200><

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 4 February, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Board of Dental Examiners on its FY27 budget request. Board staff said the agency licenses and regulates dentistry and dental hygiene in Mississippi, with nearly 7,500 licenses and permits. They described recent accomplishments, including implementation of a new database and completion of sedation-permit inspection requirements, and said those changes created about $80,000 in savings. The board’s main remaining request was a 3% staff progression costing $20,539; members also discussed a possible $29,000 ITS charge tied to House Bill 1491, though staff said that cost might no longer be needed if the funding shifts back to ITS. The board also explained its revenue sources, including dental, hygienist, and dental assistant x-ray permits, and clarified that the “radiology” permits are for dental assistants authorized to take x-rays. Members asked about fees, renewal cycles, sedation permit classes, and continuing education requirements, and the board said it was fully staffed and did not need vacancy funding. The committee then heard from the Board of Nursing, which said it regulates about 80,000 LPN, RN, and APRN licenses and oversees workforce programs and disciplinary matters. The board emphasized its Office of Nursing Workforce, noting more than $4 million in grants to nursing programs from 2019 to 2024 and thousands of scholarships awarded to nursing students, with recipients required to work in Mississippi for a period after graduation. It said staffing remains a major problem because salaries are not competitive, leading to difficulty filling positions; between October and December, 10 positions were posted and only two were filled. The board said the legislative budget recommendation would eliminate five positions, and it requested $112,466 in salary funding to restore and support staff pay, including a maximum 7% progression for nursing positions, a 4% increase for nonexecutive staff, and a 2% increase for executive staff. The nursing board also requested additional contractual and technology funding. It said House Bill 1491 would increase annual fees by $49,486 plus a one-time $3,000 data migration charge, and it requested $13,800 for an ongoing subscription tied to the military medics program assigned to the board in the prior session. It also said a proposed human trafficking bill would require another $10,000 if enacted. Members asked about the board’s cash balance, renewal cycles, and staffing structure, including investigatory and compliance functions, and the board said it had about 39 current employees and was monitoring roughly 130 people in compliance, including about 30 in a confidential monitoring program for substance use or severe psychiatric conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with members thanking both boards and inviting follow-up questions before appropriations decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

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• We will hear<01:11:59.199> bills<01:11:59.520> that<01:12:00.320> are<01:12:00.719
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• <01:12:11.120> Let's<01:12:11.360> do<01:12:11.520> some<01:12:11.760> announcements

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The committee first debated amendments to Senate Bill 35, a road safety measure increasing penalties for improper passing and related dangerous driving offenses. Amendment L17, which would have exempted certain emergency situations and volunteer first responders from the penalties, was opposed by the bill sponsor and others and failed on a voice vote. Amendment L18, which broadened the exemption for first responders en route to emergencies, also failed after discussion. Supporters of the bill argued it targets some of the state’s most fatal crashes, while opponents said the penalties were too harsh and could disproportionately affect rural and working-class drivers. The committee then passed Senate Bill 35 as amended. The committee next considered House Bill 1273 on transportation network companies and driver compensation. Supporters said the bill responds to reduced driver earnings under app-based pricing models and seeks to require a larger share of fares to go to drivers, while opponents warned it could harm the industry, reduce service, and interfere with business decisions. The bill passed after debate. Senate Bill 114, concerning spirituous liquor manufacturers’ sales rooms, then passed with supporters describing it as a limited, locally controlled permit to help distillers offer additional on-premise options while preserving local approval authority. Finally, House Bill 1138 on organized retail theft prevention advanced through committee reports and was presented as a grant-and-advisory-board program housed in the Department of Public Safety. Sponsors said it would fund investigations, prosecutions, technology, training, and prevention efforts aimed at organized retail theft and gift card fraud, modeled after Colorado’s auto theft grant program. The bill was described as targeting felony-level organized theft rather than ordinary shoplifting, with annual reporting and a sunset date built in. The transcript ends during discussion of the bill, after the committee reports were adopted and the bill was introduced for final passage discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• 95th General Assembly: Senate Bill 6, Act 3; Senate Bill 9, Act 4; Senate Bill 11, Act 5; Senate Bill 12
• Senate Bill 27, Act 10; Senate Bill 28, Act 11; Senate Bill 33, Act 12; Senate Bill 34, Act 13; Senate
• sons, Bernard and Vincent, and spend time with his wife, Angie Clingman Reed, whom he married in January
• With his wife, Angie Clingman Reed, whom he married in January of 2013 during the regular session of

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Senate convened, took the roll, offered prayer and the Pledge, and then moved into budget business. The chamber adopted amendments to Senate Bills 29 and 51, then approved several groups of appropriation and supplemental appropriation bills from Joint Budget. The first batch included Senate Bills 76, 10, 16, 23, 24, 55, and 59; the second batch included House Bills 1006, 1013, 1016, 1033, 1048, 1050, 1054, 1065, 1078, 1081, 1082, 1084, 1085, 1086, 1087, and 1088; and the third batch included House Bills 1091, 1092, 1094, 1095, 1096, and 1097. All passed by 33-0, and the corresponding emergency clauses were adopted. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 23 honoring longtime Senate public information officer John Pendleton Reed upon his retirement after more than 35 years of service. Reed and several senators spoke briefly about his career and institutional knowledge. After a recess, the Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 26 congratulating Justin Tate of Elkins for being selected as a Special Olympics “guardian of the flame,” and Senate Resolution 27 recognizing the Elkins High School Elks as the 2025 Class 4A football state champions. Later, the Senate adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 77 removing a proposed GAD transfer tied to AETN/PBS matching funds, and then approved a supplemental budget calendar containing Senate Bills 8, 20, 30, 36, 41, 43, 58, 63, 67, and 73. Those bills also passed 33-0 with emergency clauses. The body received additional committee reports and notices, including Senate Bill 1’s return from the House, and members discussed upcoming scheduling, including possible Revenue and Tax Committee action on a homestead tax credit measure, before adjourning until Monday at 3 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• In January 2024, following reports that O'Hare Airport was housing illegal immigrants, I and six other
• were diverted to house illegal immigrants under the policy of the Biden administration that allowed 12
• Massport related to migrants sleeping at Logan Airport, and he requested those documents dating back to January
• the Hamptons. where rich liberals sip Chardonnay and explain that those mean red states don't want 12

Keywords: oversight, subpoena, illegal immigrants, Massachusetts Port Authority, O'Hare Airport, legislative practices

Summary: The meeting was convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where robust discussions were held regarding the need for improved oversight within the Senate. The chairman emphasized the historical decline in oversight activities and proposed motions to authorize subpoenas related to an ongoing investigation involving the Massachusetts Port Authority and allegations of illegal immigrant sheltering at airports. This prompted a detailed examination of the current practices and measures needed to address such issues effectively, particularly in light of recent reports from O'Hare Airport. The committee engaged in deliberations that highlighted the importance of maintaining legislative oversight to safeguard national interests.