Transcript Highlights:

• those</c><00:00:56.719><c> dollars</c><00:00:57.039><c> to</c> taxes, they expect those dollars to taxes
• </c><00:10:10.320><c> on</c> commission on 50, the Supreme Court on commission on 50, the Supreme Court
• </c> our uh, watch on um, use of tax dollars. our uh, watch on um, use of tax dollars.
• </c><00:21:31.919><c> order</c> um, after the comma, seek a court order um, after the comma, seek a court
• Senator that seeking the court order.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course, taxes. And with taxes, we have another chart that will indicate that.
• Here is what we have for state tax rent.
• I too want to thank the court officers.
• But I want to thank the court officers. We should never take you for granted.
• Our amazing court officers, Chief Court Officer Paul Dooley, whose son is graduating from Bunker Hill

Summary: The Senate took up a long series of FY26 budget amendments during debate on the Ways and Means budget bill. Early on, an amendment on debt service and the Debt Affordability Committee was rejected. A major education amendment offered by Senator Lewis and supported by Senator Comerford was then adopted; it directs DESE to begin a public process, with $200,000 in funding, to review and recommend updates to the Chapter 70 municipal contribution formula and related school funding structures as the Student Opportunity Act nears full implementation. Senators argued that school districts across the Commonwealth are under severe fiscal strain, citing rising special education, transportation, health insurance, and Proposition 2 1/2 pressures, and that the current formulas are increasingly out of alignment with local needs. The chamber also considered and voted on many other amendments, with several adopted and several rejected. Adopted amendments included measures on public payroll transparency, regional EMS, a small business group purchasing cooperative pilot, simplifying Medicaid eligibility determinations, and early education background checks. Rejected amendments included proposals on first-time homebuyer savings accounts, population change studies, competitiveness studies, emergency contract reform, natural gas cost containment, a $200 per pupil aid increase, regional school reimbursement increases, a Foundation Budget Review Commission-related study, special education service studies, welfare benefit audits, short-term capital gains, and an MBTA sustainability plan. Senator Durant also spoke in support of Amendment 766, which would create a crumbling concrete assistance fund for homeowners affected by pyrrhotite, with tax-exempt aid, federal funding applications, audits, and a stakeholder working group. Near the end of debate, Senator D. DiDomenico praised the Shannon Grant program for gang violence prevention, and the Senate adopted a final corrective amendment containing technical fixes and local earmarks. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and, after a roll call on engrossment, passed to be engrossed by a vote of 38-2. The Senate also approved a motion to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and recessed in memory of Yaron Lashinsky, Sarah Lynn Milgram, and Leslie A. Feeney.

Transcript Highlights:

• will allow a special revenue account to be created from the fines that are being levied following a court
• with that I can tell you that once those kinds of adjudications are made, the attorney general or a court
• </c><00:01:45.640><c> case</c><00:01:46.360><c> on</c><00:01:47.360><c> uh</c> Following a court case
• </c> bill successful and gets to the tax bill successful and gets to the tax committee<00:31:24.440><
• The same thing with the paint tax that we had; it was mentioned by Mr.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is a refund of local sales and use taxes. That's for House Bill 1033.
• The first is a refund of local sales and use taxes. That's for House Bill 1033.
• support the redistribution of property tax revenues to counties.
• This amendment increases $150 million for real property tax reduction.
• Property tax reduction. You'll see there at the end of the letter.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, these are companies that are getting tax incentives from the state, so we believe the Attorney
• An expedited permit without a tax incentive would not necessarily be part of it.
• You asked about examples of tax incentive programs.
• You're looking back in some court cases, NetChoice v.
• Because an unconstitutional law protects... ...court.

Bills: S0198 , S0422 , S1236 , S1356 , S1456 , S1722

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, ADS-B, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, aviation, airports, airport fees, landing fees, departure fees, touch-and-go landing, general aviation, pilot privacy, airspace radius, aircraft tracking

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, basically what this is is kind of stemming from the Supreme Court decision...
• Taxpayers sued and won in tax court; they again won in the Court of Appeals, three to zero.
• Taxpayers sued and won in tax court; they again won in the Court of Appeals, three to zero.
• So, you know, a lot of schools just obviously now are not tax exempt.
• Because GCU leases their land to the university, which they don't pay taxes on?

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, guest introductions, and several ceremonial proclamations, including recognition of Dr. Joseph Torkelson for his service in pediatric oncology and military medicine. Members also introduced guests connected to Arizona Bleeding Disorders, charter schools, and a suicide-prevention effort tied to HB 2665 (“Cade’s Law”). The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills and resolutions. On the first calendar, the House gave do pass recommendations, mostly as amended, to HB 2117, 2744, 2751, 2917, 2939, 2957, 2970, and HCR 2038. The amendments addressed topics such as natural resource conservation district boundaries, manufacturing and jobs, Real ID/non-Real ID data privacy, and Colorado River conservation and tribal/community representation. The House then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and sent the measures for engrossing; a later motion to amend the report to include the defeated Villegas amendment on HB 2667 failed by roll call vote, 22-32 with 6 not voting. In the next calendars, the House advanced HB 2015, 2129, 2327, 2439, 2533, 2667, 2793, 2873, HCR 2044, and others, with several floor or committee amendments adopted. Debate focused on homelessness coordination in HB 2533, homebuyer assistance and corporate ownership concerns in HB 2667, annexation and local control in HB 2793, and a proposed constitutional referral in HCR 2044 aimed at closing loopholes for discrimination in public programs. The House also considered HB 2044 and HB 2076 in the Judiciary calendar, with debate over the scope of a homicide-disposal statute in HB 2044 and school safety/teacher firearms issues in HB 2076; both bills advanced as amended. The final calendar covered natural resources, energy, and water bills. The House advanced HB 2014, 2055, 2145, 2185, 2267, 2340, 2428, 2696, 2798, 2955, 2975, and 2986, with amendments on drought definitions, emissions permitting, mineral district mapping, and environmental enforcement authority. HB 2267 drew the sharpest debate, with opponents arguing it would hinder solar and wind development and supporters arguing for diversification toward coal, gas, and nuclear; after a division vote, the bill still received a do pass recommendation. The session concluded with the Committee of the Whole rising and reporting, and the House adopting the report and assigning the measures accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're looking at low taxes.
• </c> consideration is 101 Supreme Court. consideration is 101 Supreme Court.
• </c><01:15:35.199><c> Any</c> Supreme Court. Any discussion? Any Supreme Court. Any discussion?
• </c> court security grants. Senator French. court security grants. Senator French.
• </c> 321 Court Security Grants. Discussion. 321 Court Security Grants. Discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, in the court system, we have seen this work.
• That court system had an 85% success rate.
• There's also a family recovery court in Williamson County that I was a part of.
• He's in my court because his family has issues, mostly it will be a transportation issue.
• I can't argue that this is a risk of preemption because the Supreme Court did rule on it.

Bills: SB502 , SB513 , SB622 , SB670 , SB731 , SB732 , SB916 , SB961 , SB1122

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:40:37.760><c> Allison</c> at Lightum by the court. Allison at Lightum by the court.
• My boyfriend and I were court.
• </c><02:31:27.040><c> Do</c> Court. Thank you for your testimony. Do Court.
• </c> on in family court all the time now. on in family court all the time now.
• is that family court judges family court is that family court judges by<03:35:43.920><c> RSA</c><03:35

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• and housing tax credit, think rural LIHTC, that is established through 2036.
• Madam Chair and members, HB 2926, Housing Contractors Bonds, Taxes, requires a municipality to allow
• qualified facilities tax credit program in rural locations of Arizona.
• at the JLBC and OSPB to project revenue impacts from the federal tax legislation.
• The court is prohibited from having the expertise only be demonstrated through forensic nature.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large number of House bills, mostly on third-read consent or for floor strategy, covering education, health, water, land, energy, housing, taxation, and public safety. Topics included ESA administration funding, AI in schools and legal communications, towing and DUI changes, health facility licensing and nursing records, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction, superintendent pay and benefits, adoption disclosures in college health settings, anti-Semitism provisions, school safety firearms authorization, coerced abortion penalties, domestic violence testimony standards, border health and terrorism-related bills, and multiple water, land, and state trust land measures. Several members flagged concerns about unfunded mandates, local control, constitutional issues, and special legislation, while others supported bills as technical fixes, public safety measures, or ways to expand access and funding. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2575, HB 2906, HB 2040, HB 2136, HB 2665, HB 2904, HB 2957, HB 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2830, HB 2307, HB 2425, HB 2426, HB 2427, HB 2497, HB 2751, HB 2780, HB 2804, HB 2926, HB 4030, and HCR 2052, among others. Some bills were noted as unanimous or split votes, and several were described as party-line or having constitutional problems. The caucus also discussed committee amendments on multiple measures, including changes to water, land, health, and AI bills. The meeting ended with a series of remarks on the late Reverend Jesse Jackson and an “affordability award” presentation to Representatives Lorena Austin and Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to secure rulings in favor of his New Deal programs that the courts kept rejecting.
• :20:57.039><c> while</c> recognized that court packing, while recognized that court packing, while technically
• People, Republicans and Democrats, disagreeing on tax policy, on social services policy.
• And maybe the courts would roll some of this back.
• So, I mean, when most of us spend more of our income tax, we pay more in uh...

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing with Professor Colin Moore on democratic norms and their erosion in the United States, with a focus on what that could mean for Hawaii. Chair Carl Rhodes introduced the topic and the professor, noting the briefing was livestreamed and could be rescheduled if technical problems arose. Moore defined democratic norms as unwritten guardrails that make written constitutional rules work in practice, emphasizing two core norms from political science: mutual toleration, meaning acceptance of political opponents as legitimate, and institutional forbearance, meaning restraint in using legal powers to the maximum for partisan gain. Moore used historical examples to show how norms develop and erode, including George Washington’s resignation, the Alien and Sedition Acts, the contested 1800 election, Franklin Roosevelt’s court-packing plan, and Watergate. He argued that democracies usually erode gradually rather than through sudden coups, often through leaders who reject opponents’ legitimacy, tolerate political violence, restrict civil liberties, or attack the press. He said the United States is vulnerable because of its strong presidency, an 18th-century constitutional design that did not anticipate modern political parties or a neutral civil service, and because polarization has encouraged “constitutional hardball” and retaliation. He cited comparative examples such as Hungary, Turkey, and other countries that slid toward authoritarianism over time, and said the U.S. has been rated a flawed democracy by outside indexes. Moore said the erosion predates Donald Trump, though he believes Trump has accelerated it, and pointed to recent actions and rhetoric as moving beyond ceremony into government practice. He also warned that Congress has not consistently checked executive power and that public willingness to excuse anti-democratic behavior from preferred candidates is troubling. The briefing ended with Moore turning to federalism and Hawaii, arguing that the state depends heavily on federal funding for health care, schools, housing, and infrastructure, and that delays or disruptions from an unstable federal government could create serious local harm even if no law is formally broken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they've done very well with property taxes.
• Property taxes as general.
• Property taxes as general.
• Okay, so if that occurs, I would be sending my tax, or the state's tax dollars would be following my
• That's every appeals court. That's the Missouri Supreme Court.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Supreme Court case.
• hearing or the about the supreme court hearing or the Supreme<01:59:03.320><c> Court</c><01:59:03.760
• ><c> case</c> Supreme Court case Supreme Court case um<01:59:06.840><c> one</c><01:59:07.000><c> of</
• Mashika for the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.
• </c> behalf of t mashika for the tax behalf of t mashika for the tax Foundation<02:07:10.239><c> of</

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• liability, sometimes $10,000 worth of tax liability on the back end.
• , rightly on the decisions that those courts and those marshals may make.
• , rightly on the decisions that those courts and those marshals may make.
• Marshal Dupuy has a great working relationship with me, Broadbridge City Court/Ward 4 Court, the Broadbridge
• Are you familiar with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, Dix v. Mancusco? No.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Justice met on April 14, 2026, and first handled several voluntary deferrals, including HB 343, HB 491, HB 523, HB 426, HB 439, HB 378, and later HB 1025. HB 676 by Rep. Spell, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals or “body brokering,” was amended and reported favorably. Testimony from Louisiana Blue, Odyssey House, and others described the practice as exploiting vulnerable addiction and mental health patients for profit, while supporters said the bill targets organized fraud and protects patients, families, and insurers. The committee also reported HB 394 by Rep. Chenevert, which extends the conditional parole period from nine months to 24 months for offenders who must complete programming before release. Supporters, including the Louisiana Parole Project, said the change gives the parole board more flexibility and does not create new parole eligibility, while the bill was amended to remove some language tied to rehabilitation programming review. HB 622 by Rep. Coates, dealing with confidentiality and handling of criminal history records, was reported favorably after testimony that it is needed to align state law with federal FBI/CJIS requirements and tighten safeguards on background-check information. HB 396 by Rep. McMakin, concerning admissibility of autopsy photographs, was amended to apply to criminal proceedings generally and then reported favorably. HB 772 by Rep. Martinez, which modernizes notice requirements for arrest warrants by allowing electronic notice and clarifying mailing procedures, was also reported favorably despite concerns from Orleans Parish prosecutors about costs and surety liability. HB 1038 by Rep. Boyer, addressing marshal authority to issue deputy commissions and related liability/insurance issues, drew substantial testimony from marshals, city officials, and local government groups; after amendments requiring insurance coverage and clarifying funding and applicability, it was reported favorably on an 8-2 vote. HB 1025, which would have created an exception allowing reconciliation after a protective-order violation, drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and prosecutors and was voluntarily deferred by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Rules, to whom was referred the resolutions designating August 8th and 9th, 2026, as a sales tax
• Senate Bill 2908, an act establishing a sick leave bank for Shannon Manning, an employee of the Trial Court
• 2908, as amended, an act establishing a sick leave bank for Shannon Manning, an employee of the Trial Court
• of the bills: an act establishing a sick leave bank for Shannon Manning, an employee of the Trial Court
• guiding generations of athletes on the soccer field, serving for over 30 years at the Woburn District Court

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several committee reports and procedural motions. It adopted a resolution designating August 8 and 9, 2026, as a sales tax holiday, concurred with the Senate on a joint petition establishing a sick leave bank for Edward Suber of the Department of Youth Services, and suspended Joint Rule 12 for two other petitions: one concerning health care worker platforms and another allowing Adams Fire District firefighters to serve past age 65. The House also welcomed visiting students from Amvet Boulevard Elementary School and guests of other members. The House then considered a series of bills recommended by the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee, including sick leave banks for Shannon Manning and Stephanie Rivera and House Bill 4443 on the maximum age for original appointment as a firefighter or police officer. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered those bills to a third reading. It also enacted H. 5392, authorizing North Attleboro to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption. Later, the House passed several bills to be engrossed: Senate Bill 2574 providing accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a former Boston firefighter, Senate Bill 2967 concerning ownership and maintenance of Town Line Brook and Lindenbrook culverts and dams, House Bill 4716 amending the Pittsfield city charter, and House Bill 5358 authorizing Newton to place municipal charge liens on property for unpaid local charges, fees, or fines. The chamber also observed a moment of silent tribute for Michael P. Higgins of Woburn, adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m., and adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• These individuals are tax-paying citizens that are, for the most part, productive in today's society,
• So I think if this does, well, when it does pass—no, you can’t vote while you’re in court.
• No, you can't vote while you're in court.
• Today I work, I pay taxes, I serve my community, I help other believe that they can change.
• I pay taxes, and whether you know it or not, incarcerated people pay sales tax while we are in prison

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• but I am officially retired as of the end of December, and I will be closing my LLC as soon as the tax
• Yeah, nobody likes tax season, so I'm with you there. No.
• Other members, I had no idea that any of the land grants were managed by a court.
• So, Madam Chair, this is the only land grant that's managed by a district court.
• The court took control and appoints its members and the president.

Bills: SM13 , SM14 , SM13 , SM14

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: land grant, Las Vegas, governance, self-governance, judicial management, forced sterilization, coerced sterilization, Indigenous women, Native American women, women of color, reproductive justice, reproductive sovereignty, truth and reconciliation commission, memorial, trauma-informed care, reparative justice, human rights, bodily autonomy, Indian Health Service, Indian affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• GT tax, F tax, you know, because these funds support our infrastructure, especially helping to mitigate
• taxes taxes um<00:02:47.120><c> lastly</c><00:02:47.480><c> I</c><00:02:47.599><c> got</c><00:02:47.680
• transit accommodation tax the GT tax F transit accommodation tax the GT tax F tax<00:02:55.239><c> you
• to focus on our tax rates.
• on our tax rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• The global tax credit review that I had in here moved to House Bill 1406, and currently if a... ...had
• Will this be challenged in a court of law? I'd say we're going to be challenged in a court of law.
• Going to be challenged in a court of law. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
• Because, you know, this is going to go to court. All these always do.
• If it is, we might find ourselves finding this in court, or the state finding it in court.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is conforming to state income tax laws to the federal tax law changes.
• They're paying that through their taxes and the Obamacare subsidy.
• There is the one cent per gallon tax, and taxes probably, is it a tax, is it a fee?
• But, you know, during tax season, when you've got some heavy lifting to do with taxes, people come on
• temporarily, get the taxes done.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee of Appropriations met on January 21, 2026, and first considered House Bill 2116, which would appropriate $1 million in fiscal year 2027 to the Colorado River Litigation Fund. The sponsor and Arizona Department of Water Resources both supported the bill, describing it as a backup measure to protect Arizona’s Colorado River entitlements if post-2026 negotiations among the basin states fail. Members discussed how the bill relates to the governor’s separate Colorado River Protection Fund proposal, and staff clarified the two funds serve different purposes. The committee approved HB 2116 on a 17-1 roll call vote. The committee then took up House Bill 2053, which would provide $100,000 for updated stormwater recharge mapping and expand the work beyond state trust lands to private lands. An amendment in the chair’s name was adopted to extend the coordination timeline, broaden the agencies involved, and revise language about mapped sites and appropriable surface water. The sponsor said the bill is intended to identify more places to capture stormwater for recharge rather than letting most rainfall evaporate. ADWR testified neutrally, supporting the mapping effort but raising a concern about language that could be read as requiring the department to determine whether water is appropriable, which it said is a legal question for the courts. The amended bill passed 11-7. House Bill 2148, as amended, was then heard and approved 11-7. The bill would give the legislature authority to appropriate non-custodial federal monies and set requirements for those appropriations. The chair’s amendment excluded federal research grants to universities, university employees, and the Arizona Board of Regents. The sponsor framed the bill as a transparency measure, saying the legislature should know how federal funds are being spent. No outside testimony was offered, and the committee approved the measure after debate about legislative oversight of federal funds. After the bills, the committee received a lengthy JLBC presentation comparing the executive budget with the JLBC baseline. Discussion focused on revenue forecasts, tax conformity, sports betting, lottery and tourism revenue assumptions, SNAP administrative costs and error-rate penalties, developmental disability and Access caseload growth, and K-12 enrollment and ESA spending. Members repeatedly questioned the executive budget’s use of one-time funding for ongoing costs, especially for SNAP administration and DES staffing, and expressed concern about rising supplemental needs and the lack of long-term budget capacity. No votes were taken on the presentation.