Transcript Highlights:

• . $1.1 billion for active transportation projects, including the Reconnecting Communities Highways to
• And when it's complete, again, sustained jobs and the economic activity that it will induce as well is
• So if you look at the wide list of activities, and we can provide that, we've got it in our report, I
• Just increasing these active modes of transportation, biking, walking, promoting safety.
• Ehlers would say, is available for other activities. That's about a third. of the available funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and that's through activity fees.
• to help reduce activity fees in those<00:19:42.320><c> buildings.
• We need one within three minutes of every activity at all times.
• </c> minutes of every activity at all times. minutes of every activity at all times.
• </c> while also promoting physical activity while also promoting physical activity and<01:10:41.600><

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will activate the machine. Sergeant, you're announced roll call.
• Clerk will activate the machine.
• The clerk will activate the machine. Sergeants at arms now call the roll.
• The clerk will activate the machine. Sergeants at arms now call the roll.
• The clerk will activate the machine. Sergeants at arms now call the roll.

Bills: HB4104 , HB3722 , HB3787 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3310 , HB3404 , HB2964 , HB2398 , HB3024 , HB3499 , HB3278 , HB3279 , HB3645 , HB3649 , HB2293 , HB3260 , HB3176 , HB3177 , HB3114 , HB3172 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4248 , HB3720 , HB2210 , HB1322 , HB1937 , HB3301 , HB4107

Summary: The House convened after a quorum call, welcomed visitors in the galleries, and then took up a series of bills. HB 4104, relating to the Sex Offenders Registration Act, was explained as making second or subsequent misdemeanor “peeping tom” offenses a felony and making felony convictions under that statute registrable; it passed 91-0. HB 3722, an elections bill, drew extended debate over whether a voter registration application should be considered incomplete if the applicant leaves party affiliation blank; supporters said the state should not infer intent, while opponents argued the change would create an unnecessary barrier and could disenfranchise voters. The bill passed 75-18. HB 3787, as amended, clarified that any person appointed to fill an unexpired term in an elected office must be a U.S. citizen; it passed 79-13. HB 3700, from the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee, requires colleges and universities to grade students on academic content rather than opinions or beliefs, and it passed with an emergency clause. HB 3701 codifies the Regents’ process for reviewing low-performing degree programs and passed with an emergency clause as well. The House also passed HB 3310 on state government transparency and accountability 94-0, HB 3404 creating a framework for prescribed burn associations and financial relief 89-4, HB 2964 on medical records fees after amendment 92-0, HB 2398 allowing postsecondary institutions to designate credentials of value 70-20, HB 3024 on transparency for state employee pay and bonuses 79-9 with an emergency clause, HB 3499 allowing special judges to hear certain title-issuance cases 84-5, HB 3278 providing corrections for Open Meeting Act violations without going straight to district court 82-4, and HB 3279 updating public corruption rules to address contract and post-employment conflicts 10-? (the transcript indicates passage but the exact final tally is unclear). The session ended with adjournment until Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• year 2026 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities
• year 2026 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities
• fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities
• fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities
• fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine matters from the Committee on Rules, including ceremonial resolutions recognizing the Concord-Nenezi sister city relationship, the 35th anniversary of the Massachusetts-Hokkaido sister-state relationship, and congratulating Rachel Cohen on earning Eagle Scout. The House suspended the rules and adopted those resolutions. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 on a number of petitions, including proposals involving neuropsychology evaluations for persons with intellectual disabilities, pharmacists’ participation as preferred providers, a sick leave bank for a Department of Transportation employee, and land/easement authority for the City of Lowell. The main substantive issue was House Bill 4001, the fiscal year 2026 state budget, which came from the Senate with a full substitute amendment. The House suspended the rules but voted not to concur with the Senate amendment. The chamber then agreed to reappoint a conference committee, naming Representatives Michlewitz, Ferrante, and Smola to negotiate with the Senate. The House also considered and advanced several Public Service Committee bills establishing sick leave banks for state and local employees, including Kendra Winner, Dana Johnson, Stephen Forget, Daniel Yender, and Martin Kratman; each was ordered to a third reading after suspension of the rules. Later, the House took up Senate No. 2521, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. After suspension of the rules, the bill was read a second time, ordered to a third reading, passed to be engrossed, and then enacted. The emergency preamble was separately adopted by a recorded vote, and the bill was finally passed. The House also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m., then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It demands opportunities that show students how to actively engage in their schools and communities to
• Ultimately, this day of self- room activities, which depends on what the school chooses.
• or even classroom activities, like actual voting ballots and paper ballots and stuff like that.
• Currently, funding decisions do not actively reflect student input, leading to underrepresentation.
• For students to be activated on each campus, to share information is really what I'm saying.

Summary: The annual joint Senate and Assembly Education Committee hearing featured student proposals from the California Association of Student Councils and SABLE, with opening remarks from legislators emphasizing student voice and the value of hearing youth ideas. Committee members noted the hearing was being streamed and that they would review the testimony even though some members could not attend because of fog-related travel issues. The first panel proposed an annual civic engagement day for grades 7-12, with flexible school-led activities such as discussions, mock elections, and voter registration-related events. Members generally praised the idea but raised concerns about costs, instructional time tradeoffs, how to evaluate effectiveness, and whether the proposal should better connect to existing civics standards and local curriculum. The second panel proposed amending Education Code Section 35012 to require at least one student board member in every unified and high school district, with added training and the right to make motions. Legislators supported student representation in principle but questioned whether the proposal should require one or two student members to avoid board tie issues, why some districts do not already have student trustees, and how the mandate would be funded if it became a state requirement. They also raised technical concerns about the scope of motioning power and the fiscal impact of converting a voluntary local practice into a statewide mandate. Later panels proposed adding middle school financial literacy instruction, expanding restorative justice practices, and creating more structured mental health education time. On financial literacy, students suggested integrating finance into existing middle school classes and teacher training over time; members worried about curriculum overload and suggested aligning the idea with the already-approved high school finance course. On restorative justice, students proposed a CDE task force and training for PPS-certified staff; legislators discussed prior related bills, confidentiality concerns in discipline hearings, and the likely cost of a state task force. On mental health, students proposed short, twice-semester classroom sessions focused on coping skills and awareness of resources, but members questioned whether such brief lessons could be effective and suggested that wellness centers, student-led awareness, and outside referrals might be more practical. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with encouragement for students to refine their proposals and follow up with legislators.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> non-required activities? non-required activities?
• And explicitly named activities in law.
• :52.560><c> policy</c><00:36:53.040><c> advocacy</c> areas of activism or policy advocacy areas of activism
• How many cases activities really are.
• </c><01:16:04.400><c> that</c> persons spend time on activities that persons spend time on activities

Transcript Highlights:

• Rocket Park is an active operation site for many Blue Origin activities, including manufacturing, integration
• We'll give you an update on several activities we have going on.
• We'll give you an update on several activities we have going on.
• And some of those activities are very focused on Cape Canaveral.
• The lunar plant will support the Blue Moon activities.

Summary: The committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and heard a series of presentations focused on Florida’s space and aerospace industry. Blue Origin’s Anna Spencer described the company’s Florida operations at Rocket Park, including New Glenn manufacturing and launch activities, Blue Moon lunar lander work, workforce development, and recent booster recovery and launch milestones. Amazon’s Beth Cooley presented an update on Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), outlining the satellite broadband network, customer terminals, dark skies mitigation efforts, Florida facilities and jobs, and launch plans; members asked about RV/mobile applications, satellite counts, and the role of fiber, but no action was taken. Starcatcher Industries CEO Andrew Rush then described his company’s effort to create an orbital energy grid that beams power to satellites to extend mission life and increase available power, citing demonstrations in Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral and plans for a first satellite launch next year. Space Florida CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace sector, citing billions in private investment, hundreds of projects in the pipeline, the leverage of state spaceport funding, workforce and university programs, and the need for additional tools and infrastructure to keep Florida competitive. He emphasized growth in launch activity, manufacturing, research, and military support infrastructure, and said Space Florida would bring forward legislative proposals. Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro delivered the strongest policy message of the meeting, warning that KSC’s aging infrastructure and relatively smaller NASA budget share could cause Florida to lose aerospace leadership to states like Texas unless the state strengthens its partnership, research investment, and infrastructure support. Members questioned her about federal restrictions on commercial investment in common-use infrastructure, the need for more state-federal alignment, and how Florida can preserve its role as the launch capital of the world. After the presentations and questions, Senator Burgess moved to adjourn, there was no objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk activates the machines. Sergeant-at-Arms throws a call in the hall.
• Clerk, activate the machine. Sergeant announces a roll call.
• The clerk activates the machine. Sergeant-at-arms now calls the roll in the hall.
• The clerk activates the machine. Sergeant-at-arms now calls the roll in the hall.
• The clerk activates the machines. The sergeants are now in the hall.

Bills: HB2936 , HB2967 , HB3627 , HB3721 , HB4132 , HB4303 , HB4478 , HB4322 , HB4227

Keywords: HB2936, children, child protection, adoption, Oklahoma Adoption Code, gestational carrier, gestational agreement, surrogacy, intended parent, preplacement home study, home study, prospective adoptive parent, foster placement, child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, lewd molestation, sex offender registry, Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act

Transcript Highlights:

• These eliminations because they might delay implementation of key activities.
• We are intentionally trying to maintain all of our activities.
• many of certain activities as we would if we had a higher staffing level.
• The department has been actively engaged in also supporting small communities.
• It really supports critical activities and services.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Clarity Act details 14 different crypto-related activities that federally chartered banks and credit
• won't comment on active litigation or active legislation, so that's why they're not here at the table
• There are different activities within the crypto space, but it's still, you know, you're saying, I'm
• I don't know where else we're saying has $154 billion of criminal activity happening.
• It will go active on July 1.

Summary: The committee took up AB 2285, a bill related to cryptocurrency staking and broader crypto regulatory issues. The author said the amendments would give California clearer guidelines for staking-as-a-service, maintain consumer disclosures, and remove a fee cap to make the business model workable. Supporters, including representatives of the Crypto Council for Innovation and the Satoshi Action Fund, said the bill would provide needed clarity and help Californians participate in blockchain-related opportunities. Opposition came from the Consumer Federation of California and credit union representatives, who argued the bill would weaken consumer protections, create an uneven playing field for state-chartered institutions, and move California into the middle of unresolved federal debates over the Clarity Act. They also raised concerns about fraud, money laundering, and the effect of the bill on DFPI’s authority and pending litigation involving Coinbase. The author responded that staking is distinct from buying crypto, that blockchain can improve traceability, and that the bill was still a work in progress with room for further amendments. Members discussed preemption, the pending federal framework, and whether the bill should wait until federal law is settled. The chair emphasized California’s role in setting policy and said other states were allowing consumers to benefit from staking. The committee ultimately adopted a due pass as amended motion and sent AB 2285 out on a 7-2 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the activity is moving north.
• The activity is moving.
• But the activity is moving north.
• It's very active.
• They just put a pause on their drilling and completion activity.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes before hearing a series of informational updates. The Petroleum Council reported that North Dakota oil production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with activity shifting northward in the Bakken as technology improves and three- and four-mile laterals boost well performance. The presentation also discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, the importance of pipelines and other linear infrastructure, and enhanced oil recovery pilot projects supported by state and federal funding. Members asked questions about gas production taxes, natural gas liquids, and the outlook for drilling rigs and future production. The Office of State Tax Commissioner then reviewed the federal “big beautiful bill” and its estimated effect on North Dakota individual and business income tax collections. Staff explained that most of the individual income tax impact comes from the permanent increase in the standard deduction, while temporary provisions such as senior deductions, tip and overtime exclusions, and auto loan interest deductions have smaller or limited-term effects. They also noted that business tax changes, especially depreciation and expensing provisions, create a larger near-term cash impact, and that some FY25 collections likely reflected one-time oil field transactions that may have inflated the baseline used in earlier estimates. OMB provided updates on major capital projects and facility funding. For Capitol grounds improvements, officials described plans for 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding upgrades, public seating, lighting, tree management, and possible restroom and lobby reconfiguration, while also noting the governor’s residence security project and the discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. OMB and its consultants also reported on the state facility maintenance fund, including window replacement, boiler work, roof and foundation repairs, and a new facility conditions assessment covering more state buildings. Updates were also given on the new state hospital in Jamestown, the Minot state office building, and the use of federal state fiscal recovery funds, including possible future reallocations to the Department of Corrections. Finally, Legislative Council staff summarized the interim compliance report on legislative intent and trust fund activity, highlighting the status of lines of credit, Bank of North Dakota profit transfers, the statewide litigation pool, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, corrections planning, HHS program updates, and a likely future general fund request for the unemployment insurance modernization project. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational, with members asking clarifying questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of you know his name from his activism in the Democratic Party, and I underline activism.
• And I think that began a lifetime of activism.
• It was a super delegate to the California Democratic Party, and he was very active in Vietnam Veterans
• And I think that began a lifetime of activism.
• It was a super delegate, the California Democratic Party, and he was very active in Vietnam Veterans

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled routine announcements and motions, including a request by Senator Arreguín to remove SB 239 from the inactive file for second reading. The chamber then took up SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, a resolution concerning immigration rates, which was debated briefly and placed on call before later amendments were adopted by a 29-10 vote. The Senate next considered SR 70 by Senator Pérez, commemorating the third anniversary of the Monterey Park tragedy. Senator Pérez and Senator Rubio spoke about the 11 lives lost, the injuries, the heroism of Brandon Tsay, and the need to remember the victims and support the community. The resolution passed unanimously, 39-0, after which Senator Pérez introduced Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang on the floor. The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment memories honoring Mary Gutierrez Hunter, labor activist Bob Mulholland, former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand, and Vietnamese American community leader Vu von Locke. Senators described each person’s public service, organizing work, and lasting impact on labor, veterans, local government, refugee resettlement, and community institutions. The Senate also announced the Appropriations Committee would meet shortly after adjournment and noted the next floor session would be held Monday, January 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• , religious activity, or public government meeting, that would be an express aggravating factor that
• , religious activity, or public government meeting, that would be an express aggravating factor that
• Could you define religious activity? Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the question, Rep.
• I've had some questions about that, you know, religious activity, school activity, what exactly does
• Would a Bible study or a prayer meeting at someone's home be considered a religious activity from your

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and considered nine bills, with members hearing brief presentations, limited debate, and mostly unanimous support. Early measures included CS/HB 421, which expands peer support access for first responders to include support personnel, and HB 205, which creates a new offense for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster (“Troopers’ Law”). Both bills drew support from law enforcement and animal welfare-related witnesses, and both were reported favorably; HB 205 was adopted with a technical amendment. The committee also approved CS/HB 157 on service of process, which clarifies that a prior statutory change applies to all causes of action, creates a safe harbor for compliance, tightens substituted service requirements, and allows individual registered agents to be served anywhere in the state. HB 693, which adds an aggravating factor for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for school, religious, or public government activities, drew both support and opposition; the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed expanding the death penalty, while supporters argued juries should have more tools in capital cases. The bill was reported favorably after debate. Members then approved CS/HB 113, increasing penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, after discussion about marked versus unmarked vehicles and an amendment that restored current penalties for two related offenses. Rep. Bracey Davis voted no, citing concerns about unmarked cars and public safety perceptions. The committee also passed HB 91 on misdemeanor probation, PCS/CS/HB 383 allowing certain officers and service members to purchase firearms without the three-day waiting period, and CS/HB 195 to let correctional education count toward professional licensure requirements for incarcerated people. Finally, CS/HB 479 was approved to allow judges to order restitution in hit-and-run property-damage cases. All bills were reported favorably, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities
• fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities
• fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities
• fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities
• Certain other activities and projects, House Bill 5348.

Summary: The House took up several local bills after suspending procedural rules and Joint Rule 12 for a petition from Mark J. Cusack concerning military creditable service for judges, referring it to the Committee on Public Service. The House also considered four local measures: a Harwich affordable housing trust bill, a Charlemont commercial recreation tax bill, a Millis senior property tax exemption bill, and a Falmouth sewer-related funding bill. All were advanced through second reading and ordered to a third reading. The chamber then passed to engrossment a series of additional local bills, including a Hopkinton bridge designation bill, a Nantucket charter amendment, a Swampscott disability property tax exemption bill, an Arlington senior tax exemption amendment, and a Reading home rule charter bill. Each was approved without recorded opposition. The House later recessed and returned to consider a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill, House Bill 5348, reported out of Ways and Means with a total appropriation of $300 million. House Bill 5348 was taken up by suspension of the rules, read a third time, passed to be engrossed, and then passed to be enacted after the constitutionally required separate vote, with no votes in opposition recorded. The House adopted an order to meet again Wednesday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> No, it's not active.
• Okay. >> Active? No. >> Active? No. That's for sure.
• This is an active fund.
• This is an active fund. No, no. This is an active fund.
• Yes, the fund is active. Yes. else. Yes, the fund is active. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 24 and September 27 meetings unanimously. It then reviewed a spreadsheet and draft report tracking the status of various dedicated funds, with members deciding which items should be kept active, removed, or flagged for follow-up next year. Several funds were identified as no longer needing action because they had been repealed, terminated, or were already handled elsewhere, including mosquito-related funding, child care licensing, and the prescription drug affordability board item. In other cases, members agreed to keep the fund on the list but remove question marks and add notes for future review or for another committee to address. A number of funds drew more detailed discussion. Members agreed that the Fish and Game fee increase issue should not be handled by this committee directly, but that staff should notify the relevant sponsor/department that a legislative change would be needed. They also discussed a medical cannabis fund that was running down significantly; the committee agreed to keep it active, note the concern, and send a letter to the department and Representative McDonald suggesting that HHS review whether fees or another revenue source should be changed, with the possibility of a late bill if needed. The lead poisoning prevention fund was also kept, with a note that the department should take action if it wants changes, and the committee discussed a grants-and-aid escrow-related item, concluding it should remain active and be kept on the list. Members also discussed several legacy or special-purpose funds. They agreed to recommend deleting the broodstock reference, to keep the emergency fund while asking for a better explanation of its funding source, and to retain the building maintenance fund as active. The Recovery Monument fund was identified as inactive and likely eligible for transfer of its remaining $1,000 to the addiction treatment and prevention fund. The Matthew Elliott Trust Fund prompted the most extended discussion; members concluded it should not continue as-is and agreed to draft a letter to the Attorney General recommending that the fund be closed through probate court and the remaining $5,657 transferred to Fund 122, or otherwise handled as unclaimed property if appropriate. The committee also discussed a firemen’s association-related transfer and agreed it should remain, while noting that any broader change would require legislation and a sponsor in the relevant policy committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an active part of how schools operate safely every single day.
• And then if it is an active shooter, they keep pressing the button.
• And then if it is an active shooter, they keep pressing the button.
• I guess we didn't do anything to get it back active or anything.
• I guess we didn't do anything to get it back active or anything.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:09:28.160><c> individual</c> qualifying activities that an individual qualifying activities that
• months of qualifying activities um three months of qualifying activities um in<00:10:09.519><c> that
• And exemptions from those activities.
• </c><00:12:30.399><c> And</c> state implementation activities. And state implementation activities.
• </c><00:57:25.760><c> are</c> um, uh, the other other activity are um, uh, the other other activity are

Bills: HF3439 , HF3763

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• activities.
• Simmons' activities in her personal capacity.
• The statute clearly segregates legislative activities from non-legislative activities.
• under the same scrutiny as your legislative activities.
• “Yeah, I was never politically active in my life.

Summary: The hearing resumed in the Legislative Ethics Board matter involving Tara Simmons after the board confirmed no ex parte communications had occurred overnight. Respondent’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she violated ethics rules by combining legislative support for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and personal dealings were intertwined. After a recess for deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss, and the hearing moved into the defense case. The first defense witness was Sharon Navas, executive director of the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC). Navas testified that she met Simmons in 2018, later hired her, and took steps to separate Simmons’s legislative duties from her work for EEC. She said Simmons was never paid for lobbying or legislative acts, that her compensation came from unrestricted funds, and that the organization used written ethics-compliance language and a formal scope of work. Navas also described the proviso-funded dashboard project involving Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley, testifying that Simmons was not involved in the project’s day-to-day work, did not attend the meetings about the dispute, and was not part of the alleged contract disagreement. On cross-examination, staff focused on the contract documents, the dashboard work, and whether the scope of work matched the parties’ understanding. Tara Simmons then testified in her own defense. She described her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics guidance from House counsel and board-related materials before taking outside employment or supporting provisos. She said she relied on prior ethics advice when separating her legislative role from outside work and when seeking provisos for AEJG and EEC. Simmons also addressed her relationship with Anthony Powers, describing it as a friendship rooted in criminal justice reform work and prior collaboration. The hearing was still in the middle of Simmons’s direct testimony when the transcript excerpt ended, with no final ruling on the merits or disposition of the allegations.

Transcript Highlights:

• , rigorous or the milder rigorous, the time of day activity that they would be doing during the recess
• This just helps to add more of the physical activity into the day.
• All together with recess and physical activity, it was initially 60 minutes.
• All together with recess and physical activity, it's 50 minutes.
• So then his amendment event. 30 minutes of this physical activity.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2748. Members considered a committee substitute and adopted a House committee amendment that restored recess language and clarified age-appropriate physical activity provisions. After rolling the amendment into a new substitute, the committee voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 6 ayes, 4 noes, and 1 present. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2774, which would prohibit the state or political subdivisions from restricting the sale or use of equipment, vehicles, tools, or similar items based on fuel source. Representative Knight presented the bill as a short measure aimed at preventing fuel-source restrictions. Testimony in support came from the American Petroleum Institute, Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association, Missouri Propane Gas Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, and Missouri Golf Association, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free-market fuel policy, and economic benefits for biofuels and related industries. During questioning, a member asked whether the bill would affect homeowners associations banning gas-powered lawn equipment; the witness said it would not, unless the HOA were a political subdivision. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing on HB 2774 was concluded before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• These properties, which can often sit vacant and, in some cases, are dependent on seasonal activity to
• The common theme is the quote-unquote activity of the property that determines what tax classification
• It will always be a residential property if you weren’t doing this activity there.
• the IRS says, ...money off all the commercial activity.
• Even the IRS says it's the activity that happens in the home.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform