Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, what is in the bill?
• Senate Bill 19. Thank you. Senate Bill 19. Thank you.
• Senate Bill 162 bill I filed last year.
• Was the bill similar? Do you similar? Was the bill similar?
• So, uh this bill, uh Senate Bill 89, we are here in full support.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed a budget-related issue involving liquor commission enforcement staff and tobacco enforcement funding. A member explained that proposed cuts to “group two” enforcement positions at the liquor commission could jeopardize the tobacco enforcement money that flows to Health and Human Services, and expressed confidence that the enforcement division would ultimately be preserved. The main hearing was on Senate Bill 19, which would modernize hotel and motel statutes by repealing outdated requirements. The sponsor and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association said the bill would remove obsolete rules such as the old guest book/card system and antiquated posting requirements for room rates and motel signs. Members questioned whether the bill would eliminate the requirement to record guest departure dates or affect inspection rights, and the witnesses said the intent was only to remove the book-and-card reference while leaving the rest of the recordkeeping requirement in place. Supporters argued the rate-posting rules are widely ignored, hard to enforce, and outdated in an era of digital reservations and variable pricing; the committee also discussed whether any consumer-protection purpose remained. The public hearing on SB 19 was then closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 280FN, which would require food delivery services to have an agreement with a restaurant or food retail store before offering delivery from that business. The sponsor said the bill restores a prior law that had sunset and was intended to prevent third-party platforms from listing restaurants without consent. Restaurant industry testimony strongly supported the bill, describing problems with unauthorized listings, delayed deliveries, and reimbursement disputes, and saying the agreement requirement protects restaurant brands and consumer expectations. Members shared examples of delivery problems and voiced support for reinstating the safeguard.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you do have that power in the bill that Senator Campbell passed and the follow-up bills?
• And I know this from Senate Bill 17.
• That was a separate bill, but yes.
• And so, you know, we actually, at least in my thought, the dais and this bill, the bills that we've asked
• And so, you know, we actually, at least in my thought, the Dias and this bill, the bills that we've asked

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bills in the past 3 years, um House Bill bills in the past 3 years, um House Bill 1483<00:05:48.040
• <00:12:56.200> the<00:12:56.400> bill House Bill 631 was probably the bill House Bill
• the bill.
• House Bill 1103? House Bill 1103?
• on House Bill 1079. on House Bill 1079.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one actually I believe that House Bill one actually I believe that House Bill 30<00:28:45.880>
• discuss bills. Yeah. discuss bills. Yeah.
• I shared this bill when the draft bill came out this year with our folks, and their first thought was
• <01:08:56.200> when<01:08:56.319> the<01:08:56.400> draft<01:08:56.680> bill
• I I shared this bill when the draft bill I I shared this bill when the draft bill came<01:08:57.080

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Joint Revenue committee met with a quorum and heard a series of interim topic proposals focused on tax policy. Representative Brown raised two ideas: reinstating an exemption reporting requirement for corporations and entities receiving tax exemptions, with loss of the exemption for the current and prior year if they fail to report, and revising property tax treatment for wind turbines and related infrastructure by shifting the taxed footprint from agricultural to industrial classification. Senator Case and others then discussed energy taxation more broadly, including a possible generation tax for electricity, how to handle large data-center electricity loads, and whether sales tax revenue from very large electrical loads should be shared statewide rather than concentrated locally. The committee referenced prior bills and studies, including House Bill 300 and Senate File 76, and discussed using a mechanism that would keep local electricity bills net neutral while redirecting revenue distribution. The committee also took up problematic gaming and program funding. Senator Case described personal experiences with gambling addiction and the lack of available resources, while the presenter said the topic had been requested in multiple committees and that the biggest concern from House Bill 171 was protecting county and municipal funding. Members discussed whether the issue belonged in Revenue, Health, Labor, or Transportation, and several suggested it should stay with the standing committee handling gaming. Ideas raised included using gaming-related revenue for prevention and treatment, fully funding the 988 lifeline, and creating a broader trust fund for addiction-related services and law enforcement. The committee appeared to agree to continue the topic for educational purposes and to examine taxation of HHR and other gambling activity. Senator Case then proposed a severance tax on wind energy, arguing that wind development creates permanent landscape impacts and that the state should be compensated similarly to coal, oil, and gas extraction. Curt Meier, the state treasurer, supported reviewing lease agreements and said Wyoming should get more from wind resources, noting the state’s unique wind potential and the loss of viewshed. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to reform property tax relief by extending it to motor vehicle registration. Former Revenue director Dan Noble argued that vehicle taxes should be treated like other property taxes, using fair market value, depreciation, the residential assessment ratio, and local mill levies, which he said could provide broad relief but would be expensive, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $120 million. Representative Chestek followed with a related reform proposal based on Pennsylvania’s base-year assessment model, arguing that Wyoming’s current statewide relief measures treat symptoms rather than the underlying problem of rapidly rising local valuations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill on the calendar for today is Senate File 1832. The clerk will report the bill.
• Um hope to hear from as well in presenting the bill to bring this bill before you.
• We're going to have a bill on Monday and it's going to be the health bill.
• this bill because it sounds good. this bill because it sounds good.
• bill that bill, things that are in the bill that are<02:02:27.760> and<02:02:28.000> also<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Or you can actually we could probably draft with you guys to work with LSO to draft legislation for us
• guys to work with LSO to draft guys to work with LSO to draft legislation<01:58:46.480> for
• We'll construct a bill.
• Representative Larson bring a bill for Representative Larson bring a bill for this<03:44:27.600> next
• Do we want to use the exact same bill Do we want to use the exact same bill and<03:44:35.560>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• capabilities of the internet are fabulous, but I'll tell you what's lost: the transition from the drafts
• The transition from the drafts of your If this were Wordsworth or Hemingway, or one of our great writers
• would be my next career after I'm finished here, looking at saving some of our transitions and our drafts
• something that we have found to be so important we were thrilled last year to support the passage of House Bill

Summary: The subcommittee began with an informal “college day” exercise in which members described what careers and colleges they would choose if starting over, often citing factors such as program reputation, location, cost, graduation rates, employment outcomes, and family or personal interests. Members mentioned a range of possible paths including law, aviation, education, construction management, psychology, social work, criminal justice, nursing, intelligence studies, and the arts. Several also highlighted the value of historically Black colleges and universities, dual enrollment, and career/technical education. The chair used the exercise to frame the meeting’s broader focus on Florida’s higher education pathways and student outcomes. Dr. Kathleen Plinsky of Valencia College then gave an overview of the Florida College System and Valencia’s role in it, emphasizing Florida’s statewide articulation and transfer framework, open-access mission, affordability, and workforce alignment. She described Valencia’s record enrollment, high retention, large share of first-generation and working students, and partnerships such as Direct Connect to UCF, Osceola Prosper, and Open Door grants for short-term training. Members asked about guaranteed transfer, apprenticeships, enrollment trends, student demographics, out-of-state residency, county scholarship costs, dual enrollment outcomes, and barriers to expanding career dual enrollment. Dr. Plinsky said the system supports transfer and acceleration well, but funding constraints limit growth in some areas; she also noted that dual enrollment participation is high and that Valencia’s affordability and student support efforts have driven recent enrollment gains. Dr. Jim Clark of Florida State University followed with an overview of the State University System, describing its governance, performance-based funding, low tuition, and strong graduation and research outcomes. He highlighted FSU’s enrollment, research profile, transfer student success, FSU Health, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, partnerships with K-12 schools and Tallahassee State College, and efforts to expand nursing and medical education to address workforce shortages. After the presentations, the committee heard from a panel on student acceleration and mobility: Shannon Mercer of the Department of Education explained the Office of Articulation, the statewide course numbering system, FASTER records, the 2+2 transfer model, specialized AA transfer degrees, and credit for industry certifications, military, medical, and law-enforcement training. Panelists from Kaiser University, Florida State University, and Pinellas County Schools described their institutions’ roles in transfer, advising, career pathways, apprenticeships, and dual enrollment. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate or House Bill 3464 and we're laying over House Bill 3183.
• Sider Greenear is recognized to hear House Bill 2992.
• Would you like to move back to the bill and explain the bill? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• This bill has to do with theft and cleanup.
• Seeing 10 ayes and zero nays, I declare House Bill 4170 to have passed. Thank you, Mr.

Bills: HB2992, HB3183, HB3464, HB4170, HB4338

Keywords: HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers, cryptocurrency mining, large load customer, electric rates, utility tariffs, cost causation, rate design, public power utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative, investor-owned utility, load growth, interconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• Since we've gotten a presentation on the bill, does anybody else have something to say about the bill
• If not... about the bill at this point? If not, Hey, we're in Shelby County.
• This is Senator Bale's bill.
• We now have the bill. is defeated. We now have the bill up. Excuse me. I'm getting like Russell.
• We'll have the bill up. This is Senate Bill U314. Clerk, would you please call the roll? Uh, no.

Bills: SB314

Keywords: motor vehicle fees, Shelby County, law enforcement funding, registration fees, county commission, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have filed in the House several times a bill to address the issue of the Surin Service programs.
• So those providers do bill Medicaid for peer support, and they also get, as Dr.
• They can't bill Medicaid. I don't remember Dan's last name.
• He would like to bill for peers if he's a Medicaid provider, right?
• In addition, I'm sure there's billing issues and other things.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we passed the bill, people were meticulously honest. Yes. Saying we're going to cut cost.
• Because in the One Big Beautiful Bill, H.R. 1, there were some changes to how people can participate,
• Because in the one big beautiful bill, HR1, there were some changes to how people can participate, how
• And sooner or later, that bill is going to come due.
• So we are in the process of drafting and trying to look at what we... Yes, sir.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Arkansas DHS hospital spending and reimbursement methods, with Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks explaining Medicaid hospital payments. They described fee-for-service per diem payments, cost settlements, and the upper payment limit (UPL) program, noting that SFY 2025 hospital payments included $688 million in inpatient/outpatient claims, $473 million in UPL payments, $248 million in cost settlements, and about $47 million in other payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked about why per diem rates vary, how cost settlements work, why UPL applies mainly to private hospitals, and how assessment fees are structured and funded. DHS said the hospital assessment fee is broad-based and uniform, used as the state share to draw federal funds, and that supplemental hospital payments after federal match totaled $548 million with no general revenue used. The Arkansas Hospital Association’s Jody Ann Tritt then gave a broader overview of the hospital landscape, explaining the different hospital types in the state, including critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals. She said Arkansas hospitals face financial strain, citing a negative 5.18% patient service margin statewide and lower reimbursement than surrounding states. She argued that Arkansas hospitals are paid less than hospitals in neighboring states for similar services, that commercial payer rates and administrative burdens are a major problem, and that Medicaid and Medicare rates remain below cost even with UPL support. She also said hospitals are the backbone of community care, provide emergency and public health functions, and are looking for ways to invest in technology and telehealth but often lack the revenue to do so. Members pressed for clearer data on hospital finances, reimbursement adequacy, and the impact of commercial insurers. Tritt said the association had just authorized a statewide survey to gather updated financial information from hospitals, which she said would take about a year to complete. She also explained that Medicaid pays weekly, Medicare and commercial plans can involve delays and denials, and that hospitals often spend significant resources on revenue cycle work. The discussion ended with a brief update on assisted living reimbursement: DHS said one facility, The Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, nine Living Choices waiver clients were being transitioned, and the updated rate study would be available after cost reports are collected, likely before the end of the fiscal year. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• you all, and also any other needs that are identified by the Department of Education or any member bills
• And then we as staff are directed to draft the bill, depending on what Joint Budget Committee indicates
• you all, and also any other needs that are identified by the Department of Education or any member bills
• And then we as staff are directed to draft the bill, depending on what Joint Budget Committee indicates
• And then that bill is introduced and it is integrated during the regular session and ultimately changed

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard an interim study proposal on Arkansas adult education and the Excel Center model, presented by Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. Witnesses argued that about 300,000 Arkansas adults lack a high school diploma or GED and described the Excel Center as a diploma-granting public charter option for adults 19 and older, with wraparound supports such as child care, transportation, tutoring, life coaching, and career services. They said the Arkansas campuses are not state-funded, highlighted growth in enrollment and graduation outcomes, and cited research showing improved employment, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members discussed the role of Goodwill’s nonprofit mission, the need for multiple adult education pathways, and the relationship between adult education challenges and broader state efforts such as LEARNS and ACCESS. The committee then debated the interim study proposal procedure, including whether questions should have been taken before the vote. The motion to adopt the ISP passed, and members noted that the study would broadly examine adult education, GED testing, high school diplomas, charter schools, in-person adult education, and funding allocation. Several members asked for follow-up information on current adult education funding, the availability of Excel Centers, and the criminal justice study results. After that, staff from the Bureau of Legislative Research gave a detailed adequacy funding overview for Arkansas K-12 education. They reviewed national funding principles and then explained Arkansas’s revenue streams and distribution system, including general revenue, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, local property-tax revenues, and facilities partnership funding. They also walked through the state’s foundation formula, categorical aid, supplemental aid, and additional funding, including the per-student matrix amount of $7,771 for 2025 and how funds are allocated to districts and charters. Members asked about student support staff, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the Excel Center’s treatment in funding totals; staff said some of those questions would be addressed in a later spending presentation. The meeting ended after the committee was told the department was present mainly to answer questions and no further business remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• fees would not trigger the two-thirds requirement for a fee increase, which we commonly know as a fee bill
• I urge you to sponsor and support the Long-Term Sentencing Act bill that is presently in drafting.
• I have some suggestions to consider since we keep writing bills to increase penalties that will increase
• We feel that it is time to visit a parole bill.
• There are parole bills that are in bill drafting now, and we encourage you to look at this as a way to

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard an update from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on staffing, overtime, capital needs, and inmate population growth. Dixon said the prison population has risen by about 8,000 since January 2021 while staffing has not kept pace, forcing the agency to open 53 housing units without funded positions and rely heavily on overtime and National Guard support. He cited a $189 million deficit tied to salaries and overtime, noted that most staff have less than three years of experience, and argued the solution is to fully fund posts for operational housing units. He also reviewed the department’s fixed capital outlay projects, including repairs, new housing construction, and medical modular units intended to reduce outside hospital transports, and gave an update on the VINE victim notification system and its expansion. The committee then heard from Florida clerks of court representatives Jason Welty and Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who described clerks’ court-related and county duties and said clerk budgets have not kept pace with the broader justice system. They requested reimbursements for injunctions for protection ($3.3 million), Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator cases ($2.5 million), and juror management ($4.8 million), and said future funding for new judges should include the full courtroom system, not judges alone. Fernandez-Barquin also raised concerns about unfunded mandates, rising retirement and health costs, low court-side pay, and the need to revisit filing fees and trust fund allocations. Members asked about collections, payment plans, license suspensions, and whether some fees or trust fund distributions could be redirected; the governor’s budget had already picked up the $2.5 million request for Baker/Marchman/SVP cases. During public testimony, speakers urged broader criminal justice reforms and additional funding priorities. A prosecutor emphasized that adding judges requires funding for prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks as well. Other speakers called for parole or long-term sentencing reform to reduce prison populations and costs, criticized staffing and conditions in prisons, and raised concerns about inexperienced correctional officers, visitation delays, and lack of air conditioning in some facilities. The committee took no substantive votes on the items discussed and adjourned after hearing the presentations and public comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you'll see a draft of that bill later in the year if it shows up.
• I probably should go on and on, but there are many bills that y'all have passed that have given us the
• Y'all passed a comprehensive School Safety and Security Bill last year, and we are already doing those
• That's because last year's funding was... ...because last year you all passed the big bill, but what
• Yes, sir, I completely agree, and thank you for the support, sir, and for sponsoring the bill.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill this bill locally in state.
• <01:46:37.360> All this bill. All this bill.
• >> Voting on House Bill 1825. >> Voting on House Bill 1825.
• Going on to the next bill<02:55:26.640> HP1893. bill HP1893. bill HP1893.
• >> voting on House Bill 2122. >> voting on House Bill 2122.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and before you have Senate Bill 504, and uh this is a comprehensive bill.
• . bill. bill.
• Senator Inis's bill 607. Senator Inis's bill 607.
• . your bill today.
• the two bills, my bills uh from today. the two bills, my bills uh from today.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, even though we draft the financial statements, um, Diane and her team and I believe Michelle are
• So, even<00:09:43.040> though<00:09:43.279> we<00:09:43.680> draft<00:09:44.080>
• the<00:09:44.320> financial even though we draft the financial even though we draft the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm just really grateful, Chair Baker, that you brought this bill.
• Representative Kowski, thanks, Chair Baker and team for bringing this bill forward.
• And yesterday there was a bill with Rep.
• Representative Kowski, thanks, Chair Baker and team for bringing this bill forward.
• And yesterday there was a bill with Rep.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Everyone did receive, thankfully, because of M&A, the attachments that included the draft about the apprenticeship
• You sent the initial one, right, that we did as a core draft.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee met with ASL and CART interpretation, took roll call, and approved the prior meeting minutes by motion and second. The main discussion focused on a proposed apprenticeship-related presentation and outreach to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), including a draft letter and follow-up communication with Undersecretary Josh Cutler and Amara Ram. Members said the draft looked good and discussed keeping trade partners informed, as well as the need to coordinate with the broader commission before moving forward. A substantial portion of the meeting centered on apprenticeship opportunities for people with disabilities and how to frame the topic. Members discussed a recent Apprenticeship Week event, noting employer interest, Governor Healey’s goal of expanding apprenticeships to 100,000, and concerns raised by employers about a $250 annual fee and the complexity of the registration process. Participants also discussed the need to include people with disabilities in apprenticeship conversations, challenge stereotypes about suitable jobs, and possibly involve the Commission for the Blind, higher education partners, and behavioral health apprenticeship models. The subcommittee generally agreed to focus first on child care and home health as initial apprenticeship fields, with direct support, house managers, and program managers also identified as important workforce roles. Members discussed inviting trade representatives and state liaisons, but emphasized that scheduling should not become overly complicated. They leaned toward a Zoom-only format, likely around 90 minutes, and agreed to continue coordinating offline on dates, format, and outreach before the next step.

Transcript Highlights:

• clarify the intent of the bill, we strike the word organization from the draft.
• The chair lays out Senate Bill 3059. Senator Campbell's bill about the Alamo.
• We had already heard Senator Campbell's companion and also this bill. House Bill 1130.
• Since it's your bill.
• The chair brings up Senate Bill 1367. As a matter of pending business, Senate Bill 1367.

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs met with a quorum present and took up a series of pending bills, most of them election, ethics, political communications, alcohol, or business-regulation measures. Several bills were amended with committee substitutes before being voted out, including SB 2363 on unlawful publishing of another person’s vote, SB 2044 on political communications/electioneering, SB 2713 on discrimination and membership in professional or trade associations, SB 2337 on proxy advisor transparency, SB 946 on credit discrimination/social credit scores, SB 2334 on storage of alcoholic beverages by an airline permittee, and HB 1130 on cavern-entity liability. Authors generally described the substitutes as clarifying or narrowing changes, such as removing exceptions, adding an affirmative defense, striking the word “organization,” or making technical and definitional revisions. The committee also advanced SB 2633 on a local option alcohol election, SB 2637 on bots and automated social media posts, SB 2781 on civil penalties related to political contributions and lobbying, SB 2782 on discovery requirements for sworn complaints before the Texas Ethics Commission, SB 3059 concerning the Alamo, SB 1861, SB 1367, SB 945, and SB 2043. In several instances, members recommended bills for the local and uncontested calendars after favorable action. The discussion was largely procedural, with brief bill descriptions and substitute explanations; no extended public testimony is reflected in the transcript. Most measures were reported favorably to the full Senate, typically by recorded roll call votes of nine or ten ayes and zero or one nay. SB 2363, SB 2713, SB 1861, SB 946, SB 1367, and SB 945 each received one negative vote, while SB 2781, SB 2782, SB 3059, HB 1130, SB 2334, SB 2337, and SB 2043 were reported out unanimously or near-unanimously. After completing the agenda, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.