Transcript Highlights:

• And gray wolves help large game hunting be more successful.
• And gray wolves help large game hunting be more successful.
• And gray wolves help large game hunting be more successful.
• Hunting guides have high success rates with clients.
• Texans moving in here and buying property to hunt elk.

Keywords: Continuation of today's legislative session, beginning at 7:45 pm., 981, all

Summary: The House took up House Bill 1410, the state’s long appropriations bill for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and their agencies and institutions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The committee first recessed and then adopted a motion to rise, report progress, and sit again later that day. The House also adopted a motion under House Rule 14 to limit debate on House Bill 1410 to one hour during special orders on April 10, 2026, by a vote of 40-20, with four excused and one absent. During consideration of House Bill 1410, members debated Amendment J82/54A, which would require funding for wolf reintroduction to come from gifts, grants, and donations rather than general fund dollars. Supporters argued the state should not use taxpayer money for additional wolf reintroduction, especially during a budget crisis, and said rural ranchers and livestock producers are bearing the costs and impacts of wolves. They emphasized depredation concerns, the strain on rural communities, and the view that the reintroduction effort has been costly and poorly managed. Opponents of the amendment said the funding line is part of broader wolf management, not just reintroduction, and argued the state has a legal obligation to carry out Proposition 114. They said gifts, grants, and donations are not a reliable funding source for that mandate and noted the program also supports conflict minimization efforts such as range riders. One speaker also defended the ecological role of wolves, citing their benefits to ecosystems, elk management, and biodiversity. The transcript does not show a final vote on the amendment before the excerpt ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• even more legal issues in the law, as it refers to many things outside of human beings, including hunting
• and the gender of deer, which is going to be interesting. ...hunting and the gender of deer, which is

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:33.040> and are primarily funded through hunting and are primarily funded through hunting
• We host hunting and angling and outdoor education programs.
• It's in deer, particularly deer, and they just actually had some new sightings in southeastern U.S.,
• opportunities for trapping and hunting opportunities for trapping and hunting education<00:31:43.760
• To follow up on that, who runs the hunting program?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found. Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program. The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the reason I'm asking is because of the game management issue that's going on with axis deer.
• <00:53:02.760> and management plan on the axis deer and management plan on the axis deer and
• <00:53:59.359> that that's going on with access deer that that's going on with access deer
• “This is enforcement, yeah, office, yeah, but so is it hunting?
• You guys should be doing like we talked about—hunting trails, hiking trails, beach, ocean.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Beyond being permanently spoiled for farming, I used to love hunting deer and turkeys in the woods and
• And I may never hunt that property again.
• /c><05:32:14.320> the<05:32:14.400> woods hunting deer and turkeys in the woods hunting
• And I may never hunt that fields. And I may never hunt that property<05:32:31.600> again.
• The ability to hunt and fish be ruined.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I should have the right to negotiate a lease on my land for hunting, grazing, electricity production,
• Well, congratulations on doing good things with that, and we used to hunt in Eldorado.
• It's a good place to hunt. Thank you very much, panel.
• of a Texas full of wide-open spaces, parks, and natural areas where people can go and hike, camp, hunt
• We have also seen increased sightings of deer, fox, and woodpecker. Thank you very much.

Bills: SB458, SB819, SB1238, SB1642, SB1643, SB1644, SB1791, SB1810, SB1824, SB1825, SB758, SB1455, SB1706

Keywords: insurance appraisal, property insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, residential property, disputed loss, loss valuation, appraisal clause, appraiser, umpire, Texas Department of Insurance, TDI, insurance dispute resolution, claims adjustment, total loss, windstorm insurance, FAIR Plan, surplus lines insurance, policyholder, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• Residents and visitors alike can hunt, fish, hike, and enjoy the outdoors largely because property owners
• , fish, hike, and enjoy the can hunt, fish, hike, and enjoy the outdoors<00:31:12.320> largely
• Turtles do not reproduce in a short time like squirrels or deer, which grow up quickly, reproduce, and
• <01:13:27.280> like<01:13:27.520> squirrels<01:13:28.000> or<01:13:28.320> deer
• in a short time like squirrels or deer in a short time like squirrels or deer which<01:13:29.360

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll hunt and they'll kill another one and then they'll come back to that one and they'll come back
• They'll hunt and they'll kill another one, and then they'll come back to that one and they'll come back
• Senator Deere. Mr. Chair, I'll explain my vote. Of course. Go ahead. Thank you.

Bills: HB2908, HB4042, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2005, HCM2006, HCR2047

Keywords: constitutional convention, faithless delegates, state delegates, oath of office, class 2 felony, civil penalties, parent-child relationship, termination of parental rights, child welfare, court procedures, abandonment, neglect, reunification services, felony conviction, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress

Summary: The committee approved the March 9, 2026 minutes and then heard House Bill 2908, which would require any approved U.S. constitutional amendment to be ratified by bill and gubernatorial action, create oath and reporting requirements for convention delegates, and impose penalties for “faithless” delegates. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill was a needed safeguard against a runaway Article 5 convention, while opponents said the proposed guardrails would be ineffective and could create a false sense of security. An amendment changing recall to disqualification was adopted, and HB 2908 as amended passed 4-3. The committee then considered HCR 2047, a memorial supporting the use of “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank” in official state communications. Supporters framed it as a matter of historical and biblical accuracy and solidarity with Israel, while opponents argued it injected the legislature into an international conflict and raised First Amendment and civil-rights concerns. The memorial passed 4-3. The committee also passed HCM 2006, urging Congress to reform the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Conservation Act in response to Mexican gray wolf impacts on ranchers, and HB 4042, which clarified the evidence needed to terminate a parent-child relationship by requiring a potential father to both file and serve a paternity action within 30 days. Later, HCM 2005 passed 4-3 after debate over restricting foreign ownership of real property by communist or authoritarian governments. The committee then took up HCM 2001 and HCM 2002, both focused on Muslim organizations: HCM 2001 urged the President and Congress to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, and HCM 2002 urged a review of CAIR for possible terrorist designation. Witnesses and members opposing both measures argued that state lawmakers lacked authority or evidence for such designations and that the memorials would stigmatize Muslim communities and chill civic participation; supporters described them as appropriate statements of concern. Both memorials passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned after completing its calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been looking at working with DEER on looking at our position descriptions.
• <01:08:31.600> on with continue to work with deer on with continue to work with deer on looking
• <04:48:57.120> So,<04:48:57.680> by the um deer herd into this.
• So, by the um deer herd into this.
• .<05:18:29.760> um hunting. um hunting. um many<05:18:32.000> accomplishments<05:18:32.560

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Marshal Hunt from Roy Clark Elementary Union Public School. Her senator is Senator Dossett.
• I don't even remember the name of it, the castle up in Deer Creek on May and Coffee Creek.
• Senator Deers Close the roll.

Bills: HB1168

Keywords: abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, methotrexate, pro-life, pro-choice, reproductive health, unborn child, trafficking, felony, contraception, pharmacist, pharmacy, Title 63, Oklahoma statutes, abortion pill, drug distribution, criminal penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Justin Wilmeth with LD 2, North Phoenix, at Deer Valley Airport and other things you don't
• North Phoenix, let's see, Deer Valley, North Terra, all the way down to Thunderbird on the 17.
• We have to hunt around for academies that have seats.

Bills: HB2207, HB2225, HB2602, HB2641

Keywords: braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, HB 2225, Yavapai County, northern Arizona regional training academy, training academy, public safety training, law enforcement training, police academy, first responder training, capital appropriation, state general fund, state treasurer, lapsing appropriation, section 35-190, capital costs, regional training facility

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2641, which would ban firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. The sponsor said the bill was intended to protect firefighters and the public from carcinogenic and persistent chemicals that can contaminate groundwater, and noted Arizona had already banned the foam for training. A University of Arizona public health researcher testified that firefighters have higher PFAS levels than the general public and that AFFF use is associated with elevated exposure, while a firefighters’ association representative said alternatives exist and that the bill would remove uncertainty for departments. The committee passed HB 2641 unanimously, 15-0. The committee then heard HB 2602, a $24,000 appropriation for a 10% pay increase for Department of Public Safety employees in fiscal year 2027. The sponsor and supporters from the Arizona Troopers Association argued the raise was needed for recruitment and retention, citing vacancies, departures, and the cost of training new troopers. Several members supported the idea but raised concerns about the budget impact and the broader issue of pay disparities across agencies and state employees. The bill received a do pass recommendation on a 10-0-3 vote, with two members voting no and three voting present. Finally, the committee considered HB 2225, which would appropriate $10 million for capital costs at the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy in Yavapai County and keep the funds from lapsing until 2029. The sponsor and Yavapai County law enforcement witnesses said the academy is overcrowded, serves multiple agencies across northern Arizona, reduces travel and lodging costs, and provides both basic and in-service training. Some members questioned whether the state should fund a county-based facility and raised concerns about the size and structure of the appropriation, while others supported the training mission but wanted the issue handled in the budget process. The committee voted to give HB 2225 a do pass recommendation, with several members voting no or present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our mission is to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank
• of the male deer, big horn sheep<01:59:33.599> and<01:59:33.760> sage<01:59:34.159>
• And since then, we've seen the comeback of mule deer back in historic ranges and sage grass.
• They're a big part of how we hunted our food, a big part of our distance.
• <02:09:59.040> our<02:09:59.199> food, a big part of how we hunted our food, a big

Keywords: 916, all

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370, HB2937, HB3419, HB3264, HB3266, HB3267, HB3268, HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370, HB2937, HB3419, HB3264, HB3266, HB3267, HB3268, HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not stolen hunting rifles or guns taken from unlocked nightstands.
• This is why semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 are essential tools for inclusive hunting.
• When I deployed to Afghanistan, I didn't carry a hunting rifle.
• We're just going to include deer rifles and shotguns and .22s, or what?
• Okay, so any bolt-action hunting rifles would be exempted.

Bills: SB48, HB250, SB17

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, technology, innovation, advisory board, entrepreneurial support, stakeholder representation

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the traditional uses in our forest, of course, is hunting.
• Again, looking at some of the traditional uses, like I just explained with hunting and losing some of
• Again, looking at some of the traditional uses, like I just explained with hunting and losing some of
• Like, land was, you know, for hunting or..."
• Like, land was, you know, for hunting or..." Representative Murphy: "Do you have a follow-up?"

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ability to address this emerging type of fraud that they're already encountering among fishing and hunting
• <00:05:32.720> licenses,<00:05:33.800> permits, fishing and hunting licenses, permits
• , fishing and hunting licenses, permits, and<00:05:34.560> registrations.
• Licenses or registrations such as hunting or fishing licenses with ChatGPT or others.
• <03:26:55.960> camp a hunting rifle at a friend's deer camp a hunting rifle at a friend's

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of policies for wildlife management, and the regulation, management, and transaction of wildlife, hunting
• I see your hunting background is, you know, and also the science background that you bring.
• Fifty years ago, STEC was not in the intestines of cows, goats, sheep, deer, and pigs.

Bills: SB1082, SB1200, SB1335, SB1336, SB1559, SB1761, SB1762, SB1785, SCM1007

Keywords: petting zoos, animal encounters, public health, handwashing, supervision, sanitization, safety regulations, civil penalties, water supply, groundwater, Phoenix, certificates, long-term storage credits, water conservation, municipal provider, replenishment obligation, water banking, annual report, Arizona Water Banking Authority, water supply management

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee first considered two nominations. Jessica Manuel was introduced as a nominee to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, where testimony emphasized her science background and experience working with agencies and stakeholders. Members asked about wolf management and her qualifications, and the committee voted 8-0 to recommend her confirmation. Stephen Williams was then introduced for the Arizona Livestock Loss Board, with discussion focused on his livestock and State Land Department experience and how the board handles wolf-related livestock losses. The committee also voted 8-0 to recommend his confirmation. The committee then took up several bills. SB 1785, which would codify ADWR’s one-mile safe-harbor policy for recovery wells near groundwater storage facilities, passed 5-3 after ADWR said it largely reflected current practice but requested clarifying language. SB 1082, requiring sanitation measures and signage for petting zoos and similar animal encounter exhibits, drew strong testimony from a parent advocate describing severe E. coli/HUS cases and opposition from fair/agriculture representatives who argued the bill was too broad and unnecessary; after amendment, it failed 4-4. SB 1336, extending the State Land Department and creating a temporary oversight committee with a broad amendment on lease holdovers, notice periods, and committee membership, passed 6-2 after significant debate over the committee’s composition and scope. Later, SB 1200, which would require ADWR to revisit certain Phoenix AMA assured water supply applications using older groundwater models, passed 5-3 despite opposition from CAP and ADWR over added replenishment obligations and concerns about relying on outdated models. SB 1335, requiring the Arizona Water Banking Authority to post its annual report online, passed 7-1. SB 1559, creating rural groundwater management work groups in each basin to report to ADWR, passed 5-3 after supporters said it would improve basin-level coordination and opponents argued it created new bureaucracy without enforcement tools. SB 1761, appropriating $47.7 million to the University of Arizona for the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Experiment Station, passed 7-1 amid broad support but some concern about funding levels. Finally, SCM 1007, urging Congress to divest and improve the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system, passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ernest Thomas was hunted down by a mob of 1,000 men and shot more than 400 times.
• questions, Vice Chair Rouson, for appearance forms, there's one appearance form, and that is Colonel Jason Hunt
• Pro-deer, for being so thoughtful, for always striving to strike a good, solid balance.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for the wrongful convictions, incarceration, and death tied to the 1949 case. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step after prior state apologies, pardons, and exonerations. The committee adopted a $4 million amendment that divided compensation equally among the four families and updated the recipient for Ernest Thomas’s share. Multiple family members and advocates testified in support, emphasizing the decades of trauma and the need for full justice. Senators in debate largely supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 330, which clarifies disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers by refining the definition of heart disease and allowing certain officers who transfer agencies to rely on a prior physical under specified conditions. SB 474 also passed, expanding military leave protections to include public officials and employees who serve in the Coast Guard or Florida State Guard, adjusting pay eligibility for federal service, and updating related retirement and assistance provisions. SB 96, the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program bill, was amended to expand eligibility to veterans with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level and to move funding into the General Appropriations Act; members debated whether the broader eligibility could increase demand, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 7018 on child welfare, making the Step Into Success pilot program permanent statewide, adjusting visitor/background-check rules for out-of-home placements, and creating a best-practices program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. CS/SB 480 on state IT governance was reported favorably after amendments that strengthened vendor performance metrics and restored state data center security provisions; it creates a new central IT governance structure under the Governor’s office and aims to improve oversight of procurement, spending, and technical debt. SB 1066, addressing partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River and Kirkpatrick Dam, passed after a late-file amendment and extensive testimony from environmental, recreation, and local economic interests. SB 1216, which gives school districts more flexibility in educator compensation, and SB 1120, which increases oversight and reporting for water management district spending, were also reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 1366 on claims against the government, which raises sovereign immunity caps, ties future adjustments to CPI, shortens claim deadlines, and changes attorney-fee provisions. The bill drew support from local government and public-hospital groups as a compromise, but also significant concern from some senators about the impact on self-insured agencies and whether the fee changes would discourage attorneys from taking cases. The discussion remained ongoing, and the bill was still moving forward as the meeting continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:26.440> license<00:54:27.079> sales<00:54:27.640> to promote hunting
• license sales to promote hunting license sales to encourage<00:54:28.280> them<00:54:28.400>
• Don't worry, I'm also registered for a hunting class finally in April, so uh...
• Don't worry, I'm also registered for a hunting class finally in April, so uh... we are doing our share
• Don't worry, I'm also registered for a hunting class finally in April, so uh... we are doing our share

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II work session focused on Fish and Game’s budget-revenue proposals and several statutory changes the department said it needs to support its operations. The department recommended raising the fisheries habitat fee and wildlife habitat fee to $5 each, estimating additional annual revenue of about $640,000 and $144,000 respectively. Members clarified that these are habitat fees added on top of licenses, not reduced by senior or youth license categories, and discussed the need for RSA changes to allow the revenue to be transferred into the Fish and Game Fund. The department also said it would work internally on any broader license fee increases through the commission process. The committee then reviewed proposals to cap several dedicated accounts and transfer excess balances to the unrestricted Fish and Game Fund. Those accounts included the fisheries and wildlife habitat funds and the game management account, with the department proposing a $750,000 cap on each and transfer of amounts above that threshold. The department said the cap was based on several years of expenditures and the fact that dedicated funds are often used as match for federal funds. Members asked for reports on fund activity and questioned whether the cap and mandatory transfer language should be “shall” or “may,” with the department indicating it would prefer “may” for flexibility. The committee also discussed a Pheasant Management Program account, where the department said current law limits use of the money to buying and propagating pheasants and it wants authority to use it for broader program management. A substantial portion of the meeting addressed Fish and Game’s environmental review unit and the transfer of ARPA-funded positions to DEES under the governor’s initiative. The department said four positions are currently ARPA-funded, that DEES supports keeping them in place through the end of the year, and that the transition will require time because environmental review work is intertwined across the agency. The department explained that before the ARPA positions, biologists handled the work and that current staffing has helped eliminate a backlog and meet deadlines. Members also discussed a proposal to expand environmental review fees beyond private developers to state, federal, municipal, and local governments, with the department saying it would need rulemaking and stakeholder input. Additional requests included authority to conduct raffles to raise funds, creation of a revolving account for donations and raffle proceeds, and repeal of the obsolete fish food sales statute because the vending machines are no longer functional and the account generates no revenue.