Transcript Highlights:

• But I do think that our prison guards need a raise. I'm going to be yes. Senator Finchow. Mr.
• Thank you.” “...life safety issue for prison guards, both in the private sector and the public sector
• Local governments are doing everything we can within our authority.
• Non-lapsing authority allows responsible use of funds over a three-year period to stabilize agencies'
• I think it's going in the right direction, but at the end of the day, the people do have the authority

Summary: The committee took up several appropriations, transportation, naming, and education measures. It first approved SB 1035, which provides a FY27 General Fund appropriation for a 5% salary increase for Arizona Department of Corrections sworn officers and civilian employees; an amendment set the appropriation at $34 million and extended the raise to private prison employees under contract. Testimony from corrections advocates emphasized severe staffing shortages and pay gaps with other law enforcement employers, while some senators objected to including private prisons. The bill passed 6-3. The committee then approved SCM 102 and SCM 1006, which rename stretches of highway in honor of L.F. Quinn and PFC Michael Nolan, respectively, after emotional testimony from family members and local supporters; both memorial measures passed 9-1. SB 1065, appropriating $3.64 million for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Military Veterans Fund, also passed 6-4 after supporters described HBOT as a promising, drug-free treatment for veterans, while opponents questioned the evidence and FDA approval for the claimed uses. SB 1248, which clarifies funding and attendance rules for county jail and juvenile detention education programs, passed unanimously 10-0 after county school officials said it would prevent double-counting students and separate funding streams properly. The committee also advanced transportation bills focused on the fast-growing West Valley corridor. SB 1204 appropriates $5.5 million to ADOT to design and conduct environmental analysis for interchange improvements at U.S. 60 and SR 303; supporters from the City of Surprise described severe congestion, safety risks, and economic impacts, while some senators argued the project should be funded through HURF rather than the General Fund. It passed 8-1, and the chair invited members to discuss broader HURF funding issues later. SB 1207, a smaller $150,000 study bill to examine financing mechanisms for development tied to U.S. 60/SR 303 infrastructure, also passed 7-1 after local officials said it would help align growth with transportation funding. SB 1274, creating a Police Foundation specialty license plate and fund for Phoenix Police Foundation programs, passed 6-2; the foundation said proceeds would support officer wellness, remembrance, and community/youth outreach. Finally, SB 1001, a $1 million appropriation for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, passed 9-0 after blind seniors and advocates testified that the services preserve independence and prevent more costly institutional care. The committee also heard SB 1161, which would make non-lapsing a prior $750,000 DPS appropriation for the Yuma County Family Advocacy Center, with the sponsor explaining it was intended to allow the funds to be spent over multiple years; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And historically high infusions to the state budget from federal funds that were authorized by Congress
• The Texas Constitution does not give control or authority to transfer out anything from the economicization
• Property taxes directly by paying directly to the taxing authority.
• And 2 guard the gains. And here's what I mean by both.
• So I hope again that the body considers going bigger now when it comes to guarding the gains.

Transcript Highlights:

• The concern that we have at the Yi Coast Comprehensive Health Center is that by the time we get the clarity
• have</c><00:47:36.319><c> at</c><00:47:36.560><c> the</c><00:47:36.640><c> Yi</c><00:47:37.040><c> Coast
• </c> that we have at the Yi Coast that we have at the Yi Coast Comprehensive<00:47:37.760><c> Health<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 20, 2025, to hear a series of Human Services and Health resolutions. HCR 146, which asks the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project, drew strong support from disability, public health, and hunger advocates. Testifiers emphasized that the measure could create a more uniform benefits application, reduce repeated paperwork, extend certification periods from one year to three years, and ease burdens on both applicants and DHS staff. DHS said it stood on its written testimony and was available for questions. The committee also heard that a universal application could help people with disabilities avoid delays and denials caused by complex or duplicative forms. The committee then heard HR 170/HCR 174, which requests review of Aloha-based learning programs for youth in the juvenile legal system. Supporters from Opportunity for Youth Action Hawaii and DebtFree Justice Hawaii said the resolution would help advance restorative justice, community service, and culturally grounded rehabilitation, especially if youth fees and fines are reduced or eliminated. Testimony also supported HR 133/HCR 139, which asks the Office of Wellness and Resilience to report on the developmental needs of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnesses from the developmental disabilities council, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Hawaii Community Foundation, and others said the pandemic’s trauma and behavioral impacts justify a multidisciplinary, evidence-based report, and the office requested more time to complete its findings, suggesting a deadline at the end of 2026. The committee also heard HR 88/HCR 92, proposing a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program in Honolulu. One testifier described sleeping in a car and said the pilot could provide a safer option, while the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions said it supported the intent but stressed that a sanctuary is still an unsheltered situation and should lead people toward permanent housing. HCR 180, calling for collaboration among homelessness and law enforcement agencies, received comments that many of the issues are already being addressed locally. HR 103/HCR 107, which would convene a working group to strengthen Title 9 protections, received support from education, women’s, and LGBTQ advocates, who asked for student and queer representation on the working group and said federal Title 9 changes make state action important. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the committee moved from one resolution to the next after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• have the procedure done when a thoracic surgeon came in, who is a transplant himself from the East Coast
• </c><00:05:05.240><c> from</c><00:05:05.440><c> the</c><00:05:05.560><c> east</c><00:05:05.880><c> coast
• </c> transplant himself from the east coast transplant himself from the east coast to<00:05:07.160><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number six is a new section, and it amends the section of 933 that repeal the authority of the commissioner
• Members will remember that the House was adamant that the legislature retain the authority to manage
• And they put some real guard rails around...
• They put some real guard rails around the qualified use of the funds, with extensive reporting requirements
• We were comfortable with these guard rails and so agreed to their position.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, tolling authorities are created.
• My answer to that is, those authorities have been given their authority by... ...by this legislature.
• Well, you have private... you have private... well, there are authorities. ...Authorities that combine
• counties so that counties can authorize the creation of these tolling authorities.
• afforded certain authorities.

Bills: HCR7, HB1557, HB1608, HB2061, HB2201, HB2210, HB2426, HB2754, HJR165, HB2513, HCR7

Keywords: Veterans of Foreign Wars, veterans, commemoration, military service, recognition, September 29, waiver programs, toll roads, discount programs, transportation, affordable housing, land bank program, low-income households, Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, HB 2061, Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 225, State Highway 242, Interstate Highway 69, Montgomery County

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a five-year authorized FTP of almost 221, a filled FTP percentage of 91.8%, and they have spent
• The agency can, for a specific purpose and only as authorized in statute, spend against the general fund
• So the federal grant for 6.184 that was given spending authority for last year, did that just not get
• We don't have the authorization in state code for us to utilize state money to do that.
• The five-year averages show an authorized FTP of 252.652, a fill percentage of almost 92%, and 96% of

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the State Liquor Division. For Agriculture, legislative staff reviewed the agency’s structure, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY 2026–2027 budget requests, including pay adjustments, replacement items, IT hardware, a reappropriation for the Resilient Food Systems Grant, and two major one-time requests: a deficiency warrant for exotic pest response and a supplemental appropriation for quagga mussel treatment. Director Chanel Tewalt emphasized the history and urgency of Idaho’s invasive species program, described the state’s rapid response to quagga mussels, and explained how the program uses inspections, stations, chemicals, and other tools to reduce risk. Members asked about grant timing, vehicle replacement, signage costs, research into alternative treatments, chemical costs, possible use of sturgeon, and whether budget cuts would affect inspection stations; the director said some station openings or hours could be delayed or reduced, but priority would be given to border crossings and higher-risk locations. The committee then reviewed the State Liquor Division budget. Staff outlined the division’s dedicated-fund operations, personnel levels, statutory distributions, and FY 2027 requests for inflation, replacement items, and IT/security equipment, all recommended by the governor. Director Andrew Arulenandum said his priorities were safety, legal exposure, and operational continuity, citing a store shelving collapse and warehouse safety needs as reasons for some requests. Members asked about a policy proposal to restrict bulk lottery ticket purchases by out-of-state syndicates, the division’s pricing and markup structure, and whether Idaho might move away from a state-run liquor model. The director and his staff said the lottery restriction would not have a fiscal impact, that the markup is standardized, and that while the division remains open to efficiency ideas, the current control-state structure is intended to support revenue and temperance. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would return the next day to take action on FY 2027 maintenance budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um that was also elected the authority.
• </c><01:39:00.080><c> who</c> some of those local authorities who some of those local authorities who
• We've talked about that authority.
• </c> match for the Big Sky North Coast match for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor<01:46:18.880><c> from
• </c> majority of this is spending authority majority of this is spending authority for<01:49:29.920><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know on the Central Coast, our numbers are closer to 30%.
• The average authorized hours per month was 111.
• Then that may go to the public authority.
• Then that may go to the public authority.
• I work at UCSF and am a member of Teamsters doing the authorization coordination.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He represents the town of Plymouth, which some people think is the South Coast, some people think is
• Both of them are the authors of the Cape Verdean American dictionaries.
• They're both authors, not just for the dictionary, but of other pieces of literature.
• They're both authors, not just for the dictionary, but of other pieces of literature.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Feasibility Commission met to continue its work toward making recommendations to the Legislature on establishing a cultural center in Boston. The chair reviewed the commission’s mandate, upcoming monthly meetings, site visits, listening sessions, and the plan to eventually hire a consultant for the feasibility study. Members also discussed the importance of capturing the broader 200-plus-year Cape Verdean history in Massachusetts, especially in light of Boston’s 250th anniversary and Cabo Verde’s recent 50th independence anniversary. A major portion of the meeting focused on reviewing and narrowing a list of potential additional commissioners. Members discussed the need for geographic, sector, and generational diversity, and several commissioners raised concerns about overrepresentation from New Bedford and the need to include people connected to other Cape Verdean communities such as Brockton, Boston, Wareham/Onset, Taunton, the Cape, and Haverhill. Testimony and comments emphasized including people with skills in arts, culture, history, construction, philanthropy, law, education, museum curation, and community organizing. Members also discussed whether to use a slate, an inventory of skills and regions, or individual votes, and whether abstentions should be treated as “reserve your rights” instead. The commission voted to appoint three individuals: John Cruz, former State Senator Vinny deMacedo, and Angelo Lopes Barbosa or a designee from the Center for Cape Verdean Studies at Bridgewater State University. The body then voted to pause the remaining commissioner appointments until the next meeting and directed the chair and staff to create an inventory of candidates by skills, region, and other relevant criteria. Members also agreed to add two newly suggested names—former Brockton City Councilor Tina Cardoso and Maria Gomez-Pena—to the candidate list. The chair said the next meeting would be scheduled for January, and the meeting adjourned after the commission approved the motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation, you are to fund yourself by how you raise your own revenue, similar to the way the river authorities
• We had to put the river authorities under sunset to make some of that reminder very clear.
• As Commissioner Yaltman said, I'd say the major issue that has come forth is we have the authority now
• recommendation was for us to adopt that plan to do this large loop running from the Permian through down to the coast

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Senate with respect to the following appointments to be members of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority
• President I have a question of the author Senator miles, will you? Do you yield? Yes, sir, I yield.
• And their location. located right by the coast, looking at the beautiful gulf and the water.
• Some stand taller, just as the author of this resolution and his. this great ancestor who wrote this

Bills: SJR3, SB5, SJR36, SJR3, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB5, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB764, SB842, SB971, SB790, SB767, SB480, SB1066

Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, research institute, funding, grants, state health initiatives, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code

Transcript Highlights:

• The turnpike authority is also really, really good at filling gaps.
• But the Turnpike Authority is really about throughput, right? That does that make sense?
• Also, but when you look at the Turnpike Authority, they're very efficient, right?
• And again, the Turnpike Authority is looking at how do we support that throughput?
• And you know, how do we get freight from the east coast?

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c> exempt many of the exempt many of the safety<00:14:14.160><c> uh</c><00:14:14.279><c> guard
• :21.759><c> safety</c> are the people that need those safety are the people that need those safety guard
• rails when they go to bed at guard rails when they go to bed at night<00:14:27.000><c> and</c><00:14
• rails for these those safety uh guard rails for these people<00:15:10.680><c> um</c><00:15:11.680><c
• rails that we as legislators the guard rails that we as legislators can<00:15:26.839><c> help</c><00

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• while back, we had donated a lot of stuff for our veterans, our folks that went out to the National Guard
• , and our colleagues are folks that went out to the National Guard.
• And we're going to do something again for the National Guard. I just, nobody's deployed right now.
• actually in our employment, where justification for protection might be necessary, such as a security guard
• And in trying to make an appropriate and wise decision, I also guard against making sure that government

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the doctor of the day. Members also offered personal privilege remarks, including a thank-you for care packages sent to deployed National Guard troops, an introduction of Mom’s Demand Action guests, and a proclamation honoring the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence Day. The Speaker announced several committee assignments and bill referrals, including the withdrawal and reassignment of SB 1050 and SB 1519, and the House then moved into Committee of the Whole. In Committee of the Whole, the House considered and approved three Senate bills. SB 1125 received a do pass recommendation; discussion noted it was part of a broader set of child welfare-related measures stemming from hearings and the Emily Pike case, with emphasis on communication gaps between tribes and DCS, and DCS’s support for the bill. SB 1193 was amended on the floor to include paramedics along with EMTs, with supporters saying the bill protects private information held by DHS vendors. SB 1448 was also amended and passed; it adds utility, telecommunications, and video service workers to the aggravated assault statute when they are engaged in official work duties, and members debated whether the protection was necessary or overly broad, with supporters stressing on-duty protection and opponents questioning the need for a special classification. After the Committee of the Whole rose, the House adopted its report and referred the three bills to engrossing. The chamber then took up third-reading votes on SB 1023, relating to optometrists, which passed 43-10, and SB 1211, relating to sentencing, which passed 53-0. The House also heard announcements about upcoming committee meetings and a proclamation naming April 26 through May 2, 2026, as Arizona Water Professionals Week. The House adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other governor is under no authority to have to send the person back.
• That would probably be a great question for the Attorney General himself, but I'm not sure. authority
• It's driven a lot of our not just in Kentucky, but in the entire East Coast, apologies.
• It's driven a lot of our not just in Kentucky, but in the entire East Coast, apologies.
• It's driven a lot of our not just in Kentucky, but in the entire East Coast, apologies.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 98 members present, declared a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received Senate concurrence requests on Senate Bills 263, 281, and 324. The chamber then moved through second readings and committee reports on a range of measures, including education, agriculture, banking and insurance, judiciary, licensing, and task force resolutions. Among the reported bills were measures on KEES scholarships for non-certified schools, a residential safe room rebate program, dual credit scholarships, impeding a first responder, motor vehicles, tallow-based cosmetic products, animal health emergencies, mortgage loan income limits, deferred deposit fees, child protection, Attorney General operations, corrections operations, school leadership, school transportation, advanced mathematics coursework, and task forces on charitable gaming and early childhood education governance. The House passed House Bill 642, a Teachers' Retirement System housekeeping bill, after adopting House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said the bill updates survivor benefit documentation, raises the daily earnings limit for retired members returning to work from $170 to $200, removes an unused early-return provision, reinstates a pension waiver program, clarifies benefit tier calculations using an earlier participation date in another state system, and allows a parent member to manage payments for a disabled child without a court order. Members asked about substitute teaching limits, retirement penalties, budget impact, and a removed provision involving index funds; the sponsor said he would follow up on the day limits and stated he did not believe the bill would add to unfunded liability. The bill passed 96-0. The House also passed House Bill 780 on recording commissioner’s deeds, after adopting a floor amendment that removed fines and penalties. The bill allows a city to petition circuit court if a deed is not recorded within 30 business days, and the court may compel filing and award costs and attorney’s fees. Members discussed whether the bill effectively created a lawsuit-based enforcement mechanism rather than a fine, and supporters said it would help local governments identify responsible property owners and address code enforcement and public safety issues. The bill passed 96-0. House Bill 541, concerning peace officers, also passed after a committee substitute; the sponsor said it cleans up Kentucky Law Enforcement Council procedures, strengthens certification standards, clarifies revocation language, and reflects input from law enforcement groups. It passed 95-0. House Bill 195, the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, passed after a committee substitute and floor amendment. The substitute added Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension alongside UK Cooperative Extension, and the floor amendment changed the pilot’s implementation date to January 1, 2027 and adjusted the program’s term timing. Supporters said the bill would expand urban agriculture education, connect youth to food systems and career pathways, and help students in urban counties learn practical agricultural skills; it passed 97-0. The House then took up House Bill 794 on financial exploitation, which expands protections to all adults age 65 and older, adds felony penalties for knowingly, wantonly, or recklessly exploiting those adults, allows the attorney general to seek extradition from another state, and requires investment advisers to complete three hours of continuing education on financial exploitation. Members cited real-world scam experiences and urged stronger penalties, but the bill passed 96-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the total strength for the Alabama National Guard is 12,718.
• I appreciate what the National Guard does for us, and this seems like a minimal thing.
• I appreciate what the National Guard does for us, and this seems like a minimal thing.
• >> No, sir, just for the Guard. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir.
• </c> &gt;&gt; No sir, just for the guard. &gt;&gt; No sir, just for the guard.

Bills: HB187, HB341, HB4, HB175, HB326

Keywords: HB187, court fees, docket fee, sheriff's fund, sheriff's office, jail operations, law enforcement, county sheriff, court filing fees, Alabama Code 12-19-312, solicitor's fund, clerk's fund, forensic services trust fund, budget flexibility, public safety, municipal court, district court, circuit court, cosmetology, makeup application

Transcript Highlights:

• And further right is Senator Decort from the west side coast.
• And further right is Senator Decort from the west side coast.
• And further right is Senator Decort from the west side coast.
• </c><02:46:14.000><c> about</c> now with the stadium authority about now with the stadium authority about
• </c> &gt;&gt; Uh the the school facilities authority &gt;&gt; Uh the the school facilities authority

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Compliment the author. Good bill. Thank you.
• Yeah, so I want to thank the author for accepting the committee amendment.
• I also just wanted to thank the author.
• Thank you very much to Assemblymembers Zuber for authoring AB 478.
• Speak for the author, but we believe that OES already has this capacity.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The flags will be escorted to the rostrum by the sergeant-at-arms color guard.
• The flags will be escorted to the rostrum by the sergeant-at-arms color guard, Lily Lewis and Casper
• So they already have investigative authority that they're not using, which they should.
• This is just more consolidation of authority into the Attorney General's office.
• This is just more consolidation of authority into the Attorney General's office, outside the courts,

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then recessed briefly for caucus. The chamber received several Senate messages, including concurrence on amendments and the signing of Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, before moving into third reading and final passage of multiple bills. Most of the floor debate centered on concurrence with Senate amendments and the policy effects of those changes. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1170 passed 55-38 and was described as reorganizing and clarifying how Climate Commitment Act auction revenues are distributed among state accounts; supporters said it would create a clearer budget process, while opponents objected to shifting funds away from transportation and capital uses and reducing tax relief. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 passed 54-40 after debate over Climate Commitment Act account structure and operating-account allocations. Engrossed House Bill 2445 passed 66-29 on probate-related changes, with supporters citing clarifications and opponents saying it did not go far enough to limit outside involvement in probate matters. The House also passed Substitute House Bill 2334 80-15, with little debate after Senate “perfecting” changes. Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 passed 86-9; supporters said it would replace an inconsistent property tax on wind, solar, and battery storage facilities with a stable excise tax to benefit rural communities, counties, and labor, while opponents focused on tax impacts and local burdens. Additional bills passed included Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500 on HOA resale certificates (61-34), Second Substitute House Bill 1909 creating a Court Unification Task Force (57-38), Engrossed House Bill 2156 expanding Attorney General investigative authority over economic and financial crimes (54-41 on reconsideration), Substitute House Bill 2539 on inmate funds and related deductions (57-38), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548 on health care facility mergers and market oversight (55-41), Engrossed House Bill 2588 on local control for the Lummi ferry system (56-40), and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320 on gun violence prevention and 3D-printed firearms (58-38). The House also agreed not to concur in Senate amendments to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 and retransmitted it to the Senate.