Transcript Highlights:

• The fact of the matter is the Arizona Rangers are a 501(c)(3) under IRS code. That's federal.
• I'm a former Assistant United States Attorney out of the Western District of Texas.
• I'm a former assistant United States attorney out of the Western District of Texas.
• I'm a former assistant United States attorney out of the Western District of Texas.
• I'd ask you to look toward Arizona Administrative Code, Section R13-4-106, subsection C.

Bills: SB1048 , SB1071 , SB1092 , SB1314 , SB1391 , SB1400 , SB1401 , SB1452

Committees: Senate Public Safety , Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Keywords: juvenile services, Coconino county, rehabilitation, detox center, financial appropriation, Arizona Rangers, statutory repeal, security, state law, regulatory changes, probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, appropriations, salary increase, corrections, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you may know I worked for the Office of Inspector General in Texas in a leadership position where
• you know, registering with the Secretary of State for all providers, are clearly outlined in Idaho Code
• We have kind of bits and pieces scattered throughout Title 56 and in some other spots in code, but not
• And per Idaho Code, I know there's certain exceptions. They don't meet any of the exceptions.
• We're working with the health and welfare chairs on that, that it is up front in that section of code

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Oklahoma State with Oklahoma gardening and Sun Up, which is an agriculture show.
• For context, Texas has already passed a similar measure for their current budget, and we know several

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• And just so you all know, she got Agricultural Teacher... Christy Cain.
• And just so you all know, she got Agriculture Teacher of the Year.
• They learn about how you can make money off of local agriculture.
• Ordered printed and referred to the House Agriculture, Acequias, and Water Resources Committee, then
• to health coverage, enacting sections of the Health Care Purchasing Act, the New Mexico Insurance Code

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation simply seeks to amend and update the Idaho Code of Military Justice to further enhance
• adjutant general to provide our best military advice regarding these proposed changes to the Idaho Code
• handling minor misconduct is non-judicial punishment, or NJP, pursuant to Article 15 of the Idaho Code
• This is already a practice in five different states, to include Florida and Texas, and it is effectively
• Second, the current code allows any service member to refuse non-judicial punishment and to demand a.

Committee: House Transportation and Defense

Transcript Highlights:

• , we have to figure out how to get in code compliance and what it's going to cost.
• From what I could tell, it looks like maybe they filed it in Texas.
• , or life safety codes and housing building codes.
• </c> Safety codes and housing building codes Safety codes and housing building codes and<00:40:19.480
• If that laptop were to be lost or stolen, there's codes that's built into it.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker pro tempore: The gentleman from Texas is recognized. Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr.
• PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE AND TO YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
• THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED. MR. WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, MR.
• The Speaker pro tempore: The gentleman from Texas yields his time back to the gentleman from New Jersey
• SPEAKER, I ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE GENTLEMAN From Texas, Mr.

Bills: HR480 , HR481 , HR488 , HB2035 , HR252 , HB1948 , HR1373 , HR1182 , HR248 , HR137 , HB2390 , HB2351

Keywords: House of Representatives, congressional training, workplace rights, workplace responsibilities, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, sexual harassment training, employee training, Member orientation, House Administration Committee, Congressional Accountability Act, CAA, interns, unpaid interns, fellows, detailees, legislative workplace, congressional offices, compliance training, ethics training

Transcript Highlights:

• Six were is still there in Texas.
• emphasis on the counting than coding.
• </c> emphasis on the counting than coding. emphasis on the counting than coding.
• ,</c><01:21:47.520><c> whether</c> The biggest issue with coding, whether The biggest issue with coding
• All the state if it's coded as a tardy.

Bills: HF3492 , HF3493 , HF3494 , HF3495 , HF3602

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: school safety, grants, education funding, Northern Lights Express, security improvements, rural schools, safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, safe schools aid, school security, mental health support, Tribal schools, cybersecurity, funding, mental health, evidence-based plans, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to North Dakota Century Code 28-32-18, the Gaming Commission is appealing the recent decision
• This bill, or creation of a new chapter, would go under the Department of Agriculture.
• So yes, Department of Agriculture.
• This one is regulated by the Department of Agriculture. But those could be discussions.
• So we're already in conflict with Century Code.

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings and then filled a vacancy on Legislative Management by appointing Senator Braunberger after a caucus recommendation. Members then took up an unusual appeal from the North Dakota Gaming Commission after the Administrative Rules Committee voided a rule that would have raised the poker tournament entry fee from $300 to $1,500. Legislative Council explained the administrative rules process and the grounds for voiding a rule, while Gaming Commission representatives argued the commission had statutory authority and that the issue should be left to the full Legislature. Several members raised concerns about legislative intent, precedent, and whether the matter should wait for the regular session. On a motion to disapprove the Administrative Rules Committee’s finding and restore the rule, the committee voted no, so the voiding of the rule remained in place. The committee then reviewed the fiscal impact statement for Constitutional Measure No. 1 on congressional age limits. Staff reported no current fiscal impact because no litigation had been filed, though members noted the possibility of future legal challenges if the measure were enforced. After that, the committee began hearing proposed bills for the upcoming special session, starting with several kratom-related measures. Representative Wolff withdrew her bill, saying it was redundant, while Representative Heinert presented a bill to legalize and regulate natural kratom for adults 21 and over under the Attorney General, with licensing, labeling, penalties, and a public health campaign. Senator Axtman presented a companion bill targeting synthetic kratom derivatives, placing them on the controlled substances list with penalties similar to marijuana. Legislative Council later outlined Representative Johnston’s separate kratom bill, which would regulate kratom under the Department of Agriculture with product registration, licensing, and enforcement provisions. The committee also heard Senator Hogue’s bill to address funding for the State Historical Society’s military museum project. He argued the state was in breach of contract and that delaying action would increase costs, so his bill would authorize a $35 million line of credit to keep construction moving while fundraising continued. Members questioned the relationship between the proposed line of credit, existing SIF funding, and the private fundraising requirement, but no vote was taken before the meeting moved on. Finally, Representative Sue Ann Olson began presenting a bill requiring the Class D driver’s license test to be administered in English, arguing it was a safety measure because road signs are in English and law enforcement encounters can be complicated by language barriers. The transcript cuts off before her testimony concluded or any action was taken on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:16:21.600><c> committee</c> environment and agriculture committee environment and agriculture
• </c> um fire marshall determinations of code. um fire marshall determinations of code.
• </c><04:16:08.560><c> review</c> appealed to the building code review appealed to the building code review
• </c> appealed to either the building code appealed to either the building code review<04:16:15.279><c
• </c><04:19:44.560><c> or</c> building code or the state fire code or building code or the state fire

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, importantly, you uh Agriculture.
• </c> Department of Agriculture. Department of Agriculture.
• </c> Department of Agriculture? Department of Agriculture?
• </c> of Agriculture and Natural Resources. of Agriculture and Natural Resources. walking<01:27:12.400
• ,</c> protect both the college of agriculture, protect both the college of agriculture, life<01:27:46.320

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• , most notably our to the criminal code, most notably our theft<00:56:14.680><c> statutes.
• This is kind of one of your classic Pinto-Heinsman agriculture heading up an agriculture bill. >> [laughter
• heading up an Pinto-Heinsman agriculture heading up an agriculture<01:30:47.840><c> bills.
• </c> agriculture bills. agriculture bills.
• We talked about doing something with a QR code or a barcode to add qualifications and...

Bills: HF2354 , HF3407 , HF4359 , HF4192 , HF3356 , HF3695 , HF1597 , HF3155 , HF3871 , HF4437 , HF4446 , HF3990

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints

Transcript Highlights:

• This will use new innovative ways of approaching agriculture.
• Is there objection to taking a late filed amendment bar code 995171 by Senator Burgess?
• Bar code 995170 by Senator Harrell. Is there objection to taking up the late filed amendment?
• Bar code 995172 by Senator DiCeglie. Is there objection to the introduction of this late filed?
• code, so our goal is for the money to follow the child.

Transcript Highlights:

• credit may not be the decision maker for someone contemplating whether they're going to practice in Texas
• And those areas are as designated in the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code, which is this section.
• Chair and Vice Chair, this section of the tax code does need cleanup.
• Chair and Vice Chair, this section of the Vice Chair, this section of our tax code does need cleanup.
• think moving forward that potentially something you all consider as you clean up parts of this tax code

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 82, which would extend the Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Tax Credit for 10 years and increase the annual cap from $1 million per lab to $5 million over time. The sponsor and witnesses from Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories said the program helps New Mexico businesses commercialize deep-tech innovations and is unique in the country. Multiple business and economic development representatives testified in support, describing successful projects and job creation. Committee members asked about specific companies, wages, and the program’s impact, but several members raised concerns about the bill’s fiscal effect and the lack of room in the tax package. The committee adopted a substitute that delayed the credit increase by one year, but then voted to table HB 82 by about 5-3. The committee then heard House Bill 142, which would increase the Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit and expand eligibility to underserved urban areas. Supporters, including Think New Mexico and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, said the credit has not been updated in years and could help recruit more health professionals, especially EMTs. Members questioned whether urban areas should be included, how “underserved” is defined, the size of the current expenditure, and whether the credit actually changes provider behavior. Some members expressed concern that the bill could dilute support for rural areas, while others noted that most New Mexico counties are designated shortage areas. The sponsor moved to table HB 142, and the committee agreed. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 58, as amended, which extends the period for metropolitan redevelopment area property tax abatements from seven years to up to 14 years. The sponsor and MRA representatives said the longer period would help projects in blighted areas become financially feasible, especially for housing and redevelopment projects in Albuquerque and other cities. Support came from housing developers, Realtors, chambers of commerce, and economic development groups. Committee members asked about how MRAs are designated, how the abatements work, and why the bill also changed a separate 10-year reference; concerns were raised about the lack of statewide reporting on MRAs. The committee ultimately voted do pass on SB 58 as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I live in Winters, a small town 40 miles from here that is surrounded by agriculture.
• First, because confusion has resulted from the absence of a definition in the code, this bill codifies
• Brian Shob, on behalf of the California Climate and Agriculture Network, in support. Thank you.
• Zoning regulations are a major roadblock, as many local codes don't permit composting facilities, and
• Public Resources Code Section 5093.71, AB 43, applies only to the 819 miles of federally protected rivers

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a series of natural resources and climate-related bills. AB 70 would codify a definition of pyrolysis and allow procurement credit for projects using organic waste to generate pipeline biomethane; supporters said it would help divert organic waste from landfills, reduce methane, and support energy reliability. AB 30 would authorize E15 fuel sales in California, with supporters arguing it could lower consumer fuel costs and emissions, while opponents from boating and marine groups raised concerns about engine damage and the need for clear labeling and continued E10 availability. AB 66 would create a CEQA exemption for emergency evacuation routes in high fire-risk areas; supporters emphasized wildfire evacuation safety, while some members worried the bill lacked sufficient guardrails and environmental review. AB 399 would let the Coastal Commission consider blue carbon sequestration in coastal permitting and authorize blue carbon demonstration projects; environmental groups supported it, while business groups objected to new costs and regulatory uncertainty. AB 491 would codify California’s nature-based solutions climate targets for lands and wetlands, with supporters citing climate and adaptation benefits and the Farm Bureau opposing statutory targets. AB 580 would extend Metropolitan Water District authority related to the Colorado River Aqueduct, and AB 43 would make permanent state authority to protect federally designated wild and scenic rivers if federal protections are weakened. The committee also considered AB 436 to streamline siting and permitting of composting facilities and AB 539 to streamline certain Coastal Act procedures and reporting. Most measures received due-pass recommendations and were reported out on roll calls, with several bills also moving on consent; AB 404 was pulled at the author’s request.

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies, help communities understand how projects can affect them, and can be used for updating local codes
• reducing impacts during construction and operation, and decommissioning; identify required permits, codes
• contained areas that have fire suppression systems, and the state has adopted a new national fire code
• That ordinance does not allow... ...our code 2308-357.
• Typically, a conditional use permit application gets routed for 15-day review, but my code allows me

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Given the consistent appreciation in agricultural land and assets, market value can be very high for
• </c> and increase in agricultural and increase in agricultural consolidation<00:08:47.720><c> so</c><
• and the Minnesota tax code, and that I'm here to fight for working-class people, for people who are
• This is the single most progressive tax in our tax code. ...for regular people who are having trouble
• The omnibus tax... in our tax in our tax code<00:36:56.680><c> and</c><00:36:57.800><c> one</c><00:36

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> code form steel. code form steel.
• It's in Texas.
• It's in Texas.
• It's in Texas.
• Um Texas is the one and &gt;&gt; It's in Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code, you know, different things that we put in here.
• Code 36. Exceptions are given, including observances in U.S. Code 36.
• Senator, you mentioned this is something that happened in Texas.
• The Texas court said it was a fighter jet and artwork. That was reversed.
• And it also adds original bill, but it cites federal statute and code.

Bills: S0092 , S0110 , S0192 , S0212 , S0260 , S0350 , S0394 , S0422 , S0434 , S0442 , S0484 , S0546 , S0556 , S0684 , S0696 , S0706 , S0748 , S0786 , S0820 , S0824 , S0838 , S0840 , S0848 , S0856 , S0962 , S1000 , S1014 , S1036 , S1050 , S1054 , S1080 , S1118 , S1134 , S1338 , S1480 , S1500 , S1506 , S1622 , S1724

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: employee protections, whistleblower, retaliation, public trust, ethics complaint, Commission on Ethics, Public Employees Relations Commission, public employee, local government attorney, public officer, adverse personnel action, protected disclosure, whistleblower retaliation, state agency, independent contractor, public employment, civil service, reinstatement, back pay, front pay

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A5. I recognize a member from Ramsey.
• The amendment to the amendment is coded A10.
• coded coded A8<00:24:39.080><c> I</c><00:24:39.240><c> recognize</c><00:24:39.760><c> the</c><00:24:
• </c> amendment is coded amendment is coded A9<00:27:51.559><c> I</c><00:27:51.679><c> recognize</c><00
• </c> overwhelmingly Texas Texas in the fiscal overwhelmingly Texas Texas in the fiscal year<00:54:06.280