Transcript Highlights:

• will be a few changes, and that's based on some. ...about certain kinds of language, like purpose clauses
• We don't use purpose clauses in New Mexico, so we...
• I'm sorry I asked the question in reverse. All in favor of the motion indicate by saying aye.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:55:07.920><c> Further</c> to clause 8 of rule 20. Further to clause 8 of rule 20.
• pursuant to clause 2B of rule<03:18:20.720><c> 19.
• Persuant to clause 8 of rule ordered.
• Persuant to clause 12A of postponed.
• that</c><08:28:45.680><c> policy</c> administration did reverse that policy administration did reverse

Bills: HB2987 , HB2931

Keywords: small business lending company, SBLC, SBA lending, Small Business Administration, section 7 loans, small business loans, loan guarantee, lender cap, financial institutions, credit access, small business finance, nonprofit lenders, business lending, CEASE Act, House passage, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, sanctuary jurisdictions, office relocation, immigration policy, government operations

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to address briefly as well: the confrontation clause was an issue last year.
• And I just want to let you know that if a statement would violate the confrontation clause, then this
• I ask you, what difference does it make when we're talking about the confrontation clause?
• thank you for your comprehensive communication over the interim about distinguishing confrontation clause
• Clark, the Supreme Court found hearsay from child witnesses did not violate the confrontation clause

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to address briefly as well: the confrontation clause was an issue last year.
• And I just want to let you know that if a statement would be a violation of the confrontation clause,
• I ask you, what difference does it make when we're talking about the confrontation clause?
• to thank you for your comprehensive communication over the interim of distinguishing confrontation clause
• Clark, the Supreme Court found hearsay from child witnesses did not violate the confrontation clause

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. On SB 5906, the SAFE Act, staff and Sen. Hansen described protections limiting immigration enforcement access to non-public areas in schools, early learning settings, higher education, health care facilities, adult family homes, and ballot-processing areas, and restricting collection of immigration-status information. Supporters said the bill would clarify and strengthen existing Keep Washington Working policies, while some witnesses requested amendments to better define health care facilities, clarify adult family home and election-related provisions, and keep Section 6 on ballot security. Some members questioned the factual basis for reported ICE activity near schools and daycares and the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants. The committee also heard SB 5886 on personality rights and forged digital likenesses. Staff explained that the bill would add digitally created or modified likenesses to the Personality Rights Act, raise civil penalties, and allow recovery of actual and non-economic damages in forged-digital-likeness cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to address AI deepfakes and identity misuse while preserving satire and fair use; student and advocacy witnesses supported the measure as a way to protect students and victims of digital impersonation. The committee then heard SB 5169, which expands child hearsay and closed-circuit testimony rules to older children and additional offenses. Prosecutors and forensic interviewers supported the bill as necessary in trafficking and child abuse cases, while defense advocates opposed it as an overbroad expansion that could raise confrontation-clause issues and create legal challenges. Additional hearings included SB 5865, which would move garnishment form updates from statute to the Washington Pattern Forms Committee; judges supported it as a way to fix a wage-withholding calculation error and allow future updates without legislation. SB 5912 would reinstate the Indigent Defense Task Force to study statewide public defense delivery and recommend sustainable reforms; counties, the Office of Public Defense, and defense groups supported it. SB 6009 would make permanent the current process for direct review of administrative decisions by the Court of Appeals and retain land-use transfer provisions; a Court of Appeals judge supported the bill. SB 6087 would extend limited liability for donations of children’s items to religious organizations and add strollers and car seats, with support from Zero Waste Washington. The committee did not take final votes on these bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third part of the bill relates to a reverter clause for land conveyance affecting military entities
• The bill relates to a reverter clause for land conveyances affecting military entities.
• Section 253.025 contains a reverter clause that allows the state to reclaim property if conditions are
• I get that this bill is not as harsh on employers as, well, actually, I have it reversed here.
• That may happen in the supremacy clause, we'll kick in there.

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism considered a series of bills affecting tax policy, workforce development, business regulation, consumer protection, rural development, and artificial intelligence. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million beginning with the 2027 allocation, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1266 would create a cybersecurity experiential internship and clearance-readiness program with the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida; an amendment removed an appropriation from the bill, and the committee reported it favorably. SB 554, a broad update to Florida’s not-for-profit corporation law, was also reported favorably after supportive testimony from Florida Bar representatives. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive sales and predatory financing practices, received strong support from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which provides rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, was likewise reported favorably. SB 214, expanding the rural community definition to include special districts in rural counties for economic development purposes, was reported favorably. SPB 7030, a public records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations, was adopted as a committee bill and favorably reported. The committee also heard extensive discussion on SB 998, the Department of Commerce package. The bill would modernize the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program, clarify rural community eligibility for certain unincorporated areas, exempt military entities from a reverter clause on land conveyances, and revise E-Verify enforcement procedures. Members questioned the E-Verify provisions, including penalties, protections for workers incorrectly flagged, and the treatment of gig workers. Senator Smith opposed the bill, arguing it creates unequal treatment between employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. Despite the debate, SB 998 was reported favorably, with Senators Bracy Davis, Smith, and Errington voting no. The committee also took up SB 482, an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” that would create consumer protections for companion chatbots, require parental consent and access for minors, mandate periodic disclosures that users are interacting with AI, restrict certain uses of personal data and likenesses, and give the Attorney General enforcement authority. The bill drew both support and criticism: supporters emphasized child safety, transparency, and consumer protection, while opponents raised concerns about privacy, broad definitions, lack of audit mechanisms, and the absence of a private right of action for adults. Senators Smith and Davis urged clearer definitions and stronger accountability, but both said the bill was a starting point. The committee reported SB 482 favorably. The meeting ended with recorded affirmative votes requested by Senators Yarbrough, Wright, and Davis on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court to reverse the Obergefell decision.
• The Committee on Military moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause
• Chairman. ...to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause.
• Senator Morris moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause.
• Everything after the enacting clause. Senator from Randolph. Thank you, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest introductions, including students, community leaders, food bank representatives, and visitors connected to Hunger Free West Virginia Day. A resolution recognizing March 10, 2026, as Hunger Free West Virginia Day was adopted, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 on the Southern West Virginia water crisis was referred to the Rules Committee. The chamber also heard remarks highlighting Hunger Free West Virginia’s work and a West Virginia company, Unigen, developing pharmaceutical manufacturing in the state. The Senate concurred with House amendments and passed several measures, including Senate Bill 467 on enforcement of Purple Heart parking spaces, Senate Bill 712 on cattle guards on certain public roads, and Senate Bill 781, a supplemental appropriation measure that was also made effective from passage. The chamber then adopted and passed Senate Bill 844, a large supplemental appropriation to the Department of Human Services, and Senate Bill 87, a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Commerce, both effective from passage. Other third-reading bills passed included the Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism, dementia, or intellectual and developmental disabilities; coverage for scalp cooling systems during chemotherapy; expansion of sex-offender registration to include solicitation of a minor and non-consensual disclosure of private images; child safety reporting requirements for school personnel; age-verification requirements for websites hosting harmful sexual material; free Gold Star parent vehicle registration; online training and updated standards for sanitarians; sheriff hiring authority; organ donor registration through voter registration; a Cold Case Task Force; abandoned vehicle title procedures; nutrition continuing education for physicians; special plate rules; gift card fraud offenses; protections for athletic officials; in-year school personnel movement; administrative services powers; pharmacy benefit manager regulation; vape shop regulation; reduced parole supervision fees; disability service credit for certain troopers; property valuation reporting changes; and quarterly Hope Scholarship payments. The Senate also advanced a large number of House bills and committee substitutes on second reading, including supplemental appropriations and measures on mental health examinations, dog registration rules, juvenile jurisdiction on military installations, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, a statewide prevention plan, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment levy treatment, and Commerce Department rules for microgrid districts and high-impact data centers. Several committee amendments were adopted, and many bills were advanced to third reading without objection. No executive communications were reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• So at the director's suggestion, we added this notwithstanding clause, which means that this becomes
• Number two, added the notwithstanding clause. Number three, got rid of the word "fully."
• Number two, added the notwithstanding clause. Number three, got rid of the word "fully."
• Number two, added the notwithstanding clause. Number three, got rid of the word "fully."
• We also are adding a notwithstanding clause.

Summary: The Solid Waste Subcommittee met to discuss proposed amendments to HB 171 and HB 215. For HB 171, Representative Gerna outlined technical changes to a landfill moratorium bill: DES would be allowed to accept applications only to review them for completeness, a notwithstanding clause would override automatic approval timing rules, the word “fully” would be removed, and an unnecessary reference to perennial water bodies would be deleted. Members raised concern about whether applications deemed complete during the moratorium would still have to comply with later changes in law or rule. Director Mike Whap of DES said applicants would likely need to amend applications if policy changes occurred, and suggested the bill could explicitly state that later changes apply to pending applications. The subcommittee generally supported the revised language and agreed the amended bill could go directly to executive session, though one member said the underlying legislation was ill-advised but preferred the amended version over the original. The committee then turned to HB 215, which would create a two-stage landfill siting review centered on a “net public benefit” determination before full technical review. Representative Gerna explained that the amendment would define net public benefit, require an independent third-party assessment paid for by the applicant, and set up a process for selecting the contractor from a list submitted by the applicant, with DES and the host community involved and the commissioner choosing if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked how “host community” would be defined; DES said it would generally mean the municipal governing body, though that body could appoint others. The amendment also broadened the factors considered in both harms and benefits, including human health, property values, tourism, recreation, wildlife, local economic benefits, and infrastructure improvements. The discussion also added a provision directing DES to consult with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as needed when reviewing the third-party assessment. Director Whap said interdepartmental consultation is normal and that DES would likely adopt rules to guide the process. Members questioned whether the new framework would be too vague or burdensome for applicants, but Whap said it would not be designed to stack the deck against applicants and that the process should provide clearer, more balanced criteria. No votes were taken during the meeting, and the subcommittee appeared to continue refining the amendment language before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even states that allow these products have seen failures and are reversing course.
• We can reverse overdoses to hard drugs such as fentanyl, but we cannot reverse intoxication from this
• Now, I want to get at the Supremacy Clause and the Commerce Clause.
• I focused on the Supremacy Clause, but the Commerce Clause is also a part of the discussion.
• And when you get to the Supremacy Clause, there are, again, certain aspects that the state has the right

Bills: HB28 , SB3 , SB 3

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program

Transcript Highlights:

• improvements, House No. 4001, having been amended by the Senate by striking out all the enacting clause
• While it does begin to reverse the trend of spending that's reflected in this chart just a little bit
• adopted supplemental budget and the GAA, if it is to be accepted today, Of $1 billion for the MBTA, reversing

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe also then the state land department had a sunset clause that they've offered as well.
• The complications of going the other, reverse, you'd shut down a third of the domestic supply of electricity
• The complications of going the other, reverse, you'd shut down a third of the domestic supply of electricity

Bills: SB2339

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Summary: The Energy and Natural Resources Committee continued work on House Bill 1459, which concerns rare earth and critical mineral recovery from North Dakota lignite coal. Testimony from UND researcher Dan Ludo and industry representative David Straely focused on the urgency of developing the process quickly, the technical differences between extracting minerals from coal versus ash, and the potential value of elements such as terbium, dysprosium, gallium, germanium, and synthetic graphite. Straely argued the bill is constitutional, limited to minerals within the coal seam, and needed to avoid years of quiet title litigation and provide certainty for development and compensation to royalty owners. Committee members raised questions about landowner rights, compensation levels, possible amendments from the Department of Trust Lands, and whether the bill should be modified to address constitutional concerns or sunset provisions. No final action was taken on HB 1459; the chair said parties could work on language until Monday before the committee revisits it. The committee then returned to House Bill 1579, a high-load study bill with a possible energy infrastructure investment amendment. Jody Smith of the Retirement and Investment Office presented updated language adding guardrails for in-state infrastructure investing, including requiring approved projects to be underwritten and managed by a qualified investment manager or financial institution and to follow the Legacy Fund investment policy. Members discussed whether the amendment had been shared with the House sponsor and noted that the related bill 1330 was still pending, so HB 1579 was being held for the time being. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1566, which had an amendment from the Agriculture Commissioner’s office. The committee adopted the amendment 7-0, then passed a due-pass motion on the amended bill and referred it to Appropriations, also by a 7-0 vote. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal impact, including an estimated $580,000 for two FTEs over two years, and clarified that the study component remains in the bill. Senator Gerhardt was assigned to carry the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• But yeah, the Magna Carta had 63 clauses.
• Twenty-seven of the 63 clauses dealt with the power of the sheriff. Twenty-three of 67?
• Little things that we think about, like the reverse 9-1-1, we do that.
• Like the reverse 9-1-1. We do that.
• As long as you was displaying it, I think we're confronted with the problem in reverse almost, right?

Summary: The commission opened an informal discussion focused on developing recommendations for its September report on correctional consolidation and cooperation. Chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger emphasized that the group is still in an information-gathering phase, but should begin putting ideas on the table, including possible written recommendations, further hearings, and additional facility tours. Members discussed whether the commission should seek more input from frontline stakeholders such as sheriffs, probation, parole, reentry centers, unions, and the judiciary, and whether recommendations should be organized around specific issue areas like medical costs, programming, reentry, and facility operations. A major theme was the need for a more integrated and consistent correctional system. Participants raised concerns about fragmentation across DOC, county sheriffs, probation, and parole, and suggested exploring step-down pathways, minimum security, pre-release, day reporting, and regional reentry hubs to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism. Several speakers stressed the importance of uniform standards, evidence-based programming, better data on outcomes and spending, and clearer alignment between custody conditions and rehabilitation goals. There was also discussion of looking to other states and international models, as well as revisiting older reports and plans, including the 2009 commission report and the 2010 corrections master plan. Facility-specific issues were also raised, including the need to examine women’s facilities such as Framingham, Bridgewater, and restrictive housing practices in light of suicide concerns and mental health needs. Members discussed the relationship between correctional custody and behavioral health, the role of the judiciary in sentencing and reentry planning, and whether judges should be better informed about available programming and step-down options. There was broad agreement that collaboration, transparency, and accountability should be strengthened, with some members urging that recommendations be based on firsthand facts and data rather than opinion alone. The meeting also included presentation of a written set of eight high-level recommendations compiled by advocacy and legal organizations, which focused on clearer and more consistent programming, equitable application of rules, and reducing punitive conditions that function like solitary confinement. The chairs said the document would be shared with members and posted online. No formal votes were taken during the discussion, and the meeting ended with plans to continue the conversation at a future session, including possible follow-up on reentry centers, restrictive housing, and other systemwide reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we hope and pray for the day that it's reversed. But we're operating within those confines.
• Equal Protection Clause... ...the First Amendment freedom to associate, all right?
• So you could argue that the Equal Protection Clause, if another bill that didn't accurately reflect the
• Reverse racism does not exist. As this body talks in circles about race,...
• Reverse racism does not exist.

Bills: SB116 , SB121 , SB130 , SB407

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have those owner damages for delays clauses like I spoke to earlier, there's going to be more
• for brackish groundwater treatment using reverse osmosis.
• for brackish groundwater treatment using reverse osmosis.
• And second, reverse osmosis technology has become standard for desalination projects worldwide.
• The plant is reverse osmosis, where the brackish water is forced through a series of membranes.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So can you tell me why there's an emergency clause to this then? Yes, Mr.
• This is an emergency-seeking clause bill.
• I know that there's an emergency clause attached to this.
• Speaker, I move that House Bill 2 do now pass with the emergency clause.
• House Bill 2 with an emergency clause. The vote is now open.

Transcript Highlights:

• . $50 million for rural health care and spending up to $120 million in reversion from the Medicaid main
• Chairman, that this has some anti-donation clause issues. The rule is unconstitutional.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Support ongoing discussions about the anti-donation clause, which creates significant barriers for the
• We'll plan to report to you then also on actual Reversions from last year.
• And finally, on reversions, directing future reversions from general funds capital appropriations to
• And then just my final thought on D, the reversions to go into a capital.
• Reversions in terms of dollars that can inform where you all might want to send this.

Transcript Highlights:

• Safety clause.
• the general assembly 8 safety clause the general assembly finds<01:38:22.880><c> 12</c><01:38:23.119
• Section one repeals CRS 18-12-415, the firearms dealer state permit requirements. clause of the bill
• </c> left the safety clause. Ruff Richardson. left the safety clause. Ruff Richardson.
• Why are we doing this when we clause.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, a known reversion to a property taxation midlife creates...
• Additionally, a known reversion to a property taxation midlife creates an uncertainty that does affect
• A known reversion to a property taxation midlife creates uncertainty that does affect the finance return
• roll call vote on the passage of the bill be considered the roll call vote on the effective date clause
• Hearing no objection, the effective date clause has been adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the misuse of the emergency clause was so egregious that they didn't even try to mask it.
• The tax increase was passed six to one using the emergency clause. There was no emergency.
• Just through an emergency clause, they overturned a vote of the people.
• They used the emergency clause for that.
• With the one-cent increase in the sales tax, that was a 34% increase on an emergency clause.

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1036, which would tighten unemployment insurance eligibility by requiring five weekly work-search actions, weekly reporting, cross-checks against data sources for fraud or ineligibility, and employer reporting of refusals to return to work or accept suitable work. The sponsor argued the bill would reduce fraud and improve program integrity, while DES said it was neutral but warned of system-update costs, added workload, and more appeals; some members raised concerns about apprenticeship programs and administrative burden. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then recommended the bill do pass as amended on a 4-3 vote. Next, the committee considered SB 1054, a strike-everything amendment to make city and town emergency measures subject to referendum. Supporters, including Payson’s mayor, former mayor, and council members, said local governments had abused emergency clauses to push through tax increases and bond measures without voter input. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns opposed the measure, arguing it would undermine true emergency powers and slow city responses. The committee adopted the amendment and then recommended the bill do pass as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then heard SCR 1022, which would increase the House from 60 to 90 members beginning in 2033, with a later amendment delaying implementation to 2043. Senator Mesnard said the change would improve representation by reducing the number of constituents per member and nesting three House districts within each Senate district; some members and a public witness supported the idea, while others questioned cost, feasibility, and the effect on legislative power. The committee adopted the amendment and recommended the resolution do pass as amended on a 5-2 vote. Finally, the committee quickly passed SB 1271, barring municipalities from penalizing businesses based on the number of emergency calls or the value of stolen/damaged property, with exceptions for malicious or false calls, and SB 1437, requiring public records to be provided in the least expensive electronic format with fees limited to material costs. Both measures received unanimous or near-unanimous support after brief testimony, and the committee also began hearing SB 1439, a strike-everything amendment creating a Conservative Grassroots Network specialty plate, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• to 2027 for when employment contracts are subject and enforceable under AB692 and adds an urgency clause
• These restrictive covenants are clauses in leases or property agreements that limit what businesses can
• You're not in reverse order. Just saying, no, no, no.
• I should have announced at the outset we are not going in reverse order next week. Okay.
• Reverse order next week. Okay. Yes, the Bs are still. Bauer-Kahan is grateful. All right.

Committee: Senate Judiciary