Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is just one of the largest migration hubs in the U.S., so we're exchanging with Texas as well.
• Texas is just one of the largest migration hubs in the U.S., so we're exchanging with Texas as well.
• Population in, you know, Texas or New York or Pennsylvania, what have you.
• Florida gained the most immigrants, Texas second, California, New York, New Jersey.
• So, yeah, so Texas...

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Transcript Highlights:

• It has typically included the southern part of the country: New Mexico, Texas, and Arkansas.
• See is a press release; you'll see it in our managed care contract, and there will be billable codes.
• About 32 calls, and then from there we coded it properly.
• The other thing is, you know, on page 17, when we start talking about The West Texas Intermediate oil
• Chair and Senator, yes, we are. able to track it pretty much to Texas and Mexico, but a large portion

Transcript Highlights:

• Given the administration's view about health and safety, luckily this is in the agriculture area, not
• Conflict of interest at UC is already strictly regulated by Public Contract Code Section 10516 in the
• These protections are also bolstered by the Political Reform Act, with Government Code Section 87100.
• So is this more of... ...so there are all of these conflict-of-interest codes already in statute.
• It seems like you already have lots of code, or a lot of statutes in code already, so I'm trying to understand

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard several bills related to school nutrition, campus safety, college financial aid, and UC contracting ethics. SB 1058 by Senator McNerney would remove price as the primary factor in school nutrition procurement grants, allowing districts more flexibility to prioritize quality, local sourcing, cultural responsiveness, and healthier meals. Supporters from school nutrition and education groups said it would help districts better serve students and local farmers without increasing state costs. After questions about vendor selection and safeguards against favoritism, the bill was moved do pass and later approved 7-0. SB 1140 by Senator Ashby, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers, would require school safety plans to address access control during construction, maintenance, and repair projects. Supporters said the bill closes a gap that can leave gates or doors unsecured and could help prevent unauthorized access to campuses. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill unanimously. SB 959 was also taken up on consent and passed. SB 1006 by Senator Padilla would raise the Cal Grant B Access Award and tie future increases to inflation using the California Consumer Price Index. Supporters said the current award has lost most of its value and does not cover basic needs like housing, food, transportation, and books, affecting hundreds of thousands of students. Members discussed the fiscal impact and the need to keep aid aligned with rising costs; the bill was moved forward and later approved 7-0. SB 1141 by Senator Wahab would bar UC contracts with businesses that pay UC executives or where executives serve in paid roles, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest. UC and the Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill as too broad and potentially disruptive to operations, while supporters argued existing rules are insufficient because many contracting decisions happen outside public view. After extended debate over recusal, transparency, and the scope of the restrictions, the committee passed the bill 4-2 and then finalized all bills on the agenda before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 841, although it's titled expropriation, is dealing with landman code of conduct.
• But if you look in line three in the title, it says to establish a code of conduct.
• Making it product agnostic for the code of conduct. That's correct. That's correct.
• Code of conduct for the landman.
• It's my understanding in Texas, there is no legacy lawsuits. Is that correct? Correct.

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and took up several bills related to property rights, expropriation, renewable energy recycling, and local permitting. Representative Domangue first presented HCR 80 on private property rights, using it to highlight the 2025 landman code of conduct and the need for stronger guardrails in expropriation negotiations. She then deferred the resolution in order to allow Chairman Geymann to present HB 841, which was described as establishing a code of conduct for landmen and expropriation-related negotiations. The committee heard testimony and watched video examples from landowners describing intimidation, inadequate compensation offers, and the need for fair treatment. Amendments were adopted to broaden the bill to all certificate holders, prohibit threats about court costs and attorney fees, shorten response times, and add graduated fines and public posting for violations. HB 841 was reported favorably as amended, with no opposition cards recorded. The committee then considered HB 621 by Representative Coates, which would require recycling of decommissioned renewable energy infrastructure to the extent practical. After discussion with DEQ, the bill was amended to clarify that existing universal waste rules apply and to remove language that would have required the renewable facility owner to pay decommissioning costs in that section; the effective date was set for January 1, 2027. Testimony from renewable energy industry representatives supported the measure and explained that solar panels and related components can be recycled at high rates, with established markets for recovered materials. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 621 favorably. Next, Representative Jacob Landry presented HB 595, aimed at preventing local governments from unreasonably delaying or impeding energy projects through permit requirements, especially road permits affecting Haynesville Shale operations. After amendment, the bill required timely action on local road permits and deemed them approved if not acted on within 30 days. Supporters emphasized the economic importance of the Haynesville and the need for predictable permitting, while opponents argued the bill could further erode local authority, particularly regarding carbon capture and sequestration. The committee reported HB 595 favorably. Landry then presented HB 1191, creating a certificate of compliance process for oilfield and exploration and production sites to provide a cleaner path for cleanup, finality, and future investment. The bill drew technical and substantive amendments, including changes to definitions, confidentiality, and the role of DEQ; discussion continued over whether the bill should be deferred to allow more time to work through the remaining issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal code in question is 18 U.S.C.
• The definition of machine gun in this RS is the same as the federal code.
• That is what we are trying to make sure is in the code.
• Subsection 6 cites Idaho Code...
• And so I'll do my best to recall, but under that Idaho Code section, which has been in place for about

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have that in our DO with, like, Texas, Arkansas, which then would make them eligible to do what

Bills: SB206 , SB640 , SB667 , SB1344 , SB1380 , SB1423 , SB1425 , SB1436 , SB1484 , SB1500 , SB1502 , SB1503 , SB1557 , SB1562 , SB1572 , SB1644 , SB1645 , SB1794 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1849 , SB1984 , SB2007 , SB2074

Committee: House Health and Human Services Oversight

Keywords: SB206, emergency medical services, EMS, ambulance, 911 response, emergency response, essential services, federal funding, grant funding, public health, health care facility, municipality, county, ambulance service district, tribal entity, public entity, contract ambulance service, Oklahoma, 63 O.S. 2021 Section 1-2502, emergency clause

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Department of Agriculture. Department of Agriculture.
• </c><00:14:43.279><c> program</c> community supported agriculture program community supported agriculture
• It's a subscription agriculture program.
• </c> agriculture. Okay. agriculture. Okay.
• </c> Martin Gatton College of Agriculture Martin Gatton College of Agriculture Food<01:18:31.600><c>

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” efforts. Chair Funky Fromm opened by describing a recent foot injury from a road hazard and used it to emphasize the importance of infrastructure, nutrition, sleep, and activity as part of a broader wellness culture. The main witnesses were Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, Holly Harris of Appalachian Regional Health Care (ARH), and Jim Muser of the Kentucky Hospital Association. Shell and Harris described a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Hospital Association, and hospitals such as ARH to connect local farmers with hospital cafeterias, farmers markets, CSA-style subscription food boxes, and medically tailored meals. Harris said ARH serves a large region with 14 hospitals, more than 95 clinics, about 6,700 employees, and 1,300 medical staff, and that the system began by improving employee food options because hospital workers often have limited access to healthy meals during shifts. They reported examples such as a local-protein burger, parking-lot farmers markets, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and plans for container gardens at some hospitals. The witnesses said the program is intended to improve health outcomes, reduce readmissions, support chronic disease management, and also increase rural prosperity by expanding demand for Kentucky farm products. Shell said more than 40 hospitals had already been onboarded into the food-is-medicine program, with measurable outcomes being studied through pilots such as one at Russell County Hospital. He also noted that some systems, including CHI St. Joseph Health, Taylor Regional, and UK King’s Daughters, have formally embedded food-as-medicine goals into strategic plans. Members and witnesses also discussed barriers, especially the lack of reimbursement, fragmented short-term funding, and regulatory or purchasing hurdles that make it difficult for small farmers to participate. Shell said the goal is to make the model scalable and easier for hospitals and farmers to navigate, while Harris emphasized that ARH has been funding its efforts without reimbursement because of its mission. No votes or formal policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said some use coded language like “age inappropriate” while banning it from libraries used by 17-
• And so one of the things that I wanted to get into, having been from Texas, which I can't even say the
• formerly great state of Texas, I serve as a warning, as a canary in the coal mine, if you will.
• What people want in Texas, what they want in these states in the Deep South, is not religious freedom
• students' right to read and access to high-quality library resources does not depend on their zip code

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development

Summary: The hearing focused on several bills related to access to library materials, including measures addressing book bans and censorship in public and school libraries, as well as legislation on digital library collections and e-book licensing. Committee leaders said testimony would be limited to three minutes and encouraged written submissions. Early testimony from Chair Brian Murray highlighted H. 3595, which would address challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by limiting restrictive publisher-library contract terms, protecting patron confidentiality, and creating a special legislative commission to study the issue. A large number of legislators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, and advocacy groups testified in support of the free expression bills, including H. 3594 and S. 2328, arguing that book challenges in Massachusetts disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC titles and that librarians and educators need protection from retaliation and harassment. Witnesses described local incidents of book removals, threats, and pressure campaigns, and several said the bills would create transparent challenge procedures, keep materials available during reviews, and ensure decisions are made by trained professionals rather than political actors. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office also submitted support, and multiple speakers cited national trends and Massachusetts-specific censorship attempts. Testimony on the digital access bills emphasized that e-books and audiobooks are essential for readers with disabilities, homebound patrons, students, and others who rely on accessible formats, but that current licensing terms are far more expensive and restrictive than print purchasing. Library representatives said libraries spend millions on digital content, face long wait times for popular titles, and often must repeatedly re-rent the same materials. Legal and library experts supported the proposed commission as a practical step toward fairer licensing and stronger bargaining power for libraries. The hearing ended after extensive testimony; no votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a presence at every career fair from here to Texas to Tennessee.
• We actually travel out of state and recruit because... ...from here to Texas to Tennessee.
• We actually travel out of state and recruit because people—I mean, we have people leaving to go be Texas
• So with the Nakesh codes, we keep moving back and forth, and I'm like, hello.
• So with the Nakes codes, we've never really gotten all the Nakes codes to be able to say that when somebody

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A22.
• The amendment is coded A22.
• The amendment is coded A26.
• It had le... my namesake highway in in Katy, Texas. my namesake highway in in Katy, Texas.
• The amendment is coded A38.

Transcript Highlights:

• direct the Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families to ask the United States Department of Agriculture
• Department of Agriculture for a waiver, which would allow us to essentially exempt any form of taxed
• ,</c><00:01:06.640><c> then</c> States Department of Agriculture, then States Department of Agriculture
• Second of all, it's important to understand that the tax code was not designed for nutrition.
• Second of all, it's important to understand that the tax code was not designed for nutrition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maggie Carpenter, has two lawsuits against her from Texas and Louisiana. In New York, Dr.
• Maggie Carpenter has two lawsuits against her from Texas and Louisiana because someone found medication
• country. 437,000 of those fatalities were here in California, the second highest in the nation behind Texas
• Under this framework, randomized audits ensure compliance with health and safety codes, and the approach
• tests at over 15,000 locations across Oakland and found that connections in the highest-income zip code

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a full agenda of bills focused on reproductive health, professional licensing and sunset reviews, consumer protection, and business regulation. Early testimony centered on AB 260, which would protect access to medication abortion, mifepristone, and telehealth reproductive care in California; supporters emphasized state protections against federal restrictions, while an opponent argued the bill removed safety safeguards. The committee also heard AB 714 on closing a loophole in regulation of low-cost commercial driving schools, AB 968 on allowing pharmacists to prescribe non-hormonal contraception, AB 671 on streamlining restaurant permitting, AB 1027 on strengthening cannabis product testing oversight, AB 1271 on broadband pricing and speed transparency, and AB 1332 on narrowly allowing medicinal cannabis shipments for seriously ill patients. Several sunset bills were also taken up, including AB 1482 on animal shelter and breeder transparency, AB 1501 on the Podiatric Medical Board and Physician Assistant Board, AB 1502 on the Veterinary Medical Board, AB 1503 on the Board of Pharmacy, and AB 1504 on the Massage Therapy Council. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, with many bills drawing co-sponsors or support from industry, consumer, or professional groups. AB 1503 generated the most sustained opposition, with nurses, physicians, and drug industry representatives objecting to expanded pharmacy technician ratios, standard-of-care language, and therapeutic interchange authority; supporters argued the bill would modernize pharmacy practice and expand access. AB 1504 also drew mixed testimony, with massage therapy groups supporting continuation of the council but raising concerns about proposed public records and governance provisions. AB 1271 drew a policy dispute over whether broadband reporting requirements duplicated federal FCC processes, while supporters argued California needed its own consumer-facing data and complaint system. After quorum was established later in the hearing, the committee began taking roll-call votes. AB 1271, AB 1332, AB 1482, AB 1501, and AB 1502 were all reported out on due-pass motions, with AB 1271 amended and the others generally amended or as introduced as noted. Earlier bills including AB 260, AB 671, AB 714, AB 968, and AB 1027 also received motions and were approved once the quorum was present. The chair repeatedly noted the lack of quorum during the hearing, but once one was secured, the committee completed votes on the agenda items and advanced the measures to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if you're having to build a bigger, larger-scale apartment building because of building code
• Existing building codes and other rules around fire rating of interior and exterior walls, as well as
• Council will include in the new 2027 building code.
• For example, the 2021 building code was finally adopted last year and is currently under litigation.
• Currently building code requirements, especially and targeted reform to help address that gap.

Committee: Senate Housing and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services met with a quorum, adopted the June 16, 2026 minutes, and then unanimously adopted S-1 substitutes for House Bills 5570 and 5571. The chair said the committee would take testimony and likely not move to final passage that day, in order to allow more discussion and questions. The bills, as substituted, would allow local governments to permit certain multifamily buildings up to four stories to be built or converted with a single staircase, subject to conditions such as limits on units per floor, floor size, and existing fire safety requirements. A sunset provision was described as ending the statute once LARA adopts corresponding building code rules. Representatives Fairbairn and Wooden testified in support, saying the bills are intended to address Michigan’s housing shortage by making smaller infill and “missing middle” projects more feasible and less costly. They argued the current two-stair requirement drives up costs, makes land assembly harder, and limits development on narrow or irregular lots. Senators asked about stair width, emergency safety, the choice of four stories instead of six, and why the American Institute of Architects opposed the approach; the sponsors said the 48-inch stair width was intended to allow two-way movement, four stories was a compromise aligned with expected code changes, and the architects preferred rulemaking over statutory change. Supportive testimony came from Pew Charitable Trusts, which said research from New York City, Seattle, and other places found fire death rates in modern single-stair buildings to be indistinguishable from other multifamily buildings, and that modern safety features such as sprinklers, alarms, and fire-rated construction make these buildings safe. A developer from Ann Arbor and the Michigan Home Builders Association said the reform would improve floor-plan efficiency, reduce wasted circulation space, lower construction costs, and help smaller projects pencil out. Abundant Housing Michigan also supported the bills, estimating they could reduce apartment construction costs by nearly 13%. The clerk read in numerous written cards in support from business, housing, municipal, and advocacy groups, while the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union were listed as neutral. The committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because farm worker housing must be located near agricultural land, often miles from services such as
• Because farm worker housing must be located near agricultural land, often miles from services such as
• live to act, That agricultural communities where farm workers must live to access employment rarely
• As mentioned, farm worker housing, by necessity, must be located near agricultural jobs, often in rural
• This creates structural barriers for housing projects for farm workers in agricultural regions.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm testifying to ask for a fix for seasonal agriculture in the state WARN Act through an amendment to
• Unfortunately, this law applies to seasonal agricultural employers and employees when they lay off 50
• There's an allowance for construction but not agriculture.
• Unfortunately, this law applies to seasonal agricultural employers and employees when they lay off 50
• There's an allowance for construction but not agriculture.

Bills: SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6188

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: unemployment insurance, UI benefits, striking workers, strike, labor dispute, retroactive wages, overpayment assessment, overpayment recovery, Employment Security Department, ESD, claimant notice, benefit recoupment, Washington unemployment law, worker notice, federal unemployment tax credit, state unemployment fund, workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• They are operated by a team in Austin, Texas. My company that I represent is in Austin, Texas.
• By the way, these are already operational in Florida, and Georgia and Texas has approved them to pilot
• ... ...operational in Florida, and Georgia and Texas has approved them to pilot programs to go into effect
• is Senate Bill 504, and I love that it's 504, because if anyone's from New Orleans, that's my zip code
• And, of course, I have a lot of charter schools in the 504 area code.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on May 12, 2026, and first approved SB 518, which gives LSU limited authority to buy and sell certain real estate within one mile of campus as a two-year pilot program. Supporters said the bill would let LSU respond more quickly to deteriorating properties near campus and improve the student experience, while keeping protections such as appraisals and fair-market-value requirements. Members asked about whether the authority would affect residential property or be expanded to other universities, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then advanced SCR 33, creating a one-year Work-Based Learning Coordination Task Force to study and better align apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and related programs across state agencies and employers. Testimony emphasized the need to reduce duplication and improve coordination so students and employers can more easily connect. HR 168 also passed, directing the Board of Regents to study collegiate athletic program funding after concerns raised by athletic directors about deficits and accounting practices. Members next approved SB 488, establishing a school safety drone response pilot program to supplement school crisis plans. The bill drew detailed testimony from a vendor describing drone deployment, response times, and coordination with law enforcement; an amendment was adopted to require coordination with the Department of Education, State Police, and the Sheriffs’ Association. The committee also favorably reported HCR 97, asking BESE and Wildlife and Fisheries to study adding age-appropriate hunting, conservation, and shooting sports education in grades 5-12, with members clarifying that no live firearms would be used on campus. Finally, the committee approved SB 112, allowing local school boards to adopt parental-consent release-time policies for religious instruction, with amendments adding instructor qualifications, reporting requirements, electronic delivery flexibility, and constitutional safeguards. It also reported SB 504, expanding individual graduation plans to include vocational options and apply to charter schools, with an amendment for standalone elementary charters. The committee then passed SB 346 and SB 347, both dealing with deepfakes—one prohibiting their use against K-12 students and the other adding unlawful deepfakes to campus power-based violence rules—and SB 353, authorizing postsecondary systems to digitize student IDs for use in LA Wallet. Several members raised concerns about naming LA Wallet specifically, but the bill was still reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , you know, access your, what's called a wallet or an account that way, or also commonly uses a QR code
• "QR code. So that does involve, of course, the telephone and the camera inside the machine.
• We have a test and launch site out in West Texas.
• we do all of our vertical integration for our New Shepard launch vehicle, which launches from West Texas
• We are competing with states like Colorado, Texas, Florida, and California.

Summary: The committee first held a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks, with the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Council describing how virtual currency kiosks operate, where they are located in Washington, and the rapid growth in transaction volume. DFI said the machines are being used heavily in scams, especially against older and vulnerable consumers, and cited FBI fraud data showing substantial losses. DFI outlined possible consumer protections in pending legislation, including stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane City Council described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and requiring removal of existing ones, citing local scam reports and the difficulty of recovering funds once they are sent through crypto wallets. Committee members asked about how the machines are used, whether the hardware itself is vulnerable, and whether stronger warnings or screening requirements could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs/HESAs, following a legislative report. The report’s author said these products provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but can be difficult for consumers to understand and can produce highly variable settlement costs. The report found the market has grown quickly in Washington, that many consumers using the products had financial hardship, and that many did not fully understand how settlement amounts were calculated. DFI said it views the products as mortgage-like and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures. Industry representatives said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based, support access to home equity for people who may not qualify for traditional loans, and said they are working with DFI on standardized disclosures, counseling, and annual settlement estimates. Senators raised concerns about consumer understanding, cost caps, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages under state law. In the final work session, the committee heard an overview of Washington’s space economy from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major investments in Washington facilities, manufacturing, testing, and workforce training, and described the state as a hub for aerospace and satellite activity. They emphasized job creation, supply-chain spending, and education partnerships, including technician certification and apprenticeship-style programs. Several speakers urged the legislature to expand tax incentives to include space companies, support grants and workforce programs, and consider a state space commission or similar long-term coordination effort. The committee thanked the presenters and noted time constraints before ending the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> over hundred years ago when agriculture over hundred years ago when agriculture was<01:17:03.480
• But the key is the safety of our beneficiaries, so that's why the building code is so important.
• But the key is the safety of our beneficiaries, so that's why the building code is so important.
• But the key is the safety of our beneficiaries, so that's why the building code is so important.
• But the key is the safety of our beneficiaries, so that's why the building code is so important.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you look in line three in the title, it says to establish a code of conduct.
• Making it product agnostic for the code of conduct. That's correct. That's correct.
• Code of conduct for the landman.
• And they add specific graduated fines for a violation of the code of conduct.
• It's my understanding in Texas there is no legacy lawsuits. Is that correct? Correct.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A4.
• There was a Texas law that was upheld in a legal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• There was a Texas law that was upheld in a legal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• There was a Texas law that was upheld in a legal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• There was a Texas law that was upheld in a legal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court.