Transcript Highlights:

• ahead and you know what day you can plan ahead and you know what day you can<00:38:50.480><c> switch
• on that you know um so I wasn't planning on that you know um so I think<01:01:33.000><c> that</c><01
• </c><04:19:51.359><c> and</c><04:19:51.520><c> RFP</c> hiring planning and RFP hiring planning and RFP
• If the parties are planning strategies, each party is allowed to confidentially plan their strategy.
• to confidentially plan party is allowed to confidentially plan their<04:22:24.760><c> strategy</c><04

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232, which would protect health care workers’ conscience rights in connection with certain procedures, especially abortion and sterilization, and also referenced contraception. The prime sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, said the bill is meant to prevent medical professionals from being forced to participate in procedures that violate their beliefs, while still prohibiting discrimination against patients based on protected characteristics. He said the measure was intended to help retain health care workers in New Hampshire and noted he had added an amendment to address concerns about people taking jobs only to later refuse duties, as well as emergency situations where a provider is the only one available. Committee members raised concerns about how broadly the bill and amendment were written. Questions focused on whether the protections could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers, receptionists, or pharmacy employees; whether a provider could refuse to schedule, refer, or otherwise assist with services; and how “emergency” would be determined in practice. Several members also questioned whether the bill could affect access to contraception, including pharmacy sales and procedures such as tubal ligation, and whether the language was clear enough to prevent confusion or unintended refusals of care. Pearson said the bill was not intended to allow refusal of emergency care or general patient discrimination, and he acknowledged some language could be tweaked. Rep. Paige Boerman, a maternal-child health nurse, testified in opposition, saying she had seen pharmacists question prescriptions related to miscarriage care and that the bill could create barriers to contraception and other reproductive health services. She warned that the lack of a disclosure requirement and the broad definitions could create risks, especially in rural areas with limited providers. She also pointed to problems she said had occurred in other states, arguing the bill could lead to delayed care in emergencies. The hearing ended after questions and discussion; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They certainly would hopefully do that in part of a generalized security plan.
• They certainly would hopefully do that in part of a generalized security plan.
• They certainly would hopefully do that in part of a generalized security plan.
• They're already planning a crime before they pick up a gun.
• Are they planning on is going to study.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that the uh the federal EPA is planning that the uh the federal EPA is planning to<00:34:11.520>
• </c> lock in my seats and other inputs plan lock in my seats and other inputs plan my<00:46:11.359><c
• </c> 25 so uh that was what we were planning 25 so uh that was what we were planning for<00:55:48.280
• This bill more closely aligns DEED's OBD with that plan.
• plan, and that those goals within that plan are defined within the scope of this bill.

Bills: HF44 , HF2102 , HF2279 , HF2280 , HF2281

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But the agencies are executing on that plan and following that plan.
• Do y'all have plans then to implement the policy?
• OK, so there's not a process or a plan.
• do planning requirements, under this state law, planning requirements, under a different state law,
• planning requirements.

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll tell you what this bill really did, though, is it really put us in a position. to do joint planning
• One of the things that we did early on was to develop a strategic plan. and a strategic plan for the
• You will see the three main categories of our state workforce plan and our strategic plan.
• , this workforce plan, and the tri-agency initiative.
• If either one of them is reduced, then our 10-year plan can't be realized. Thank you very much.

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I was planning on having Loretto Mayor Kent Cook to give more details.
• systems' planning for those systems' replacements. replacements. replacements.
• </c> took a few years to put the 10-year plan took a few years to put the 10-year plan into<01:06:14.440
• We've created a plan to remove the lines over the next decade.
• Um, at the just trying to plan forward.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• that's been here for a while, and I think there may be some room as this goes over to the House, and I plan
• It almost was like a smear campaign instead of locking into factual stuff, which all of these institutions
• It felt like a smear campaign to me. We are better than that.
• Felt<01:17:44.960><c> like</c><01:17:45.040><c> a</c><01:17:45.199><c> smear</c><01:17:45.679><c> campaign

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1948, they said that as seven countries invade Israel with the plan of slaughtering every Jew, we
• seem to fret more over anti-occupation protests than very successful online neo-Nazi radicalization campaigns
• Whoever wants to go next, please. radicalization campaigns.
• I fear the for radicalization campaigns.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 77, which would allow comprehensive universities to pursue doctoral programs under a new approval process and, in the original bill, would also change who may serve on the EPSB board for small colleges and universities. The sponsor and Council on Postsecondary Education representative explained that the committee substitute removed the current statutory prohibition on comprehensive universities offering certain doctoral degrees, but added eligibility guardrails: a 77% first-to-second-year retention rate, a 56% six-year graduation rate, and three months of unrestricted cash reserves. They said the thresholds were based on national data placing institutions in roughly the top quartile, and that CPE would still review proposals for mission fit, workforce need, fiscal impact, and, where applicable, programmatic accreditation and legislative appropriations. EKU President David McFaden supported creating a pathway for comprehensive universities, said Kentucky is unusual in having an explicit statutory prohibition, and urged the committee to keep the standards attainable and durable. The committee approved the bill and adopted a title amendment, with the motion passing unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, which addresses antisemitism on postsecondary campuses. Senator Tichenor said the resolution responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023, and would require campuses to notify students each semester of Title VI rights, complaint procedures, existing harassment policies, and available Jewish student resources. It would also direct campuses to disband student organizations found to provide material support to known terrorist organizations, report such matters to law enforcement, and collect and report antisemitism data to CPE for posting on its website. A guest speaker from the Kentucky Jewish Council described a sharp increase in reported incidents, including harassment, threats, vandalism, and hostile campus activity, and argued that schools have often done too little to respond. He said the resolution was amended to protect free speech while ensuring Jewish students receive the same protections as other protected groups. The transcript ends while testimony on the resolution was still underway, before any committee vote on SJR 55.

Transcript Highlights:

• Collaborative of Arizona is an inaugural member of the National Academy of Medicine's Changemaker campaign

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Kai Sun. Members also welcomed newly sworn Representative Cody Rhyme and congratulated Sergeant-at-Arms Chuck Fitzgerald on his recent wedding. Several members introduced guests and visiting groups, including pharmacists at Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, the Arizona Education Association, the Well-Being Collaborative of Arizona, and local officials and constituents from around the state. The chamber then took up House Resolution 2001, which designated March 18, 2026 as Health Workforce Well-Being Day in Arizona. The resolution cited burnout and workforce shortages among physicians, nurses, medical students, residents, pharmacists, and other health professionals, and urged state officials and health organizations to prioritize workforce well-being. It was adopted without objection to waive first and second reading, and Representative Bliss introduced guests connected to the Well-Being Collaborative. The House also considered several bills on third reading. House Bill 2375, relating to housing and historic neighborhoods, drew extensive debate over local control, historic preservation, housing shortages, and concerns about exclusion and segregation; it passed 31-24, but without the required two-thirds vote for its emergency clause. House Bill 2931, concerning the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board, passed 36-19, and House Bill 2992, creating a child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention pilot program, passed 35-20 after debate over whether funds should instead support broader sex education. Senate Bill 1010, substituted for House Bill 4027 and relating to historic names, passed 33-22. The House also handled committee assignments, referrals, and first readings of additional Senate bills before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Collaborative of Arizona is an inaugural member of the National Academy of Medicine's Changemaker campaign

Transcript Highlights:

• Samuel Lee with Campaign Life Missouri, a registered lobbyist, to go on record in support of House Bill

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> to</c><00:17:57.240><c> do</c><00:17:57.840><c> sure</c><00:17:58.559><c> um</c> the bicyclist plans
• to do sure um the bicyclist plans to do sure um I<00:17:59.799><c> am</c><00:17:59.919><c> not</c><00
• I wasn't planning on testifying for the record. My name is Ellen Reed.
• You need strong enforcement, an effective law, and an education campaign.
• think of this concept as a campaign think of this concept as a three-legged<01:18:23.320><c> stool</

Summary: The Transportation Committee held a public hearing on HB 249, which would allow bicycles, and in the bill’s language human-powered vehicles and e-bikes, to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs when safe. The bill sponsor, Rep. Seth Miller, said the measure is intended to improve cyclist safety and traffic flow at no cost to the state, citing Idaho and Delaware as examples where similar laws were associated with fewer crashes or injuries. He emphasized that the bill would remain optional, would not let cyclists ignore cross traffic, and would help riders avoid the unstable “wobble” that comes from repeatedly stopping and starting, especially on cargo bikes or other heavier bicycles. Committee members raised concerns about predictability, liability, and whether the proposal creates a special class of vehicle. Rep. Crawford asked why the bill also addresses left turns on red for one-way streets; Miller said that provision is meant to address situations where bicycles do not trigger signal equipment and could otherwise be stranded at a light. Rep. Gannon questioned the lack of explicit liability language, and Miller said he did not know of a separate provision but would be open to an amendment if the committee wanted clearer language. Rep. Hill and Rep. Emble expressed concern that other drivers would not know what cyclists intend to do and that the bill could create special rules; Miller responded that cyclists would still be required to yield and that the law would not change right-of-way rules. Several witnesses testified in support. Michael Frank, a Spofford cyclist and League cycling instructor, said the bill would help him safely commute and carry heavy groceries by reducing the effort and exposure involved in restarting after a full stop. Tim Blagden, former head of the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, said the bill reflects how many people already ride, saves energy and time, and would still require cyclists to stop at red lights unless the intersection is clear. He also noted that traffic signals often do not detect bicycles. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why she failed to disclose her service on the board of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, a highly
• I would have asked about her service on the board while Planned Parenthood Advocates was promoting an
• But that's precisely what Planned Parenthood thought. Well, Ms. Foote. Well, Ms.
• Well, what plans do you have to utilize the power of the latest tech advantage?
• The state employee health plan is self-funded. Blue Cross is a contractor for it.

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that's precisely what Planned Parenthood thought. Well, Ms.
• Foote. ...position, but that's precisely what Planned Parenthood thought, while Ms.
• Well, what plans do you have to utilize the power of the latest tech advantage?
• And, you know, you're talking about the state employee health plan.
• The state employee health plan is self-funded. Blue Cross is a contractor for it.

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Sarah Shanard, and I'm the voting rights program manager for the New Hampshire Campaign for
• "The New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights is committed to supporting legislation that expands and
• Again, so it allows an out clause for those towns that have a plan and can do it.
• </c> and you can just submit your your plan and you can just submit your your plan to<01:32:16.080><c
• </c> that you now have to submit a whole plan that you now have to submit a whole plan to<01:34:08.960

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Just like the governor and, you know, the budget planning was faced with hard decisions, we're faced
• Is it the plan of the governor's office currently to make these changes in May if this language does
• We did cut regional planning commission grants, GR, a little over half a million.
• And then we have a cut to the nursing home staffing campaign there on line 34, line 35.
• If you had gotten new information about the spend plan, I would be interested in seeing it.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I fall back on that these people can campaign for their positions and any information they want
• to put in their party affiliation in their campaign material.
• Uh, planning boards or the regulations that we have right now, you know, both the member from the uh
• Let's put it that way. can speak. uh planning boards or the can speak. uh planning boards or the regulations
• wanted for the citizens, what they wanted from the master plan.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Fortunately, today we have a lot of district attorneys, activist district attorneys. attorneys who have campaigned
• go after police officers and prosecute if not persecute police officers in order to support their campaign

Bills: SB693 , SB781 , SB836 , SB860 , SB906 , SB993 , SB1101 , SB1321 , SB1370 , SB1537 , SB1563 , SB1610 , SB1637

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will allow us to continue to provide the consumer protection that's needed. campaign Finance the
• Consumer Finance campaign Finance the Consumer Finance Protection<00:06:40.840><c> Bureau</c><00:06:

Transcript Highlights:

• I wasn't planning on testifying, but I changed my mind.
• It's how a lot of educators across our state see this bill, as part of a smear campaign.
• I mean, all of the comments, and I didn't plan to talk tonight or speak tonight on this bill.
• In fact, I don't know if he's planning on participating, but we've got a school superintendent.
• I ultimately chose teaching, planning to work in my favorite subject, mathematics.

Bills: HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24 , HB4 , HB54 , HB775 , HB850 , HB 1122 , HB 1249 , HB1405 , HB2336 , HB2757 , HB3372 , HB3622 , HB4442 , HB4687 , HB4893 , HB5089 , HB5515 , HB5606 , SB10 , SB24 , HB1573 , HB3369

Committee: House Public Education