Transcript Highlights:

• First, it expands eligibility for priority registration for courses at public institutions of higher
• it expands eligibility<00:35:24.480><c> for</c><00:35:24.720><c> priority</c><00:35:25.280><c> registration
• </c> eligibility for priority registration eligibility for priority registration for<00:35:26.160><c>

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• A representative of the farm shall sign a statement in such registration acknowledging that by not processing
• in</c><00:10:27.200><c> such</c> shall sign a statement in such shall sign a statement in such registration
• > acknowledging</c><00:10:29.279><c> that</c><00:10:29.519><c> by</c><00:10:29.760><c> not</c> registration
• acknowledging that by not registration acknowledging that by not processing<00:10:30.399><c> its</c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on House Bill 396, which would exempt meat and meat food products slaughtered and prepared in-state for in-state sale from certain inspections. Representative Comtois explained her amendment, saying she tried to address prior concerns by limiting the number processed monthly, adding a registration and disclaimer requirement, and folding beef, swine, sheep, and goats into the bill’s framework. Members discussed whether some sections from earlier language on bison, elk, and red deer had been inadvertently struck, and Comtois said she did not intend to remove those protections and would restore them if needed. Several members raised drafting and policy concerns. Representative Miner suggested the waiver language should be a signed, notarized statement kept on file rather than filed with the Department of Agriculture, and Comtois agreed. Representative Gruber and Representative Scully discussed labeling and wording, including clarifying that the meat would not be “exempt” from federal inspection in the same way as non-amenable species, and adding language that any prosecution would be federal rather than state. There was also discussion about whether ground meat should be included for the amenable species, with Miner and Comtois indicating that excluding ground meat would reduce risk. Commissioner Sean Jasper of the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food testified strongly against the bill, saying it was a step in the wrong direction, lacked consumer protections, and could jeopardize food safety and the state’s meat processing system. He argued that the federal exemption for non-amenable species could not simply be extended to new species by state law, warned that USDA could respond by withdrawing federal inspections, and said the bill would not solve the real bottlenecks in slaughter capacity. He also said he did not believe there was a general shortage of inspectors, and that the practical issue was producers not scheduling animals year-round, which forces facilities to scale to the slow season. No vote was taken during the work session, and members continued discussing possible amendments and wording changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So does it require any registration or licensure from the manufacturer, or how does?

Transcript Highlights:

• So does it require any registration or licensure from the manufacturer, or how does it...?

Bills: SB1346, SB1376, SB2075, SB2167, SB2864

Keywords: lottery, prohibited sales, winning tickets, sales agents, license revocation, code enforcement, training requirements, supervision, registered officer, occupations code, advisory boards, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, public members, occupational regulations, professional standards, massage therapy, licensing, human trafficking, regulation, Occupations Code

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet you seem to contemplate the state taking action and, you know, the word defend a private entity
• And yet you seem to contemplate the state taking action and, you know, the word defend a private entity
• it just seems a lot uh I guess entity it just seems a lot uh I guess I'm<01:23:01.920><c> asking</c>
• The statute says that for registration, the minimum you pay is $1,000, and so the VoIP providers are
• the for registration and the minimum<02:48:11.040><c> you</c><02:48:11.279><c> pay</c><02:48:11.600>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Johnson: This bill is specific to private equity entities.
• Are they owned by private equity entities? Or you're saying they're...
• The corporate office that holds that entity resides in Wilmington, Delaware.
• The corporate entity is in Florida. Would they be allowed to sell the Delaware facility?
• The corporate office that holds that entity resides in Wilmington, Delaware.

Summary: The House convened with Girl State participants presiding for part of the session, including introductions of the student leadership and a unanimous voice vote passing House Concurrent Resolution 152 honoring the young women participating in Delaware Girl State. The chamber also welcomed congressional interns and other guests, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and observed a moment of silence for Nathan Cynix and Kara Feeley before prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes for Representative Ron Gray, who was recognized for his 14 years of service and his work on issues such as bond bills, dredging, bike paths, small business, constituent service, and agriculture-related funding. Multiple members from both parties praised his humor, honesty, mentorship, and dedication to the House and his district. Gray responded with extended remarks reflecting on his family legacy, legislative service, and appreciation for colleagues and staff, and the chamber later sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at his request. The House then received communications, including Senate messages returning several bills and informing the chamber of Senate passage of additional measures. Members were also told that the FY27 bond bill, House Bill 500, had been placed on desks as a gift for review. The House read in Consent Agenda S, which included House Bill 476, House Joint Resolution 13, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 168, Senate Bill 297, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319, and Senate Joint Resolution 21, and began a roll call vote on the consent agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Congress, as an entity, abhors power sharing, and the Constitution envisioned that Congress fears, as
• </c><00:13:20.279><c> abhor</c><00:13:21.120><c> power</c> Congress as an entity abhor power Congress
• as an entity abhor power sharing<00:13:23.160><c> and</c><00:13:23.279><c> the</c><00:13:23.440><c>
• Each state is a sovereign entity, and so they may complain about it.
• , by proxy of government or by any entity furnishing such knowledge to government.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We rely on other entities to do that, and those entities are being...
• We rely on other entities to do that.
• We actually work with multiple entities.
• This reinforces that no single entity solves access alone.
• Yeah, we weren't an eligible entity to apply.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MassVOTE is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization working to increase voter registration, education, and
• somebody who's been homeless more times than I care to even recall right now and been doing a lot of registration
• So for anybody who's doing board registration work or dealing with the homeless population, just know

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy. A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay. Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also states that lien holders shall begin using electronic title and registration systems beginning
• 04:31.240><c> and</c> using using electronic title and and using using electronic title and and registration
• and issuing somebody a ticket that's really a civil penalty, but can't get your license or your registration

Keywords: Roll Call 00:39 Approval of Minutes 01:45 SB 136 Discussion 02:51 SB 136 Vote 07:14 SB 43 Discussion 08:49 SB 43 Vote 20:02 SB 38 Discussion 20:45 SB 38 Vote 35:50 SJR 66 Discussion only 37:08 Admin. Reg. Review 41:10, 958, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved the March 4 minutes, and then took up several Senate measures. Senate Bill 36, dealing with cleanup language for CAVIS and electronic submission of liens and satisfactions, was amended by committee substitute to require lien holders to begin using electronic title and registration systems starting July 1, 2026. After questions from members and testimony from county clerk Jason Denny and title-industry representative Tom Underwood, the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably with the substitute attached. The committee then considered Senate Bill 43, which updates the medical review board process under KRS 186.444. Senator Donald Douglas and Senator Jimmy Higdon described the bill as a response to complaints about fairness and transparency in medical review cases, including a constituent example involving a disabled veteran whose VA medical clearance was rejected. The bill changes who may serve on the board, adds flexibility and transparency, shifts reimbursement language to allow the Transportation Cabinet to set costs by regulation, and includes provisions aimed at broadening participation by qualified health care providers. Members discussed the role of school resource officers, the use of family affidavits in reporting, and the need to keep costs down; the committee adopted the substitute, approved a title amendment, and reported the bill favorably. Senate Bill 38, concerning stop-arm violations on school buses and the use of cameras and enforcement procedures, also received a committee substitute and was reported favorably. Senator Greg Elkins and supporters said the bill is intended to address widespread illegal passing of stopped school buses and to help fund stop-arm cameras, while critics raised concerns about automated enforcement and the role of a live officer. Members cited survey data and personal stories about school-bus safety, and the sponsor explained that school resource officers would work with local law enforcement on citations, which are contemplated as civil penalties. The committee also heard discussion-only testimony on Senate Joint Resolution 66, which would create a task force on aviation, aerospace, and logistics economic development; no vote was taken on the resolution because it had just passed the Senate and had not yet been formally received by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also does not limit or restrict any current rights of pharmacists who choose to forego registration

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1313, presented by Senator Kelly Anthon and his legal intern, Elizabeth Marshall. The bill would allow pharmacists to voluntarily obtain dual licensure as naturopathic doctors under the Idaho Board of Naturopathic Health Care, provided they already hold an active pharmacist license, earn an approved doctoral degree in naturopathy, and meet competency standards. Supporters said the measure would improve access to natural health care, especially in rural areas, and would not expand the legal scope of practice beyond what Idaho law already allows. During questions, Senator Blaylock asked why the bill was needed and raised concerns about the relationship between pharmacy and naturopathic practice, as well as possible malpractice and standard-of-care issues. Marshall and Anthon responded that the bill is narrowly tailored and voluntary, and that dual licensees would remain subject to both the pharmacist licensing framework and the naturopathic board’s regulation. Anthon added that the bill is intended to protect practitioners who want to incorporate naturopathic methods without risking their primary license or insurance coverage, and said pharmacists had previously declined inclusion but now want to be covered. After discussion, Senator Burke moved to send Senate Bill 1313 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, Senator Zierfeld seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition noted. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• individual, and it does not limit or restrict any current rights of pharmacists who choose to forego registration

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1313, presented by Senator Kelly Anthon and his legal intern, Elizabeth Marshall. The bill would allow pharmacists to seek voluntary dual licensure as naturopathic doctors under the Idaho Board of Naturopathic Health Care, provided they already hold an active pharmacist license, earn an approved naturopathy doctoral degree, and meet competency standards. Supporters said the measure is narrow, voluntary, and intended to give qualified pharmacists a way to incorporate naturopathic methods into practice without exceeding their existing licenses or risking malpractice and scope-of-practice issues. Senator Blaylock questioned why the bill was needed, where it originated, and whether it would create conflicts with pharmacists’ professional role or malpractice coverage. Marshall and Anthon responded that pharmacists often serve as a first point of contact in rural areas and that the bill is meant to provide an optional pathway for those who want to add naturopathic practice while remaining regulated by both their pharmacy license and the naturopathic board. Anthon said pharmacists had previously not wanted to be included in the dual-licensure framework but now do. Senator Burke moved to send Senate Bill 1313 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, Senator Zierfeld seconded, and the committee approved the motion by voice vote with no opposition noted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• by creating two new avenues for veterans to optionally self-identify to the state through voter registration

Bills: HB101, HB290

Keywords: voter approval, local tax, disaster declaration, tax rate increases, community funding, PFAS, agriculture, criminal offense, pollution, Johnson County, environmental regulation, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Usually it's some business entity that is trying to drum up business.
• making requests individuals and entities making requests but<00:43:24.440><c> of</c><00:43:24.599><c
• Come pick them up, and we often would never hear from that corporate entity again. ...come pick them
• Thank you. to students um and all private entities to students um and all private entities that<00:51
• </c> never hear from that corporate entity never hear from that corporate entity again<00:52:41.160><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee opened its hearing with a procedural discussion about a forthcoming Monday hearing, and the chair confirmed that any amendment deemed non-germane would be made public in advance and included in the calendar. The committee then took up House Bill 6, which would replace the word “citizen” in the Right-to-Know law with “any person,” allow requesters to specify the format of records, and expressly reference preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum or majority of a public body as disclosable material. The sponsor said the bill was intended to clarify existing law, remove uncertainty after a Rochester-related dispute over requester eligibility, and make records easier to obtain electronically unless doing so would be impossible, unusual, unduly burdensome, or harmful to recordkeeping integrity. Testimony was mixed. Cordell Johnston, speaking for himself as a municipal attorney, opposed most of the bill, especially the requirement that records be delivered electronically or by mail, arguing that out-of-state or out-of-country requests can be fishing expeditions that impose significant burdens on towns and clerks. He said local residents already can obtain records at town hall and that many municipalities voluntarily email records as a courtesy, but should not be required to mail large volumes of material. He also said the preliminary-draft language was unnecessary because such drafts are already covered when circulated to a quorum or majority. Representative Alexander raised concerns about the breadth of “any person,” potential abuse by bad actors, and the cost to municipalities, while Representative Peternell asked about whether the bill should account for nonresident property owners and business owners. The sponsor responded that limiting requesters by residency would not meaningfully stop abuse and said he did not know the bill’s fiscal impact, though he suggested it might improve efficiency. Yil Biset of the ACLU of New Hampshire testified in support of HB 6, calling it a modest and reasonable transparency measure. He said the preliminary-draft language was acceptable and consistent with existing exemption language in the public-meeting and documents statutes, and he said he was not aware of foreign-bot document requests occurring in New Hampshire. He also noted that current law already requires electronic disclosure when records exist electronically and can reasonably be provided that way. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And each one of them has to have a registration with them showing who the stickers listed to.
• And each one of them has to have a registration with them showing who the stickers listed to.
• :14.640><c> with</c><00:39:14.880><c> them</c><00:39:15.200><c> showing</c> have a registration with
• </c><00:48:34.960><c> of</c> prove it based on your registration of prove it based on your registration
• just like you do a tag registration just like you do a tag receipt. receipt. receipt.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• authorized to allocate necessary funding and resources to implement the domestic abuse offender registration
• system. ...necessary funding and resources to implement the domestic abuse offender registration system

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill came through your Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing.
• So once again, this is a bill from Professional Registration. Thank you for the inquiry, gentlemen.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill came through your Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing.
• So once again, this is a bill from Professional Registration. Thank you for the inquiry, gentlemen.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal by roll call vote, 114-1. Members spent a large portion of the morning introducing guests and recognizing visitors, including career and technical education students, FFA and FCCLA groups, school leaders, interns, a physician of the day, and a Black History Month personal privilege honoring inventor Alice H. Parker and her early central heating design. The chamber then took up several bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 1847, the Missouri Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact, was presented as a workforce and access-to-care measure; members cited dental shortages and broad professional support, and it was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1866, dealing with peace officer licensure, was presented as allowing the Department of Public Safety to deny applicants whose licenses were revoked or suspended elsewhere and to require U.S. citizenship; an amendment to allow lawful permanent residents who honorably served in the military to qualify was debated at length but failed 95-52, and the bill was then ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1908, with a companion bill, was described by its sponsor as ending a Missouri rule that delays divorce when a spouse is pregnant; supporters framed it as a due process and safety issue, especially for abuse survivors, and it was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1961, creating temporary licensure and a compact for dietitians, and House Bill 2180, changing Department of Revenue notice delivery options for blind pension recipients and taxpayers to include first-class mail and electronic delivery, both drew support as workforce or accessibility measures and were ordered perfected and printed after amendments. House Bill 2591, which would let speech-language pathologists count clinical fellowship experience completed in any state toward Missouri licensure, also passed perfection and printing. The House then moved to announcements and recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed third substitute clarifies that the Department of Ecology may only accept the registration
• So that should sort of clarify what the extent of Ecology’s oversight work with respect to registration

Bills: HB1607, HB2159, HB2441, HB2521, HB2531, HB2543

Keywords: recycling, waste reduction, environmental policy, sustainability, municipal regulations, preK, education funding, childcare, youth development, state budget, HB 2441, line of duty death, survivor benefits, medical insurance premium reimbursement, surviving spouse, domestic partner, dependent children, public employee death benefits, retirement system, Washington State

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed third substitute clarifies that the Department of Ecology may only accept the registration
• So that should sort of clarify what the extent of Ecology's oversight work with respect to registration

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and briefing on several bills, with House Bill 2441, House Bill 2159, House Bill 2521, House Bill 2531, House Bill 2543, and House Bill 1607 discussed in that order after agenda changes. HB 2441 would expand reimbursement from the LEO retirement fund for survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, covering Medicare Parts A and B premiums and retroactive health insurance premiums during the period before a death is officially determined to be work-related. Staff described a relatively small number of affected survivors and modest actuarial impacts, and the prime sponsor spoke emotionally in support. A representative from the L&I Board also testified that the board had studied the issue and endorsed the bill. HB 2159 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive philanthropic funds for ECEAP expansion. Staff explained ECEAP eligibility and the proposed non-appropriated account structure, noting Governor Ferguson’s budget included $34.5 million in non-appropriated authority for about 2,000 new school-day slots. Testimony was strongly supportive from Ballmer Group, DCYF, Head Start/ECEAP advocates, a Yakima provider, and the governor’s office, all emphasizing the public-private partnership, expanded access, and support for children furthest from opportunity. HB 2521 would remove the $18 cap on the State Patrol’s firearm background check fee and allow the fee to be set to cover total program costs. Staff said the fee could rise to about $33 per check based on current costs, and the State Patrol testified that the cap no longer matches actual expenses and threatens staffing and service levels. One member of the public opposed the bill, arguing the state system should be scrapped or capped and that consumers would face higher costs. HB 2531 would freeze the ambulance quality assurance fee at its July 4, 2025 level to comply with federal law and adjust Medicaid add-on payments accordingly; the Washington Ambulance Association strongly supported it as essential to preserving federal matching funds and improving wages and benefits. HB 2543 would update county clerk fees and modernize outdated references, with county officials supporting the changes as necessary to reflect current electronic-record practices. HB 1607, the Recycling Refund Act, drew the most extensive testimony. Staff described a 10-cent refund system for covered beverage containers, a producer responsibility organization, Ecology oversight, and fiscal impacts tied to program administration and lost tax revenue. Supporters, including environmental groups, youth advocates, Seattle Public Utilities, and some industry voices, argued the bill would reduce litter, increase recycling rates, support reuse systems, and complement the existing recycling reform law. Opponents from recycling haulers, grocers, beverage interests, counties, and solid waste providers argued it would function like a tax, raise consumer and retailer costs, duplicate or undermine curbside recycling and EPR, and create siting and implementation problems. No votes were taken on the bills in this transcript; the hearing concluded with public testimony and adjournment.