Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state and and that includes safety state and and that includes safety issues<05:08:10.638><c> as
• We have gotten so far away from safety by people being able to write their own safety codes and rules
• We have gotten so far away from safety by people being able to write their own safety codes and rules
• </c> should this pass it puts safety should this pass it puts safety inspections<05:18:36.600><c> on<
• So it's strictly a safety issue.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 758, which would establish a study committee on airport operation hours and possible noise abatement measures, including whether New Hampshire should prohibit departures between midnight and 6 a.m. The sponsor said the committee would examine the pros and cons and consult stakeholders. The Bureau of Aeronautics testified neutrally, noting that New Hampshire has 25 public airports, 12 with federal funding and grant assurances that may require them to remain open during those hours, and that cargo operations, including at Manchester, commonly occur overnight. Members also discussed existing noise abatement programs and how mitigation is determined by noise contours and FAA funding decisions. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing after testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 489, allowing voluntary emergency workers to use rear-facing blue lights on private vehicles when responding to emergencies. The sponsor said the bill corrects an oversight in existing law, would not cost the state or towns money, and would improve visibility and safety, especially in rural areas. Supportive testimony from a volunteer responder emphasized that blue lights help cut through fog, snow, and nighttime conditions, and that the bill would only add a single rear-facing blue light to existing red, amber, and white emergency lighting. The New Hampshire State Police opposed the bill, arguing that expanding blue lights to private vehicles would confuse the public and desensitize drivers to blue lights, which are associated with law enforcement. The hearing closed without action. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 533, which the sponsor and State Police clarified is actually two separate changes: one authorizing civilian automotive equipment inspectors to assist with vehicle inspection work, and another expanding language in motor carrier enforcement to include new entrant safety audits and compliance reviews. The State Police explained that civilian inspectors are hired and trained through the department and that any findings of state-law violations would be referred to troopers; they also said the new motor carrier language was requested to satisfy federal audit concerns about right of entry. The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association said it had no position if the civilian inspectors were not doing commercial truck inspections, but would oppose the bill if they were. Members asked about the difference between audits and compliance reviews, and the State Police said audits are for newer carriers and are non-enforcement, while compliance reviews look for violations. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 533. After a brief reset, the committee opened House Bill 594, which would repeal an alternate definition of “way” for the driving-after-suspension statute. The sponsor said the change was requested by the Department of Justice. Representative Erica Leon opposed the repeal, explaining that the prior language was intended to avoid criminalizing people who mow lawns or perform similar work near property edges while suspended, but she worried the repeal could create a loophole allowing driving on places like highway medians. Members questioned whether the issue was limited to mowing or broader vehicle use on property edges, and Leon said she would work with agencies to clarify the language so it protects lawful mowing without allowing misuse. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, compliance options in this bill raise serious safety and legal concerns.
• issues. ...moderation and security controls, which raises serious safety issues.
• Throughout my career, patient safety and regulatory compliance were always my highest priorities.
• Patients deserve to have... ...safety or side effects.
• An ad without safety information is still misleading to consumers.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1921 on video game shutdowns. The author and Consumer Reports supported requiring game operators to give 60 days’ notice before ending server support and to offer a menu of remedies, including refunds or playable/offline alternatives, while the Entertainment Software Association opposed the bill as an unwarranted new standard for digital products and raised safety and legal concerns about community servers. Members questioned the scope of refunds, copyright, and community-server issues, and the author said he was open to further amendments. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. AB 1965, dealing with cannabis testing, was presented as a measure to strengthen the Department of Cannabis Control’s authority over testing labs and improve product safety and transparency. The California Cannabis Operators Association supported the bill, saying it would help ensure consistent standards and protect consumers in a market with a large illicit component. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 2141, which would allow the Board of Pharmacy to resolve certain disciplinary matters through a voluntary pre-accusation settlement process. The author and a supporting pharmacist said it would speed resolution of smaller, technical cases and reduce costs, while a member raised concerns about transparency and whether the public would have less information about licensee misconduct. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, with Senator Menjivar voting no, and was placed on call. AB 2163, creating strategic clean energy and critical mineral development zones, was supported by the author and Imperial County as a way to prioritize geothermal and lithium development in areas like the Salton Sea region; it passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, AB 1990 on compounded weight-loss drug advertising drew significant debate. Supporters argued it would curb misleading ads and require disclosures about risks and non-FDA approval, while opponents from the compounding pharmacy community said it would create burdens, duplicate existing false-advertising law, and could harm patient access. Members questioned whether the bill actually addressed targeting minors and whether it would force use of FDA-approved labeling; the author said the bill was meant to add specificity and guardrails. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Judiciary, with some no votes, and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 2783 on court reporters, which would add a national certification pathway and extend a remote reporting pilot; it drew support from court reporting stakeholders and passed unanimously on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, placed on call. Finally, AB 2771, the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education sunset bill, and AB 2772, the interior design certification sunset bill, were presented and heard with mixed testimony: AB 2771 received support from student and borrower advocates and was moved to Senate Education, while AB 2772 drew both support and strong opposition over CCIDC governance and accountability, with the committee hearing extensive public comment before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully urge you to reject S. 284 and H. 444 in the interest of patient safety.
• I'll start by mentioning that this request jeopardizes patient safety.
• You are responsible for the safety of the patients in this Commonwealth.
• Massachusetts has a tradition of safety, patient safety, the North Star, and should be a leader in the
• , patient safety, the North Star and should be a leader in the country.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure focused on health care and human services, reviewed testimony logistics, and then heard a long series of witnesses on several bills. Much of the testimony centered on interstate licensure compacts for dentistry, social work, and occupational therapy, with supporters arguing these compacts would improve workforce mobility, continuity of care, and access while preserving state oversight and public protection. Dental witnesses were split on H.455/S.257, with supporters backing the AADB dental compact for its hands-on exam, background checks, and disciplinary safeguards, while opponents argued a competing compact would better promote portability and avoid conflicts tied to proprietary testing and outside commissions. Social work witnesses strongly supported H.380/S.252, emphasizing continuity of care for clients who move across state lines, reduced costs and delays for practitioners, and the compact’s public-protection features; occupational therapy witnesses similarly supported H.427/S.256, citing access, telehealth, military families, and maintained standards. The committee also heard testimony on S.242, which would expand licensure for lactation care providers. Supporters, including lactation counselors and health center staff, said adding certified lactation counselors and related credentials would expand access, improve breastfeeding support, and allow reimbursement for services now often provided without billing. They described the training required and said the bill would help families, especially in underserved communities. Representative James O’Day also testified in support of the social work compact, and a Council of State Governments witness provided background on compact mechanics and state participation. Another major topic was H.419/S.214 on medical debt. Physicians and researchers testified that cancer patients experience long-lasting medical debt and collections burdens, and they supported limits on the sale and collection of medical debt, bans on reporting it to credit bureaus, and related consumer protections. The hearing also included H.465 on a pathway to special licensure for certain long-term limited-registration dentists serving MassHealth patients, which Representative Senna supported as a way to allow immigrant dentists to practice independently. Finally, the committee heard sharply divided testimony on H.444/S.284, which would allow trained dental hygienists to administer Botox and dermal fillers: supporters framed it as a safe, preventive, and access-expanding tool for TMJ, bruxism, and pain management, while dermatologists opposed it as outside hygienists’ training and a patient-safety risk. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will continue to advocate for officer safety as my husband would have done.
• s safety.
• And again, it’s all for officer safety and the safety of the individual.
• Public Safety and Corrections. The Department of Corrections is allowed to?
• Public Safety and Corrections through the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1157, which would create a Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank to provide another funding mechanism for transportation-related projects, including roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports, and other surface transportation needs. Chairman Borek and DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD said the goal is to leverage state, federal, local, and private dollars, using models from Florida and other states. Members asked about board makeup, staffing, project selection, administrative costs, and how the bank would differ from capital outlay and existing transportation programs. Testimony in support came from business and economic development representatives, including Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans, Inc., who said infrastructure is critical to major economic projects and that the bank could attract outside capital. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up several local and procurement-related bills. House Bill 860, allowing fillable electronic public bid forms, was reported favorably. House Bill 972, naming a portion of Highway 93 in Lafayette Parish the Desert Shield Desert Storm Memorial Highway, and House Bill 965, naming a portion of Highway 163 the Sergeant William Billy Earl Collins Jr. Memorial Highway, were both reported favorably after brief testimony honoring veterans and law enforcement. House Bill 692, authorizing local governments to enter group purchasing agreements, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 685, allowing use of FAST Act cooperative procurement for public motor vehicles and rolling stock, drew support from transit officials and was reported favorably after a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also advanced House Bill 982, which designates portions of highways in Morehouse Parish in memory of local residents killed in a crash after attending an LSU game; it was reported with amendments. House Bill 506, creating special prestige license plates for local high schools as a fundraiser, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 839, lowering the contract limit for hospital service districts to use construction management at risk from $2 million to $1 million, was reported by substitute after testimony from hospital leadership and industry representatives. House Bill 1072, revising powers and emergency procurement authority for the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, was amended and reported favorably after discussion about its relationship to DOTD and emergency repairs. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 887, which revises construction management at risk procedures, including committee makeup, scoring, and financial qualification requirements; it was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 647, creating timelines and an annual application process for waterway projects under a waterway assistance program and fund, was reported by substitute. The last major item discussed was House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology and training for law enforcement through a $2 fee on driver’s licenses. The bill was presented alongside emotional testimony from the widow and daughter of Sergeant Grant Candies and from a St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s captain, all urging safer equipment and better training for officers. Members expressed strong support, and the discussion continued into funding and grant administration details.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety.
• Human trafficking robs people of their dignity, safety, and future.
• Good morning, committee chair and public safety committee members.
• Many self-removed from foster care for safety.
• Treating them as the same issue creates more harm than safety.

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety held an informational hearing in Pomona on sex work-related crimes and efforts to combat human trafficking. The chair and Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez framed the issue as a major public safety and victim-protection concern, referencing the repeal of the loitering law in SB 357 and the recent enactment of AB 379, which targets buyers of sex rather than sex workers. The hearing was organized into three panels: data and research, policing and anti-trafficking efforts, and courtroom/prosecution impacts. In the first panel, the California Department of Justice presented arrest and conviction data for the repealed loitering statute, noting overall declines from 2019 to 2022 but also explaining that the data did not distinguish clearly between people selling sex, people loitering to sell, and people purchasing sex. USC law professor Hannah Gary summarized a 2021 report finding that law enforcement stings and raids often lack transparency, disproportionately harm Black women, minors, LGBTQ+ people, and undocumented migrants, and rarely achieve the stated goals of protecting victims, prosecuting traffickers, or preventing trafficking. The ACLU of Southern California argued that criminalization of sex work is discriminatory and historically used to police women and people of color, and that laws aimed at buyers still harm sex workers and can increase immigration consequences. Committee members asked about data collection, racial disparities, and whether the new law could worsen profiling; the panelists urged public health approaches, better data, and more survivor services. The second panel featured the California DOJ human trafficking coordinator, Pomona Police Chief Mike Ellis, and survivor advocate Jess Torres of Rising Worldwide. DOJ described its regional trafficking teams, task forces, victim services, and prosecutions, emphasizing a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach. Chief Ellis said SB 357 limited police intervention and contributed to visible open-air prostitution near schools and other sensitive locations, citing complaints from residents and a reported drop in juvenile rescues in Pomona after the law changed; he supported AB 63-style enforcement with safeguards and service referrals. Torres, speaking as a survivor, argued that anti-trafficking policy must be survivor-led, that many youth in the sex trade are boys or LGBTQ youth, and that criminalization and street enforcement often worsen harm and displacement rather than solving the underlying problems. In the final panel, a Riverside County deputy district attorney said AB 63 could help law enforcement make earlier contact with potential victims and identify traffickers, while stressing the need for training, documentation, and oversight. A Los Angeles County public defender argued that prosecuting trafficked people reinforces traffickers’ control, creates lifelong barriers, and retraumatizes survivors, and pointed to diversion programs as a better model. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking began its testimony by describing its survivor services and crisis response work. The hearing ended without any vote or formal action, but with committee members and witnesses continuing to debate the balance between enforcement, data collection, and survivor-centered services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to maximize public safety and maximize court appearances.
• They conduct what's called a public safety assessment.
• And as you could see, consistent with the last chart, public safety.
• Chair, Senator Brantley, the Constitution... only mentions safety.
• New Mexicans when it comes to safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mike Lynn, Madam Chair and members, SB 1126 requires a school, on request by a Department of Child Safety
• It's a public safety issue. These drones are big; they have blades on them.
• It's public safety. People have their kids out there.
• So this just brings parity to the law, and this literally is public safety. It makes—Madam Chair.
• So this just bring parity to the law and just this literally is public safety.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of bills spanning health care, education, tax, public safety, firearms, elections, and family law. On health and education, HB 283 would expand diabetes-related coverage for certain supplies; SB 1126 would require schools to provide records and cooperate with Department of Child Safety caseworkers; SB 1210 would require out-of-state private postsecondary institutions to register in Arizona; and SCR 1006, which would create private causes of action over restroom and pronoun policies in schools, drew strong opposition and was requested to be pulled from consent. Members also discussed HB 2308, which would bar dental insurers from owning dental practices, and SB 1049, which would cap spousal maintenance at four years and change how the marital standard of living is considered; both prompted questions and SB 1049 was pulled from consent. Several tax measures were also reviewed. SB 1293 would limit GPLET abatements by protecting school district revenue, and members noted prior opposition. SB 1294 would clarify county assessors’ authority to prorate destroyed property for tax purposes, though members said they were still researching whether it was necessary. SB 1430, the Tax Corrections Act of 2026, would make technical tax changes and remove redundant language, but members said they wanted Department of Revenue-requested corrections restored. SB 1053 would reduce concealed weapons permit fees for Arizona residents and was pulled from consent after concerns about fee impacts and unresolved amendment language. On public safety and firearms, SB 1058 would prohibit government records distinguishing firearm retailers and firearm owners and was pulled from consent after criticism and reference to a prior veto. SB 1093 would expand riot-related offenses to include property damage and add riot to conspiracy and racketeering provisions. SB 1160 would restrict drones near ticketed entertainment events, with supporters framing it as a public safety measure and clarifying that event-authorized drone use could still be exempt. SB 1211 would allow lifetime injunctions for felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence. The caucus also considered election-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for aggregated campaign contribution reporting from under $100 to under $200, and it was pulled from consent. SB 1029 would create a process for terminating a campaign committee after a candidate’s death. SB 1038 would make cast vote records public records, SB 1057 would add fraud countermeasures for paper ballots, and SB 1237 would require consultation with county recorders and legislative leaders before the Secretary of State updates the Elections Procedures Manual. Several of these election bills were noted as having been vetoed previously, and the meeting ended by moving into closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• By providing reasonable flexibility while maintaining safety oversight, this bill helps ensure patients
• And I want to thank Brian Gerexki, the chief of Bureau of Radiation Safety.
• The chief of the Bureau of Radiation Safety.
• Gracie's testimony and voice were silenced, and the safety of the entire family was jeopardized.
• Right now, some of the most serious decisions we make about children's safety determinations, removals

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard several bills and held HB 2307. HB 2049 would allow use of a particle accelerator to treat human diseases under general supervision in counties under 400,000 population and at critical access hospitals, with documentation, observation, and monitoring requirements. Testimony from rural hospital and radiation oncology representatives emphasized oncologist shortages, long travel distances for cancer patients, and the need to maintain safety while improving access; the bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-0 vote. HB 2178 would require any chief medical officer for a state agency to hold an active medical license, and members described it as a common-sense licensing requirement. HB 2179 would separate air ambulances from ground ambulances in statute, define air ambulance-related terms, and update staffing and regulatory provisions to better match current practice; air medical representatives said it was a statutory cleanup measure, and both bills were passed out of committee unanimously, 7-0. HB 2322 would require audio or video recording of DCS interviews with children, with exceptions for equipment failure or unforeseeable lack of access, and would preserve admissibility of statements even if a recording was not made. Supporters, including a trafficking survivor, a health care worker, and a foster parent, argued recordings protect children, improve accuracy and accountability, and reduce disputes over what was said. The bill also includes a conditional enactment tied to future federal grant legislation; it received a 7-0 due pass recommendation. The committee also announced that minutes were not ready for approval and that HB 2307 would be held.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2086, TPP exemption date; Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
• HB 2811, obstructing governmental operations lawful arrest; Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
• HB 2811, obstructing governmental operations lawful arrest; Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
• HB 2023, private prisons contracts prohibition; Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
• HB 2904, sovereign authority, border health crisis; Public Safety and Law Enforcement.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will move that House File 4362 be referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
• House File 4362 is referred to the Public Safety Committee.
• Denying lawful self-defense in these environments does not enhance safety.
• I look at the House here, and we had concerns over safety and security.
• I look at the house here and we had concerns over safety and security.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, as we're trying to make sure that our social safety net is even more resilient from the
• Foster care should provide safety, not cause more harm.
• For this reason, we are proud to co-sponsor a for their safety and protection.
• Foster care should provide safety, not cause more harm.
• The motion is due pass as amended to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Lee? Lee, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard four bills and one consent item. AB 1574 by Assemblymember Chris Rogers would expand tribal access to prevention and diversion services aimed at keeping Native youth out of foster care. Supporters, including tribal representatives and child welfare advocates, said the bill would help address the overrepresentation of Native children in foster care and strengthen culturally relevant, tribally run services. There was no opposition, and the committee passed the bill 6-0 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee then heard AB 1618, also by Assemblymember Rogers, which would require California to continue a household food insecurity survey if the federal government does not. Supporters from End Child Poverty California, AARP, food banks, and county and local government groups said reliable data is needed to track hunger, target services, and respond to expected federal cuts to food assistance. The bill was approved 5-0 as amended to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 1688 by Assemblymember Carrillo would require notice to additional attorneys when there are allegations of abuse or neglect in a foster placement, including attorneys for parents and other children in the same home. The author and the Children's Law Center said the measure would close a safety gap and improve coordination to protect foster youth. Committee members also spoke in support based on their professional experience, and the bill passed 6-0 as amended to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The committee also approved the consent calendar, including AB 1602, and adjourned after completing its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• No one should fear. safety when getting to work, school, or anywhere else that they're going.
• My name is Darryl Jameel, Senior Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for Capital Metro
• While operating a a modern, efficient, and accessible transit system, CapMetro emphasizes safety.
• When this kind of reliable and predictable safety is achieved consistently, our economic vitality as
• Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts on transit safety today.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• drivers to potential safety issues.
• Again, this is in 38 states do not have safety inspections.
• sake of all of our safety.
• They should be able to focus on their safety. Has everyone voted?
• They should be able to focus on their safety.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, we don't hesitate to transport if safety requires it, but many transports could be avoided
• were brought to light in an Investigate West news article that highlighted some concerns about the safety
• There was no defined process for how to respond to safety issues, no guidance on when to coordinate with
• investigation, including a safety assessment to determine whether abuse occurred.
• And I think we feel that that is a comprehensive way to address the safety of the child.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 639 from Senator Ben Taves, which would modernize Idaho’s licensed midwifery laws by replacing a fixed statutory medication list with a board-defined formulary and protocol for maternal and neonatal care. Supporters, including licensed midwives Charity Catlin and Valerie Hall, said the bill would reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, especially for stable postpartum hemorrhage cases and other rural maternity situations, while lowering costs and preserving recovery and bonding. Senator Taves said he worked with the Idaho Midwifery Council and that the bill aligns Idaho with neighboring states. The committee voted to send HB 639 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then received a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on state oversight of children’s residential care. OPE reported concerns about limited licensing authority, unclear children’s rights information, lack of required reporting on restraint and seclusion, weak enforcement, and inconsistent monitoring practices. The report also found that foster youth placements in residential care had increased, including out-of-state placements, and that the state lacked a clear way to track whether children were in the most appropriate setting. OPE recommended more unannounced surveys, standardized contract monitoring, better communication across divisions, and clearer abuse-investigation procedures. Department of Health and Welfare officials responded that they had already reduced congregate care use, created a Continuity Care Bureau, and implemented or were implementing several recommendations. They said licensing had adopted priority response timelines similar to child protection cases and was working on resident-rights improvements, but acknowledged a remaining gap in placing substantiated perpetrators on a registry and said legislative action would be needed. The committee discussed the need for stronger oversight for both foster and privately placed children, and the chair announced the committee would meet again the next day for a Medicaid and managed care presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• They said they supported the removal of explicit reference to global safety and related standards in
• This is all to remind you that safety is not as narrow as the individual building.
• This is all to remind you that safety is not as narrow as the individual building or the extreme rare
• Our housing should be designed for the safety, health, accessibility, and convenience of the everyday
• This change will protect Washington State's current framework for elevator safety, workforce training

Summary: The committee heard three housing-related bills. SB 5937 would regulate smart access systems in rental housing by requiring landlords, on tenant request, to provide non-biometric and non-app-based alternatives such as physical keys, key fobs, or key cards, and by adding privacy-policy and data-minimization requirements for smart access systems. The bill’s sponsor and a tenant testified in support, describing concerns about app-based entry systems tracking movement and collecting personal data. The Washington Multifamily Housing Association testified neutral, saying the bill had been improved through stakeholder work and amendments that allowed privacy-policy links and delayed implementation until January 1, 2027. The hearing on the bill was closed with no vote taken. The committee then heard ESSB 5156, which directs the State Building Code Council to allow smaller elevators in apartment buildings up to six stories and 24 units and creates a technical advisory group to review certain elevator safety requirements. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill would reduce elevator costs, improve feasibility for small multifamily and middle-housing projects, and increase accessibility and age-friendly housing. The National Elevator Industry opposed the bill’s harmonization language in Section 2, paragraph 2, warning it could create ambiguity, multiple standards, and litigation, but said it would be neutral if that language were removed. Other industry and housing advocates supported the measure as a way to lower costs and expand housing supply. No action was taken during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard SB 6237, which would require landlords to disclose flood risk information to tenants for leases entered into after December 31, 2026. The disclosure would note whether a property may be in a flood hazard area, where tenants can find county flood information, and that the landlord’s insurance does not cover tenants’ belongings. The Washington Multifamily Housing Association testified neutral, saying the bill had been narrowed to a more manageable disclosure and that removing a requirement to recommend flood insurance addressed concerns about landlords acting as insurance advisers. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the chair announced the committee would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is an act to streamline separate public safety workforce funding that exists.
• public safety workforce capacity building fund.
• At DFA, we've had a number of public safety initiatives that have come through special appropriations
• I'm here in support of House Bill 255 and why it matters for state police and public safety statewide
• From the chamber's perspective, public safety staffing is not just a law enforcement issue.

Summary: The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee met and first heard House Bill 30, which would update New Mexico’s teacher residency program. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would raise and index residency stipends to a percentage of a level-one teacher salary, better align pay with teacher compensation over time, and loosen post-residency service rules so residents could teach anywhere in New Mexico rather than being tied to one district. Testimony from educators, school boards, unions, and teacher-preparation groups emphasized that year-long residencies improve classroom readiness, help recruit career changers and special education teachers, and increase retention, especially in rural areas. Members asked about the stipend calculation and funding impacts; the bill was described as using existing grow funding and possibly requiring tradeoffs in future years. The committee approved HB 30 on a do-pass vote. The committee then considered House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill. PERA staff explained that the measure makes technical corrections, resolves ambiguities, and aligns the statute with current administrative practice without making major policy changes. Supporters from AFSCME and the Educational Retirement Board said the bill would help administer retirement benefits more clearly, reduce litigation risk, and improve reciprocity for members with both PERA and ERB service credit. Committee questions focused on liability for overpayments, disability-retiree earnings limits, and survivor benefits for volunteer firefighters; staff said the changes were intended to broaden and modernize the language and mirror other retirement plans. HB 43 also received a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 255, which would consolidate separate public safety workforce funding streams into a single nonreverting public safety workforce capacity building fund. The sponsor and Department of Finance and Administration witnesses said the new fund would create a more durable, flexible way to support recruitment, retention, relocation assistance, training, equipment, and other workforce needs for police, corrections, firefighters, and related public safety personnel. Supporters from the State Police, counties, labor, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber said vacancies and short staffing are severe and that a stable grant program would help fill positions and improve public safety and economic stability. After brief questions about the fund structure and uses, the committee passed HB 255 on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And every decision that I made had to do with safety: safety of the students, safety of the staff, safety
• So with that, looking at safety, I think it's important, critically important, because of the safety
• It's a safety hazard for the men in blue. We need it.
• It's a safety hazard for the men in blue because they're right at the border.
• It's a safety hazard for the men in blue because they're right at the border.

Bills: HB2113, HB2237, HB2824, HB2926, HB2939, HB2950

Keywords: utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, appropriation, Apache Junction, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, infrastructure, C-PACE, capital expenditure, special assessment, property improvement, local government financing, energy efficiency, water conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• We will open this committee on Crime and Public Safety. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
• And that was a suggestion change that came from the Department of Public Safety.
• I'm bringing it forward at the request of the Department of Public Safety.
• I'm here on behalf of the Department of Public Safety.
• This public safety crisis is no longer limited to the substance use community.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They do have the same responsibility to ensure public safety and health and welfare.
• We appreciate his intent, which is to promote safety and fairness.
• National Trip Transportation Safety Board in 2022.
• In our view, there is substantial safety on these ease.
• So we think shes tightening it up to make sure the safety pieces connected to it.

Transcript Highlights:

• autism service professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals from the Health and Safety
• The products are tested for safety and health so that people don't get poisoned.
• It's bad for health and safety.
• They undergo training and follow safety protocols.
• And so I think this is hugely important to be able to protect the health and safety of our residents,

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.