Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't take this as a personal thing.
• So I don't take this as a personal thing.
• And many are assigned to a person, so there could be a person who has 10 that they are carrying around
• Should one category of person as well...
• Well, when a person goes down and buys a gun, Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:03:17.040> this Miss Davidson for coordinating this Miss Davidson for coordinating this
• professional and personal opportunities. professional and personal opportunities.
• <00:45:36.079> the<00:45:36.319> person somewhere along the line. the person somewhere
• we sit in, I don't think that person we sit in, I don't think that person should<00:45:43.440>
• took place in 2002. uh the person that took place in 2002. uh the person that was<01:17:04.640><

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They missed that one. So I'm carrying that repealer in this bill.
• However, it still misses the mark.
• He was a personal friend of mine. I've known him for quite a while.
• and educating those persons on when they could vote?
• Would the... ...sharing with those persons and educating those persons on when they could vote, would

Bills: HB2268, HB3000, HB3043, HB3066, HB3078, HB3143, HB3144, HB3244, HB3298, HB3320, HB3467, HB3321, HB3329, HB3431, HB3464, HB3499, HB3500, HB3586, HB3590, HB3650, HB3671, HB3695, HB3700, HB3701, HB3764, HB3767, HB3834, HB3931, HB3934, HB3940, HB3944, HB3979, HB3985, HB4113, HB4294, HB4302, HB4317, HB4324, HB4359, HB4426, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4434, HJR1077, SR42, SR35, HJR1023, HB1225, HB1374, HB1381, HB1590, HB1675, HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, gallery introductions, and extended farewell remarks from Senator Jett, who reflected on his six years in the Legislature, his focus on representing constituents, protecting families, and holding government accountable. Several senators responded with personal tributes, praising his conviction, faith, family involvement, and willingness to ask difficult questions. No votes were taken during the farewell portion. The chamber then considered House Bill 2268, a PACE appropriation to support comprehensive care for low-income seniors and expand services in rural Oklahoma. The bill was amended to restore the title, advanced, and passed 34-9, then passed as an emergency measure 36-7. House Bill 3000, a cosmetology and barbering measure, made multiple changes including board reorganization, adding a human trafficking specialist and massage therapist, shifting some licensing functions to Service Oklahoma, and eliminating the massage therapy advisory board. It drew significant debate over process and policy, especially from senators concerned about late changes, lack of board input, and the human trafficking rationale; it passed 25-19 and then as an emergency 33-11. The Senate also passed House Bill 3043, allowing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs to hire prorated seasonal staff for veterans homes, 37-6; House Bill 3066, creating a revolving fund for federal workforce training money for behavioral health recruitment and retention, 38-6 and as an emergency; and House Bill 3078, allowing donation options on state payment forms for the ODVA revolving fund, 45-0 and as an emergency. Additional measures passed included House Bill 3143, extending the moratorium on new medical marijuana business licenses to 2028, 39-7; House Bill 3144, capping medical marijuana commercial grower licenses at 2,550 after amendment, 34-12; House Bill 3244 on identity theft, 46-0; House Bill 3298 on child interview procedures in court cases, 46-0 and as an emergency; House Bill 3320, replacing the traditional sunset process with more immediate legislative review of agencies, 33-13 and as an emergency; House Bill 3321, requiring county data collection and reporting related to court costs and financial obligations, 45-0 and as an emergency; House Bill 3329, a trailer bill adding a repealer and a sunset for the Board of Psychological Examiners, 33-10 and as an emergency; House Bill 3431, expanding restrictions on foreign entities owning or leasing land and critical minerals, 43-0; House Bill 3464, setting safety and training requirements for certain projects involving fire code compliance and decommissioning, 43-0 and as an emergency; and House Bill 3499, expanding special judges’ authority over vehicle title orders, which was presented and advanced as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I personally understand the harm caused by unpaid child support.
• fact, my daughter lost her job trying to take one of the children to medical appointments and was missing
• If I remember correctly, basically it gave the person hope that there was a possibility for them to..
• Worked on that legislation, and that helps seniors and disabled persons, but what has happened is now
• It treats paper copies of missing wills like originals.

Bills: HB40, HB1916, HB1973, HB2524, HB2530, HB3180, HB3421, HB3783, HB4170, HB4213, HB40

Keywords: business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support

Transcript Highlights:

• A person of Latino descent, one and a half times.
• Odds are that each and every person here today is or knows someone who has been personally affected by
• I personally know... Someone who has been personally affected by an opioid overdose.
• I personally am no exception.
• Is there anyone else we missed in the room that signed up to testify?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs. Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers. The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• because I didn't down from judiciary because I didn't down from judiciary because I didn't want to miss
• As you can see, um, want to miss this. As you can see, um, want to miss this.
• services that generally offer in-person services that generally offer in-person services that include
• the um u and obviously of like a missing the um u and obviously of like a missing the um u and obviously
• And so I know Chairman Garrett's one person so I know Chairman Garrett's one person so I know Chairman

Bills: SB199, HB142, SB86, HB152, HB297, SB1, SB1

Keywords: parental leave, state employees, local education agencies, adoption, work-life balance, family support, portable benefits, portable benefit account, independent contractor, gig worker, 1099 worker, freelancer, app-based worker, rideshare, delivery driver, worker benefits, health insurance, retirement benefits, life insurance, income replacement insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• To our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the chamber from interfering with legislative
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• approved for someone with autism, the patient can access it and will not lose treatment hours for missing
• Sometimes families are struggling to find a provider or dealing with health issues, and it can make them miss
• simply clarifies that once care is authorized, patients can access it and do not lose it because of a missed

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer and pledge, and then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several bills to different committees and permission for committees to notice bills pending re-referral. A motion by Assemblymember Castillo to suspend the rules and take up AB 2670 immediately failed on a 18-39 vote. Assemblymember DeMaio then moved to re-refer AB 2624 back to the Privacy Committee, arguing the bill had been misrepresented in committee; the Majority Leader’s substitute motion to move to the Daily File was accepted 44-19, and the chamber proceeded to regular business. On the Daily File, the Assembly adopted ACR 120 on Positive Parenting Awareness Month after Senate amendments were concurred in 56-0. It also adopted ACR 150 declaring California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, with broad support and 62 coauthors added. Several policy bills then passed, including AB 2233 on autism treatment access and missed appointments (57-0), AB 1601 creating a pathway for a Sonoma County retiree COLA review (50-3), and AB 1801 expanding notice and transparency requirements for private detention facility approvals (45-16). The chamber also adopted H.R. 103 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, with 60 coauthors added. Members also gave guest introductions recognizing the Greek Evzones, the Whitney High School girls cross country team, and dispatch and public safety telecommunicator guests. Additional resolutions on the consent calendar, including ACR 130, ACR 172, and H.R. 104, were added to by coauthors and then adopted along with the remaining consent calendar items, which passed 62-0. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee and floor schedules and adjourned until Monday, April 20 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• To our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the chamber from interfering with legislative
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• approved for someone with autism, the patient can access it and will not lose treatment hours for missing
• It can make them miss an appointment.
• simply clarifies that once care is authorized, patients can access it and do not lose it because of a missed

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and then handled a series of procedural motions. Members approved several re-referrals and committee notices, but a motion by Assemblymember Castillo to immediately take up AB 2670 on Medi-Cal fraud failed on a 18-39 vote. A later motion by Assemblymember DeMaio to send AB 2624 back to the Privacy Committee was replaced by a majority substitute motion to move to the Daily File, which passed 44-19. On the floor file, the Assembly considered several measures and resolutions. ACR 120 on Positive Parenting Awareness Month was concurred in 56-0, and ACR 150 declaring California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week was adopted after 62 coauthors were added. AB 2233 on autism therapy access passed 57-0, AB 1601 creating a pathway for a Sonoma County retiree COLA study passed 50-3, and AB 1801 on notice and transparency for private detention facilities passed 45-16. HR 103 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week was also adopted after 60 coauthors were added. The chamber also heard guest introductions recognizing the Evzones, Greece’s presidential guard, and the Whitney High School girls cross country team, along with remarks honoring several members’ birthdays. The second-day consent calendar was then adopted 62-0, including multiple bills and resolutions, and the Assembly adjourned until Monday, April 20 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris might be the best person for this. Sure. If it's...
• Chris might be the best person for this? Sure. If it's okay. Thanks, Director.
• Commerce, is there anything we have not addressed that we should or missed? It's a big budget.
• Thank you. ...address that we should or missed. It's a big budget.
• I know I've been bugging Chris about making sure I'm not missing anything.

Bills: SB2018

Keywords: funding, commerce, autonomous technology, workforce development, economic growth, grant programs, 908, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 2018, the Department of Commerce budget, and walked through the long sheet and a series of proposed changes. Members discussed restoring a vacant workforce FTE that Commerce said it could fill soon, monitoring federal funding delays but reporting no known cuts, and adjusting several one-time items including Operation Intern, the North Dakota Development Fund, the Global Talent Office, and tourism-related funding. The chair also proposed separating tourism marketing and Good Life funding again, rather than combining them, and members raised concerns about ensuring tourism dollars are used only for tourism purposes. A number of program amounts were reviewed or adjusted in discussion, including UAS grants, Vantus/Beyond Visual Line of Sight funding, Grand Sky, Grand Farm autonomous agriculture grants, base enhancement grants, Native American small business grants, regional workforce impact grants, technical skills training grants, and tribal college workforce grants. Commerce officials explained that some grant language would be changed to require competitive RFP processes, and they clarified that the housing opportunity and community property improvement items were handled in other bills or programs. The committee also discussed apprenticeship efforts across state agencies and Commerce’s role in workforce development. The committee reviewed carryover and exemption language for prior appropriations, including federal weatherization and energy funds, and Commerce said three one-time FTE tied to those federal programs should become ongoing because the federal dollars continue over several years. A motion to add $1.5 million for the North Dakota Safety Council failed for lack of a second. The committee then planned to return the next day to continue work on Commerce and take up the CTE budget, including a pending amendment related to CTE’s possible move from the 15th floor of the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I personally believe that this is an important thing to make sure we get right.
• <00:12:04.040> But<00:12:04.480> I<00:12:04.800> personally<00:12:05.280>
• But I personally believe the amendment.
• I had missed that on my previous read, and that's why we discussed these. So thank you.
• I have a question because I unfortunately had to miss the hearing that day.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• branded and loyalty from this person branded and loyalty from this person because<00:09:17.839><
• I'm not going to stop somewhere at a kiosk if I'm in trouble. >> Um, so am I missing something?
• is a professional health care person. is a professional health care person.
• <00:43:16.079> This<00:43:16.319> is >> Um so am I missing something?
• This is >> Um so am I missing something?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: A presenter from Fast Health Corporation described a proposed Kentucky Health Command System tied to Senate Bill 175, which would create a state-sanctioned AI platform for rural hospitals and telehealth. The company said the system would help rural residents get health information remotely, triage minor issues, and escalate more serious cases to Kentucky providers, with use cases including blood pressure, diabetes, maternity care, smoking cessation, and other preventive-care topics. The presenter argued the system would help rural hospitals compete with out-of-state telehealth companies and keep patients connected to local care. The presentation also emphasized a commercial model the sponsor said would generate new revenue through ads and branded interactions, with the bill reportedly directing 80% of that revenue to rural hospitals and 20% to the state to maintain the system. The presenter said the technology would augment, not replace, doctors and nurses, and claimed it could improve access and convenience in underserved areas. Committee members raised concerns about liability, whether the AI could provide medical advice, and whether there was evidence it had reduced emergency room visits; the presenter said the system could not give medical advice and acknowledged the technology is still very new. The sponsor of the bill said the goal was to help transform rural health care, reduce unnecessary ER use, and capture revenue that would otherwise go to commercial search engines and out-of-state companies. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion ended with questions about branding, loyalty, and the legal limits of the AI system.

Transcript Highlights:

• all the issues that are causing the problems, and just doing one like, uh, uh, we talked about the missing
• Every single person we represent gets involved at some point in their life because of their home.
• Every single person smaller and smaller.
• property rights of people and personal property rights of people and unleashing<00:36:22.160> the
• Act, with bills that would lift up every single one of our communities, return that personal property

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Hall, do you want to speak on the final passage for this bill?
• She's a wonderful person. ...maybe my wife. She's a wonderful person.
• So not a fully developed person. So we're not trying to get a person, correct?
• And what do we do for that person?
• This isn't publicizing that this person has been charged or that there's person has been charged or that

Bills: HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, SB 14, HB 12, HB 1522, HB 422, HB 675, HB 204, HB 748, HB 912, HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, HCR 123, HCR 124, HR 57, HR 87, HR 111, HR 228, HR 230, HR 322, HR 624, HR 625, HR 626, HR 627, HR 628, HR 630, HR 631, HR 634, HR 635, HR 636, HR 637, HR 638, HR 639, HR 640, HR 645, HR 646, HR 648, HR 649, HR 651, HR 652, HR 653, HR 654, HR 664, HR 665, HR 668, HR 675, HR 676, HR 678, HR 679, HR 680, HR 683, HR 686, HR 688, HR 689, HR 694, HR 695, HR 697, HR 698, HR 699, HR 472, HR 622, HR 632, HR 633, HR 643, HR 655, HR 657, HR 660, HR 661, HR 662, HR 663, HR 667, HR 670, HR 674, HR 681, HR 682, HR 696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• I miss any title on any other member.
• I miss any title on any other member.
• But with a seven-person crew... ...or so they're probably fine.
• But with a seven-person crew, you can't process this in 20 minutes.
• So I'm more concerned on a personal level because I will run into somebody every single day.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, with particular attention to Massachusetts ports, federal scallop management, the proposed reopening of the Northern Edge on Georges Bank, and permit stacking/consolidation. The chair opened by noting the hearing would take written and oral testimony, that time was limited, and that the discussion was intended to inform legislative engagement with federal regulators rather than decide the issue directly. Dan McCarron of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Dr. Kate O’Keefe of the New England Fishery Management Council outlined the federal management structure under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the role of annual catch limits and rotational closures, and the economic importance of scallops to New Bedford, Gloucester, and other Massachusetts ports. O’Keefe said the council’s current scallop framework is based on annual management, research surveys, and public input, and that recent environmental changes and uncertainty are affecting catch advice and biomass. Dr. O’Keefe and later Dr. Kevin Stokesbury of UMass Dartmouth described the fishery’s recent condition: abundance has increased in some areas, but biomass has fallen because many scallops are still too small to harvest, and changing ocean conditions and natural mortality are affecting the stock. They said the Northern Edge action was considered as a joint scallop/habitat framework but was discontinued in 2024 because the council could not reconcile competing objectives involving scallop yield, habitat protection, and impacts on other species such as cod, lobster, and herring. Stokesbury emphasized the long-running collaborative survey work with industry, said the fishery remains highly productive, and argued that the science supports careful rotational management and that the Northern Edge could be highly productive for scallops, though he acknowledged habitat tradeoffs. Committee members pressed both witnesses on why the issue had remained unresolved for so long and whether the council could revisit it through a future framework. Representatives of the Sustainable Scalloping Fund, including attorney Drew Kavage, John Lees, Sam Blasley, and Tony Alvernes, urged support for reopening the Northern Edge and for permit stacking, which would allow more than one scallop permit on a vessel while keeping ownership caps in place. They argued the fishery is a major economic driver, that industry-funded research has supported sustainable management, and that stacking would help family-owned operators reduce costs, improve safety, and avoid financial distress. They also stressed the need to protect working waterfront infrastructure in New Bedford and other ports. The chair said he was not opposed to stacking in principle but wanted to avoid a slippery slope toward excessive consolidation or private equity control; he noted that any stacking change would require an amendment to the fishery management plan or federal action. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded with an invitation for continued engagement and future updates on the council process.

Transcript Highlights:

• This section shall not apply to any person.
• I do want to go back, and I may have missed it. My apologies to everyone for being late.
• The topic is vulnerable persons. Yes. Okay, the topic is vulnerable persons. Title, I'm sorry.
• I get the vulnerable persons, but I don't know if that's going to fly.
• "Personally, in my district, 70% of my constituents said no to 3.

Summary: The Committee on Children and Families heard testimony on Senate Bill 999, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson. Hudson said the bill was a revised substitute combining the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act with language from other bills dealing with domestic violence/no-contact orders, the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board, and cyber-harassment. He argued the born-alive provisions were needed to ensure infants born alive during or after an abortion receive the same care as any other child, and he cited a Canadian study and Missouri infanticide law as support. Committee members questioned him about the study, the scope of the bill, the medical duty of care, and the bill’s non-severability clause and multiple-subject concerns. Supporters included Missouri Right to Life, which said the bill was needed to protect babies born alive after abortion attempts and prevent confusion in medical settings. Opponents, including Abortion Action Missouri, argued the bill was a “trap law” designed to restrict abortion access, said no such situation was being documented in practice, and cited opposition from numerous medical organizations. An informational witness from Campaign Life Missouri said he supported the born-alive language but warned the added provisions and non-severability clause could make the bill vulnerable to a constitutional challenge and could jeopardize other enacted provisions if struck down. During executive session, members debated the bill’s purpose and political implications. Several members said they would vote no because they trusted Missouri medical providers and opposed adding more law to an already regulated area, while others said they supported the bill as a protection for children born alive. The committee then voted 12-4 to send Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 999 do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just which practitioner, a person—well, Representative Cook's gone—the freedom of choice, where
• So, and to comment, I have the utmost respect for a pharmacist from a personal experience.
• But if it's OTC, then the person just... ...eye exam, but if it's OTC, then the person just picks it
• up from the shelf and then goes to the checkout, and that person is certainly not a pharmacist.
• I'm probably, of all of the people that are in this room, the worst person to ask this question, too.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Mental Health heard public testimony on House Concurrent Resolution 42, Senate Bill 878, House Resolution 538, and House Resolution 4661. HCR 42 would urge Congress to support programs intended to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicaid and Medicare patients; the sponsor said it would help elderly and low-income residents, while an opponent argued the referenced program can cost more than alternatives like GoodRx or local pharmacy pricing. No votes were taken on HCR 42, and the hearing closed after no one appeared in support, opposition, or for information. Senate Bill 878, a pharmacist practice act bill, drew the most discussion. The sponsor said it would codify pandemic-era flexibilities for pharmacists, including administering certain vaccines, providing medication therapy services, dispensing some medical devices, and allowing over-the-counter access to ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine with warning labels and standardized procedures. Supporters from pharmacy chains and the Missouri Pharmacy Association said the bill improves access, especially in rural areas, and keeps pharmacists working at the top of their training. Opponents raised concerns about vaccine authority shifting from the governor to boards, the safety and efficacy of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, and the adequacy of warning labels. The committee heard testimony but did not take a vote. The committee also heard two awareness resolutions. House Resolution 538 would designate May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month and call for support of ALS research and advocacy; members spoke in favor, citing the severity of the disease and the need for early access to communication technology and support services. House Resolution 4661 would encourage screening and public education about chronic kidney disease, especially for high-risk patients such as those with diabetes or hypertension, and would ask the Department of Health and Senior Services to consider public-private education efforts. Both resolutions were presented as nonbinding awareness measures, and no votes were taken before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Half of those meetings are in person. Half are by remote, using the remote option.
• In-person civic engagement is an integral part of the... ...accountability.
• In-person civic engagement is an integral part of our democratic process.
• You have to have a majority in person. You would never face an empty dais when that happens.
• Yes, while we wait for another author, can you call the roll for missing members?

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Organization heard several bills related to outdoor advertising, open meetings, and San Francisco economic development. SB 364 by Senator Strickland would speed up processing of outdoor advertising permits by allowing Caltrans to act on applications as freeway projects are completed in segments, and clarifies customary maintenance of signs. Supporters said the bill would reduce permit backlogs and help local governments and the billboard industry; there was no opposition. The committee passed SB 364 to Appropriations, with the roll left open for additional votes. SB 470 by Senator Laird would extend until January 1, 2030 the sunset on the alternative Bagley-Keene open meeting rules adopted in SB 544, allowing state boards and commissions to continue using remote participation under specified conditions. Supporters from the Little Hoover Commission and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities said the current law has increased public participation, saved money, and improved access for people with disabilities and caregivers. Opponents, including ACA of California Action, the California News Publishers Association, and media and transparency groups, argued the bill weakens in-person public access and accountability. The committee approved SB 470 to Appropriations, with some no votes and the roll held open. SB 395 by Senator Wiener would let San Francisco create a hospitality zone in Union Square/Yerba Buena with up to 20 additional non-transferable liquor licenses for restaurants to support downtown recovery. City and business representatives said the measure would help fill vacancies, attract restaurants, and boost foot traffic, while remaining temporary and geographically limited. The bill passed to Appropriations with broad support and no opposition. SB 783 by Senator Rubio would extend until January 1, 2029 the special outdoor advertising rules for signs in former redevelopment areas; supporters said it would give affected communities time to find a permanent solution, while billboard industry opponents warned about compliance and federal highway funding risks. The committee passed SB 783 to Appropriations as amended, and then adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The risk for the average person to go into debt just for getting sick is unacceptably high.
• For a single person.
• The homeowner's association ombuds person. This is from House File 856.
• I didn't want to miss the bite at the apple to say, "Hey, where were you?"
• And I'll tell you, in my personal— Marijuana hurt my life.

Bills: HF1646, HF2443

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• And essentially, it means that you cannot discriminate against a person because they're from another
• We do have another person wishing to speak in favor, Rebecca Trish, Louisiana Wildlife Federation.
• I believe that's the only other person in support to speak. So, um.
• I believe that's the only other person in support to speak. Go ahead, sir, whenever you're ready.
• There's a part about it being on your own personal property that you have to own.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have another person wishing to speak in favor, Rebecca Trish, Louisiana Wildlife Federation.
• I mean, I gave you testimony through my personal observation of the noise of an airboat versus a mud
• I believe that's the only other person in support to speak. So, um.
• I believe that's the only other person in support to speak. Go ahead, sir, whenever you're ready.
• I would think the person with a .22 who's mad at the armadillo who keeps digging up their flower beds

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.