Transcript Highlights:

• Secret hearings, secret bureaucratic hearing. Had no idea that it happened.
• Hearing.
• Thank you all again for hearing Senate Bill 1362 today.
• Hearing none, uh, Senate Bill 1379 is left pending. 1451.
• Hearing done. Senate Bill 1451 is left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• We hear a lot of stuff, so I need you to clarify.
• Chair hears none. House Bill 3006 is left pending.
• "But also when I hear it, and most profoundly, when I hear it, I think of Jackie, and I think of Annette

Bills: HB1826 , HB2854 , HB3006 , HB4614 , HB5261 , HB5639

Committee: House Corrections

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, HB 2854, Pokuaa-Flowers Act, parole, mandatory supervision, electronic monitoring, releasee, parole officer, hospital visit approval, general hospital, law enforcement notification, DSHS, Department of State Health Services, corrections, public safety, liability immunity

Transcript Highlights:

• Karen, if you can hear me, do you want to try to unmute yourself?
• Hopefully we can hear you. You're still muted, if you can hear us. Oh, there you go.
• Can everybody hear me okay? Yes, we can. All right.
• We're going to be hearing our budget bill next week, so stay tuned.
• Madam Chair, should we hear the other bill that I have while...

Bills: HF1367 , HF2732 , HF1897 , HF1424 , HF1383 , HF2728 , HF2863 , HF1685 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 330 by Rogers has been pulled by the author from today's hearing.
• Hearing and seeing none, we'll bring it back to the committee. Mr. Myel. Thank you.
• Hearing and seeing none, I want to bring it back to the committee.
• Would you please come to seeing and hearing none?
• Seeing and hearing none. Primary witnesses... ...Line up. Seeing and hearing none.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its first regular hearing of the 2025-26 session, adopted its proposed committee rules on a 5-0 vote, and reinstated a suspense file for bills with fiscal impacts over the committee threshold. The chair explained that only AB 418 would be eligible for an immediate vote, while several other measures would be held for suspense consideration because of budget constraints. AB 330 was pulled by the author. AB 418 by Wilson, which would create a clearer process and administrative remedy for county Chapter 8 tax sales, received support from county tax collectors and housing and taxpayer groups. Supporters said the bill would add transparency, due process, and a noticed public hearing for negotiated sales of tax-defaulted properties, while helping counties dispose of low-value or problematic properties more efficiently. The committee voted 6-0 to send AB 418 to Appropriations. Several other bills were heard and then referred to suspense: AB 27 by Chau, which would exclude Chiquita Canyon landfill relief payments from gross income and protect recipients’ eligibility for public benefits, drew strong support from affected residents and environmental advocates; AB 258 by Conley would increase funding for California fairs, with supporters emphasizing fairs’ emergency-response role; AB 397 by Gonzalez would expand the California Young Child Tax Credit into a broader child tax credit for older children; and AB 398 by Aaron would set a $300 minimum refundable Cal EITC benefit. The committee also heard AB 231 by Tye, which would offer a tax credit to microbusinesses that hire formerly incarcerated people, and it too was referred to suspense after supportive testimony from reentry and small-business advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think these hearings are a great first step but we have to do more than hearings and letters of support
• Chair for having this hearing. This question is for Mr. Graves.
• Now we're hearing about our national parks being in impacted and now I do start to hear people with more
• We plan to use that report as the basis for the April hearing.
• Our next committee hearing will be on March 11th at 1.30pm.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We recognize the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, Arizona chapters of the Hearing
• Mojave College, you hear? Hey! Oh, there's a lot of you.
• SB 1784, juvenile sentence reduction hearings. Judiciary and elections.
• SB 1802, juvenile hearing sentence reduction. Judiciary and elections.
• Federalism at 1:30 and Senate Hearing Room 2. Finance at 1:30, Senate Hearing Room 1.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and several guest introductions recognizing Arizona Dental Hygienists Association visitors, deaf and hard of hearing advocacy groups, Arizona Society of Anesthesiologists members, the Doctor of the Day, tribal voting advocates, and other guests. Members also observed a moment of silence for two DPS officers killed earlier that morning. The chamber then received a long list of bills and resolutions for first reading and committee referral, covering elections, education, public safety, health, tribal affairs, housing, agriculture, and other topics. The main floor action was in Committee of the Whole on SB 1425, an elections bill dealing with the July primary and related election procedures. The bill was amended in committee, then further amended on the floor, and the Committee of the Whole recommended it do pass as amended. During third reading, members spoke in support of the measure as a bipartisan election fix that would move the primary up two weeks, improve ballot timing, and require observers in every county. Senator Hatathlie highlighted persistent tribal voting barriers such as mail ballot issues, dual-addressing problems, ID access, funding shortages, misinformation, and polling-place disruptions, while Senator Gonzalez voted no because of the emergency clause. The bill passed 27-1 with two not voting and was transmitted to the House. The Senate also adopted two proclamations: one naming September 4, 2026, as Taekwondo Day in Arizona and another declaring February 2026 as American Heart Month, encouraging CPR and AED awareness. After a recess, the Senate returned briefly to introduce additional bills, refer SB 1315 to Public Safety and SB 1090 to Finance, announce upcoming committee meetings, and then adjourn until Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the good lady has the floor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Hearing none, the title is approved. Bill be transmitted to Senate.
• Hearing none, hearing no negative debate, the debate is closed.
• Hearing none, the title is approved. Bill be transmitted to the Senate.
• Hearing none of the House advanced 16th floor of business adjournment.

Summary: The House convened with 69 members present and one absent and excused, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal. Members also received notice that Representative Donald Hall had designated a substitute and that Senate Bill 1222, dealing with domestic wells and related water provisions, had been transmitted from the Senate and referred to the Resources and Conservation Committee. The House introduced House Bills 572, 573, and 574, covering pediatric transition-related parental rights, concealed carry instruction, and medical mandate/immunization changes, and sent them to Judiciary for printing. Several bills and memorials were advanced on the calendar, including measures on transportation tax, private forest land, federal land policy, human trafficking, unmanned aircraft systems, and artificial sweeteners. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 493, which would make purchasing sex a felony on a first offense for those 21 and older, while keeping a misdemeanor-first-offense structure for ages 18 to 20. Supporters argued the bill would better combat human trafficking by targeting demand and closing a gap in current law when a buyer does not know the person is being trafficked; opponents raised concerns about unequal treatment by age, the fiscal impact of incarceration, and whether the law should instead treat both parties equally or rely on existing trafficking statutes. The House passed HB 493 by a vote of 50-19, and the title was approved for transmission to the Senate. House Bill 514 was then taken up and described as allowing students to take a state test after completing 80% of coursework so they can enter the workforce sooner. With no opposition, the House passed HB 514 by a vote of 69-0, approved the title, and transmitted it to the Senate. The remaining third-reading bills were held one legislative day by unanimous consent. The House then moved to announcements, including committee meeting notices and several caucus, reception, and visitor announcements, and adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the good lady has the floor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Hearing none, the title is approved. Bill be transmitted to the Senate.
• Hearing none, hearing no negative debate, debate is closed.
• Hearing none, the title is approved. Bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
• Hearing none of the House advanced 16th floor of business adjournment.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will be an informational hearing.
• </c><00:19:08.080><c> style</c> hosting a uh community uh hearing style hosting a uh community uh hearing
• c> I</c><00:19:28.799><c> invite</c><00:19:29.120><c> all</c> hearing.
• Uh, and I invite all hearing.
• We will hear from uh state demographer.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to the Senate Education Committee hearing.
• AJR 19 has been pulled from today's hearing at the author's request.
• I will say, and I hear the opposition's concerns.
• We'll now hear from witnesses in opposition.
• The Senate Education Committee hearing is adjourned.

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, beginning with AB 387 on youth sports safety and AED access. The author and supporters, including youth sports and cardiac safety advocates, said the bill would improve coordination between youth sports organizations and facilities to ensure AEDs are available and emergency response is better prepared. School administrators, county groups, and school business officials opposed unless amended, citing liability, cost, staffing, maintenance, and school security concerns. Members asked about AED portability, CPR training, and liability; the author said committee amendments were accepted, but the bill was held due to lack of quorum while negotiations continued. AB 467 would codify the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, allowing it to seek multi-year grants and other outside funding after an initial state appropriation sunsets. Supporters said the center has already trained faculty, supported paid internships and fellowships, and reached thousands of Californians, while opponents were absent. Members questioned whether codification was premature before the required report is due in 2027; the author said the measure was needed now to stabilize fundraising. The bill was also placed on hold for lack of quorum. A major portion of the hearing focused on AB 664 and AB 2694, both dealing with community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 664 would authorize Southwestern College to seek up to four targeted bachelor’s programs to address local workforce shortages in South San Diego County; students, local officials, and community college advocates supported it, while CSU and UC opposed, arguing for a statewide solution and concern about the master plan. AB 2694 proposed a broader statewide framework for community college bachelor’s degrees with stronger workforce and partnership requirements, reduced program caps, and limits on duplication; it drew support from community college groups and students, but CSU and UC again opposed or opposed unless amended. Members discussed place-bound students, workforce needs, transfer pathways, and the need for a master-plan-level approach, but no votes were taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard AB 917, which would require certificated employees in very small school districts and certain county-run programs to receive permanent status under the same rules as larger districts. CTA and many educators supported the bill as a fairness and retention measure, while small school district and ROP representatives opposed, saying the current flexibility is necessary to manage enrollment swings, staffing, and specialized regional programs. Testimony emphasized the tension between job security for educators and operational flexibility for small LEAs; the hearing continued with more opposition testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:15.800><c> and</c> hearing and hearing and uh uh uh and<00:01:19.320><c> and</c><00:01:19.520>
• </c><00:14:06.600><c> My</c> Uh can you all hear me okay? Okay. My Uh can you all hear me okay?
• I mean, I had a hearing, two hearings in 2017. Everything I said was substantiated.
• They're still there. two hearings in 2017. two hearings in 2017.
• </c> hearings in our committee. hearings in our committee.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:55.560><c> and</c> U adjourn the uh public hearing and U adjourn the uh public hearing and
• </c> adjourned uh our next uh public hearing adjourned uh our next uh public hearing is<00:09:06.320>
• This public hearing is now opened.
• I'm closing the public hearing for HB 514.
• Hearing none, the clerk will call the roll.

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think today would be a nice day to hear.
• And so it was just a delightful day to hear anecdotal evidence to complement the data that we often hear
• </c><00:01:19.000><c> mental</c> the data that we often hear mental the data that we often hear mental
• With that said, Julie Campanelli and Abby, you're up. hearing some thoughts on why the hearing some thoughts
• </c><00:53:58.599><c> this</c> this out there and kids are hearing this this out there and kids are hearing

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, we will begin today's hearing.
• You are missed in the hearing.
• I've run an efficient hearing. We try to get things done.
• So we've reached the public shaming section of the hearing.
• Hearings adjourned. Thanks, everyone. Hearings adjourned. Thanks, everyone. Thank you.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate you hearing this bill.
• hearing on House Bill 2671.
• I really appreciate you hearing this bill as well.
• I really appreciate you hearing this bill as well.
• Okay, we're going to close the hearing on House Bill 2617.

Bills: HB2070 , HB2671 , HB2617 , SB6258

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: funding, education, higher education, Western Washington University, state funding parity, financial aid, state funding, student support, educational reform, university procedures, academic policy, student success, Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I appreciate your time in hearing this memorial, and I'll pass it back to the chair.
• Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay.
• All right, next we will be hearing House Bill 177, Representative— We will be hearing House Bill 177.
• I think you're dealing with a situation of the lack of doctors, what I'm hearing.
• Before you proceed, I'd like to ask everyone: they're having trouble hearing us.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and first heard House Memorial 7, which asks Legislative Council Service, the State Personnel Office, DFA, and GSD to study the use of temporary, term, seasonal, casual, on-call, and other non-regular classifications in state government. The memorial was presented as a response to concerns that some workers are repeatedly terminated and rehired, sometimes after a one-day break, to avoid regular status and associated benefits. Testimony from CWA and AFSCME described long-term temporary workers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and other agencies who allegedly do full-time work without health insurance, retirement, leave, or consistent pay progression, and who in some cases were denied union coverage. Committee members questioned the scope, definitions of temporary employment, and whether the issue should instead be referred to the state auditor; the sponsor said the study would gather data and recommendations first. The committee voted due pass, and House Memorial 7 passed unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 177, which appropriates funds to the Veterans Services Department to contract for shelter and care of service and companion animals so veterans can access housing, medical care, and other services without fearing separation from their pets. Support came from the Veterans Services Department, Animal Protection New Mexico, and the Veterans and Military Families Caucus/Veterans Integration Center, all of whom said pets are often a barrier to veterans seeking care and that existing community-based animal boarding models could be used. The bill received no opposition, and the committee voted due pass with no opposition. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill intended to update and clarify the Public Employees Retirement Act and align it with administrative practice. Testimony focused on a provision allowing PERA to use licensed physicians, including out-of-state physicians who can be licensed in New Mexico, to serve on the disability review process when needed so disability cases are not delayed. Committee members raised concerns about ensuring medical expertise and avoiding abuse of the licensing flexibility, but PERA explained the change was meant to address recruitment difficulties and maintain timely review. The committee voted due pass on House Bill 43.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hey, can you hear me okay? We can. Hello.
• So I will close the hearing on 2537. Seven.
• No, we have one more hearing. We have hearings on two bills scheduled for Thursday.
• So it's Wednesday for the Thursday hearing, and then Friday for the Monday hearing.
• For the Thursday hearing, and then Friday for the Monday hearing, and Monday for the Tuesday hearing.

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2537, which would change how energy-intensive, trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) are treated under the Climate Commitment Act. Committee staff and the bill sponsor explained that the measure would require Ecology to update its post-2034 report to include proposed allowance-reduction methods, leakage-risk adjustments, and consignment recommendations, and would add new reporting and decarbonization-planning requirements for EITEs to continue receiving no-cost allowances. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 2245, a separate Clean Energy Transformation Act bill, and later voted the proposed substitute out of committee on an 11-8 vote with 2 excused, after debate over exemptions for certain utilities and market customers. Supporters of HB 2537, including The Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Washington Conservation Action, Climate Solutions, Clean and Prosperous Washington, Ecology, and some utility representatives, said the bill would provide needed clarity, better data, and a path for long-term industrial decarbonization while helping prevent emissions leakage. They argued that EITEs receive substantial public value through free allowances and should be required to document emissions sources, energy needs, and feasible reduction pathways so the state can design a post-2035 policy consistent with climate goals. Ecology said it generally supports the bill, though it recommended streamlining duplicative reporting and noted the work would require significant agency resources not included in the governor’s budget. Opponents, including the Association of Washington Business, the Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, the Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, WISPA, the Alliance of Western Energy Consumers, Food Northwest, Simplot, Kaiser Aluminum, and Newcor Steel, warned that the bill could increase compliance burdens, expose sensitive business information, and worsen leakage risks by making Washington less competitive. They said many facilities have already made major investments and face high capital costs, limited clean electricity supply, permitting delays, and technologies that are not yet commercially viable at scale. Several speakers pointed to recent plant closures and job losses in pulp and paper, food processing, and metals as evidence that leakage is already occurring, and urged the committee to preserve flexibility, protect confidentiality, and consider targeted funding or other incentives rather than new mandates alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the purpose of these hearings.
• the beginning of these hearings.
• Okay, real quick, members, we are going to hear 2062. We're going to hear 2018.
• We're going to hear 262. We're going to hear 2035, and then we will hear 2041.
• I didn’t hear the question.

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Government convened, took roll, introduced members and staff, and heard an Auditor General presentation on a special audit of the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s handling of non-criminal child abuse and neglect reports. The audit found that while DCS generally met initial contact timeframes in most cases, 123 of 125 sampled cases had at least one policy noncompliance issue, including failures to properly notify alleged perpetrators of rights and allegations, incomplete or undocumented investigative steps and safety plans, and investigations that exceeded required timeframes. The Auditor General said DCS agreed with the findings and would implement the recommendations; members asked about sample size, staffing, turnover, and whether the problems were systemic and documentation-related. The chair also gave an opening statement emphasizing oversight of DCS and the committee’s intent to focus on systemic issues and child safety. The committee then considered House Bill 262, which authorizes a memorial for the Buffalo Soldiers at Wesley Boland Plaza. Several supporters testified about the historical significance of the Buffalo Soldiers and the importance of recognizing their contributions in Arizona. Members from both parties spoke in support, and HB 262 passed unanimously with a due pass recommendation. The committee next heard House Bill 2018, which would prohibit DCS from entering into agreements with health care institutions that allow or require payment in exchange for reports of child abuse or neglect. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill was needed to prevent financial incentives from influencing reporting and to protect parents’ rights, while some testimony described alleged overreporting and harmful removals tied to hospital reporting arrangements. Members debated whether there was a sufficient paper trail for such payments and whether the issue was limited to one hospital or broader; the sponsor said DCS had not provided requested data and that subpoena power might be needed. After a recess and further discussion, HB 2018 passed on a 4-3 vote and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we have one measure on the bill hearing agenda. We'll be hearing Senator Becker's SB 254.
• And immediately following the conclusion of our bill hearing, we will begin an informational hearing
• And I hear about it a lot in my office.
• So we will be conducting this portion of the hearing as we would a bill hearing without a vote at the
• This concludes the hearing. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy convened with a quorum and first heard SB 254, a major utility affordability and wildfire package authored by Senator Becker and coauthored by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris. The bill was described as combining wildfire mitigation reforms, $6 billion in securitized financing for future fire-mitigation capital spending, a public ownership/transmission financing program, tighter scrutiny of utility profits, clean energy permitting streamlining, stronger customer connection timelines, and a successor wildfire fund/continuation account to replace the current fund. Supporters, including the Governor’s office, TURN, labor, clean energy groups, utilities, and public advocates, said the measure would lower bills, stabilize utilities, protect fire victims, and reduce wildfire-related bankruptcy risk. Opponents and some local government groups raised concerns about affordability impacts, the volumetric wildfire fee, strict liability, and provisions they said could affect local control. After discussion, the committee approved SB 254 on a 16-0 vote and sent it to the floor. The committee then held an informational hearing on AB 825, which would enable California to participate in a West-wide electricity market. The authors said the proposal could save ratepayers up to $1 billion annually, improve reliability by allowing California to draw on a larger regional supply, reduce curtailment of renewable power, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Support came from environmental organizations, labor, utilities, community choice aggregators, large energy users, and the Public Advocates Office, all emphasizing cost savings, reliability, and cleaner energy integration. TURN opposed the measure, warning that last-minute amendments removed safeguards against subsidizing out-of-state fossil generation and could expose California ratepayers to unwanted costs. Members questioned governance, exit rights, CPUC oversight, and local control, and the authors responded that the bill includes multiple safeguards, legislative reporting, the ability to exit without penalty, and continued local consultation. No vote was taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the minutes are approved. Again, announcements as used.
• Hearing none, the minutes are approved.
• Hearing none, the item is approved. Any objection? Hearing none, the item is approved.
• Hearing none, the item is granted preliminary approval.
• Hearing none, the items are approved.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21 with a quorum present and approved the April 16 minutes. The commission then reviewed and approved a large slate of local government and public authority financing requests, including election propositions for the November ballot, water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection and recreation district bonds, school board financing, and several refunding transactions. Most items were found to meet technical requirements and were approved on motions by Speaker DeVillier and seconded by Senator Talbot. Among the more notable items were the East Baton Rouge City-Parish refunding bonds for the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the City of Kenner’s retroactive approval request tied to a convention center agreement with GMB Basketball LLC, a Louisiana Housing Corporation financing increase for the Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, and preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport. The commission also approved financing for Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools/Harriet Tubman Charter School project. The Crescent City Schools item prompted questions about how MFP funds are used; staff explained that lease payments would support the bonds and that MFP funds are generally split between educational expenses and facilities-related costs. The commission received six monthly cost-of-issuance reports, which required no action, and a status update on the state debt schedule. It also approved Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. During other business, New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morel thanked the commission for its role in helping address the city’s fiscal crisis and for approving a charter amendment election item aimed at strengthening budget oversight. The meeting adjourned after no further business.