Transcript Highlights:

• So this is attempting to make sure that we're restricting recovery on these things that they shouldn't
• They shouldn't be here. make sure that we're restricting recovery on these things that they shouldn't

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and took up House Bill 3443, relating to court costs. Members adopted House Committee Amendment 1, which changed a January reference to July, updated language regarding the Department of Labor or its successors, and removed round-up numbers. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee substitute and voted the substitute do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. House Bill 3304, concerning the offense of keeping a dangerous dog, was then amended to restore prior-bite language and narrow the injury definition to serious physical injury; the committee adopted the amendment, adopted a substitute, and voted the bill do pass 11-1. House Bill 2865, dealing with attorney’s fees and expenses in civil actions and agency proceedings, was approved do pass 12-0. House Bill 2255 was announced as not being taken up that day. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2777, the Public Nuisance Reform Act, was presented as a measure to narrow public nuisance claims, limit suits involving lawful products and regulated activities, strengthen causation requirements, and restrict who may sue and what damages may be recovered. Supporters from consumer reform, insurance, and civil justice groups said it would curb abusive litigation while preserving traditional nuisance claims; no opposition testimony was offered. House Bill 2667, the Eliminate Criminal Profiteering Act, would bar negligence claims arising from a person’s own wrongful conduct, limit negligent security liability, require apportionment of fault in some cases, and restrict certain recoveries by unauthorized aliens in auto cases. The sponsor and supporters said it would prevent criminals from profiting from their wrongdoing and protect businesses, while committee members raised questions about scope, premises liability, and sovereign immunity. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2666, an anti-SLAPP bill intended to provide a faster dismissal process for lawsuits that are meant to chill speech or petitioning activity. The sponsor and supporters said it would protect free expression and align Missouri with other states, while still preserving claims for genuinely harmed parties. No opposition testimony was presented on either House Bill 2667 or House Bill 2666, and the hearing concluded without any votes on the public hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you say U.S. currency, I don't know that you're actually restricting it to what you're intending
• And when you say U.S. currency, I don't know that you're actually restricting it to what you're intending

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it's wildfire, earthquake, or flood, water system operators and utility workers must often enter restricted
• standardized identification credential for essential utility workers whose duties require access to restricted

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee held its first meeting and adopted committee rules for the 2025-26 session. The committee heard SB 1001, which would require the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue identification cards for essential utility workers so they can more easily access evacuation zones during emergencies. The author and supporters, including Rowland Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority, said the bill was prompted by delays during the Eaton Fire, when utility crews in marked vehicles were denied access despite having authorization. Members generally supported the bill as a practical way to improve coordination between utilities, law enforcement, and incident command during disasters. The bill was voted out on a do-pass motion to the Senate Public Safety Committee. The committee also heard SB 1153, which would require urban retail water suppliers in high-risk areas to include wildfire-specific procedures in emergency response plans and make findings clarifying the role and limits of public water systems during wildfires. The author and witnesses from water agencies argued that public water systems are not designed to function as wildfire suppression systems and that the bill would improve planning while addressing growing liability exposure after major fires. Senator Perez raised concerns about balancing liability reform with accountability and the need for future infrastructure hardening, and the Vice Chair emphasized that the bill should not create a hollow safe harbor. The author accepted committee amendments clarifying that negligence liability remains intact, and the bill was moved out as amended to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. A consent item, SB 870, was also approved. After roll calls were completed and absent members later voted, all three measures passed the committee 8-0. SB 1020 was pulled from the hearing for a future date.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is it restricts localities' revenue to use for just road safety projects.
• House Bill 1524 is the prohibition on the open carry of all firearms and restriction of concealed carry

Keywords: March 13, 2026 - Regular Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as merchants become enforcers of an ideology or, you know, just an important agenda to be able to restrict
• as merchants become enforcers of an ideology or, you know, just an important agenda to be able to restrict

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and advanced five Senate bills. SB 1160 would make it a class one misdemeanor to fly a drone within one mile of a ticketed entertainment event, with exceptions for authorized personnel or written consent; NASCAR testified in support on public safety grounds, and the bill received a due pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include force or threats causing property damage and add riot as a predicate offense for conspiracy and racketeering; criminal defense attorneys opposed it as overly broad, while the sponsor argued it would target those who pay for organized riots, and it passed 5-2. SB 1049 would place a four-year limit on spousal maintenance and adjust related court guidelines; the sponsor said it was intended to end open-ended support, while members raised concerns about long marriages, businesses, and lifestyle disparities, and it passed 5-2. SB 1053 would change CCW permit fees so Arizona residents pay 10% of the nonresident fee; supporters said the bill would make resident permits cheaper while allowing DPS to keep the program revenue neutral, but some members worried it could reduce state revenue, and it passed 6-2. SB 1058 would bar firearm registries and the use of merchant category codes to identify firearm retailers or purchases, with enforcement by the Attorney General and county attorneys; supporters framed it as a privacy and Second Amendment measure, and it passed 6-2. SB 1211 would allow victims of felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence to seek a lifetime injunction against the convicted defendant; domestic violence advocates supported it as closing a gap for ongoing harassment, a criminal justice group opposed a broader amendment but not the bill itself, and the committee ultimately approved the bill unanimously, 9-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I read it also, it seems like we are actually restricting even more those that might be able to participate
• As I read it also, it seems like we are actually restricting even more those that might be able to participate

Bills: SB2065, SB1641, SB1642, SB1589, SB1597, SB1216, SB2173, SB2028, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB2014, SB1805, SB2044, SB1836, SB1380, SB2179, SB1436, SB1558, SB933, SB1651, SB1328, SB1572, SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, business entities, limited liability company, LLC, foreign LLC, domestic LLC, limited partnership, foreign limited partnership, registered agent, Secretary of State, annual certificate, good standing, certificate of authority, designated office, email address, electronic mail

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized the Doctor and Psychologist of the Day. The chamber also presented a citation to Oklahoma Task Force One’s K-9 search and rescue unit, with remarks praising its in-state and out-of-state disaster response work and professionalism. Several gallery introductions followed, including a student shadowing Senator Mann and the Crooked Oak Hispanic Student Association. The Senate then considered several bills. SB 2065, as amended, renamed the measure the Lucille Morehouse Pollinator Act and updated state insect/pollinator designations; it passed 48-0. SB 1641 required business entities to provide an email address on incorporation filings for electronic notice of annual reports; it passed 48-0. SB 1642 allowed physicians to make prescriptions in divided quantities, with discussion focused on opioid prescribing and post-surgical treatment; it passed 48-0. SB 1589 increased penalties for sweepstakes violations and expanded the law to target illegal online gambling operations; it passed 48-0. SB 1597 removed the requirement that the State CASA Association follow specific national standards while keeping local training and background-check requirements. Debate centered on whether removing national standards would reduce DEI-related training; Senator Boren opposed the bill on that basis, while the author argued it preserved Oklahoma flexibility. The bill passed 41-7. SB 1216 broadened judicial discretion for drug court eligibility for some offenders with prior domestic violence-related charges, and senators questioned whether the language was clear enough and whether it could affect eligibility rules; the author said the intent was to expand discretion, not change DV accountability. It passed 44-4. At the end of the session, the Senate voted to reject House amendments to SB 893 and request conference committee consideration. Announcements were made about committee meetings, a women’s caucus lunch, and an Irish Caucus gathering. The Senate then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, all we're moving is just the restriction that it can't, the urban area can't provide it.
• No, all we're moving is just the restriction that it can't, the urban area can't provide it.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard House Bill 628 from Representative Ron Mendive, which would allow urban school districts to offer both school-based driver education and parent-taught driver training, rather than forcing districts to choose one or the other. Mendive said the bill also removes a reference to IDLA as a listed online provider while leaving other approved online classroom options in place. He argued the change would help districts like Coeur d’Alene restart driver’s ed while still letting parents teach, and said insurance treatment and the state licensing test would not change. Several witnesses opposed the bill. Lisa Brady, Lori Salders, Tanya Hosvite of Phillips Driving School, and Marissa Keith all argued that expanding parent-led instruction statewide would weaken driver education standards, reduce professional oversight, and create safety risks for teen drivers and other road users. They emphasized that professional instructors receive continuing education, use dual-control vehicles, and are better equipped to teach hazard perception, defensive driving, and urban driving conditions. Mendive responded that parents already provide most of the required 50 hours of practice, that the bill only changes the six hours of instructor-led training, and that parents have their children’s best interests in mind. After discussion, Senator Kaiser moved to send HB 628 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, and Senator Hart seconded. Senators debated whether urban areas still needed the extra professional instruction, with some members citing local traffic safety concerns and others noting scheduling flexibility for families. The committee voted in favor of the motion, with three recorded in opposition. The hearing also included an interview of gubernatorial appointee Gaston Patterson for the Aeronautics Advisory Board, who described his aviation background and the board’s advisory role, and a brief introduction from new Senate page Olivia Earle. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, all we're moving is just the restriction that it can't, the urban area can't provide it.
• No, all we're moving is just the restriction that it can't, the urban area can't provide it.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• companion to House Bill 2125, is a request to the Department of Retirement Systems, and it removes a restriction
• And it removes a restriction to the 25-27 biennium for expending from the interest earnings on the pension

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 5109 would raise the mortgage lending fraud prosecution surcharge on recorded deeds of trust from $1 to $5 and remove the 2027 sunset on the surcharge and account. Committee staff said the change would generate additional revenue for county auditors and the Department of Financial Institutions to contract with prosecutors; King County and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified in strong support, saying the current funding has eroded and the bill would better sustain mortgage fraud prosecutions. A question was raised about whether other budget funding could serve a similar purpose, but supporters said the dedicated surcharge/account structure was the best fit. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5500, which would require DCYF’s biennial child care report to include a current cost-of-quality study in addition to the market rate survey. Testifiers from Child Care Aware of Washington, child care providers, and the early education design team supported the bill, saying the market rate survey alone does not capture the true cost of providing quality care. Staff said the bill would have a small fiscal impact for DCYF. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 5834 and Senate Bill 5835, both Department of Retirement Systems request bills: one would broaden use of pension fund interest earnings for fund-protection expenses beyond the 2025-27 biennium, and the other would raise the threshold for lump-sum payment of small monthly benefits from $50 to $250. Neither bill drew public testimony, and staff said the fiscal impacts were minimal. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which would create the Pre-K Promise Account for ECAP funding and allow gifts, grants, and donations to be used solely to expand the program. Supporters including rural health coalitions, the Balmer Group, and Snohomish County said the account would help expand access to early learning, especially in child care deserts; DCYF estimated staffing costs to administer the account. Substitute Senate Bill 6007 would direct WSIPP to study DCYF’s child welfare screening tools and their effects on outcomes, with a reported cost of about $234,000; there was no public testimony. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019 would clarify home care agency rate-setting and require that no more than 20% of Medicaid home care rates go to administrative costs, with DSHS saying there would be no fiscal impact. Labor and caregiver witnesses supported it as a parity and accountability measure. Finally, Senate Bill 6065 would allow school districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds more flexibly, including temporary loans or permanent transfers with approval; a rural education representative supported the bill, and staff said OSPI would incur only modest administrative costs. The committee took no final action and adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• We discussed it earlier, and essentially I removed the language in there that restricted it to the rural
• We discussed it earlier, and essentially I removed the language in there that restricted it to the rural

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The rules for transitional housing for these former inmates are so restrictive that many of them, upon
• The rules for transitional housing for these former inmates are so restrictive that many of them upon

Bills: HB1322, HB3053, HB3180, HB3244, HB3269, HB3299, HB3301, HB3302, HB3430, HB3497, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3606, HB3742, HB3743, HB3755, HB3764, HB3767, HB3835, HB3848, HB3903, HB3905, HB4108, HB4130, HB4142, HB4227, HB3996

Keywords: domestic violence, offenders registry, public safety, law enforcement, victim protection, conviction records, elderly, parole, criminal justice reform, inmate rehabilitation, Oklahoma statutes, firearms, handgun permits, self-defense, training requirements, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, elderly exploitation, identity theft, crimes and punishments, criminal offenses

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a long agenda of criminal justice bills, with most measures receiving due pass recommendations after brief explanations and little or no debate. Early bills included HB 3586 on modifications to the charging process for abuse and neglect, HB 3584 on sentencing changes for human trafficking involving minors and people with mental disabilities, HB 3587 on outpatient treatment procedures for individuals in the criminal justice center, HB 3743 on community-based outpatient restoration treatment under a PCS and amendment, and HB 3742 on criminal discovery process changes. All of these were reported out favorably, generally by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Members also advanced HB 4227, Trey’s Law, which would protect child sexual abuse survivors by allowing claims and limiting nondisclosure agreements; HB 3764, which increases penalties for people charged while on the DOJ terrorist list, after an amendment changing the proof language; HB 3767, an Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics request adding controlled substances and updating terminology; HB 3606, allowing court review for removal from the sex offender registry in cases of medical infirmity or cognitive decline; HB 3299, creating a new offense for unauthorized digitized or synthetic media intended to cause harm; HB 3835, a human trafficking prevention bill; HB 3244, expanding fraud and identity theft laws; and HB 4130, addressing online sweepstakes/casino gaming enforcement with an amendment clarifying tribal gaming under federal law. HB 318 and HB 3302 were laid over. Later, the committee approved HB 3053, creating a narrow parole pathway for incarcerated people age 65 and older, with amendments excluding violent offenses, sex offenses, and certain other crimes; HB 3269, allowing electronic arrest warrants; HB 3301, aligning state law with federal law on short-barreled firearms after an amendment restoring the 16-inch language; HB 3430, revising court fines and fees collection and distinguishing permanent from temporary inability to pay; HB 3497, clarifying when the state may appeal a pretrial order; HB 3755, requiring OJA to provide prescribed medication and medical information to detention facilities within 48 hours for juveniles in custody; HB 3848, easing transitional housing restrictions for released sex offenders; HB 3903, requiring domestic violence incident reports and filing of VPO petitions and adding judicial training; HB 3905, allowing counties to use available funds for GPS monitoring in domestic violence cases; HB 3996, requiring OIDS to pay for expert witnesses in capital post-conviction cases; HB 4142, expanding explosives laws to cover attempts and intent; HB 1322, creating a public registry for persistent domestic violence offenders; and HB 4108, expanding critical infrastructure trespass laws to include airports. Most bills were reported due pass, with votes commonly ranging from unanimous to a few dissenting votes, and the chair recessed/adjourned after the agenda was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no restriction. It could be six from the House and zero from the Senate or vice versa.
• Is there any restriction on having OidD contract with an insurance company to provide the review?

Bills: HB2975, HB3405, HB3406, HB3728, HB3902, HB3977, SB397, HB1161, HB2938, HB2939, HB3306, HB3722, HB4113, HB4123, HB2293, HB3176, HB3545, HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• home-based businesses that have no impact on their neighborhood to operate without additional restrictions
• you're trying to say on your private property you would not have any restrictions.

Bills: SB1519, SB1775, SB1900, SB1948, SB2080

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Transcript Highlights:

• issue is not just dead or injured animals, but also the way the entire herd's use of the range is restricted
• continued that the issue is not just the dead animals, but the entire herd and how its range is restricted

Summary: The House Agricultural Affairs Committee approved the minutes from January 30, 2026, then took up several Idaho State Department of Agriculture administrative rule dockets. The Idaho Hop Growers Commission docket was approved to repeal a rule that was described as duplicative of statute. The committee also approved temporary and pending rules on grizzly bear and wolf depredation compensation, with testimony explaining the rules implement 2024 and 2025 legislation, establish claim procedures, compensation matrices, and conflict-prevention funding, and rely on stakeholder input and coordination with the Office of Species Conservation. The committee then heard extensive presentations on brucellosis and tuberculosis surveillance programs from Dr. Scott Livesley. He explained both are bacterial program diseases managed largely under federal requirements, with Idaho’s rules mainly being updated through zero-based rulemaking to remove duplicative or outdated language without changing the regulatory scope. Members asked about vaccination, electronic ID tags, security of cattle ID data, and whether Idaho should remain a mandatory brucellosis vaccination state; Livesley said the current program would remain in place for now, with future reconsideration dependent on federal changes. The tuberculosis docket was likewise approved after Livesley described Idaho’s surveillance, slaughter testing, and lack of current quarantined herds. Finally, the committee approved revisions to the public exchange of livestock rules. Livesley said the changes would require buying stations and trader lots to submit renewal requests, and would replace a paper sale-yard release form with a single end-of-day electronic report generated by auction software, reducing clerical burden while preserving the needed information. All dockets considered were approved, and the meeting adjourned with the committee scheduled to meet again on Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Legal Affairs or and whether a social media platform has committed an antitrust violation or restricted
• This bill also mandates political language and elevates one narrative while erasing another, restricting

Transcript Highlights:

• I just looked at purely what are common restrictions on cash, ATM's that are operated by credit unions
• They have a lot of they have a lot of restrictions in place. They stamp out a lot of fraud.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1327, ABOR, foreign countries, restrictions, penalties. Education.
• ABOR, foreign countries, restrictions, penalties. Education.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and approval of the journal. The chamber then recognized several guest groups and proclamations, including Alzheimer’s Association advocates, Arizona Society of CPAs members, the Arizona Airports Association, and students from Onyose Day Academy. A proclamation was read declaring January 26, 2006, as Arizona Aviation Day, highlighting the economic and public-safety importance of Arizona’s aviation sector and its airports. The bulk of the meeting consisted of points of personal privilege and floor statements, many focused on condemning recent deaths and injuries involving federal immigration enforcement actions in Arizona and other states. Senators called for investigations, transparency, due process, and an end to what they described as excessive force and warrantless enforcement. One senator also read a resolution supporting human rights and the people of Iran, condemning state violence and supporting secular protections and international accountability. The chamber also handled routine business, including gubernatorial nominations, which were referred to the appropriate committees, and the introduction and first reading of numerous bills and resolutions covering topics such as taxes, education, immigration, elections, health care, water, labor, housing, firearms, and appropriations. After committee announcements, the Senate adopted a motion to adjourn and recessed/adjourned until Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks to the crews who labored 24 hours a day, Highway 2 is now open with no lane restrictions and just
• Thanks to the crews who labored 24 hours a day, Highway 2 is now open with no lane restrictions and just

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The joint session of the Washington Legislature convened to receive Governor Bob Ferguson’s State of the State address, with the House and Senate roll called and a quorum confirmed. The chamber recognized Supreme Court justices, statewide elected officials, tribal leaders, consular corps members, and other guests before the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem by the Wapato High School Choir, a prayer by Reverend Indiana Driver Gimmer, and a poem by State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield. The governor opened by thanking those present and highlighting recent flooding as a major test of the state’s resilience, praising first responders, National Guard members, WSDOT crews, and local leaders for their response and recovery efforts. In his address, Ferguson said Washington’s economy remains strong but argued the state must make major investments in transportation, ferries, housing, and affordability. He proposed more than a billion dollars for bridge repairs, $164 million for road paving this summer, another billion dollars for three new ferries, and a $244 million housing investment. He also called for a millionaire’s tax to fund expanded Working Families Tax Credit benefits, tax relief for small businesses, more K-12 funding, and affordability measures such as utility bill credits and expanded energy assistance. He criticized federal immigration enforcement tactics and changes at the CDC, urged action on a bill limiting masked law enforcement, and said Washington should rely on science-based public health guidance through state-led efforts. The governor also highlighted several bills and proposals he said he would support, including expanded early learning for military families, modular housing standards, reckless driving changes, improved crash data access, wildfire air support for local fire departments, fee refunds when agencies miss processing deadlines, and a campaign to improve FAFSA completion rates. He said his administration has already reduced processing times for several licenses and wants government to be more responsive. After the address, the joint session was dissolved by motion and vote, and the House then adjourned until January 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• A whole, whereas NMCD's reentry covers every person within our system, and it's restricted to specific
• It's a restrictive 1115 program, limited to those in corrections and services for 90 days through the

Transcript Highlights:

• And there already are existing restrictions.
• And there already are existing restrictions.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several Senate bills focused on health care access, privacy, and public health data. SB 81 (Arreguín) would require health care facilities to create nonpublic areas and bar immigration enforcement from entering without a judicial warrant or court order, while also protecting disclosure of immigration-related information in medical records. The bill drew strong support from labor, immigrant-rights, health care, and patient advocacy groups, with committee members emphasizing patient safety and privacy; one member raised implementation concerns about how the restrictions would work in practice. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, with one no vote recorded. SB 250 (Ochoa Bogh) would add skilled nursing facilities to DHCS’s managed care provider directory so Medi-Cal beneficiaries can more easily identify covered facilities. Supporters said the change would help seniors and people with disabilities avoid confusion and rushed placement decisions, especially during hospital discharge, and would make existing information easier to use. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a unanimous vote. SB 717 (Richardson) would formally recognize California’s three regional cancer registries in state law to help preserve federal funding and support cancer surveillance data collection. The author and supporters said the measure would protect more than $15 million in annual federal support and strengthen cancer research and tracking; the committee approved it unanimously to Appropriations. SB 504 (Laird) would allow health care providers to disclose personally identifying information about previously reported HIV infections to state or local health officials when needed for disease control or care coordination. The author described the bill as a modernization of reporting and coordination practices, and supporters from the California Medical Association and Planned Parenthood backed it. The committee sent the bill out as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on a unanimous vote. The meeting also included routine consent-calendar action and multiple add-on votes, with the committee repeatedly holding the roll open to record additional members’ votes.