Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the tenor section leader.
• /c><00:16:19.440><c> I'm</c><00:16:19.560><c> the</c><00:16:19.680><c> tenor</c><00:16:20.120><c> section
• </c> Wahu Coral Society I'm the tenor section Wahu Coral Society I'm the tenor section leader<00:16:21.160
• We're also going to be adding another point to section three to ensure that these funds will also be
• three</c><00:26:49.440><c> to</c><00:26:49.600><c> ensure</c><00:26:49.880><c> that</c> point to section

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts met on March 14, 2025, and heard two measures. On SB 441 SD1, relating to the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, the committee received strong support from the orchestra, the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, IATSE Local 665, and an in-person testifier, with testimony emphasizing statewide access to music, education and community programming, cultural value, economic impact, and job stability for musicians and staff. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and suggested language related to the State Endowment Fund. Committee members asked about how the funding would be used, the orchestra’s reach, and its history; the orchestra said it preferred direct operating support and described its audience and employment footprint, neighbor-island outreach, and plans to expand season length and education programs. The committee then heard SB 1581 SD1, relating to the Hawaiʻi Japan Pacific Peace Monument. No testifier from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts was present, and no one testified on Zoom. With no discussion from witnesses, the measure was briefly taken up and later advanced. In decision-making, the committee adopted amendments to SB 441 SD1, including a preamble describing legislative intent and the orchestra’s history, references to the State of Hawaiʻi endowment fund and statewide public benefits, and language ensuring the funds support statewide purposes and neighbor-island access to music and educational opportunities. The committee also added a deferral date of July 1, 3000 and technical amendments, then voted to pass the measure with amendments. SB 1581 SD1 was also passed forward with amendments, including a July 1, 3000 deferral date and technical changes, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This notice is usually placed in the legal section of a newspaper, which not everyone reads.
• There are, um, section 8 of the bill.
• I believe you said section eight. >> I'm sorry.
• I believe you said section eight. &gt;&gt; Okay. I believe you said section eight.
• In<00:25:56.320><c> the</c><00:25:56.559><c> prohibited</c><00:25:57.120><c> section</c><00:25:57.440

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just if you have the first section you're able...
• Little: Okay, and section 4 calls for discovery of... Rep.
• The substitute will remove Section 2 and Section 3 from the bill introduced, which then requires the
• subsequent sections to be renumbered.
• Jones a moment ago from this section about the lawyer.

Bills: HB200

Keywords: HB 200, emergency communication, backup communications, satellite phone, portable satellite equipment, radio, floodplain, 100-year floodplain, FEMA, natural disaster, disaster preparedness, emergency preparedness, vulnerable populations, children, elderly, seniors, people with disabilities, care facilities, residential care, assisted living

Transcript Highlights:

• How this will be sectioned off and has to have 63 votes in order to pass, and if during that local application
• /c><00:05:05.600><c> this</c><00:05:05.840><c> will</c><00:05:06.000><c> be</c><00:05:06.160><c> sectioned
• </c><00:05:06.639><c> off</c> others how this will be sectioned off others how this will be sectioned

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Both bills would amend Section 7, 43rd clause of Chapter 4 of the Massachusetts General Laws by striking
• points, entitled “Defining Armed Forces in State Policy,” align with Title 10, United States Code, Section
• ’m not going to, as part of these documents, I’m just going to read in relevant part a background section
• , a very well thought out background section.
• chapter 4 section 743 clause is the primary definition of a veteran reference throughout the mess section

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-26 session on recognitions, definitions, and designations related to veterans. Chairs John Velis and Joseph McGonagle opened the hybrid hearing with housekeeping rules and noted the committee’s reporting deadlines. The hearing focused on several bills honoring veterans and military-related service, including H. 3825 to include reserve components in flag half-staff recognition for service members killed in action, S. 2499 to place a State House marker honoring three Medal of Honor recipients from the war on terror, S. 2498 to add Merchant Marine recognition at veterans cemeteries and the State House and create a Massachusetts merchant mariner medal, and H. 2500/S. 2500 to have Massachusetts fly the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and fallen service members. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 3871 and S. 2467, which would update the Commonwealth’s definition of “veteran.” Testimony came from the Office of Veterans Services, veterans organizations, Public Health Service and NOAA representatives, National Guard and Reserve veterans, and Gold Star advocates. Witnesses argued the current state definition is inconsistent with federal law and excludes some service members who should be recognized, especially members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, reservists, and some National Guard members. Supporters said the bills would improve fairness, consistency, and access to benefits and services, while several speakers emphasized that service in uniform should be honored regardless of branch. Some testimony also urged a broader moral recognition of all who raised their right hand, while others focused on aligning state law with federal definitions and closing gaps in eligibility. Committee members asked questions about the practical and fiscal effects of broadening the definition, including how the proposed language would interact with existing federal standards and state benefit programs. Witnesses explained that the bills would remove the current 180-day and 90-day active-service calculations and instead recognize certain active service and six-year reserve or Guard commitments, though some members noted that this could create a broader state standard than the federal one. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee concluded after hearing from the final witness and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• patient unsupervised, as a PA has to track down an authorized provider to get a signature on the Section
• Allowing PAs to sign these Section 12 orders is a zero-cost way for the Commonwealth to ease the strain
• I wish that I could tell you that that's the only impact that being a PA that can't sign a Section 12
• visit, he confided in the PA that he was suicidal, and the PA did not have the ability to sign a Section
• I ask you to allow PAs to sign Section 12s so that it can optimize their role as mental health providers

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on a large group of behavioral health and insurance-related bills. Topics included expanding access to mental health services by allowing physician assistants to authorize Section 12 emergency holds and be recognized as licensed mental health professionals (H. 1131/S. 773); improving coverage for community behavioral health centers so commercial insurance matches MassHealth’s bundled outpatient and crisis services (H. 1276/S. 703); eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services (S. 718); extending detox and clinical stabilization coverage from 14 to 30 days and adding transitional support services (H. 1319/S. 772); requiring coverage for dual-diagnosis treatment in psychiatric facilities (H. 1277/S. 771); and preserving access to treatment for serious mental illness through coverage of coordinated specialty care and assertive community treatment (H. 1135/S. 709). The committee also heard bills on preventive behavioral health services for children (H. 1228/S. 802) and post-pregnancy mental health care, including postpartum depression and pregnancy loss-related care (H. 1314/S. 823).

Transcript Highlights:

• whom was referred the bill relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section
• reading of the bill: An Act relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section
• reading of the bill: An Act relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section
• Walsh of Peabody moves to amend the bill in Section 1, in line 4, by inserting after the figure 32 the
• following, and in the same manner in Section 2, and by adding the following section: Section 3.

Summary: The House took up several Senate and House bills, often suspending rules to advance them quickly. Early in the session, the chamber handled a Senate bill on student learning and mental health by insisting on its position and appointing a conference committee. It also referred a poverty-related petition away from Judiciary to the Committee on Children and Families after suspending Joint Rule 12. The House then considered a series of Ways and Means bills, including measures on police interactions with people with autism, honoring Blue Star families, Bolton land conveyances, newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus, affordable housing and cultural space in Brighton, increasing access to epinephrine, and civil rights and technology; most were amended, ordered to third reading, or passed to be engrossed. The most extensive debate centered on House 5441, requiring newborn screening for congenital CMV. Supporters described CMV as a common but often overlooked infection that can cause hearing loss, developmental delays, and other serious harms, arguing that universal screening would allow earlier treatment and better outcomes. An amendment to add several rare diseases was withdrawn, and a later amendment to create a broad parental opt-out was rejected by a roll call vote of 153-1. The bill then passed to be engrossed by a vote of 154-1. The House also passed House 5443 on expanded public access to epinephrine after emotional testimony about fatal anaphylaxis cases; that bill passed 149-0. Another major measure, House 5444 on civil rights and technology, would prohibit weaponized drones and robotic devices, restrict threatening or harassing use, and set rules for law enforcement use and warrant requirements. Members emphasized both public safety and civil liberties, and the bill passed to be engrossed by a vote of 154-1. The House also passed the Blue Star families bill, which creates commemorative license plates for immediate family members of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, with members speaking about fallen officers and the importance of honoring their families. Additional bills passed included the autism-related Blue Envelope bill, the Bolton land conveyance bill, and the Brighton affordable housing/cultural space bill. The session included multiple recesses, quorum checks, memorial tributes to Barney Frank and State Trooper Kevin Traynor, and concluded with the House adjourning to meet the next day in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• individual or entity could be excluded from participation in the Medicare program under specified sections
• Section 3.9, 7, 9, missiles, such as 3.9, 7, 9, to protect the identity of individuals who would not
• So the section that I wanted to clarify is the... and talk to the illegal... we mean... you got it...
• What is in that section? >> Sure, that's a great question.
• And then it my understanding is that that The section of 256B.064 sunsets next year, and I think there's

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just seeing a whole section there through lines 27 shaded in gray.
• And so that section actually about, we'll say, it's about who has to register and when and where and
• And those offenses are all being moved into the definition section.
• And then additionally, it closes the record there in section number four on the bottom of page 66.
• Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to medications approved by the...”

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and took up House Bill 3174 by Representative Justice. Members adopted two committee amendments: one removed the bill’s mapping provisions so that the vendor-list portion could move forward separately, and another required schools to have at least one master key box for emergency responders. The amendments were rolled into a committee substitute, which the committee then voted do pass on a 10-0 roll call. A second executive-session bill was postponed until the following week because of a family emergency involving Representative Williams. The committee then heard Senate Bill 982, a cleanup and reorganization bill dealing with Missouri’s sex offender registry and related registration rules. Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman said the bill was intended to align the registry statutes with prior changes, clarify tiering and registration requirements, address offenders with ties to Missouri but living elsewhere, and improve information-sharing rules for law enforcement and victims, including notice when a registrant dies or moves. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Alliance for Family Restoration, which said the bill codifies case law and reduces administrative confusion for the Highway Patrol and registrants. No opposition was offered. The committee also heard House Bill 3414, which would create a state offense modeled on a federal online-fraud law to help law enforcement pursue internet-based fraud, including schemes involving credit cards, account numbers, telecommunication identifiers, and similar access devices. The sponsor and a law-enforcement witness said the bill would give investigators another tool against increasingly common fraud, including elder fraud and VoIP-based schemes; a Maverick convenience stores representative also supported it as a response to changing technology. No opposition was presented. Finally, the committee heard House Bills 2628 and 3460, the CARE Act, which would require hospitals and health facilities treating sexual-assault survivors to inform patients about emergency contraception, provide it if requested, test and treat for sexually transmitted infections, and seek reimbursement through the Department of Public Safety. Sponsor Jacqueline Zimmerman said the bill is meant to reduce trauma and prevent pregnancies resulting from rape, and witnesses from sexual-assault nursing, reproductive-health, anti-poverty, medical, and nursing organizations supported it as a way to standardize care, especially in rural areas. Several members raised questions about whether the bill would require abortion-inducing drugs, whether hospitals could opt out on conscientious grounds, and how reimbursement would work; the sponsor said she intended to add language excluding abortion-inducing medications and that the current DPS forensic-exam payment structure would not change. No votes were taken on the later bills in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The attorney general may enforce this section against an individual other than a licensed professional
• The attorney general may enforce this section against an individual other than a licensed professional
• The attorney general may enforce this section against an individual other than a licensed professional
• The attorney general may enforce this section against an individual other than a licensed professional
• The attorney general may enforce this section against an individual other than a licensed professional

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is related to section 56-2204, which was established in House Bill 345 last session.
• Funding is provided to meet the requirements of Article 9, Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution, which
• That section was originally added to the budget in 2011 following the recession and, at the time, was
• So to just cut out $15 million dollars, you are cutting out a lot more than just the custom sections
• at Gem Prep that people are so concerned about, which... ...more than just the custom sections at Gem

Summary: The committee first approved a technical correction to the Health and Welfare Division of Licensing and Certification budget, restoring 2 FTP that had been cut in error while leaving funding unchanged. It then adopted language extending the deadline for Medicaid comprehensive managed care-related state plan amendments and waivers from July 1, 2026 to 2027, and passed that language after brief discussion about MMIS delays and legal issues. The committee recessed briefly before moving to public school support items. For the Division of Student Support, the committee approved a FY 2026 supplemental adding $7.8 million in federal spending authority, then considered several FY 2027 budget motions and related language. After debate over special education high-needs funding, ELL funding shifts, health insurance, classified staff, and virtual-school funding, the committee ultimately adopted a motion reducing the division’s general fund by $16,222,300, adding $4,141,200 in dedicated funds and $7.8 million in federal funds, and passed several pieces of accompanying language. Those language items included a $3 million reduction to virtual-school discretionary funding, a $7.5 million transportation funding reduction tied to prior statutory changes, reporting requirements for virtual programs, a one-time ELL distribution shift to LEAs, a change to technology curriculum contract requirements, and a special education expenditure report to JFAC. The committee then turned to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. After extensive debate over alleged “double dipping,” rural access, and the need for policy changes, it rejected a proposed $15 million cut, then approved a smaller $13,500 reduction tied to a pending policy bill. It also adopted language restricting PCIF access and directing IDLA to reduce offerings as needed, plus reporting language on DEI compliance and a usage/enrollment report with more detailed data on synchronous versus asynchronous courses and LEA-level enrollment. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again Monday to take up the Secretary of State budget and trailer bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is related to section 56-2204, which was established in House Bill 345 last session.
• Funding is provided to meet the requirements of Article 9, Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution, which
• “House Bill 396 of the 2025 session removed a section of Idaho Code that previously reduced this amount
• That section was originally added to the budget in 2011 following the recession and, at the time, was
• Chairman, and just look back at the code section last night on IDLA, and then it made me realize that

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee first approved a technical correction to the Health and Welfare Division of Licensing and Certification budget, restoring 2 FTP that had been cut in error while leaving funding intact. The committee then adopted language extending the deadline for Medicaid’s state plan amendments and waivers related to the move to comprehensive managed care, after discussion of delays tied to the MMIS procurement and litigation. Both items received do-pass recommendations. The committee next considered Public School Support, beginning with a FY 2026 supplemental for the Division of Student Support to add $7.8 million in federal spending authority so schools can access full federal grant allocations. That supplemental passed. For FY 2027, members debated several competing motions on the Student Support Division budget, including proposals to reduce classified staff funding, add health insurance funding, and cut virtual school-related funding. After multiple failed motions, the committee ultimately approved a motion reducing the general fund by $14,751,600, including a $3 million reduction to virtual school discretionary funding, and adopted related language. Additional language was also approved to require reporting on virtual enrollments, shift English learner funding from central services to direct LEA distribution, modify technology curriculum contract requirements, require special education expenditure reporting, and reduce transportation funding by $7.5 million by undoing a prior statutory change. The committee then turned to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. After extensive debate over alleged double-funding, rural access, and the absence of a policy bill, members rejected a larger $15 million reduction and then approved a smaller $13,500 reduction tied to the pending policy bill’s fiscal note. They also adopted language restricting PCIF access, requiring compliance reporting on DEI-related courses, and requesting a detailed report on IDLA expenditures, enrollments, and usage, including synchronous versus asynchronous instruction and course-level data by LEA. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would next take up the Secretary of State budget and trailer bills, with an additional 7:30 a.m. meeting before the Monday session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 1, you'll see the definitions.
• Section 2 asks the State Board of Education to promulgate rules.
• Section 3 limits the percentage of scholarships. ...on these teams.
• However, Section 4 does limit that. ...athletic department's flexibility.
• Section 6 has the State Board of Education promulgate rules for implementation.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 23, February 24, March 2, and March 5, 2026, and then unanimously agreed to switch the order of the day’s bills. The committee took up House Bill 623, which would require Idaho public schools to begin the day with a 60-second moment of silence. Representative Skog and supporters said the bill is a neutral, low-cost way to help students calm down, reflect, and improve behavior and mental health, citing other states and testimony from a rabbi, pastor, and others. Opponents argued it was government overreach, could be used to promote prayer, and raised First Amendment and implementation concerns, especially for young children and special education classrooms. After testimony and questions, the committee voted to send HB 623 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1357, which would limit the share of foreign national student-athletes receiving scholarships at Idaho public colleges and universities. Senator O’Conniewicz said the bill was intended to prioritize Idaho and U.S. students, increase opportunities for local athletes, and reduce reliance on foreign national athletes in scholarship sports. Athletic directors, coaches, and conference officials opposed the bill, arguing it would hurt competitiveness, create administrative burdens, reduce recruiting flexibility, and potentially trigger NCAA concerns; they also said some programs, especially tennis and golf, would be especially affected. Supporters said the bill still allowed many foreign national athletes and would help develop Idaho talent. After extensive debate, the committee voted to hold SB 1357 in committee at the call of the chair, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one, you'll see the definitions.
• Section 2 asks the State Board of Education to promulgate rules.
• Section 3 limits the percentage of scholarships. on these teams.
• However, Section 4 does limit that. athletic department's flexibility.
• Section 6 has the State Board of Education promulgate rules for implementation.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the cross section down below shows what we're proposing: to add a lane in each direction in the middle
• In the '60s, the DOT and the FHWA built the interstate through there, and that segregated off the section
• Then, moving down, you can see on section 203, again a new item, the House bill would provide a six-month
• Then, in Section 303, this is a new item.
• Then Section 403, which was not included in Senate Bill 6352, restores authority for the Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on two major corridor projects before moving to public hearing and executive session. In the Yakima area, WSDOT, Yakima County, and Ecology described the Interstate 82/east-west connector work as a coordinated effort to add capacity, improve interchanges, and address the Boise Cascade mill site contamination that sits in the project footprint. County and Ecology witnesses said the county is ready to remove wood waste and contaminated material, but the project is stalled pending a draft work plan and a de minimis consent decree; several senators pressed for faster action and clearer direction from Ecology. The committee then heard an update on the SR 3 Belfair freight corridor, where WSDOT said environmental review is complete and the next major step is an access hearing this summer, followed by right-of-way acquisition and construction likely in late 2027 or early 2028. Local and tribal partners emphasized the project’s importance for freight mobility, housing growth, emergency access, and regional economic development. The public hearing was on engrossed substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources bill that largely tracks provisions from prior legislation but also adds or changes several tax and account provisions. Staff explained that the bill clarifies fuel tax and peer-to-peer tax distributions, treats trade-in value differently for recreational vessel and luxury vehicle taxes, provides a six-month motor home exemption and penalty waiver for the luxury vehicle tax, allows lease payments to be made over time, exempts tribal members and nonresidents, creates a Preserve Washington account, changes some transfer timing, and repeals the luxury aircraft tax. Testimony was mixed: aviation groups supported repealing the luxury aircraft tax; trucking and some citizens opposed fuel tax and diesel tax increases; Sound Transit, transit advocates, labor, and ferry interests asked for amendments such as 75-year bonding authority, mobile driver’s licenses, ferry funding, and bike education funding. Alaska Airlines and Delta also supported adding mobile ID language. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills, including SHB 1823, SHB 2114, E2SHB 2251, SHB 2323, SHB 2410, EHB 2588, 2SHB 1923, and HB 2495, all with due pass recommendations after adopting amendments where applicable. The committee adopted a striking amendment to E2SHB 2251 adjusting Climate Commitment Act account distributions and a striking amendment to EHB 2588 limiting the ferry district changes to Whatcom County and removing the voter-approval tax provision. It also adopted an amendment to 2SHB 1923 that added further conditions for passenger-only ferry districts, including whale-protection and fare-related provisions. Senator King voted no on E2SHB 2251, objecting that the bill reduced the transportation share of Climate Commitment Act revenues. The chair announced one more executive action meeting would be held Wednesday morning, with amendment requests due the prior day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, we moved Section A in response to access on the health care plans, which is certain this does not
• Yeah, we moved Section A in response to access in the health care plans, which is certain this does not
• We still do have concerns with Section B of the bill.
• However, Section B is not specific that this is the drug class being targeted.
• So, with the issues with Section B, we do anticipate it to be a potentially large impact, sir.

Bills: HB2408, HB2434, HB2725, HB2728, HB2729, HB2730, HB2731, HB2732, HB2733

Keywords: nursing board, regulatory actions, disciplinary actions, expungement, healthcare professionalism, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, prescription drugs, opioids, healthcare, pain management, utilization controls, AHCCCS, Department of Economic Security, social services, welfare programs, vocational rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2258, amending Section 4123-04, A.R.S., relating to the Office of Tourism.
• House Bill 2322, amending Section 8456, A.R.S., relating to the Department of Child Safety.
• House Bill 2786, amending Section 42-5071, A.R.S., relating to transaction privilege tax.
• House Bill 2825, amending Section 13-810, A.R.S., relating to fines.
• House Bill 2825, amending Section 13-810, A.R.S., relating to fines.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 30 repeals a section of the Vital Statistics Act, 24-14-18.
• The reports required under this section are statistical reports to be used only for medical and health
• Chair, in the statute, in the section of law, Vital Statistics, I went through it to kind of determine
• So is this statute on page 1, section 1, does this statute simply deal with inmates that are serving
• But because the last two sections of this bill deal with Section 31, we missed it.

Bills: SB30, SB43, SB50, SB136

Keywords: SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records, health care providers, repeal, New Mexico, pregnancy termination, abortion data, state reporting requirements, confidentiality, reproductive health, parole, life imprisonment, rehabilitation, criminal justice, victim rights, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• The change in that section to existing law is to account for where the new EV surcharge money goes.
• We're sitting here in a silo looking at sections when we're not looking at... Level.
• We're including that enhanced two-lane section that will allow for eventually that full three lane in
• It provides to us on Table A the revenue estimates from Sections 1 through 5, and also Tables B and C
• , the results of vehicle registration fee distribution changes in Section 5.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard TRIP’s annual New Mexico transportation report from Carolyn Boniface Kelly, which described deteriorating roads and bridges, congestion, safety concerns, and a large transportation funding gap. The report said more than half of major roads statewide are in poor or mediocre condition, over 170 bridges are rated poor, congestion costs drivers significant time and money, and traffic crashes and road conditions impose billions in annual costs. Members broadly agreed the report underscored the need for more stable transportation funding, with several noting the state’s recurring underinvestment and the safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2, a transportation bonding and revenue package. Senator Gonzales and Governor’s office and NMDOT representatives said the bill would authorize about $1.5 billion in additional bond debt for ready-to-go highway projects, while also increasing certain motor vehicle excise, registration, weight-distance, and EV-related fees to help support debt service and transportation funding. Supporters, including contractors, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, the Department of Finance and Administration, and transportation officials, argued the bill would improve safety, economic development, project delivery, and funding stability, and help preserve federal dollars. Opponents, including the Rio Grande Foundation and some committee members, objected to the tax and fee increases, argued the state should use existing surpluses or other funds instead, and raised concerns about impacts on families, businesses, and local governments. Committee members questioned how projects would be selected, how the new fees were calculated, how EV surcharges would work, and whether local government distributions would be affected. NMDOT said the projects would be reported to the legislature annually, selected using crash data, asset management, and project readiness, but bond approval would remain with the State Transportation Commission. After debate, Representative Romero moved do pass on SB 2 as amended, Representative Hochman-Vigil seconded, and the committee approved the bill 7-2, with Representatives Brown and Dow voting no and several members expressing reservations despite supporting the need for transportation investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Ethics Commission will now hold an executive session pursuant to sections 551.071 and 551.074
• Um, We are pursuant to sections 551.002 and 571.139B of the Texas government code, we are ready to proceed
• Section 12.93 of the TEC rules permits the TEC to proceed in default against a respondent if they fail
• This hearing will proceed as a default under section 12.93 of the TEC rules and section 2001.056 of the
• Similar outcome with chapter with with Section 3902 of the penal code, you know, if, if they come by.