Transcript Highlights:

• The first one is AB 28, which expands PERB's jurisdiction to authorize workers to petition PERB to protect
• The protection of people's retirement is one issue.
• It protects young people from trafficking and a life of preventable despair.
• It protects young people from trafficking and a life of preventable despair.
• And what I'm hoping we'll be able to do is protect California, comply, but protect Californians as well

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 421, an act to amend Title 10 of the Delaware Code relating to sexual violence protective
• for public utility consumers, out of Finance, four on its merits.
• That proactively protects this issue of interracial marriages here in the State of Delaware.
• They would be paying for it as if they were consuming it by the utility.
• Other experts were worried about the damage this technology could cause to GFCI protection.

Summary: The Senate received a large number of House communications and committee reports, including several nominations and many bills and resolutions returned from House committees or passed by the House. Committee reports covered a wide range of topics, including education, health, judiciary, finance, housing, transportation, emergency management, and business/technology. The Senate also assigned several measures to committees for further consideration and noted upcoming committee meetings. The chamber confirmed three nominations by roll call: Michael T. Scuse to the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, J. Eric Firewold to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees, and Joan F. Coker to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees. The Senate also passed Consent Calendar 66, which included Senate Concurrent Resolution 223 on DIA broadcast access for playoff and championship games and House Concurrent Resolution 149 designating June 12, 2026, as Loving Day in Delaware. Members discussed Loving Day and the importance of recognizing interracial marriage rights, with Senator Huxstable, Senator Buckson, and Senator Townsend offering remarks. On the floor, the Senate passed House Bill 141, requiring a firearm responsibilities notice for gun purchasers, after debate over gun safety and industry burden; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 200, as amended, expanding insurance coverage for HIV prevention medications PrEP and PEP; House Bill 426, modernizing municipal street-aid reporting; and Senate Resolution 21, directing a study of portable solar generation devices and related safety and utility issues. The Senate also passed Consent Agenda O, a large package of bills covering topics such as money transmission and stablecoins, nursing advancement, pilot licenses, commerce and trade, subaqueous lands, driver’s license loss due to medical issues, residential speed limits, electronic bidding, family court jurisdiction, agency regulations, technical corrections to multiple local charters, and other measures. The Senate then recessed until June 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill strengthens our ability to protect Virginia workers against wage theft, misclassification,
• protection of access.
• It's about providing due process protections during immigration enforcement.
• Senate Bill 493 relates to consumer protection, automatic renewal or continuous service offers disclosure
• And finally, it adds a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act for selling or

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 3, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for their heroic service and dedication to protecting the lives and dignity of others, dated this 9th
• It was just about consumer information.
• So this is a good consumer protection act.
• I see an area where we all want to protect our elections and make sure they run smoothly.
• And that Arizona... ...where we all want to protect our elections and make sure they run smoothly and

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a group dedicated to protecting manatees, we strongly support House Bill 981.
• Positive actions to protect manatees read economic benefits.
• POSITIVE ACTIONS TO   62 PROTECT MANATEES READ ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
• Protect the water we know and the ecosystem that supports it.
• The reality is, if they charge too high a price, the consumer will not buy it.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/House Bill 981, which would restore the Ocklawaha River and related natural resources. Supporters, including environmental groups, Save the Manatee Club, business owners, and Reunite the Rivers advocates, argued the bill would improve manatee habitat, fish passage, flood protection, tourism, and long-term economic returns while reducing dam maintenance costs. Opponents and skeptics focused on concerns about water quality, nutrient loading in the St. Johns River, loss of the Rodman Reservoir’s habitat and water-supply value, and potential ecological and economic harms. Members in debate largely supported the restoration effort, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee then heard HB 697, the PRICE Act, which would use international reference pricing to set a drug cost benchmark, address pharmacy benefit manager practices, and require health plans to keep drug prices stable for the year. The sponsor said the bill would lower costs and improve access, especially for uninsured Floridians. Supporters, including independent pharmacists, argued PBMs are squeezing pharmacies and that the bill could help lower prices. Opponents from BioFlorida and PhRMA warned the proposal could disrupt the national drug supply chain, fail to pass savings to patients, and lead to shortages, reduced access, and less innovation. After debate, the bill passed favorably, with Rep. Chambliss voting no. The committee also considered CS/HB 1081, which was amended to include private colleges and universities with NCA designation in the program. After brief discussion and support from United Way Miami, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, CS/HB 177 was introduced as a framework for Florida’s regional councils to cross-assign bills among regions; it received supportive testimony and was also reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This gives them clarity and also informs people of their rights, so it also has consumer protection benefits
• <00:04:47.560> protection<00:04:48.039> benefits it also has consumer protection benefits
• it also has consumer protection benefits uh<00:04:49.120> that's<00:04:49.400> a<00:04
• we're doing here should help protect we're doing here should help protect sheriffs<00:14:26.360>
• just expands the Privacy protections just expands the Privacy protections that<00:24:52.440>

Bills: HF1027, HF101, HF1021

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome to the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
• <00:37:00.160> Dental<00:37:00.480> loss<00:37:00.800> ratio for Hawaii consumers
• Dental loss ratio for Hawaii consumers.
• > options<00:38:00.720> and<00:38:01.040> contributed<00:38:01.520> to protection
• For these reasons, HDS respectfully opposes this bill and considers the broader impact on consumers,

Bills: SB2004, SB2039, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2132

Keywords: outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle. The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure. SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Malama, protecting and taking care of our land, our oceans, and the air that we breathe.
• Malama, protecting and taking care of our land, our oceans, and the air that we breathe.
• <00:08:28.120> renters<00:08:28.639> from policies to protect renters from policies
• to protect renters from evictions<00:08:29.199> and<00:08:29.680> discrimination<00:08
• us from storms flooding um they protect us from storms flooding um hurricanes<00:59:08.280> uh

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would just really want to make sure that we're being protective of the privacy of the end of And I
• I would just really want to make sure that we're being protective of the privacy of the individual taxpayer
• whatever we do, just making sure that the taxpayer who has filed those returns, their privacy is protected
• you know, I'm sure it would be edifying, but as it relates to how that would be disseminated and consumed
• , It relates to how that would be disseminated and consumed, I don't believe it prescribes that.

Summary: The Budget Committee met in executive session and took up Senate Bill 1470, as amended by a House committee substitute. The bill would update statutes governing the Joint Committee on Legislative Research and its oversight functions. The chair and sponsor described several changes, including reducing the committee from 20 members to 12, adding chamber leadership and minority leaders, allowing electronic delivery of reports, updating references to public colleges and universities, and clarifying that the committee’s role is focused on revision bills rather than general bill drafting. A major point of discussion was a new provision allowing legislative oversight staff to access certain Department of Revenue tax-return information for fiscal note work, subject to confidentiality rules and criminal penalties for misuse. Supporters said this would let staff independently verify tax-policy assumptions and improve the accuracy of fiscal notes, citing past large errors in fiscal estimates. Members raised concerns about protecting taxpayer privacy and asked how the information would be used; the sponsor said only the director and authorized employees would have access, not committee members, and that existing confidentiality oaths and penalties would apply. The committee also discussed post-implementation fiscal notes, which would review whether earlier fiscal estimates matched actual results after two years. Members asked how those reports would be shared, and the sponsor said the bill leaves that to the committee to work out. Another section striking language about staff opposing or urging legislation was explained as cleanup, since the committee no longer drafts general legislation and would only draft revision bills. The committee adopted the House committee substitute and then voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 25 yes and 1 no.

Transcript Highlights:

• This delays businesses' access to capital and consumes substantial resources to comply and defend claims
• This delays businesses' access to capital and consumes substantial resources to comply and defend claims
• Our mission is to protect the land we live on, the air we breathe, and the water we drink.
• If built, the planned data centers for Minnesota could consume as much electricity as all 2.3 million
• If built, the planned data centers for Minnesota could consume as much electricity as all 2.3 million

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Be our protection against the wickedness and the snares of the devil.
• So eliminating this tool of the merchant codes removes a layer of protection that prevents gun-related
• This bill actually protects Arizonans from having to deal with another gun firearm registry.
• When those kinds of costs go up, they are passed on to patients and consumers.
• They are passed on to patients and consumers.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to protect our children.
• We want to protect our children.
• We want to protect our children.
• the population is immunized to protect the population is immunized to protect the<02:02:07.880><
• <02:05:54.480> of professional and a consumer of professional and a consumer of healthcare

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1462 on crisis services. Testimony from the Department of Law Enforcement, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Department of Health supported expanding behavioral health crisis services as an alternative to arrest or incarceration. Witnesses said additional crisis sites would help divert people in mental health crisis to appropriate care, and the Department of Health described its current crisis center in Ewa, including the need for renovations such as a padded room and the time required to get the facility operational. In response to questions, the department estimated the Ewa center’s budgeted cost at about $4.3 million, not including rent or startup repairs, and said a second site’s cost would depend on whether it was freestanding or attached to an existing facility. The committee then heard House Bill 700 on cognitive assessments. The Executive Office on Aging supported the bill’s intent but asked that it be amended to make assessments optional rather than mandated, to pilot the program first, and to allow flexibility in handling HIPAA-protected data. SHPDA also supported the measure but said it should not be mandatory and suggested that payers reimburse for assessments when requested by patients, families, or physicians. The Alzheimer’s Association and caregivers strongly supported standardizing cognitive assessments to improve early detection and access to newer treatments, while noting the existing opt-out provision. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill but asked that the age 65 threshold be removed because cognitive decline can begin much earlier for people with Down syndrome, autism, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and related conditions. In response to a question, the Office on Aging said a pilot project could likely be done for about $150,000, with data security being the main added cost. The final bill discussed was House Bill 237 on peer support programs. Testimony from Family Hui Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, peer support workers, and families described peer-to-peer programs as a cost-effective way to reduce isolation, strengthen families, and provide long-term community support. Speakers said these programs help parents and caregivers navigate crises, child welfare involvement, addiction recovery, and other challenges, and can have lasting benefits for children’s development and family stability. Several witnesses tied the bill to broader state goals, including infant and early childhood mental health, trauma-informed care, and child welfare reform. Written testimony from about a dozen organizations and individuals was also noted in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:41.839> from conditions have been protected from conditions have been protected from
• These protections are essential.
• These protections are essential.
• <04:24:10.640> Without such time as I may consume. Without such time as I may consume.
• sacrifice, and actions to protect sacrifice, and actions to protect others. others. others.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Assembly, he championed consumer protection, environmental protection, government reform, and
• Nation-leading environmental protections, protections for victims of sex abuse, both children and adults
• We very well know protection of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers are enormous.
• We hear all the time about protecting wetlands. Lakes and ponds are wet.
• FARMLAND AND PROTECTED WILDLIFE HABITAT. FOREST LAND.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then processed a series of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills, which were so ordered. Several bills were also recalled from the Assembly, had reconsideration votes taken, and were restored to the third reading calendar after receiving 58 ayes. Amendments were received on a number of bills, and those measures retained their place on the calendar. The main business of the day was Privileged Resolution 2318, sponsored by Leader Stewart-Cousins, honoring Senator Michael Gianaris with the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader’s Legislative Legacy Award. The resolution and floor remarks reviewed his long career in the Assembly and Senate, his role as Deputy Majority Leader and floor leader, and his work on housing, criminal justice, voting rights, labor, environmental, consumer, transit, animal welfare, and other major legislation. Members from both parties spoke at length, praising his strategic skill, mentorship, humor, and influence, while also noting his support for younger members and his commitment to family. Several senators described personal experiences showing Gianaris’s mentorship and political guidance, and many referenced his Greek American identity, Queens roots, and interests such as Star Wars and the Mets. Senators also emphasized that he was leaving on his own terms to spend more time with his wife and daughters. The resolution was adopted with broad support, and Gianaris then spoke in response, reflecting on nearly 30 years in state government, the major laws passed during his tenure, and the relationships he built in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite that, we are attempting to meet consumers where they are.
• We always protect the environment. The industry is proud to pay good wages.
• <00:06:53.160> the the country we always protect the the country we always protect the environment
• 30-day notice tenant protection 30-day notice tenant protection ordinances<00:57:52.640> Minneapolis
• <01:24:56.920> the building industry protects the building industry protects the homeowners

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention heard informational presentations from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on the state of housing in Minnesota. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state has a severe housing shortage, with demand outpacing supply since the 2007-09 housing crash, and argued that Minnesota is nearly 100,000 units short of a healthy market. He said new homes are increasingly unaffordable, citing a median new single-family price above $530,000 and declining affordability in the Twin Cities metro, and he urged lawmakers to remove exclusionary zoning and other regulatory barriers that he said make starter homes and smaller-lot housing difficult or illegal to build in many growing cities. He also highlighted the group’s Housing for Heroes projects, including transitional housing for veterans and other crisis housing projects around the state. Members asked Foster about starter-home examples and his view that the committee’s top priority should be reforming residential development approvals. He said most new housing is negotiated through planned unit developments rather than built under base zoning, which he argued adds cost and reduces supply. The committee then heard from Elizabeth Wael of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, who said housing challenges outside the metro are different but equally serious. She said many Greater Minnesota cities face a lack of developers, inadequate infrastructure such as roads and utilities, and gaps in the housing continuum, especially starter workforce housing and senior housing. She thanked the committee for 2023 housing funding and said cities are contributing their own resources, updating zoning, reducing parking requirements, allowing ADUs, and partnering with developers and nonprofits. Wael also urged faster rollout of the Greater Minnesota infrastructure grant program and said the state should consider changes to the housing tax credit and housing TIF rules to make them easier to use. In response, senators said they shared frustration with the slow implementation of the infrastructure program and emphasized the need for state investment and locally tailored zoning reforms. No bills were heard and no votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on stakeholder testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• about the methodology that was used in calculating the living wage, and it does include some of the consumer
• There was a consumer price index inflator tied to wages.
• So, like in a normal year, you can maybe pass prices on a little bit to your healthy consumers.
• So like in a normal year, you can maybe pass prices on a little bit to your healthy consumers.
• Construction, and those costs that are gonna be passed on to consumers.

Summary: The committee held a study on the potential effects of living wage or minimum wage laws in Oklahoma, with the chair emphasizing that the discussion was not intended to advocate for or against State Question 832. The first panel focused on economic and workforce impacts. An Oklahoma Department of Commerce representative argued that living wage calculations vary by region and household type, that Oklahoma’s average wages are already near or above many living-wage estimates, and that higher mandated wages could lead employers to cut hours, reduce hiring, automate, or avoid expansion, especially in rural areas where childcare, healthcare, broadband, and infrastructure constraints also affect labor participation. Committee members asked about wage distributions, rural cost differences, training pathways, and whether higher wages might draw workers or businesses out of state; the witness said many low-wage workers move up over time and that Oklahoma has seen net in-migration. A State Chamber Research Foundation witness then testified that a $15 statewide wage floor would raise payroll costs substantially, especially for small rural employers, and cited examples from California and Seattle to argue that higher wages can reduce hours, jobs, and benefits while increasing consumer prices. She suggested alternatives such as expanding the state earned income tax credit and promoting upskilling through existing education and training programs. A Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry representative described Missouri’s recent voter-approved minimum wage increase to $13.75, rising to $15, along with paid sick leave provisions. She said the chamber opposed the measure because it would raise business costs, hurt rural communities and youth employment, and force some employers to cut hours, reduce hiring, or close. She cited examples from Missouri businesses facing significant added costs and warned that a future ballot initiative could create a patchwork of local minimum wages. In response to questions, she said Missouri’s law did not distinguish by age or industry, that businesses had raised concerns about union contracts and compliance, and that the chamber viewed the measure as harmful to competitiveness. Peter Hansen of NFIB presented the final major testimony, summarizing an NFIB study projecting that a higher Oklahoma minimum wage would produce some short-term GDP gains but longer-term losses, with GDP turning negative by the early 2030s and job losses growing over time. He said businesses respond to higher wage mandates by raising prices, trimming jobs, converting full-time positions to part-time, reducing benefits, and shifting investment toward automation or other capital. He argued that the burden falls most heavily on vulnerable workers such as young or marginal employees, who are less likely to be hired when labor costs rise. In questioning, he acknowledged that higher wages can improve pay for some workers and may have some short-term positive effects, but maintained that the long-term employment and investment effects are negative. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• community to comply with regulatory 119 requirements, provides functionality to create and track consumer
• We'd want to make sure that our water, the freshwater zones, are protected.
• Protected. So we wanna make sure we plug those wells.
• Do they get protective gear?
• Our role in this has been to protect.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:13:43.519> the<00:13:43.920> urban<00:13:44.160> area<00:13:44.800> consumer
• that matches the urban area consumer that matches the urban area consumer price<00:13:45.519>
• So I know the assignment, my first assignment was to try to protect Minnesotans with disabilities, and
• So I know the assignment, my first assignment was to try to protect Minnesotans with disabilities, and
• c><00:27:26.159> motans<00:27:26.720> with<00:27:26.919> disabilities try to protect

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It protects Louisiana's economy, supports a better legal climate for business, It protects Louisiana's
• HB 804 protects that foundation and ensures we continue to meet American energy needs. ...4 protects
• This is about protecting Louisiana jobs, Louisiana energy production, and Louisiana consumers from an
• It creates the Louisiana Energy of Protection Act.
• We were trying to keep this from ever happening again and to protect the agents and to protect the department

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill primarily does three things: it requires data, it protects resources, and it protects ratepayers
• while protecting water as a vital resource.
• That protection is preserved. A minimum wage is...
• Yes, the bill includes several protections.
• Yes, the bill includes several protections.

Keywords: 988, house, all