Transcript Highlights:

• We had every single nonprofit that got a single dollar in the base come in front of our committee, and
• come in front of our dollar in the base come in front of our committee<00:04:25.280><c> and</c><00:04
• This is not only contrary to data and a fear-based boogeyman tactic.
• This is not only contrary to data and a fear-based boogeyman tactic.
• </c> economy, and provide a tax base. economy, and provide a tax base.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• An expression based on an emotional reaction, every citizen's rights are in jeopardy.
• Our ban was based on the state having the right to regulate professions.
• So, Assemblyman Weber, I do appreciate your legal skills. I really do. This is not on the bill.
• Because at the end of the day, the cost of the housing isn't just the base rent.
• It's the base rent plus everything else that's applicable to that particular tenancy.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with IDD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, attend there to obtain independent living skills
• So the job coach will learn skills and tasks together.
• They can have a life and opportunities in learning independent living skills and socialization.
• But there are many, many children... ...who don’t need that, and so we’ve been able to triage based on
• One is their social communication skills, which is the kind of thing that the ADOS-2 evaluates.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Autism Task Force approved the April 1, 2026 meeting minutes and then reviewed several vacant membership slots on the task force, including appointments from the Arkansas Psychology Board, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, UAMS, and parent or guardian positions. Members discussed trying to fill those vacancies before the next meeting, and noted that if they remain open they may be addressed in the task force’s legislative report and through possible statutory changes in the next General Assembly. Representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) and Civitan Services presented on DDPA’s role serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Arkansas. They said DDPA now represents 80 providers serving more than 13,000 individuals in 75 counties, with services including early intervention, adult day programs, supported employment, intermediate care facilities, work activities, and community/residential waiver services. They also shared survey data on older clients and said these services remain available to seniors with IDD, including people with autism. The task force then heard a proposal to amend Act 656 of 2021 to include licensed psychological practitioners as qualified providers for autism waiver-related evaluations. The presenter argued this would reduce wait times, avoid duplicate assessments, and help families access services sooner, while still maintaining quality standards. Members asked about training, licensure, and whether other professionals such as speech-language pathologists or audiologists should be included; Dr. Scott noted that current practice already relies on a two-provider model and that speech-language pathologists play a role because autism diagnosis considers communication, cognitive ability, and language. The discussion also touched on the need for proper testing standards and board oversight. No vote was taken on the amendment, and the meeting ended with plans to return to fraud-related discussion and to begin prioritizing recommendations for the 2027 session before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Adults with disabilities attend there to obtain independent living skills, socialization, and time with
• The job coach will learn skills and tasks together. The goal is for the job coach to fade out.
• They can have life opportunities and learn independent living skills and socialization.
• And so we've been able to triage, you know, based on their initial presentation.
• One is their social communication skills, which is the kind of thing that the ADOS-2 evaluates.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and Game.
• Now, Fish and Game is one that doesn't take any general fund revenue.
• Maybe Fish and Game is sitting perfectly where they're at. It's always the...
• We have the base budget builder.
• The base budget builder was someone—you may have heard the phrase, "what's in the base?"

Summary: The Resources and Conservation Committee convened with introductory remarks from Chair Mendive and members, who briefly described their districts and backgrounds. The chair outlined committee procedures, noted the committee would move quickly on RSs, and mentioned that some Fish and Game administrative rules could draw significant public interest and may be handled in a separate Zoom meeting because of their impact on hunting and other issues. The committee then considered three RSs. RS 32850, presented by Rep. Boyle, would move existing Forest Products Commission rules into law; it was introduced after brief questions about timber assessments. RS 32975, also by Rep. Boyle, would memorialize Congress to clarify federal land exchange procedures under FLPMA after a long-running BLM exchange was challenged in court; it was introduced. RS 32883, presented by Rep. Manwaring, would move the Soil and Water Conservation Commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources as part of an efficiency review; members raised concerns about preserving agricultural issues and committee jurisdiction, but the RS was introduced. Rep. Tanner then gave a presentation on budgeting and JFAC, urging members to review whether older laws and associated costs are still functioning as intended and to consider committee input on budget issues, including dedicated funds and agency reserves. Discussion focused on whether cuts to dedicated funds could affect agencies such as Fish and Game or local districts, with members cautioning against undermining locally managed reserves. Tanner said he was not proposing sweeping dedicated funds, but encouraging review of reserves and fees. He also raised concerns about DEQ staffing and permitting capacity in the context of federal primacy and litigation risk. Finally, budget analyst Janet Jessup demonstrated legislative budget tools and publications, including the base budget builder, budget book, fiscal report, fiscal source book, and performance measures, before the committee adjourned after volunteers were secured to proof the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• we heard valuable perspectives from counties, schools, health care providers, hospitals, community-based
• We find that specific resources, including school-based health centers, wellness centers, and community
• So we're giving them those skills so they can have that from each other.
• are leading peer-based activities.
• are leading peer-based activities I would also say that bright life kids is leading peer-based activities

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tribes that governs tribal gaming in Arizona.
• gaming revenues.
• It's a mix of tribal gaming, commercial gaming, brick-and-mortar operations, digital platforms, and the
• It's the priority of combating illegal gaming. It's the priority of combating illegal gaming.
• We're in a whole new world with the digital side of gaming.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met as the House Commerce Committee of Reference to hear sunset reviews and a performance audit covering the Department of Gaming, the Racing Commission, the Boxing and MMA Commission, the Barbering and Cosmetology Board, and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. The Auditor General reported that the Department of Gaming and the two commissions generally met some statutory duties, but identified major issues: the department had not consistently reviewed independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, had disclosure and conflict-of-interest compliance gaps, lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes, and was late distributing some compact trust fund payments to tribes. The Racing Commission needed better public records procedures, and the Boxing and MMA Commission had licensing and fee-setting issues. The department and commissions said they agreed with the findings and were implementing recommendations, with the department noting it had already begun look-back reviews, updated guidance, and additional staffing. Members also discussed consumer protection, illegal gambling, prediction markets, and whether out-of-state enforcement actions should affect Arizona licenses; the department said it would evaluate such matters case by case and generally wait for final adjudication or final regulatory action before acting. The committee then voted to recommend continuation of the Department of Gaming for two years until July 1, 2028, the Racing Commission for six years until July 1, 2032, and the Boxing and MMA Commission for six years until July 1, 2032. The Department of Gaming motion passed 7-4, the Racing Commission motion passed 10-1, and the Boxing and MMA Commission motion passed unanimously. The committee next heard the Barbering and Cosmetology Board audit. The Auditor General said the board timely processed many applications and complaints and had adopted curriculum rules, but it failed to enforce disciplinary guidelines consistently, sometimes issuing different sanctions for similar violations without documenting why it deviated from policy. The audit also found problems with reciprocity education requirements, application review quality control, inspections, open meeting and public records compliance, conflict-of-interest processes, fee-setting, and statutory clarity on scope of practice and training requirements. The board said it agreed with the findings, had already updated disciplinary parameters and documentation policies, and was working on the remaining recommendations and possible legislation. The committee then voted to continue the board for six years until July 1, 2032, and the motion passed unanimously. At the end of the meeting, the committee began hearing the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority performance audit, but the transcript provided cuts off before that presentation was completed or any action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think it's a very different type of skill. ...very different type of skill and mission for the
• They draw inferences based on conjecture. They draw inferences based on conjecture.
• And give half of it for broad-based sales tax relief.
• Particularly, I'm talking about skilled nursing centers.
• This is for lowering the B&O tax for our skilled nursing facilities.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• But for me, one of the fun things about this committee is we get to deal with Fish and Game.
• and Game.
• Now, Fish and Game is one that doesn't take any general fund revenue.
• The base budget builder was, someone, you may have heard the phrase, “what's in the base?”
• You can track the FTP, or the full-time personnel, and the base budget over a period of time.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's based on proven policy.
• Floor-based units significantly reduce fall hazards and structural risk in taller buildings.
• When homes are marketed privately through private listings, access is no longer based on openness and
• The bill may benefit members of protected classes, but it does not expressly include protections based
• In Washington State, we have seniors living in long-term care like senior living facilities, skilled

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 6091 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to limited or exclusive groups unless the listing is also marketed to the general public and all brokers, with exceptions for health or safety and private party sales. The sponsor and supporters, including Washington Realtors, Habitat for Humanity, Zillow, the Fair Housing Center, and others, said the bill promotes transparency, competition, and fair housing by preventing “pocket listings” and insider access. Opponents, including Compass representatives and some brokers, argued it would limit homeowner autonomy, harm privacy-sensitive sellers such as seniors, and create legal risk for brokers; the Attorney General’s office said it supported the competitive goal but wanted a different enforcement mechanism than WLAD. The committee later closed testimony on SB 6091 without taking final action in the hearing. The committee also heard SB 6200, which would allow tenants and residents in manufactured home communities to install portable cooling devices, subject to safety, code, and electrical restrictions, and would require landlords to notify tenants of their rights and limitations. The prime sponsor and many public health, tenant, and climate advocates said the bill is needed to prevent heat-related illness and death during extreme heat events, especially for renters in older or low-income housing who lack built-in cooling. Landlord and property management groups supported the idea of portable floor units but raised concerns about window-mounted devices, citing fall hazards, property damage, and insurance issues. Testimony emphasized that the bill includes liability protections for landlords and is intended as a narrow public health measure. The committee then heard SB 6096, which would require cities and towns collecting water and sewer connection charges to offer a deferred payment option for qualifying residential construction until final inspection or certificate of occupancy. The sponsor and builders’ groups said deferral would reduce upfront financing costs and help housing production. Cities and utility districts opposed the bill, arguing it shifts financial risk to utilities and ratepayers, complicates infrastructure planning, and could delay or reduce needed system investments. Finally, the committee heard SB 6153, which would create a senior independent housing ombuds program, require registration of senior independent housing facilities, and make certain landlord-tenant violations subject to Consumer Protection Act enforcement. The sponsor said the bill responds to complaints from seniors in independent living settings who lack an ombuds or other practical recourse, while staff noted the bill carries an estimated $4.4 million biennial fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• This adjustment reflects a change in the overall budget based on the statewide average.
• They don't get funding based on enrollment.
• So these are estimates based on historical numbers.
• What we do as a union is we enhance our skills, we collaborate... ...union is we enhance our skills,
• And that's no different than the teachers who train and perfect their skills.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Students who want to pursue a career in health care education have invaluable skills that I think they
• So students that want to pursue a career in health care education, those are invaluable skills that I
• So the universities, I believe, play a crucial role in supporting students and developing those skills
• Government Affairs Officer at Pima Medical Institute, an employee-owned post-secondary education provider based
• here in Arizona for over 50 years, where we offer educational opportunities in allied health... ...based

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met, approved the March 25, 2026 minutes, and considered two executive nominations. First, the committee heard testimony from Aidan Kane Vaux, nominated as a student regent for the Arizona Board of Regents. Vaux described his background as an ASU biomedical engineering graduate student and researcher, his teaching and mentoring experience, and his interest in representing students. Senators asked about how his engineering training would inform board service, student concerns about tuition and cost transparency, expanding STEM and health care education, mental health resources, and improving educational access in rural Arizona. Vaux said he would bring a problem-solving, data-driven perspective and emphasized affordability, student support, rural outreach, and broader access to research and health-related opportunities. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Andrea Marasota Snow, nominated to the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. Snow said she serves as Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer at Pima Medical Institute and would use her legal and regulatory experience to help the board with licensing, complaint review, compliance, and student protections. She emphasized balancing institutional growth with oversight and protecting students through the Student Tuition Recovery Fund and other safeguards. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Before adjourning, members thanked staff and nominees, and the chair noted Senator Diaz’s birthday. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• will allow the citizens of Ireland, if they already have a driver's license, to not have to take the skills
• And vice versa, the West Virginians will not have to take a written test and a skills test in Ireland
• So the West Virginians will not have to take a written test and a skills test in Ireland if they are
• There are a lot of American companies that are based in Ireland as the European headquarters.
• There are a lot of American companies that are based in Ireland as the European headquarters.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met, approved the March 9, 2026 minutes, and then took up the engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4577 relating to driver's licenses. Counsel explained that the bill would authorize the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to enter reciprocal agreements with Ireland and Japan to recognize each other’s driver’s licenses, provided the foreign licensing standards are at least as stringent as West Virginia’s. The bill also requires drivers using recognized foreign licenses to carry insurance and comply with state financial responsibility laws, clarifies that foreign license holders are not eligible to register to vote through the DMV, and allows the commissioner to set related fees and adopt rules. A strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment were adopted. The committee heard from DMV counsel Adam Hawley and the bill’s House sponsor, Delegate Mike Hornby. Hawley said the measure would allow citizens of the listed countries to avoid retaking written and skills tests when transferring licenses, and noted West Virginia already has similar arrangements with Taiwan, South Korea, and Germany. Hornby said the bill was intended to support economic development and trade ties, especially with Ireland, where American workers and companies face licensing hurdles; he said Ireland had requested state-level reciprocity and that Japan was added because of West Virginia’s existing trade relationship there. Several senators expressed support, describing the bill as a symbolic and practical step toward foreign investment and job creation. After discussion, the committee voted to report the engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4577, as amended, with a recommendation that it do pass. The title amendment was then adopted, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• tribes that governs tribal gaming in Arizona.
• gaming revenues.
• It's a mix of tribal gaming, commercial gaming, brick-and-mortar operations, digital platforms, and the
• Continue to be a national leader in gaming regulation.
• It's the priority of combating illegal gaming. The priority of combating illegal gaming.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Work-based learning provides CTE students with real-life experience that helps them get ready to enter
• CTE students gain leadership, communication, and teamwork skills through their involvement in Career
• simulators work-based learning provides CTE<00:05:16.039><c> students</c><00:05:16.440><c> with</c><
• Members of these organizations have a chance to serve in leadership positions, showcase their skills
• </c><00:09:22.560><c> uh</c> into jobs to learn those soft skills uh into jobs to learn those soft skills

Keywords: Meeting Start: 01:24 Attendance Roll Call: 01:44 KY Association for Career & Technical Education: 03:40 Senate Concurrent Resolution 43 (Sen. West): 10:42 Senate Bill 77 (Sen. Deneen ): 31:26 Senate Bill 120 (Sen. Chambers Armstrong): 35:04 Adjournment: 51:44, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and heard a presentation from Parker Keys, Northern Kentucky State Vice President for Kentucky FFA, on the value of career and technical education (CTE). He highlighted enrollment of more than 143,000 secondary students in CTE, work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and the role of student organizations such as DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, Educators Rising, TSA, and SkillsUSA. Senators praised CTE as important for workforce readiness and resume building, and encouraged continued engagement with the committee. The committee then considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, sponsored by Senator Steve West, supporting a Southern Regional Education Board initiative to expand crisis counseling and recovery support for schools and colleges after tragedies and disasters. Dr. Steven Puit and Linda Tyrie described a regional network of trained counselors modeled on Kentucky’s response after Marshall County, emphasizing long-term recovery, psychological first aid, and deployment support for up to a year after an event. Members spoke in strong support, citing the lasting impact of Marshall County and Heath, and the resolution passed 13-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 77, a cleanup bill relating to the Education Professional Standards Board. Senator Matt Deneen and Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities representative Mr. Dyer explained that the bill clarifies that small independent colleges and universities may designate a qualified education department representative, not only a chief academic officer, to serve on the board. The committee adopted a committee substitute by voice vote, and the substitute was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:31.360><c> and</c><00:02:31.520><c> fish</c> Rusty Bell, uh game and fish Rusty Bell, uh game
• </c><00:04:01.599><c> wardens</c> properties and the uh the game wardens properties and the uh the game
• Forty-nine of those are game warden houses.
• That that's for um the game wardens?
• It's not about game and fish engaged in.

Bills: SF0024

Committee: Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with a game a company that does gaming with a game a company that does gaming um<00:47:24.839><c
• It's a gaming bill again.
• Other than that, this bill seeks to treat online gaming the same as we do current gaming.
• Other than that, this bill seeks to treat online gaming the same as we do current gaming.
• Other than that, this bill seeks to treat online gaming the same as we do current gaming.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , which includes plant-based products.
• Um, and so we plant-based is in or out.
• ,</c><00:46:05.520><c> which</c> expand the program to plant-based, which expand the program to plant-based
• Um, if includes plant-based products.
• The Job Skills Partnership Board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It eliminates age-based defenses for those who commit sexual offenses that are categorized based on the
• I think this is a very important and timely amendment, not timely procedurally, but timely based on the
• Locally, faith-based organizations have been on the ground, really helping our constituents.
• This represents well over $3 billion of broad-based tax relief, historic by any standard.
• Most automakers establish performance measures for their dealers based on previous sales.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer by Rabbi Moshe Umatz, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after a motion to reconsider SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. Several bills were also set aside during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included funding for expedited DNA testing grants for local law enforcement (SB 1072/HB 847), additional aggravating factors in capital cases involving religious, school, or government gatherings (SB 984/HB 693), fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients (SB 924/HB 677), commuter rail indemnification for Miami-Dade and Broward counties (SB 916/HB 867), restrictions on disposing of migrant vessels in Florida waters (SB 830), specialty license plates including Miami Northwestern and several colleges and institutions (SB 824), an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign (SB 398), relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (SB 364), charter school changes allowing parent conversion and municipal job-engine charter schools (SB 140), sex offender registration reporting changes (SB 1654/HB 1351), penalties for assaulting utility workers (SB 1386), juvenile justice revisions and truancy process updates (SB 1344), reporting of student mental health outcomes (SB 1310/HB 969), foster home license transfer simplification (SB 1174/HB 989), water access facility funding and boating industry incentives (SB 1162/HB 735), Florida Virtual School operational changes (SB 1122), school readiness program support for children with disabilities (SB 1102), sexual image offenses involving minors (SB 1180/HB 757), age-related defenses in child sex offense cases (SB 1136/HB 777), tampering with electronic monitoring devices (SB 1054/HB 437), certified recovery residences and local zoning accommodations (SB 954), and the FSU Election Law Center (SB 892). Most of these bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 984 and SB 140 drew some opposition. One of the most extensive debates centered on SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office staff, citing emails and campaign-related communications tied to Amendment 4; the amendment failed on a 13-23 vote. Senators then debated the bill’s relationship to state election law, free speech, and the role of faith-based outreach. Supporters emphasized the office’s service network and reported benefits to children and families, while some senators raised concerns about interfaith representation and political use of government resources. The bill was then read a third time and the Senate proceeded toward a final vote as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It eliminates age-based defenses for those who commit sexual offenses that are categorized based on the
• It eliminates age-based defenses for those who commit sexual offenses that are categorized based on the
• Locally, faith-based organizations have been on the ground, really helping our constituents.
• This represents well over $3 billion of broad-based tax relief, historic by any standard.
• Most automakers establish performance measures for their dealers based on previous sales.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. Members then moved to the special order calendar after adopting a motion to reconsider the earlier failed vote on CS/SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. The chamber also temporarily postponed several bills during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, Brownfields, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills with little or no opposition, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included expedited DNA testing grants for law enforcement; additional aggravating factors in capital felony sentencing; fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients; commuter rail indemnification; disposition of migrant vessels; specialty license plates; an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign; relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University; charter school changes; registration rules for sexual predators and offenders; assault and battery penalties for utility workers; juvenile justice revisions; reporting of student mental health outcomes; foster home licensure transfers; water access facilities and boating-related funding; Florida Virtual School changes; school readiness program improvements; protections against lewd sexual images of children; age-related criminal offense provisions; tampering with electronic monitoring devices; certified recovery residences; and codification of the FSU Election Law Center. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly, though the charter school bill and the aggravating factors bill drew more divided votes. One of the most debated measures was SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office employees while on duty and using government resources, citing alleged election-related emails and concerns about mixing government and religious influence. Supporters argued the amendment was needed as a guardrail; opponents said existing law already covered the conduct and that the amendment could be confusing or overly broad. The amendment failed 13-23, and the underlying bill passed 27-9 after extended debate about faith, politics, and the office’s role. Another notable debate involved SB 954 on certified recovery residences, where senators emphasized the need for stable housing in addiction recovery and the bill passed unanimously after supportive remarks from members who had personal experience with recovery. The Senate also passed SB 674 on bonuses for county tax collector and property appraiser employees after questions about safeguards and the purpose of the bonuses.