Transcript Highlights:

• And I think for our ratepayers, for our residents who are in high wildfire zones, anything we're doing
• And I think for our rate payers, for our residents who are in high wildfire zones, anything we're doing

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard two bills focused on electricity affordability and utility costs. AB 745, by Assembly Member Irwin, would restructure the California Climate Credit by shifting it from lump-sum payments to direct reductions in volumetric electricity rates and moving the credit to the summer months when bills are highest. The author and UC Santa Barbara economist Dr. Kyle Meng argued this could significantly lower summer rates and better help households during extreme heat. Supporters, including UCS, NRDC, and some labor representatives, favored the concept, with some urging that the gas climate credit also be redirected. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed 18-0 to the floor. The committee then considered AB 825, also presented as an affordability package aimed at reducing electric bills by addressing wildfire mitigation costs, transmission financing, permitting delays, and a review of ratepayer-funded programs. The bill would authorize securitization for undergrounding expenses, remove the first $15 billion in undergrounding capital investments from the rate base for return purposes, create a public transmission financing program using Proposition 4 funds and IBank support, revive the California Power Authority as a public sponsor, and establish a task force to review energy efficiency and demand response programs. The author and witness Matt Friedman of The Utility Reform Network said the bill could save ratepayers billions over time through lower-cost public financing and securitization. Testimony on AB 825 was mixed. Support came from several consumer and clean-energy groups, while utilities and labor raised concerns about the bill’s impact on utility financial stability, wildfire fund participation, liability, and whether the $15 billion securitization cap could discourage undergrounding. Some witnesses also objected to the task force’s potential effect on energy efficiency and demand response programs. Committee members discussed the need to balance affordability with utility creditworthiness and wildfire safety, and several asked for more analysis of market impacts and liability issues. Despite those concerns, AB 825 passed the committee 13-0 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is immediately adjacent to schools, multifamily housing, including an elementary school and a high
• school with over 4,000 students.
• our PTAs and our schools very, very well.
• And I think that what's most important for me... ...and our schools very, very well.
• Nephny Perrier on behalf of the California School Employees Association, in support.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He served in the Army until 1955, after which he returned to school to earn his Bachelor's degree from
• Senator Pizzo: A number are actually athletes that come down here to go to boarding schools, to swim
• at private schools for a few years—three years—that enjoy in-state tuition.
• Voter solicitation is referred to only by the non-solicitation zones at polling locations in precincts
• I called the school and I was told. And that was wrong.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We may or may not have during high school, college, or the like. We will not even get into that.
• say if you had told me 25 years ago, I would be seen... ...elementary schools.
• I would have started this in high school.
• So we do need to start, if at all possible, in the elementary schools with programming.
• But, you know, later on, if they decide to go to DRE school, that's an additional $3,000.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Jessica Spencer on cannabis, criminal justice, and mental health. She argued that marijuana products have become far more potent over time, that high-potency THC and hemp-derived products are widely available in Florida, and that daily or near-daily use can contribute to addiction, psychosis, and other mental health problems, especially for adolescents. She also said cannabis is linked to violent crime and suicide in some cases, urged more prevention funding in schools, stronger regulation of Delta-8 and similar products, better law enforcement and regulatory oversight, expanded treatment and diversion options, and more expungement opportunities for simple possession. Senators questioned her about potency data, testing methods, and whether she was claiming causation in violent cases; she said she was and noted she had worked on the No on 3 campaign while still favoring decriminalization of simple possession rather than full legalization. The committee then took up several bills. CS/SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” was amended and reported favorably; it makes extreme animal cruelty during a declared emergency a third-degree felony, inspired by the rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. SB 234, the Jason Rayner Act, was reported favorably after debate over its changes to self-defense language and mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer; supporters said it closes a loophole exposed in the Rayner case, while opponents raised concerns about unintended consequences and mandatory sentencing. CS/SB 138, “Trenton’s Law,” also passed after amendment; it increases penalties for repeat DUI/vehicular homicide offenders and adds language on intoxicating substances, with supporters citing the death of Trenton Stewart and opponents warning about cannabis impairment standards and first refusal penalties. SB 130, dealing with compensation for wrongful incarceration, was reported favorably. The bill removes Florida’s “clean hands” bar, extends the filing deadline from 90 days to two years, and allows exonerees with factual innocence findings to pursue compensation and civil remedies. Support came from innocence and civil liberties advocates. The committee also received a law enforcement presentation from Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Channing Taylor on impaired driving enforcement, DRE training, and crash data, emphasizing that drug impairment—especially cannabis—plays a major role in fatal crashes and that officers rely on observation and field testing because roadside chemical testing is limited.

Transcript Highlights:

• It might be a school gymnasium in one election, and it might be the old town hall, which barely has electricity
• It might be a it might be a school<00:08:47.440> gymnasium<00:08:48.000> in<00:08:48.160
• <00:08:48.800> and<00:08:48.880> it school gymnasium in one election. and it school
• 05.839> applicable location consistent with applicable location consistent with applicable zoning
• zoning and environmental regulations. zoning and environmental regulations.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee began a work session on House Bill 1600, concerning access to the centralized voter registration database on election days. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the state already has a new statewide voter registration system connected to town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, and that the bill was probably unnecessary but acceptable if the legislature wanted it. He raised concern about language that could require direct electronic access in every polling place, noting that some polling locations lack reliable internet or cell service and that municipalities can change polling locations, which could make a rigid requirement expensive and impractical. Members discussed whether the bill should be clarified to allow direct or indirect access, including use of a phone-based workaround, and the secretary said that would address his concern. The committee then voted on HB 1600. Representative Maguire moved ought to pass with an amendment adding “direct or indirect access” on page one, line seven, and the motion was seconded. The amendment was adopted 9-0 by voice vote, and the committee then voted 9-0 to OTP the bill. The chair stated that HB 1600 would be placed on consent. The committee next took up House Bill 1197F FN, a technical correction to insurance laws. Members noted it had already passed the House with amendment and that the fiscal note was effectively indeterminate but would not affect the general fund because the insurance agency is self-funded. The committee voted 9-0 to OTP the bill; the chair said consent calendar placement would be decided by the full committee. Finally, the committee opened a work session on House Bill 11:30 FN regarding judicial performance evaluations. Representative Lynn, the bill’s sponsor, argued that the fiscal note overstated the immediate cost and said the judicial branch could likely manage through the current biennium while implementing the new system. He also supported making judges’ names public and said the bill’s anonymity provisions were aimed at protecting the identities of questionnaire respondents, not the judges being evaluated. Members asked about public disclosure, internal access to evaluation materials, and the removal of language allowing the governor and executive council to receive evaluations on request; discussion continued on those points, but no final vote on HB 11:30 FN was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just last week, we patched HB 631 on a bipartisan vote in the House to expand the number of zones that
• And so what this bill would do is say that there's no discrimination allowed, that all zoning, noise
• And this bill talks about zoning, it talks about energy, and it talks about judiciary issues, all of
• , it talks about energy and it zoning, it talks about energy and it talks<01:44:37.760> about<
• It went to Commerce again, uh, not a normal bill to talk about waste, to talk about, um, zoning, uh,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 733, a third-party litigation financing reporting bill. Representative Cole explained that the bill shifts reporting from the Secretary of State to the courts, which he said removes the fiscal note and helps insurers obtain information for underwriting and premium-setting. The committee accepted the explanation and voted ought to pass; the roll call was 8-0 in favor, with one member taking a pause. The committee then heard House Bill 219, dealing with the renewable portfolio standard and the renewable energy fund. Representative Bose argued the bill would reduce electricity costs by lowering the REC purchase obligation from 220,000 to 170,000, which he said would reduce payments into the renewable energy fund by roughly $1 million to $2 million and save consumers only pennies a month. After questions about timing and whether to wait for a DOE report, the committee voted to retain the bill for further discussion rather than advance it; the motion to retain passed 5-4. House Bill 365 was then discussed as an election-related bill intended to help verify citizenship for voter registration and create a voucher process for people who cannot afford a birth certificate. The sponsor said the Secretary of State may be able to use federal and state databases to verify citizenship, and if not, indigent applicants could receive a voucher reimbursed by the state, with a $25,000 appropriation included. Members raised concerns about the Secretary of State’s access to databases and the bill’s timing and cost, and the committee decided to hold the bill until Secretary Scanlan could come testify. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 552, which updates retiree health coverage rules so dependent children can remain on the plan until age 26, consistent with the Affordable Care Act. DAS officials said retirees pay the full cost for dependents, about $1,000 per month, while the state covers only the retiree and spouse. The committee voted ought to pass unanimously, 9-0. The committee then began discussion of House Bill 572, a housing bill aimed at missing-middle housing, describing a voluntary program to identify developable public land, support construction, and streamline review, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• school.
• Missy likes school.
• So far, this school year, Missy's had a few absences from school.
• kid might be missing school, or a middle school child might be missing school.
• So that’s our school counselors, our mental health, our school psychs, our health clinicians, our school

Summary: The committee met to discuss student attendance and chronic absenteeism in Florida K-12 schools, with Chair Simon outlining the state’s attendance requirements and intervention process, including school contact after unexcused absences, child study team review, district superintendent referral, DJJ family services referral, truancy petitions, and possible parental prosecution and driver’s license consequences. Dr. Chris Curran of the University of Florida presented statewide data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023–24, and noted that absenteeism varies by district, school level, demographics, and urbanicity. He emphasized that causes are multifaceted—ranging from transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family circumstances—and said effective responses include early warning systems, text or phone outreach, multi-tiered interventions, mentoring programs like Check & Connect, and community partnerships. He also cautioned that punitive responses alone are often less effective than addressing root causes and keeping students engaged academically even when they miss school. Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli described her district’s attendance efforts as a priority supported by attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, and extensive parent communication. She said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023–24 and attributed success to consistent monitoring, family outreach, and community support, while stressing that students must be physically present to learn. She also argued that many absences are tied to barriers such as clothing, transportation, childcare, or family mental health, and that districts need resources to address those issues. Dr. Rachel Dawes added that Collier uses multilingual brochures, attendance awareness campaigns, vacation-planning guidance, door tags, automated calls and letters, and a truancy flow chart, with truancy court used as a last resort. Volusia County Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a districtwide overhaul that included an attendance matters campaign, automated notices sent early and often, same-day and period-by-period notifications, a data dashboard, and tiered supports through MTSS. He said Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023–24 to a projected 29% and reported a first-quarter rate of about 20% in the current year. He highlighted community partnerships, including AdventHealth support for washers and dryers, bikes for students with transportation barriers, and monetary recognition for schools that reduce absenteeism. In response to questions, both district leaders emphasized that funding, staffing, and consistent follow-through are essential, and that attendance work is most effective when paired with family engagement, data monitoring, and practical supports rather than punishment alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• school.
• Missy likes school.
• So far this school year, Missy's had a few absences from school.
• If that’s the reason a high school kid might be missing school, or a middle school child might be missing
• They have zones.

Summary: The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education met to discuss chronic absenteeism, district attendance interventions, and related truancy procedures. Chair Simon reviewed Florida’s attendance laws and escalation process, including school-based interventions, child study team meetings, referrals to the Department of Juvenile Justice, truancy petitions, and possible sanctions for parents and driving privileges. The committee heard first from University of Florida professor Dr. Chris Curran, who presented state and national absenteeism data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023-24. He emphasized that absenteeism has multiple causes, including transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family barriers, and said effective responses include early warning systems, multi-tiered supports, mentoring, and community partnerships rather than relying only on punitive measures. Members questioned Dr. Curran about whether absenteeism is a behavior or barrier issue, whether exclusionary discipline is counted, the need for a uniform definition across districts, and whether more punitive truancy enforcement is effective. He said the issue is usually a mix of barriers and choices, that excused and unexcused absences both matter for chronic absenteeism data, and that root-cause analysis and supportive interventions are generally more productive than punishment alone, though consequences can still play a role. The committee then heard from Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli and district staff, who described a highly structured attendance system built around attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, multilingual outreach, and frequent parent notifications. They said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023-24 and credited their success to early contact, community partnerships, and a strong district culture around attendance. Volusia County Schools Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a newer districtwide attendance initiative that uses automated letters, same-day notifications, data dashboards, MTSS tiers, incentives, and community supports such as bikes, washers and dryers, and faith-based partnerships. He reported Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023-24 to a projected 29% and said the district is now seeing about 20% in the first quarter of the current year. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• That office helps oversee our charter schools, which are public schools.
• For another school.
• And it looks different from grade to grade and school to school.
• So we have a larger school district, a mid-sized school district, and a rural school district so that
• I know that when I was in school, I know that when I was in school, when Naomi was in school, we took

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an overview from Department of Education Chancellor Paul Burns on Florida’s K-12 governance structure and major divisions, including early learning, public schools, safe schools, school choice, and accountability. He highlighted school readiness and VPK, teacher preparation and licensure, school safety functions, scholarship and virtual/home education programs, and FAST progress monitoring. Burns also cited statewide gains such as higher mid-year reading performance, a record graduation rate of 89.7%, and record CTE enrollment, while members questioned the meaning of Florida’s “number one” education rankings, teacher pay, post-COVID learning loss, vacancies, and chronic absenteeism. St. Lucie County Superintendent John Prince then described the scale and responsibilities of a mid-sized district, emphasizing student safety, transportation, meals, hurricane shelter operations, career and technical education, teacher recruitment and retention, progress monitoring, remediation, and mental health supports. Members asked about school shelter construction standards, remediation funding, late school start times, attendance, and concordance scores; Prince argued for more flexibility for CTE pathways and noted that local districts use a mix of state and federal funds to support remediation and staffing. The committee then moved to an early warning systems panel. Burns explained that Florida law requires districts to use attendance, behavior/suspensions, course performance, FAST results, and other academic indicators to identify students needing support, with districts and families developing intervention plans. Superintendents from Putnam, St. Johns, and St. Lucie counties said chronic absenteeism is tied to achievement and NAEP decline, but causes vary by district, including poverty, transportation, daycare, family instability, travel, and student athletics. They described MTSS, PBIS, home visits, attendance letters, and community partnerships as responses. Members also discussed VPK access, full-day VPK funding, excused versus unexcused absences, and the need for earlier intervention in pre-K and K-2. Finally, Vice Chancellor Darren Norris outlined Florida’s post-Parkland school safety measures, including armed school officers, anonymous reporting, behavioral threat assessment teams, mental health training, panic alert systems, emergency drills, active assailant response policies, and firearm detection canines. Superintendents said compliance is costly and often requires shifting local funds, but they praised state grants for mental health, hardening, and mapping. They noted ongoing challenges with new mandates, capital costs, manual reporting burdens, and the need to balance safety requirements with classroom resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• and school Arkansas rules governing the standards for accreditation of Arkansas public schools and school
• school index for two plus years and meet or exceed their initial SS school index score so the SS school
• Looking at school support, that school support is based on the ESSA School Index scores that are no longer
• B schools.
• , lowest in the F schools, but actually higher in the C schools than in the B schools.

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy requirements. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act through the 2003 Quality Education Act and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required coursework, standards for accreditation, career and technical education, graduation requirements, and recent additions such as computer science, personal finance, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a chart comparing the major laws and repeals over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to federal ESSA requirements and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and reported 2025 ATLAS proficiency results, which remained below the 80% goal across student groups. They also reviewed English learner progress, graduation rates, school support and improvement, and equitable access to educators. Data showed gaps by subgroup and by school poverty/minority concentration, with Title I and high-poverty schools more likely to have emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff. Members questioned the lack of recent data for some ESSA measures, including equity labs and school index calculations, and asked staff to follow up with the Department of Education. The committee also discussed NAEP results, ACT scores, and teacher quality measures under the state accountability act. Arkansas’s NAEP performance remained below national averages in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, and ACT composite scores and benchmark attainment were also reviewed. Members asked for additional information on historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. No formal votes were taken; the main action was agreement to request additional information from DESE and to schedule department follow-up at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• These schools, high schools, are graduating outstanding students.
• In my county, Kern County. 12% of public school students attend charter schools.
• public schools.
• The traditional charter schools and the charter schools make each other better.
• In a public school and in a traditional public school, I myself was a home school student.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and Angela is a year younger than me in school, and I think any life taken before natural death is
• Um, and Angela is a year younger than me in school, and I think any life taken before natural death is
• is a year year younger than me in school is a year year younger than me in school and<00:03:15.040
• Another aspect of it is that, as a private landowner, I have agriculturally zoned land.
• land owner, I have agriculturally zoned land owner, I have agriculturally zoned land.<01:03:54.240

Keywords: This meeting was split into two parts due to a technical issue. This is the complete meeting pulled from backups. Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 24RS HB198: “Angela’s Law”: 00:01:22 KRS Chapter 202C: 00:11:50 Eminent Domain: 00:54:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 10, 2025 minutes, then took up House Bill 198, Angela’s Law, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin. The bill would add a new aggravating circumstance in death-penalty cases when an offender abuses the corpse of a kidnapping or murder victim by engaging in deviate sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, or sexual contact. Representative Heavrin and the victim’s parents described the underlying case and argued the current law does not adequately account for postmortem sexual abuse, leaving the offender parole-eligible despite the family’s view that the conduct warranted harsher punishment. Several members expressed sympathy and support, and one member suggested the proposal should be drafted carefully so it would apply broadly enough to cover co-conspirators or multiple offenders. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard an informational presentation on KRS Chapter 202C from Judge Lisa Payne Jones and Shauna Mitchell of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. They explained that Chapter 202C, enacted in 2021 to close a gap in the civil-commitment statutes, applies to respondents found incompetent to stand trial who are charged with qualifying serious offenses such as capital offenses, certain Class A and Class B felonies causing death or serious injury, rape in the first degree, or sodomy in the first degree. The process begins with a Commonwealth’s petition, followed by a prompt evidentiary hearing, appointment of a guardian ad litem, and then a commitment hearing if the offense is proven. The presenters outlined the procedural standards and recent statutory changes. At the evidentiary hearing, the Commonwealth must prove the charged offense by a preponderance of the evidence before a judge, with the respondent able to present defenses; if the Commonwealth fails, the respondent must be released. If the case proceeds, the commitment hearing requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt of at least one involuntary-commitment criterion, and the hearing may be before a jury if requested. They noted that a 2024 amendment changed the commitment criteria from requiring all four factors to only one, and added language about recent criminal behavior and prior involuntary hospitalizations under Chapters 202A or 202B. If commitment is ordered, the respondent is placed in a designated forensic psychiatric facility, currently KCPC.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we recently picked up the Hawaii State approval agency that certifies schools for GI Bills that
• think with an EP, I was in the room advocating for an emergency proclamation for sirens in the tsunami zones
• 16.960> tsunami proclamation for sirens in the tsunami proclamation for sirens in the tsunami zones
• zones zones other<02:32:19.600> people<02:32:19.760> across<02:32:20.080> the<02

Bills: HB676

Keywords: HB676, Hawaii correctional facilities, youth correctional facilities, adult correctional facilities, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Youth Services, inmate phone calls, prison phone calls, jail phone calls, free prison calls, free communication services, incarcerated persons, prison reform, reentry, family visitation, recidivism, video visitation, electronic messaging, commissions, ancillary fees

Summary: The committee heard three public safety bills. HB 2235 would appropriate $1.3 million for the Military Affairs and Community Relations Office to strengthen coordination on military and defense issues. Supporters, including the Hawaii National Guard and DBEDT’s military relations office, said the office helps Hawaiʻi understand federal contracting, USA Jobs, and military-related economic impacts. One member questioned why the state should fund a DoD-related office while Hawaiʻi remains under-reimbursed on impact aid; supporters responded that the office serves Hawaiʻi communities and helps prepare residents for federal jobs. The chair said she intended to recommend the bill pass with a HD1, a blank appropriation to be filled in the committee report, technical amendments, a defective effective date, and updated office title language. HB 2263 would expand Hawaiʻi family leave law to cover qualifying military exigencies. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, DBEDT’s military relations office, and the Hawaii National Guard supported the measure, saying military families often face short-notice deployments, relocations, briefings, and urgent family arrangements that require time away from work, and that aligning state law with federal standards would provide clarity and consistency. The chair said she would recommend passage with a HD1, a defective effective date, and technical amendments. HB 2291 would clarify that certain National Guard Youth and Educational Programs employees are excluded from collective bargaining, rename the program, and codify its Hawaiian name. The Hawaii National Guard said it was a housekeeping bill with no appropriation, but requested an amendment to align the bill with updated authorities and program references; the chair asked for proposed language before the later decision-making. She said she would recommend passage with a defective date and the requested amendment if provided, and then recessed the hearing until 11:30 a.m. for decision-making on all three bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• suppression systems are among the most important life safety features in Californians’ homes, businesses, schools
• But we've created the requirement that if they're in a high-risk zone, that they have to create these

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts have issued bonds based upon the projected revenue.
• Many cities require burdensome zoning procedures that no host properties that we like to partner with

Bills: HB842, HB1907, HB2844, HB2892, HB3439, HB4211, HB4536, HB5111, HB5138, HB5182, HB5247, HB5269, HB5323, HB5435, HJR201, SB871, HB3896, SJR40

Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we're going to send them to school and teach them that, no, actually, he owes you a debt because
• While residential setbacks vary more, they typically range from two to 500 feet depending on zoning district

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about high school, middle school, and elementary school sports.
• middle school and Elementary School middle school and Elementary School sports<01:25:26.760> let's
• schools.
• schools.
• Should middle school athletes compete against high school seniors?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you think about when the Recovery School District schools were sent back to the Orleans Parish
• School Board, there was a whole lot more planning as part of that.
• open meeting laws, and public record law, public safety and emergency preparedness, infrastructure, zoning

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485, SB517, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB362, HB368, HB377, HB431, HB441, HB466, HB664, HB741, HB822, HB990, HB1243

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, economic development, Baton Rouge North, commissioners

Summary: The committee on Local and Municipal Affairs met on May 7, 2026 and approved the prior meeting minutes before taking up a series of local bills. Early action included HB 362, creating the Regency Park Towns Townhomes Crime Prevention and Security District in Orleans Parish, which was reported favorably. HB 822, dealing with nonprofit entities that hold appointments on boards and commissions while not in good standing with the Secretary of State, drew discussion about how long an entity must be out of compliance and whether notice should be required; the committee adopted an amendment changing the threshold to three consecutive years and then reported the bill as amended. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 1243, which would shift more authority over the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board to the Orleans Parish City Council. Supporters, including Representative Hilfriddy and Council President J.P. Morrell, argued the current structure is dysfunctional and unresponsive, and that local elected officials need authority to act more quickly. The Bureau of Governmental Research testified without taking a position on the bill itself but urged a formal transition plan or study committee so the city would have a clear governance path. Despite that concern, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying asset ownership and then reported HB 1243 as amended. The committee also handled several St. George bills. SB 348, allowing local law enforcement to contract for administrative support related to motor vehicle enforcement, was reported favorably. SB 444, granting St. George expropriation authority for certain public infrastructure projects, was also reported favorably. SB 485, concerning the city’s authority over insurance premium taxes, initially had amendments adopted but was then reconsidered; the amendments were stripped and the bill was reported favorably in its original form. HB 431, requiring mayors to complete annual continuing education, was amended to clarify approved training and then reported favorably. Other measures reported favorably included HB 990 on Jefferson Parish master water meters, HB 466 on West Feliciana Parish tax rebates tied to a data center project, HB 664 raising the maximum fine for parish ordinance violations, HB 87 increasing per diem for a Livingston Parish gas utility district board, HB 115 abolishing the police chief position in Edgefield, HB 741 creating emergency housing vouchers for human trafficking survivors, HB 377 removing civil service pay-plan restrictions for state examiners, HB 162 allowing a fee increase for the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention District, HB 368 increasing fines for improper demolition of historic properties in New Orleans, and HB 441 returning New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board employees to city civil service. The committee adjourned after reporting the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• those, but one of those, the issue is that they don't like that we want to send them just to dental schools
• That doesn't have anything to do with special needs or adults; that's just this dental school issue.
• So while there’s one school of thought that it’s been 18 years since they’ve had a rate increase, we
• became Act 1025, and the next time there was any activity, which was in October, there was a dead zone

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council reviewed several agency rules and requests. The Insurance Department’s amendment to its holding company system rule was reviewed and approved, as were two State Board of Election Commissioners rules: one clarifying poll watcher conduct, vote challenges, and provisional voting, and another increasing pay for certified election monitors and defining training, observation, and report-writing compensation. The Arkansas Financial Education Commission also had its rule reviewed and approved after removing membership requirements tied to DEI language to comply with Act 938. The committee held over the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for one month to allow further discussion about who should write or implement the rules. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Human Services’ request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025. DHS said CMS had raised comparability and other federal approval concerns, especially for the dental and diagnostic lab provisions, and that it might not be able to meet the acts’ effective dates. DHS described several possible paths forward, including broader benefit changes, waivers, or splitting the dental provisions so the pediatric rate increase could move separately from the special-needs adult cap increase. The Arkansas State Dental Association disputed DHS’s conclusion that the acts could not be implemented as written, argued that Act 1025 is workable, and urged DHS to continue pursuing implementation and preserve the September 1 effective date where possible. Public testimony also supported expanded dental access for adults with disabilities and special needs. After discussion, the committee voted not to exclude DHS from reporting requirements for those acts. The committee then reviewed the Division of Higher Education’s Act 781 report. The division said it has 32 rules in effect, asked to repeal three rules—two replaced by new rules and one no longer supported by authority or current law—and to continue the remaining 29 rules. The committee approved that request, with the repeals effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on January 16, 2026. The meeting concluded with no questions on the remaining written rulemaking updates from prior and current sessions, which were filed without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• My school district, and my high school in my district, is the most diverse in the state.
• And there's a whole bunch of instructions, especially in construction zones, that a person needs to be
• crisis going on, I'm sure there were hurt feelings, but, you know, their kids are all in my daughter's school

Keywords: 959, house, all