Transcript Highlights:

• There is an amendment. Okay, let's go back. Who's got the amendment?
• Any further discussion on the bill as amended? So moved. The bill is amended, so moved.
• Is there any opposition to the bill as amended?
• We've got an amendment, I think, on HB250.
• We've got an amendment. Senator Madison, do you want to explain what that amendment is?

Bills: HB2, HB43, HB49, HB94, HB137, HB156, HB200, HB250, HB3, HB42

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, HB49, Alabama criminal code, capital offense, capital punishment, death penalty, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual torture, child sexual abuse

Transcript Highlights:

• I have an amendment to this house bill, as soon as we get to BR. Clerk, say amendment.
• Okay, you've heard the explanation of the amendment. The explanation of the amendment.
• Please explain your amendment. We are amending their meeting.
• Okay, you've heard the amendment. The amendment is a friendly amendment. Clerk...
• The amendment is a friendly amendment. Clerk, lock the machine. Members will vote.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that is my amendment. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Any discussion on the amendment?
• This is a revisor amendment.
• And I believe there's an amendment. And I believe there's an amendment.
• amendment? amendment?
• House File 4478 as amended? House File 4478 as amended?

Bills: HF3901, HF962, HF4428, HF4478, HF1775

Keywords: foster care, ombudsperson, investigative powers, children's rights, complaint process, HF4428, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, community engagement, work requirement, work mandate, employment requirement, community service, 80 hours, half-time student, income threshold, federal minimum wage, eligibility verification, benefit suspension, benefit termination

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an amendment on the bill. There's an amendment on the bill, correct?
• Yes, we'd like to take up the amendment. Staff, could you read that amendment, please? Mr.
• Amendment submitted by Tedford. Thank you, sir. Without objection, we'll adopt the amendment.
• There is an amendment on the bill. There is an amendment on the bill.
• Amendment submitted by Sterling. Without objection, we will adopt that amendment.

Bills: HB3443, HB2123, HB3757, HB2445

Keywords: transportation, oversize permit, overweight permit, permit fees, motor carrier, commercial trucking, heavy haul, wide load, special combination vehicle, manufactured home transport, portable building transport, utility poles, rural electric cooperative, farm equipment, agricultural hauling, bridge formula, load limits, weight limits, road funding, highway construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go to the amendment.
• Are there any questions on the amendment?
• All in favor of the amendment, say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The amendment is adopted.
• So back on the bill as amended, are there any questions on the bill as amended?
• Is there any debate on the bill as amended? Seeing none.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and considered two bills. SB 1594, by Senator Gates, would require veterans’ benefits accessed on behalf of foster youth to be preserved for the minor’s future use, specifically for post-secondary education or aftercare services when the youth leaves foster care rather than being used to reimburse care costs. The bill had no amendments, received one supportive appearance from Victoria Zep, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 1182, by Senator Jones, which creates the Florida Veterans and Military Spouses Business Development Act to provide fee relief and tax incentives for veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses. A strike-all amendment was adopted that added limited information-sharing between agencies, changed verification procedures, converted part of the tax benefit into a capped $100,000 annual exemption for five years, broadened fee waivers to some existing businesses, and kept annual reporting requirements. The amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee also held a confirmation hearing for three appointees: Matthew Bacchano, Tim Thomas, and Belinda Kaiser. No one requested separate votes, and the committee recommended confirmation of all three by a single roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members offered extended praise and thanks to Chair Wright for his long service and leadership, and the chair announced the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendments.
• amendments.
• with amendments, Senate Bill 742 with amendments, Senate Bill 929 with amendments, Senate Bill 943 with
• amendments, Senate Bill 1138 with amendments, and Senate Bill 925 with amendments. 1138 with amendments
• The 13th Amendment, the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendments—those were DEI.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do have an amendment, and I think we're going to try to do that amendment in concept.
• Chairman, I'll offer up that amendment. Is anybody got an objection to the amendment? Thank you.
• I'll offer up that amendment. Anybody got an objection to the amendment?
• I have an amendment, Mr. Chairman. We could read it in. You got the amendment.
• The amendment. Okay. All right. Can we accept the amendment and then move to the bill?

Bills: HR217, HB66, HB204, HB208, HB326, HB472, HB483, HB484, HB793, HB1051, HB1080, HB1087, HB1111, HB1215, SB78, SB148

Keywords: rent stabilization, affordable housing, cost burdened, Louisiana housing, housing policy, emergency rental protections, Alexandria, municipal ordinances, administrative adjudication, code enforcement, housing violations, building codes, zoning, nuisance ordinances, vegetation ordinances, sewerage, drainage, licensing, permits, local government

Summary: The committee met on April 29 and heard a series of local bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, planning boards, and other local issues. Early actions included adopting a three-minute rule due to the late hour and deferring several bills that were not to be heard that day. House Bill 483 was voluntarily deferred, while House Bill 484 on the New Orleans Regional Business Park was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 78 on the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority was amended to correct a district reference and then reported favorably. House Bill 66, expanding Alexandria’s administrative adjudication authority for ordinance violations, was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief to reside in the village, was also reported favorably. The committee then took up several Shreveport blight-related bills. House Bill 1051, dealing with demolition of dilapidated residential property, was amended to allow the city to rely on reports from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and was reported favorably. House Bill 1080, a similar measure for condemned commercial property, was also reported favorably, with the sponsor noting he would consult the city attorney before floor debate. Senate Bill 148, allowing Lake Charles to pay a modest per diem to planning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably. House Bill 208, which would let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members, drew opposition from the police jury and failed on a recorded vote, 3-10. The committee also considered House Bill 1215 on the disposition of historical statues and monuments, adopting an amendment to prevent transferred monuments from being placed back in the parish where they were removed, and then reporting the bill favorably as amended. House Bill 793, a contested bill addressing subdivision plats filed without parish approval and the running of prescription, generated extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, the McCormicks, and a former appellate judge; the committee ultimately reported it favorably, with the author saying he would keep working on the language and send it to the Law Institute. Finally, House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization measures during declared emergencies, was amended to limit any local ordinance to the duration of a governor-declared emergency, tie increases to CPI, and cap the measure at 365 days; the bill remained under discussion with questions about its relationship to existing price-gouging laws and whether the committee should wait for a broader study.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think Representative Bets has that amendment and also a technical amendment.
• Are there any questions on the amendment? Mr. Tillman has offered that amendment.
• Are there any questions on the amendment? And Mr. Bets has offered that amendment?
• it and a second to amend number to amend it and a second to amend number to amend it as<00:37:24.680
• Amendment. Is there a second to that amendment? Thank you. Thanks, Mr. Tillman.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• revisit the statute next year to amend revisit the statute next year to amend the<00:23:00.400><
• But with that amendment with that<00:43:48.240> amendment<00:43:48.800> as<00:43:49.040
• Um and the amendments after amendments.
• No amendment to that one. Um, resources. No amendment to that one.
• Any comments, my um amendments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety heard several resolutions, including HCR 944/HR 90 to request a gubernatorial proclamation designating Hawaii as a Purple Heart state on August 7, 2025; HCR 205/HR 197 urging Maui County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a permanent replacement for the Kulani Hakoi Bridge; and HCR 164/HR 159 urging counties to maintain an electronically accessible list of hurricane refuge shelters. No one testified on the first two measures. On the hurricane shelter resolution, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent and requested a wording change from “special needs” to “access and functional needs.” The committee then heard HCR 70, which asks the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to expand personal and professional development programs to include community service programs. Director Tommy Johnson said DCR supports the intent and described existing community service work lines at Kulani, the women’s correctional facility, and Wawa, including tasks such as pothole repair, tree trimming, and school grounds work. In response to questions, he said participation depends on inmate eligibility, volunteer status, and whether the work would interfere with programming; inmates must have no serious misconducts in the prior year and no escape attempts. He also explained that some work lines are tied to security classifications and facility type. The committee spent the most time on HCR 153/HR 148, which requests DCR to incrementally reduce the number of inmates housed in private out-of-state facilities. The ACLU of Hawaii strongly supported the resolution, arguing that private prisons are unsafe and that Hawaii should bring incarcerated people home. The ACLU cited federal findings and actions against private prison contractors, conditions at the Saguaro facility in Arizona, and the need for in-state rehabilitation and oversight. Director Johnson also supported the measure in principle but said population levels, security classifications, and available in-state facilities limit how quickly people can be returned. He said DCR provides annual reports on inmates eligible to return and suggested more frequent reporting could be considered. Committee members discussed benchmarks, quarterly reporting, parole, and reintegration services, and the ACLU argued that other states have reduced or phased out private prison use through sentencing reform, parole changes, and reintegration programs. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, I am bringing House File 1051 as amended, and the key point is, as amended, this is
• Chair. as amended so this um is a update to the as amended so this um is a update to the bill<00:01:51.360
• bringing this bill and this amendment bringing this bill and this amendment and<00:02:22.360>
• All in favor of the amendment? I... opposed? It has been amended.
• <00:21:55.440> to for as amended um it's been amended to for as amended um it's been amended

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a motion and a second, and there were also amendments. Are you taking the amendments?
• We're also support-if-amended and support the amendments outlined by RCRC. All right.
• amends.
• This is an unusual situation because we did ask for a set of amendments, and it was support if amended
• I will be accepting the committee amendments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we do have a non-germane amendment.
• Patenza passed around uh this amendment. Patenza passed around uh this amendment.
• So this is amendment.
• non-Germanine amendment. You're welcome. non-Germanine amendment. You're welcome.
• amendment, an amendment to non-Germanine amendment, an amendment to an<01:07:30.160> amendment

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a hearing on a non-germane amendment to SB 302, a Senate bill originally requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners. Representative Patenza explained that the amendment was intended to preserve and separate out language developed for the governor’s budget proposal and HB 2 concerning a solid waste facility site evaluation committee, a moratorium, and related public-benefit/site-benefit provisions, so the policy would still have a vehicle if the budget language did not advance. He said the proposal reflects extensive work by the House, the governor’s office, and DES, and he was open to further changes to align with any budget conference committee outcome. Dr. Adam Finkele testified in support of the amendment and the underlying site evaluation concept, arguing that landfill siting decisions should be based on cost-benefit analysis that includes public harms, local impacts, and regional impacts rather than only private benefits. He praised the committee process and prior legislation requiring agencies to respond substantively to public comments, and said the new language improves on the governor’s version by moving the committee’s review earlier in the process and requiring more complete application information, including alternatives and impacts on nearby wells and aquifers. He also supported a three-year moratorium on new landfill applications, saying it would give the state time to address leachate, PFAS, waste reduction, and weak siting rules. Members asked about possible conference committee changes, the value of having a separate review body, and whether the new rules would invite litigation. Dr. Finkele said he would likely sue over the rules because he считает them too weak, but also said the legislature could fix the problems through other bills such as HB 77. He acknowledged that the site evaluation committee is not a perfect solution, but said it is a useful intermediate step between the agency and the courts and likely would meet only rarely if capacity need remains the main trigger for future landfill decisions. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I do have an author's amendment. I would move the A1 amendment to House File 550.
• It is so amended, and I will change my underlying motion to move that House File 550, as amended, be
• I am hoping that this amendment and this constitutional amendment plus the statutory piece does end up
• I am hoping that this amendment and this constitutional amendment plus the statutory piece does end up
• Looking over your amendment, I did notice that a fair quantity of the state... look at the amendment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh no, that was the wrong amendment—that was the amendment from the very first hearing, yes.
• Yes, yeah, amendment yet. Amendment.
• Do you have the amendment? It's... Wait, you have the amendment? It's coming. Oh, that was fast.
• I'd be happy to talk about the amendment I'd be happy to talk about the amendment while<00:22:38.159
• in support of a common sense Amendment in support of a common sense Amendment to<01:00:34.079>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have an amendment. So you can have a motion for amendment, Senator Shindell.
• Senator Brandt, we have an amended bill. Any questions on the bill?
• We do have an amendment, so I can have a motion to move the amendment for discussion purposes.
• Well, it's kind of related to the amendment in the bill.
• So now you have an amended bill. We're back on the bill.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is do pass as amended. Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez. The motion is do pass as amended.
• For those reasons, we remain opposed and less amended, but again appreciate the amendments thus far and
• We have an opposed and less amended position. We very much appreciate the amendments. Of BioCom.
• We are in opposition unless amended.
• The amendments also make...

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• committee amendments. committee amendments. >> All<00:10:35.760> right.
• There are no amendments.
• Clerk will read the next bill. no amendments. I move for the adoption no amendments.
• amendments to the bill or its title? amendments to the bill or its title?
• amendments to the bill or its title? amendments to the bill or its title?

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, February 27, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met on Friday, February 27, with an invocation by Reverend Howard Travers and several guest introductions, including family members, defense organization leaders, a South Asian Herald editor, Eagleton Institute fellows, and physicians from Johns Hopkins. The chamber journalized the prayer, confirmed a quorum, and then moved into bill introductions, House messages, and committee reports. Several measures were advanced without objection, including Senate Bill 338 to extend a work group report deadline on transfer of retirement system member services, Senate Bill 448 authorizing Carroll County public facilities bonds up to $27 million, Senate Bill 453 clarifying that the Arabian horse race associated with Preakness can be run at Laurel Park, Senate Bill 614 allowing Dorchester County detention officers to join the correctional officers retirement system if the county opts in, and Senate Bill 724 making a technical emergency adjustment to cost-of-living calculations for retirees because October CPI data was unavailable during a government shutdown. Each of those bills received favorable committee reports and was ordered printed for third reading after no objections or amendments were offered. Two bills were postponed for later consideration: Senate Bill 538 on Baltimore City raffles tied to organizations affiliated with professional baseball and football teams was special ordered to Wednesday of the following week, and Senate Bill 108 on water resources and wetlands enforcement was special ordered to March 3 while members worked on possible amendments. Senate Bill 56 on the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center and third-party data sharing was also special ordered to the following Wednesday because committee discussion was ongoing. House Bill 6 and House Bill 372 were received and referred to the appropriate standing committees. The Senate also took up Executive Nominations Committee Report No. 3 and, after no nominations were separated out, confirmed the executive nominations by a vote of 41 in the affirmative. Later, the chamber heard a personal privilege statement from a Montgomery County senator about Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald schools in Maryland, highlighting preservation efforts and an upcoming Scrabble tournament fundraiser at a Rosenwald school. The Senate then confirmed a quorum, and the Majority Leader moved that the Senate stand in recess until Monday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m., which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Howard moves the DE1 amendment. Uh Chair Howard, is there any discussion to the amendment?
• Uh the next amendment on the agenda is the A1 amendment, and co-chair Igo is authoring the A1 amendment
• I support the amendment.
• support of the amendment. support of the amendment.
• A1 amendment. Any discussion? A1 amendment. Any discussion?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is due pass as amended to consent calendar.
• SB 532 of 2023 was amended in Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments to do just that.
• Now that this amendment is included, Now that this amendment is included in the excellent committee amendments
• It's our understanding that the author has accepted the amendments.
• I think we are very close to agreement on amendments, and that those amendments will be taken at the

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• repeal this amendment in the 2024 general election.
• directly to the voters as a constitutional amendment proposal.
• All right, and we have no amendments.
• All right, there are no amendments. Public testimony, Faith.
• There are no amendments.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard several measures focused on government structure, oversight, and public policy designations. The most debated bill was HJR 1325, which proposed a constitutional amendment to create a statewide Commissioner of Government Efficiency, abolish the lieutenant governor office and the Government Efficiency Task Force, and eliminate the constitutional requirement for an Auditor General appointment. Sponsors said the new commissioner would be a watchdog over waste, fraud, and abuse across state and local government, while opponents raised concerns about cost, single-subject issues, lack of implementation details, and whether existing oversight structures were sufficient. After extensive debate, the resolution was reported favorably by a recorded vote. The committee also approved HB 575, which redesignates the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in Florida statute, and HB 1445, which requires certain state officials and agency heads to have stronger ties to Florida and, for some positions, to live in the county where their agency headquarters is located. HB 1445 drew questions about practicality and whether a proximity standard would be better than a strict county requirement, but the sponsor said he would continue working on that issue. Both bills were reported favorably, with HB 1445 passing unanimously. In addition, the committee unanimously approved HB 259, designating August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day, with supporters emphasizing the need for public education about fentanyl overdoses. The committee also passed CS/HB 29, the public records and meetings bill linked to the social work licensure compact, which creates confidentiality and meeting exemptions needed for the compact to operate. Public testimony on that measure was supportive, and it too was reported favorably without opposition.