Transcript Highlights:

• Farm workers deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day. Members then introduced a number of guests and delegations, with a major theme being Arizona Creative Economy Day and the presence of artists, arts advocates, and cultural organizations at the Capitol. Several members highlighted the economic and community value of the arts, and other personal privilege remarks recognized farm workers, Women’s History Month honorees, and Transgender Day of Visibility. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole and considered several Senate bills. SB 1113, SB 1165, SB 1477, and SB 1479 were each reported out with do-pass recommendations, with amendments adopted on SB 1113, SB 1477, and SB 1479. Members described SB 1113 as supporting a City of Phoenix police crisis team, SB 1165 as removing financial barriers to breast cancer testing and diagnosis, and SB 1477 as adding transparency and accountability for senior referral agencies. SB 1479 was also advanced after a floor amendment was adopted. On third reading, the House passed SB 1092 on probation by a vote of 39-17, with supporters emphasizing protections for child victims and opposition to probation for child sex offenders. SB 1181, relating to certified public accountants, passed 47-9 after concerns were raised about delegating key licensing requirements to rulemaking. SB 1473, concerning municipal and county zoning, passed 49-7. The House also adopted a motion to request Senate consent to adjourn after Thursday, April 2, 2026, until Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and then adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• the beginning of the bill, like page six under qualified Missouri business, page 15 under average wage

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jr. in Memphis in support of the city's striking sanitation workers, standing up for dignity, fair wages

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, everything has increased: the cost of running businesses, insurance, wages, you name it.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard public testimony on concerns about changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the iBudget waiver, including warnings that HIV patients could lose access to medications and that direct support providers need a rate increase. Senators discussed possible alternatives such as medically needy coverage and FQHC/340B access, and a witness urged the legislature to delay implementation of the HIV-related changes and restore funding. Another witness asked for support for a modest increase for iBudget direct care providers. The committee then considered and reported favorably several bills. SB 428, by Sen. Yarborough, expands the state swimming voucher program from ages 0-4 to ages 1-7 to align with drowning-prevention guidance; it passed without opposition. CS/SB 68, by Sen. Harrell, requires hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, equipment standards, and readiness assessments; an amendment aligning reporting dates with the House version was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. CS/SB 1718, by Sen. Grall, makes the Step Into Success foster youth pilot permanent, adjusts visitor/background screening rules for out-of-home placements, and modifies stipend provisions; it also passed favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 606, by Sen. Smith, which adds drowning-prevention and safe-bathing education to postpartum materials and requires hospitals and birthing centers to keep compliance records. CS/CS/SB 96, by Sen. Sharief, expands eligibility for the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program up to 400% of the federal poverty level; an amendment removed the $500,000 appropriation so funding can be handled in the budget process, and the bill passed. CS/SB 340, by Sen. Harrell, requires nursing education to include a human trafficking course before licensure, and CS/SB 1480, by Sen. Burton, creates a grandfathering process for certain health care providers in areas of critical need if federal designations change; both were reported favorably. The committee adjourned at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• unlike just getting a certification in something, there is a job awaiting that person, likely in a high wage

Committee: Joint Government Structure

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 210, 3 February, 2026; 11:00 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finding people out there to work for the wages we're offering right now.

Committee: House Legislative Council

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you can see the average wage of our students has increased since we started by over 40%.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from Tim Jones, Senior Vice Chancellor and CFO for the State University System of Florida, on the system’s funding methodology, budget structure, tuition, and performance-based funding. He outlined the system’s scale, including 12 universities, more than 430,000 students taking classes, about 78,000 employees, and a roughly $20 billion operating budget. He also reviewed tuition levels, noting Florida’s low resident undergraduate tuition, the lack of tuition increases since 2013, and the distinction between state-set resident tuition and Board of Governors authority over other tuition categories. Jones described several funding components, including performance funding, preeminence funding, faculty recruitment and retention programs, universities of distinction, nursing pipeline and matching programs, and operational enhancements. He explained that performance funding is based on a 100-point model tied to retention, graduation, employment, and other metrics, with student success plans required if scores decline or fall below 70 points. He said the current performance funding allocation is $350 million and the legislative budget request seeks $400 million. He also said the new SUS 30 strategic plan will lead to updates in the performance metrics and benchmarks, with some changes possibly phased in over time. Senators asked questions about how the new strategic plan will affect future scoring, how long universities have to improve after declining scores, and how out-of-state enrollment and tuition are handled. Jones said universities will be evaluated on the current metrics for the upcoming budget cycle, while the new plan’s changes will be developed later and may include glide paths. He also said there is no statutory cap on nonresident students, though the Board of Governors has a 10% systemwide guideline under discussion, and that graduate out-of-state tuition varies by program and requires institutional and Board of Governors approval. No votes were taken, no public testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 419 by Messa relating to establishing minimum wages for school bus drivers referred to the Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• employees to voluntarily contribute a minimum of 3% of their... contribute a minimum of 3% of their wages

Bills: SB163 , SB173 , SB155 , HB93 , SB163 , SB173 , SB155 , HB93

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: State Auditor, property investigations, negligence, loss report, civil actions, Alabama Retirement Savings Program, state-facilitated retirement savings, auto-IRA, automatic enrollment, payroll deduction IRA, retirement savings access gap, private sector workers, small business retirement plan, portable retirement account, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, life-cycle fund, capital preservation fund, financial literacy, Department of Workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disincentivize you earning higher wages. disincentivize you earning higher wages.
• </c><03:11:47.279><c> jobs</c><03:11:47.520><c> in</c> we want more R&amp;D and high wage jobs in we
• want more R&amp;D and high wage jobs in Colorado,<03:11:48.399><c> we</c><03:11:48.720><c> should</c>
• And they cite rising costs,<04:22:31.760><c> stagnant</c><04:22:32.239><c> wages,</c><04:22:32.960><c
• > and</c><04:22:33.199><c> growing</c> costs, stagnant wages, and growing costs, stagnant wages, and

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• challenge to the executive order, granted preliminary relief, finding that we were nearly certain to prevail
• 00:29:50.720><c> nearly</c><00:29:51.039><c> certain</c><00:29:51.360><c> to</c><00:29:51.600><c> prevail
• </c> we were nearly certain to prevail we were nearly certain to prevail because<00:29:52.320><c> the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails. prevails. prevails.

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was brought by Miss Peters in South Dakota and Wayfair, and the state won and prevailed.
• Wayfair and um the state the state won Wayfair and um the state the state won and<01:15:26.920><c> prevailed
• 28.000><c> Um</c><01:15:28.960><c> and</c><01:15:29.280><c> we</c><01:15:29.600><c> have</c> and prevailed
• Um and we have and prevailed.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There being six yes and five no votes, the motion prevails. Thank you, Senator Kunish.
• votes,<00:48:25.760><c> the</c><00:48:26.400><c> motion</c> votes, the motion votes, the motion prevails
• </c> prevails. Thank you, Senator Kunish. prevails. Thank you, Senator Kunish.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion does prevail, and Senate File 1567 is passed and referred to the Committee on Commerce and
• opposed I I any opposed the<01:12:55.840><c> motion</c><01:12:56.159><c> does</c><01:12:56.440><c> prevail
• </c><01:12:57.000><c> and</c><01:12:57.159><c> a</c><01:12:57.320><c> senate</c> the motion does prevail
• and a senate the motion does prevail and a senate file<01:12:58.159><c> 1567</c><01:12:59.159><c> is

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the bill is on its way.
• saying saying I I I opposed<01:37:29.400><c> the</c><01:37:29.600><c> motion</c><01:37:29.880><c> prevails
• ><01:37:30.239><c> and</c><01:37:30.360><c> the</c><01:37:30.440><c> bill</c> opposed the motion prevails
• and the bill opposed the motion prevails and the bill is<01:37:30.760><c> on</c><01:37:30.880><c> its

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion does prevail.
• opposed the signify by saying I I any opposed the motion<00:30:23.480><c> does</c><00:30:23.720><c> prevail
• in</c><00:30:24.440><c> Senate</c><00:30:24.760><c> file</c><00:30:25.039><c> 509</c> motion does prevail
• in Senate file 509 motion does prevail in Senate file 509 as<00:30:25.960><c> amended</c><00:30:26.720

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion does not prevail.
• motion</c><00:26:30.159><c> does</c><00:26:30.279><c> not</c> the motion does not the motion does not Prevail
• :26:33.880><c> we</c><00:26:33.960><c> kind</c><00:26:34.080><c> of</c><00:26:34.159><c> went</c> Prevail
• sorry director we kind of went Prevail sorry director we kind of went out<00:26:34.679><c> of</c><00

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• glad to see that we are moving in a more hopeful way to get something that will be more likely to prevail
• 41.920><c> to</c> something that will be um more likely to something that will be um more likely to prevail
• prevail prevail through<04:23:43.560><c> through</c><04:23:43.880><c> both</c><04:23:44.680><c> bodies

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 180, which concerns critical incident stress management teams. Representative Mark PR, the bill sponsor, proposed an amendment to add a definition of “team leader” and to clarify that teams may or may not be affiliated with a municipality. He argued that a certification test offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation is unnecessary and too expensive at $400, since team members are volunteers who already receive training and continuing education. Committee members asked about the training structure and certification language, and the sponsor explained that the teams are self-certified and that the amendment was intended to clean up the bill’s language. The committee then voted on HB 180 in executive session. Amendment 0261H was adopted 11-0, and the bill was then moved as amended and passed 11-0. The committee placed the bill on consent. Later, the committee heard House Bill 438, sponsored by Representative Timothy Horan, dealing with immigration detention and related state policy. Horan described the bill as an update to earlier legislation and said it would codify best practices, prohibit state cooperation with mass deportation efforts, bar for-profit operation of immigration detention facilities, and require Executive Council approval before the governor could deploy the National Guard for immigration deportation activities. Committee members questioned whether the bill could be read as authorizing detention facilities and discussed the relationship between the state and Strafford County Jail. An amendment presented on behalf of Representative Patrick Long was described as a technical rewrite that removed several sections and changed language, but the hearing ended before any vote was taken on HB 438.

Transcript Highlights:

• shifting of costs to other ratepayers, and the use of project labor agreements and compliance with prevailing
• wage requirements.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.