Transcript Highlights:

• And now we're paying the price.
• yesterday in labor, we had a bill up that would allow farmworkers to be able to attain part of their overtime
• because right now our farmworkers are losing about $1,200 a month every single month because of the overtime
• We didn't touch the overtime bill.
• So if we can cease all conversations on the floor and we can pay our respects, and we can cease all conversations

Summary: The Senate convened with a roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then recognized the YMCA’s 175th anniversary through floor remarks highlighting its long history of community service, youth programs, child care, and civic engagement. The body then moved through routine messages and appointments, confirming three gubernatorial appointments: former Judge Frank Darnell Jr. to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, Michelle Edgar to the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and David Galavis to the State Park and Recreation Commission. On third reading, senators debated and adopted Senate Joint Resolution 12, which opposes the federal offshore oil and gas leasing proposal off California and calls for California to be removed from the plan and for stronger environmental review and public participation. Supporters emphasized coastal protection and climate goals, while opponents argued the state faces energy supply and affordability problems and needs more domestic production. The resolution passed by roll call. The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 118, urging full release of unclassified Jeffrey Epstein investigation files to promote transparency and accountability for survivors, and Senate Resolution 99, declaring April 21, 2026, California Agriculture Day and recognizing the state’s agricultural production, farmworkers, and climate-smart practices. The final major item was Senate Resolution 100, designating April 16, 2026, as Breaking the Silence Day of Awareness to raise awareness of child sexual abuse, support survivors, and expand prevention and mandated reporter training. The author and supporters spoke about the prevalence of abuse, the importance of reporting, and survivor support; the resolution was adopted unanimously. The Senate then lifted the calls and confirmed the earlier appointments, adopted the consent calendar, announced upcoming budget subcommittee meetings, and adjourned in memory of Rob Trice and Alwyn Ben Holman. The session ended with notice that the next floor session would be Monday, April 27, 2026, with Denim Day observed that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost: who's going to pay for this?
• for it, or are you going to make the 10 voters that sign the petition pay for this?
• The cost: who's going to pay for this?
• that I'm actually going to be working overtime for the next two weeks.
• Also, who pays for photocopying a driver's license?

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So on overtime table 13, the very last one, $80,000 in overtime for the spectator events and shows at
• Why would you not deal with it before you anticipate $80 million in overtime or $80,000 in overtime?
• ><c> in</c><01:42:02.880><c> overtime</c> last one, $80,000 in overtime last one, $80,000 in overtime
• Even then, overtime. Okay. Even then, overtime.
• </c> 80,000 in overtime? 80,000 in overtime?

Transcript Highlights:

• But also creates some new deductions, largely for seniors, overtime pay, tips, and auto loan interest
• Most notably, currently the program is providing 4.2 billion dollars in the current year to help pay
• pay tips and auto loan interest is very important to see that those are only temporary, correct?
• more they will be paying per month.
• So in that regard, some folks will be paying more.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to pay your bills.
• ICE pays $120 a day. So there are... ...it to a whole $80, ICE pays $120 a day.
• To follow up on your comment about having to pay overtime costs to backfill the absence of people you've
• So, um, I do want to pay deference to Sheriff Donahue.
• Some of the overtime, things like that.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff are putting in a lot of overtime, and burnout is a real issue.
• Everybody else who already transitioned under DCT, paying for out of DCT budget, so that really makes
• Transitioned under DCT, paying for out of DCT budget, so that really makes it a little bit easier in
• You cannot be supervised by the entity that is paying for those services.
• </c> willing to volunteer for that overtime willing to volunteer for that overtime that's<00:38:16.480

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> same rate, even though they're paying same rate, even though they're paying in.<00:04:09.680><c>
• Not to mention the cost of paying overtime. Our employees are paid very well.
• </c> that we have to then pay. that we have to then pay.
• Roe said, the employer is not paying the payroll tax, the employee would pay 100% of it.
• </c> tax, the employee would pay 100% of it. tax, the employee would pay 100% of it.

Transcript Highlights:

• That money could be put in a reserve to pay that off in future years, even though the tax itself could
• </c> &gt;&gt; could be put in a in a reserve to pay &gt;&gt; could be put in a in a reserve to pay that
• Uh, and of course, we now have to pay for bonding bill debt service.
• Speaker Daudt was pushing for state conformity with the federal no tax on tips and overtime.
• It looks like this tips and overtime.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can pay our bills at the end of the year, but there are four things that will be sacrificed, which
• Our fatal suppression overtime, Arrive Alive Arizona, is suspended.
• Without that overtime money, they won't have backup.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations, Transportation and Technology heard a presentation on advanced air mobility, including a video and remarks describing AAM as a new transportation system for drones and future passenger/cargo aircraft. Speakers highlighted potential uses such as medical delivery and rescue, emphasized safety, low noise, and coordination among industry, government, NASA, DOT, and FAA, and mentioned a planned display of a Pivotal aircraft on the Senate lawn later in March. The committee then considered House Bill 2148, which would give the Legislature authority to appropriate non-constitutional federal monies and require the purposes of those funds to be specified, with a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. Supporters framed it as a transparency and separation-of-powers measure, while opponents argued that federal funds often flow through the executive branch for program administration and that the bill could disrupt existing systems. The bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-4 vote. The committee also heard House Bill 2993, which appropriates $6.4 million from the Consumer Protection and Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Department of Public Safety and exempts DPS from the prohibition on employing outside legal counsel without authorization. The Arizona State Troopers Association supported the funding as an emergency need to avoid cuts to recruit classes, overtime, Arrive Alive Arizona, and patrol car purchases, while several members objected to combining the appropriation with the legal-counsel policy change. The bill likewise received a do-pass recommendation by a 6-4 vote. The meeting ended with announcements about upcoming video presentations and an aircraft display, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can pay our bills at the end of the year, but there are four things that will be sacrificed, which
• Our fatal suppression overtime, Arrive Alive Arizona, is suspended.
• Without that overtime money, they won't have backup.

Bills: HB2148 , HB2993

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: federal funding, state budget, appropriation, block grants, noncustodial funds, legislative authority, Arizona attorney general, Department of Public Safety, DPS, consumer fraud revolving fund, consumer protection fund, gang and immigration intelligence team enforcement mission fund, public safety appropriation, supplemental appropriation, outside counsel, state agency legal representation, legal services, state settlement proceeds, general fund, A.R.S. 41-192

Transcript Highlights:

• IF THEY ARE HAVING TO WORK AND OVERTIME CAPACITY, IS OVER TIME.
• IF THEY ARE HAVING TO WORK AND OVERTIME CAPACITY, WORKING MISSIONS, TRYING TO COMPLETE THEIR MISSION
• DOES ANY OF THE GRANT MONEY, DOES IT GO TO PAY THE WORKERS WHO MAY BE COMING FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll start with the commission pay plan.
• So I'll start with the commission pay plan.
• Colonel Gardner can explain this in greater depth, but the pay plan, the new pay plan, would essentially
• We pay them per diem.
• If you're not paying somebody the full CEC over a 20-year career, their pay is significantly less than

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee reviewed the Idaho State Police budget, including the Division of Idaho State Police, POST Academy, and the Brand Inspection Division. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson outlined funding sources, staffing levels, recent budget enhancements, and the fiscal year 2027 requests. For the state police division, the main new request was a $12.6 million commissioned officer pay plan tied to a proposed increase in the vehicle registration “project choice” fee from $3 to $12, along with a $500,000 federal grant increase for commercial vehicle safety, a $551,500 mobile live-scan pilot, and $3.2 million in replacement items. Peterson and Colonel Gardner explained that the pay plan is intended to make ISP compensation more competitive and to fund base pay in a way that allows future CEC increases to apply to the full salary rather than only part of it. Colonel Gardner gave extensive testimony on staffing shortages, vacancy patterns in districts such as Lewiston and Idaho Falls, and the difficulty of retaining trained troopers after three to five years when other agencies offer higher pay. He said the agency is using overtime, reduced travel, and strategic deployment to cover gaps, but warned that vacancies are affecting public safety and that the proposed pay plan is needed to stabilize staffing. Committee members questioned the size of the fee increase, the sustainability of the plan, and the effect on trooper pay. Gardner said the request was based on what is needed to sustain the plan for about 10 years and emphasized that commissioned officers and troopers are the same group in this context. The committee also heard that a trooper injured in a fentanyl seizure the day before was receiving medical evaluation, and members expressed support for ISP personnel. The committee then reviewed POST, where Peterson said the academy has 31 FTP and no ongoing fiscal year 2027 enhancement requests beyond $324,100 for replacement items. Administrator Brad Johnson explained that POST’s basic academy costs about $10,700 per student for a 14-week course, while ISP’s internal trooper training and first-year costs are much higher because they include equipment, wages, room and board, and other expenses. He said students sign a two-year repayment agreement if they leave the profession after training. Members asked about agency-run academies, college programs, and whether the training model could be extended, and Johnson said POST remains the only accredited academy in Idaho and has received top national accreditation scores. Finally, the Brand Inspection Division budget was reviewed. Peterson said the division is funded by the State Brand Board Fund and has no new ongoing requests for fiscal year 2027, only $288,100 in replacement items, including six trucks and computer equipment. Brand Inspector Cody Burlisle said most inspectors are POST-certified and perform both regulatory inspections and law-enforcement duties. Committee members praised the division for keeping vehicles in service for high mileage and for helping livestock producers during gathers and inspections. The meeting ended with instructions for members to attend work groups and a reminder that votes on transfers, rescissions, and reductions would occur later in the week, followed by adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Collins: Educator Pay. Senator Collins. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Workers that earn overtime. Workers that earn overtime.
• workers: exempting a portion of their tip income from tax and providing a tax credit for those who pay
• Municipal leaders say, Joe, what are you doing for our towns that can’t pay the bills?
• the ...have fewer and fewer young people able to care for them and pay the taxes that are needed.

Summary: The Senate continued debate on the FY27 state budget, with several distinguished introductions and a series of amendment actions. Early amendments from Senator Collins on restoring DCF social worker funding and educator pay were withdrawn without objection. The Chair then sustained a point of order that a group of tax-related amendments, including proposals on teacher tax relief, tips, overtime, estate tax, and income tax rates, were out of order because they would create money bills that must originate in the House; the Senate voted 35-4 to uphold that ruling. Senator Tarr’s gas tax suspension amendment and several other amendments were defeated, while Senator Fattman’s amendment extending domestic violence leave protections to contract employees was adopted unanimously, 39-0. The Senate also adopted Senator Fernandes’ amendment creating a commission to study the adequacy, reliability, and distribution of unrestricted general government aid (UGA), after debate focused on inequities in local aid distribution and the need for a modern formula. The chamber then took up House No. 5375, the Chapter 90 municipal roads and bridges bill, and passed it to be engrossed. Additional amendments were considered on the budget, including a community programming amendment and a Senate Ways and Means amendment, both adopted, after which the Ways and Means amendment as amended was adopted and the underlying budget was ordered to a third reading. The Senate also handled several procedural matters, including concurrence in a House referral for a bill on poverty-related legislation and ordering a sick leave bank bill for Carla Johnson to a third reading. After extensive closing remarks from the Ways and Means chair, minority leader, and others praising the collaborative budget process and highlighting investments in local aid, education, public safety, and other priorities, the Senate voted on final passage of House No. 5501, the FY27 appropriations bill. The roll call showed 40-0 in favor, and the bill was passed to be engrossed. The Senate then adopted an order to reconvene the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Trooper Kevin Thomas Traynor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, if the retired teacher comes back, the school system pays into TRSL, and the teacher pays into
• Do you get overtime pay contributing to your retirement calculation? But it was so...
• They pay the difference, not the employer. The employee personally pays it.
• We'd pay for it. And then within a year, they'd go somewhere else where the pay was higher.
• So we... ...we'd pay for it and then within a year they'd go somewhere else where the pay was higher.

Committee: House Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you get overtime pay contributing to your retirement calculation? But it was so...
• They pay the difference, not the employer. The employee personally pays it.
• They were paying it—maybe they were paying it. It's even questionable.
• We'd pay for it. And then within a year, they'd go somewhere else where the pay was higher.
• We'd pay for it, and then within a year they'd go somewhere else where the pay was higher.

Committee: House Retirement

Summary: The Retirement Committee heard several retirement-related bills and deferred two measures at the start: HB 26 and HB 993 were voluntarily deferred by the author. HB 31, by Rep. Eccles, would allow certain small municipalities to terminate participation in the municipal police employees’ retirement system and create a lower-cost “Plan C” option for small towns like Stirlington. After discussion about population and officer-count limits, the committee adopted amendments, heard concerns from the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System about remaining issues, and reported HB 31 as amended favorably. The committee also advanced HB 1134, which creates a backdrop-style retirement option for judges whose positions are abolished, and HB 24, which would allow retired teachers to return to work as one-year contract teachers without the current retirement contribution structure. TRSL testified that return-to-work policy is complex and that a broader Senate study-group proposal is also moving, but the committee reported HB 1134 and HB 24 favorably. HB 21, a technical correction to the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System law, was amended to remove a sunset problem that would be fixed in another bill and was reported favorably as amended. Later, the committee reported HB 1017 favorably, which limits former spouses’ claims to post-divorce earnable compensation in the Firefighters’ Retirement System, with testimony that the bill would reduce litigation over promotions and raises after divorce. HB 43, which would let certain LASERS members retire after 35 years of service at any age, drew testimony from LASERS about its cost and workforce effects but received no motion and was voluntarily deferred. HB 30 was also voluntarily deferred because its substance would be moved into another bill. The committee then took up two major municipal police bills. HB 45, after extensive negotiations among the author, the Louisiana Municipal Association, EMPERS, and the City of New Orleans, was substantially rewritten by amendment to address retention pay, out-of-state service credit purchases, survivor benefits for certain officers killed in the line of duty, COLA funding, and a reduction in the non-hazardous accrual rate. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 45 as amended favorably. HB 49, a related bill on municipal police and firefighter retirement issues, was also replaced by a substitute that changed opt-out procedures, revised partial dissolution rules, and preserved full dissolution liability; after testimony that the changes would save New Orleans and other cities significant money, the committee adopted the substitute and reported HB 49 as substituted favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you’re on the other side and the only issue is money, this is truly a pay-me-now-or-pay-me-later type
• We had 1.2 million overtime last year. We consistently run 12,000 overtime for quarters.
• Last quarter we ran 12,000 hours overtime.
• Overtime for quarters, last quarter we ran 12,000 hours overtime.
• For example, in 2022 we were able to pay 29 percent above minimum wage.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills and public testimony, beginning with introductions and then taking up several health and human services measures. A major focus was SB 1120 and SB 1121, which address radiation protection in cardiac catheterization and other ionizing-radiation procedure rooms. SB 1120 would require health care facilities to equip at least 50% of procedure rooms with radiation protection systems by July 1, 2027, while SB 1121 would prohibit requiring lead aprons in rooms with such systems and instead require real-time dosimeters for staff who opt out of lead aprons. Physicians, nurses, and a hospital executive testified that enhanced radiation protection systems can dramatically reduce occupational exposure, lower cancer and orthopedic risks, and help with workforce recruitment and retention; a hospital alliance remained neutral pending further stakeholder discussions. Both bills were amended and passed out of committee on 7-0 votes, and SB 1118, which appropriates state funds for a rural hospital grant program to install radiation protection systems, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved SB 1001, which appropriates $1 million to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, after testimony from blind and low-vision Arizonans and advocates describing long waitlists, the need for independent living training, and the program’s role in preventing unnecessary dependence. SB 1072, a major funding bill for home- and community-based services and room-and-board rate increases for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, drew testimony from providers about severe staffing shortages, overtime, turnover, and underfunding; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1125, requiring DCS to pursue MOUs with tribes and improve tribal communication and access to licensing and enforcement information, also passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then considered SB 1123, which removes a board-certification requirement so trained forensic pathologists can supervise autopsy training for residents and fellows; Maricopa County supported it as a workforce and training fix, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1052, allowing mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in assisted living facilities under physician order and DHS rules, generated mixed testimony: supporters argued it could improve health and independence for residents, while opponents raised concerns about off-label treatment in nonmedical settings. The bill passed 5-2. SB 1112, which reduces the number of acquaintance witnesses required in court-ordered treatment proceedings from two to one and allows the court to waive the witness requirement under certain conditions, drew strong testimony from families and mental health advocates on both sides; it passed 5-2. The committee also began hearing SB 1113, which would allow certain service of process in court-ordered evaluation and treatment cases by evaluation-agency employees or other court-authorized persons, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• to heat and cool their pharmacy, paying to heat and cool their homes,<00:45:47.520><c> paying</c><00
• :46.958><c> expand</c><05:02:47.280><c> their</c> working overtime to expand their working overtime to
• </c> that happens and they end up paying that happens and they end up paying revenue<07:58:08.798><c>
• </c> pay 13%. pay 13%.
• To quote Mary Beth, tax on overtime.

Bills: HR539 , HR747 , HB4216 , HB2635 , HB4233 , HB4490 , HB2503 , HB2643 , HB4215

Keywords: LaMonica McIver, censure, House of Representatives discipline, Homeland Security Committee, removal from committee, Newark, Delaney Hall, immigration detention facility, federal officers, assault on federal officer, resisting arrest, interfering with federal officers, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, HSI, congressional ethics, House resolution, disciplinary resolution, 18 U.S.C. 111, immigration enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• "Um, when you're an employee, you get minimum wage, overtime pay, you can access unemployment insurance
• "Um, when you're an employee, you get minimum wage, overtime pay, you can access unemployment insurance
• "Um, when you're an employee, you get minimum wage, overtime pay, you can access unemployment insurance
• Um when you're an employee, you get minimum wage, overtime pay, you can access unemployment insurance
• Uh Sarah" "You're sick or need care, uh, and your employer pays half of the payroll taxes."

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• employment taxes when somebody is misclassified by an employer, the failure to pay into UI if somebody
• </c><00:04:19.560><c> into</c> an employer um the failure to pay into an employer um the failure to pay
• Thank you. ...they weren't entitled to minimum wage, overtime.
• into the UI system who are not paying into the UI system who are not paying<00:54:17.480><c> um</c><
• . ...which is a significant savings by not having to pay people overtime, by not, you know, all things

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• You said that the parents can do community service in lieu of paying fines.
• My mother had to work overtime.
• I can remember a time my mom needed to pay fines, but my mother couldn't afford to pay the fines.
• For somebody who's got money, it's no big deal to pay a fine.
• For somebody who doesn't, it's hard to work overtime in order to try to pay all their bills every month

Bills: HB2947 , HB3276 , HB3513

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation