Transcript Highlights:

• support of our $200 million request would mean an investment of over $40 million across 25 safety code
• standards to a modern high-rise code standards to a visitor<00:08:22.240><c> cabin</c><00:08:22.599>
• The reduced state investment, rising inflation, tougher building codes, and sustainability codes hamper
• </c> Rising inflation tougher building codes Rising inflation tougher building codes sustainability<00
• c> sustainability codes they hamper our sustainability codes they hamper our ability<00:48:37.200><c>

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2189, budget bring forward code sections related to and provide for transfers.
• That is in section 26 of the bill.
• . section. section.
• </c> transportation department item. transportation department item.
• section.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program is authorized under Section 203 of the Stafford Act.
• I noticed that in the funding sections there is some comments about how there's matches.
• </c> Director Transportation Ed Sniffen. Director Transportation Ed Sniffen.
• </c> transportation and the airlines. transportation and the airlines.
• It was an older kind of coding.

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on hazard mitigation planning and recent tsunami and wildfire threats. Chair Dela Buladi opened by framing the meeting around the need for iterative disaster planning and lessons learned from events such as the Lahaina wildfires, the Puna Coast earthquake/tsunami, and recent wildfire activity. The committee heard first from Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Tomage Magno, who explained the federal and local hazard mitigation planning process, including the requirement for an active five-year mitigation plan to qualify for federal disaster funds. He described the plan as a living document built from prior plans, public and agency outreach, risk and capability assessments, and ongoing updates, with county departments, state agencies, and subject matter experts participating in the process. Magno outlined several FEMA-related mitigation funding programs, including flood mitigation assistance, post-fire assistance, pre-disaster mitigation, revolving loan funds, and dam safety grants. He emphasized that the Hawaii County plan was recently approved by FEMA, that the county council approves the plan, and that the county reviews it annually with a formal revision process beginning in the fourth year. Members asked about how the plan tracks project status, how priorities and funding changes are handled, and whether federal funding programs might be affected by HR1; Magno said the county is proceeding on the assumption that funding will remain available and noted some sources have been reestablished. He also said the county encourages council participation in meetings and planning. Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen then addressed the committee on DOT’s response to a recent tsunami threat, saying the agency had about four hours to prepare before the first wave arrival and was focused on its own operational response rather than the broader statewide planning process. In response to questions, he stated that FHWA funds cannot be used for evacuation routes, which is why prior legislative funding was important. Members also discussed specific mitigation projects such as fire breaks, bridge retrofits, and the Singing Bridge, with DOT noting that work is underway and that a replacement bridge upstream is being planned to carry traffic during repairs. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also the assistant analyst for the Appropriations and Transportation Committee, so you might see
• 26. ...by both the Second Amendment and Article 2, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution.
• those include watermarked bank security paper, optically variable inks, and unique barcodes or QR codes
• Oh, Madam Chair, there's much more to the section, but that's the relevant part.
• Article 2, Section 26 of our state constitution says we have a constitutional right to defend ourselves

Bills: SB1003 , SB1006 , SB1029 , SB1037 , SB1038 , SB1039 , SB1040 , SB1053 , SB1057 , SB1060 , SB1061 , SB1068 , SB1069

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: election, canvass, certification, ballot tabulation, write-in candidates, registration, voting procedures, campaign finance, contribution limits, reporting requirements, political action committees, elections, campaign contributions, candidate committees, posthumous provisions, termination process, Arizona Revised Statutes, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes we moved books from the teen section to the adult section, and it's a great, great way for
• Two distinct sections.
• There are some penalty sections in here.
• There are some penalty sections in here.
• Your Committee on Transportation will meet in 10 minutes in Hearing Room 7.

Summary: The chamber first established a quorum, then moved through House Bills for Perfection. The first major measure discussed was House Bill 305, which would set policies for reconsideration of library materials in public and school libraries, require appeals processes, and prohibit tracking or retaining personalized user data, especially for minors. Supporters framed it as a local-control and parental-rights bill that largely codifies existing library practices, while some members raised concerns about the privacy language and whether materials should be removed during reconsideration. After discussion, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members then took up House Bills 2366 and 2511, a bipartisan construction-industry bill aimed at combating illegal labor and off-the-books hiring. The bill would give the Attorney General more investigative authority, including subpoena power, require complaints to be made by affidavit, and impose stronger penalties on violators. Supporters said it would protect law-abiding contractors and workers and level the playing field, while some members asked about possible overreach and whether the bill could be used against businesses unfairly. The substitute was adopted and the bills were ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2409 followed, proposing child care tax credits for contributions to providers, employer assistance, and provider expansion; it was presented as a response to Missouri’s child care shortage and workforce challenges. Members from both parties largely supported it as an economic and family policy, though one member noted the bill’s fiscal cost and contrasted it with recent budget cuts to child care subsidies. The House adopted the substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. The chamber also considered House Bill 1885, which makes changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission by adjusting membership qualifications and conflict-of-interest rules to make appointments easier while adding recusal procedures. Members said the changes would help fill vacancies and bring in knowledgeable members, and the bill was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2658 addressed telephony laws, expanding the no-call list to any phone subscriber, adding anti-spoofing provisions, and creating penalties for caller ID spoofing; an amendment adding misdemeanor penalties for spoofing was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. House Bill 1919 would require more employers to file certain tax withholding documents electronically, aligning state practice with IRS rules; it passed with support and was ordered perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 1871, an omnibus elections bill, proposed several election administration changes, including electronic receipt of notices, shifting filing deadlines away from holidays, expanding testing windows for voting equipment, protecting the confidentiality of the permanently disabled voter list, requiring tax compliance for certain local candidates, and tightening write-in candidate rules. A key amendment removed an expansion of no-excuse absentee voting to keep the fiscal note at zero; that amendment was debated at length and then adopted before the bill moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• :20:16.000><c> else</c><00:20:16.240><c> is</c> transportation, but everything else is transportation
• </c> transportation, but let's be serious. transportation, but let's be serious.
• </c> families as I said can uh transport families as I said can uh transport their<00:48:54.800><c> children
• Um, on transportation, he change.
• </c><00:59:06.000><c> of</c> with the opening statute of section of with the opening statute of section

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 587, Procurement—Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority Contracts
• <01:20:25.000><c> and</c><01:20:25.160><c> Maryland</c> Transportation and Maryland Transportation and
• Maryland Transportation<01:20:26.280><c> Authority</c><01:20:26.720><c> Contracts,</c> Transportation
• Thank Environment and transportation.
• </c> Environment and Transportation Committee Environment and Transportation Committee will<02:03:30.440

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates access to transportation vouchers while, at the same time, making sure there's... ...place
• It creates access to transportation vouchers while, at the same time, making sure there's a successful
• transportation infrastructure to use those vouchers.
• These offices serve as vital lifelines for residents with limited access to reliable transportation in
• We assist customers with transportation help, food vouchers, work supplies, school supplies—basically

Summary: The Senate and Assembly Human Services Committees held a special oversight hearing on California’s 2026-27 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) state plan, focusing on how the federal anti-poverty funds are administered and used by local community action agencies. Department of Community Services and Development Director Jason Wimbley explained that CSBG is a flexible funding stream used to address housing, employment, education, food insecurity, health, transportation, and disaster response needs, with 60 organizations serving all 58 counties. He noted California received $68.4 million in federal fiscal year 2025 CSBG funds and that the program served about 1.5 million low-income Californians in 2023. He also described how CSBG helped with wildfire response and emphasized the risk posed by proposed federal elimination of the program, though he said federal staffing and program operations were currently stable. Representatives from CalCAPA and several funded agencies described CSBG as essential “braid” funding that supports staffing, leverages other grants, and fills gaps for people who do not qualify for other safety net programs. CalCAPA leaders stressed local flexibility, workforce development, partnerships, and the ROMA performance system, while agency witnesses from Contra Costa County, Northern California Indian Development Council, Proteus, and Sacred Heart Community Service gave examples of housing assistance, food distribution, employment training, utility aid, rural service delivery, tribal services, and disaster or emergency support. Several witnesses warned that federal cuts or elimination of CSBG would force service reductions, layoffs, and loss of leverage for other funding sources. The hearing also included discussion of CalAIM coordination, contingency planning for possible funding losses, and the limits of county ability to backfill federal reductions. During public comment, one speaker raised concerns about compliance and transparency issues involving community action agencies and asked the committees to ensure agencies follow California law. The chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters, reiterated the importance of CSBG in addressing poverty and homelessness, and adjourned the hearing after noting the need to sustain the investment and adapt services to changing statewide needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have the exact education code section off the top of my head, but... Okay, well, I...
• And that makes it really challenging because that then involves transportation.
• In their mind, transportation is less expensive than maintaining that remote school site with teachers
• Transportation does become an issue, but it's also a weather issue because we live in the mountains.
• More than it brings kids in, simply because of the inconvenience of transportation for families.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to make sure their space requirements align with the fire code, and they work with the State
• Fire Marshal to align licensing requirements with the fire code.
• </c> requirements align with uh the fire code requirements align with uh the fire code and<00:39:19.000
• uh but I requirements with the fire code uh but I can<00:39:26.200><c> certainly</c><00:39:26.640><c
• </c> fire code fire code correct<00:45:07.400><c> let</c><00:45:07.599><c> the</c><00:45:07.680><c> record

Bills: HF656 , HF655 , HF633

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:01.239><c> that's</c> Department of Transportation that's Department of Transportation that's
• :00.960><c> Statewide</c><01:25:01.719><c> Transportation</c> of the Statewide Transportation of the
• </c> distinguish between State Transportation distinguish between State Transportation departments<01
• </c> up funding for other Transportation up funding for other Transportation projects<01:29:21.480><c
• </c><01:38:09.679><c> was</c> the Department of Transportation was the Department of Transportation was

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Trump Expressway, reported from Transportation favorably.
• Transportation reports with amendments. I move to adopt the amendments.
• Transportation reports favorably.
• Highway, reported from Transportation with amendments.
• Art Junior Ferry Terminal provides for implementation or transportation. Michael C.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a series of personal privileges and ceremonial recognitions. Members offered remarks honoring Representative Wright’s uncle, a Korean War veteran, and presented House Resolution 4 honoring former Speaker Joe R. Sauter, with several members and family members speaking about his service, humility, faith, and character. The chamber also recognized the Louisiana Federal Directors Association, celebrated Representative Bagley’s mother’s 96th birthday, welcomed Miss Natchitoches City of Lights, and later welcomed the North Shore Focus group at the Capitol. The House received Senate messages on SCR 4, SCR 7, and SCR 8, all of which lay over, and enrolled H.R. 4 through 8. Members introduced several new measures, including resolutions on the death of Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw, support for a federal voter ID measure, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Day, a study of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, and support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education; these were assigned numbers and lay over. The chamber also adopted, without objection, several resolutions already on the floor, including H.R. 10 recognizing Funeral Director’s Day, H.R. 11 honoring the crew of Eve’s 40th anniversary, H.R. 12 for Nurse Practitioner Day, H.R. 13 on Dorothy Prevost, and H.C.R. 13 honoring Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans. Committee reports and bill referrals were then taken up. New bills included a crime prevention and security district in Arlene’s Parish and consent-judgment appropriation measures. The House also received numerous committee reports, mostly favorable or with amendments, on bills dealing with court jurisdiction, child relocation, highway and bridge memorial designations, software standards of care, harmful material to minors, and ferry terminal naming. Several of these were ordered engrossed or had amendments adopted. The session ended with announcements about upcoming committee meetings, a reminder about interim emergency board ballots, and a motion to adjourn until Monday at 3:00 p.m., which passed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grades vary by section, and the data set will be called out if it's not all grades.
• We're going to move on to the next section of our committee work.
• So the funding formula for transportation has evolved.
• The state came up, or the department came up, with some rates for transportation.
• But that’s kind of the history of that transportation formula.

Committee: Joint Special Education Funding Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:08:45.680><c> employment,</c><00:08:46.560><c> and</c><00:08:46.880><c> social</c> transportation
• , employment, and social transportation, employment, and social connection<00:08:48.320><c> to</c><00
• </c><00:19:05.760><c> funds,</c><00:19:06.640><c> child</c> as federal transportation funds, child as
• </c><01:10:46.000><c> and</c> associated with lower C-section and associated with lower C-section and
• </c><01:10:50.640><c> C-sections</c><01:10:51.360><c> and</c> Breastfeeding initiation.

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the November 12 minutes by voice vote, and then heard a presentation from former Governor Ernie Fletcher and Dave Johnson on Medicaid reimbursement for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Fletcher argued that addiction should be treated as a chronic disease requiring a longer continuum of care, not just short residential stays, and said recovery should combine clinical treatment with social supports such as housing, transportation, employment, peer coaching, and recovery housing. He cited data on overdose trends, low treatment rates, and high costs for people with SUD, and said current reimbursement models create poor incentives and do not adequately support long-term recovery or measure outcomes well. Fletcher proposed a “carve through” model administered at the MCO level with standardized metrics, data sharing, and an independent recovery coordinator that would assess patients, coordinate care, and connect them to clinical and social recovery services. He suggested using bundled payments, shared savings, and partial risk arrangements, with recovery housing reimbursed on a PMPM or weekly basis and funded in part through existing Medicaid spending and other sources such as opioid abatement funds. He also emphasized peer support, telemedicine, criminal justice coordination, workforce and education supports, and the use of technology, including text messaging and possibly AI, to maintain long-term follow-up and identify relapse risk. Members questioned how the model would work in practice, especially the education and staffing requirements for recovery coordinators, reimbursement levels, and how many patients each coordinator or peer would serve. Fletcher said peers could be certified and would need additional training in assessments such as ASAM and recovery residence standards, but he did not give a precise salary figure, saying the market and bundled rates would determine that. He also said follow-up should continue for years, noting relapse risk over the first 18 to 24 months and that meaningful employment and ongoing peer contact help sustain recovery. No formal vote or action was taken on the substance use presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; We code a 30-second autonomous program &gt;&gt; We code a 30-second autonomous program that<
• </c> this, we taught ourselves Java coding this, we taught ourselves Java coding and<00:07:58.479><c>
• To accomplish this, we code our score.
• Uh, there's also an additional section.
• Uh, there's also an additional section.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Transportation. Senators Durazo. Aye. Choi. Epstein.
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Transportation. File item number 2, AB 1976.
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Transportation. The current vote is 2-1. Senator Choi?
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Transportation. The current vote is 4-1.
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Transportation. The current vote is 4-1.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard several bills focused on housing, utility billing, permitting, oversight, disaster recovery, and traffic safety. AB 2058, by Assemblymember Harropetian, would streamline inspections and fees for factory-built housing by reducing duplicative local review and allowing third-party inspections; supporters said it would cut costs and delays, while the author noted local land-use authority would remain intact. AB 1945, by Assemblymember Hodgwick, would let Lassen Municipal Utility District offer voluntary prepaid electricity accounts without deposits or start-service fees, with consumer protections and electronic notices; municipal utility and power agency representatives supported it. AB 2418, by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, would set timelines for commercial plan review and allow third-party plan checkers for delayed tenant improvement projects; business and property groups supported it, and the bill was narrowed by amendments. AB 2433, by Assemblymember Alvarez, would expand density bonus incentives for for-sale affordable housing; supporters said it could help produce more homeownership opportunities, while labor and local government concerns led to amendments removing ministerial/by-right provisions. AB 2760, by Assemblymember Sharpe Collins, would allow counties with an Office of Inspector General to extend oversight to probation and animal control in San Diego County; the author and county supervisors supported it, but probation officials opposed it as duplicative. AB 2385, by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris, would clarify local authority to plan for disaster recovery and create local reconstruction agencies; cities and other supporters said it would improve post-disaster rebuilding. AB 1976, by Assemblymember Hitt, would limit late-stage public process for pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming projects and exempt pedestrian malls from CEQA; supporters framed it as a safety streamlining measure, while local government groups raised concerns about reduced community engagement. The committee also adopted the consent calendar for AB 2118 and AB 2728. Final votes were taken after quorum was established: AB 1945 passed 6-0 to the Senate floor; AB 1976 passed 5-1 to the Committee on Transportation; AB 2058 passed 7-0 to Appropriations; AB 2385 passed 6-1 to Emergency Management; AB 2418 passed 7-0 to Judiciary; AB 2433 passed 7-0 to Housing; AB 2760 passed 5-2 to the Senate floor; and the consent calendar was adopted 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill closes the current gaps in consumer protection code.
• Secondly, it amends section six to make it consistent with section five of the bill and existing Kentucky
• Secondly, it amends section six to make it consistent with section five of the bill and existing Kentucky
• Secondly, it amends section six to make it<00:42:39.839><c> consistent</c><00:42:40.160><c> with</c>
• /c> it consistent with section five of the it consistent with section five of the bill<00:42:42.000><

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:44.840><c> I</c> day an act relating to Transportation I day an act relating to Transportation
• </c> amendment is coded amendment is coded A7<01:38:14.800><c> I</c><01:38:14.960><c> recognize</c><01
• The amendment is coded A8.
• </c> engrossment the amendment is coded engrossment the amendment is coded A8<01:49:57.719><c> I</c><
• </c><01:56:07.280><c> stigma</c> areas where Transportation stigma areas where Transportation stigma

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill has a tiered, staggered penalty section, which is a good thing.
• Tiered, staggered penalty section, which is a good thing, with increasing severity of the penalties.
• Now, my understanding of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1513, paragraph E, is that you can't
• Now, my understanding of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1513, Now my understanding of Title
• 18 of the United States Code section 1513 paragraph E is that you can't do that.

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2308, which would prohibit a dental insurer or its holding company from owning interests in dental practices regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and insurer control over provider care, while Delta Dental opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create divestment burdens. After discussion of possible exemptions and market-share caps, the committee passed HB 2308 on a 7-0 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, increases penalties for sales to minors, restricts youth-oriented marketing, and licenses manufacturers and distributors. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, and Vapor Technology Association, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency and help curb illegal products and youth vaping. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued it should instead use a full tobacco retail licensing model and that the bill’s enforcement structure lacks sufficient resources. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 6-1. House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The strike-everything amendment allows a person or organization that filed a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before ballot qualification, applies the rule retroactively to withdrawals filed on or after January 1, 2026, and bars tallying or canvassing votes for referenda with a withdrawal notice. The sponsor described it as a common-sense governance fix, and the committee gave it a 7-0 do-pass recommendation. The committee next heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and related disciplinary processes. Nursing board officials opposed parts of the bill, warning that changes to nursing education oversight and tighter deadlines could weaken patient safety and increase costs and liability, while the Arizona Nurses Association and several nurses supported the bill as a way to prioritize serious complaints, improve timeliness, and allow expungement in appropriate cases. After adopting the amendment, the committee passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote. The committee also passed House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures, and House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, both by unanimous votes. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 4010 on creating a Board of Genetic Counselors, with the sponsor and supporters describing it as a licensure and patient-safety measure; the transcript ends during testimony on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I believe that our transportation system should unite Arizonans, and so at this state, I will vote
• Payment card networks have created firearm-specific merchant category codes that allow lawful purchases
• These codes do not identify criminal activity.
• Merchant category codes are already set up; firearms and ammunition are already set up under sporting
• It is completely on the merchant category code aspect of it.

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met for its first session, introduced staff and pages, and then heard several bills. SB 1010 would designate Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway; an amendment to rename it the Freedom of Speech Highway failed, and after testimony both supporting the honor and objecting that it would affect the Ed Pastor portion of the freeway, the bill received a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1077 would impose felony penalties for operating online services that facilitate prostitution, pandering, or child sex trafficking, and also address harmful sexual material and age verification; with no public testimony, it passed 5-2. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include force or violence causing property damage and add riot to racketeering and conspiracy provisions; the ACLU opposed it as overbroad and harmful to protest rights, but the committee still gave it a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1058 would create the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act to bar government firearm registries and restrict firearm-related merchant category codes; gun-rights advocates supported it as a privacy measure, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1035, which appropriates funds for a 5% pay increase for sworn correctional officers and department civilians at ADCRR. The sponsor said the raise is a top priority and part of budget discussions. Correctional employee representatives supported the pay increase but argued it is not enough and urged a larger raise, while private prison representatives and the Arizona Police Association asked that the increase also cover private prison employees to preserve pay parity and retention. Some members raised concerns about the fiscal impact and about whether private prison funds would be directed to salaries rather than profit. An amendment extending the raise to private prison employees under contract with the department was adopted, and the amended bill passed 4-3, with several members explaining their votes based on the need for a footnote or further safeguards and others supporting parity across state and private facilities.