Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Brian Talley, a father of three girls from Austin. and a real estate broker with 27 years of experience
• My husband is the broker; he is Lawson's in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, and I'm a Lawson's
• I am in the unique position that my husband is, you know, a broker, and I I could step away from our
• I'm a broker with 30 years of experience in College Station.

Bills: SB1361 , SB2105 , SB2690 , SB2713 , SCR38 , SB2637 , SB2881

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• cannot adequately support the large number of investment advisers, investment adviser representatives, broker-dealers
• adviser</c> advisers investment adviser advisers investment adviser Representatives<00:03:55.680><c> broker
• </c><00:03:55.959><c> dealers</c><00:03:56.360><c> and</c> Representatives broker dealers and Representatives
• broker dealers and agents<00:03:57.000><c> registered</c><00:03:57.400><c> in</c><00:03:57.519><c> Minnesota

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• active-duty military personnel, and their families, according to data collected by the Federal Trade Commission
• buying a house, VA veterans have a benefit to buy a house that we say you must go to a real estate broker
• You may not choose your own real estate broker, and that's what we're doing here.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guest delegations, including UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute fellows and community college representatives. The body approved the Senate journals and then moved through gubernatorial appointments, confirming Dr. Hernando Garsohn as Chief Medical Officer at the Emergency Medical Services Authority and Stephanie Weldon as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health, both by 39-0 votes. The chamber then took up a series of third-reading bills. Measures approved included SB 799 on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, SB 33 on prompt payment for public works contractors, SB 222 to streamline permitting for heat pump installations, SB 300 strengthening protections for minors in AI chatbot interactions, SB 457 expanding support for community land trusts, SB 479 authorizing city-based homeless response multidisciplinary teams, SB 719 extending a reporting sunset on automated decision systems, SB 722 protecting mobile home park residents from demolition-related displacement, SB 832 updating the Upper Los Angeles River working group, SB 342 limiting forfeiture when a contractor’s license lapses, SB 490 allowing local inspections of unlicensed treatment facilities with state approval, SB 828 requiring permit-data verification for fireworks and explosives facilities, SB 849 barring physicians who committed sexual misconduct from license renewal, SB 742 addressing decommissioned electric lines in response to the Altadena fire, SB 96 regulating amplified advertising on streaming and related platforms, and SB 58 updating hydrogen sulfide monitoring and response standards. Most passed unanimously; SB 222 and SB 677 drew some opposition, and SB 222 passed 38-3. A major floor debate centered on SB 694, which would restrict unaccredited private firms from charging fees to assist veterans with VA benefits claims and align state law with federal accreditation rules. Supporters argued the bill would protect veterans from predatory “claim shark” practices and preserve access through accredited providers, while opponents said it would limit veterans’ choice and could reduce access to needed help. After a motion to pull the bill from Rules and take it up immediately passed 29-9, the Senate approved SB 694 by a 39-0 vote. The session ended with unanimous approval of the consent calendar items and adjournment until January 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I hear you mention a few things about the Wage Theft Commission or committee, etc., but I've been
• doing business, tightening up independent contractor misclassification statutes, regulating labor brokers
• bat. ...business, tightening up independent contractor misclassification statutes, regulating labor brokers

Bills: HB2144 , HB2190 , HB2191 , HB2303 , HB2345

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: employee monitoring, workplace privacy, performance evaluations, notification, transparency, language access, collective bargaining, providers, healthcare, interpreters, social services, construction, wage theft, misclassification, independent contractor, employee classification, fringe benefits, prevailing wages, subcontractor liability, joint and several liability

Transcript Highlights:

• fact that consumer reporting agencies buy and sell our data among each other and among third-party brokers
• Members, you remember this bill by Senator Johnson relating to the notice requirement of a data broker
• Johnson relating to the regulation of certain business entities that act as data brokers.

Bills: SB315 , SB584 , SB1228 , SB1484 , SB1860 , SB1802

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, specifically with the area that I discussed addressing the fee on broker dealers.
• Our current fee on broker dealers in the state of Minnesota is $25.
• This is the public utilities commission.
• </c> submit a petition um to the commission submit a petition um to the commission uh<00:26:16.400><c
• :24.559><c> for</c><00:26:24.799><c> those</c> commission may assess fees for those commission may assess

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Plan to report to the public and Legislature quarterly on the clearinghouse programs; and requires brokers
• it can provide an offer to a Fair Plan policyholder while providing the same offer to the agent or broker
• Chair and members, John Norwood, on behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California
• Agents' and brokers' client lists and work products are going to be protected from abuse, I believe.
• Additionally, the sensitive data that AB 311 authorizes collecting will flow to data brokers, law enforcement

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. AB 69, AB 1554, and AB 1680 all focused on California’s insurance market and the Fair Plan. AB 69 would require clearer notices to Fair Plan policyholders about coverage options, quarterly public reporting on clearinghouse programs, and additional broker/agent training to help depopulate the Fair Plan while preserving consumer choice. AB 1554 would require the California Earthquake Authority to post its annual report online and send it to relevant committees, and would direct the Insurance Commissioner to convene a working group on incorporating hazard mitigation into risk-transfer recommendations. AB 1680 would require the Fair Plan to comply with CDI examination findings, hire more staff, and improve clearinghouse operations; the Fair Plan moved from opposition to neutral after amendments, and the department said the bill would strengthen accountability and consumer protections. These bills were held pending quorum or taken up later, with authors requesting aye votes. AB 2198, by Assemblymember Rodriguez, would clarify title insurance rate-filing rules by specifying that title insurers file title rates and underwritten title companies file escrow rates, reducing duplicative filings and requiring rate schedules to be posted online. The California Land Title Association supported the bill, saying it codified longstanding practice and improved transparency, while the department continued discussions about possible revisions. The bill was left open for further questions and a later vote. AB 1795, by Assemblymember Gibson, would create statewide standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke damage in wildfire-affected homes. The author and the Department of Insurance said the bill would establish science-based standards, protect survivors from unsafe reentry, require training and certification for relevant professionals, and improve claims handling; the department also described serious gaps found in its Fair Plan examination and recent wildfire claims. Insurers and some residents opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing the bill was still too broad, could raise costs, relied too much on industry standards, and left unresolved issues about legal standards, timing, and coverage. The bill remained under discussion, with the author saying negotiations would continue. AB 311, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would create an optional telematics-based auto insurance program to reward safer driving and improve road safety. Supporters, including road-safety advocates, victims’ families, and some insurance representatives, argued telematics could reduce speeding and distracted driving and save lives. Opponents, including privacy and consumer groups, argued the bill would create opaque surveillance pricing, undermine Prop. 103, and raise privacy and fairness concerns. After extensive debate, the committee passed the bill on a 3-0 vote and placed it on call. AB 1798, by Assemblymember Wilson, would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information from direct-to-consumer or other predictive genetic testing to deny coverage or raise premiums, while preserving use of medical history and family history and allowing consideration of certain high-value policies above $1.5 million. Supporters said the bill would reduce genetic discrimination and encourage testing; insurers argued genetic information is relevant to underwriting and warned the bill could raise costs and create inconsistencies. The committee chair and members noted the bill was close to agreement but still needed work, and the bill was moved with a 3-0 vote and placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your committee, number one Judiciary, to whom was referred Senate File 105, Real Estate Brokers Duties
• duties and disclosure estate brokers duties and disclosure amendments<00:18:38.559><c> respectfully<
• Senate File 126, Wyoming Ireland Trade Commission, sponsored by Senator Anderson.
• by Senator Commission, sponsored by Senator Anderson.
• So, you're leaving decisions to a commission if we don't bring that back to us.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of limited resources and staffing constraints, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• I know you say on the second page it talks about the Commission obviously has the authority to deny a
• Permits Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, testifying on the bill.
• They've been on as brokers and so.
• LEPCs, the Local Emergency Planning Commissions.

Bills: HB573 , HB1499 , HB1768 , HB3071 , HB3249 , HB3866 , HB4112

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho has an Idaho Potato Commission, a Wheat Commission, a Pea and Lentil Commission, and a Sheep and
• Goat Commission.
• If it weren't a commission of women, let's just say it was a commission of something else, what would
• of the commission statewide.
• The commission had lost its diversity. Ethical questions were raised with the commission.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• In a study that we commissioned, we found that there is over a $3 billion gap between the credit requested
• Broker to speak to, just if you would kindly provide the information about any attempts at the federal

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Professional brokers use sophisticated software and shell companies to purchase large quantities of tickets
• Professional brokers use sophisticated software and shell companies to purchase large qualities of tickets
• It simply allows financial institutions, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and other qualified professionals

Summary: The Senate considered a large number of amendments to an economic development bill and adopted them one by one, with repeated brief recesses as members finalized language. Early amendments made permanent the option for hybrid public meetings and added procedures for alleged open meeting law violations, authorized speed camera enforcement in school and construction safety zones, and created a retirement credit option for part-time teachers who reduced hours to care for children. Other adopted amendments updated gateway municipality designations every three years, capped ticket resale prices and banned speculative “ghost tickets,” and addressed vulnerable road users, crumbling concrete, and a fund for seasonal communities housing. Members also approved amendments to create a new framework for responding to crimes against women, including better investigation of staged suicides and adding sex and gender to the hate crimes statute; to establish a trigger law protecting private-sector labor organizing rights if federal labor law is weakened; to create a bottom-up “Enough Act” fund to fight poverty; to allow airport restaurants and bars at Logan to operate during flight hours; and to protect seniors and adults with disabilities from financial scams by allowing temporary delays of suspicious transactions and reporting to protective agencies. Additional housing-related amendments were adopted for rural communities, residential PACE financing, and a five-community tenant opportunity to purchase pilot program. A Senate Ways and Means amendment was then adopted, the substitute draft was applied to the underlying bill, and the bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. The chamber also adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. The Senate then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a problem with the pawn brokers.
• That was legislation that tackled that issue, and that's been very successful with the pawn brokers and
• the doctor pill-shopping problem that was occurring statewide, and we had pushed back with the pawn brokers

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism met with a quorum present and considered several bills. It first took up SB 232 on debt collection, where the sponsor explained a strike-all amendment and the committee adopted a Gruters amendment clarifying that email communications may be sent at any hour while other off-hours communications remain restricted. Testimony was sharply divided on a proposed change from “any person” to “debt collector,” with consumer advocates, legal aid, and the Florida Justice Association warning it would narrow Florida’s consumer protections, while supporters said the bill and amendment would address ambiguity affecting businesses. After debate, the committee rejected the broader amendment, adopted the email-only clarification, and reported CS for SB 232 favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard and unanimously reported favorably CS for SB 126, which would allow prescription hearing aids to be sold and distributed by mail after a Florida-licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist conducts the required examination, including remotely through telehealth. Supporters said the bill would improve access and reduce barriers for seniors and others with hearing loss, and no opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 600 and SB 602 on manufacturing, which would create and fund a statewide Office of Manufacturing, a promotional campaign, workforce grants, and related fees; multiple industry and economic development groups appeared in support, and both bills were reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 92 on hit-and-run accountability in vehicle repair shops. The sponsor described the bill as a response to rising hit-and-run incidents and explained that repair shops would have to complete a transaction form or retain a crash report for certain repairs, with a clarifying amendment adopted without objection. Prosecutors and law enforcement supporters said the bill would help identify offenders, while auto dealer representatives argued it could impose burdens and penalties on repair shops. The committee nevertheless reported CS for SB 92 favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 412, the Motorized Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, which would require manufacturers to provide repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and parts to owners and independent repair providers under fair and reasonable terms. Disability advocates and wheelchair users testified that repair delays can leave users stranded for weeks or months, and the committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• and their estimates were that 80 to 90% of those reselling on these platforms are professionalized brokers
• reselling on these platforms are those reselling on these platforms are professionalized<00:36:20.080><c> brokers
• who</c><00:36:20.760><c> do</c><00:36:20.960><c> this</c><00:36:21.200><c> as</c> professionalized brokers
• who do this as professionalized brokers who do this as their<00:36:21.480><c> primary</c><00:36:21.960

Bills: SCR118 , SCR173

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection heard two resolutions. SCR 118 SD1 would urge the Insurance Division and the Attorney General to convene a working group on climate change impacts on insurance availability and affordability. The Insurance Division deferred to written testimony, while the Attorney General opposed the measure because of an ongoing lawsuit, asking that references to legal recovery and the AG’s role in convening the group be removed. Members questioned how the resolution might relate to the state’s climate damages litigation and whether it could inform damages calculations. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including removing the Attorney General as co-convener and changing certain membership references to board chairs; the motion passed unanimously with one excused member. The committee also heard SCR 173 SD1, which would create a task force on event ticket scalping. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the concept but asked to be added as a task force member and said the draft left its role unclear. Supporters, including the National Independent Venue Association and D-BAT, described high resale prices, fraudulent or speculative tickets, and harm to consumers and local businesses. StubHub and the Ticket Policy Forum supported the task force but urged broader scope to include the primary ticket market and ticket sellers, and StubHub also sought inclusion on the task force. Members discussed whether the task force should focus on the secondary market or the broader ticketing ecosystem, and whether the Office of Consumer Protection should be part of the task force or only consulted. The vice chair recommended passage with amendments adding the Office of Consumer Protection as a member and clarifying the consultation language, and the committee adopted that recommendation unanimously with one excused member.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:41:49.359><c> I've</c><00:41:49.599><c> been</c><00:41:49.680><c> a</c><00:41:49.839><c> broker
• </c><00:41:50.160><c> I'm</c><00:41:50.319><c> now</c> those years, I've been a broker.
• I'm now those years, I've been a broker.
• </c><00:41:52.240><c> I</c><00:41:52.480><c> deal</c> principal broker of my company.
• I deal principal broker of my company.

Transcript Highlights:

• If a college or university wants to participate in local historic commission regulations, they can opt
• represents you and is trying to get the maximum price for you and they're making their money off the commission
• represents you and is trying to get the maximum price for you and they're making their money off of the commission
• I'm a Missouri-licensed real estate broker as well.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• In the underlying bill, it's just to highlight that real estate agents, mortgage brokers, those types
• a house to a person that owns more than 100 homes, that they could not go back on the real estate brokers
• and mortgage brokers.
• This also says for reverse mortgage brokers that they could not go back and be liable for this as well
• this care and it is really appropriate to add them to this and have them fall under the Medical Commission

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5828, which would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending private, not-for-profit four-year institutions. Staff explained the bill would set the awards at 90 percent of the regional and state college rate rather than 50 percent of the research rate, with an estimated fiscal impact of $3.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and $18.6 million over four years. Testimony was largely in support from private college presidents, students, and school counselors, who said the bill would help low-income and first-generation students and preserve access and enrollment choices; some public college student representatives said they did not oppose the bill but argued that cuts to public-school aid should be restored first. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which would prohibit DCYF from using benefits or funds of youth in extended foster care as reimbursement for their cost of care beginning in 2027, while requiring support for benefit management and payee arrangements and allowing protected accounts such as ABLE accounts. Staff estimated a net fiscal impact of $608,000 in fiscal year 2027 and $2.2 million per biennium thereafter. Testimony in support said the bill would end the practice of withholding SSI and other benefits from youth in care and better support disabled youth transitioning to adulthood. Members asked questions about fiduciary responsibility and representative payee arrangements. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It adopted Amendment Clark 350 to House Bill 2689, raising the required provider response rate for the child care market rate survey to 65 percent, and then reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 18-11, with two excused. It adopted Amendment H-3743.1 to Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on retrospective prior authorization denials and reported that bill out unanimously. It also adopted Amendment Pool 272 to Senate Bill 5420 and reported that bill out unanimously. For Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5496, the committee adopted several amendments clarifying scope and penalties but rejected amendments that would have delayed the bill or replaced it with a study; the bill was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard amendment briefings on other bills, including 5981, 6026, 6160, 6184, and 6211, but deferred action on some items heard that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has and garners significant public comment when we have the commission meetings and when they are
• People are spilling out of the county commission auditorium when it comes to this issue in Miami-Dade
• My understanding is this was a brokered arrangement. Sounds like at the last moment it changed.
• Commission while maintaining a five-member body.
• I'm speaking for the majority of our city commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have the senior non-commissioned officer of the year, Master Sergeant...
• Next, we have the senior non-commissioned officer of the year, Master Sergeant Jared Jordan.
• If I'm an insurance broker, if I'm running my insurance company, I don't want anybody telling me what

Transcript Highlights:

• it's a pleasure to be before you to present C.S. for House Bill 995, Public Employees Relations Commission
• Does the Public Employees Relations Commission or the union set the certification or the recertification
• They're not acting in good faith; they are being bad brokers because they know that they can run out