Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:27.560><c> of</c> professionals are all are under code of professionals are all are under
• So I'm from Louisville, and I come from a city that is under a consent decree.
• So I'm from Louisville, and I come from a city that is under a consent decree.
• So I'm from Louisville, and I come from a city that is under a consent decree.
• So I'm from Louisville, and I come from a city that is under a consent decree.

Keywords: Consideration of HB 9 00:02:20 Consideration of HB 495 00:08:53 Consideration of HB 520 00:46:51 Consideration of HB 622 00:54:39 Consideration of HB 635 00:59:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 9, which would create oversight for Medicaid-related policy through a board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. Sponsor Rep. Adam Bowling said the measure was intended to bring legislative, executive, and stakeholder voices together to vet issues and make better-informed Medicaid policy. Members generally supported the concept, though some questioned the proposed board’s party breakdown and whether the language should be updated now rather than later. After discussion, the committee voted 19-0 to pass HB 9 favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 495, which Rep. Hail said would protect mental health care professionals, institutions, and ordained ministers from discrimination when providing what the bill calls protected counseling services. He described the bill as a parental-choice measure that would allow counseling aligned with family values and said it also creates a civil cause of action for harmed parties. Opponents argued the bill would shield conversion therapy, with Dr. Eric Russ, Brandon Long, Dr. Brandon Creech, Brenda Rosen, Chris Hartman, and Dr. Bobby Glass testifying that conversion therapy is discredited, harmful, and associated with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide risk. They said professional medical and counseling organizations oppose such practices and urged rejection of the bill. During questions, Rep. Layman pressed the sponsor on whether the bill would protect therapies even if a child was not in distress and on whether the committee should be endorsing a practice discredited by professional organizations. Rep. Hail responded that he viewed the issue as a parental choice and said he believed the bill protects providers offering those services. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 495, with no final vote shown on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a resident of Redwood City.
• I'm a resident of Redwood City.
• I'm the mayor of Redwood City.
• I serve on the Redwood City Council and I'm past mayor of Redwood City.
• Glen Figuidad, City of Redwood City, Parks, Redwood Shores.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a resident of Redwood City.
• I'm a resident of Redwood City.
• I'm the mayor of Redwood City.
• I serve on the Redwood City Council and I'm past mayor of Redwood City.
• Glen Figuidad, City of Redwood City, Parks, Redwood Shores.

Summary: The hearing began with a vote-only agenda and then focused first on San Mateo County’s request to restore in-lieu vehicle license fee (VLF) funding. County officials, city leaders, labor representatives, nonprofits, and public safety advocates argued that the loss of roughly $157 million would force major cuts to homelessness services, housing assistance, mental health programs, libraries, parks, fire and police staffing, and other local services. They described the current formula as outdated and unfair, tied to school funding and basic-aid dynamics that no longer work for San Mateo County, and urged both an immediate budget restoration and a permanent legislative fix. The Department of Finance said the payments are discretionary, not statutorily required, and noted the administration does not view the expenditure as sustainable in the current fiscal climate. Committee members expressed sympathy, questioned the formula, and said they would keep the issue under consideration; the committee later voted to move the two vote-only items on the agenda. The committee then received an update from the Department of General Services on state property redevelopment, including the Hillcrest DMV site in San Diego, the Fell Street DMV site in San Francisco, and other state-owned properties. DGS explained that Hillcrest is not currently an active project, while the Fell Street project shifted from an integrated DMV-housing plan to a more feasible relocation of the DMV into leased commercial space, with a budget change proposal pending. Members pressed DGS on the slow pace of redevelopment, the potential for housing on state sites, and the costs and feasibility of adaptive reuse. DGS said many state buildings are aging and that adaptive reuse depends heavily on building design, floorplate depth, light, and risk from unknown conditions behind walls. The Government Operations portion then turned to the California Education Learning Lab, which supports intersegmental higher education innovation grants. The Lab asked for permanent restoration of $4 million in ongoing funding and a move of its home agency from the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps, along with technical trailer bill changes. Supporters said the program has funded more than 120 projects reaching thousands of faculty and hundreds of thousands of students, including work on generative AI in higher education. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the restoration and continuing the wind-down, citing the state’s projected deficit and suggesting the California Education Interagency Council could pursue non-state-funded grant opportunities instead. The committee held the item open. Finally, GovOps presented the new California Education Interagency Council staffing request, seeking four ongoing positions to support the council, with funding already included in last year’s budget. The department said the governor has appointed Debbie Cochran as executive officer and that the remaining positions are being recruited. Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee began questions about how the council will be staffed and organized.

Transcript Highlights:

• see what they do in Texas since... ...look and see what they do in Texas since they have it in their code
• I'm the CFO for the city of X and the mayor says this is how we're...
• X and the mayor says this is how we're going to do this and the city council votes unanimously.
• So, now I've got to hire a lawyer to advise me about how I deal with city funds to keep me from going
• Now, they hadn't used it for their personal benefit, but it's gone somewhere else in the city coffers

Bills: SB210 , SB176 , SB167 , SB244 , SB218 , SB9 , SB153 , SB9

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, fatal crash, vehicular homicide, child support, survivor benefits, orphaned child, guardian death

Transcript Highlights:

• As someone who has seen building codes on the city council level and talked to my county commissioners
• At the city council level, we would choose to either adopt or not adopt these building codes, some of
• </c> up to speed with that code. up to speed with that code.
• </c> with that code. with that code.
• </c> of international code. of international code.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you believe that Oklahoma City is the state's sent for medical research and the economic value
• Would you believe that the Oklahoma City chamber over 20 plus years ago made a decision to go after the
• that chooses this path actually has to complete quite a few hours and just getting updated on the codes
• It's a partnership between the city, county, the OTA, and federal stakeholders and has the support of
• the city of Tulsa, Jins Bigsby, and Tulsa County.

Bills: HB2445 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3673

Committee: House Commerce & Economic Development Oversight

Keywords: HB2445, Route 66, Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Forward Commission, centennial, historic highway, preservation, tourism, historical society, scenic byway, National Historic Trail, Route 66 Alliance, Route 66 Association, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public-private partnership, sunset extension, commission extension

Transcript Highlights:

• Is this former city council? I've been doing this for five years.
• Is this former city Yes. Consent. Is this former city council?
• I raised my hand because at city years.
• You may be on city we're sitting here. You may be on city council<00:19:03.520><c> again.
• c><00:20:41.440><c> conduct</c><00:20:42.159><c> is</c> I So the code of conduct is I So the code of

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , energy codes, etc.
• Delegate from Baltimore City.
• </c><02:36:53.360><c> The</c> City. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The City. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• </c> The next delegate from Baltimore City. The next delegate from Baltimore City.
• </c> Baltimore<02:40:31.000><c> City.</c> Baltimore City. Baltimore City.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 19, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 122 members present, opened with prayer, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up two congratulatory resolutions: one honoring Layla Wishard of Hagerstown for winning gold with Team USA at the Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup in Australia, and another recognizing Delores Millhouse as the 2026 Maryland Mother of the Year. Both resolutions were read and adopted with applause. The House then considered a series of committee reports, primarily from the Committee on Economic Matters, and advanced multiple bills to third reading after adopting committee amendments and favorable reports. Measures included consumer contract protections in House Bill 103, workers’ compensation presumptions for hypertension in House Bill 347, broadband access and affordability in House Bill 382, housing and land-use changes in House Bills 548 and 894, data privacy in House Bill 711, franchise law changes in House Bill 730, a blockchain-based real property title pilot program in House Bill 810, bankruptcy exemptions in House Bill 1098, and telecommunications infrastructure protections in House Bill 1100. Several bills drew questions and were special ordered for further review. House Bill 711, the Data Privacy Act, prompted extended discussion about whether its geolocation provisions could affect stadium and venue security tracking; the sponsor said the bill was intended to close loopholes around cell phone and vehicle location data and would not change existing permission-based rules, but the bill was still special ordered until the next day. House Bill 894, the transit-oriented development bill, also drew questions about local government concerns and was special ordered, with the floor leader saying county and municipal groups were generally satisfied with the amendments. House Bill 1100 was also taken up after the amendments were adopted, and the title amendment process began as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our city of Las Cruces, our city council building, became a brand-new building.
• Thank you very much, Senator City. I'll all of us going to the expert.
• And it amends the tax code. And we're not getting that kind of review.
• And it amends the tax code, and we're not getting that kind of review.
• We're going to do the big cities because that's where the landfills are.

Bills: SB47 , SB110 , SB122 , SB143 , SB168

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we are also in the Twin Cities.
• And there are 400 plus Twin Cities area.
• , suburban cities, and greater Minnesota.
• Every place we serve is rural other than the city of Rochester.
• In, you know, suburbs of the cities, too.

Bills: HF2078 , HF777 , HF841 , HF1112 , HF1098 , HF1926

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child care, day care, child care center, licensing, license requirements, parent access, guardian access, custody order, court order, furnishings, equipment standards, learning materials, early childhood education, infant care, toddler care, preschool, school-age child care, play materials, sensory materials, gross motor equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• city.
• the city.
• I appeared before you in Valley City.
• No, it's the waterfall effect that you run into with customization code.
• I think in the Valley City presentation, we saw that Valley City was paying the K-12 teachers. Yes.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nobody really could define what that was, but the goal of this is the city of Boaz is located in two
• And students' families that live in Etowah County are prohibited at this time from going to the city
• But the goal of this is the city of Boaz is located in two counties, Etowah County and Marshall.
• With that, I would ask for the bill. that city employees could not benefit that city employees could
• </c> especially in the city of of Birmingham. especially in the city of of Birmingham.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Transportation Spar City Aid was added to help districts that were negatively impacted by this change
• ><00:09:33.200><c> Aid</c><00:09:33.440><c> was</c><00:09:33.680><c> added</c> Transportation Spar City
• change in the 2023 legislature<00:09:41.399><c> The</c><00:09:41.640><c> Spar</c><00:09:41.920><c> City
• The Spar City formula was increased<00:09:43.360><c> from</c> increased from increased from 18.2%<00
• I know we talked about this when we did raise it from 17 to 35%, but that dense city that kind of throws

Bills: HF6 , HF52 , HF53

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, literacy, science of reading, school performance, funding flexibility, innovation zones, equity and inclusion, HF52, New Germany, wastewater treatment, wastewater facility, sewer infrastructure, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, municipal infrastructure, water quality, sanitation, sewage treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> International post after Kansas City, International post after Kansas City, Missouri.<00:42:23.640
• ,</c> over Mexico City, over Mexico City, but<00:43:49.960><c> it</c><00:43:50.040><c> was</c><00:43:
• We're already in this room just based on our zip code and our area code; some of us don't even want these
• We're already in this room just based on our zip code and our area code; some of us don't even want these
• and our area just based on our zip code and our area code,<04:45:06.960><c> some</c><04:45:07.160><c

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I always want to say ZIP codes, but on the CIP codes, the good, bad, and whatever of the CIP codes, and
• So what happens when we take out the CIP codes? All right.
• way of using those SIP codes.
• It's more based on CIP codes. And that's not all the CIP codes.
• It's more based on SIP codes. And that's not all the SIP codes.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the insurance code.
• health care sharing are not engaging in the business of insurance and not subject to the insurance code
• Insurance agents and brokers are engaging in the business of insurance and are subject to the insurance code
• critical state concern will be able to move forward with comprehensive planning decisions, while cities
• I'm here on behalf of the Suncoast League of Cities.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to tell you real quick about one event that occurred inside the city of Perry.
• perhaps that's what Senator Truenow is working on, that says if it's motorized, it doesn't belong on city
• And maybe there’s a discipline inside the school under the discipline code of conduct. Thank you.
• And maybe there's a discipline inside the school under the discipline code of conduct. Thank you.
• Johns County because we did not have a clearance code for e-bike specifically.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion on micro-mobility device regulation and enforcement, focusing on e-bikes and e-scooters. Sheriff Robert Hardwick and Chief Jamie Cruz described serious injuries involving children, including crashes at high speeds, and argued that current law is outdated because it folds e-bikes into the bicycle statute. They urged a separate statewide framework with clearer age limits, licensing or training requirements, helmet rules, and penalties for modifying devices to go faster. Both also emphasized that parents should bear responsibility and that enforcement should include education, progressive discipline, and, if needed, civil citations. FDOT District 6 Secretary Daniel Iglesias and DHSMV representative Lonnie Groner said their agencies are prioritizing education, outreach, and better data collection. They noted that micromobility devices are increasingly common, create safety and accessibility issues on sidewalks and shared-use paths, and are difficult to track because crash reports often do not identify them consistently. Members discussed whether motorized devices should be barred from sidewalks, whether riders should be licensed and insured, and how enforcement could be made uniform statewide. The panel also said manufacturers have not been meaningfully engaged and that local approaches vary widely. The committee then heard 2026 legislative priorities from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and DHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. Perdue outlined FDOT’s large five-year work program, ongoing congestion-relief projects, investments in ports, airports, rail, workforce, heavy equipment, facilities, and cybersecurity, and the need to do more with flat revenues. Kerner summarized DHSMV’s agency bill priorities, including requiring a Florida address and proof of residence for vehicle registration, updating identification requirements, aligning tank vehicle and motor carrier rules with federal standards, improving IFTA administration, raising the crash-report damage threshold, and allowing electronic notices. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to take easements over certain land located in the city
• of Woburn and the town of Burlington, held in trust by the city of Boston for the Mary P.C.
• House 5342, an act authorizing the city known as the town of Bridgewater to issue an additional license
• House 5342, an act authorizing the city known as the town of Bridgewater to issue an additional license
• Second reading of the bill: An act relative to property tax classifications in the city of Watertown

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would lead to the discussion: why are we using CIP codes?
• I always want to say ZIP codes, but on the SIP codes, the good, bad, and whatever of the SIP codes, and
• SIP codes.
• Their SIP codes are still involved in...
• It's more based on SIP codes, and that's not all the SIP codes.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All we need to do is substitute the current language out of the code into this bill, and y'all can make
• There are liquor taxes in most of the cities in the state that sell liquor.
• It's also going to hurt the cities and counties in the state that have their own liquor tax.

Bills: HB521

Committees: House Tourism , House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: HB521, mixed spirit beverages, ready-to-drink cocktails, RTD alcohol, alcoholic beverages, liquor, spirits, ABC Board, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control, wholesaler license, retail license, distribution agreement, exclusive territory, three-tier system, excise tax, alcohol tax, liquor regulation, alcohol labeling, minors, package store