Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 227 by Representative Firefighters to limit the post-retirement House Bill 227 limits the
• post-retirement qualifying period for benefits for certain occupational diseases.
• House Bill 556 concerns the employment of certain retired law enforcement officers.
• participation in the supernumerary program and the employees' retirement system.
• benefits. ...they cannot draw the ERS retirement that they qualified for.

Bills: HB227, HB556, HB543, HB542, HB482, HB483, HB484

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness

Transcript Highlights:

• We show you registered as Katrina Daniel on behalf of the Texas Retirement Teacher... ...system of Texas
• Created by the legislature in 1997, the Fund provides... post-retirement health benefits to San Antonio
• It simplifies retirement contributions by allowing retirees to pay the Fund directly rather than through
• Upon qualifying for retirement pension from the San Antonio Fire and Police Fund, retirees and their
• Currently, statute requires Texas Public Retirement Systems.

Bills: HB3014, HB3109, HB3126, HB3474, HB3594

Keywords: gift card fraud, counterfeit gift card, gift card tampering, gift card theft, prepaid card, stored value card, retail fraud, financial crimes, consumer protection, organized retail crime, gift card skimming, magnetic stripe, chip card, redemption information, gift card packaging, Penal Code, felony theft, state jail felony, third-degree felony, second-degree felony

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of Retirement systems.
• disability applications.
• However, it has since reduced retirement benefits.
• Bill 3313's core purpose is to modernize and enhance the Retirement Freedom Act.
• This better aligns our retirement goals with the industry best practices.

Bills: HB1739, HB1784, HB1889, HB2116, HB2206, HB3625, HB2939, HB3028, HB3265, HB3313, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3420, HB3588, HB3748, HB3721, HB3852, HB4132, HB4263, HB4303, HB4311, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension

Transcript Highlights:

• disability applications.
• However, the removal of half-pay reduced retirement benefits by 30%.
• It makes key improvements to our existing defined contribution retirement plan structure.
• This better aligns our retirement goals with industry best practices.
• For intent of this bill is to better prepare them for retirement.

Bills: HB1739, HB1784, HB1889, HB2116, HB2206, HB3625, HB2939, HB3028, HB3265, HB3313, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3420, HB3588, HB3748, HB3721, HB3852, HB4132, HB4263, HB4303, HB4311, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension

Summary: The committee opened with prayer, laid over House Bill 1784 as dead, and then heard a long series of measures, many related to pensions, retirement systems, elections, and state procurement/reporting. Early bills included HB 3588 on debtor-creditor law updates, HB 3748 on county partnerships with four-year institutions, HB 4303 extending the municipal ordinance publication deadline from 15 to 30 days, HB 4311 increasing the treasurer’s share of the unclaimed property administration fee from 4% to 6%, and HB 3028 allowing CareerTech to charge processing fees. All of these advanced on due pass votes, with some opposition on HB 3588, HB 4311, and HB 3028. A major block of the meeting focused on retirement and pension policy. The committee advanced HB 4428 and HB 4429 on proxy advisor transparency and fiduciary voting standards for retirement systems, with the author arguing they would improve transparency and keep pension decisions focused on financial returns rather than ESG/DEI considerations. Other pension-related bills that passed included HB 4132 creating a cybersecurity safe harbor for local governments, HB 1889 fixing a COLA gap for certain retired police officers and firefighters, HB 3265 defining “mental health specialist” for disability applications, HB 1739 reinstating a half-pay provision in the state law enforcement retirement system, HB 3313 changing the Retirement Freedom Act by raising contribution and match rates and eliminating vesting, HB 2116 expanding eligibility for State Fire Marshal officers, HB 2206 allowing newly hired school resource officers to join OLEERS, HB 3625 expanding school district investment options, and HB 3721 creating a survivor-benefit election for children of certain public safety officers. Most of these passed with little or no debate, though HB 1739 drew questions about actuarial “safe harbor” language and pension funding. The latter part of the meeting centered on a package of government contracting and transparency bills from Representative Strom. HB 3413, HB 3414, HB 3415, HB 3416, HB 3417, HB 3418, and HB 3420 would require more detailed reporting of contracts, subcontractors, consulting services, and post-contract assessments; create public posting and reporting requirements through OMES and Central Purchasing; revise bidding rules for state, county, and municipal entities; require vendor ownership disclosures; allow live-streamed bid openings; and add misdemeanor penalties for violations of Central Purchasing rules. Strom said the package was intended to improve accountability, documentation, and protection of taxpayer dollars. The committee also passed HB 3852 clarifying poll worker list requirements for county election boards, HB 4434 requiring gubernatorial notice when out of state, and HB 2939 removing fax-machine references from statute. Most measures were adopted with policy recommendations and passed on strong votes, and the meeting ended with Chairman West thanking members for their work and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3721 by Kelly of the House and Fris of the Senate and act relating to retirement.
• children to elect a survivor benefit if they're unmarried public safety officer parent passes prior to retirement
• reading of the bill House Bill 3721 by Kelly of the House and Fris of the Senate and act relating to retirement

Bills: HB2936, HB2967, HB3627, HB3721, HB4132, HB4303, HB4478, HB4322, HB4227

Keywords: HB2936, children, child protection, adoption, Oklahoma Adoption Code, gestational carrier, gestational agreement, surrogacy, intended parent, preplacement home study, home study, prospective adoptive parent, foster placement, child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, lewd molestation, sex offender registry, Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3721 by Kelly of the House and Fricks of the Senate, an act relating to retirement.
• children to elect a survivor benefit if their unmarried public safety officer parent passes prior to retirement
• children to elect a survivor benefit if their unmarried public safety officer parent passes prior to retirement
• House Bill 3721 by Kelly of the House and Fricks of the Senate, an act relating to retirement.

Bills: HB2936, HB2967, HB3627, HB3721, HB4132, HB4303, HB4478, HB4322, HB4227

Keywords: HB2936, children, child protection, adoption, Oklahoma Adoption Code, gestational carrier, gestational agreement, surrogacy, intended parent, preplacement home study, home study, prospective adoptive parent, foster placement, child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, lewd molestation, sex offender registry, Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act

Summary: The House convened, took the roll, offered an invocation, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized the nurse of the day, Stephanie Cooper. Members also adopted motions related to a multi-day adjournment request and received several guest introductions, including students, athletes, family members, and constituents in the galleries. The chamber then considered and passed several bills. HB 2936 clarified that certain offenders may not adopt children, including in surrogacy-related situations; it passed 71-0. HB 2967 exempted certain vehicle title transfers between guardians and children or grandparents and grandchildren from motor vehicle excise tax; it passed 69-10. HB 3627 added the State Committee of Blind Vendors to the list of public bodies allowed to meet by video or teleconference and passed 70-2, with the emergency clause also approved. HB 3721 created a survivor-benefit option for children of unmarried public safety officers who die before retirement after qualifying for benefits; it passed 77-3, and the emergency clause was adopted. Additional measures passed included HB 4132, a data protection bill, by 77-0; HB 4303, extending the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances, by 70-0; HB 4478, raising the daily deposit threshold for school activity funds from $100 to $500 while requiring weekly deposits, by 73-5; HB 4322, removing the requirement that a funeral director in charge also be a licensed embalmer/director, by 61-17; and HB 4227, protecting the legal rights of child sexual abuse victims, which was amended with cleanup language and then passed with no recorded nays. The House then adjourned until Monday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources will come to order.
• The teacher's retirement versus officers in the public safety of 20 years.
• We have a Ginger from the Oklahoma Pension and Retirement System here.
• because they have to retire not that they're retiring with a PTSD the the the main thing that we look
• at is the PTSD is why they have to retire.

Bills: HB3415, HB2206, HB3414, HB3265, HB3310, HB3413, HB4486, HB1219

Keywords: state government, vendor contracts, subcontracting, public database, contract assessment, transparency, retirement, law enforcement, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, school resource officers, public safety, public finance, contract management, service-driven contracts, state accounting, intangible assets, Oklahoma Police Pension, disability benefits, mental health, retirement system

Transcript Highlights:

• Another is retirement, which... One of the issues is salary, obviously.
• Another is retirement, which.
• Tier 1 is a 20-year retirement. Tier 2 is a 25-year retirement.
• Chair, what—how would you describe how this means when they retire if this went into effect? Mr.
• Chair, what—how would you describe how this means when they retire if this went into effect? Mr.

Bills: SB1180, SB1215, SB1270, SB1290, SB1292, SB1294, SB1430, SCR1028

Keywords: income tax, conformity, Arizona Revised Statutes, taxpayer, federal regulations, firefighters, occupational disease, workers compensation, cancer presumption, police officers, hazardous duty, SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive

Transcript Highlights:

• At some point, they would completely retire and draw full retirement benefits.
• It might not be a retired teacher.
• They might be retired, they might not be retired. But that's what my concept is. Thank you.
• , right, are now going to be getting their full retirement benefit from the retirement system.
• Employees Retirement System.

Bills: HB17, HB21, HB24, HB41, HB42, HB45, HB1134, HB1237

Keywords: HB 17, District Attorneys' Retirement System, retirement system, reemployed retiree, reemployment, supplemental retirement benefit, service credit, benefit suspension, public retirement, district attorney, assistant district attorney, Louisiana District Attorneys' Association, employer reporting, annual report, retirement benefits, state employees, local funds, state funds, Municipal Employees' Retirement System, part-time retirees

Transcript Highlights:

• Normal retirement is at age 53, and in PERS, normal retirement age is 65.
• These folks deserve a real retirement.
• by reason of disability.
• Exemption claim is filed or retired by reason of physical disability and meet certain income requirements
• and disabled veterans.

Bills: SB6073, SB6113, SB6116, SB6129, SB6162, SB6114, SB5857

Keywords: SB 6073, LEOFF, Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System, retirement system, pension, public safety retirement, wildland firefighter, aviation firefighter, wildland fire, forest firefighter, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, firefighter benefits, retirement benefits, service credit, disability retirement, survivor benefits, employer contributions, Washington RCW, public employees

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held public hearings on several tax and retirement-related bills. Senate Bill 6073 would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff outlined the higher retirement age and benefit costs under LEOFF 2 and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR and labor representatives supported the bill, saying the firefighters face significant physical and mental risks and deserve LEOFF coverage; a senator asked about LEOFF board review and was told the bill was requested by DNR, not the board. Senate Bill 6113 was presented as a set of technical and administrative tax-code fixes tied largely to last session’s ESSB 5814, including clarifying taxable retail services, use tax treatment, a transition period for businesses reclassified into retailing B&O, and other corrections. DOR said the bill codifies guidance and is revenue neutral, while several speakers from schools, arts groups, newspapers, broadcasters, and business organizations said some provisions go beyond technical cleanup and would continue or expand unintended consequences from last year’s tax changes. Concerns focused on sales tax treatment of school services, live presentations and rehearsals, and a new section affecting newspaper and broadcaster advertising exemptions if litigation is lost. Some business groups were supportive of the technical fixes but asked for amendments. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor products tax structure for nicotine-containing vapor products, moving them back to the per-milliliter tax and restoring revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and the Foundational Public Health Services account, retroactive to January 1, 2026. Supporters from public health and the cancer fund said the bill would correct an unintended diversion of revenue and preserve funding, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax on vapor products, arguing it would weaken public health policy. Retailers and harm-reduction advocates supported the bill, saying the 95% tax created compliance problems, harmed small businesses, and encouraged illicit sales. Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader overhaul of nicotine and tobacco taxes, including a single 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% flavor tax, higher cigarette taxes, and new distributions to cancer research and public health accounts. Public health, pediatric, and anti-tobacco groups strongly supported the bill as a way to reduce youth use and raise revenue, while retailers, tobacco businesses, and some consumers opposed it as regressive, harmful to small businesses, and likely to drive sales to illicit or out-of-state markets. Several speakers also raised concerns about tribal consultation, the treatment of menthol and flavored products, and the impact on modified-risk products. The committee also heard briefings and began testimony on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, increase income thresholds and deductions, and consolidate the state property tax rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Monday, May 11, 2026, and this is a meeting of the Senate Committee on Retirement.
• HB 41, by Representative Vuit, provides relative to board membership of the firefighter retirement system
• Professional Firefighters' Retirement System.
• Currently, they do not have a voice at all on what goes on with the retirement system.
• The retired members are elected.

Bills: HB41

Keywords: Firefighters' Retirement System, FRS, retirement board, board of trustees, firefighter pension, public pension, retirement system governance, active members, service credit, Professional Fire Fighters Association, PFFA, Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association, fire chiefs, retirees, beneficiaries, DROP, Deferred Retirement Option Plan, board elections, vacancies, Louisiana retirement law

Transcript Highlights:

• civil disobedience is a time-honored American tradition during the civil rights movement and the disability
• Marches for civil rights that took over roadways, sit-ins for disability rights that blocked traffic
• of non-violent civil disobedience, we might not have the Civil Rights Act or the Americans with Disabilities

Bills: S0002

Keywords: retirement, Deferred Retirement Option Program, DROP, pension contributions, Special Risk Class, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, state officials, 999, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up a long agenda of bills, including several claims bills and policy measures. It heard and approved, mostly unanimously, bills on curators of estates (SB 326, as amended), remedies under the Florida Civil Rights Act (SB 1096), a claim for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland (SB 28), a DCF-related claim for L.E. (SB 6), trust administration reform (SB 786, as amended), a Broward County claim for the estate of a deceased minor (SB 18, as amended, 10-1), a DOT claim for the estate of Mark Legata (SB 26), veterans’ courts (CS/SB 50), extracurricular activities in public K-12 schools (CS/CS/SB 538, as amended), and pet sale protections for dogs and cats (SB 1004). The committee also considered the sovereign immunity claims bill (SB 1366), which was presented as a starting point for negotiations with the House and was reported favorably after testimony from local government, hospital, and school representatives who urged the Senate to hold to its current lower cap levels. The committee later approved a claims bill for the estate of Daniel Maudsley against DHSMV (SB 2). The meeting included repeated roll calls and favorable reports on each measure, with the only recorded no vote on SB 18 from Senator Osgood. Several bills drew testimony from supporters and, in some cases, objections. SB 50 on veterans’ courts received broad support from veterans’ groups, criminal justice organizations, and community advocates who said it would expand problem-solving court options for veterans dealing with service-related issues. SB 538 on extracurricular activities drew support and opposition, and was amended to address home education eligibility, a school activity fee issue, technical conforming changes, and compensation for extracurricular sponsors. SB 1004 was presented as consumer protection legislation aimed at retail pet dealers, requiring disclosure of animal health records and financing terms and creating a private right of action for violations. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 1178, which would create a foreign interference restriction and enforcement framework targeting foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations. Supporters described it as a national-security measure to limit foreign influence, protect critical infrastructure, and restrict gifts, contracts, and sister-city ties; the sponsor withdrew one amendment and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1632, dealing with ideologies inconsistent with American principles, prompted substantial questioning about due process, domestic terrorist organization designations, Sharia law references, student discipline, and notice procedures. The sponsor said the bill was intended to protect constitutional principles and target conduct rather than belief, but the transcript ends while public testimony on that bill is still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee on retirement and government sources shall convene.
• That when they retire, money goes into the Plan B account.
• System Hazardous Duty Retirement Plan.
• The bill increases the retirement benefits to 2.5% vice the 2%.
• into that system here in the police retirement system.

Bills: SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources shall convene.
• System hazardous duty retirement plan.
• The bill increases retirement benefits to 2.5% versus 2%.
• And so these employees just got missed for the hazardous duty retirement.
• into that system here in the police retirement system.

Bills: SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources considered a series of retirement, pension, and state employee bills. Senate Bill 1870 would let small municipalities in OPERS with populations of 2,000 or less opt out for new employees; members questioned the fiscal impact and the bill passed 8-0 after the chair struck the title to get a clearer actuarial analysis. Senate Bill 1722 passed 9-0 and would require OMES construction contract fees to be based only on construction costs, not interior design and furnishings, with members discussing how to define those terms and whether historical or specialized projects could still be accommodated. Senate Bill 1639 passed 9-0 after an amendment removed provisions affecting the Indian Education Act commission, leaving a bill to repeal several dormant boards and commissions. The committee also passed Senate Bills 715 and 716, which would increase municipal contributions to firefighter and police pensions, respectively; members raised concerns about city budgets, and the sponsor said he was open to phasing in the increases. Senate Bill 182 passed 5-2 to add certain DHS Inspector General officers and OJA residential care specialists to hazardous duty retirement, and Senate Bill 609 passed 7-0 to allow police recruits to buy up to five years of prior out-of-state service credit as a recruitment tool. The committee then passed Senate Bill 169 5-2 to increase state employee longevity pay by 50%, with supporters citing high turnover and opponents warning about budget pressure and the need for broader raises. Senate Bill 134 passed 7-0 to shorten the waiting period for county employees to return to work from one year to six months. Senate Bill 432 passed 6-0 to raise volunteer firefighter pension benefits, and because it was double-assigned it would next go to Appropriations. Senate Bill 1407 passed 7-0 after an amendment requiring OMES to provide the Commission on the Status of Women an itemized accounting of funds; the bill generally clarifies staffing and financial reporting authority for the commission. Finally, Senate Bill 2039 passed 8-0 after an amendment narrowing the bill to military personnel who are also teachers and defining salary for buyback purposes; the sponsor said the measure would help service members return to teaching and buy back up to five years of credit. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1356 7-0, a broader OMES cleanup bill moving certain functions elsewhere, though members flagged concerns about relocating the state use program and the pay-for-success fund and suggested further study on those sections.

Bills: HB542

Keywords: HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan, assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, state pension, survivor benefits, Office of Prosecution Services

Bills: HB0034, HB0035, HB0036, HB0106

Keywords: HB0034, Wyoming retirement system, Wyoming Retirement Act, firefighter retirement, public employee retirement, retirement benefits, state pension, wildland firefighting, wildland firefighter, crash and rescue, Wyoming National Guard, Office of State Lands and Investments, Wyoming Retirement Board, correctional forestry crew, correctional crew supervisor, correctional forestry crew manager, general fund appropriation, state agency employees, service credit, benefit eligibility

Bills: HB0034, HB0035, HB0036, HB0106

Keywords: HB0034, Wyoming retirement system, Wyoming Retirement Act, firefighter retirement, public employee retirement, retirement benefits, state pension, wildland firefighting, wildland firefighter, crash and rescue, Wyoming National Guard, Office of State Lands and Investments, Wyoming Retirement Board, correctional forestry crew, correctional crew supervisor, correctional forestry crew manager, general fund appropriation, state agency employees, service credit, benefit eligibility

Bills: HB472, HB542

Keywords: state employees, meal allowance, per diem, travel expenses, Alabama law, HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law permits retirement systems to pay out benefits in the public employees' retirement systems
• , teachers' retirement systems, school employees' retirement systems, the public safety employees' retirement
• By way of background, the Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, is the largest of the state retirement
• retirement benefits from the local government employers.
• The Railroad Retirement System provides a separate retirement program for railroad workers, including

Bills: HB2124, HB2125, HB2160, HB2179

Keywords: retirement, lump sum payment, financial security, pension reform, monthly benefits, retirement system, investment earnings, trust funds, public pensions, financial management, education, benefits, school employees, membership eligibility, employment, public employees, port workers, federal retirement plan, pension, 904

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on three Department of Retirement Systems agency-request bills and House Bill 2160, which was heard last after an agenda change. House Bill 2124 would raise the minimum monthly retirement benefit that can be paid as a lump sum from $50 to $250, with future inflation adjustments by the director; DRS said it would simplify administration, cost about $11,000 to update systems, and have no actuarial impact on pension funds. House Bill 2125 would remove a biennial restriction on using pension fund interest earnings for certain administrative and compliance expenses that protect the funds; DRS said it would continue current practice with no fiscal impact. House Bill 2179 would create a retroactive and prospective exemption from PERS membership for certain port district employees already covered by federal railroad retirement or union-sponsored pension plans; DRS and port representatives supported it as a narrow clarification, while noting a small affected population and a one-time administrative cost of about $18,000. The committee heard no votes or final action on these bills. House Bill 2160 drew the most testimony and questions. The bill would create a presumption of SEBB eligibility for school employees who worked 630 hours in prior years and return to the same type of position, allowing coverage to begin on day one rather than after reaching the threshold again; the sponsor said this would reduce disruptive coverage gaps for substitutes and other classified staff. Supporters, including substitute teachers, bus drivers, paraeducators, and WEA and SEIU representatives, said the current system causes people to bounce on and off insurance, creates hardship for families, and makes it harder to recruit and retain school support staff. Opponents from school administrators, business officials, and school directors argued the bill would increase district costs without additional state funding, create administrative complexity, and could require districts to pay for more eligible months of coverage even when employees later opt out. Health Care Authority director Dave Eiswenger answered committee questions on SEBB administration, explaining that eligibility is determined by district benefits administrators using worksheets and appeal rights, that “position” is interpreted at a broad category level rather than by specific job title, and that the current two-year presumption grew out of earlier part-time eligibility rules and litigation history. He said the bill could affect retirees who currently manage hours across districts to stay below the threshold, and that the fiscal note remains partial/indeterminate because additional analysis was still pending. The committee took no final action and adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• disabilities.
• This amendment is exempting individuals with disabilities.
• Speaker, I said people with developmental disabilities.
• or intellectual disabilities would be... ...disabilities or intellectual disabilities would be—it would
• against them, assuming they're disabled.

Bills: HB111, HB61, HB43, HB156, HB70, SB3, HB103, HB109, HB128, HB247, HJM2, HJM3, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance