Transcript Highlights:

• We've also adopted several provisions regarding the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
• But members, there are some judges across the state, some courtrooms across the state, that are not performing
• On behalf of the district judges across the state, thank you. I am Rubia Collier.
• You can't build your community. It's a central tenet of any good and civil society.
• And our judges across the state are having to manage individual cases, individual people.

Bills: HB40

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• No state dollars involved in this.
• We do this for the state of Louisiana.
• So the Council on Aging was going to show up.
• House Bill 377 provides relative to the pay range for the State Examiner and Deputy State Examiner of
• What this bill does is, right now, the State Examiner and the deputy state examiners' pay is tied to

Summary: The committee first took up HB 431, which would require annual training for municipal mayors and related local officials. An amendment was adopted to add municipal retirement systems to the training categories. Representative Carlson and Louisiana Municipal Association President Mayor Ray Bork said the bill was intended to provide at least 16 hours of annual continuing education, with LMA developing and accrediting the curriculum. Members asked about online options, flexibility, and whether there would be penalties; the author said there would be no penalty beyond public reporting on the annual audit. The committee then approved the bill favorably. HB 150, by Representative Borek, would authorize Cameron Parish to establish a locally funded insurance or subsidy program to help residents recover and repopulate after storm damage. Members discussed flood insurance, FEMA Risk Rating 2.0, and whether the program would affect private insurance markets; the author said it was meant as a local subsidy, not a state-funded insurance program. The bill was reported favorably. HB 822, by Representative Newell, would remove nonprofit entities from appointing board members to certain economic development districts if they are not in compliance with Secretary of State filings; members agreed to add a two-year forfeiture period, and the bill was advanced. The committee then heard HB 204, which would require monthly financial reports from certain Baton Rouge-area agencies to the Legislative Auditor. An amendment removed the Council on Aging from the bill. Representatives from CATS and BREC said their financial statements and audits are already posted online, while the author argued the bill would provide more detailed, real-time vendor-level spending information like the Louisiana Checkbook. The Legislative Auditor said the office could receive the records but would likely need redactions and could face added workload; after extended debate, the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also approved HB 136 on Harahan classified police hiring, HB 376 extending provisional hire time in fire and police civil service from 60 to 90 days, HB 377 giving the State Civil Service Commission flexibility in setting pay ranges for state examiners, HB 450 clarifying veterans’ points in civil service exams, HB 273 repealing a duplicate local tax-distribution statute, HB 1068 allowing longer exclusive garbage collection and disposal contracts, HB 864 creating a fire limit to prohibit flammable storage under certain state or municipal structures in New Orleans, and HB 444 adding two members to the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission board with a technical amendment correcting the Senate district member.

Transcript Highlights:

• Keith Dunn here on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council.
• Keith Dunn here on behalf of State Building Construction Trades Council.
• Metro, and Keith Dunn with State Building Trades. I'll defer to them.
• Metro and Keith Dunn with State Building Trades. I'll defer to them.
• Keith Dunn on behalf of the State Building Construction Trades Council.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, with testimony focused on transportation safety, enforcement, privacy, curb management, rail service, and high-speed rail. SB 953 by Senator Nilo would require two DMV points to be applied in misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter cases even if the criminal case is dismissed through diversion; supporters, including a victim’s mother and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill would prevent serious fatal crashes from disappearing from driving records, while no opposition was presented. SB 1292 by Senator Richardson would authorize selected cities to use stationary cameras or sensors to enforce curb and loading-zone rules, with human review of citations and a pilot-style, optional local framework; supporters argued it would improve safety, turnover, and compliance, while privacy concerns were noted but softened by amendments, and the bill drew neutral or conditional support from some groups. The committee also heard SB 1228 by Senator Rubio, which would create a permanent compliance path for a small number of existing redevelopment-era outdoor advertising displays. Supporters said the bill would preserve local revenue and avoid penalties for legally established signs, while the California State Outdoor Advertising Association opposed it over federal highway beautification compliance and fairness concerns. SB 1013 by Senator Cervantes would tighten safeguards for automated license plate reader systems by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, limits on data retention, and restrictions on hot lists and queries; privacy advocates supported the bill as a response to documented misuse, while sheriffs and narcotics officers opposed it as an unnecessary restriction on a valuable law-enforcement tool. The committee voted to move SB 1013, but the roll call was 4-1 and the bill remained on call. Other measures discussed included SB 1218 by Senator Arreguín, which would block vehicle registration renewal for owners with unpaid illegal dumping fines, using a process similar to unpaid parking citations; Oakland officials and several local government and waste-management groups supported it as an accountability tool, and the bill passed committee on an 8-0 vote and remained on call. SB 1136 by Senator Blakespear would require rail agencies to better coordinate service, fares, and trip planning for large events and intercity/regional rail connections; supporters said it could boost ridership and make rail more useful for major venues, and it also passed 8-0 and remained on call. The committee also advanced the chair’s SB 1425, which would create a permitting program for new encroachments along the high-speed rail right-of-way; supporters said it would help protect the project and manage utilities and other uses, while some utilities and the City of Burbank raised concerns, and the bill passed 8-1 and remained on call. Finally, SB 1411 by Senator Stern would expand high-speed rail authority to pursue public-private partnerships and early works, remove a project cap, and support bookend investments; it drew broad support from transit, labor, and rail groups, with some local agencies noting amended concerns, and the discussion continued as the hearing moved toward the final bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• in programs like Building Pathways, and why we are able to partner with them on programs like Building
• And so all builds up on each other.
• , Black Empowerment Council, and Latino Empowerment Council that have addressed these issues specifically
• We don't know how to build one.
• In addition, two states in the United States, Texas and Florida, so far have determined that the American

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, Mike West on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
• Because the standards in which they are working on, the construction code, building codes, they are standard
• And we're making it code. We're codifying it in the state. There is a... ...it in the state.
• The state seal of climate literacy gives students a meaningful, voluntary framework to build the knowledge
• So the monies that the state of California has allocated, this bill is not for remodeling the building

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, Mike West on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
• , building codes, they are standard, same for everyone.
• You're not qualified to work in the state of California. And we're making it code.
• The state seal of climate literacy gives students a meaningful, voluntary framework to build the knowledge
• So the monies that the State of California has allocated—this bill is not for remodeling the building

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would let community college districts use best-value procurement for public works over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would improve project quality and reduce delays and change orders, while contractor groups opposed it, saying the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce and safety provisions would narrow competition and add subjectivity. The bill passed the committee on a 4-2 vote and was placed on call. SB 1347, a cleanup bill clarifying that stock albuterol may be kept in all public schools, including preschool programs, drew support from school nurses, respiratory care advocates, and a physician who said it would help schools respond to asthma emergencies. With no opposition, it passed unanimously and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program designating a lead county office to help regions improve career technical education implementation; supporters said it would expand access and build regional capacity, while Senator Cabaldon questioned the need for another pilot and urged more direct funding instead. The bill passed and was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1378, which would create a California Excellence in Service Learning designation for schools and districts. Supporters said it would recognize and encourage service-learning programs without mandating curriculum changes, while some members raised concerns about adding more state designations and administrative work. It passed and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students; supporters said it would recognize climate-related learning and connect students to green careers, while members cautioned against using seals to influence curriculum and noted equity and implementation concerns. It also passed and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1101 would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies in OCR-related investigations or subpoenas. Supporters framed it as a privacy and free-speech protection in response to recent federal requests for campus information, while the author said the bill would not block lawful subpoenas but would require notice and limit voluntary disclosures. The committee discussed legal and constitutional issues, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code.
• The idea that This is the United States of America. This is the state of Texas.
• This is the United States of America. This is the state of Texas.
• Of a buildout, Chapter 9 of the Penal Code covers deadly force use in our state.
• Federal and state side.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2777 by Representative Rose, which would bar the death penalty for defendants who can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and active psychotic symptoms at the time of the offense. Rose said the bill would still hold defendants accountable through life without parole, would save money by avoiding lengthy capital litigation, and would address cases where severe mental illness was not adequately considered. Supporters from NAMI Texas, the Catholic bishops, and a forensic psychologist said the bill is narrowly tailored, consistent with neuroscience and moral principles, and would prevent executions of people whose psychosis substantially impaired reality testing. Committee members questioned how the bill interacts with existing competency and insanity law, whether the diagnosis is sufficiently defined, and whether the statute requires active psychosis at the time of the offense. An opponent argued the death penalty should remain available for juries to decide in all cases. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 1221 by Representative Lozano, which would raise the cap on pretrial intervention program fees from $500 to $1,200. Lozano and a district attorney witness said the increase is needed because program costs have risen and the fees help make diversion programs self-sustaining, allowing first-time or low-level offenders to complete rehabilitation and potentially obtain expunction. Opponents from the Texas Fair Defense Project argued the higher fee could make diversion unaffordable for indigent defendants and undermine an important alternative to incarceration, especially where related supervision and monitoring costs already add up. Members discussed whether the fee applies only to PTI participants, how payment plans and waivers work, and whether ability to pay should be addressed more explicitly. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1738 by Representative Jones, which would repeal Penal Code Section 21.06 and related Health and Safety Code references concerning homosexual conduct. Jones said the law is unconstitutional under Lawrence v. Texas, remains harmful on the books, and has led to confusion and unnecessary costs even though it is unenforceable. Supporters said the bill simply removes outdated language and protects civil liberties, while opponents from Texas Values argued the statute still serves as a statement that homosexual conduct is unacceptable and should remain as a warning, even if unenforceable. Members debated whether the law’s remaining language is merely symbolic or still harmful, and whether other criminal statutes already cover conduct such as prostitution, incest, and offenses involving minors. The bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• lands that the state acquires and the federal lands that house themselves in the state of Florida.
• neighborhoods or high-rise buildings or industrial, commercial real estate.
• He said that was one species the state was not managing.
• Can we continue to build on that?
• So I'm here to speak as Josh Kellam is one of my Land Council members.

Summary: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first took up the appointment of Joshua Kellum to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellum described his background in diversified land, agricultural, materials, and real estate operations and said he views himself as a conservationist. Senators questioned him closely about his development background, the balance of perspectives on the commission, his vote supporting the black bear hunt, and the use of Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds for the “Yes on 2” campaign. Supporters argued he is primarily a land steward and conservation-minded landowner, while opponents said the commission is already dominated by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend Kellum’s confirmation, with Senator Smith voting no and the rest of the voting members in favor. The committee then received a presentation from FWC on implementation of recently enacted boating and vessel laws. Bill Holcomb outlined changes under SB 1388 (the Boater Freedom Act), including limits on vessel stops and boarding, a new Florida Freedom Boater Safety Inspection decal, and revised rules for Springs Protection Zones. He also reviewed SB 164 on derelict and at-risk vessels, including new enforcement tools, a long-term anchoring permit, and updated penalties; HB 289, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties and education requirements; SB 830 on the disposition of migrant vessels; and HB 735 on water access facilities and boating infrastructure. Holcomb said FWC is in rulemaking, training officers, and updating forms and permitting systems to implement the laws. Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and whether penalties go back to the state, and about the Springs Protection Zone standard. Holcomb said the state can recover removal costs from responsible owners and that the new springs standard requires “significant harm” and that vessel activity be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make those determinations. He said Silver Glen Springs remains a proposed zone but was paused pending the new criteria and rulemaking. The committee took no further action on the presentation and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• Identifying permitting requirements and building codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• Member Scott Wich on behalf of the California State Pipe Trades Council.
• Your chair members, Mike Monaghan, on behalf of the State Building Trades in support. Thank you.
• They protested the state of Israel.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reagan Miller with the Pinellas County Council PTA is waving in support.
• of Florida, have a math proficiency problem in this state.
• And I know we make policy for the whole state.
• We have 67 districts in this state, and they're all very different.
• Reagan Miller, waving in support with the Pinellas County Council PTA.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and observed a moment of silence for Senator Geraldine Thompson. The committee first took up CS/SB 102, a bill by Senator Gates directing the Department of Education to develop a workforce credential program for students with autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified curriculum, in coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Supporters said the bill would help autistic students gain job skills and workplace safety credentials, while an opponent argued the bill should clearly make participation voluntary, expand to other exceptional student groups, include funding, and add stronger accountability. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 166, the Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools bill by Senator Simon. The bill would reduce or remove several state mandates and give districts more flexibility on testing, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, audits, facilities planning, emergency make-up days, federal fund use, and public VPK oversight. Senators asked about the impact on student proficiency, teacher evaluations, and the transfer of public VPK oversight to districts; Simon said the tests would remain but count as 30 percent of the grade, districts would retain flexibility in evaluation measures, and only public VPK would shift to districts. Public testimony was largely supportive, with some speakers praising reduced testing and local control, while one senator cautioned that Florida still has a math proficiency problem. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 296 by Senator Bradley, which would repeal the 2023 statewide mandate requiring later middle and high school start times and return the decision to local districts, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation and consider later start times. Supporters argued the mandate created transportation, staffing, and scheduling problems and that local control was more practical, while opponents emphasized sleep science and the benefits of later start times for teens. Several senators discussed the tension between research and district resources, and the bill sponsor said the measure preserves the conversation about sleep while allowing local scheduling decisions. CS/SB 296 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• seat, making city councils more accessible to new parents.
• Chair, members, Scott Wedgian, on behalf of the California State Pipe Trades Council, the State Association
• States Council of Sheet Metal Workers.
• speakers stated.
• We're writing, we're passing laws for the state.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , state-based, state-based, state-based, and migrant seasonal Head Start programs, both in center-based
• The state should be charting intentional steps forward that build on recent investments.
• As background, the State Advisory Council on the Early Childhood Education and Care is required by federal
• And so we need to build that, and we also need to make sure that when those kids come back into our state
• The state.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy budget hearing focused on child care, child welfare, and immigration-related services, with most of the discussion centered on child care funding, slot utilization, and rate reform. Department of Social Services officials said the Governor’s budget would provide $6.8 billion for child care programs in 2026-27, including $11.5 million in Prop. 64 funds for mini-grants to licensed facilities affected by 2025 disasters. They also described federal CCDF and Prop. 64 revenue reductions that would reduce general child care funding by about 4,176 slots, while emphasizing that the cuts should not affect currently enrolled children. The LAO supported aligning spending with lower revenues and asked for more detail on the disaster grant program. Members questioned why so many awarded slots remain uncontracted or unfilled, and DSS said delays are largely due to providers building new infrastructure, licensing, staffing, and enrollment work. One senator criticized the repeated explanation, argued unspent funds revert to the General Fund instead of being redirected to child care, and urged shifting more funding from contract slots to vouchers and increasing flexibility for infrastructure and expansion costs. DSS said it is exploring more flexibility, better readiness screening, and quicker redistribution of relinquished slots. The committee also discussed the Emergency Child Care Bridge program, with DSS saying it can redistribute funds among counties to avoid disenrolling children. A second panel addressed the state’s broader commitment to expand child care and move toward a single rate structure. DSS reported that since 2021-22 nearly 125,000 new slots have been awarded across CCTR, CAPP, CMAP, and the Emergency Child Care Bridge program, bringing monthly service levels to more than 366,700 children. The department and CDE described progress on rate reform, including completion of the alternative methodology and joint recommendations from the labor-management committee on a single-rate framework. County and provider testimony emphasized persistent unmet need, especially for infant and toddler care, and argued that current reimbursement disparities between CDSS-funded programs and state preschool create inequities and discourage expansion. Stanislaus County Office of Education said rate differences can materially affect local program revenue and staffing, while Parent Voices California described the child care system as difficult to navigate and inequitable, especially for Black families and survivors of domestic violence. The California Budget and Policy Center argued that only a small share of eligible children are served, that Universal TK has concentrated investment in school-based settings, and that providers are still paid far below the cost of care. Members pressed the administration for deadlines on automation and implementation of the single-rate structure, and DSS said some work can proceed before collective bargaining concludes, though policy decisions are still needed. The committee also reviewed several trailer bill proposals. For the COLA, DSS proposed applying the 2026-27 increase through cost-of-care-plus payments, but acknowledged it had inadvertently excluded CalWORKs Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge from the initial calculation; the LAO recommended making the COLA increase uniform across child care and state preschool programs. On the alternative methodology survey, DSS proposed replacing the market rate survey with the federally approved alternative methodology and aligning the timing with the federal CCDF state plan cycle. On licensed family child care homes, DSS proposed limiting temporary absences to 20% of monthly care hours and allowing more flexibility for medical appointments, jury duty, training, and union activities. On excessive unexplained absences, DSS proposed a statutory definition to align state policy with federal rules allowing disenrollment after 30 days of unexplained absences. The committee also discussed a proposal to require contractors to collect family fees directly so the full voucher value reaches providers, with DSS saying it is working with Riverside County on implementation and CDE asking that the same policy apply to state preschool. Finally, the committee reviewed an Early Childhood Policy Council reappropriation and reporting proposal, with DSS explaining that prior funds were underused because participation costs are hard to estimate and that additional staffing and contractor support would be needed for the expanded annual report requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> and</c><00:11:16.639><c> the</c> state veterans advisory Council and the state veterans advisory
• In July of 2021, the Council of State Governments published an insightful article titled "The State of
• </c> states do for their Security Buildings states do for their Security Buildings and<02:07:09.079><
• over 200 code officials throughout the state of New Hampshire.
• state the Hampshire building within our state the Hampshire building officials<04:33:32.480><c> Association

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first dealt with scheduling and housekeeping, including a plan to take a hard break at 2:00 p.m. for an early bill, hold a brief executive session, and then continue with the remaining afternoon bills. The chair also noted the next likely meeting date would be March 12, when the committee expected to take up the remaining bills before crossover deadlines. The main substantive item was House Bill 142, which would recognize the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and related remembrance purposes. Prime sponsor Rep. Michael Moffett described the bill as a bipartisan measure revised to address earlier concerns, arguing that the flag honors fallen service members, can be personalized with names, and complements rather than detracts from the American flag. He said many other states have already adopted it and suggested the committee could amend details such as the number of days and locations for display. He also raised practical issues about flag dimensions and whether the bill should use "shall" or "may" for display requirements. Testimony was divided. Janine Nutter opposed the bill, saying she supports Gold Star families but objected because the flag resembles the Viet Cong flag and because she believes the American flag should remain the sole symbol representing servicemembers. Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee under RSA 115:8, also opposed the bill, saying the committee believes the American flag is the only symbol needed, while still praising the work of Honor and Remember in creating personalized flags for families. Committee members asked questions about where the flag would be flown, whether the State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen is already displaying it, and how the bill’s language would interact with cemetery policies and committee discretion. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, as we have done over the last few years, we wanted to build a significant state fund for economic
• The wildfire fund that was mentioned at the State of the State is actually not part of this budget, but
• a donor state?
• to grow and invest in the state.
• to grow and invest in the state.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state.
• Idaho Code 1-213 has always stated that court rules may not abridge, enlarge, or modify substantive rights
• in the state of Idaho.
• As the code currently reads, an individual could be convicted of a felony or treason in another state
• The state in the amount of $12.3 million annually to house state inmates.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, Mike West, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council.
• Building and Construction Council.
• Mike West, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, to expand on
• Workers, the California State Pipe Trades Council, and the Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers
• Mike West, with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, also in support.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call. The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the career opportunities within the state of Oklahoma.
• It'll be a QR code. A QR code will basically launch them straight to this website.
• I just know the red tape through the state is tough, and I work for the state.
• Basically, it creates a new department within state government that would house the state radio systems
• In essence, it builds a kind of a mirrored authority.

Summary: The Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority met in special session, confirmed a quorum, welcomed new member Josh Huffines, approved the prior meeting minutes, and accepted financial reports for September through December 2025. The chair and staff also presented recognition awards, including thanks to former legal counsel Austin and outgoing chair Mark Sharpton, and honored Leachin Lockwood of Tulsa 911 as the state’s third-quarter Emergency Telecommunicator of the Quarter. The board addressed compliance and funding issues for several PSAPs. It authorized notice and a public-hearing process for Chokota Police Department and Pawnee Police Department if they did not complete required annual audit/reporting documents by the stated deadline. It also approved a recruitment campaign for the 9-1-1 profession, including a website landing page and media outreach, and transferred $150,000 from reserves to support that effort. In addition, the board approved a technology roadmap outlining statewide priorities such as mapping, GIS integration, satellite emergency communications, push-to-talk interoperability, and CAD sharing. Several grants were approved, including GIS remediation and maintenance for Drumright and Love County, a Next Gen 9-1-1 call-handling solution for Muskogee 911, and CAD integration for Sand Springs and Mercy EMS. A Love County public hearing on GIS noncompliance was rendered moot after the grant approval, and the board voted to take no action on escrowing Love County funds. Staff reports highlighted boundary verification letters, the upcoming 911 Day at the Capitol, cybersecurity training, 911/988 integration progress, Virtual Academy training totals, and ongoing work on NG911 RFPs, coordinator workshops, and county-level implementation projects. The meeting also included legislative updates on HB 4092 and HB 2710, with the latter described as creating a parallel state radio/911 structure, and the session adjourned with no public comments or new business.

Transcript Highlights:

• demolition of all Albion State Normal School buildings not of practical value to the City of Albion.
• previous 79 to 80 pages; references to other code sections were changed throughout the code.
• Planning Council.
• of the state to enforce state law.
• Idaho Code 67-2512 states that state agencies, if they have a website, should put their administrative

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , health, and safety codes.
• These are the building code requirements.
• code standards, but basically this would require that the certifier goes through, identifies the code
• And your supporters mentioned that other states do this as well, so they allow them to bypass their state
• How are other states doing it?

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to get this done to build outside, to build something else, to keep building.
• Half the states don't, but what we found is at least pretty close to every state, if not every state,
• So state government is a little different. We do have state constitutions.
• state officials don't comply with state law.
• state officials don't comply with state law.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The meeting focused first on a legislative working group report created under House Bill 368 from the prior session on medical education in Idaho. The presenter described Idaho’s physician shortage, noting the state ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. The group’s unanimous recommendations included maintaining current state-supported medical school seats, adding 10 new non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, prioritizing in-state training, and creating a dedicated health education coordination role to manage undergraduate and graduate placements, clinical sites, and data. Members discussed whether WAMI should also expand, the quality of WAMI graduates, the need for more clinical preceptors and residency sites, rural recruitment incentives, and whether the plan should include other health professions such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The presenter said the plan includes benchmarks and timelines, and estimated costs of about $350,000 for coordination, $350,000 to $485,000 for 10 new UME seats depending on placement, and $900,000 for the GME request. The committee then heard from Legislative Audit Division Manager April Renfro on the state’s 2024 single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited, 21 major federal programs across 15 agencies, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, including Medicaid findings involving delayed health and safety surveys, managed care provider eligibility and roster controls, and capitation payments tied to ineligible members; Child Care and Development Fund reporting and cost-allocation errors; and repeat issues in vocational rehabilitation and low-income home energy programs. She also noted Department of Environmental Quality problems with indirect cost proposals and a duplicate grant draw, while Transportation had no findings. Members asked about accountability for repeat findings, the role of Luma in reporting errors, fraud detection, and how to prioritize corrective action; Renfro said agencies, federal management decisions, and legislative oversight all play a role, and she planned to send a prioritized list of key findings to the co-chairs. A later presentation by budget analyst Brooke Dupree introduced front-end reports in the legislative budget book, explaining state government structure, the constitutional limit of 20 executive departments, and how the Legislature uses decision units to build appropriations. She walked through the original appropriation, reappropriations, supplemental appropriations, and how those pieces roll into the current-year total appropriation, with members asking brief questions about departmental divisions and the budget model.