Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Joseph Simon, and I'm an analyst with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• Again, that would be contingent on passage of legislation. on passage of legislation and $8 million for
• support or the legislation behind us.
• I think you can consider this unless legislators want to take this on.
• We can do a deep dive and perhaps we can contribute to drafting legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• that funding is available to go along with the legislation.
• And unfortunately, this piece of legislation falls into that category.
• And so, just like even my own legislation, I had to table that legislation, all of our pieces of legislation
• Senator Salim, did you want to say anything about the legislation? Yep. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Senator Salim, did you want to say anything about the legislation? Yep. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Ben Taves, representing Legislative District 4.
• For the record, Ben Taves, representing Legislative District 4.
• Because this legislation specifically allows for duplexes in a single-family home lot.
• So I just think that this legislation would be good to approve.
• I think this type of legislation makes sense. I appreciate the comments from Ms.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a Department of Licensing request legislation.
• This is a Department of Licensing request legislation.
• I'm asking for a yes vote on this hard-worked legislation.
• Happy and proud to bring this legislation before this committee.
• In many ways, this legislation has taken a village, with legislators on both sides of the aisle and outstanding

Bills: HB2548, HB2453, HB2640, HB2095, HB2386, HB2239

Keywords: health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change, nonprofit conversion, for-profit conversion, health care acquisition, asset sale, Washington RCW, health care competition, price transparency, market oversight, premerger notification, antitrust revolving fund

Transcript Highlights:

• day pursuant to House next legislative day pursuant to House Rule<00:02:54.800><c> 48.
• The committee heard from Legislative Council.
• </c> The committee heard from legislative The committee heard from legislative council.<00:14:35.440>
• </c><00:14:57.600><c> counsel</c><00:14:58.000><c> to</c> of legislative counsel to of legislative counsel
• And you have postponed action on Senate Bill 23 for one legislative day.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are legislative day be dispensed with.
• </c> piece of legislation? piece of legislation?
• </c> of legislation is going to do. of legislation is going to do.
• </c> Stability Commission's legislative Stability Commission's legislative package.<01:27:18.639><c>
• </c> legislation stopping me from doing that. legislation stopping me from doing that.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tracking, budget development, managed complex workflow... ...financial oversight, legislative tracking
• And so with that, now therefore be it resolved by the Arkansas Legislative Council of the 95th General
• Assembly of the State of Arkansas, that the Legislative Council recognizes and honors Lori McDonald
• Chairman, Carlos Silva, Bureau of Legislative Research. Thank you, Mr.
• Chairman, Carlos Silva, Bureau of Legislative Research.

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call, prayer, and approval of the previous minutes. Members then adopted a resolution honoring Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service, with remarks praising her legislative work, constituent services, leadership, and emergency response roles. McDonald thanked the committee, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, flag, and commemorative coin. The committee received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and a projected surplus of $585.8 million. The executive subcommittee report was adopted, covering emergency rules for DHS and the Department of Education, school district waiver requests, committee fund allocations, cancellation of the July ALC meeting, and authorization for subcommittees to meet in July on urgent matters. The administrative rules report was also adopted after members noted that most rules were approved, with a few pulled by agencies or held. Members then heard a lengthy exchange on the Arkansas Education Department’s ClassWallet contract and delays in expense review for education savings account payments. Department officials said they were meeting regularly with ClassWallet, enforcing contract standards, keeping some reviews in-house, and adding staff and technology improvements to speed processing while maintaining oversight. The committee also adopted reports from Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel, including a Department of Commerce reallocation tied to a broader shared-services realignment. Under review of communications, members filed several retirement system investment items as reviewed, approved rural community grant funding, gave favorable advice for state park additions, approved special maintenance funding for state parks, and filed Office of State Technology service-rate changes as reviewed. The meeting concluded with no new business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the idea, or the plan, that was accepted by the legislative auditors and by JFAC was to increase
• And then last year, there was legislation passed and codified.
• Also with that legislation was the ability for me as the administrator to implement fee holidays.
• But the idea that or the plan that was accepted by the legislative auditors and by JFAC were, was to
• And then last year, there was legislation passed and codified.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from DOPL Administrator Russ Barron explaining the agency’s fee-setting process for professional boards. Barron said DOPL operates without general fund support, relies on license fees to cover costs, and is using a legislatively approved plan to raise or lower fees based on board cash balances. He described past consolidation and efficiency efforts, including moving to the Chinden campus, implementing a single licensing system, merging boards, and using fee holidays for boards with excess cash. Members generally supported the approach and asked about board financial reporting, carryover balances, and DOPL’s efficiency measures. The committee then considered several DOPL rule dockets. It approved a unified rule chapter for the newly merged Board of Long-Term Care Administrators and approved repeals of the prior separate nursing home and residential care administrator rule chapters, effective July 1, 2026. These actions were tied to the merger of the two boards under 2025 legislation and were described as non-substantive reformatting to consolidate the rules. Finally, the committee heard and approved rules for the Board of Acupuncture. The docket removed duplicative statutory language and increased fees substantially, raising initial licensure from $150 to $300 and renewals from $75 to $200. Price said the board had a negative cash balance and needed the increase to move toward the statutory cash-balance target. Heather Bergstrom of the Idaho Acupuncture Association testified in support, saying the profession is self-funded, the increase was manageable, and licensing is important for insurance participation and market access. Members asked about board consolidation and comparisons with other states before unanimously approving the docket. The committee adjourned after noting more DOPL rules would be heard the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• The this meeting of the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee will come to order.
• I'm the lead staff for the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee.
• So, uh, Madam Chair, I work for the Legislative council Service.
• Um, 24 of those pieces of legislation were introduced.
• So what that means actually is that in, um, you know, unless there's new legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• for their cooperation and patience as we meet today to complete the committee's consideration of legislation
• (member_3508) and I met yesterday and discussed our shared desire to continue moving bipartisan legislation
• It recognizes the value of our district offices and it codifies that in this legislation.
• I support this legislation and urge unanimous adoption of it.
• This is the last, but a fundamental piece of legislation that we have to consider.

Bills: SB298, SB300, SB371

Keywords: employee relocation, headquarters, Small Business Administration, Washington metropolitan area, telework, cost reduction, rural markets, geographic diversity, disaster loans, accountability, reporting, loan forgiveness, federal funding, SBA reforms, small business, disaster assistance, transparency, report publication, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• I was not sold on this initial legislation. I thought it was too complicated.
• Well, I think you're referring to this legislation.
• This legislation... ...as a future legislature, raise these taxes.
• I filed this legislation after I toured Clayton Homes in Lebanon, Missouri.
• The fact is that what we've tried to do with this legislation...

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Joint Resolution 173 and 174, which would put a tax-reform proposal before voters. Members debated a failed amendment to change the ballot language, with supporters saying it would more honestly describe the measure as a tax replacement that could expand sales taxes, and opponents saying it would be misleading and overly restrictive. The committee then adopted a House committee substitute that clarified the proposal, including a phased reduction in the individual income tax tied to revenue growth, and voted the substitute do pass by a 7-3 roll call. The committee next took up House Bills 321 and 2531 under a new committee substitute. The substitute made a series of technical and policy changes involving redevelopment, tax increment financing, public safety funding, Missouri Opportunity Zones, baseline revenue calculations, and local property tax diversion, including reducing one diversion requirement from 50% to 25%. Members and the sponsor described the changes as clarifying agency roles and addressing constitutional and administrative concerns. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the combined bill do pass by a 9-0-1 vote. In public hearing, House Bill 3230 by Rep. Hardwick would bar cities and counties from outright banning modular or qualified manufactured homes in areas where single-family homes are allowed, while still allowing reasonable safety, zoning, and compatibility standards. The sponsor and supporters from the Missouri Manufactured Housing Association argued the bill would expand affordable housing and prevent discriminatory local restrictions; the Missouri Municipal League said it supported the goal but wanted more work on language to preserve local flexibility. The committee also heard House Bill 2888 by Rep. Deal, which would limit standalone medical-monitoring claims without present physical injury. The sponsor and a civil justice coalition supporter said the bill would align Missouri law with court precedent and require an actual injury, while opponents and affected residents argued it would block needed monitoring for exposure to PFAS and other contaminants and could leave exposed communities without a remedy.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation uses a three-strike approach.
• A piece of legislation had 24 House sponsors, co-sponsors.
• In order to follow the law, we cannot support this legislation.
• But that is what's required in this legislation.
• And when the good gentleman from Legislative District 25...

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mine is referring to your testimony of potential legislation. Thank you.
• One of them, Representative Dahlaby covered on the legislative part.
• will move forward in the legislative process.
• We need to continue this as legislation is passed, you know.
• We need to continue this as legislation is passed, you know.

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members and witnesses describing scams targeting seniors, small businesses, and working families. The committee first approved the November 3, 2025 minutes, then heard from the Arkansas Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, banks, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, the Arkansas Mortgage Bankers Association, the State Bank and Securities Department, the Insurance Department, and AARP. Witnesses described common schemes including spoofed bank calls and texts, government imposter scams, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, fake job postings, gift card scams, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, identity theft, and insurance fraud. Several witnesses emphasized that cryptocurrency kiosks and crypto transfers make recovery difficult or impossible, and that artificial intelligence is making scams more convincing and scalable. Witnesses repeatedly stressed education, verification, and coordination among banks, law enforcement, regulators, and consumers. Bank and mortgage representatives urged consumers to slow down, independently verify wire instructions, avoid clicking unexpected links, use tap-to-pay rather than chip or swipe when possible, and never share account credentials or one-time codes. The Attorney General’s office said it investigates consumer complaints, mediates disputes, works with social media platforms to remove scam ads, and recently created a Financial Fraud Task Force with bankers and other stakeholders. The State Bank and Securities Commissioner highlighted the Safe AR Act, the state’s crypto kiosk framework, and fraud education efforts such as “fraud bingo,” while the Insurance Department described its law-enforcement role and a range of insurance-related fraud schemes it prosecutes. AARP said fraud is widespread and underreported, especially among older adults. Members asked about reporting scams, how losses are handled, whether tap is safer than chip, how crypto fraud works, whether Arkansas has model legislation to address telecom and social media impersonation, and how local law enforcement and state agencies coordinate investigations. Witnesses said banks generally absorb much of the financial loss under federal rules, while consumers bear the inconvenience and account changes. Several witnesses said Arkansas should consider additional legislation to hold telecom companies and social media platforms accountable for spoofed caller IDs and impersonation ads, and one witness said a federal Scam Act is moving in Congress. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes, but witnesses agreed to share consumer education materials and model legislation with committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> And a couple folks from the Legislative And a couple folks from the Legislative Budget<00:06:21.680
• </c> so hard for this legislation. so hard for this legislation.
• </c> was no overlap with what our legislative was no overlap with what our legislative auditor<00:52:
• </c> able to investigate the legislative able to investigate the legislative auditor. auditor. auditor
• </c> And we have the Office of Legislative And we have the Office of Legislative Auditor,<00:57:29.440

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you should pieces of legislation.
• So appreciate the legislation. lights. So appreciate the legislation.
• Uh it does not piece of legislation.
• </c><01:13:42.640><c> are</c> those those state legislators are those those state legislators are saying
• </c> seems like some common sense legislation seems like some common sense legislation to<01:24:49.360

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association on the importance of general aviation airports in Kentucky and their economic and public-safety role. Witnesses said the state has more than 50 general aviation airports that support jobs, agriculture, tourism, medical transport, disaster response, and law enforcement, and they urged continued support for aviation infrastructure and workforce development. They asked the legislature to again provide $200,000 per general aviation airport for operating and basic infrastructure costs, to route the money through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for accountability, to revisit a special-purpose governmental entity audit requirement they said is too costly for small airports, to create a long-term appropriations process for the roughly $100 million in unmet capital needs, and to fund the Arrow Act for aviation education and scholarships. Members asked about a dedicated aviation fuel tax and about local training partnerships, simulators, and school or community college programs; the witnesses said they preferred an appropriations-based solution and offered to help connect interested communities with aviation education resources. The committee then took up “Troy’s Law,” sponsored by Representatives White and Flannery, which would allow tow trucks to use blue lights while stationary and actively removing vehicles or debris from highways. Sponsors and tow operators said the bill is intended to improve worker safety after the deaths of tow operators Troy Cwell and Hubert Mosley in highway hit-and-run incidents, and they emphasized that tow operators often work in dangerous conditions at night, in bad weather, and near fast-moving traffic. They said the proposal would not apply while driving or towing and noted that other states have adopted similar measures. Witnesses from the towing industry, including Bubba Johnson and Barbara Maguire, supported the bill as an added layer of protection and described tow operators as first responders who help motorists in emergencies. Representative Flannery and other members expressed support for the safety goal and invited further discussion, but no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• HR 18 urges the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation to sponsor legislation relative to and urging
• in other to what legislation is in other legislation legislation legislation legislatures<02:10:36.159
• </c> know as as you talk to other legislators know as as you talk to other legislators from<02:21:55.200
• you're asking to draft legislation hates your idea deep down inside.
• </c> and you ask them to draft legislation and you ask them to draft legislation and<02:28:54.960><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on HR 18, a resolution urging New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to seek federal changes that would let very small slaughter plants use custom-exempt inspection criteria with a third-party inspector present, so beef, pork, lamb, and goat could be sold as individual cuts directly to consumers. Representative Judy Aron said the resolution was drafted in lieu of state legislation because the issue is governed by USDA rules, and she noted she was also working on an amendment to ensure the measure covered federal “very small” plants. Representative Miner asked for clarification about custom slaughter versus retail sales, and Representative Scully supported the resolution while suggesting language to make clear it applied only to local end consumers. Joyce Brady of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the state’s four USDA slaughterhouses and the bottleneck in custom cutting made the issue important. After no further testimony, the chair closed the hearing. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. For HB 616, members discussed an amendment that had been revised after public comments and Commissioner Jasper’s feedback; Representative Guber said it balanced the competing positions, and Representative Penza and Representative Ger said the language now addressed concerns about animal suffering by allowing euthanasia if a treating veterinarian determines the animal is in extreme suffering. The committee then discussed HB 77, with Representative Penza describing changes to landfill-related standards, including replacing aquifer references with drinking water wells, removing a penalty section, changing discretionary language to mandatory language for the department, and adjusting an in situ soils standard. Members praised the compromise, though Representative Scully raised concerns about the 1,500-foot setback and suggested engineering controls such as berms; Penza responded that current rules do not include such controls and that the setback was intended to address surface spills. Several members said the bill reflected a hard-fought balance and should not be rewritten at the last minute. For HB 505, the freeze-dried food bill, Representative Aron explained that the amendment replaced a simple exemption with a requirement that homestead food operations selling freeze-dried foods from a farm stand, farmers market, or retail food store obtain a homestead food license under RSA 143-A:4. She said the amendment defines freeze-dried foods as fruits, vegetables, and commercially prepared dairy products, and delays the effective date 120 days to allow rulemaking. Members generally supported the approach as a light-touch oversight mechanism for potentially hazardous foods, though Representative Ktoa asked for clarification about how the amendment interacts with existing licensing and inspection exemptions, and Aron clarified that these products would not be exempt from licensing under the relevant law. The committee then turned to HB 250, concerning local authority over dog muzzling, where members broadly supported the amendment as a simple solution, while Representative Ktoa asked about the underlying definition of a vicious dog and whether all listed behaviors would warrant muzzling. The discussion noted that the amendment would allow towns to require muzzling for dogs meeting the statutory definition, while excluding hunting, working, herding, and similar dogs.

Transcript Highlights:

• James Nakbar, Legislative District 3, Representative Ryan. Dr.
• We are joined here today by a wonderful delegation of artists from legislative District 5.
• To date, 31 states have enacted similar legislation. Let's hope Arizona joins them. Thank you.
• With regard to this legislation, the reason why I'm opposing this legislation is because there is a provision
• We offered legislation again this session to expand protections for transgender people.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill was originally filed as a budget amendment too long on a piece of legislation.
• We put in the 2024 Economic Development Bill this same legislation.
• So that legislation sunsetted.
• And it all has to happen within 90 days of an election for this legislation to apply.
• The legislation focuses on two critical problems: disinformation and voter suppression.

Summary: The House first suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition naming the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse to the Judiciary Committee. It then took up two Ways and Means bills on election integrity: House Bill 76, renamed House Bill 5093, to protect against election misinformation, and House Bill 846, renamed House Bill 5094, to enhance disclosure requirements for synthetic media in political advertising. Supporters said both bills were a response to AI-generated deepfakes and misleading election content, emphasizing transparency, disclosure, and protection of voters without banning political speech. Opponents argued the measures could be overbroad and raise First Amendment concerns, especially for smaller campaigns and organizations. House Bill 5094 was amended to exempt certain broadcasters and streaming services when paid to air materially deceptive election-related communications, and a separate amendment to move Massachusetts primaries earlier was rejected 131-25. Another amendment narrowing the bill’s scope was also defeated 145-12. After debate, House Bill 5094 passed to be engrossed by a vote of 153-3. House Bill 5093, which prohibits deceptive AI use in the 90 days before an election, also passed to be engrossed after debate and the defeat of amendments. The House also passed several engrossed local bills to enact: a Rockland charter amendment, a Williamstown senior property tax exemption measure, and a Rochester bill allowing continued employment of Fire Chief Scott Royal. Later, the House rejected Senate amendments on a teacher preparation and student literacy bill, declined concurrence, and appointed a conference committee. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Quincy public servant Arthur Tobin before adjourning until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We put in the 2024 Economic Development Bill this same legislation.
• So that legislation sunsetted.
• And it all has to happen within 90 days of an election for this legislation to apply.
• And it all has to happen within 90 days of an election for this legislation to apply.
• The legislation focuses on two critical problems: disinformation and voter suppression.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Missouri would not be alone in this pursuit; similar legislation has already been passed in Oklahoma,
• This feels like legislating a lot of unknown area. So I appreciate the conversation.
• like that needs to be federally mandated legislation rather than patchwork policy.
• That's not anything in legislation here, but that's my opinion. Yeah, no, that makes sense.
• allow states to come out, you know, to make any kind of legislation concerning AI for 10 years.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee substitute for House Bills 2404 and 2172, then voted the substitute do pass by a roll call vote of 10-2. The bills were not discussed in detail, but the action advanced them out of committee. The committee then took up House Bill 2989, a large gaming-related bill sponsored by Representative Hardwick. Hardwick described numerous changes in the substitute, including removing references requested by the Highway Patrol, clarifying tax reporting, extending local opt-out time, changing the effective date from August 2027 to August 2028, reducing a felony penalty to a misdemeanor, increasing a casino-related fee from $2 to $4 with the extra amount going to the Missouri Veterans Commission, and adding non-severability language. Members adopted three committee amendments, including language barring previously illegal gambling machines from being licensed as video lottery terminals and requiring games to be out of line of sight from the front entrance, then adopted the revised substitute and voted HCS HB 2989 do pass by an 8-5 vote. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bills 1746 and 1769, both related to artificial intelligence. Representatives Miller and Amato presented the bills as an effort to establish that AI has no personhood and to create a framework for responsibility and accountability. They said the legislation was informed by outside experts and other states’ efforts, and Miller emphasized using the National Institute of Standards and Technology AI risk management framework as a baseline. Members questioned how liability would work, especially for developers, deployers, and users, and raised concerns about undefined terms such as “harm” and about possible conflict with federal policy discouraging a patchwork of state AI laws. The sponsors said the bill would be cleaned up further and that liability should generally rest with the person using or deploying the AI, not the AI itself. During public testimony, one witness spoke in favor of the AI bills, arguing that states should act proactively rather than wait for problems and noting concern about prior federal efforts to limit state AI legislation. No witnesses spoke in opposition during the hearing. The committee then closed testimony and adjourned.