Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you, Assembly Member Hart.
• I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you, Assembly Member Hart. Mr.
• I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you, Assembly Member Hart.
• Thank you. ...population, and I respectfully request your aye vote.
• Budget subcommittee 1 in Capital Room 127 and Revenue and Revenue and Tax Budget Subcommittee 1 in Capitol

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then spent much of the early session on guest introductions recognizing students, interns, advocacy groups, sorority members, and other visitors. Members also noted Assembly Member Castillo’s birthday and announced a later floor photo for members wearing denim. The chamber then moved to the Daily File and took up a series of bills and resolutions. Among the major actions, AB 2323 by Assembly Member McKinnor, on modernizing public notice while preserving transparency and due process, passed 57-0. ACR 149 by Assembly Member Hart, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and the Coastal Conservancy, drew extensive debate both in support and opposition before being adopted by voice vote, with 46 co-authors added. AB 2011 by Assembly Member Hart, codifying mental health parity standards, was also taken up, and AB 2691 by Assembly Member Addis, expanding disqualifying felony convictions for elected office to include sexual assault and human trafficking, passed 53-0. The Assembly also adopted HR 31 on Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month after lengthy testimony from members describing personal experiences and the need to support survivors. The body then approved several policy bills with broad support, including AB 1621 on housing permitting timelines (64-0), AB 1704 on studying the cost of low-embodied-carbon building materials and pausing standards if cost parity is not reached (58-0), AB 1916 updating the definition of certified interpreter to include ASL interpreters (59-2), AB 2559 on returning construction and demolition permit deposits when compliance is documented (61-0), AB 2663 as an urgency sunset extension for alcoholic beverage law (64-0 on urgency and measure), and AB 2731 expanding on-sale general alcohol licenses in Santa Cruz County (63-0). The Senate consent calendar was also adopted. The session ended with an adjournment in memory of Josado Dado Banatao, honoring his life, engineering achievements, and philanthropy, followed by a motion to adjourn until April 30 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now the second part, this isn't one of those parity request parts.
• </c><00:02:34.720><c> that</c> the most frequent parity requests that the most frequent parity requests
• And then the fourth section is another parity request section.
• So this would take away that requirement for a parity request.
• So, I want to know how much you have on hand and how much the annual budget is, the operational budget

Committee: Joint Business and Financial Institutions

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 210; 28 January, 2026: 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would request favorable consideration as we close. Thank you. There's no objection.
• what they have now requested, that wasn't done in this instance, was it?
• TDI, I mean TLTA, as I understand, requested the hearing in November.
• There was information that was not requested, obviously.
• UTMB operates the plan with just three administrators on staff and a very modest budget. budget, applying

Bills: HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are going to be under budget pressure, so I would just digress.
• This is not the budgeting process.
• So again, as those numbers change, Bruce and I would just request...
• And we had that in the budget at one point last session.
• Before budget, I think there’s some couple meetings before and after that as well, the budget section

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review a proposed process for identifying and addressing low-producing academic programs, then moved into discussion of draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the ND University System described how other states and systems define low-producing programs, emphasizing multi-year enrollment and completion thresholds, cost and workforce review, and the role of governing boards. She reported that North Dakota institutions already review programs in varying cycles, often use shared resources and stackable credentials to keep low-enrollment programs viable, and cited recent system actions over five years: 100 programs placed on inactivation, 75 terminated, and 384 new programs created. Committee members raised concerns about workforce-critical programs, duplication, exemptions, and whether the legislature or the State Board of Higher Education should drive the process. The chair said he wanted the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting and suggested the legislature may use funding leverage, including a possible holdback, to encourage the review process. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft funding formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal used fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder rate of $7,000 per undergraduate FTE and $10,500 per graduate/professional FTE, plus incentives for completions in high-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council explained that the formula also included separate treatment for research funding, external grants, and capital building tiers, and that the MD program at UND would remain fixed funding outside the formula. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the in-demand program list, the treatment of external grants, and how the proposal compared with current appropriations. The chair noted that the formula numbers were illustrative and not final budget amounts. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. It used fall census FTE with no weighted economic factor, a higher undergraduate rate of $8,750 per FTE, and completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other credentials. Members noted that the proposal would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and questioned whether the same structure should apply across institutions with very different missions and sizes. Committee discussion focused on fairness, hold-harmless concerns, and whether the nine institutions should be grouped differently. The committee did not take formal action, but the chair indicated the formulas would continue to be discussed later in the meeting and in future work.

Transcript Highlights:

• $150,000 that you request will you be $150,000 that you request will you be able<00:15:54.759><c> to<
• I did want to just add one clarifying point: the requests for funds do not have any requests for vaccination
• Sounds good. committee report their request for committee report their request for three<01:04:50.000
• </c><01:09:05.839><c> of</c> agriculture's request of agriculture's request of 293,000<01:09:08.400><
• <01:41:04.119><c> for</c><01:41:04.320><c> 2526</c><01:41:05.320><c> and</c> request for 2526 and request

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered several bills focused on environmental protection and wastewater management. HB 26 HD 2, relating to environmental protection, drew support from the Department of Health, Reworld, and Energy Justice Network. Supporters said it would preserve existing standards for waste-to-energy facilities, including H-Power, even if federal EPA rules are weakened, while Energy Justice Network urged the state to go further and require stronger pollution controls on older burners at the plant. HB 734 and HB 735, both relating to wastewater systems, received broad support from state agencies, county representatives, realtors, environmental groups, and others. Testimony emphasized reducing the cost of cesspool upgrades, updating rules, and improving coordination between the Department of Health, counties, and the University of Hawaiʻi. Members raised concerns about whether some areas, such as Ewa, should be treated differently if they are not near aquifers or the ocean, but the department said the existing prioritization process already considered statewide conditions and that cesspools generally still affect water resources. On HB 735, the committee discussed the current bedroom-based limits for individual wastewater systems and whether the bill would allow more flexibility for housing configurations, with the department explaining the limits are tied to density and system capacity. HB 879, relating to cesspool conversions, was also supported by the Department of Health, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and several advocacy groups. Testimony said the bill would help low- and moderate-income homeowners in priority areas by increasing grant assistance for cesspool upgrades, but the Department of Health noted it would need three full-time positions to administer the program. Members asked for clarification on the grant amount and staffing costs, and the department indicated the grant cap should remain at $20,000 unless changed. HB 918, relating to labeling of non-flushable wipes, drew support from wastewater and industry groups, including the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, which said similar laws have passed in other states and that the bill reflects cooperation between manufacturers and wastewater officials. The Department of Health and county officials supported the concept but said enforcement and outreach would require additional staff, and senators questioned whether the state could effectively enforce the labeling requirement without a national standard.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> budget and how transformational it was. budget and how transformational it was.
• Seeing 15 hands, there will requested.
• There was a study requested on youth ebike safety.
• There was a study omnibus budget bill.
• Um and requested on youth ebike safety.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I request the yeas and nays. The Speaker pro tempore: The yeas and nays are requested.
• I REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
• SPEAKER, I REQUEST THE -- MR. GREEN: MR. SPEAKER, I REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS.
• Green: Request the yeas and nays. The Speaker pro tempore: The yeas and nays are requested.
• GREEN: REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I still do not have the voter rolls that I requested.
• for ballot applications, and that request remains unfulfilled.
• They produced all requested records promptly and at no charge.
• CPA, and he tells me everything goes back to the budget, right?
• My county's budget is $2,102 out of my $30,000 yearly budget.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're requesting requesting requesting an<00:59:20.319><c> increase</c><00:59:20.559><c> in</c><00:59
• I'm anticipating a very tight budget. budget. budget. &gt;&gt; Yes,<01:04:28.160><c> sir.
• We're just in tight budget times now.
• We're just in tight budget times now.
• We're just in tight budget times now.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met without a quorum, so the minutes were not approved. The main presentation was from retired economics professors John Garren and Dr. Kums, who discussed their Bluegrass Institute research on teacher compensation in Kentucky since the Kentucky Education Reform Act era. They said teacher base salaries, adjusted for inflation, have declined over the last decade, while state-paid “on-behalf” benefits such as pension and health insurance contributions have risen sharply; they argued total teacher compensation has increased modestly overall, but less than per-pupil funding. They also presented broader context on staffing growth, declining average daily attendance, Kentucky’s low share of teachers among total school staff, and flat or weak NAEP and ACT performance trends, including widening white-Black score gaps on NAEP. Members questioned the methodology and interpretation of the compensation figures. Representative Bojanowski argued the on-behalf calculations may overstate teacher compensation because they include insurance and pension costs that also benefit classified employees and retirees, and he asked for clarification on the denominator used to derive the per-teacher amount. Representative Truit said the presentation could be misleading if it implies teachers earn $94,000 in salary, and he objected to framing pension stabilization payments as teacher pay. The presenters responded that they were using total compensation, not salary alone, said they had divided total personnel-related on-behalf payments by the relevant staff count, and promised to review and send a technical explanation. Representative Truit and Chairman Typton both emphasized that compensation should be viewed as salary plus benefits, not salary alone, and noted that pension contributions are part of the cost of employing teachers. The presenters said their intent was to show the full compensation package and its relevance to labor supply and teacher shortages, not to claim that individual teachers earn the total compensation figure as salary. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the decision to revisit the minutes at a later meeting due to the lack of quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, and I would request a roll call. Roll call requested. Roll call granted.
• other at the request of of the<00:26:29.080><c> author.
• I'd like to request a roll call. Roll call requested. Roll call granted. Any other discussion?
• I'd like to request you, Mr. President.
• Roll call requested. Roll a roll call. Roll call requested. Roll call<00:34:05.440><c> granted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For employers who already fund a large share of New Mexico's budget.
• A very prudent raise, given our budget situation, and that gets stripped out from under Them.
• They're trying to figure out—we're all in the budget cycle right now, right?
• I did just get a request for a quick comment from Representative Padajohn.
• That matters a lot because you all know what it means to manage those city budgets.

Bills: SB240

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• Big banks drain public resources, a significant portion of city and state budgets...
• And our total state budget is about 20 billion, rough numbers.
• the transportation budget, are around $25 billion.
• Budget issues are chronic and recurring.
• shortfall that Tacoma was dealing with this past budget cycle.

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finance Chair Joan Huffman, for finding the $699 million that we have out of the $700 million budget.
• Our budget from the Finance Chair was $700 million.
• Adopt their budgets and tax rates before entering the election cycle.
• Members, if I could have your attention, Senator Parker has a special request.
• Members, if I could have your attention, Senator Parker has a special request. Thank you, Mr.

Bills: SJR12 , SJR81 , SCR39 , SB22 , SB32 , SB241 , SB393 , SB414 , SB458 , SB464 , SB568 , SB583 , SB609 , SB660 , SB693 , SB731 , SB732 , SB746 , SB783 , SB785 , SB897 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1008 , SB1029 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1120 , SB1122 , SB1147 , SB1163 , SB1188 , SB1197 , SB1209 , SB1227 , SB1245 , SB1267 , SB1307 , SB1321 , SB1332 , SB1386 , SB1394 , SB1396 , SB1470 , SB1494 , SB1537 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1610 , SB1664 , SB1814 , SB1822 , SB1841 , SB1948 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2406 , SB2407

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, tax exemption, ad valorem, tangible personal property, income production, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, approval of routine motions, and the reading of gubernatorial nominations and several honorary resolutions. The chamber adopted resolutions recognizing Jack and Jill of America Day and DJ Daniel Day at the Capitol, with multiple senators offering remarks praising youth leadership, perseverance, and public service. The Senate also introduced the Doctor of the Day and then proceeded to a long series of floor actions on bills. A major focus was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 568, which overhauls special education funding and services in public schools by moving from a placement-based model to an intensity-based system tied to student needs and IEPs. Senators Bettencourt, Creighton, and Menendez emphasized transparency, parent input, evaluation funding, dyslexia services, and better alignment of funding with actual services; Senator Hinojosa shared a personal story about dyslexia and the importance of early intervention. The bill was advanced on second and third reading and finally passed 30-0. The Senate also passed SB 1396 to prohibit national sex education standards in public schools, SB 2065 on the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System, SB 1664 requiring clearer public disclosure of transmission and distribution utility rate changes, SB 1029 on advertising certain used motor vehicles, SB 1120 expanding rights for family violence victims, SB 1036 regulating residential solar retail transactions, SB 464 creating school-proximity restrictions and penalties for tobacco and vaping sales, SB 1035 giving farmers and ranchers equitable relief from certain local agricultural regulations, SB 1610 addressing civil commitment facility safety and prosecution issues, SB 1197 extending drone restrictions to spaceports, and SB 1386 changing legislative witness immunity from transactional to testimonial immunity. Another major bill was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1188, which updates electronic health record requirements. Senator Kolkhorst said the bill builds on Texas medical privacy law by requiring U.S.-based storage of EMR data, prohibiting recording of voter registration status and credit score information, requiring provider verification and disclosure for AI-assisted diagnosis or treatment recommendations, preserving parental access to minors’ records until age 18, and ensuring EMRs can capture metabolic health and biological sex information. A floor amendment clarified the bill’s scope and enforcement, and the bill passed 23-7. Several measures drew debate, especially SB 414 on bond ballot transparency, where Senators Eckhardt and Menendez questioned whether requiring estimated interest and total debt cost on ballots could be misleading or difficult to implement because interest rates and financing terms can change before issuance or over time. The transcript ends during that discussion, with no final action shown on SB 414.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know we're going to come back and do the budget.
• We know we're going to come back and do the budget.
• Is this a policy cloaked in a budget crisis that's some kind of misdirection?
• What do we think, how can we get there, knowing our budget constraints, where we are in our budget timeline
• To participate and requested that they be removed. That is the amendment.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A school district in Montecito, 60 percent of their budget was a settlement.
• Budget Center's conference with 500 people.
• Thank you, and we request an aye vote. Thank you. Thank you, Chair and members.
• And with that, we respectfully request your aye vote on SB 954. Thank you.
• With that, I respectfully request your aye vote.

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit to help agricultural employers offset overtime wage costs for farmworkers. Senator Grove and supporters, including farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, Western Growers, and other agricultural groups, argued that California’s ag overtime law has reduced take-home pay by limiting hours and that the credit would help employers continue offering overtime while putting more money back into workers’ paychecks. Opponents, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and CRLA Foundation, argued the bill would subsidize employers for complying with the law, shift costs to taxpayers, and set a precedent for industry-specific carve-outs. The bill was held in subcommittee and taken up later when more members arrived. The committee then considered SB 1083, a follow-up to last year’s school employee misconduct database law. Senator Perez said the bill would add due process protections for classified school employees by requiring an administrative law judge review before placement in the statewide egregious misconduct database, require notice when an employee leaves during an investigation, and extend vetting to some contractors and non-permanent workers. Supporters, including the California School Employees Association and California Federation of Teachers, said the bill balances student safety with fairness for employees who could be wrongly accused. Opponents, including school business officials, joint powers authorities, administrators, and school employers, warned the bill could delay investigations, create conflicting timelines, and weaken child-safety protections. The committee approved SB 1083 on a 3-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. SB 1089, authored by Senator Richardson, would require CalPERS health plans to cover GLP-1 medications for chronic weight management and direct CalRx to help make the drugs more affordable. The senator described the bill as a response to personal experience with coverage denials and high out-of-pocket costs, and said broader access could improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The American Diabetes Association and other medical groups supported the measure, citing diabetes prevention and treatment benefits, while a pharmaceutical industry representative said there were still concerns but noted ongoing discussions. The committee passed SB 1089 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar. The committee next heard SB 954, which would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by narrowing the definition and adding environmental, tribal, labor, and community protections, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce requirements, and review for projects near disadvantaged communities. Support came from labor unions, environmental groups, and community organizations, which said the bill would restore oversight and prevent harmful projects from bypassing CEQA. Business groups and chambers of commerce opposed, arguing the bill would make the exemption too restrictive, discourage investment, and worsen California’s manufacturing job losses. The bill passed 3-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1299, which would codify training and certification standards for fire sprinkler fitters after a court decision invalidated prior regulations on procedural grounds; the author and supporters said the bill is needed to protect public safety and ensure qualified installation of fire suppression systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request you to oppose House Bill 1393, which would institute permanent daylight saving
• The office must provide a biennial strategic plan to the governor and the legislative budget board.
• Um, I led the, uh, Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group on behalf of the PUC as requested by
• Request favorable consideration.
• Yeah, well, they, I think Congress decides the money that their, their, their budgets and so forth.

Bills: HB 14 , HB 106 , HB 146 , HB 267 , HB 274 , HB 1127 , HB 1359 , HB 1393 , HB 1584 , HB 1640 , HB 1710 , HB 2152 , HCR 101 , HJR 8 , HR 51

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• For these reasons, I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you. Thank you, Chair Members.
• I think the agricultural interest was added at the request of the negotiations that we have with the
• That was the request she made of the bill. So we thought it was good. Works for the member.
• That was the request she made of the bill.
• So my only request—I'm going to support this.

Committee: House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• RESOLUTION 1908 ON BUDGET STABILIZATION FUNDING AND SENATOR HOOPER.
• WE HAVE A BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND AS YOU KNOW AND HAVE DISCUSSED.
• WE ARE LOOKING AT FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS.
• YEAR AND THEN THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND THINK OF IT AS A RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.
• THIS IS A HUNDRED 50 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's school budget support of this bill.
• </c><00:08:55.440><c> by</c> reduced the operating budget by reduced the operating budget by $900,000
• And we already saw that last school budget year. They clipped $2 million off of our budget.
• </c> force for teachers due to budget force for teachers due to budget constraints.<01:27:29.760><c>
• </c> defended herself after repeated requests defended herself after repeated requests were<02:25:25.120

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Remembering that, Representative Noble requested that we add the language that is in many bills, which
• A requester will request a broad set of information, and sometimes they'll come back and say, well, it's
• P1 coverage is when the Lyft or Uber driver has the app on and is waiting for ride requests from the
• Members, this is a cleanup bill requested by the House Committee on.
• the Legislative Budget Board, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Bills: HB111

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all