Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1233 Allen, utility rate information, holding committee.
• SB 1112, Archuleta, towing companies, holding committee.
• SB 1098, Perez, forecast based rate making, due pass. That's out on a B roll call.
• SB 946, Seyarto, escrow rating service, due pass. That's out on an A roll call.
• SB 1037, Weber-Person, health insurance, rate review, do pass out on a B roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 13, 2026 suspense-file hearing on Senate bills, with the chair opening by thanking staff and recognizing consultant Jennifer Swenson’s retirement after 30 years in the Legislature. The committee explained that it was weighing the fiscal impact of 293 bills and that some would move forward while others would be held because of cost, duplication, or competing budget priorities. The committee then took up the suspense file in alphabetical order and acted on a large number of measures, sending many to the Assembly floor as due pass or due pass with amendments. Examples included bills on battery recycling, wildfire resilience loans, mobile home park disaster assistance, price gouging, veterans’ property tax exemptions, housing and insurance issues, energy and utility regulation, election procedures, criminal justice, health care, education, housing, environmental protection, and artificial intelligence. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, delay implementation, add reporting requirements, clarify definitions, or reduce costs; others were held in committee. Among the notable actions, several bills were advanced on roll calls while others were held, including measures related to water quality, utility rate information, juvenile detention, CARE Court, and various housing and energy proposals. The committee also moved a number of sunset and technical cleanup bills, and several members requested to be added as principal or joint authors on amended measures. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that the committee had moved a large number of bills to the Assembly floor, usually with amended language, and that the amended versions would be posted online. The hearing then adjourned.

Bills: SCR 22 , SB 53 , SB 204 , SB 266 , SB 268 , SB 291 , SB 292 , SB 296 , SB 304 , SB 305 , SB 413 , SB 447 , SB 455 , SB 462 , SB 493 , SB 504 , SB 519 , SB 522 , SB 532 , SB 541 , SB 667 , SB 670 , SB 673 , SB 681 , SB 687 , SB 711 , SB 746 , SB 765 , SB 783 , SB 827 , SB 850 , SB 860 , SB 888 , SB 897 , SB 901 , SB 927 , SB 955 , SB 963 , SB 984 , SB 989 , SB 993 , SB 996 , SB 1023 , SB 1033 , SB 1058 , SB 1062 , SB 1101 , SB 1119 , SB 1172 , SB 1173 , SB 1215 , SB 1220 , SB 1227 , SB 1228 , SB 1229 , SB 1238 , SB 1239 , SB 1245 , SB 1248 , SB 1254 , SB 1259 , SB 1273 , SB 1277 , SB 1302 , SB 1332 , SB 1341 , SB 1346 , SB 1350 , SB 1352 , SB 1353 , SB 1355 , SB 1358 , SB 1370 , SB 1371 , SB 1378 , SB 1403 , SB 1404 , SB 1415 , SB 1437 , SB 1448 , SB 1450 , SB 1464 , SB 1493 , SB 1494 , SB 1537 , SB 1566 , SB 1569 , SB 1589 , SB 1598 , SB 1644 , SB 1709 , SB 1719 , SB 1729 , SB 1733 , SB 1744 , SB 1772 , SB 1810 , SB 1841 , SB 1895 , SB 1930 , SB 2039 , SB 2289 , SB 2312 , SCR 1 , SCR 6 , SCR 27 , SCR 32 , SB 2232

Keywords: mental health, court proceedings, notice requirements, legal filings, electronic documents, parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, tax collection, managed audits, taxpayer rights, dispute resolution, penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 388 is the tow truck permit to use variable signs.
• Um, this is just a technology on the back of tow trucks that says slow, move over.
• Vote yes. technology on the back of tow trucks technology on the back of tow trucks that<01:37:00.639
• </c> is permissive language to allow tow is permissive language to allow tow trucks<01:37:21.840><c>
• trucks, the drivers, in to help make tow trucks, the drivers, in a<01:38:13.440><c> safer</c><01:38:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• back to the original destination point which was, you know, a couple hours, and then they called a tow
• You had to pay the bill and then the tow truck would push you off the ferry and, and then you would have

Bills: HB 408 , HB 787 , HB 1029 , HB 1126 , HB 1136 , HB 1607

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: cultural attractions, highway signs, Texas Department of Transportation, travel guidance, Museum of the Big Bend, traffic control, tourism, sunscreening devices, motor vehicle, judicial specialty license plate, vehicle safety, Texas Transportation Code, disability, parking, Governor's Committee, mobility impairment, disabled veterans, legislative recommendations, license plates, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rate of avoiding privatization. rate of avoiding privatization.
• </c><00:08:52.360><c> of</c> disproportionately high rates of disproportionately high rates of vacancies
• STS providers, the reimbursement rate is STS providers, the reimbursement rate is low,<00:36:47.440><
• You know, the car could get towed, but You know, the car could get towed, but there<00:51:51.560><c>
• ><c> low</c><01:00:45.920><c> to</c> Reimbursement rates are too low to Reimbursement rates are too low

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker. hepatitis B infection or death rates. hepatitis B infection or death rates.
• And yet, the Eversource all-in electric rates in Massachusetts are over 30% higher than their rates in
• </c><05:30:19.120><c> in</c> the Eversource all-in electric rates in the Eversource all-in electric rates
• </c><05:41:17.520><c> apparatus,</c> both plates and if they tow apparatus, both plates and if they tow
• </c><05:54:02.160><c> companies,</c> contractors, impounding tow companies, contractors, impounding tow

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> take advantage of lower interest rates. take advantage of lower interest rates.
• One of the accountability factors is graduation rate and dropout rate.
• rate.
• And then you're rate and dropout rate.
• rate than we<04:31:20.640><c> do.

Committee: House Education Funding

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s been towed away since then. Mr. Gufferson has an artificial leg. It’s hard for him to walk.
• That's been towed away since then. A mobility. Mr. Gufferson has an artificial leg.
• You have already proven that you are a citizen, and we have a high uptake rate of use of the REAL ID.

Bills: S0460 , S0748 , S1180 , S1334

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Keywords: special elections, vacancy, Governor authority, election timeframe, judicial determination, voting rights, felony, sentencing, civil rights, criminal justice, rehabilitation, elections, voter registration, citizenship, provisional ballots, election fraud

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum and took up several election-related bills. CS/SB 1180 by Senator Arrington, which creates a recall framework for elected community development district board members and also addresses synthetic turf regulation and CDD eligibility, was presented briefly and then approved unanimously. SB 460 by Senator Polsky, requiring the governor to call special elections within set deadlines after vacancies and allowing judicial relief if deadlines are not met, also passed unanimously after members discussed flexibility for emergencies and the cost of delayed elections. The committee then heard SB 748 by Senator Bracy Davis, which would add constitutional voting-rights restoration language to the sentencing score sheet given to felony defendants. Supporters said it would improve clarity and notice without changing eligibility, and the bill was favorably reported unanimously. The committee also confirmed several appointees, including Jim Milliken and Alicia McShea to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Robert P. Estalas as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and additional gubernatorial appointees listed on the agenda, all by favorable votes. The longest discussion centered on Senator Grall’s strike-all amendment for SB 1334, an elections bill dealing with citizenship verification, Real ID and SAVE database use, paper-ballot voting, candidate qualification rules, and related election administration changes. Supporters argued it would streamline verification and ensure only citizens vote, while opponents warned it would create burdens, disenfranchise eligible voters, and impose costs and administrative confusion. After extensive public testimony both for and against, the committee adopted an amendment to allow supervisors of elections to observe holidays when not otherwise required to be open, then approved the strike-all as amended by a 6-2 vote, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. The meeting then adjourned after members recorded their votes on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's been towed away since then. Mr. Gufferson has an artificial leg. It's hard for him to walk.
• That's been towed away since then. A mobility. Mr. Gufferson has an artificial leg.
• You have already proven that you are a citizen, and we have a high uptake rate of use of the Real ID.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two tiers; there's a higher rate tier that's significantly higher than the second tier.
• It was put to one rate for the co-... young couple is waiting to start until young couple is waiting
• there's a higher rate tier that's significantly<00:05:14.560><c> higher</c><00:05:14.880><c> than</c
• whichever one it is so it would be rate whichever one it is so it would be an<00:06:45.039><c> an</c
• We look at their incarceration rates, their prisons, their health care costs, and education.

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the next change requires the property to remain affordable, with rent set at an attainable rate
• I think you've meant you can't raise the rents above a certain rate.
• I don't want to confuse the committee thinking that this is a tax rate bill.
• rate.
• the rents at a maintainable rate and for the fees to also be at a maintainable rate.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on March 5, 2026, and first reordered its agenda to move RS 33471 to the end. The committee then introduced RS 33580, a proposal from Rep. Charlie Shepard concerning sales tax “sales price,” which he described as a fix for a recent Tax Commission practice of going back several years to tax and penalize businesses that had followed longstanding practice. The motion to introduce the RS passed without opposition. The committee next heard House Bill 760 from Rep. John Weber, which would create an optional county property tax exemption for workforce and affordable housing projects. Testimony from Dominium’s Austin Vanderhaden explained that the bill would allow Idaho-based nonprofit and for-profit partnerships, require rents at or below 60% of area median income, require annual county certification, and leave the exemption entirely to county discretion. Supporters from the Boise Metro Chamber, Idaho Realtors, and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry said the bill would help address housing shortages, support employers and workers, and provide a local tool for communities. The committee voted to send HB 760 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Representatives Monks, Ehlers, and Razor requested to be recorded as voting no. Finally, the committee considered RS 33471 from Rep. Jeff Ehlers, a DOGE Task Force recommendation to phase out general state funding for the Commission on Hispanic Affairs beginning July 1, 2028, while leaving the commission intact and shifting it toward private funding. Members debated whether the proposal would undermine the commission’s mission and whether it was appropriate to remove the commission from a list of charitable contribution options in the tax code. A substitute motion to return the RS to the sponsor failed, and the original motion to introduce the RS passed, with Representatives Birch and Gannon recorded as no votes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• after for use by either an authorized emergency vehicle with audible or visual signals, or both, or a tow
• They get worried about the rising floodwater, so they call 911. 911 sends the fire department, who tows
• But the fireman injures his finger hooking up the tow.

Bills: HB2543

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: county clerk, fees, local government, administrative costs, revenue generation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• after for use by either an authorized emergency vehicle with audible or visual signals, or both, a tow
• They get worried about the rising floodwater, so they call 911. 911 sends the fire department, who tows
• But the fireman injures his finger hooking up the tow.

Summary: The committee began by waiving the five-day notice rule for engrossed substitute House Bill 2095 so it could be heard that day. It then took public testimony on House Bill 2248, a technical cleanup bill affecting Secretary of State corporate and nonprofit filings, trademarks, foreign entities, and apostille procedures. The prime sponsor said the bill makes no policy changes or fee increases, while the Secretary of State’s office supported it as a clarification measure. One testifier raised concerns about multiple LLCs and transparency in manufactured home communities, asking for stronger oversight and verification. The committee then heard engrossed substitute House Bill 2508, which expands the Office of Independent Investigations’ jurisdiction over deadly-force and related non-deadly-force incidents, broadens notification and records access requirements, and exempts certain records from disclosure. The sponsor and OII testified in support, emphasizing that the bill clarifies authority and procedures; members asked about how far back investigations could go, and staff confirmed there was no time limit for deadly-force cases under the bill. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2203, creating the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations for driving around closures on hazardous roadways. The sponsor described it as a response to flood and disaster rescues, and fire chiefs supported it as a safety and accountability measure. Defense attorneys opposed it as unnecessary and disproportionate, warning of criminal penalties, license suspensions, restitution, and fiscal costs for conduct they viewed as more appropriately handled civilly. Next, Second Substitute House Bill 1909 proposed a Court Unification Task Force to study inefficiencies and inequities in Washington’s fragmented court system; the sponsor and a legal aid attorney supported it as an access-to-justice reform, while the committee noted a large number of signed-in opponents. Finally, engrossed substitute House Bill 2095 would create a rebuttable presumption of negligence for drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users in designated areas, along with education requirements and damages provisions. Supporters, including a widow, bicycling advocates, and a bike commuter, said it would improve accountability and help injured people who cannot easily prove fault; opponents from cities, trucking, and defense groups argued it would expand litigation, create liability and fee-shifting problems, and go beyond existing negligence law. After public hearings, the committee moved into executive session and advanced several bills. Substitute House Bill 2158 received a do pass recommendation. Substitute House Bill 2239, concerning family burial grounds on private property, was amended to increase a setback from public rights-of-way and easements and then received a do pass recommendation as amended. Substitute House Bill 2178 on court rules and procedures also received a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2543 on county clerk fees was advanced despite concerns about fee increases. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 on false identification as a peace officer was amended to clarify intent and then passed out of committee. The committee also adopted an amendment to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320 on firearm manufacturing, including a change allowing certain digital code and manufacturing activity for repair purposes, and discussed another amendment removing some possession prohibitions for personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• keala</c><00:45:22.280><c> to</c><00:45:22.440><c> La</c><00:45:22.880><c> Luna</c><00:45:23.280><c> tow
• </c> packed gyms from keala to La Luna tow packed gyms from keala to La Luna tow andai<00:45:24.640><

Keywords: State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• made that have gotten us to this point rather than addressing the needs that we have with the error rate
• This doesn't fix again the error rates that we're seeing, and it does not save us money.

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, voter registration, voter eligibility, felony disenfranchisement, restoration of voting rights, formerly incarcerated, reentry, parole, probation, supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• We had one state with an error rate as high as 60%. If you're... it's a 60%.
• We had one state with as high an error rate as 60 percent.
• And so we as a state, our error rate is too high.
• First, we're talking about the error rate, talking about how there is fraud.
• Is our error rate off? Yes. That is well stated.

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, voter registration, voter eligibility, felony disenfranchisement, restoration of voting rights, formerly incarcerated, reentry, parole, probation, supervision

Summary: The House convened with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including the Duncan Girls Golf Team, the Doctor of the Day, and the Nurse of the Day. Members also made personal announcements and committee meeting reminders before moving to legislation. The main floor action centered on House Bill 4422, which would require applicants for SNAP and TANF to be U.S. citizens and use the SAVE system to verify immigration status. Supporters argued it would protect taxpayer dollars, enforce the law, and reduce improper benefits use; opponents said it would deter eligible families, especially children in mixed-status households, from seeking aid and would not address DHS error rates or budget problems. After extended debate, the House passed HB 4422 by roll call vote, 18-0. The House then considered House Bill 4423, a similar measure applying the same citizenship-verification concept to Medicaid through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Debate repeated many of the same arguments about fiscal responsibility, eligibility, children’s access to benefits, and immigration enforcement. HB 4423 also passed by roll call vote, 18-0. The chamber then moved to announcements and adjourned until Monday, March 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> have also seen accommodation rates have also seen accommodation rates increase<00:27:04.039><c>
• Hotels charge different rates for different rooms.
• There's a government rate, you know, there's a rack rate.
• There's a government rate, you know, there's a rack rate.
• There's a government rate, you know, there's a rack rate.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism and Water and Land was held on March 20, 2025, on SB 1396 SD3 HD1, which would raise transient accommodations tax revenues beginning in 2027, impose a $20 per-night tax on stays booked through loyalty or rewards points, and dedicate funds to DLNR for natural resource protection, management, and restoration. The Office of the Governor, DLNR, DBEDT, the Hawaii State Energy Office, Tax Department, Hawaiian Home Lands, HI-EMA, the Climate Advisory Team, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HCDA, the Hawaii Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resource Legacy Fund, KUA, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority all testified in support or with comments, generally emphasizing the need for dedicated funding for environmental stewardship, resilience, wildfire and climate preparedness, and community-based projects. Several supporters cited polling showing broad visitor willingness to pay additional fees to protect Hawaiʻi’s resources, and DLNR and the Attorney General noted the bill aligns with broader state land-management and fire-safety priorities. Opposition came from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, which argued the bill unnecessarily raises the TAT, places more burden on visitors and visitor-dependent businesses, and could harm Maui’s still-recovering economy. The Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi initially marked opposition but then said it had misunderstood the bill’s relationship to another measure and asked to resend testimony. Expedia Group did not oppose the TAT increase itself but raised operational concerns about the new tax on loyalty-point redemptions, calling it novel and difficult to administer. The American Hotel Lodging Association and Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance were listed as having no comments present. Testifiers also suggested amendments, including dedicating the revenues to a special fund, ensuring community grants, and clarifying administrative provisions. One testifier urged the bill be used to fund hurricane shelters and stronger building standards, while another emphasized that the measure should support people and disaster resilience as well as environmental protection. During questions, members asked for the polling methodology and for a breakdown of current TAT allocations; staff indicated they could share the survey memo and began identifying existing statutory remittances. No vote or final committee action was taken during the excerpted portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the subsequent year, 14.7% error rate. So we were getting better, 14% that ain't good.
• We're likely going to see that rate going...
• Including next year, we're likely going to see that rate go up even higher, and what makes it all the
• And I guess maybe this is your guy's reward for keeping your mouths quiet and towing.
• Our poverty rate is above average, our incomes below.

Keywords: 1146, all

Bills: SB378 , SB540 , SB1061 , SB1475 , SB1531 , SB1534 , SB1684 , SB1824 , SB1826 , SB2049

Committee: House Commerce & Economic Development Oversight

Keywords: bail bondsman, bondsman license, multicounty agent bondsman, surety bondsman, Insurance Commissioner, bail bond regulation, bond deposit, forfeiture, deposit ratio, writing capacity, license transfer, power of attorney, surety bond, bail industry, Oklahoma insurance law, financial solvency, administrative action, dentist, dental hygienist, dentistry

Transcript Highlights:

• So after about a year and a half of this, I decided after I'd had to get a tow truck to tow it from Mountain
• the same thing—you’re talking about a super expensive rate.
• the same thing—you’re talking about a super expensive rate.
• The FAA will allow a state agency to have a lease at a discounted rate.
• They're rated top in the nation. They're doing amazing things. They're rated top in the nation.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, opened with prayer honoring Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboom, and approved the journal. The chamber then handled routine committee and House messages, including referrals of several Senate and House bills to standing committees, reports of enrolled measures, and gubernatorial and House transmittals. Senators also briefly returned House Bill 545 to committee because it had not been properly reported. The main floor action centered on several third-reading bills. Senate Bill 1299, limiting government use of digital identification and protecting physical ID and device privacy, passed 35-0 after debate about privacy, enforcement, and whether it would affect agency accounts. Senate Bill 1335, extending service obligations for state-supported veterinary students, passed 33-2. Senate Bill 1330, raising the small-claims limit from $5,000 to $15,000, passed unanimously by reused roll call. Senate Bill 1359, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act, drew the most debate over consumer protection versus regulation; it passed 19-16. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1348 on public outdoor target ranges and Pittman-Robertson funds, Senate Bill 1376 on declarations of candidacy, and Senate Bill 1378 modernizing off-road vehicle account and trail funding rules. Later, the chamber took up several appropriation bills: House Bills 868, 869, 870, 871, and 876 all passed, covering PERSI, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, OITS, the State Tax Commission, and the State Board of Education/higher education budgets. Those budget bills prompted extended debate over funding levels, tax collection, cybersecurity, and especially cuts to universities, community colleges, and career technical education, but each ultimately passed.