Transcript Highlights:

• On December 20, 2023, Judge Tostengard granted us a preliminary injunction preventing the law from taking
• We support this contingent appropriation to ensure any court-awarded fees are paid promptly, preventing
• interest acral and additional preventing interest acral and additional taxpayer<00:04:42.199><c> burden
• </c><00:52:50.640><c> that</c> activities and this was a measure that activities and this was a measure
• </c> different Bill uh uh preventing different Bill uh uh preventing candidates<01:24:54.480><c> from

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• county commissions more flexibility by allowing them to use this funding for wildlife conflict prevention
• county commissions more flexibility by allowing them to use this funding for wildlife conflict prevention
• AB 1660 is a straightforward measure to ensure that financial institutions are responsive to public guardians

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Dental Assisting National Board's infection control exam tests whether a person knows how to prevent
• The Dental Assisting National Board's infection control exam tests, whether a person knows how to prevent
• This is a small but meaningful affordability assistance measure, ensuring that money that belongs to

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee met first without quorum and heard several bills in subcommittee before later reconvening and taking formal votes. The consent calendar included SB 1263, SB 1148, SB 1376, and SB 1391. The committee also heard SB 1002, SB 1311, and SB 1416, all of which were ultimately advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with SB 1311 amended. After quorum was reached, the committee later ratified the earlier actions and adjourned. SB 1002 by Senator Niello would expand the David Hall Act to allow certain patients who were originally eligible for out-of-state telehealth care because of an immediately life-threatening diagnosis to continue receiving that care after entering remission. Supporters, including a cancer survivor, said the bill would preserve continuity of care for patients who still need specialist monitoring. The Medical Board of California and the California Medical Association opposed the bill, arguing that licensure is an important consumer protection and that the bill would weaken oversight and standards of care. Senator Caballero supported the measure, emphasizing access to care, especially for rural patients. SB 1311, presented by the chair, updates the Dental Practice Act so unlicensed dental assistants can satisfy infection control training requirements either through the Dental Assisting National Board exam or approved courses. The California Dental Association and California Association of Orthodontists supported the bill, saying it would help strengthen the dental workforce and improve patient access. The California Academy of General Dentistry raised concerns that the exam option lacked hands-on training and should be limited unless amended. The committee approved the bill as amended. SB 1416 by Senator Wahab would shorten from 30 days to 21 days the time a physician or dentist has to refund duplicate payments to consumers. Support was brief and largely focused on the bill’s consumer affordability benefits, and no opposition was voiced. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Newell to enact Hodel 33, relative to Arlene’s Parish, to create the Regency Park Townhomes Crime Prevention
• Crime Prevention and Security District, and to provide relative to the district’s boundaries, purpose
• House Bill 112 by Representative Beaham, relocation of a child, specified miles measuring for the relocation

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a series of personal privileges and ceremonial recognitions. Members offered remarks honoring Representative Wright’s uncle, a Korean War veteran, and presented House Resolution 4 honoring former Speaker Joe R. Sauter, with several members and family members speaking about his service, humility, faith, and character. The chamber also recognized the Louisiana Federal Directors Association, celebrated Representative Bagley’s mother’s 96th birthday, welcomed Miss Natchitoches City of Lights, and later welcomed the North Shore Focus group at the Capitol. The House received Senate messages on SCR 4, SCR 7, and SCR 8, all of which lay over, and enrolled H.R. 4 through 8. Members introduced several new measures, including resolutions on the death of Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw, support for a federal voter ID measure, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Day, a study of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, and support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education; these were assigned numbers and lay over. The chamber also adopted, without objection, several resolutions already on the floor, including H.R. 10 recognizing Funeral Director’s Day, H.R. 11 honoring the crew of Eve’s 40th anniversary, H.R. 12 for Nurse Practitioner Day, H.R. 13 on Dorothy Prevost, and H.C.R. 13 honoring Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans. Committee reports and bill referrals were then taken up. New bills included a crime prevention and security district in Arlene’s Parish and consent-judgment appropriation measures. The House also received numerous committee reports, mostly favorable or with amendments, on bills dealing with court jurisdiction, child relocation, highway and bridge memorial designations, software standards of care, harmful material to minors, and ferry terminal naming. Several of these were ordered engrossed or had amendments adopted. The session ended with announcements about upcoming committee meetings, a reminder about interim emergency board ballots, and a motion to adjourn until Monday at 3:00 p.m., which passed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Newell to enact Hodel 33, relative to Arlene's Parish, create the Regency Park Townhomes Crime Prevention
• Crime Prevention Security District provides relative to the boundaries, purpose, governance, and powers
• House Bill 112 by Representative Beaham, relocation of a child, specified miles measuring for the relocation

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then used personal privilege remarks to honor a number of individuals and groups, including a moment of silence for Representative Wright’s uncle, Korean War veteran Melvin Truche, and a tribute to former Speaker Joe R. Sauter through House Resolution 4. Speakers described Sauter as a humble, faith-centered public servant and asked for a moment of silence and applause in his memory. The chamber also recognized the Louisiana Federal Directors Association, celebrated Representative Bagley’s mother’s 96th birthday, and welcomed Miss Natchitoches City of Lights and the North Shore Focus group. The House received Senate messages on SCR 4, SCR 7, and SCR 8, which would commemorate St. Patrick’s Day and designate Capitol recognition days for the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival and the Meat and Oyster Festival; all were laid over. The House also received and laid over several new measures, including resolutions on the death of Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw, voter identification and election integrity, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Day, a study of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, and support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. A new House bill was introduced to create the Regency Park Townhomes Crime Prevention Security District, and another to appropriate funds for consent judgments. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including House Resolution 10 designating Funeral Director’s Day, House Resolution 11 commending the crew of Eve on its 40th anniversary, House Resolution 12 recognizing Nurse Practitioner Day, House Resolution 13 on Dorothy Prevost, and House Concurrent Resolution 13 commending Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans. Committee reports were also received on a number of bills, including transportation and civil law measures, many involving highway and bridge designations such as memorial highways for Speaker Joe Sauter, Eugene Washington, Trevor Avenue, and others. The House also noted upcoming committee meetings, an open interim emergency board ballot deadline, and adjourned without objection until Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just on the intent, how is there a way to measure intent if somebody intends to come back or not to come
• somebody is otherwise qualified, even though they live outside of the United States, we wouldn't want to prevent
• It's in a way you're preventing voters from having choice by keeping someone off the ballot for a penalty

Bills: HB2938 , HB2939 , HB3306 , HB3722 , HB4113 , HB4123

Committee: House Elections and Ethics

Keywords: elections, national elections, state elections, voter intent, election reform, absentee voting, electronic communication, facsimile device, voting materials, military voters, campaign finance, ethics, political contributions, candidate committee, Oklahoma legislation, voter registration, political party affiliation, Independent designation, Oklahoma, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite allegations that the device and ability to administer life-saving measures were available, a
• substantially contributed to his death, having a scenario where timely CPR and AED use may have prevented
• By mandating CPR and AED training, we can turn bystanders into responders and prevent a thousand needless

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard SB 1009, which would expand Arizona’s high school CPR instruction requirements to include training on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The sponsor, Sen. Kavanaugh, said the bill would simply add a short AED component to existing CPR programs, would not require schools to buy AEDs, and would improve student readiness to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. Supporters included the American Heart Association and several students, who argued that AED familiarity can save lives and that training should be part of school safety education. Opposition came from the Arizona Education Association, which argued the bill creates an unfunded mandate, could take away from core instructional time, and may require staff time and resources beyond what schools can absorb. The Arizona School Boards Association was neutral but raised concerns about funding, training personnel, and the impact on rural and smaller districts. Sen. Miranda also questioned whether the bill was truly zero-cost and requested a fiscal note, though she said she would vote yes pending more information. After discussion, the committee voted 5-2 to give SB 1009 a do-pass recommendation. Senators Dunn, Mesnard, Warner, and Anger voted yes, while Senators Diaz and Brown voted no; Sen. Miranda voted yes with reservations. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill offers that, making it a much-needed measure in our current system. Thank you.
• SB 1522 offers greater consumer protection by clarifying what... continuing care and then preventing
• Finally, Leading Age Texas supports the consumer protection provisions within the bill, which prevent

Bills: SB500 , SB1522 , SB1137 , SB1266

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Transcript Highlights:

• Gosh, I'm trying to think because in order to measure the increase, we have to know where it's at, like
• There has been a bigger emphasis on trying to prevent it or to treat it with pharmaceuticals than on
• the recommendation that most people put forth; they wanted more research into early detection and prevention

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But overall, I guess I would say that we are now getting measures and we're able to measure what is going
• But overall, I guess I would say that we are now getting measures and we're able to measure what is going
• on with that investment. measures and we're able to measure what is going on with that investment in
• Our accountability measures are changing in the state.
• And the measure they use is a measure that has to be available for all states to collect, but we show

Summary: The committee heard first from LFC staff on a brief about New Mexico’s universal child care expansion. Staff said child care assistance has clear benefits for parents and families, but LFC has not found evidence in New Mexico that it improves children’s educational outcomes; they argued pre-K is the better tool for that goal. The brief highlighted four concerns with universal access: an estimated annual cost of about $849.7 million, a sharp decline in registered homes, possible crowding out of lower-income families, and reduced access for children under age two. Staff also suggested possible mitigations such as prioritizing slots for low-income and at-risk families, reinstating sliding-scale co-pays, and tying quality improvements to workforce wages. Members raised questions about the cost estimate, funding sources, provider quality, and whether the data showed actual crowding out. Several lawmakers expressed support for child care generally but concern about the fiscal impact and whether universal access would divert resources from the families most in need. Others emphasized the importance of child care for workforce participation, rural communities, and family stability, and questioned how registered homes are counted and regulated. LFC staff clarified that the cost estimate was for child care assistance only, not the entire ECECD budget, and that the data showed declines in the share of lowest-income children and infants/toddlers served, though not causation. The ECECD secretary then presented the department’s response, saying universal child care is intended to complete a cradle-to-career system and that the department has already seen strong uptake, increased capacity, and rising workforce participation. She said 6,206 families were found eligible in the first month, the share of infants and toddlers served rose, and new provider applications and licensed slots increased after the November rollout. The department also emphasized wage increases, quality improvements, and a new wage scale/career lattice, while projecting a lower near-term cost than LFC’s estimate and requesting additional funding for child care, early pre-K, home visiting, workforce systems, and capacity-building. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• These investments help Washington prevent harm rather than simply respond to it. Thank you.
• First, this bill provides essential funding for prevention and cessation.
• Tobacco taxes are one of the strongest tools we have to prevent youth initiation.
• This generates much needed revenue and prevents future health care costs.
• that prevents youth use.

Summary: House Finance held public hearings on three Senate bills. SB 6129 would raise cigarette taxes, replace current nicotine/vapor product taxes with a 95% tax on nicotine products, and adjust revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account, the Foundational Public Health Services account, and a youth prevention account; staff and supporters said it would correct an unintended loss of public health funding and reduce youth nicotine use, while opponents argued it would be highly regressive, harm retailers and wholesalers, and push sales into illicit markets. SB 6231 would repeal the data center sales tax exemption for refurbishment and end replacement server equipment eligibility; the sponsor and staff said it would raise roughly $200 million and remove an obsolete preference, while labor, port, business, and data center representatives opposed it, citing lost jobs, reduced investment, and concerns about upsetting existing contracts and rural economic development. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for warehousing and reselling prescription drugs and create a lower preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; the sponsor said it would restore horizontal equity in the tax code and offset impacts on rural pharmacies, but pharmacy groups, wholesalers, retailers, and business organizations warned it would raise medication costs, worsen pharmacy closures, and be passed through to patients. The committee heard extensive public testimony on all three bills. Supporters of SB 6129 included public health, cancer, pediatric, and emergency medicine advocates who emphasized youth prevention, cessation funding, and long-term health savings; opponents included tobacco, vape, retail, and business groups who said the bill would increase black-market activity and burden small businesses. SB 6231 drew opposition from construction trades, ports, local governments, chambers, and data center interests, who argued the tax preference supports ongoing construction, permanent jobs, and local tax bases, while committee questions focused on whether the bill would affect existing refurbishment contracts. SB 6228 was opposed by pharmacy associations, independent pharmacists, wholesalers, grocery retailers, and AWB, who said the tax increase would be passed through and could accelerate pharmacy desert conditions; the sponsor and supporters framed the bill as a correction to an outdated preference and a way to protect critical access pharmacies. No votes were taken; each hearing was closed, and the chair announced amendment requests were due Thursday at 5 p.m. and amendments posted by Friday at 5 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was preventable. This lawsuit was preventable.
• are here to pass thorough, funded, effective policies about things people care about, like fraud prevention
• Thank you. care about like fraud prevention to combat that some people are really honestly doing everything
• The differences aren't theoretical; they're measurable. It's consistent across nearly every sport.
• The differences aren't theoretical; they're measurable. It's consistent across nearly every sport.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Persons-Mulicka: ...including preventing foreign influence operations at the local government
• foreign influence operations at the local government level. including preventing foreign influence operations
• voucher, homeschool, charter, or public — we make sure you're learning by some sort of accountability measure
• , that we make sure you're getting your ESE services by some sort of accountability measure, and you
• There were these provisions in there that preempted local governments that really prevented local governments

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Virginia Right to Contraception Act and codifies a person's right to access contraception by preventing
• any state or local government action taken to prevent access to contraception.
• And finally, we compromised on the enforcement section, taking the more measured approach.
• action taken to prevent access to contraception.
• And finally, we compromised on the enforcement section taking the more measured approach.

Keywords: March 12, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• concerns about what is being done with them that are very real, very urgent, and we have no ability to prevent
• concerns on what is being done with them that are very real, very urgent, and we have no ability to prevent
• And again, regardless of who the governor is, right now, what's to prevent someone from saying we're
• We appreciate the Senate amendments that narrowed this bill in a couple of different measures, but we
• That narrowed this bill in a couple of different measures, but we still strongly believe that Senate

Bills: SB6011

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: court security, bailiffs, threat assessment, judicial safety, law enforcement, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• stratosphere, things such as sulfur dioxide and aluminum to reflect sunlight back into space and prevent
• </c><00:07:55.599><c> the</c><00:07:55.759><c> earth</c> back into space and prevent the earth back into
• space and prevent the earth from<00:07:56.160><c> warming.
• measure for the future.
• And for the purposes of the discussion today, we will be discussing catfish that measure 35 inches or

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 01:05 HB 313 Discussion 02:16 HB 313 Roll Call Vote 04:33 HB 60 Discussion 05:30 HB 60 Roll Call Vote 20:12 HB 397 Discussion 21:18 HB 397 Roll Call Vote 31:35, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then finally, we talked about whether this would be a prospective measure or not.
• kiosk regulation, and Senator Rousson deserves recognition for crafting a bill that takes fraud prevention
• This is a cutting-edge approach and will prevent fraud before it happens.
• And really, the decision you all need to make is, do we, if we pass this measure, are we willing to fund
• Second, this bill does not prevent airports from instituting and collecting fair and reasonable fees.

Bills: S0198 , S0422 , S1236 , S1356 , S1456 , S1722

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, ADS-B, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, aviation, airports, airport fees, landing fees, departure fees, touch-and-go landing, general aviation, pilot privacy, airspace radius, aircraft tracking

Summary: The committee first postponed SB 1456, then heard SB 1236, which would condition state economic development incentives on employers using secret-ballot union elections and prohibit neutrality agreements. The sponsor argued the bill protects workers from coercion and applies only to companies receiving taxpayer-funded incentives; opponents said it was government interference, likely to hurt contractors, apprenticeships, and business growth, and raised concerns about federal preemption and Attorney General enforcement. After debate, the committee reported SB 1236 favorably on a recorded vote. The committee then considered CS/SB 198, a measure to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks by requiring operator registration, fraud warnings, transaction limits, blockchain analytics, receipts, and refund protections for certain first-time transactions tied to fraud. Supporters from the banking industry, AARP, and others said the bill would help stop scams that are targeting seniors and vulnerable adults; one industry witness supported the bill but suggested narrowing the limits for existing users and shortening the new-customer period. The committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1356 on dog breeding, pet sales, and breeder registration. The sponsor said the bill is intended to curb puppy mills, improve animal welfare, and add consumer protections, while an amendment removed state oversight of local animal shelters. Pet store representatives supported much of the bill but objected to the three-day waiting period for financed purchases, expanded reimbursement, and unfair trade practice penalties; others argued the bill would add red tape and litigation. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 1722 on app stores and minors, which would require age verification, parental consent for minors, app-content disclosures, and enforcement by the Department of Legal Affairs. Supporters said the bill would help parents protect children online; opponents warned it could force collection of sensitive personal data, create privacy and constitutional problems, and duplicate existing parental tools. Members debated the balance between child safety and privacy, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 422 on ADS-B aviation data, which would bar use of ADS-B information to calculate certain landing or access fees; an amendment added departures to the restriction. Pilots supported the bill as a safety and privacy measure, while airport representatives opposed it as undermining airport finances and shifting costs. The amendment was adopted, and the hearing on the bill began with testimony from both sides.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then finally, we talked about whether this would be a prospective measure or not.
• kiosk regulation, and Senator Rousson deserves recognition for crafting a bill that takes fraud prevention
• kiosk regulation, and Senator Rousson deserves recognition for crafting a bill that takes fraud prevention
• This is a cutting-edge approach and will prevent fraud before it happens.
• Second, this bill does not prevent airports from instituting and collecting fair and reasonable fees.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees experience frustration, burnout, anxiety, and loss of a sense of agency, and loss prevention
• She said the bill is a great accountability measure and the first step in a broader effort to solve the
• Arresting individuals who exploited me would not have prevented my exploitation as a child.
• Accountability is prevention. Accountability is protection. Accountability is prevention.
• The government cannot continue to fail its people with weak accountability measures for the greatest

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2209 would add 12- or 24-month sentencing enhancements for theft-related offenses when the value of stolen, possessed, or trafficked property exceeds $20,000 or $50,000, respectively. Rep. Mari Leavitt said the bill targets organized retail theft and related violence, emphasizing business losses, worker safety, and links to broader criminal activity. Supporters included prosecutors, retailers, law enforcement, and city officials who described organized retail crime as coordinated, underreported, and harmful to employees and communities. Opponents argued theft trends are declining, existing penalties are sufficient, and sentencing enhancements would worsen incarceration and racial disparities. The hearing on HB 2209 was left open for additional testimony. House Bill 2403 would revise penalties for failure to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender, including lowering the seriousness level for second and subsequent offenses from level 2 to level 1 in the proposed substitute. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive or neutral. Proponents from the Sex Offender Policy Board, sentencing commission, public defenders, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives said the bill reflects long-negotiated recommendations, better matches the offense’s administrative nature, and may improve compliance by pairing shorter prison terms with community custody and supervision. The committee then closed the public hearing on HB 2403. House Bill 1591, in a proposed substitute, would create a sentencing alternative, resentencing option, and conviction-vacation process for defendants who are verified survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, where abuse was the primary and proximate cause of the offense. Supporters, including survivor advocates, prosecutors involved in diversion programs, and researchers, said many incarcerated women are survivors and current law often fails to account for coercion and trauma. Some witnesses urged broader eligibility and less reliance on formal documentation. Prosecutors and sheriffs’ representatives expressed concerns about discretion, potential public-safety impacts, and whether existing sentencing factors already address these cases. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2526, which would rename patronizing a prostitute as commercial sexual exploitation, expand the offense to include providing anything of value, elevate it from a misdemeanor to a Class C felony, and increase associated fees. Supporters framed it as a response to trafficking, exploitation, and violence against women and children, while opponents—many of them sex workers or survivors—argued it would criminalize consensual adult sex work, push the industry further underground, and reduce safety and income for vulnerable people.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:31.800><c> of</c> effort when it comes to prevention of effort when it comes to prevention
• proactive measures were pest additional proactive measures were taken<00:12:39.880><c> that</c><00:12
• Preventing new introductions is critical to our work.
• But prevention is also highly cost effective if we look at it.
• But prevention is also highly cost effective if we look at it.

Keywords: 912, senate, all