Transcript Highlights:

• PAC, from the IBEW Utility Labor Council, from the Utility Workers Union of America, Local 12, from
• Why are all of the labor unions and the advocates for ratepayers opposed to this bill?"
• WHY ARE ALL OF THE LABOR UNIONS AND THE ADVOCATES FOR RATE PAYERS OPPOSED TO THIS BILL?
• Reading off of a memo of opposition, the IBEW Utility Labor Council of New York State and the Local 12
• READING OFF OF A MEMO OF OPPOSITION, THE IBEW UTILITY LABOR COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE, AND THE LOCAL

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of utility and public service bills and resolutions. A resolution sponsored by Senator Scarcella-Spanton designating April 9, 2026, as Yellow Ribbon Day was adopted after remarks honoring veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. The chamber then moved through several Public Service Law measures focused on utility affordability, consumer protections, and PSC procedures, with some bills laid aside and others advanced. Among the bills passed were measures by Senators Mayer, Cleare, Hinchey, Comrie, and Parker. Debate on the Mayer bill centered on limiting utility expenses and fees recoverable in rate cases; supporters said it was part of a broader package to reform PSC practices, while opponents argued it would not lower current bills and had been softened from earlier versions. The Webb bill creating a residential utility usage monitoring program drew extended debate over whether it would meaningfully reduce costs, who would pay for the program, and whether it could lead to government monitoring of household usage; supporters said it would give consumers more control and transparency, while critics said it would not lower rates. The Gonzalez bill, which would add consumer protections during PSC investigations and delay shutoffs in certain circumstances, also passed after questions about whether it applied to rate cases, with the sponsor saying rate cases were explicitly excluded. Several members explained their votes, with supporters emphasizing affordability, transparency, and consumer protection, and opponents arguing the package would not address immediate rate relief and could burden ratepayers or encourage nonpayment. Senator Tedisco and others criticized PSC appointments and state energy policy, while Democratic sponsors argued the bills were part of a longer-term effort to reform utility regulation and address climate and affordability concerns. The chamber restored multiple bills to the non-controversial calendar before final votes, and the recorded results showed passage of the major utility bills by substantial margins, along with one amendment appeal being ruled nongermane and rejected.

Transcript Highlights:

• They just said, oh, it's to cover increased cost of construction and labor.
• communicate with you, but you also stated that they told you that it was due to construction costs and labor
• For labor, for materials, all of this stuff has skyrocketed since COVID, and none of it's dropping back
• So I could see a 61% cost increase, let alone just in materials and labor, but then you also have the
• seven and a half percent, that I've checked is somewhere in the area of 6.5 to 7.5% materials and labor

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11 minutes, then unanimously sent House Bill 721 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. HB 721, sponsored by Representative Crane, expands an existing 30-day initial plan review timeline from public school projects to all public works projects. Crane and supporters from the Idaho Associated General Contractors said the bill would improve efficiency, reduce regulatory burden, and let projects go to bid sooner; no opposition testified. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 618, a wildfire insurance transparency bill sponsored by Representatives Sauter and Church. The bill would require insurers using wildfire or catastrophe models to disclose certain risk-model information and mitigation-related details to policyholders and to the Department of Insurance, with annual data collection and website posting. Sponsors and several homeowners and fire-related witnesses said the measure would help consumers understand nonrenewals, appeal ratings, and learn what mitigation steps matter; opponents, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and some committee members, argued it could expose proprietary information, increase compliance costs, and raise premiums. After debate, the committee rejected a motion to send the bill forward and instead voted to hold HB 618 in committee. House Bill 817, sponsored by Representative Petsky, was then advanced to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The bill would allow mobile cigar-event businesses and related “cigar garden” operations under tobacco permitting rules, with age restrictions and compliance checks still in place. Supporters described it as a small-business and entrepreneurship update, while opponents worried mobile retail would make tobacco compliance enforcement harder; the sponsor said the Department of Health and Welfare believed enforcement could still work. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 801 from Representative Redman, which would ease land-use barriers for faith-based organizations to develop housing and related uses on religious land. Redman said the bill is intended to help churches use underutilized land for attainable housing and services, while preserving guardrails such as setbacks from heavy industrial uses, airports, and military zones. Members raised concerns about parking, building height, setbacks, and airport rules, and Redman said he was open to amendments; the transcript ends during that discussion before any final action on HB 801.

Transcript Highlights:

• They just said, oh, it's to cover increased cost of construction and labor.
• communicate with you, but you also stated that they told you that it was due to construction costs and labor
• For labor, for materials, all of this stuff has skyrocketed since COVID, and none of it's dropping back
• So I could see a 61% cost increase, let alone just in materials and labor, but then you also have the
• seven and a half percent, that I've checked is somewhere in the area of 6.5 to 7.5% materials and labor

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11 minutes, then unanimously sent House Bill 721 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. HB 721, as explained by Representative Crane, expands an earlier proposal to require a 30-day initial plan review timeline not only for public schools but for all public works projects. Supporters from the Idaho Associated General Contractors said the bill would improve efficiency, reduce regulatory burden, and help projects move to bid sooner without waiting for final plan approval. The committee then took up House Bill 618, a wildfire insurance transparency bill sponsored by Representatives Sauter and Church. The sponsors said the bill would require insurers using wildfire or catastrophe risk models to disclose information about those models, mitigation options, and related data to policyholders and the Department of Insurance, with the goal of helping homeowners and businesses understand non-renewals, premium increases, and ways to reduce risk. Several property owners testified about steep premium increases, cancellations, and difficulty getting clear explanations from insurers, while the sponsors argued the bill would improve consumer information and mirror laws already in place in several western states. Opponents, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and an ICRMP representative, argued the bill was overly broad, could raise costs, and would improperly sweep in governmental insurers and proprietary rating methods. After debate, the committee rejected a motion to send the bill forward and instead voted to hold HB 618 in committee. House Bill 817, which would allow a mobile cigar business permit and related “cigar garden” operations, was then introduced by Representative Petsky. Supporters said the bill would create a new small-business opportunity without changing existing tobacco age restrictions or use rules, while opponents from the American Heart Association/Tobacco Free Idaho raised concerns about enforcement and the difficulty of conducting compliance checks on mobile retailers. After testimony from the sponsor, industry representatives, and a small-business owner, the committee passed HB 817 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, Representative Redman began presenting House Bill 801, a religious-lands housing bill intended to let faith-based organizations use their land for attainable housing and related community uses. Early questions focused on parking, building height, setbacks, and airport-related restrictions, and the sponsor said he was open to amendments to address concerns about unintended effects and “poison pill” local requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation
• Labor costs have gone up 25%.
• Hensel Phelps has provided an enormous amount of volunteer energy and labor in the community.
• Hensel Phelps has provided an enormous amount of volunteer energy and labor in the community.
• delay adds another million and a half or two million dollars to a project, given your 25% or your 11% labor

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused first on courthouse facility funding and then on the Governor’s proposed court facilities budget. Legislative Analyst’s Office staff outlined the state’s court-facilities funding structure, including the 2002 shift of trial court facility responsibility from counties to the state, the main funding accounts, the insolvency of the construction fund, the move to General Fund support, the backlog of deferred maintenance, and the large estimated cost of needed new construction and repairs. Judicial Council representatives and judges from Los Angeles and Mendocino described severe seismic, safety, ADA, security, and maintenance problems, with examples of floods, elevator failures, asbestos-related closures, and long-delayed or underfunded projects. They argued that chronic underinvestment is making facilities less safe and more expensive to maintain, and that courthouse conditions directly affect access to justice and public confidence. Committee members pressed witnesses on how projects are prioritized, whether population and filing volume are adequately reflected, why reassessments have not been updated since 2019, how long acquisitions and construction take, and what level of funding would actually close the gap. Members also questioned the fixed county contribution, the use of General Fund backfills, and whether the state should set a clearer long-term funding target for the judicial branch. LAO staff emphasized that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other budget priorities and said the Legislature must decide its appetite for funding. Judicial Council staff said the current prioritization was based on the 2019 reassessment and trailer bill language, that a new reassessment would cost about $14 million, and that acquisition delays are often driven by willing-seller issues and CEQA requirements. The chair asked for written testimony and indicated the committee would consider a future field hearing. In the second panel, Judicial Council and Department of Finance representatives reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for court facilities. They said the proposal includes continued backfill for the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, several new construction and reappropriation items, relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building, and completion of a fire/life-safety project in Orange County. A court executive from Ventura testified that courthouse conditions affect public trust, employee morale, and the quality of service, citing roof leaks, elevator breakdowns, and HVAC failures as examples of why sustained facilities funding is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation
• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation
• Labor costs have gone up 25%.
• Hensel Phelps has provided an enormous amount of volunteer energy and labor in the community.
• delay adds another million and a half or two million dollars to a project, given your 25% or your 11% labor

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused on courthouse facility funding and the Governor’s budget proposals for the judicial branch. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the state’s courthouse funding structure, including the Trial Court Facilities Act, the main facility funds, the fixed county facility payment, and the heavy reliance on General Fund backfill. LAO also explained that the state’s construction funds were depleted after large transfers and declining fine-and-fee revenue, leaving a backlog of roughly 80 construction projects and more than 22,000 deferred maintenance projects statewide. Members and witnesses discussed the long timelines for capital projects, the need for reassessments, and the impact of inflation, CEQA, and site acquisition delays. Judicial branch representatives, including Justice Hill, Judge Moorman, and Judge Tapia, testified that courthouses across the state face serious seismic, ADA, security, and maintenance problems. They described cost-cutting efforts in design and construction, but emphasized that many facilities are aging and unsafe, with examples from Los Angeles, Compton, Ukiah, and other courts involving flooding, elevator failures, asbestos issues, and closures that disrupted thousands of cases. Judge Moorman highlighted the Ukiah courthouse replacement as an example of a project that is on time and on budget and would improve access, safety, and community services. Judge Tapia stressed that deferred maintenance in Los Angeles County alone exceeds $1.4 billion and argued that preventive maintenance is fiscally prudent because emergency repairs and closures are more costly. Committee members pressed the panel on how priorities are set, whether caseload and population growth are adequately reflected, how quickly projects can be accelerated, and what level of funding would actually meet statewide needs. The Department of Finance and Judicial Council staff explained that the county contribution is fixed and not inflation-adjusted, that acquisitions require willing sellers and can be delayed by CEQA and market conditions, and that the Judicial Council’s prioritization process was based on 2019 criteria that may need updating. LAO cautioned that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other state priorities and suggested the Legislature decide what level of funding it is willing to support. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for courthouse facilities, which include backfill for the construction fund, selected new construction and judgeship-related projects, and major facility modifications such as the Orange County Central Justice Center and relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we also do labor and industry funds and permanent funds.
• We have a number of labor and industry funds.
• We have a number of labor and industry funds.
• Madam Chair, committee members, my name is Jeff Johnson, former president of the Washington State Labor
• I am the president of the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Bills: SB5439, SB6109, SB6304

Keywords: investment, thermal coal, divestment, state investment board, fossil fuels, environmental impact, renewable energy, detention facilities, state funds, privatization, criminal justice reform, Washington State Investment Board, responsible investment, sustainability, corporate governance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also require an OBGYN add-on payment... ...to support hospitals providing labor and delivery
• HB 18 goes further with regard to labor and delivery payments, specifically in the areas of Medicaid
• Labor and delivery is a 24-hour service that requires specialized staff, equipment, and space.
• They don't do labor and delivery in rural Texas when they might have the ability to do it.
• In the midst of a physical recovery from labor or surgery, Parents are now forced to make impossible

Bills: HB18, HB37, HB116, HB388, HB879, HB913, HB1151, HB2216, HB2358, HB2809, SB577, SB1590, SB1782, SB1887, SB2744, HB18, HB37, HB116

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, perinatal bereavement, healthcare, hospital training, bereavement support, maternal care, fetal demise, stillbirth, neonatal death, parent-child relationship, involuntary termination, family law, child welfare, child protection, HB 388, HB388

Transcript Highlights:

• Then turning on slide 7 to the national labor market, there was almost no change from August to December
• You've probably seen headlines that each month when labor statistics are released, the headline is usually
• that the U.S. labor market is performing a little stronger than expected, and that we revised upward
• So, we continue to see a stronger labor market in the U.S.
• I'm the Secretary of the Department of Labor and the Director of Finance and Administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide 400 direct family-wage skilled jobs in a region where diversification doesn't come easily
• Bryant said, if you have a habitual captain that's coming through that, and I don't know, that's a skill
• , very skilled.
• I just don't want to— That's a skill, very skilled. I know it might be hard in the future, housing.

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 886 by Rep. Orgeron, which would make seasonal catch totals and related reporting for the commercial menhaden fishery publicly available by carving out an exception to confidentiality rules. The author said the bill was intended to align with the original intent of prior reporting legislation and to ensure the public can see how much menhaden is being taken from Louisiana waters. Supporters, including Louisiana Wildlife Federation, CCA, charter captains, and recreational anglers, argued the fishery uses a public resource and that transparency is needed for policymaking. Opponents said they did not object to transparency in principle, but one speaker asked that size-sampling data be removed, arguing it has no scientific value and is already handled through NOAA and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Council processes. The committee reported HB 886 favorably without opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 855, also by Rep. Orgeron, which would establish a 22-foot depth requirement for the commercial use of purse seines in the menhaden fishery. The author said the bill was based on a state-funded bycatch study showing red drum bycatch rises sharply in shallow water and that the current quarter-mile buffer is insufficient, especially in nearshore areas where recreational fishing and sensitive habitats are concentrated. Supporters emphasized the public trust nature of menhaden, the economic value of recreational fishing, and concerns about bycatch, beach fouling, and localized depletion. Several speakers cited the bycatch study, public comments opposing the recent reduction from a half-mile to a quarter-mile buffer, and the belief that deeper-water fishing would reduce impacts on redfish and other species. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries staff and the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Scott Rayburn, answered questions about the current buffer rules, enforcement, and the science behind the 22-foot threshold. They explained that the recent reduction to a quarter-mile buffer came from a commission directive and that the department had investigated complaints but found no violations. Dr. Rayburn said the 22-foot figure came from modeling red drum bycatch as a function of depth and that the study focused on red drum because of its economic and social importance, while not analyzing every species in the same way. Opponents of the bill, including West Bank Fishing and Ocean Harvesters representatives, said the rule of three is a standard confidentiality concept, argued the bill should not be framed as anti-transparency, and urged removal of the size-sampling provisions. The committee heard extensive testimony but no final action on HB 855 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide 400 direct family-wage skilled jobs in a region where diversification doesn't come easily
• Bryant said, if you have a habitual captain that's coming through that, and I don't know, that's a skill
• , very skilled.
• That's a skill, very skilled. I know it might be hard in the future.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their academic needs might be 10 years apart, ranging from elementary fundamentals to college-ready skills
• Many work full-time while earning wages that do not reflect the intensity, skill, or emotional demands
• They are often required to complete specialized training in order to gain such skills.
• So social-emotional learning, teaching those lagging skills really become the main factor, which is when
• they go into a setting D where we're focusing a lot on the lagging skills that those kids need to be

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senate Bill 68, Senator Charles, driver's license, driver skills examination, motorcycle safety
• Senator Charles, driver's<00:37:49.200><c> license,</c><00:37:49.599><c> driver</c><00:37:49.920><c> skills
• </c> driver's license, driver skills driver's license, driver skills examination,<00:37:50.960><c> motorcycle
• least five questions related to motorcycle safety awareness in the pool of questions for the driver skills

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're also seeing cyberbullying and underdeveloped social skills.
• They're also seeing cyberbullying and underdeveloped social skills.
• bullying and also seeing cyber bullying and underdeveloped<00:30:35.040><c> social</c><00:30:35.360><c> skills
• </c><00:30:36.239><c> Educators</c> underdeveloped social skills.
• Educators underdeveloped social skills.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 206, which requires public schools to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use. Supporters argued that cell phones and personal devices contribute to student mental health problems, bullying, distraction, and disruptive behavior, and said teachers and administrators want a clear statewide rule rather than having to enforce policies themselves. Opponents raised concerns about local control, the breadth of the term “personal communication device,” and whether the bill would interfere with instructional uses of devices, especially in schools that rely on bring-your-own-device or have limited access to school-issued laptops. Members debated Amendment 2249H, which added an exception for teacher-led instruction and clarified that superintendent-approved exceptions could still apply for medical, disability, or language-proficiency needs. After discussion about whether the amendment was too restrictive or too broad, the committee adopted the amendment on a 9-8 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then voted 9-8, with one not voting, to recommend Senate Bill 206 ought to pass as amended. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 96, concerning mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents. The sponsor offered Amendment 2199H to replace language that would have required referral to DCYF whenever an educator withheld information due to concern about possible abuse at home. The amendment instead allows a district to withhold information if a reasonably prudent person would believe disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and requires the decision to be documented in the student record. The amendment was discussed as a narrower, more workable safeguard, and the committee was still in discussion on the bill at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Global Council of Indigenous Midwives are committed to remembering and practicing their customary skills
• </c> remembering and practicing their remembering and practicing their customary<00:15:00.959><c> skills
• </c><00:15:01.519><c> alongside</c><00:15:02.399><c> western</c> customary skills alongside western customary
• skills alongside western biomedical<00:15:03.839><c> models</c><00:15:04.480><c> to</c><00:15:04.720
• educational preparation and demonstrated competency of the individual having specialized training and skill

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Elmer Lazzardo, with the California Federation of Labor Unions, in support.
• Chair Elmer Lazzardo, with the California Federation of Labor Unions, in proud support. Thank you.
• Over 60 immigrant justice, labor unions, community groups, and civil rights organizations across California
• Elmer Lozardo with the California Federation of Labor Unions in support.
• Elmer Lozardo with the California Federation of Labor Unions in support.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely in support and some opposition on a few measures. AB 458 would direct the Department of General Services, in consultation with the Department of Justice, to develop model procurement guidelines for state purchases of firearms, ammunition, and accessories so agencies avoid vendors that violate gun laws; law enforcement and San Francisco representatives supported it, and members discussed adding oversight and vetting. AB 1729 would update state telework policy by requiring written telework plans for return-to-office decisions and restoring public reporting on telework savings; supporters cited cost savings, productivity, climate benefits, and worker flexibility, while the author clarified it would not alter collective bargaining under the Dills Act. AB 1754 would require post-completion reporting on bond-funded programs’ goals and outcomes; supporters framed it as a transparency and accountability measure, while counties and water agencies opposed it unless amended, warning of added bureaucracy, delays, and litigation risk. AB 1841 would create a paid state holiday recognizing California Native American Day, and AB 2115 would issue a formal legislative apology to California’s first peoples and install a commemorative plaque at the Capitol; both drew strong tribal and labor support and broad committee praise, with members emphasizing education, historical acknowledgment, and healing. AB 2211 would allow craft distillers to operate a satellite room and use certain alcohol modifiers on premises, and AB 1991 would authorize wineries, breweries, and craft distilleries to conduct sensory tastings for research with guardrails; both had industry support, with AB 1991 drawing one opposition voice from Alcohol Justice. AB 1578 would require elected officials to take anti-hate speech training as part of existing sexual harassment training; it drew sharp First Amendment objections from opponents and mixed committee views, but the motion to send it to Appropriations passed on a recorded vote. The committee also heard AB 1807, which would bar state-owned property from being used for federal immigration enforcement operations; the author and supporters argued it would protect communities and prevent state complicity in federal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this is something that was asked for and was very well supported by our labor friends in UFCW.
• Uh, this is something that was asked for and was very well supported by our labor friends in UFCW.
• Uh, this is something that was asked for and was very well supported by our labor friends in UFCW.
• Uh, this is something that was asked for and was very well supported by our labor friends in UFCW.
• Uh, this is something that was asked for and was very well supported by our labor friends in UFCW.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• reputation for not wanting to work any more than we need to, and so we just wanted to punt all the labor
• Why is there no labor income? The increase of $25 for the dependent tax credit.
• child care, figure it out, is actually a win-win for families and the economy because it boosts the labor
• Why wouldn't we similarly focus on labor income?
• Paper is very labor-intensive, and that's one of the operational concerns with late changes after forms

Summary: The joint House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees met to hear identical Arizona tax conformity bills, HB 2153 and SB 1106, which would conform state tax law to the federal Internal Revenue Code as of Jan. 1, 2026, with some provisions applied retroactively to tax year 2025. Staff explained that the bills exclude the federal senior deduction for those 65 and older, the higher state and local tax deduction, and the new car loan interest deduction, while including a $6,000 retirement-income deduction for taxpayers 60 and older, a $6,000 Roth IRA contribution deduction, a higher dependent tax credit, and a deduction for child and dependent care expenses above the federal credit. The JLBC fiscal note estimated a $441.3 million general fund revenue loss in FY 2026, and members discussed that this was roughly the same as full conformity because the bill’s adjustments offset some of the federal changes. Bill sponsors and supporters argued the measure should be enacted early to give taxpayers and tax preparers certainty before filing season, noting that the Department of Revenue had already issued forms assuming conformity and that delay could force amended returns. They said the bill reflects a negotiated package that preserves most of the federal tax relief while tailoring it for Arizona, especially by lowering the senior deduction age to 60 and replacing the auto loan deduction with family-focused provisions such as the higher child credit and child care deduction. The Arizona Society of CPAs and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club supported the bills, emphasizing the need for early conformity and fewer filing complications. Opponents, including Save Our Schools Arizona, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Opportunity Arizona, and several individuals, argued the package would reduce state revenue, worsen the structural deficit, and mainly benefit higher-income taxpayers and corporations. Some witnesses criticized the inclusion of federal school-choice-related provisions and warned about uncertainty around future federal guidance, while others said the bill should not move ahead before the budget process. Members also debated whether taxpayers would need to file amended returns if the state later diverged from the Department of Revenue forms, and whether the senior and child care provisions were targeted or equitable. The transcript ends during public testimony, with no final committee vote or action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• She took the pills, and her labor began.
• She had severe hemorrhaging, and again, no one warned them of the intense bleeding, the labor, the risks
• Dosages for softening a cervix, for induction of labor, or for management of hemorrhage.
• Pro-life policy should not cover conception to labor.
• And then after the children are born, the labor laws here ensure that working-class people forced into

Bills: SB10, SB16, SB6, SB 6, SB 10, SB 16

Keywords: trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, victims, criminal justice reform, victim rights, criminal justice, judicial reform, court procedures, mental health services, criminal penalties, court security, SB 6, Woman and Child Protection Act, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• of times; that will now uh extend through the beginning of September, so September 2nd, just after Labor
• want to develop something or you want to think about something more, um you have until uh just after Labor
• </c><00:04:25.759><c> So</c> Labor Day um for written comments.
• So Labor Day um for written comments.
• Day to get those to us just after Labor Day to get those to us for<00:04:39.120><c> consideration.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The eyes have it and the report is The Committee on Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services, to
• The majority of the Committee on Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services, to which was referred
• The majority of the Committee on Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services, to which was referred
• This bill is from the Committee on Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services on page 14 of your
• Senate Bill 171 is presented to, if I know that Senate Bill 171 was presented to the Labor Committee

Keywords: 1189, house, all