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OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Retirement and Government Resources REVISED Apr 21st, 2026

Retirement and Government Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • active in everything Oklahoma.
  • He's doing it for what he thinks is the greater good about Oklahoma.
  • Department with us today. With that, Mr.
  • As Senator Hall said, I'm the fire chief in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
  • As Senator Hall said, I'm the fire chief in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Bills: HB1170
Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Affairs met to consider two executive nominations and House Bill 1170. Mark Wood was introduced as nominee to lead OMES; he described his background in public accounting and tax administration, said his focus would be on stabilizing the agency, improving efficiency, and balancing accountability with service. Senators asked about OMES’s core mission and whether some duties should be returned to agencies; Wood said he would keep an open mind and work with legislators on possible changes. The committee advanced his nomination on a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard Dwayne Helmberger’s nomination to the State Fire Marshal Commission. Helmberger, currently Stillwater fire chief and formerly assistant chief in Midwest City, emphasized code administration, education, and coordination with other agencies. Senators questioned him about backlogs in fire marshal inspections for marijuana grow operations and certificates of occupancy; he said the backlog was driven by the volume of applications and could be addressed through better planning, coordination, and logistics. His nomination also advanced unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1170, which would direct pension fiduciaries to focus on pecuniary interests and avoid non-financial ESG considerations. Senator Daniels explained that the bill was intended to clarify state policy and align definitions with related measures, and she requested a title strike while continuing to work on the language. Members raised concerns about due process, immunity provisions, and whether the bill would conflict with recent court rulings or still allow consideration of ESG factors when financially relevant. After debate, the committee passed the bill 6-2.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We are just moving bills today, or maybe moving bills today, so we're going to ask our staff to begin
  • I'm also going to be urging a yes on this bill today.
  • I'm also going to be urging a yes on this bill today.
  • But for today, I think some of us are going to be a little hesitant to move forward. Thank you.
  • Moving on to the final bill we'll move today: House Bill 2240.
Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee met in executive session to review several bills and amendments. Staff briefed House Bill 2483 on creating a data broker registry, House Bill 2477 on limiting claims arising from appraisal reports, House Bill 2274 on the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act, House Bill 2394 on insurance fraud enforcement, House Bill 2624 on consumer protections for unsolicited real estate transactions, and House Bill 2240 on self-service storage rental agreements. Members discussed proposed amendments on narrowing the data broker definition, delaying registration dates, expanding exemptions, clarifying appraisal-related limitations, and revising email and insurance fraud language, but action on HB 2483 and HB 2477 was deferred. The committee then moved HB 2274 forward. Supporters said it was a needed fix after litigation involving misleading commercial emails, while some members noted remaining concerns but wanted to advance the bill before policy cutoff. The committee adopted the proposed substitute and reported it out with a due pass recommendation by a 12-3 vote. HB 2394 was also deferred without action. HB 2624 was reported out with a due pass recommendation after debate over whether the bill’s carve-out for public entities, tribes, and nonprofit nature conservancies was too broad; the vote was 9-6. The committee then adopted two amendments to HB 2240, requiring both email and first-class mail delivery of rental agreements when an email address is provided and extending notice for termination or nonrenewal to 25 days. As amended, HB 2240 was reported out with a due pass recommendation by voice vote, and the meeting adjourned.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Feb 18th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Today I have with me a a fine young man graduated from Duran, Oklahoma, which means he's from God's country
  • This is the future of Oklahoma.
  • Members, I hope you had a chance to visit with some of the FFA members here today.
  • We have the North South Gallery Chapter from Cherokee, Oklahoma, my home county.
  • Members, we have some wonderful Sandsprings Sandites in the audience today.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Apr 6th, 2026

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think we all know why we're here today.
  • So the purposes would be to present a balanced budget to you today.
  • And so again, to the good senator from Oklahoma City...
  • So that piece is going to the University of Oklahoma specifically.
  • Members, thank you so much for your questions and your debate today.
Bills: SB1177
Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriation bill. The chair and budget authors explained that the proposal was built to balance the budget using a mix of general revenue, cash sweeps, and other fund transfers, including money from unclaimed property, revenue stabilization, and other statutory funds. Members also discussed a proposed $35 million OWRB revolving loan fund tied to ARPA interest and a $200 million transfer from the Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund as part of a long-term savings strategy. A number of agency-specific items drew questions. Members reviewed the OPEB employer contribution reduction, rent coverage for state agencies, child care and Head Start funding, Department of Corrections revenue from ICE-related agreements, sheriff grant funding, and education funding, including about $99 million in additional formula funding, a $2,000 teacher pay raise, and reading-related appropriations such as Strong Readers and Just Right Reader. The committee also discussed mental health funding, including a $30 million consent decree line, a proposed privatization of CCBHC services with an estimated $10 million savings, and related reduction-in-force costs. Other topics included Attorney General transfers and litigation funding, higher education allocations, Langston University extension funding, historical society requests that were not funded, and a biosolids pilot program. During debate, supporters argued the bill fulfilled the constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget and highlighted increases for education, health care, and water infrastructure. Opponents criticized the use of one-time cash, tax cuts, and what they described as special-project spending, while raising concerns about transparency and underfunded services such as child care and transportation. After debate, the committee voted 18-5 to pass Senate Bill 1177.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Finance (02/11/2025)

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Seeing none, I think you're getting off easy today, you know. All right.
  • I'm here today to ask for this committee's support for Senate Bill 242.
  • All right, I'm doing everybody's dirty work today.
  • All right, back to the bills that we heard today.
  • Our business today being complete, we are... jour e
Committee: Senate Finance
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Jan 28th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have 6,000 staff across the state in your communities today.
  • Today, over 120,000 children across Oklahoma were placed in childcare facilities.
  • I did get an email earlier today from Stephannie at OPS.
  • are today in 5 and 10 years from now.
  • We Second meal as of today, there are 98.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Public comment must relate to the subject or bills being discussed today.
  • Discussed today.
  • Bills will be taken up and signed in order today.
  • I appreciate the comments today and certainly would love and I vote.
  • And with that, it looks like supporting this measure here today.
Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard two Senate measures focused on artificial intelligence in higher education. SCR 82 by Senator Niello would encourage the California higher education segments to convene a work group and share best practices on AI use, including how to address academic integrity and student use of AI in coursework. Supportive comments emphasized the need for intersegmental coordination and faculty/student engagement, while the Faculty Association for California Community Colleges raised concerns about preserving faculty purview, academic freedom, and governance differences at the community college level. The resolution was adopted and re-referred to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on an 8-0 vote. The committee also heard SB 928 by Senator Cervantes, which would establish guardrails for AI use at CSU by requiring that faculty employee positions be filled by humans who meet CSU minimum qualifications and that instructors of record be human faculty for credit and non-credit instruction. The author and supporters, including the California Faculty Association, Teamsters California, the California Federation of Labor Unions, and the State Building and Construction Trades Council, argued the bill is needed to prevent AI from replacing faculty and to preserve the human role in teaching and student support. Members asked for clarification that the bill would not apply to classified, administrative, or clerical employees, and the author’s office said the definition was intended to mirror CSU faculty classifications and bargaining language. Both measures received unanimous support from the committee after discussion. SB 928 was passed to the Assembly Floor on a 10-0 vote, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The consent calendar, which included SB 308, SB 892, and SB 968, was also approved unanimously, and the committee adjourned after announcing its next hearing date.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Higher Education Committee Jun 9th, 2026

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Public comment must relate to the subject or bills being discussed today.
  • Public comment must relate to the subject or bills being discussed today.
  • Bills will be taken up and signed in order today.
  • I appreciate the comments today and certainly would love an aye vote.
  • I appreciate the comments today and certainly would love and I vote.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • some Of our Oklahoma businesses that may be domiciled in Delaware and other places.
  • to Maybe move their domicile from Delaware to a state like Oklahoma.
  • It wouldn't matter if it was a company based in Delaware or a company based in Oklahoma.
  • They would fall under the same regulations that they do today.
  • Maybe that is the practice today. I cannot speak to that.
Bills: HB3081 , HB3127 , HB3128 , HB3498 , HB2035
Committee: House Business
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Local and County Government Apr 21st, 2026

Local and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Mary Westman to you today to be confirmed to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board.
  • She holds a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.
  • a member of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
  • And thank you, Senator Reinhart, for sponsoring me today.
  • Samuel Alaback to serve on the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Local and County Government met and first considered the nomination of Mary Westman to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board. Senator Standridge presented Westman, highlighting her background in nursing, health care, law, and business. Westman said she would focus on working within the board’s statutory authority, supporting local communities, and using resources efficiently. After a brief question-and-answer period, the committee voted 6-0 to advance her nomination to the full Senate. The committee then considered the nomination of Samuel Alaback to the same board, presented by Senator Reinhardt. Reinhardt emphasized Alaback’s leadership experience at Oklahoma State University and his work as a middle school literature teacher. Alaback said he wanted to help address the state’s literacy challenges and support libraries as community spaces, while learning from other board members. Following questions about his priorities and plans, the committee voted 6-0 to advance his nomination to the Senate. The meeting then adjourned.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Feb 26th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Commerce & Economic Development Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I believe the state of Oklahoma should be competing for those opportunities.
  • And that's the reason today we have what we have.
  • We vent or flare enough methane every year to power the state of Oklahoma.
  • Out if places like Oklahoma will say this is a priority. Let's look into it.
  • We have the opportunity to expand and grow those sectors right here today.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Government Oversight Feb 24th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Government Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • We just ask that You move through the room and help us keep You in mind in our decisions today.
  • That updates and modernizes our Oklahoma Municipal Audit Audit.
  • We have tag agency service Oklahoma and paper applications that come in the mail.
  • And that will conclude our business for today. We will have...
  • And that will conclude our business for today.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Aeronautics and Transportation Feb 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am

Aeronautics and Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • We want to make sure that if people are in the state of Oklahoma and.
  • Service Oklahoma is already very diligent on checking records.
  • Service Oklahoma is already very diligent in checking IDs and.
  • Thank you for bringing this to us today.
  • Thank you for your preparation and for coming to the meeting today.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Postsecondary Education Feb 10th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • meeting of the Postsecondary Committee for the House of Representatives in the bottom half of the 60th Oklahoma
  • It came out of my work on the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee, actually.
  • the University of Oklahoma.
  • It is your choice, member choice today. You are recognized to explain House Bill 3379.
  • So this would kind of go back to the twofold in Oklahoma. We respect homeschooling.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, offering our invocation today is Chaplain Ronnie Wilson.
  • Members, offering our invocation today is Chaplain Ronnie Wilson.
  • Donovan is a junior from Kansas, Oklahoma.
  • Admin Rules is having our first meeting today.
  • Admin rules is having our first meeting today.
Summary: The House convened with a roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then proceeded through routine opening business. The speaker outlined the day’s order of business and the clerk noted measures considered read for the second time and referred accordingly. A large group of 14 pages was introduced, with members recognizing their academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements and future college plans. Most of the remaining time was spent on announcements and introductions. Members highlighted committee meetings, including Insurance Committee being canceled for the week, Judicial Criminal, GenGov, Admin Rules, Public Health, and Energy-related scheduling reminders. Other announcements included a blood drive to replace canceled donor drives after snow, National School Counselor Week recognition, an Oklahoma Academy event, an OSBI Citizens Academy, and a request for members to meet with committee chairs about assigned bills. There was no substantive floor debate or vote on legislation in the transcript. The only formal action recorded was a motion by the floor leader to adjourn, and the House adjourned until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary May 4th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • So thank you all for being here today.
  • We have presentations by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
  • Can you tell us, I'm sure you looked at what it is about Oklahoma.
  • And that is a mean earning for the population of 16 and over in Oklahoma. Okay.
  • So you can go on the Oklahoma DHS website, and it used to also be a link through the Oklahoma Supreme
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met to conduct the statutorily required four-year review of Oklahoma’s child support guidelines, which DHS said had not been reviewed on schedule in recent years. Deputy Director Don Zellner of DHS Child Support Services presented data on the number of children served, child poverty, rising costs of raising a child, wage trends, and the volume of child support orders handled by DHS. He also explained how the current guidelines work, including income withholding, shared overnight deductions, daycare, medical, transportation, and self-employment adjustments, and noted that the guidelines are based on gross combined income and currently cap at $15,000 combined income. Committee members, especially Senator Boren, questioned whether the current model fairly reflects modern family economics, including the cost of housing, the impact of shared overnights, and whether visitation issues should be addressed alongside child support. DHS said the guidelines are over 25 years old, that other states generally use similar gross-income models with shared-overnight deductions, and that Oklahoma’s administrative courts have been more receptive than district courts to DHS’s lower-income deviation approach. Zellner said DHS has also updated its practices to better account for low-income obligors, including allowing zero orders in some cases and reducing imputed minimum-wage assumptions, which DHS said has improved collections. Members also asked about transparency and public access to the calculations. DHS said the formula and income chart are in statute, the calculator is available on the DHS website, and the Excel-based tool applies the statutory chart and deductions. A public commenter asked where parents could see how amounts are calculated, and DHS explained that the statutory chart and calculator are the main sources. The committee discussed possible future reforms, including higher income caps, possible changes to shared overnight rules, and whether extracurricular or special child-related expenses could be considered through judicial deviation. No vote was taken; the meeting ended with the chair noting it was the last Judiciary meeting of the 60th Legislature and adjourning the committee.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on State - Tribal Relations Jan 28th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that's where we are today.
  • Meaning that as we stand in Oklahoma.
  • So we're going to have two motion opportunities in this committee hearing today.
  • else we have in the state of Oklahoma.
  • The issue is does the state of Oklahoma have jurisdiction?
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 47 Feb 27th, 2026

Idaho House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I have a quote today that should be very familiar to everybody.
  • I didn't plan on standing up today, but as, you know, the history teacher, I'm listening to all this,
  • What we're considering today seems simple, but what we're essentially being asked to do is codify and
  • That magazine was the leading anti-slavery magazine during that time.
  • For OPE through J-Lock is next Friday, a week from today. Further announcements?
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Education 2ND REVISED Mar 3rd, 2026 at 10:00 am

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so, with us today, I want to be sure to recognize Doctor Vincent. UCO.
  • So with that, I will be a guest today. Thank you. Further debate?
  • Oklahoma is a part of that. What does this do?
  • I obviously want to support Oklahoma colleges and universities.
  • , you stay in Oklahoma.
Committee: Senate Education
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business Feb 3rd, 2026

Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • I wasn't able to put it in timely for the PCS today.
  • If you look across Oklahoma, and I'm from a token, we've had this talk.
  • our local workforce here with Oklahomans, getting Oklahoma jobs.
  • I hire a guy today. Three months down the road, he's a great hand.
  • could hire unlimited... ...Oklahoma, I could hire unlimited illegals on my staff.
Bills: HB3725 , HB3260 , HB3660 , HB3369 , HB3370
Committee: House Business
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3725, as amended by a PCS, which would require employers statewide to use E-Verify or a federal equivalent when hiring new employees. The author argued the bill would help reduce illegal immigration, protect wages and jobs for lawful workers, and impose only minimal costs because E-Verify is free and quick to use. Members raised concerns about burdens on small businesses, farms, and ranches; state versus federal authority; enforcement by the Department of Labor; identity theft and false positives; possible litigation; and what would happen if the federal system went offline or changed. The author said the bill includes good-faith protections, a trigger repeal if the federal program expands, and that he would file additional language to address shutdown-related disruptions. No motion was made, and the bill remained in committee. The committee then heard and passed several other measures without opposition. House Bill 3260 would add the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association as an approved provider for continuing education credits for funeral director license renewals, and it passed 9-0. House Bill 3660 would authorize natural organic reduction, described as transforming human remains into soil, and it also passed 9-0. House Bill 3369 would revise food truck fire code requirements by allowing portable fire extinguishers instead of an automatic suppression system and by allowing licensed plumbers, not just Oklahoma LP Gas, to inspect or install certain gas plumbing; members discussed possible conflicts with another LP gas fix and agreed to work together, and the bill passed 9-0. Finally, House Bill 3370 would extend the effective date of the food truck fire code to November 1, 2028, creating a sunset to allow more time for a broader solution. The author said he preferred another option but wanted this bill available if needed. After brief clarification, the committee passed HB 3370 9-0. The meeting ended with the chair noting there would be three meetings left in the session.