Transcript Highlights:

• The greater Israel, Judea and Samaria includes the West Bank.
• So do you, have you previously supported the idea of annexation of the West Bank?
• The West Bank and the region, of course, will be needed. Our resources are limited.
• Jews living in the West Bank. Annexation does not mean displacement of people.
• You're suggesting that West the West Bank become part of Israel.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Keywords: Israel, Hamas, Panama Canal, U.S. foreign policy, terrorism, diplomacy, Chinese influence

Summary: The committee meeting was focused on various key issues, including the implications of recent violence in the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy in relation to Israel and Panama. Members discussed the need for diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Israeli officials following the recent attack by Hamas. Governor Huckabee emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and reiterated the need for accountability for terrorist organizations involved in violent acts against civilians. Senators shared their concerns regarding the ramifications of U.S. actions in Panama and the presence of Chinese influence, highlighting the significance of the Panama Canal in terms of trade and security.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have an answer to the question of how many commercial banks have a class one vault.
• But when I worked on this bill two years ago, I did negotiate with the banks...
• I don't have an answer to how many commercial banks have a class one vault.
• But when I worked on this bill two years ago, I did negotiate with the banks...
• I did negotiate with the banks and had that language added to the bill.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• You start thinking about some of these banks that have hundreds of thousands of customers, credit cards
• You start thinking about some of these banks that have hundreds of thousands of customers, credit cards
• Last year, whenever we were talking for the security breach, a bank came to me and said that they...
• Last year, whenever we were talking for the security breach, a bank came to me and said that they have
• , not within this, enemies of the state that come in against theirs and they wear a moderate-sized bank

Bills: SB1670 , SB1716 , SB1521

Committee: Senate Technology and Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee considered three Senate bills. SB 1670, by Senator Reinhart, would require the State Regents to update Oklahoma university technology transfer guidance, create a tiered ownership framework, and revisit the guidance every seven years. Members questioned the seven-year review period, the scope of terms like aerospace and autonomous technologies, and how broadly the new tiered system would apply. The bill was presented as a way to modernize an outdated 1989 framework and help turn university research into companies, jobs, and economic impact. It passed 8-0. SB 1716, by Senator Howard, amended the Security Breach Notification Act to replace references to a “cybersecurity event” with “breach of the security of a system” and to clarify that there is no private right of action for ordinary negligence when a business reports breaches to the Attorney General. Howard explained that the Attorney General would retain exclusive enforcement authority for reasonable-standards violations, while private lawsuits would remain available only for more egregious conduct such as willful, wanton conduct or gross negligence. Members asked about the negligence standard, HIPAA-related breaches, and staffing needs for the Attorney General’s office. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-0. SB 1521, by Senator Hamilton, would prohibit minors from accessing artificial intelligence companions and set age-verification and re-verification requirements, including use of government-issued identification and periodic re-verification. Hamilton said the bill was aimed at protecting children from harmful interactions with AI companions and was narrowly drafted to avoid sweeping in other AI tools like customer-service bots. Members raised concerns about the reasonableness and consistency of age verification, account creation requirements, and how the bill would interact with existing statutes on sexually explicit conduct. The chair spoke in support of the measure, and the bill passed 8-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a bill we're calling the Fair Banking Act.
• Chair, to the author, will this negatively affect any Oklahoma bank chartered or working in Oklahoma
• banks?
• So we're really just talking about affecting those big national banks. Follow up. Thank you, Mr.
• We'll show you out of banking. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Okay, thank you members.

Bills: HB1784 , HB1245 , HB1268 , HB2116 , HB2193 , HB2206 , HB1739 , HB1889 , HB1904 , HB3172 , HB4225 , HB4352 , HB3625 , HB4263

Committee: House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions

Keywords: education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, retirement, pension, public employees, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, benefits, survivorship, contribution rates, disability retirement, deferred option plan, service credit, contributions, distributions, HB2116, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, OLERS

Transcript Highlights:

• banks, credit unions, and crypto exchanges with clear guidelines about staking, a consumer tool that
• Hence why this digital financial space with their existing bank or credit union.
• This is the part of the bill that banks have concerns about.
• That is one of the sticking points that the banking industry does not agree with. Why?
• In closing, I am committed to working with the banks, with one specific issue that they are concerned

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Shoshone Water Rights Settlement, there was a water bank included.
• The Water Resource Board in Idaho has the authority, as being over the entire state water bank for the
• flow, the water board doesn't have that general authority to delegate to the local area for a water bank
• . ...that general authority to delegate to the local area for a water bank.
• So this piece of legislation, Section 2, is necessary to allow the water bank, which operates at a state

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• owners of Wyoming banks and supervised trust companies, including background checks, fingerprinting,
• Additionally, Wyoming entities that use state and federally regulated banking services are subject to
• </c><00:18:27.840><c> services</c><00:18:28.480><c> are</c> federally regulated banking services are
• Um kind of how those are at the bank.
• So banks and credit unions institutions.

Bills: HB0086

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> backing of both the banking association backing of both the banking association and<00:35:17.119
• Banks, for a question. >> Mr.
• Banks. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• </c><06:01:26.718><c> Banks.
• </c> bank is not in a sound state. bank is not in a sound state.

Transcript Highlights:

• So right now we're going to be taking data from our custodial bank.
• Banks can only lend to certain parties and only so much.
• So the bank was made available.
• But I think the bank in the past has been more... ...have to tweak that, but I think the bank in the
• We talked to the Bank of North Dakota.

Committee: Joint Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board

Transcript Highlights:

• So right now we're going to be taking data from our custodial bank.
• So it's, you know, as big as the banking sector; it's here to stay.
• So the bank was made available.
• But I think the bank in the past has been more...
• We talked to the Bank of North Dakota.

Committee: Joint Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the October 22 minutes, and received an update on the planned Legacy Fund transparency website. Jody Smith said the site is in contract negotiations after six bidders responded, with a target go-live around November 1 after added security review. The website is intended to provide downloadable, more detailed public information on the Legacy Fund, including historical changes, legislative allocations, and investment breakdowns. Members asked about comparables and data detail, and Smith said North Dakota would likely be the first state to offer this level of sovereign wealth fund transparency. Scott Anderson of the Retirement Investment Office then reviewed Legacy Fund performance through January 31, 2026, describing strong returns, low fees, and the benefits of diversification. He noted that real estate had been a drag on returns, but it is a small portion of the portfolio, and he discussed market effects from geopolitical events, inflation, credit spreads, and private credit. Members also questioned the in-state investment program and the BND CD-Match program. Representative Bosch moved to pause new transfers to the CD-Match program until the bank reports back, and the motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also agreed to request a cost-benefit analysis from RVK on that change. After lunch, the committee heard from RVK consultant Jim Voidko on the investment policy statement, focused on the in-state investment provisions. He reported that, after interviews with implementers and stakeholders, RVK found no major policy impediments in the current IPS and no strong calls to change the size limits or core guardrails. He emphasized the importance of risk-adjusted returns, diversification, pacing, exit strategies, and governance, and warned that foregone returns or higher spending obligations can pressure the fund’s long-term mission. He also recommended clearer terminology around “infrastructure,” distinguishing public infrastructure from commercial infrastructure, and noted unresolved policy questions about nexus and economic diversification. The committee then began reviewing proposed IPS updates with Rio staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Brokerage and eventually to the banks Brokerage and eventually to the banks and<01:14:25.120><c>
• </c><01:15:43.400><c> of</c> Banks JP Morgan Wells Fargo Bank of Banks JP Morgan Wells Fargo Bank of
• Consider first a bank that borrows.
• In no bank insolvency I'm ever aware of has any customer lost where the bank was the custodian.
• </c> reserve bank reserve bank account<02:05:18.960><c> now</c><02:05:19.960><c> it</c><02:05:20.119>

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 167, which would add ski, snowboard, and boat wax containing PFAS to the state’s consumer-product restrictions. The sponsor argued the product is already banned in many places, has PFAS-free alternatives, and is used in ways that can directly contaminate water rather than landfills. She cited high PFAS levels in several New Hampshire lakes and said the bill was a simple extension of prior PFAS legislation. A witness also described a personal experience where a liquid ski wax disappeared from the market and later returned, likely because of PFAS concerns. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 167 without a vote. The committee then opened a hearing on House Bill 312, dealing with college athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. Representative Moffett said the bill was modeled on New Jersey law and intended to let student-athletes earn compensation from NIL without losing institutional scholarships, while also requiring licensed representation and setting limits on certain endorsements. He described the measure as proactive because NIL rules are evolving and could create conflicts among schools and future lawsuits. Members questioned whether the bill should apply to two-year institutions, whether it should exclude firearms and weapons, and whether the scholarship protections would cover need-based or academic aid as well as athletic scholarships. Moffett said the scholarship language was intended to protect scholarships generally, but not need-based aid specifically, and he acknowledged discomfort with some of the endorsement restrictions. Public testimony on HB 312 was mixed. One supporter, a former Division III athlete and coach, backed the bill but urged removal of a section allowing institutions or athletic bodies to use an athlete’s NIL without compensation, arguing most New Hampshire athletes do not receive NIL money and should not have to work extra jobs to cover basic expenses. The chair also raised concerns about the bill’s contractual and identity-rights implications, referencing prior committee work on a J.D. Salinger-related identity case and noting the committee had previously declined to get involved in similar contractual disputes. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• to give someone their money out of the bank account by providing their bank information.
• a bank becomes a conduit of criminality, that bank either is heavily regulated by the federal government
• I see it in SEC receiverships all the time: Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America, Wells Fargo.
• the bank, and it turns a blind eye to it.
• So then they had her bank account number and all of those things. Kudos to her bank.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsoring legislation directly for banking. 54, State Banks and Speedy Conversions. 54, State Banks
• Uh, this legislation is requested by our speedy bank community.
• bank could convert to a speedy bank.
• Under existing law, you would have to close down one bank and open another bank to do it.
• This is cleanup amendments requested by the Division of Banking associated with our city banks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bank Stadium.
• Bank Stadium.
• Bank Stadium.
• Bank Stadium.
• Bank Stadium.

Bills: HF4094 , HF3390 , HF3813 , HF3583 , HF3751 , HF4324 , HF4789 , HF3596 , HF4033 , HF4424 , HF4053

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: Crosby, local sales tax, bonding authority, community projects, voter approval, Owatonna, use tax, special law, community center, municipal finance, capital project, sales and use tax, local option tax, city tax, public facility, general election, bond referendum, debt limit, levy limit, Minnesota local government

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions will come to order.
• The Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions will come to order.
• Committee on Senate Banking and Finance will go to recess.
• Committee on Senate Banking and Finance will go to recess for just a few minutes.
• The Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions will come back to order.

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• The charter for the bank is what actually gives the bank the ability to be a bank.
• </c> received at the bank.
• How can the bank received at the bank.
• The banks have no idea.
• </c> um through the banking institutions. um through the banking institutions.

Bills: HB0111 , HB0112 , HB0122

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Major banks have divested from CoreCivic, including JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, U.S.
• Fargo, Bank of America, US Bank, PNC, Fargo, Bank of America, US Bank, PNC, Truis,<00:07:49.919><c> Barclays
• </c> even like I said the most trusted banks even like I said the most trusted banks in<00:17:59.280>
• and trusted banks on the planet don’t trust their money with.
• and trusted banks on the planet don’t trust their money with.

Bills: HF3611 , HF3659 , HF3909

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• a bank or a.
• Which banks are open on Saturday, what bank has, you know, a good position where they can watch from
• They backed into a parking spot because they usually want to face the bank.
• So law enforcement, usually, as he said, they are staking out the bank.
• I have data showing just from one bank how often these crimes are occurring.

Bills: HB316 , HB353 , HB 1160 , HB1414 , HB1422 , HB1443 , HB1713 , HB1789 , HB1902 , HB2073 , HB2666 , HB2695 , HB316

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Bank gets a hold of her. Said, hey, someone stole your check out of your mailbox.
• They did that, actually cashed it, actually went to the bank, and the bank found it.
• It was either the business or the bank itself, but it's either the parcel number or the routing number
• We have several instances where banking, a lot of people do the online banking, where the banking institution
• someone put in an extra zero, and it’s going to cost you a 10— —typographical error that maybe the bank

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So my understanding is that our banking partners are appreciative of the fact that that clarification
• We're grateful for our partners in the banking community, and we are happy to answer any questions.
• We work alongside banks and investors, as well as for-profit and nonprofit builders.
• We are well aware of the barriers that the banking system historically has put in front of communities
• And just to be clear, we aren't replacing banks in homeownership.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held public hearings on several bills. On Substitute House Bill 2236, staff explained changes to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarifying it is not a retail mortgage lender, extending bond counsel terms, removing a notice requirement before bond issuance, and repealing outdated statutory provisions. Representative Zahn and commission staff said the bill modernizes the agency and would help finance affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with questions focused on higher interest rates, down payment assistance, and equity for borrowers of color; the commission said it works with banks, administers programs such as Covenant Home Ownership, and aims to support both homebuyers and developers. The chair then closed the hearing on SHB 2236. The committee next heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt phased embodied-carbon standards for large projects, with reporting, a public database, and Commerce educational resources; the fiscal note showed operating and capital costs. Representative Duerr said the bill responds to rising energy demand and could help lower building costs while supporting innovation, including Washington wood products. Supportive testimony came from environmental justice advocates and an architect, who said embodied carbon reductions are already feasible and often cost-neutral. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and delay problems, and should not exempt schools. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would let the Public Works Board issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement. Staff said the bill expands the existing broadband service expansion program to cover repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, with Commerce fiscal impacts noted. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that the bill could signal further use of the Public Works Assistance Account, which has already seen sweeps and could affect future water, sewer, wastewater, and solid waste funding. A question from Representative Dye raised whether the program should instead be tied to the Curb Board; staff and the witness agreed to continue that discussion. The hearing was then closed. In executive session, the committee took up House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was reported out of committee 18-0 with one excused. The committee then adopted and reported out the proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027, also by an 18-0 vote with one excused. Staff also briefed members on a proposed substitute for HB 2470 concerning school construction assistance for on-base schools, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by the next morning.