Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Senator Pittman on leaves.
• President, I request a capital leave for Senators Muth and Pisciottano, legislative leaves for Comitta
• , and Senator Costa requests capital leave for Senators Pisciottano and Muth, and legislative leave for
• Without objection, those leaves will be granted. Without objection, those leaves will be granted.
• A budget that leaves minimum wage behind is a budget that leaves working Pennsylvanians behind.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine administrative business, including approval of the June 1, 2026 journal and several leave requests. The chamber then took up a series of bills and committee referrals, with House Bill 1042 initially sent to Appropriations and later re-referred to Rules and Executive Nominations after committee action. Several other measures were either passed, held over in their order, or re-referred, including House Bills 36 and 513 to Appropriations and various Senate and House bills set aside for later consideration. The most substantive floor debate centered on House Bill 96, where Senator Yaw offered Amendment A4096 to clarify the legal effect of historic tax sales of unseated lands. The amendment would treat certain historic tax-sale deeds as conveying full fee simple ownership, including severed subsurface rights, unless those rights were separately assessed, and would require documentary proof for claims of redemption. The amendment passed 36-14. The Senate also adopted Amendment A4183 to House Bill 1862 after a ruling that Senator Rothman had no conflict of interest and was required to vote; that amendment passed 46-4. Later, Amendment A4173 to House Bill 2559 was adopted 49-1, and House Bill 2559 then passed as amended. Several bills received final passage by unanimous 50-0 votes, including House Bills 482, 1102, 1830, 1860, and 2426, while House Bill 1862 and House Bill 96 were advanced as amended. The Senate also returned a slate of gubernatorial nominations to the governor on motion of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. During petitions and remonstrances, Senator Tartaglione urged action to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, arguing the budget should not ignore low-wage workers. The session also included recognition remarks for Ed Sheehan’s retirement and a submission to the record on the Treaty of Paris. The Senate then recessed until July 12, 2026, at noon, and several bills were signed in the presence of the Senate before recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Muth [member_16686] is returned from leave, and her leave will be canceled.
• Senator Hughes has returned from leave. His leave will be canceled.
• Senator Costa requests leave.
• Returning to session, Senator Pittman on leaves. To session. Senator Pittman on leaves.
• Senator Costa, any leaves? No further leaves, Mr. President. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over. Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any requests for leave? Representative Richardson, for what purpose? Leave.
• Leave. You're recognized. Requesting leave for Representative Brandon Acre.
• Leave. You're recognized. Leave request for Representative Mark Perry.
• Leave. You're recognized. Leave request for Representative Mark Perry.
• Is leave granted for Representative? Leave request for Representative Mark Perry.

Summary: The meeting was the opening of the Arkansas General Assembly’s 2026 fiscal session, beginning with quorum calls, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests, including law enforcement officers, a doctor of the day, nurse of the day, constitutional officers, Supreme Court justices, and family and friends of legislators. The House adopted House Resolution 1001 to convene a joint session for Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s address, appointed committees to notify the Senate and the Governor, and later received the Senate into the chamber before recessing for the joint session. In the joint session, members observed a moment of silence for former Representative Stan Berry, then heard Governor Sanders’s fiscal session address. Her remarks focused heavily on the proposed budget and her administration’s priorities: fully funding education and the LEARNS Act, supporting teachers and literacy efforts, funding public safety and corrections, expanding the 1033 initiative to move people from crisis to career, and holding down government growth while pursuing further income tax cuts. She also highlighted economic development, low cost of living, and support for veterans, while emphasizing conservative policy themes and thanking several Arkansans whose stories illustrated the administration’s agenda. No substantive legislation was debated or voted on beyond the adoption of House Resolution 1001 and the procedural motions to adjourn the joint session and then adjourn the House until the next day. The House announced that Joint Budget would meet later that afternoon and again the following morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call. Okay, okay.
• We will leave that on call for the absent members.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several bills focused on emergency response, fire safety, and school threat prevention. SB 904 would codify and expand the coordinated permitting and rebuilding response used after major wildfire disasters, with the author saying it would standardize agency coordination without eliminating protections. Climate Action California opposed the bill, raising concerns about streamlining and permitting. SB 1299 would create a clearer statutory framework for State Fire Marshal certification, training, and enforcement for fire sprinkler fitters; supporters, including the Sprinkler Fitters Association and State Building Trades, said it would ensure qualified installation of critical life-safety systems, while no opposition was presented. SB 1181 would create a limited pilot allowing schools to communicate with regional threat assessment centers when there is a credible safety concern, with the author and supporters describing it as a privacy-protected way to connect warning signs and prevent violence; committee members generally supported the concept and discussed fusion centers, social media threats, and recent incidents. The committee also took up a consent calendar. After recesses to establish quorum and repeated calls for absent members, the committee voted to move all measures forward. SB 1299 was approved on a 9-0 vote to the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. SB 904 was approved 9-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 1181 was approved 9-0 to the Senate Committee on Education. The consent calendar items were also approved 9-0. All measures were left on call briefly for absent members before the final votes were recorded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call. I, Blake Spear, Grayson. Okay, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call. Okay, okay.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 590 would accomplish this by expanding paid family leave.
• to make sure that he was... ...paid family leave.
• Okay, we're going to leave that out. Thank you so much.
• We're going to leave the roll open for five minutes for absent members.
• We're going to leave the roll open for five minutes for absent members.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to hear several bills related to insurance coverage, wildfire risk, workers’ compensation, and paid family leave. SB 8 by Senator Ashby would extend workers’ compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers, with testimony emphasizing that they perform law-enforcement-like duties and should receive the same protections as comparable officers. SB 429 by Senator Cortese would create a public wildfire catastrophe model and related wildfire safety program, with support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates who said public access to modeling data would improve transparency and help evaluate private insurance risk models. The committee also heard SB 525 by Senator Jones, which would require the FAIR Plan to offer coverage options for manufactured and mobile home owners, including replacement cost coverage. Supporters said the bill would help lower-income residents obtain meaningful insurance protection, while no opposition testified. SB 495 by Senator Allen, as amended, would require insurers to provide a larger contents-coverage advance after a total loss during a declared emergency without requiring an immediate itemized inventory, extend proof-of-loss deadlines, and require insurers to provide catastrophe modeling and reinsurance data to the Department of Insurance. Several insurers withdrew opposition after amendments, and the Department of Insurance and United Policyholders supported the measure. SB 590 by Senator Durazo would expand paid family leave to cover care for designated persons or chosen family members, with strong support from AARP, labor, civil rights, caregiving, and health organizations, and testimony from a parent describing the need to care for a non-legal family member during surgery recovery. The committee also took up consent items SB 230 and SB 854. After roll calls, SB 8, SB 429, SB 495, SB 525, and SB 590 all received do-pass votes, with SB 429 sent to the Committee on Emergency Management, SB 495 to Judiciary, and SB 525 and SB 590 to Appropriations. The consent calendar bills were also approved, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't want to encourage that leaving when things get hard.
• We had to talk to his parents and say, "You can't just leave; you have a tuition bill you're leaving
• So if the child wants to leave and...
• Right, so if the child wants to leave and you work it out, do they leave?
• So you can leave; you just need to make sure you don't leave a...

Bills: SB140 , HB102 , SB133 , SB34

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , who is back here in the back with me today, if we could go leave her.
• That doesn't mean leave. Just hang on.
• That doesn't mean leave. Just hang on. Any other requests for leave? Senator Mark Johnson.
• So, Ava, we'll get together in a moment, but I just ask leave for these folks. Leave, leave.
• Any other requests for leave? Oh, I'm sorry, Senator Blake Johnson. Leave you in and Craig.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> meant to get it right before it leaves meant to get it right before it leaves because<00:03:00.159
• </c> family is eligible to take that leave family is eligible to take that leave representative<00:05
• </c><00:08:16.440><c> I</c> benefit of paid family medical leave I benefit of paid family medical leave
• :14.640><c> also</c> to 20% less leaving the workforce I also to 20% less leaving the workforce I also
• </c> family medical leave family medical leave shows<00:10:00.320><c> that</c><00:10:00.519><c> 133%<

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We will leave that on call for the absent member.
• We will leave that on call for the absent members.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call. Okay, okay.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call.

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several bills related to wildfire recovery, fire safety, and school threat response. SB 904 would codify emergency coordination procedures used after the L.A. County and Palisades fires, including identifying permitting and building code requirements that can slow rebuilding after wildfire disasters. The author said it would not eliminate protections but would streamline recovery; Climate Action California opposed the bill, while the chair noted concerns about balancing efficiency with safeguards. The bill was later advanced on a 9-0 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1299, which would create a clearer statutory framework for certifying and training fire sprinkler fitters. Supporters from the Sprinkler Fitters Association and State Pipe Trades Council said the measure would ensure only properly trained and certified workers install sprinkler systems, addressing safety risks and litigation that weakened existing regulations. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 9-0 to the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee. SB 1181 proposed a voluntary pilot allowing schools to share credible safety concerns with regional threat assessment centers in several Central Valley counties, with privacy protections and a reporting requirement before expansion. The author tied the bill to youth violence, social media threats, and the need to connect warning signs before tragedies occur. Senators Rubio and the chair spoke in support, citing fusion center successes in preventing attacks; there was no opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar, and all measures were reported out on unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as people move, also Hawaii caregivers leave.
• And as people move, also Hawaii caregivers leave.
• </c> to put together a paid family leave to put together a paid family leave program<00:16:09.680><c>
• Thanks, director. family leave is implemented you know we family leave is implemented you know we want
• Moving on to HR 175 and HCR 179, related to paid family leave.

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• The Paid Leave law was originally passed in the 2023 legislative session.
• The Paid Leave law was originally passed in the 2023 legislative session.
• In this case, the Paid Family and Medical Leave law, or the Paid Leave program, was not included in the
• In this case, the Paid Family and Medical Leave law, or the Paid Leave program, was not included in the
• law for the paid payment for paid leave law for the paid leave<00:15:01.680><c> Law</c><00:15:02.680

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , and then after the work session, we'll be hearing three separate bills: one concerning escorted leaves
• But I also want to make sure that I do not allow you to leave without sharing in your presentation a
• So when individuals leave, they actually have connections on the outside.
• Senate Bill 5873, sponsored by Chair Senator Wilson, addresses escorted leaves of absence.
• bedside visit include that the leave must be within the state of Washington.

Summary: The committee began with a Department of Corrections update focused on agency culture, staff safety, reentry, and health services. Secretary Tim Lang highlighted DOC’s “Washington Way” approach, expanded visitation reforms, safety summits, community-corrections sanction changes, education and transportation improvements, partial confinement expansion, and efforts to increase volunteer and peer-led programming. Assistant Secretaries Danielle Armbruster and David Flynn described progress on Pell Grant implementation, reentry transportation, partial confinement, behavioral health standards, HIPAA compliance, the 1115 Medicaid waiver, telehealth expansion, and budget requests for opioid use disorder treatment, close-custody capacity, and staffing relief. Members asked about veterans’ units, telehealth for substance use treatment, women’s placement on the east side, correctional industries, and firefighting training. The new Office of Correction Ombuds director, Jeremiah Bourgeois, then outlined the office’s mission and limited resources, saying he would focus on the most serious complaints and continue building accountability with DOC. He described recent OCO reports, including findings of excessive force at the women’s prison, and said DOC had agreed to implement all recommendations. He also noted a new process for referring possible criminal misconduct to DOC leadership and law enforcement. Committee members praised the DOC-OCO partnership and Bourgeois’s appointment. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5895, which would add a new basis for extraordinary medical placement when DOC cannot meet an incarcerated person’s basic medical care needs. Senator Saldana said the bill is intended to provide a compassionate, workable path for people with serious or end-of-life medical needs while maintaining public safety. Testifiers in support included family members, Disability Rights Washington, and the League of Women Voters, who said the current EMP process is too restrictive and rarely results in release. DOC testified that it supports the EMP framework but has concerns about the bill’s definition of “basic medical care.” A former DOC physician suggested extending the qualifying time period and adding “approximately” to the language. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5873, which would expand escorted leaves of absence to include reentry-focused outings and broaden the family definition for funeral or bedside visits. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to support a “slow release” and better prepare people for community reentry. DOC supported the concept, and witnesses from public defense, DOC reentry, and Amend said escorted reentry outings are consistent with evidence-based and international correctional practices. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5945, which would limit persistent offender sentencing to convictions occurring after age 18 and require resentencing for affected people. Supporters argued the bill aligns with youth brain-development research and would address racial disparities; opponents, including prosecutors, victim advocates, and sheriffs’ representatives, said it would reopen painful cases, undermine finality, and impose costs. The hearing on that bill was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll leave it on call for the absent members.
• Okay, we'll leave it on call for the absent members.
• Okay, we'll leave that on call for the absent members.
• We'll leave that on call. Aye. Rubio, aye. That's 8 to 0. Okay, 8 to 0, we'll leave that on call.
• Okay, 8 to 0, we'll leave that on call.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair leaves House Bill 2153 pending.
• Here's the number we're going to leave House Bill...
• We're going to leave House Bill 3413 pending.
• The Chair leaves House Bill 5064 pending at this time.
• The Chair leaves House Bill 4174 pending. Thank you.

Bills: HCR114 , HB137 , HB283 , HB1398 , HB1960 , HB2153 , HB2431 , HB2638 , HB2699 , HB2999 , HB3208 , HB3389 , HB3413 , HB3510 , HB3642 , HB3859 , HB3974 , HB3986 , HB4142 , HB4173 , HB4174 , HB4542 , HB4605 , HB4663 , HB4731 , HB5064 , HB5216 , HB5218 , HB5332 , HB5453 , HB5577 , HB137 , HB283

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority, highway routes, healthcare, insurance, mental health, treatment access, state funding, transportation, axle weight, aggregates, regulations, Texas law

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government leave them alone.
• Then<00:18:26.679><c> leave</c><00:18:26.880><c> five.</c> Then leave five. Then leave five.
• </c> to try the same thing except to leave to try the same thing except to leave specified<00:50:58.120
• </c> leaving specified in. leaving specified in.
• Thank and so I guess I would leave it.

Bills: SJ0001

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• So it just is what I've seen is a lot of the... leave.
• When I first started, we were all given sick leave and annual leave, which was truly nice for me since
• When I first started, we were all given sick leave and annual leave, which was truly nice for me since
• Recently, our sick and annual leave were taken away.
• Were you aware that employees working more than 20 hours get annual sick leave and they get sick leave

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and first heard House Memorial 7, which asks Legislative Council Service, the State Personnel Office, DFA, and GSD to study the use of temporary, term, seasonal, casual, on-call, and other non-regular classifications in state government. The memorial was presented as a response to concerns that some workers are repeatedly terminated and rehired, sometimes after a one-day break, to avoid regular status and associated benefits. Testimony from CWA and AFSCME described long-term temporary workers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and other agencies who allegedly do full-time work without health insurance, retirement, leave, or consistent pay progression, and who in some cases were denied union coverage. Committee members questioned the scope, definitions of temporary employment, and whether the issue should instead be referred to the state auditor; the sponsor said the study would gather data and recommendations first. The committee voted due pass, and House Memorial 7 passed unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 177, which appropriates funds to the Veterans Services Department to contract for shelter and care of service and companion animals so veterans can access housing, medical care, and other services without fearing separation from their pets. Support came from the Veterans Services Department, Animal Protection New Mexico, and the Veterans and Military Families Caucus/Veterans Integration Center, all of whom said pets are often a barrier to veterans seeking care and that existing community-based animal boarding models could be used. The bill received no opposition, and the committee voted due pass with no opposition. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill intended to update and clarify the Public Employees Retirement Act and align it with administrative practice. Testimony focused on a provision allowing PERA to use licensed physicians, including out-of-state physicians who can be licensed in New Mexico, to serve on the disability review process when needed so disability cases are not delayed. Committee members raised concerns about ensuring medical expertise and avoiding abuse of the licensing flexibility, but PERA explained the change was meant to address recruitment difficulties and maintain timely review. The committee voted due pass on House Bill 43.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll leave the roll open for members to add on. Thank you.
• We'll leave the roll open for adding members. Thank you.
• We will leave it open. AB 268. Assembly Member Calra.
• We will leave it open. AB 268. Assembly Member Calra.
• We will leave it open. AB 592. Gabriel. It has 20 votes. We will leave it open. AB 592, Gabriel.

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee heard a series of bills on holidays, procurement, disaster recovery, public safety, nonprofit payments, and restaurant regulation. AB 268 would add Diwali as an official state holiday, with the authors and supporters emphasizing recognition of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist Californians and no opposition heard. AB 770 would define “customary maintenance” for outdoor advertising displays to clarify billboard maintenance rules; the bill was framed as a safety and regulatory consistency measure and was moved forward after a motion and roll call. AB 783 would authorize the Department of General Services to negotiate bulk purchasing arrangements for construction materials to lower rebuilding costs after disasters; members raised concerns about state contracting, storage, and market competition, and the author said the bill would be refined with amendments and a sunset provision. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management. The committee also approved AB 381, which updates state procurement rules to address human trafficking and forced labor in supply chains by aligning California standards more closely with federal guidance. Supporters said the bill would give clearer compliance guidance to contractors and help prevent exploitation, while a question from the committee clarified that prison labor products would not be treated as forced labor under the measure. AB 668 would extend drink-spiking prevention measures to music festivals by requiring availability of test strips and drink lids and adding reporting requirements; supporters described personal experiences with roofieing, while festival and venue representatives opposed the bill unless amended, citing cost and operational concerns. Despite that opposition, the bill advanced to Appropriations. Later, AB 880 was heard to require prompt payment and fair reimbursement of direct and indirect costs for nonprofits receiving state grants, closing a prompt-payment loophole and drawing broad support from nonprofit and county health groups. AB 989 would establish California Native American Day as a paid holiday, with the author and tribal supporters describing it as a step toward recognition and reconciliation for California’s first people; it also advanced. Finally, AB 592 would extend temporary outdoor dining and alcohol service flexibilities for restaurants, with strong support from restaurant owners and business groups and opposition from alcohol policy advocates who preferred a shorter extension or permanent grandfathering. The committee approved the bill as amended, and the meeting adjourned after roll calls on the measures and consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• We made major investments in education, paid family and medical leave program that's now entering its
• ,</c><00:05:17.120><c> access</c><00:05:17.520><c> to</c> family and medical leave, access to family
• and medical leave, access to college<00:05:18.160><c> education,</c><00:05:18.880><c> free</c><00:05:
• I'm going to leave the state again with historic budget reserves, with budget surpluses, and programs
• that are functioning like paid family medical leave the way they should, that are actually growth to

Transcript Highlights:

• So I will leave it there.
• You just can say you can't leave.
• You leave or are fired.
• , and what about paid family medical leave?
• Paid family medical leave is here.