Transcript Highlights:

• services for testing drinking water.
• Services to adopt administrative rules regarding laboratory service fees for testing of water supplies
• </c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human Services U<00:04:21.040><
• :34.919><c> Services</c><00:04:35.919><c> to</c><00:04:36.320><c> adopt</c> and Human Services to adopt
• </c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human Services uh<00:16:36.399>

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• , local government, utilities, schools, and health care providers.
• And nobody cared about that. They just wanted wind.
• I don't really care. They stole the safety stuff, too, which is great.
• I don't really care. They stole the safety stuff, too, which is great.
• I'm the Vice President for Energy Services and Development here in support of HB 2090.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. House Bill 2272 would update state park inspection language for ski lifts and related equipment to better match current equipment and federal standards; the sponsor and State Parks said it was a simple modernization bill, and there was no opposition. House Bill 2245 would expand Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to port districts that distribute electricity, utilities with a single customer, and certain affected market customers such as data centers; supporters said it closes loopholes and applies clean-energy rules more fairly, while ports, business groups, and some utilities warned of unintended consequences, added reporting burdens, and impacts on cogeneration and rural economic development. Ecology and Commerce supported the goal but raised concerns about allowance allocation, fiscal impacts, and possible double counting, and WAPUDA asked that existing single-customer PUDs be grandfathered. House Bill 2215 would lower Climate Commitment Act thresholds for gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, and propane suppliers and extend coverage to some purchasers; supporters said it would prevent entities from gaming the system and cover significant emissions now below the threshold, while Ecology, fuel distributors, propane suppliers, grocers, and business groups warned of compliance costs, supply-chain impacts, possible linkage issues, and the need to preserve existing reporting authority for natural gas. Ecology estimated about 50 additional covered entities could be brought in, and several opponents argued the bill would sweep in small family-owned businesses not intended to be regulated. House Bill 2090 would direct Commerce to develop a nuclear strategic framework for inclusion in the state energy strategy, contingent on outside funding. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill is only a planning measure to ensure Washington considers advanced nuclear as a firm, low-carbon, small-footprint resource amid rising demand, grid constraints, and land-use concerns; supporters included Energy Northwest, local governments, labor/environmental Democrats, and pro-nuclear groups. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and several environmental advocates, said the bill gives nuclear special treatment, relies on private funding that could bias the study, and risks advancing projects at Hanford without early, meaningful tribal consultation. Tribes requested explicit consultation, independent and publicly funded analysis, and attention to treaty rights and historic nuclear impacts. Testimony also sharply divided over cost, waste, and land use, with supporters emphasizing reliability and footprint and opponents citing high costs, unresolved waste disposal, and the immaturity of small modular reactors. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The remaining net proceeds will still go to the MFP as currently directed.
• One of my organizations that I try to champion are legal service programs.
• It is built to reduce barriers to care.
• We'll take care of that. Thank you, Rep. Carp. Do if you want to go ahead.
• Not direct citation.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee first took up HB 74, which would create a Louisiana Spectrum Alert for missing persons with autism spectrum disorder. Representative Eccles said the alert would be modeled on Amber and senior alerts and could be absorbed within existing resources. The committee heard emotional support testimony from a parent describing the dangers of elopement and drowning risks for autistic children, and several members voiced support. HB 74 was reported favorably. Members then considered HB 1033 and HB 1034 by Chairman Bacala. HB 1033 expands the statutory definition of critical infrastructure to include additional facilities such as airports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, mass transit, government facilities, military installations, and oil and gas exploration platforms. It drew mostly support from economic development and law enforcement groups, with one opposition card from the Sierra Club, and was reported favorably. HB 1034 authorizes parish presidents, mayors, sheriffs, police chiefs, and chief executive officers to establish temporary protection zones for public safety for up to 72 hours, with a warning before criminal penalties attach. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying that the bill cannot be used in a manner inconsistent with state firearms preemption law, heard concerns from the ACLU about vagueness and possible overreach, and then reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 59, by Representative Marcel, would require East Baton Rouge Parish and its municipalities to fund the 19th Judicial District public defender’s office in a manner parallel to the district attorney funding structure. The bill drew support from the public defender, the district attorney, and the state public defender, but several members raised concerns that the language could create an unfunded mandate or litigation risk for local governments. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 59 favorably. HB 175, as amended, redirected $500,000 annually from Louisiana Lottery net proceeds into a Veterans Service Grant Fund administered by a new board in the Department of Veterans Affairs; testimony emphasized support for veterans programs, treatment courts, homelessness services, and community organizations, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee also advanced HB 568, which increases penalties for drug-free school zone violations involving open marijuana use and other drug activity. Supporters said the bill would give law enforcement and prosecutors a clearer tool to address visible drug use near schools and large events, while opponents warned it could over-criminalize marijuana and create proof problems. The committee reported HB 568 favorably. Finally, HB 525, which requires DPS&C to publish certain incarceration data online, was amended to remove parish jail census data after DPS&C said it would not post that portion; the department said it would publish the remaining data and codebook online. The committee then reported HB 525 favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Care to Learn takes care of our young people.
• I think you could call improved services expansion, but in either case, it would be providing service
• I think you could call improved services expansion, but in either case, it would be providing service
• That does not have internet service. We have to go somewhere else to get our broadband service.
• More children getting out of foster care.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a brief roll call and a chamber introduction of Doug Pitt and Crystal Simon of Care to Learn, an organization described as serving students’ basic needs and esteem-building across Missouri. The body then moved through House Bills for Perfection, Informal, taking up several measures focused on public safety, housing, broadband, historic preservation, adoption, regional planning, and school safety. House Bill 2848, creating the offense of masked intimidation, was debated and advanced after members discussed examples ranging from harassment at homes to historical hooded intimidation and concerns about whether the bill could affect ICE agents; the sponsor said it would not apply to lawful duties. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1791, dealing with faster building permit timelines to help address housing costs and disaster recovery, was amended to require code-enforcement certification for nationally recognized codes and then perfected and printed despite concerns from some members about local government capacity. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2465, allowing sole proprietors and very small businesses to buy group health coverage outside the ACA framework, was also adopted and perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2711 reduced the assessment rate for broadband infrastructure investment and drew extended debate over whether the tax break should apply to upgrades within existing territories or only to expansion into underserved areas; an amendment clarifying that the incentive was for expanding fiber and broadband services was adopted, and the bill was perfected and printed. House Bill 3080 restored historic preservation tax credit language that had previously been struck down, with broad support from members citing tornado recovery, downtown revitalization, nonprofit projects, and preservation of historic districts. House Bill 1772 increased state payments for adoption attorneys and separated guardian fees to reduce barriers to adoption, and House Bill 2096 increased state matching funds for regional planning commissions and updated the commission list; both were advanced after supportive testimony about local planning and the need to keep pace with inflation. Finally, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2913 and 3228 was presented to protect teachers and other school personnel from liability when reasonably intervening to protect themselves or students during violent incidents, while making intervention permissive rather than mandatory. Members from both parties and several educators spoke in strong support, emphasizing that teachers should not fear discipline or lawsuits for acting to keep children safe. The bill was advanced after discussion about the scope of the teacher definition and whether related issues like school buses should be addressed separately.

Transcript Highlights:

• Office of Community Services.
• Office of Community Services.
• Office of Community Services.
• Office of Community Services.
• </c> services for the Immigrant uh services services for the Immigrant uh services and<00:24:23.279><

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> help with a significant amount directed help with a significant amount directed toward<00:03:20.720
• of what the what we have, taking care of what the buildings<00:03:26.319><c> that</c><00:03:26.480><
• You know, are we moving in the<00:13:02.959><c> right</c><00:13:03.120><c> direction?
• Well, first of all, the right direction?
• </c> And a lot of them do provide services And a lot of them do provide services that<00:14:23.920><c

Transcript Highlights:

• to our organizations why a mandate that directs... ...broadly covered service, it remains unclear to
• It protects continuity of care. It helps patients.
• Local governments are on the front lines of providing services such as health care, emergency shelter
• Acupuncture is essential care. It is not luxury care.
• Paul Fox, Northeast Medical Services, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Services third party providers. Services third party providers.
• </c><00:03:09.680><c> Association</c> the Wyoming Youth Services Association the Wyoming Youth Services
• </c> EMS services sponsored by labor. EMS services sponsored by labor.
• Now, if someone is going to buy new<00:31:16.080><c> services,</c> new services, new services, they're
• </c> mandating that they take care of this. mandating that they take care of this.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:26:33.800><c> agencies</c> any of our victim services agencies any of our victim services agencies
• We know about the long-term care space because there is a federal regulation that long-term care facilities
• </c> management service organization, MSO. management service organization, MSO.
• </c> Chief Warden of the Warden Service Chief Warden of the Warden Service Division<01:46:15.760><c>
• ,</c> The Land Use Review Board was directed, The Land Use Review Board was directed, in<01:55:25.440

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> services systems. services systems.
• </c> ensuring that essential health care ensuring that essential health care services<01:08:17.359><c
• models, improving the quality of care while managing service volume.
• , where access to primary health care services can be as much as 30 miles away.
• So ordered. service. Although HA recognizes that service.

Transcript Highlights:

• We already do it as duplication of services, but should we really care?
• I think they've been careful.
• Bruce is walking out, so maybe he doesn't care.
• I mean, health services is obvious.
• I mean, health services is obvious.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It will help to ensure that older adults can access the health care services they need without having
• Care Services in our need for Primary Care Services in our most<01:29:31.280><c> rural</c><01:29:31.800
• </c><01:46:25.040><c> Services</c> support access to Primary Care Services support access to Primary
• Care Services especially<01:46:26.199><c> for</c><01:46:26.360><c> Rural</c><01:46:26.639><c> and</c>
• The commission focused particular attention on direct care workers, including personal care aides, nursing

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Scrowing with Capital Apsi on behalf of Republic Services. Excuse me.
• Good afternoon, Michael Caprio with Republic Services here in support.
• Good afternoon, Michael Caprio with Republic Services here in support.
• Anybody care to call us bluff? Seeing none, we will...
• Um, And directs CARB to provide up to $50 million in competitive grants.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee first heard SB 14, which would direct state agencies to reduce single-use plastics and improve recycling and composting practices in state facilities. The author described the bill as a way for California to lead on waste reduction, with goals such as more reusable foodware, less paper purchasing, better employee education on sorting waste, and stronger recycled-content requirements for state purchases of plastic bottles. Support came from composting and waste-management representatives, while manufacturers and bottled-water interests removed their opposition after amendments narrowed the bill; the measure received a due pass recommendation to Governmental Organization on a unanimous roll call of members voting. The committee then took up SB 326, a wildfire-risk bill that would create a framework for Cal Fire to evaluate wildfire mitigation investments and accelerate implementation of Zone Zero building standards in very high fire hazard areas. The author and a Stanford wildfire policy expert argued the bill would help prioritize the most effective fuels-management and defensible-space actions, while local government and insurance representatives voiced support. With no opposition, the bill was passed as amended to Appropriations on a unanimous vote. Next, the committee considered SB 34, dealing with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The author said the bill was narrowed by amendments to preserve port competitiveness while requiring the district to account for factors outside the ports’ control, avoid cargo-throughput caps, and focus on stakeholder collaboration and electrification planning. Supporters included labor, business, and port-related groups, while environmental organizations, community advocates, and the AQMD opposed it, arguing it would weaken local air-quality efforts and set a bad precedent. After extensive debate over precedent, automation, cargo limits, and federal preemption, the bill passed as amended to Transportation on a roll call with some members voting no and others not voting. The committee also heard SB 279, which would expand composting flexibility for agricultural operations and small community composters. The author and supporters said the bill would help farmers manage orchard and vineyard removals after the agricultural burning ban, increase local composting capacity, and keep more organic material out of landfills. Commercial composting interests opposed the measure, warning it could create permitting inequities, undercut existing facilities, and allow too much food waste at small sites. Despite those concerns, the bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote. The transcript ended as the committee began discussion of SB 613 on upstream methane emissions and data collection for imported oil and gas, with the author noting there was no opposition to that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, HB 157 is a service of process bill.
• Members, please direct your attention to the East Gallery.
• I care about the yeses and the noes. After year, but because I do care.
• I care about the yeses and the noes.
• Service through the financial technology sandbox.

Summary: The House convened for opening-day business, with prayer, a moment of silence for Captain Bill Guston, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum established. The Speaker outlined a budget message emphasizing reduced spending and a proposed permanent 0.75% sales tax cut, and the chamber then received the Governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001. Members moved to reinstate several vetoed appropriations, including the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1, the Department of Corrections automated staffing/time management system, and Baldwin sewer and water main work; each reinstatement passed unanimously. The House also adopted a special order calendar and special amendment procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. On the special order calendar, several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including Lucy’s Law on boating safety (CS/CS/CS/HB 289), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process. These measures focused on boating safety, water infrastructure, utility-rate fairness, school walking safety, and procedural civil-law updates. A major floor debate centered on HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “Free Kill Law” limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-awaited justice measure for families who lost adult children or unmarried relatives to medical malpractice, while opponents were not recorded in the final vote tally; the bill passed 104-6 after extensive emotional testimony from sponsors and affected families. The chamber also heard a lengthy, highly divided debate on HB 759, which would lower the firearm purchase age from 21 to 18. Supporters argued the current law is inconsistent with adult rights and responsibilities and cited constitutional precedent, while opponents emphasized Parkland, youth gun violence, and public-safety concerns; the transcript ends during continued debate on that bill, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The spirit of public service of the Irish runs very deep.
• THE SPIRIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE IRISH RUNS VERY DEEP.
• Their legacy also lives on through, again, public service right here in New York.
• and programs in New York that made sure that we lifted up the neediest, made sure that we took care
• Many found their way into public service, and I, as their daughter, ultimately did against my father’

Summary: The Senate met on March 13, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, received a message discharging Assembly Bill 2330 from committee and substituting identical Senate Bill 5843, and welcomed visiting delegations from Connecticut. The chamber also adopted privileged resolution J.1753, honoring Saint Patrick and Irish Americans and memorializing the Governor to proclaim March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month. Senators Kavanagh and Fahy spoke in support, emphasizing Irish heritage, immigration, public service, and the St. Patrick’s Day tradition; the resolution was adopted and opened for co-sponsorship. The Senate then acted on a series of bills on the calendar. Measures passed included bills by Senators Hinchey, Comrie, Skoufis, Stavisky, Sanders, Kavanagh, Gianaris, Cleare, and others, with several receiving unanimous support and a few drawing recorded negative votes. Senator Fernandez’s education bill related to placing opioid antagonists with AEDs and first aid kits in schools passed 60-1 after supportive remarks from Senators Oberacker and Fernandez. A bill authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires also passed unanimously, with Senators Borrello and Weik explaining affirmative votes while urging caution about electric bus mandates. The most debated item was Calendar 446, Senator May’s bill directing the Department of Economic Development to move the Central New York Welcome Center from Destiny USA to the Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn. Senator Walczyk questioned the move’s cost, location, visitor traffic, and local support, arguing Destiny USA was the better site; Senator May responded that the state had built the Auburn facility and should provide sustainable operating support. The bill passed 47-15. The Senate then completed the controversial calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's been prescribed by a provider, to determine whether the insurer will pay for that service or
• Senate Bill 6074 directs the Ruckelshaus Center to coordinate a work group to study the reestablishment
• limit the authority of the Board of Hearing and Speech to establish rules and enforce standards of care
• They provide important services to our senior community.
• It includes meals, access to services, et cetera.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Take care of it like anybody else takes care of any home. That's your home.
• of it like anybody else takes take care of it like anybody else takes care<00:20:13.600><c> of</c><00
• </c><00:20:15.280><c> You</c> care of any home. That's your home. You care of any home.
• board</c> to be is direct directed to the board to be is direct directed to the board they<01:08:00.799
• It could be someplace that's accessible to services like sewer and fire and emergency services.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is anyone who's out just servicing the members that we're servicing or presenting based on a
• out just servicing the members that<00:21:02.799><c> we're</c><00:21:03.039><c> servicing</c><00:21:
• This needed to be taken care of.
• Legislative services would title. Okay? Legislative services would do<01:08:56.080><c> that.
• Are our services both viable and sector. Are our services both viable and valuable?

Summary: The subcommittee continued work on Senate Bill 297 and a new amendment dealing with pooled risk management programs and whether they should be regulated under the insurance department. Lisa Duket, executive director of SchoolCare, testified at length that the draft language could allow co-mingling of public entity risk funds, could trigger producer-licensing requirements for staff who are not actually brokers, and may not fit public entity risk pools because they are not insurance companies. She also raised concerns about the March 1 reporting deadline, the proposed uniform accounting language, aggregate excess insurance, examination costs being charged to the program, and confidentiality provisions that she argued may conflict with right-to-know principles for public entities. She urged the committee to slow down and consider a study committee or more time for review, saying the regulated entities were not adequately involved in drafting the proposal. Chairman Hunt and the department responded that the bill is intended to create a licensure-based regulatory model, similar to other licensed industries, and that the pooled risk management program would be exempt from producer licensing while anyone else selling or negotiating such coverage would need a producer license. The department said failure to comply would be handled through an administrative licensing process, with denial or nonrenewal of a license and appeal through the department process. On the reporting deadline, the department said March 1 is a standard filing date used for financial analysis and that the filing can be the most recent annual report, regardless of fiscal year end. They also explained that the confidentiality language was taken from existing RSA 5B, that aggregate excess insurance was included as a solvency measure, and that the draft was intended to preserve familiar language while adapting it for pooled risk programs. The discussion did not include a final vote or formal action on the bill in the portion provided. The committee appeared to be compiling follow-up questions for the insurance department and considering whether additional revisions or a slower process would be needed before moving the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• She not only cares about me and my sister, but she cares about all of the New Mexico students, and she
• I don't think that it's the direction that we should go towards.
• Not in the cabinet position, but the governor seems to change direction often.
• Should we direct a lot of these projects that way instead of trying to do them ourselves?
• And satisfying that these are not service agencies. So is DFA...

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And we did a direct comparison in our participating schools, students who receive services with those
• who did not receive tutoring services and for our pilot program.
• So scaling to the size is also something that takes careful care and also remembering for ourselves and
• We got the services.
• There are cost differential differentiation is for services and the appropriation for the K 5 services