Transcript Highlights:

• Kraft withdraws his white vote, both Ms. Taylor.
• the votes from nine to ten.”
• , not a unanimous vote.
• So a lot of times you can have a 10-2 vote or an 11-1 vote, and are they all guilty as charged or not
• So a lot of times you can have a 10-2 vote or an 11-1 vote, and are they all guilty as charged or not

Bills: HCR50 , HB123 , HB219 , HB251 , HB404 , HB769 , HB1065 , SB58 , SB81 , SB92 , SB97 , SB141 , SB156 , SB181 , SB207 , SB396 , SB410

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, data privacy, personal information, cybersecurity, confidentiality, monitoring violations

Transcript Highlights:

• this vote will be.
• A no vote will move on to Representative Schamhorn's vote. Madam Secretary, call the roll.
• A vote yes will move to involuntarily defer. A vote no would be not to involuntarily defer. Yes.
• A vote yes will be to involuntarily defer. A vote no will be to keep the bill in committee.
• A vote yes is to defer the bill. A vote no is to move the bill to the floor.

Summary: The committee first heard and favorably reported House Bill 1175, which updates aeronautics-related definitions to make Louisiana more attractive to the aviation industry. It then approved House Bill 655, giving DOTD clearer authority to contract for operation and maintenance of state ferry systems on a cost-plus basis, with testimony focused on flexibility for the Cameron Ferry and other state-run ferries. House Bill 1037, which reorganizes certain DOTD operations by shifting duties to a chief operating officer and extending work on a unified permitting platform, was also reported favorably, as was House Bill 1174, which recreates the Department of Transportation and Development on a revised cycle. House Bill 714 was voluntarily deferred. The committee next took up several port-related measures. House Bill 871, which would have added two St. Tammany appointees to the Port of New Orleans board, was voluntarily deferred after the author said the timing was premature given ongoing work on the LIT project and regional trade zone issues. House Bill 345, expanding the Rail Infrastructure Improvement Program to include rail infrastructure at ports, was reported favorably. House Bill 713, which would cap the Caddo-Bossier Port executive director’s compensation at the statewide average of the top ten port directors, drew extensive testimony for and against; supporters argued the salary was excessive and the port needed accountability, while opponents said ports are different from one another, the local appointing authorities already oversee the board, and the bill could hurt recruitment. The committee voted 12-1 to involuntarily defer HB 713. House Bill 667, which would change the Caddo-Bossier Port Commission from appointed to elected members, also drew strong opposition over cost, voter confusion, and loss of local appointing authority, and it too was involuntarily deferred by a 12-1 vote. The committee then favorably reported House Bill 743, creating the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport District in St. Mary Parish, after testimony that the airport should be managed as a dedicated economic development asset. House Bill 836, which would reconfirm members of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East, was amended to move the reconfirmation date from August 1, 2026, to December 1, 2026, to avoid disrupting hurricane-season operations, and was reported favorably by substitute. Finally, House Bill 730, concerning the use of ADS-B aircraft tracking data, was discussed with an amendment limiting the bill’s application to smaller aircraft; the measure was presented as a privacy and safety bill to prevent assessors or others from using ADS-B data to impose fees or taxes on aircraft owners.

Transcript Highlights:

• Zoe, please call the roll on HB 1337 and announce a vote.
• Vote no on this bill. Thank you. Thank you for being here.
• In tone. a vote.
• Zoe, please call the roll on HB 1473 and announce a vote.
• Please call the roll on HB 1473 and announce a vote.

Summary: The subcommittee took up a long agenda of civil justice measures and claims bills. HB 1407, on commencement of civil actions under the Florida Civil Rights Act, was presented as a fix to conflicting appellate decisions about whether an EEOC no-probable-cause notice can start the clock for filing suit; the bill would allow an EEOC determination to suffice and permit filing within 18 months of the complaint. It passed 16-0. HB 1337, an estates bill reducing court involvement in decedent asset distribution by expanding personal representative authority over safe deposit boxes and increasing small-estate thresholds, also passed unanimously, 17-0. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1553, which would change what medical expense evidence juries may see in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with supporters saying it would clarify the law and let both sides present evidence, and opponents arguing it would roll back 2023 tort reforms and reintroduce inflated medical bills. After extensive testimony from business, insurance, trucking, and plaintiff-side interests, the PCS passed 13-4. HB 1423, dealing with negligent security in multifamily residential properties, would remove a presumption against liability when two or more specified crimes were reported in the prior 24 months; an amendment clarified that the crimes must have been reported to the owner or principal operator. Supporters said it would help crime victims and restore balance, while opponents warned it would undermine incentives for property owners to maintain security. The amended bill passed 14-4. Several claims bills also advanced unanimously: HB 6527 for Patricia Armini and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6531 for the estate of McKenzie Navarra and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6507 for L.E. and the Department of Children and Families, and HB 6521 for Jose Carrera and Miami-Dade County. Each was described as providing compensation for serious injuries or death after prior government negligence, and each was reported favorably without opposition votes. Finally, the committee heard HB 1471, a controversial bill on systems of law and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would bar enforcement of foreign or religious law over the U.S. and Florida Constitutions, create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations, and prevent state funds from supporting terrorism. Members raised extensive concerns about vague definitions, First Amendment and due process issues, and the lack of a predesignation hearing; public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with supporters arguing the bill was needed for public safety. The transcript ends during public testimony on HB 1471, before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Epstein, explain my vote, please. I'm going to vote yes.
• So how do you vote?
• I vote aye. Seven ayes, zero nays, zero not voting. Aye.
• Seven ayes, zero nays, zero not voting. 6-1, right? She voted no, right? No, she voted aye.
• Seven, aye, zero, nay, zero, not voting. 6-1, right? She voted no, right? No, she voted aye.

Committee: Senate Senate Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard the Arizona Auditor General’s 2025 sunset review of the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The audit found the board generally processed licenses and complaints timely and had adopted required school curriculum rules, but it also identified inconsistent disciplinary actions, gaps in required infection-prevention and law education for some reciprocity and instructor applicants, weak application review controls, and noncompliance issues involving open meeting law, public records, and conflicts of interest. Auditors also recommended statutory changes on esthetics scope of practice, cease-and-desist authority, and eyelash technician training standards. The board’s executive director said the agency agreed with the findings, had already implemented some changes including updated disciplinary parameters, conflict-of-interest training, lawful presence verification, and revised cash-handling procedures, and was working through the remaining recommendations. After questions, the committee voted 7-0 to recommend the board implement the audit recommendations and be continued for six years, until July 1, 2032. The committee then took up the combined sunset review and performance audit of the Arizona Department of Gaming, the Arizona Racing Commission, and the Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission. The Auditor General reported that while the department distributed tribal gaming funds and issued some licenses appropriately, it failed to consistently obtain and review required independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements, lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes, and had delayed some compact trust fund distributions. Additional issues included IT security documentation, horse-racing suitability checks, fee-setting reviews, rulemaking, and public records procedures; the Boxing and MMA Commission also had licensing and fee-setting deficiencies. The department and commissions agreed to implement the recommendations, and the department director said the agency was already making changes, including updated guidance to operators, a new complaint-tracking process, conflict-of-interest training, and work on trust fund distributions and rule changes. Committee members pressed both the auditor and the department on why fantasy sports audit reviews had not been completed, whether underpayments would be recovered, and why no distributions had yet been made to certain Category 3 tribes under the 2021 compact trust fund. The director said the department was now doing a look-back review, would seek any owed fees, penalties, and interest, and was helping tribes resolve the baseline-revenue formula needed for distributions. Members also asked about conflict-of-interest practices, problem gambling, and whether prediction markets fall under gaming regulation. The discussion continued into the department’s broader presentation, with the director describing the agency’s regulatory role and ongoing modernization efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet, these women, vote.
• Today I will proudly vote yes on this bill. I will vote yes on this legislation.
• </c> colleagues to vote no and I yield back. colleagues to vote no and I yield back.
• </c><04:28:26.880><c> outrage</c> not show vote show votes or fake outrage not show vote show votes or
• </c> to get clicks and our votes. to get clicks and our votes.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please vote no on HB 2429 as written. Amend the bill to... Please vote no on HB 2429 as written.
• The bill establishes certain requirements for ranked choice voting ballot design and vote tabulation
• under the instant runoff voting method and single transferable vote method.
• implement ranked choice voting.
• majority voting.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several bills. HB 2675 would eliminate a number of state accounts and transfer remaining balances from two accounts to the general fund, while also changing how revenues in the Salary Insurance Contribution Increase Revolving Account are deposited; OFM testified in support and there was no public opposition. SHB 1903 would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce, funded by the general fund and Climate Commitment Act revenues; supporters said it would address Washington’s underfunded and uneven energy assistance system, while utilities and rural co-ops raised concerns about cost, reporting burdens, utility authority, and implementation details. SHB 2384 would require actuarial reviews for certain continuing care retirement communities with prepaid life care contracts; residents and consumer advocates supported the added transparency, while providers opposed the added review costs and said they already pay for actuarial work. SHB 1982 would expand the ability of tribal members to vacate convictions tied to treaty rights, add OPD representation and a tribal liaison position, and then an amendment was described that would remove the liaison position and eliminate the fiscal impact; the sponsor and OPD supported the bill, and testimony emphasized correcting past treaty-rights convictions. The committee also heard SHB 2389, a broad juvenile justice bill that would expand suspended disposition options, create midpoint review hearings, reduce some robbery ranges, and address juvenile rehabilitation capacity and transfers. Supporters argued it would reduce racial disparities, favor community-based rehabilitation when safe, and improve outcomes, while prosecutors, sheriffs, counties, judges, cities, victim advocates, and some tribal law enforcement warned it would weaken accountability for serious violent offenses, increase court and local government burdens, and shift costs without funding. Several witnesses and the bill sponsor discussed proposed amendments, including removing presumptions and the mid-sentence review. The committee then heard SHB 2439, which would raise tobacco and vapor product license fees, create a responsible vendor program, add manufacturer certification and enforcement provisions, restrict certain products and sales practices, and redirect tobacco tax revenue to public health, cancer research, and youth prevention accounts; public health and prevention groups supported it, while retailers and industry representatives opposed the fee increases and some of the new restrictions. Finally, HB 2681 would sharply increase cannabis license fees and index them to inflation; OFM supported the change as aligning fees with program costs, while cannabis businesses and associations opposed or sought changes to the fee structure and CPI indexing. The committee also heard a briefing on SHB 2215, which would require the Caseload Forecast Council to forecast SNAP and state food assistance caseloads in light of upcoming federal cost-sharing changes; no questions were raised at the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Williams voting yes. We have the number of required votes. Submission passes.
• Chair Williams voting yes. Having received the required number of votes, the motion carries. Dr.
• Chair Williams voting yes. Having received the required number of votes, the motion carries.
• Chair Williams voting yes. Having received the required number of votes, the motion carries.
• Chair Williams voting yes. Having received the required number of votes, the motion carries.

Bills: SB293 , SB279 , SB293 , SB279

Committee: House Education

Keywords: SB 293, youth camp, child care licensing, Office of Child Care Licensing, OCCL, American Camp Association, ACA accreditation, Purchase of Care, POC reimbursement, summer camp, school-age child care, child care exemption, Division of Public Health permit, Title 14, Delaware Department of Education, health and safety standards, child care provider reimbursement, summer child care, camp licensing, license exemption

Summary: The House Education Committee met and first heard Senate Bill 293, the Youth Camp Licensing Act, which would amend child care licensing rules for youth camps. The sponsor said the bill, with amendments, would remove accreditation language, clarify shelter requirements for outdoor camps, and eliminate limits that had restricted the number of children camps could serve, especially for families using purchase-of-care assistance. YMCA and school representatives testified in support, saying the measure would expand access to safe, affordable summer care for low-income working families. The committee voted to release the bill. The committee then approved Senate Bill 328, which would require the Department of Education’s school facility evaluation instrument to be established by regulation and to include lead-based paint hazards in the standard of good repair. The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee supported the bill, explaining that lead had not been included in the original evaluation tool and that the new language would improve transparency and public comment. Senate Bill 318, updating the Delaware State Education Association special license plate program, also passed after DSEA testified that proceeds support scholarships for educators and students pursuing education careers. House Bill 443, dealing with background checks for education volunteers and mentors, passed as well. The sponsor said it would allow DOE to continue receiving wrapback reports for mentors in the state mentoring program and ensure state and federal criminal background checks remain in place. The committee also released Senate Joint Resolution 15, which directs DOE to reevaluate Delaware’s use of the SAT, modernize the accountability framework, and develop additional measures of student achievement and readiness; supporters argued the SAT does not capture career and technical pathways or other indicators of success. House Bill 459, which prohibits the sale of energy drinks on public middle and high school campuses during school hours or events, passed after discussion focused on whether the bill would affect possession versus sale and whether it could lead to student discipline; DOE said the bill only bans sales, and the sponsor said an amendment would clarify intent. Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 137 passed, directing DOE to review math instruction and MTSS supports statewide; testimony emphasized low math proficiency and the need for stronger, more coherent interventions. The committee also began hearing Senate Bill 279 on occupational therapist salary placement, with discussion centered on aligning OT compensation with other specialist roles and broader salary regulation updates, though the transcript cuts off before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• , interference with elections, tampering with voting machines, or vote tally systems.
• , interference with elections, tampering with voting machines, or vote tally systems.
• We've just had some individuals who don't have voting rights attempt to register and vote and have been
• or interfering with someone's vote.
• or interfering with someone's vote the campaign person getting a ballot and altering someone's vote

Summary: The House Judiciary and Rules and Administration Committee approved the minutes from February 23, 2026, welcomed Caldwell High School students and Fruitland Mayor’s Youth Council members, and then took up several bills. House Bill 743, which Speaker Moyle said was intended to create penalties and enforcement mechanisms for violations of laws by public officials and others, drew concerns about fee shifting and contempt standards; after discussion, the committee voted unanimously to hold it at the call of the chair for further work. The committee then unanimously sent House Bill 688 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. That bill, presented by Representative Shirts, would criminalize the sale, installation, or transfer of counterfeit or nonfunctional airbags and related defeat devices, with a simple misdemeanor penalty and a knowing mental state. House Bill 695, a cleanup bill related to squatters and eviction procedure, was also sent to the floor unanimously after testimony from the Idaho State Sheriffs Association supporting the change from “writ of possession” to “writ of restitution.” House Bill 697, a Secretary of State-requested rewrite of election tampering provisions to clarify the code without changing the underlying felony penalties, likewise received unanimous due pass approval. The committee next heard House Bill 727, sponsored by Representatives Brooke Green and Jaron Crane, addressing sextortion by making threats to expose intimate images actionable even if the images are never released. Testimony from the Attorney General’s ICAC unit described a sharp rise in sextortion cyber tips in Idaho and the difficulty of pursuing many offenders because they are overseas; members discussed prevention, rapid response, and support resources for youth. The bill received broad support and was sent to the floor unanimously with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee approved two Senate cleanup bills from Representative Scott: Senate Bill 1248, which removes obsolete language about the capital crimes defense fund, and Senate Bill 1249, which makes a minor wording change to Idaho time-zone language. Both passed unanimously with due pass recommendations, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could we do a roll call vote, please? Ms.
• Committee passes on a roll call vote.
• Chair, if we do a roll call vote, please. Ms.
• And can we do a roll call vote on this, please? Ms. Cray, would you please do a roll call vote?
• Committee fails on a roll call vote. We'll go to the original motion.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote, SB 14 is reported favorably.
• By your vote, SB 830 is reported favorably.
• By your vote, SB 1138 is reported favorably.
• By your vote, SB 168 is reported favorably.
• By your vote, SB 168 is reported favorably.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All in favor of the committee substitute vote I... Thank you, Mr.
• </c><00:05:05.000><c> all</c> comments we are ready for a vote all comments we are ready for a vote all
• </c> amended by the committee substitute vote amended by the committee substitute vote I<00:05:09.919
• Seeing no other questions, we're ready for the vote.
• I think we're ready for a vote on this. All in favor, vote aye. All opposed, vote no.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up four bills. House Bill 131, sponsored by Representative Meredith, would give former second-class city fire departments more flexibility in firefighter scheduling. Meredith explained the committee substitute would allow a hybrid “1323” schedule while preserving existing collective bargaining agreements and affecting only 13 cities. There was no opposition or public testimony, and the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill with a favorable expression. House Bill 256, sponsored by the chair, was presented by Representative Flry and Kentucky Land Title Association President Eric Case. The bill sets a 40-year statutory limit on certain dormant title interests to clear old encumbrances and make titles more marketable, while not specifically excluding coal and mineral interests. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed the bill with a favorable expression. House Bill 290, sponsored by Representative Wilson, would update county law library funding rules to allow local bar associations to use library funds for online legal services, addressing unused balances in some counties. The chair and others said the change would better use the resource for attorneys and the public. The committee approved the bill with a favorable expression. House Bill 368, sponsored by Representative Decker, would let smaller counties and local governments use the same alternative public notice methods already available in larger counties, such as posting notices on government websites after a brief newspaper notice. Supporters from county and city groups said the change would save money, improve efficiency, and help with transparency, while Kentucky Press Association Executive Director David Thompson said newspaper publication costs are relatively small and urged the legislature to set standards for government websites before expanding online notice options. The transcript cuts off during Thompson’s testimony, and no final committee action on HB 368 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Vice Chair, for the vote. >> Voting on HB 1972.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Voting on HP 1972. &gt;&gt; Voting on HP 1972.
• Voting<01:59:29.679><c> on</c><01:59:30.000><c> HP20007.</c> Voting on HP20007. Voting on HP20007.
• >> Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote. >> Voting on HB 20009.
• >> Vice Chair for the vote, please. >> Voting on HB 2208.

Bills: HB2488 , HB2456

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: disability, communication access, deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, healthcare, sign language interpreters, auxiliary aids, weight loss, GLP-1 drugs, obesity, Medicaid, healthcare costs, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Castillo, not voting. Castillo, not voting. Colosa. Patel? Aye. Patel, aye. Petrinores. Rodriguez.
• And with that, we obviously have a recommendation of an aye vote.
• I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you. Thank you so much.
• We'll leave it open for the additional vote. Thank you. Wallace, aye.
• We'll leave it open for the additional vote. Thank you again.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I thank you all, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote. For an aye vote.
• That bill has nine aye votes and four no votes.
• That bill has 11 aye votes and four no votes. It is out. Did I note that item three was out?
• Three, and three is 2761, the number of votes. All right, item three, AB 2761, has 16 votes.
• That bill has 16 votes and is out.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor, vote aye. Aye, aye. All those opposed, vote nay. The ayes have it.
• And so I vote yes. Representative Carter. All right. You have to pay your debt. And so I vote yes.
• Chairman, Max, do my vote.
• So I vote aye. Representative Carter? Representative Cavero. Mr. Chairman, can I explain my vote?
• I'm glad to vote aye on this.

Bills: HB2174 , HB2496 , HB2744 , HB2863 , HB2910 , HB2938

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: insurance regulation, modeling organizations, financial disclosure, rate-making, predictive models, revitalization districts, construction contracts, infrastructure, municipal services, intergovernmental agreements, user fees, landowner agreements, overtime, wages, employee rights, industrial commission, complaints, adjudication, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• make comment on this rule before we vote?
• make comment on this rule before we vote?
• We have mail-in voting, early voting, the polls are open all day long.
• You know, our votes aren't just suggestions.
• You know, our votes aren't just suggestions.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:40.000><c> I</c> vote green. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I vote green.
• Members, please vote no. Representative Gordon. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• no on this and that's why I'll be voting no on this bill<00:20:40.480><c> today.
• Members, I'd ask for your green<00:22:11.840><c> vote</c><00:22:12.159><c> today.
• </c> green vote today. green vote today.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's nothing to vote no on. To pass failed, so there's nothing to vote no on.
• Senator Burckhard wasn't able to, we could not hear his vote on the final vote to send the bill to the
• Okay, so he voted. It wasn't recorded and he would like to have his vote recorded.
• I'm a— I'm deeply disappointed that my vote was not recorded, and I voted yes the first time on the do
• We'll have a vote. No discussion. We'll have a vote on accepting the amendment. Please, roll call.

Bills: HB1623

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.

Transcript Highlights:

• I especially ask for your aye vote. Thank you. First witness, please. Please ask for your aye vote.
• We urge your aye vote. Thank you.
• We're only going to vote on the amended version.
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. No, no, no, no. No, no.
• I urge an I vote.

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 479 would let Berkeley, Long Beach, and Pasadena use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across departments; the author and a Berkeley official said current state confidentiality rules prevent effective coordination, and the bill passed 9-0 to Senate Appropriations. SB 46 would bar a person who has served two terms as President from appearing on the California ballot for a third term; supporters argued California has authority to enforce constitutional qualifications, while Senator Niello questioned whether the bill was needed, and it passed 6-1 to Senate Appropriations. SB 99 would improve coordination between civilian and military authorities on military protective orders and restraining orders; the Department of Defense supported it, the ACLU raised due process concerns about MPOs, and the bill passed 6-0 as amended to Senate Appropriations. SB 719 would extend the sunset on Department of Technology reporting on state agency use of high-risk automated decision systems from 2029 to 2032; there was no opposition and it passed 6-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also took up SB 300, which would strengthen California’s new AI chatbot law by requiring operators to prevent minors from being exposed to sexually explicit material or facilitation of such content. Supporters said new evidence shows current protections are insufficient and that the bill is needed now to address harms to children; industry groups opposed the bill as premature, arguing SB 243 had just taken effect and that the new standard could create strict-liability-like exposure and uncertainty. After extensive questioning, the bill passed 9-0 to Senate Appropriations. SB 381 would give adult adoptees and descendants access to original birth certificates and create a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents; many adoptees and birth parents testified in support, while some members raised privacy concerns for birth parents. The bill passed 13-0 to the Senate Health Committee, with the author noting amendments would be taken in Health rather than Judiciary. At the end of the hearing, the committee shifted chairs and began SB 33, which would eliminate the sunset on the existing public works contractor claim-resolution process so agencies must continue to respond to claims, pay undisputed amounts, and use early dispute resolution. The author and sponsor said the process has reduced litigation and helped contractors and workers, and the bill was just being introduced when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The vote is 7-0. Item number 2, AB 289 by Haney. The vote is 4-1. Bennett: Aye. Brian: Aye.
• The vote is 6-2. Bauer-Kahan: Aye. Dixon. Brian: Aye. Flora: Not voting. Lowenthal: Aye.
• The vote is 5-1. Dixon. Brian: Not voting. Item number 8, AB 576 by Assembly Member Irwin.
• Flora: Not voting. Ortega: Aye. Patterson: Not voting. Petrie-Norris: Not voting. Wicks: Aye.
• The vote is 5-1. Bennett: Aye. Brian: Aye. Flora: Not voting. Irwin: Aye. Ortega: Aye.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took up multiple votes. AB 576, dealing with updates to California’s charitable fundraising platform registry after AB 488, was presented as a technical fix to help charities and platforms more quickly update eligible listings; there was no opposition testimony, and the measure was later moved on a due pass basis. AB 1160, on law enforcement drone programs, was presented with proposed amendments requiring U.S.-based data storage and limits on sharing or selling collected data; supporters said it would protect sensitive drone-collected information while preserving affordable drone use, while there was no opposition testimony, and it was also later passed out on a due pass as amended basis. AB 75, which would require insurers to give notice before collecting aerial images of homes and provide homeowners access to those images, drew support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates, while insurers opposed it unless amended, arguing aerial imaging is a cost-saving inspection tool and that the bill could worsen availability and affordability; the bill was moved to Appropriations on a due pass basis, with the roll held open for absent members. The committee spent the most time on AB 325, which would address algorithmic price-fixing and collusion. The author and supporters argued that competitors using the same pricing software or algorithm to set prices can function as collusion even when the agreement is hidden behind code, and cited examples involving housing, frozen potatoes, gas pricing, and other industries. Opponents, including apartment, business, hospital, retail, chamber, and tech groups, said the bill was too broad, could sweep in lawful software and public-data market research, and might chill legitimate pricing tools, especially for small businesses and housing providers. Committee members raised concerns about clarity, intent standards, and whether the bill should focus more narrowly on nonpublic competitor data; despite those concerns, AB 325 was moved to Appropriations on a due pass basis, with the roll held open. Later, AB 1221 was presented as a workplace surveillance bill that would prohibit certain invasive or discriminatory surveillance tools, require notice to workers, limit sharing of worker data, and require corroborating evidence before discipline based on surveillance outputs. Labor and consumer groups supported the bill, saying modern surveillance technologies can track speech, movement, emotion, and other sensitive traits and can be biased or abusive. The Security Industry Association opposed it, warning that the bill’s broad definitions could restrict legitimate security systems, emergency sharing with first responders, and employer responses to misconduct or unsafe behavior. The transcript cuts off before any final vote on AB 1221 is shown.