Transcript Highlights:

• Ladies and gentlemen, the Alabama Senate will now come to order.
• We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of
• life, and the mystery of love.
• Above all, we thank you for your son, Jesus Christ, for the truth of his word, and the example of his
• Now move on to introduction of bills. Any bills? All right. Now move on to committee reports.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a prayer by Senator Chris Elliott, followed by the pledge and a roll call establishing a quorum with 29 senators present. The Senate approved a motion to excuse absent senators and another to dispense with reading the previous day’s journal. In committee reports, Senate Bill 1 from the Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development received a favorable report by an 11-3 vote and was placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. No other bills were introduced or discussed in detail during the session. The presiding officer also recognized several guests in the gallery, including Jesse Godbey, Miss Debbie, and Heather Gudgear, described as the 1999 Strawberry Current Queen. The Senate then adopted a motion to adjourn until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm kind of with Vinny on this bill, but it says the State Department of Agriculture Commodity Procurement
• I'm kind of with Vinny with this bill, but it says the State Department of Agriculture Commodity Procurement
• Through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture on behalf of the USDA. Gotcha.
• We have four departments in the College of Agriculture, Human, and Environmental Sciences.
• So I'm from Alabama. My family is from outside of Montgomery, about 25 miles south.

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development met to approve the October 3, 2024 interim minutes and then took up two resolutions. HCR 205, by Representative Kerner, urged USDA to use its Commodity Procurement Program to purchase domestic Louisiana shrimp. Supporters said shrimpers are facing very low prices, full cold storage, and an urgent need for federal purchases to stabilize the market and help local processors and fishermen. Commissioner Mike Strain explained that USDA commodity purchases can support schools, nursing homes, and food banks, and members discussed the need for cold storage, marketing, and better promotion of local seafood. The resolution was reported favorably without objection. The committee also considered HCR 188, which memorializes Congress to oppose any federal farm bill language that could negatively affect the use of hunting dogs; members said the provision had raised concerns about field trials, scent hounds, and hunting practices, and the resolution was also reported favorably without objection. The committee then received a presentation from Southern University Ag Center and College of Agriculture leadership, led by interim president and chancellor Orlando McMeans and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin Walker. They outlined the center’s research, teaching, and extension work, including medicinal cannabis research, beef cattle and smart ranching, viticulture, aquaculture, precision agriculture, food and nutrition, and support for small farmers and K-12 dual enrollment. They highlighted scholarship and enrollment programs, including USDA-supported 1890 scholars and JAG Stars, as well as partnerships with LSU and USDA. They also described major facility projects, including a high-tech meat processing facility, research labs, a vineyard, and a proposed 1,300-bed disaster shelter/mega shelter at the experiment station. Members asked questions about meat-cutting and processing training, cattle genetics, and the shelter’s use when not needed for disasters. Southern officials said the new processing facility is intended to support training and workforce development, and that the shelter could also be used for events such as weddings, graduations, and agricultural activities. The committee expressed appreciation for the presentation and the work of the Ag Center. Representative Broussard then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and ensuring help is available to everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
• The commercial insurers might only pay $100 of that $231.
• of Mental Health inpatient facilities. ...intensive stabilization units within the Department of Mental
• H. 4696 would create a board of registration within the Department of Public Health, consisting of nine
• : the state of Florida, the state of Massachusetts, and the state of Alabama.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy, who outlined procedures for the hybrid public hearing, noted the committee would hear testimony on 15 bills related to treatment settings, and recognized members present. The first major bill discussed was H. 4200, authorizing a pilot program for psychedelic-assisted treatment in licensed facilities. Representative Jim O’Day and witnesses from Control Z supported the bill, describing it as a tightly controlled, medically supervised pilot with DPH oversight, limited sites, and screening requirements. Committee members asked about the number of sites and whether Column Health still existed; witnesses said the bill contemplated three separate pilot programs and that Column Health no longer existed after being purchased by another company. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1405 to make the drug stewardship program permanent by removing its 2026 sunset date. Senator John Keenan and others said the program helps collect and safely dispose of unused medications, reduces diversion, and should remain in place because manufacturers should bear disposal costs. A member from Boston added support based on local concerns about people searching through bags for drugs, and Keenan explained the original sunset reflected pilot status and industry pushback. A large portion of the hearing focused on S. 1394 and H. 2193, which would strengthen implementation of the 2023 Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Elliott Community Human Services testified that the roadmap’s helpline, community behavioral health centers, and crisis services are important but unevenly implemented. They urged a single point of accountability within EOHHS, regular strategic planning, a public data dashboard, and financial analysis of the behavioral health system and the access and crisis intervention trust fund. Witnesses said commercial insurance often does not fully reimburse community behavioral health center services, making sustainability difficult, and asked for better coordination across agencies and crisis response systems. Committee members asked whether the roadmap includes substance use disorder; witnesses said it is intended to cover behavioral health broadly, including mental health and substance use. The committee also heard testimony on bills to ban aversives and on suicide prevention signage. Lisa Jean Graff testified in support of S. 1394 by urging a statewide ban on aversive practices, including electric shock, withholding food or bathroom access, and other painful interventions, arguing disabled people deserve the same protections from harm as others. Fonda Bryant and Carol McLean supported a bill requiring suicide prevention signs on tall parking garages, describing personal experiences and saying the signs could create a brief pause and connect people to 988 or other help. McLean said her son died by suicide from a parking garage and that signage might have made a difference. The committee also heard strong testimony in support of creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within DMH facilities (S. 1398/H. 2204), with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and a DMH nurse arguing that highly assaultive patients need specialized, more secure units to protect staff and other patients and to improve care. Additional testimony supported creating a dedicated board for licensed mental health counselors (H. 4696/S. 1382), with Rep. John Badger, the Mass Mental Health Counselors Association, and others saying LMHCs are a large and growing workforce that needs its own licensing board, clearer standards, and faster implementation of existing licensure reforms. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 2223 regarding benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. Survivors and advocates described severe withdrawal, lack of informed consent, cognitive harms, and long-term disability, while a physician supported the bill as a way to improve disclosure of risks. Finally, the committee heard multiple witnesses in favor of H. 2231/S. 1383 to establish peer-run respite centers statewide. Advocates and people with lived experience said peer respites provide non-coercive, home-like alternatives to hospitalization, can reduce trauma and repeated admissions, and may be especially important for marginalized communities; they also cited cost savings and existing positive outcomes from current respite programs. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing portion reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• At $0.9 billion for the Department of Social and Health Services, some of the largest drivers here were
• And just one more, the Department of Revenue.
• is through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
• Two-thirds of our costs are paid by private insurance.
• Two-thirds of our costs are paid by private insurance.

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of system.
• None of them arose from a customer complaint, and none of them involved proof of jeopardizing health
• of.
• So Entergy New Orleans, is that just, for lack of a better word, do they have just an executive department
• Mississippi, Entergy Alabama, and you would have, to the commissioner's point, some allocation of costs

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and took up a series of Senate bills, a resolution, and one House bill. The committee reported favorably Senate Bill 79 to recreate Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 to establish the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, Senate Bill 375 on firefighting foam with amendments clarifying use in declared emergencies, Senate Bill 398 moving manufactured and modular housing oversight under the Contractors Licensing Board with technical and substantive amendments, Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing with an amendment providing for federal preemption if Congress enacts a national licensing regime, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks with consumer-protection provisions and technical amendments. The committee also reported favorably House Resolution 197, as amended, urging the Public Service Commission to study distributed energy generation and storage resources with LSU involvement, and Senate Bill 54, which would allow estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services; that bill drew extensive testimony from supporters and opponents in the cosmetology and aesthetics industries before being reported favorably. Several bills prompted detailed discussion and testimony. On Senate Bill 398, the sponsor and Contractors Licensing Board representatives said the change would improve enforcement and consumer safety for manufactured-home installation, especially tie-downs, leveling, and foundation blocking, while not affecting HUD-regulated construction. On the virtual currency bills, OFI said it currently licenses 37 virtual currency businesses with 33 pending applications, and supporters described the kiosk bill as a response to fraud complaints by requiring clearer disclosures, refund procedures, live customer support, and reporting to OFI. For House Resolution 197, the sponsor, PSC officials, and energy stakeholders said the study would examine the value of distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar and battery storage, in light of rising demand and grid reliability concerns; PSC staff and LSU energy experts described the study as focused on market value and avoided-cost benefits. House Bill 744, which would have shifted regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the PSC, generated discussion about constitutional history, rate impacts, and utility consolidation. PSC officials and the sponsor said the current city-council regulation is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921, and they argued that PSC regulation could reduce costs and simplify oversight, but the sponsor ultimately moved to defer the bill rather than force a floor fight, and the committee agreed. The committee then began consideration of Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, adopting technical amendments and then a larger amendment package that revised definitions and compliance provisions; the transcript ends while that bill’s amendment process is still underway, with no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Figures, let me address one of the concerns that you had, the use of physical force.
• </c> that you had, the use of physical force. that you had, the use of physical force.
• That is the flip side of it.
• </c> that the flip side of it. that the flip side of it.
• </c> try to speak to each one of the pages. try to speak to each one of the pages.

Bills: SB293 , SB293

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: SB293, Lee County, solid waste, waste collection fees, garbage fees, trash collection, county commission, fee exemption, low-income households, poverty level, federal poverty level, public sanitation, local act, municipal services, waste management, first responder, interference, criminal law, public safety, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• :31.200><c> it</c> of legislation that uh the genesis of it of legislation that uh the genesis of it
• How many of you renewed it and almost didn't get it again because of how it looked?
• How many of you renewed it and almost didn't get it again because of how it looked?
• </c> of the major cities in this state. of the major cities in this state.
• And, of course, you all understand the last part of the session kind of things slow down a little bit

Bills: SB211 , SB305 , SB300 , SB211 , SB305 , SB300

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, education funding, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, local education agencies, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students, tax exemption, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, business incentives, economic impact

Transcript Highlights:

• In violation of the Eighth Amendment. So in Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v.
• I will say that in defense of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections Division of Probation and
• I will say that in defense of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections Division of Probation and
• And it wasn't in the State Department of Corrections.
• And it wasn't in the State Department of Corrections.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 12 and took up a series of bills, mostly on juvenile justice, gaming-related background checks, bail/electronic bonds, and corrections policy. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably SB 258 on juvenile traffic violations, SB 321 on electronic bonds, SB 134 on limiting certain child sexual abuse material offenses for juveniles under 17 in specific circumstances, HB 75 on promotional play for racetracks as amended, and SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain fourth-offense impaired driving cases. Later, the committee also advanced SB 440 on the Renaissance District board membership, SB 393 on explosives regulation, SB 487 on charitable gaming rental arrangements, SB 339 and SB 288 on criminal background check procedures in the gaming and related regulatory systems, and SB 325 on excluding certain persons from sports wagering. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 201, which would change juvenile homicide sentencing procedures, including first- and second-degree murder cases, and how reviewing courts consider parole eligibility and prior death sentences converted to life. Supporters said the bill aligns sentencing with existing Supreme Court precedent and gives courts clearer guidance; opponents from children’s rights and civil liberties groups argued it weakens the “rarest and uncommon” safeguard for juvenile life-without-parole sentences and could expand harsh sentencing beyond constitutional limits. After debate and testimony, the committee adopted an amendment and reported SB 201 favorably by a 7-3 vote, with Representatives Adams, Knox, Moore, and others voting no. The committee also heard SB 523 on clemency and sentencing considerations for defendants who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Survivors’ advocates and domestic violence organizations supported the bill’s overall purpose but objected to the mandatory pre-sentence investigation language, warning it could introduce biased information and harm survivors; the Board of Pardons and Parole said its staff and trauma-informed victim assistance coordinators are trained to handle these cases. The committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill and then reported SB 523 favorably. Finally, SB 320 on DNA detection and crime lab reporting was advanced without opposition, and SB 470 on pregnant women in custody passed after testimony from the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association and discussion of pregnancy testing, bonding options, and prohibiting shackling during delivery and postpartum periods.

Transcript Highlights:

• To recognize the critical role of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in enforcing immigration
• It's kind of like insurance rates for a lot of our constituents that have all of a sudden tripled out
• of nowhere without ...kind of like insurance rates for a lot of our constituents that have all of a
• We got these numbers from the BOG and the Department of Education.
• But yet, as a conciliatory prize, we're giving millions of dollars to ag, who the Department of Justice

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a moment of silence honoring former Senator and Judge Thomas Gallen. The chamber then moved to special order items focused on immigration and related enforcement measures. Senate Memorial 6C, urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements, passed by voice vote. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 4C, an immigration measure that would impose a mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of capital felonies and create state crimes for illegal entry and re-entry. Senators Pizzo, Polsky, and Sharief raised concerns about constitutional issues, plea bargaining, trial and penalty-phase procedures, prosecutorial discretion, and the effect on victims’ families. Supporters, including Senators Fine and Gruters, argued the bill was a strong deterrent and a response to serious crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. The bill passed 25-11. The chamber next debated Senate Bill 2C, a broader immigration enforcement package. The bill would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, expand local-federal cooperation, fund detention and enforcement efforts, strengthen pretrial detention rules for unauthorized aliens, and end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Davis and Pizzo questioned enforcement mechanics, jurisdiction, bond procedures, and whether local agencies were actually mandated to participate; supporters said the bill was designed to maximize cooperation with federal authorities and the Trump administration. A late-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo to preserve tuition waivers for current students failed 14-22, and a second amendment was withdrawn after discussion. Debate then continued on the bill, with opponents arguing it was costly, federal in nature, and harmful to Dreamers and other students, while supporters said it was necessary to crack down on illegal immigration and align state policy with federal enforcement priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just one more, the Department of Revenue.
• is through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
• Two-thirds of our costs are paid by private insurance.
• Two-thirds of our costs are paid by private insurance.
• The addition of $2 million for 2020... departments.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal, beginning with a staff briefing from James Kettle. He described the budget as built on relatively flat revenue after multiple forecast updates, with substantial mandatory cost growth, especially in Health Care Authority, DSHS, and DCYF. He highlighted major policy-level additions and savings, including large tort liability costs, continued support for long-term services, reductions tied to child care and K-12 items, several assumed revenue bills, and major transfers from reserves and other accounts. Kettle also noted the four-year outlook remained positive overall, with about $1 billion ending fund balance in the final year and roughly $3 billion in total reserves. A committee member asked about a diagram showing the loss of federal funds, and staff said they would follow up. Public testimony then focused first on K-12 education, where school leaders, teachers, OSPI, PTA, and rural district representatives largely opposed the proposed cuts to local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, bus depreciation, and related school funding items. Many argued the reductions would disproportionately harm rural and property-poor districts and weaken early learning access, while several students and educators spoke in favor of career and technical education and IT Academy funding. The committee also heard support for wildfire prevention funding from the Commissioner of Public Lands, who thanked the Senate for restoring those dollars but raised concerns about recreation program reductions. Higher education testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the Senate proposal compared with the governor’s budget. Community and technical college leaders warned that the budget still shifts compensation costs to tuition and reduces Running Start funding, while university representatives from Western, Eastern, Central, WSU, and UW thanked the committee for avoiding deeper cuts. Private vocational college students and administrators urged extension of Washington College Grant eligibility for students already enrolled, and others asked to preserve IT Academy and related certification funding. In early learning, child care and advocacy groups praised the decision not to cap Working Connections Child Care but warned that child care and transition to kindergarten still bear a disproportionate share of cuts; they also requested continued support for Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Pierce County early childhood programs, including Family Connects. The hearing continued with testimony on employee compensation, mental health, and human services. State employee and retiree groups supported the budget’s COLA and wildfire funding but objected to cuts in retiree health benefits. Behavioral health and public safety advocates supported mentoring, Trueblood-related funding, crisis stabilization, and the Recovery Navigator Program, while others opposed reductions to those programs and to community-based recovery services. In human services, witnesses thanked the committee for funding victim services, child welfare supports, health homes, adult day care, community health centers, energy assistance, and disability services, while urging the committee to avoid further reductions to skilled nursing, case management, and recovery navigation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the Department of Public Health, only 52% of Massachusetts' 27,000 certified EMTs and paramedics
• On behalf of the Defense Department, I would respectfully request your consideration of the policies
• The second year consists of 60 hours of supervised medical practice across hospitals, emergency departments
• with the American Academy of Physician Associates and the United States Department of Defense.
• The amount of insurance that I pay as a holistic healer is $300 a year.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills involving professional licensure, clinical practice, and public health-related workforce issues. The chair explained that no votes would be taken at the hearing and that the purpose was to gather public input. Early testimony focused on Marnie’s Law, with supporters describing the bill as a no-cost, preventive measure to require nursing education on inflammatory breast cancer after a family tragedy and arguing it could reduce misdiagnosis and save lives. A major portion of the hearing centered on bills affecting clinical decision-making and licensure compacts. Supporters of the physician ownership/clinical autonomy bills argued they would protect independent practices from corporate interference after the Steward collapse, while supporters of EMS, dental, psychology, physical therapy, and physician assistant compacts said the measures would improve workforce mobility, reduce delays, and expand access to care, especially for rural patients, military families, and telehealth users. Several witnesses emphasized that the compacts would not reduce standards and would strengthen public protection through shared disciplinary databases and streamlined credentialing. There was also testimony on bills to ensure safe medication administration and to protect the independence of complementary and alternative health care practitioners. Nursing representatives urged that only licensed professionals administer medications in hospitals, hospices, and home care settings, warning that delegation to unlicensed staff could endanger patients and nurses’ licenses. A complementary and alternative care witness supported consumer access with mandatory disclosures and limits on reserved medical acts. On the dental compact, witnesses were split: some supported portability and workforce flexibility, while others warned the compact lacked a hands-on skills exam and could weaken Massachusetts’ regulatory authority and patient safety. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on the psychology compact, physical therapy compact, and physician assistant bills, with most speakers favoring expanded interstate practice and reduced administrative barriers.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Department of Military Affairs, we increase funding for tuition assistance for members of the
• In the Department of Transportation,... ...and patrol vehicles.
• Some of the major highlights of the budget... ...and ensure that our departments run effectively and
• Who has Department of State? I'm not trying to start here. Who has Department of State?
• Yes, the Department of State. Thank you, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Health and Welfare, appropriating additional monies to the Department of Health and Welfare for the
• We take a certain amount of money off of the insurance carriers for the year, and that money goes into
• And again, these are laboratories that are used not just for the Department of Health and Welfare, but
• Senate Bill 1429 by the Finance Committee, an act relating to the appropriation to the Department of
• Health and Welfare, appropriating additional monies to the Department of...

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal. It then moved through routine committee reports and bill referrals, including printing and committee assignments for several Senate bills and House messages. Early action also included referral of Senate Concurrent Resolution 128 and multiple House and Senate bills to the appropriate committees or later orders of business. The chamber then took up several appropriations and policy bills on third reading. Senate Bill 1401, an appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for Public Health Services, was debated as a mix of federal pass-through funding, vaccine purchasing, laboratory testing, ARPA grants, HIV/hepatitis prevention, suicide prevention, and a transfer of the Idaho Home Visiting Program; it passed 21-14. Senate Bill 1423, dealing with the FAST Act and a framework for stablecoin payments, drew debate over efficiency, banking costs, state control, and privacy/risk concerns; it passed 22-13. Senate Bill 1429, a behavioral health appropriation and supplemental, was presented as a series of restorations and fund shifts tied to prior budget cuts and settlement obligations, and it passed 21-14. Senate Bill 1431, an appropriation and transfer for the Department of Water Resources, including aquifer monitoring and stream gauging/adjudication staffing, passed 26-7. The Senate also passed House Bill 855, revising lifetime fish and game license residency requirements from six months to five years, by a vote of 23-11. Later, House Bill 752, which would prohibit knowingly entering opposite-sex restrooms or changing rooms in government buildings and public accommodations except under specified exceptions, prompted extensive debate. Supporters argued it protected privacy, children, and women’s safety; opponents argued it criminalized transgender people, was discriminatory, and could harm Idaho’s reputation and economy. The debate continued at the end of the transcript, with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Health and Welfare, appropriating additional monies to the Department of Health and Welfare, Public
• of Health and Welfare, appropriating additional monies to the Department of...
• An act relating to the appropriation to the Department of Water Resources.
• Appropriating additional money to the Department of Water Resources for fiscal year 2007.
• Appropriating additional monies to the Department of Water Resources for fiscal year 2007.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of... alcohol labeled as the mixed spirit beverage.
• And that was a deep concern that I had because of the revenue that I know comes directly to us out of
• So that is a serious concern of mine.
• The county in question is Loun County, and it aligns with sections 104, 105, and 65 of the Alabama Constitution
• The locals are taking control of the problem, if you will, with the assistance and help of the state

Bills: SB268 , SB262 , HB237 , SB90

Committee: Senate Tourism

Keywords: mixed spirit beverages, alcohol regulation, licensing, excise tax, distribution agreements, retail sales, wholesalers, SB262, White Hall, Lowndes County, pari-mutuel wagering, simulcast, historical racing, historical horse racing, dog racing, horse racing, charitable bingo, off-track betting, OTB, gambling

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education.
• On behalf of Idaho Midwives, which is part of the Idaho Board of Nursing.
• the State Board of a of Act 1701-2501 rules of the State Board of Acupuncture and we should have mr.
• was comprised... ...part of IABOL, which was comprised of a number of different occupations.
• And I am in favor of the revision of the rules, and I'm certainly in favor of our fee increases.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered a series of administrative rule dockets, mostly from DOPL and related licensing boards. The committee approved rules for the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind, the Rules of Midwifery, the Idaho State Board of Dentistry, and the Idaho Board of Nursing. Those presentations focused largely on zero-based rule rewrites, fee reductions or temporary fee decreases being made permanent, and compliance with House Bill 152’s cash-balance requirements. Testimony generally emphasized stakeholder input, federal or board approval where applicable, and the need to keep fees aligned with board solvency targets. The committee then heard several fee-rule dockets involving boards with low or negative cash balances. The Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals presented a rule package that clarified licensure requirements, removed some outdated provisions, and increased fees to address a negative cash balance; Idaho Rural Water Association testified in support, saying the changes would reduce regulatory burden while acknowledging the need for higher fees. The committee approved the docket by roll call after some opposition. The Occupational Therapy Licensure Board docket, which proposed a short-term fee increase to restore solvency, failed by roll call vote after members raised concerns about the broader structure of board funding and whether consolidation or other reforms should be considered. The committee also heard a lengthy discussion on the State Board of Acupuncture’s proposed fee increase. The board and a supporting practitioner testified that the board was in deficit, that fees had not been raised in many years, and that the increase was needed to maintain licensure and public safety. Some senators questioned whether licensure remained necessary in light of modern consumer review systems and whether the board should be consolidated or eliminated. A motion to reject the docket failed on a tie, and the original motion to hold the docket for further information passed, leaving the acupuncture rules unresolved. After that, the chair announced the committee would adjourn and reschedule remaining matters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Military Academy of the State of Missouri.
• Military Academy of the State of Missouri.
• But one of the things I want to highlight is that we can also assist the Missouri Department of Economic
• They then competed at the national level at the University of Alabama last week, finishing third out
• Department of Energy, the National Institute of Agricultural Research in France, and Duke University.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the rear of the chamber for today's joint convention of the State of the Judiciary Address at 3:45 p.m
• It is about millions of hands, millions of stories, a generation of resilient people.
• you, there's a real feeling of betrayal for a lot of us.
• you, there's a real feeling of betrayal for a lot of us.
• more than half of them have been people of color.

Summary: The Assembly met, established a quorum after a roll call, and handled a series of procedural motions, guest introductions, and floor items. Members recognized several guests and student groups, then moved through the daily file, including second-reading items, Senate amendments, and the consent calendar, which was adopted 54-0. The chamber also adopted ACR 151 recognizing March 25 as Greek Independence Day, with 59 co-authors added, and ACR 146 designating March 2026 as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, with 61 co-authors added; both resolutions were adopted by voice vote. ACR 140, proclaiming March 21 as Women in STEM Day, also passed with 56 co-authors added and was adopted by voice vote. The most substantial debate centered on AB 2156, which renames Cesar Chavez Day as Farm Workers’ Day and declares an urgency clause. Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry and several members spoke in support, emphasizing recognition of farm workers’ collective contributions and, in light of recent revelations about Cesar Chavez, the need to honor the broader movement rather than one individual. Other members echoed support while discussing farmworker history, accountability, and the importance of acknowledging survivors. Assembly Member DeMaio supported the bill but criticized state policies affecting agriculture and argued for broader recognition of Latino Californians and farmworker policy reforms. The bill passed with 67 votes and was transmitted immediately to the Senate. Later, the Assembly recessed for the Joint Convention and heard the 26th State of the Judiciary address from Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. She focused on judicial independence, threats to judges, remote proceedings, CARE Act implementation, trial court funding and judgeship shortages, AI use in courts, immigration-related courthouse concerns, State Bar reforms after the February 2025 bar exam problems, and judicial salaries. She also highlighted the judiciary’s centennial, the importance of collaboration with the Legislature and Governor Newsom, and the need to preserve equal access to justice. After the address was ordered printed in the Journal, the joint convention adjourned and the Assembly later adjourned until Thursday, March 26 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• able to keep 99% of all of our customers online.
• , Israeli kind of the epicenter of a lot of that growth.
• We have also Gulfstream natural gas that comes from Mississippi and Alabama underneath the Gulf of Mexico
• out of out of usage for less than a week.
• So we're always looking at areas of of the state of where we can make sure that we're meeting any of

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill, an act authorizing the transfer of a certain parcel of land in the town of
• I want to thank the Boston Fire Department, and I want to Thank the professional firefighters of Massachusetts
• And Madam Speaker, it directs the Department of Fire Safety to establish a public notification record
• And Madam Speaker, it directs the Department of Fire Safety to establish a public notification record
• And of course, just last week, Boston Fire Department Local 718 laid to rest one of their own, Robert

Keywords: 1212, all