Transcript Highlights:

• deeply concerned. ...that if that change is made, and in addition, section 3 of the bill makes it retroactive
• that are either exclusive, independent, or exercised by agreement with the other conservators as applicable
• House Bill 1193 would allow applicants to check a designated box on the application and request that

Bills: HB 1193 , HB2495 , HB2733 , HB3104 , HB3395 , HB4325 , SB3009

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill simply says the department cannot retroactively apply new standards to existing structures
• The first is that their renewal application is submitted. Fees and reinstatements are paid.
• plus an additional six hours for each year the license was expired, and it is verified that the applicant

Summary: The committee considered a long series of bills, mostly technical or policy changes affecting licensing, regulation, and economic development. Early measures included H.B. 4317, which updates Oklahoma CPA licensure pathways to align with the 2025 Uniform Accountancy Act; H.B. 4321, which limits retroactive application of new standards to existing structures absent documented safety findings; and H.B. 4322, which removes the requirement that a funeral director in charge also be licensed as an embalmer. All three advanced, with H.B. 4322 receiving some no votes but still passing out of committee. Members then heard H.B. 3176, a Department of Commerce innovation and economic development bill focused on pursuing federal research and innovation opportunities. The author described it as a long-term strategy to attract R&D, advanced computing, energy, and space-related investment to Oklahoma, with several members questioning its economic impact and scope. The bill passed 14-3. The committee also advanced H.B. 3239 modernizing the Veterinary Practice Act, H.B. 3673 allowing certain expired journeyman and contractor licenses to be renewed without reexamination if continuing education and other conditions are met, and H.B. 3794 and H.B. 3796, both OID-related cleanup or reciprocity bills. Other measures included H.B. 3263 designating the morel mushroom as the state mushroom, which members discussed in terms of tourism and rural recreation; H.B. 4265, an omnibus memorial and bridge naming bill; and H.B. 4266, an omnibus special license plate bill. The committee also approved H.B. 2123, which amends authority for an OTA bridge over the Arkansas River near Bixby by removing a self-sufficiency requirement so the project can be financed with broader toll support; the author said it would improve traffic, emergency access, and flood resilience and has local support. Finally, H.B. 2445 was amended to continue Route 66 tourism efforts beyond the 2027 centennial, and it passed 13-3. The chair announced the committee would meet again Tuesday at 10:30 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to prohibit the installation, use, or maintenance of fire-hardened building materials that meet applicable
• fire-hardened building materials infeasible, allow for one or more reasonable options that meet applicable
• The bill would apply retroactively to a governing document that's in effect on the bill's effective date

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about new license applications, aren't we? Mr. Chairman and Senator, yes.
• That, again, would really widen this thing as far as its application.
• You know, that, again, that would really widen this thing as far as its application.
• The law, if passed, is not retroactive; it's just going forward.
• The law, if passed, is not retroactive; it's just going forward.

Committee: Joint Legislative Management

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3035 by Representative Chance Henry provides for verification of citizenship of applicants
• crimes, duties and powers of the board, applications, eligibility, and award amounts.
• crimes, duties and powers of the board, applications, eligibility, and award amounts.
• He also said he had made the bill retroactive and pulled that out so it would be prospective.
• I also had it retroactive, and I pulled that out to make it prospective.

Bills: HR195 , HR196 , HR197 , HR198 , HR199 , HR200 , HR201 , HR202 , HR203 , HR204 , HR205 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR209 , HCR87 , HCR88 , HCR89 , HCR90 , HR192 , HR193 , HR194 , HCR80 , HCR81 , HCR82 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR85 , SB235 , SB416 , SB425 , SB435 , SB439 , HCR15 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , SCR3 , HB91 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB264 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB623 , HB624 , HB660 , HB689 , HB708 , HB719 , HB802 , HB804 , HB884 , HB906 , HB926 , HB934 , HB940 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1022 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1185 , HB1187 , HB1199 , HB1201 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , SB66 , SB68 , SB76 , SB139 , SB336 , SB475 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HCR32 , HR38 , HR96 , HR160 , HCR31 , HCR61 , SCR19 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB745 , HB749 , HB752 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , HB316 , HB549 , HB578 , HB748 , HB798 , HB824 , HB988 , HB989 , HB1001 , HB1032 , HB1081 , HB1108 , HB1129 , HB1140 , HB1157 , HB1192 , HB1195 , HB1198 , HB1244 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340 , HB306 , HB366 , HB911 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB59 , HB481 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1003 , HB1008 , HB1112 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB525 , HB1058 , HB181 , HB1118 , HB1082 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB225 , HB284 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB864 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1240

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the pledge, adopted the journal, and then spent much of the day on recognitions and resolutions. Members recognized NAMI and proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month, honored fourth graders from Alpine Christian School, Hunter Nation supporters, Vermilion Parish visitors, and Louisiana Young Heroes. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for Martha Odom, a Lafayette student killed in the Mall of Louisiana tragedy, and heard remarks condemning political violence and social-media harassment. Several resolutions were adopted or advanced, including measures on rural mental health day, domestic violence prevention, nurses’ day, wildlife studies, child abuse reporter training, privacy/FISA reform, and Law Institute studies on property, foreign-entity terminology, and carbon sequestration issues. The House then moved through a long series of committee reports and floor actions on bills covering criminal justice, education, health, insurance, transportation, alcohol regulation, wildlife, elections, retirement, and public benefits. Many bills were advanced unanimously or near-unanimously, including measures on school emergency plans, impaired driving, victims’ compensation, sexual assault response, Medicaid dental coverage tied to other procedures, TOPS Tech eligibility, early childhood student IDs, highway priority program deadlines, CDL rules, and toll dispute procedures. Some bills were recommitted to Appropriations or returned to the calendar, and several were amended before being sent onward. On final passage, the House approved H.R. 1 adopting the annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for FY 2026-2027 by 101 yeas, and also passed H.R. 17 on TOPS return-on-investment study, H.C.R. 4 suspending certain feeding and baiting restrictions in chronic wasting disease areas by 63-30, H.C.R. 47 on child abuse reporter training, H.R. 30 on FISA reform, H.B. 12 expanding death benefits for reserve auxiliary law enforcement officers, H.B. 205 allowing parish supplementation of election commissioner pay, H.B. 224 on Medicaid dental coverage for related procedures, H.B. 324 on judicial salaries, H.B. 325 on TOPS Tech eligibility, H.B. 350 expanding a charter school’s grade levels, H.B. 745 extending special vehicle permit sunsets, H.B. 797 creating the Bayou Gold Program, H.B. 807 creating a workforce instructor capacity investment program, H.B. 821 moving the Center for Safe Schools, H.B. 896 on toll signage and customer service, H.B. 979 increasing first responder survivor benefits to $404,000 via amendment, H.B. 992 assigning early childhood student IDs, H.B. 1000 on highway priority program administration, H.B. 1024 creating a Democratic Party license plate, H.B. 1050 on CDL age and hazmat rules, and H.B. 1173 on installment agreements for OMV fines and late fees. Several other bills were reported favorably, amended, or recommitted, with no recorded opposition on most of the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• that are under the federal—there's only three states that have this kind of discretion over the application
• Hopefully they won't go retroactively, but they might. Certainly stressful.
• Hopefully they won't go retroactively, but they might.
• And we've not heard any testimony on this bill at all with respect to other applications of this.
• And we've not heard any testimony on this bill at all with respect to other applications of this.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Disaggregated data on the full applicant pool is crucial for identifying disparities in application approval
• Only for approved applicants, not for those whose claims are denied.
• Disaggregated data on the full applicant pool is crucial for identifying disparities in application approval
• Williamson said, reports the data on all of our approved applicants.
• I received 20 weeks of retroactive paid leave benefits back to when I had to stop working.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The hearing focused on employment rights legislation, especially the Protect Labor Act (H. 2086/S. 1327), which would create state-level labor protections if federal private-sector labor law is weakened or struck down, and would also add protections such as bans on captive audience meetings, virtual elections, stronger misclassification rules, and protections for health care workers and immigrant workers. Supporters from the AFL-CIO, nurses, SEIU, UAW, building trades, teachers, graduate workers, and policy groups argued that the bill is needed because of Trump administration actions, Project 2025, and threats to the NLRA and NLRB. They described the bill as a “trigger” law meant to preserve organizing and bargaining rights in Massachusetts if federal protections disappear or if the NLRB declines jurisdiction over certain workers. The committee also heard testimony on bills to restore a limited right to strike for certain public employees (H. 2078/S. 1311 or related filings). Supporters, including a representative, educators, and labor advocates, said the current ban on public employee strikes weakens good-faith bargaining and leaves workers without leverage to secure wages, staffing, and student supports. They argued that strikes are used as a last resort and that legalizing them under defined conditions would improve negotiations and better reflect the realities of recent teacher strikes in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Municipal Association opposed the strike bills, warning that public employee strikes are already prohibited by state law, that strikes disrupt students and communities, and that local governments face budget constraints under Proposition 2 1/2. The committee also took testimony on paid family and medical leave bills (S. 1351/H. 2110 and S. 1352), which would improve notice to workers, expand public reporting on claim denials and demographics, and fix a technical definition issue that has limited access for some covered contract workers. Witnesses from legal aid, policy organizations, and a small business owner said the changes would improve transparency, equity, and access to benefits without imposing major burdens on employers. Additional testimony supported a railroad sick leave bill and a private construction transparency bill, with Senator Keenan urging favorable action on both. No votes were taken during the hearing; members asked questions, and several witnesses and legislators requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• trained homegrown workforce will lessen delays caused by labor shortages and help prevent costly retroactive
• It says NMDOT notes that removing the exemption applicable to street, highway, bridge, road utility,
• I'm sure the striping contractors go through their own application-type of training.
• And our specifications are very detailed with the installation of all applicable infrastructure within
• Applicable infrastructure within our right-of-way, whether it's signing, striping, guardrail, what have

Summary: The committee first took up HB 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund. The sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the section that would have imposed a 1% gross receipts tax on electricity sales. After a recap of the bill’s remaining provisions, including a $400 million seed amount and future transfers from motor vehicle excise tax revenue, the committee heard brief support from Associated Contractors of New Mexico and the Asphalt Pavement Association and no opposition. The amended bill then passed on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard HB 270, a public works/apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to approved apprenticeship and training programs or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, while eliminating an exemption for certain road, highway, utility, and maintenance work. Supporters, including union carpenters, electrical workers, the building trades council, and apprenticeship advocates, argued the bill would expand training, help address labor shortages, and provide a return on public investment. Opponents from utility contractors, highway contractors, and Associated Contractors of New Mexico said they already operate federally approved in-house training programs, warned the bill would raise project costs, and argued some trades have no accessible approved programs. Members questioned how the bill would interact with existing in-house programs, whether rural contractors and nonunion firms would be affected, and whether the state-approved fund and federal highway training requirements could conflict. A proposed amendment to exempt projects of $50 million or less was introduced but tabled. After extensive debate, the committee voted 6-5 to pass HB 270. The meeting also included discussion of a prior procedural error in which HB 270 had been heard before being properly assigned, which the chair said rendered that earlier action void. At the end of the meeting, the committee received a brief New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 presentation on district projects, budget, and construction status.

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently have six applications in and are expecting a lot more. ...million dollars.
• We currently have six applications in and are expecting a lot more.
• We didn't get a lot of applications for that. City of Las Cruces did a great job.
• Did you get more of the applicants than that? And I'm just curious because for us, Mr.
• Chair, Representative Dow, we actually funded the two applications that we got.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair of the committee members, House Bill 2179, creates a new retroactive exemption to...
• House Bill 2179 creates a new retroactive exemption to membership in the Public Employees Retirement
• And the new exemptions apply both prospectively and retroactively to any period where a port has made
• We've done that prospectively only because of the risk of liability to the state if we did it retroactively
• Employees would also be required to make retroactive payments back to September 23, 2023.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee heard staff briefings and testimony on four bills. House Bill 2124, a Department of Retirement Systems request, would raise the minimum monthly pension benefit that can be paid as a lump sum from $50 to $250, with future inflation adjustments by the director; staff said it would cost about $11,000 in administrative changes and have no actuarial impact on the pension funds. House Bill 2125 would remove a biennial restriction on using pension fund interest earnings for certain administrative and compliance expenses that protect the funds; DRS said it would have no fiscal impact and would continue existing practice. Seth Miller of DRS supported both bills as efforts to reduce complexity and improve consistency across retirement systems. House Bill 2179 would create a retroactive exemption from PERS membership for certain port district employees who are instead covered by federal railroad retirement or union-sponsored defined benefit plans. Staff said audits found a small number of affected employees, with a one-time administrative cost of about $18,000, and noted possible legal concerns because retroactive changes can implicate vested retirement rights. Testimony from the Washington Public Ports Association and the Port of Ponderay supported the bill as a narrow clarification needed to avoid dual coverage and large retroactive liabilities; the Port of Vancouver also supported it as a fix for building trades workers covered by union plans. House Bill 2160 would change SEBB eligibility rules for school employees, creating a presumption of coverage on day one for returning employees who previously worked 630 hours in prior years, effectively shortening the lookback period and extending it across SEBB employers. Supporters, including substitute teachers, WEA, SEIU, and other school workers, said the bill would reduce disruptive gaps in coverage, help workers and families maintain continuous insurance, and improve recruitment and retention. Opponents, including school administrators, business officials, and school directors, argued it would be an unfunded mandate that could significantly increase district costs and administrative complexity, especially because districts would have to track hours and rebut presumptive eligibility. The Health Care Authority explained that eligibility is determined by local benefits administrators using worksheets and appeals, that the current two-year presumption was built from earlier benefit rules, and that the bill could increase costs and create issues for retirees who currently manage hours to stay below the 630-hour threshold. The committee took no votes and adjourned after public hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• to register to vote, that you actually complete the application.
• Therefore, she again had to fill out her application.
• Such applicants shall be notified in the manner prescribed as that.
• The application does address that because there's detail on how to complete the application.
• There's detail on how to complete the application.

Bills: HB1268 , HB3041 , HB3075 , HB3378 , HB3463 , HB3619 , HB3620 , HB3624 , HB3722 , HB4335

Committee: House Government Oversight

Summary: The Government Oversight committee opened with prayer and then took up a series of bills, many related to census preparation, election administration, municipal oversight, and state/local regulatory policy. Leader Lawson presented three census and mapping measures: HB 3619 updated the state geographic information one-stop initiative and authorized leaf-off aerial surveys to support a single boundary map layer; HB 3620 created the 2030 Complete Census Count Committee; and HB 3624 repealed a statute tied to meandering waterways and county boundary interpretation. All three passed, with HB 3619 and HB 3624 receiving unanimous support and HB 3620 passing 13-2. Chairman Bowles presented HB 3463 to modernize municipal audit procedures for small communities under 2,500 population, emphasizing transparency and accountability; it passed 16-0. Floor Leader West presented HB 3041 on credit-card surcharge rules for retailers. Members debated whether the bill’s cap language was really a cap or a notice threshold, and an amendment to raise the percentage from 2% to 4% was ultimately withdrawn so the language could be fixed later; the bill still passed 19-0. Pro Tem Moore’s HB 4335, aimed at preventing a patchwork of local pet-shop and pet-breeder bans while preserving statewide standards, drew questions about preemption and enforcement but passed 13-6. Representative Hildebrandt’s HB 3075 created a penny-rounding rule for cash transactions by public entities, allowing rounding to the nearest nickel; it passed 18-0. Representative Ranson’s HB 3378 made a temporary change to the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board’s terms to address delays in grant timing, and it also passed 18-0. Representative Crosswhite Hader’s HB 3722 would require incomplete voter registration applications to be returned rather than defaulted to “independent/no party,” prompting extended debate with the State Election Board about voter intent and processing; it passed 15-3. Finally, Vice Chair Hays presented HB 1268, which adds a DROP option to the pension system for EMTs, county jailers, and assistant sheriffs with a five-year cap; it passed 13-4. The committee adjourned after announcing a Thursday meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the original application to merge was declined, but they are going to reapply.
• And as Madam Chair said, the initial application was rejected in January.
• And we understand that by the end of April, they'll refile the application.
• Now, it is true that the STB could reject the second application.
• Now, it is true that the STB could reject the second application.

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Summary: The committee met for its third interim meeting, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard a series of statutory reports from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Resources. Chair Hauck noted that Legislative Management had denied the committee’s earlier request for a fertilizer capacity study, and that the committee would also revisit the proposed Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger later in the day. Commissioner Doug Goring reported on several agriculture topics, including uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, irrigation expansion potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and usage in North Dakota. He emphasized that fertilizer supply depends heavily on natural gas and water, that most nitrogen fertilizer is imported, and that large-scale fertilizer plants require very large capital investments. Members discussed fertilizer storage, natural gas pipeline capacity, water availability, and the role of state infrastructure in supporting value-added agriculture. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the tool was created under 2017 legislation to help evaluate projects expected to cost $1 million or more, and that the department is proposing adjustments to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and changing hydrologic data. He said the changes would remain focused on direct, demonstrable costs and benefits, not indirect impacts, and would be implemented through guidance and operating procedures rather than statutory changes. Committee members and water users discussed whether the revisions would better reflect real-world conditions, including deferred maintenance, changing rainfall patterns, and downstream effects. A representative from the Water Resource District Association said the group was working with DWR and hoped to review test scenarios before the June meeting. The committee then received a detailed presentation on Devils Lake, its outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. State Engineer John Paskowski reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow constraints, and the purpose of the Tolna Coulee structure in limiting head cutting and preventing uncontrolled downstream releases. Members questioned whether the structure was effectively a dam, whether the lake would naturally overflow without it, the last time the outlets ran, and whether water quality in Devils Lake has improved over time. Paskowski said the outlets last operated in August 2025, that sulfate levels still limit operations, and that the lake has freshened somewhat but not enough to eliminate water-quality concerns. The discussion also touched on whether water from flooded areas or closed-basin systems could be reused for irrigation, and on the broader implications of wet cycles, inundated land, and drainage management across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1383 does not grant retroactive retirement benefit increases or pension holidays, and it does not
• AB 1383 does not grant retroactive retirement benefit increases or pension holidays, and it does not
• The first being the increase to the pensionable compensation cap in the bill, that's applicable to not
• This measure does not provide retroactive benefits, and retirees’ benefits are funded by contributions
• AB 2575 will have broad application, extending beyond AI-based tools but also including legacy tools

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call. The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Officer is authorized to appoint review panel members to assist DFS in the grant review process of applicants
• Secondly, it requires the registered agent's address be included in a kiosk business application information
• And lastly, it provides that any false statement in an application, And lastly, it provides that any
• false statement in an application, rather than false statements as to the name, address, or location
• Finally, we have concerns that the bill may be interpreted to apply new requirements retroactively to

Bills: S0198 , S0570 , S0772 , S0808 , S1038 , S1040 , S1286 , S1440 , S1504 , S1668

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1286 by Senator Wright. That bill expands the law enforcement recruitment bonus program to include firefighters, creates a DFS grant review panel for fire-related grants, and establishes an institute for PTSD and first-responder behavioral health. Testimony from fire chiefs and others supported the measure, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee then considered several insurance and financial regulation bills. CS/SB 198 by Senator Rousan, as amended, regulates virtual currency kiosks with transaction limits, notice and receipt requirements, and OFR enforcement authority; witnesses described it as a needed anti-fraud measure, especially for seniors, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 772 by Senator Burgess, as amended, allows limited licenses for portable electronics and eyewear insurance, and CS/SB 1504 by Senator Claudio, as amended, creates a pathway for high school students to qualify for insurance customer representative licensure; both were reported favorably. The committee also approved two cryptocurrency reserve bills by Senator Gruters: CS/SB 1038 creates the Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve framework, and CS/SB 1040 creates the related trust fund; both received technical amendments and favorable reports. CS/SB 1440 by Senator Martin, as amended, creates public records exemptions and cybersecurity reporting provisions for financial institutions and related entities, and it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1668 by Senator Burton, which updates the NICA program’s funding and benefit structure, and CS/SB 570 by Senator Polsky, which creates a task force on payment scams, were both heard with supportive testimony and reported favorably. Senators later recorded additional affirmative votes on selected bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill extends the victim's protection implemented by AB 1636 by retroactively applying these provisions
• And in current code, as it stands now, when they do that, their license is retroactively made whole.
• We do not do retroactive licensure. We do not give five months of... ...do retroactive licensure.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe justice always has to be retroactive.
• Justice always has to be retroactive.
• Also, the not being retroactive.
• I believe justice always has to be retroactive.
• Justice always has to be retroactive.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6239, which would require civil arbitration for tort claims against the state and its subdivisions before trial. Staff explained current tort-claim procedures and said the bill would apply arbitration to claims of any dollar amount, with a fiscal note pending. The sponsor said Washington’s liability exposure is unusually high and argued the bill would promote early resolution without limiting jury trials, damage caps, or attorney fees. Members asked who pays for arbitration and whether trial rights are preserved; staff said costs are generally split and the bill preserves a jury trial de novo. Testimony on SB 6239 was sharply divided. Counties, cities, school districts, risk pools, and some public-safety groups supported the bill, saying rising liability and insurance costs are straining budgets and threatening core services. Opponents included trial lawyers, legal aid groups, victim advocates, journalists, and survivors of abuse, who argued the bill would create barriers to justice, delay relief, increase costs for claimants, reduce transparency, and retraumatize survivors by forcing private arbitration before a public trial. Several witnesses said the bill was too broad because it would cover employment, contract, and other claims, not just torts involving abuse or negligence. After public testimony closed, the committee noted the large number of sign-ins, with far more in opposition than in support. The committee then took up Senate Bill 6074, which would reinstate parole for certain felony offenses committed on or after July 1, 2027, allow eligible incarcerated people to petition the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board after serving 60% of their sentence, and create a parole implementation work group. Supporters said it would recognize rehabilitation and improve reentry, while some witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s prospective-only application, the 60% threshold, and the need to address racial disparities and parole criteria more fully. The sponsor said the parole bill was paired with tort-liability reform because criminal justice reform advocates have said liability changes are needed to restore parole in Washington.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then on lines 2.3 line 230 I this fixes a typo in for a retroactive effective date that's included in
• typo</c><00:03:56.640><c> in</c><00:03:57.120><c> for</c><00:03:57.360><c> a</c><00:03:57.519><c> retroactive
• </c> this fixes a typo in for a retroactive this fixes a typo in for a retroactive effective<00:03:58.560
• Having run large programs and, in my case, millions of applicants that will be going through, this will
• that will be uh will be going applicants that will be uh will be going through.<00:42:47.359><c> Um<

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• um there is a um mistake in retroactive um there is a um mistake in SE<00:04:59.960><c> four</c><00:
• It should read: this section is effective—strike retroactively and insert on 9/1/25.
• It should read: this section is effective—strike retroactively and insert on 9/1/25.
• and insert um uh strike retroactively and insert um uh strike retroactively<00:08:06.319><c> on</c><
• 00:08:06.520><c> nine</c> retroactively on nine retroactively on nine 8.26<00:08:08.560><c> and</c><00

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And they include help to support members with completing Medi-Cal applications and renewals.
• This will occur at the time of application or, for existing recipients, at their next recertification
• At the time of application or, for existing recipients, at their next recertification.
• My job is to process CalFresh and Medi-Cal applications.
• Last November, during the government shutdown, it was workers like me who told applicant after applicant

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, it requires the registered agent's address be included in a kiosk business application.
• Secondly, it requires the registered agent's address be included in a kiosk, businesses, application,
• And lastly, it provides that any false statement in an application...
• And lastly, it provides that any false statement in an application, rather than false statements as to
• Finally, we have concerns that the bill may be interpreted to apply new requirements retroactively to

Bills: S0198 , S0570 , S0772 , S0808 , S1038 , S1040 , S1286 , S1440 , S1504 , S1668

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, payment scams, task force, fraud prevention, property insurance, roofing requirements, inspector, insurance policies, homeowners insurance, roof age, residential structures, insurance renewal, investment

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1286, which expands Florida’s first responder recruitment bonus program to include newly employed firefighters, creates a DFS grant review panel, and establishes a PTSD institute within DFS. Supporters from the fire service and local government spoke in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks. After adopting a substitute amendment, members heard testimony from consumer advocates, industry representatives, and credit unions about scam prevention, elder financial exploitation, and the need for regulatory certainty. The bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. Members also approved SB 772, which allows limited licenses for portable electronics and eyewear insurance, and SB 1504, which creates a pathway for high school students to qualify for insurance customer representative licensure through insurance and personal finance coursework. Later, the committee approved SB 1038 and SB 1040, which together create a Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve and the related trust fund, both with technical amendments. SB 1440, dealing with public records exemptions tied to cybersecurity events and financial regulation, was also reported favorably after amendment. The committee then heard SB 1668 on the NICA program, with testimony both supporting solvency reforms and raising concerns about benefits and retroactivity; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 570 created a task force on payment scams under DFS, was amended to reduce FDLE staffing requirements, and was reported favorably. The meeting ended after senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on certain bills and the committee adjourned.