Transcript Highlights:

• given that this may be one of the first laws...
• This law is not going to be challenged, especially given that this may be one of the first laws with
• So I don't see a potential concern as far as the laws that are in 1902.
• a possibility with any law you pass.
• A possibility with any law you pass. Any questions for Mr. Hardy?

Committee: Senate Industry and Business

Summary: The Senate Committee on Industry and Business reconvened to work on House Bill 1584, which would create a new pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulatory structure within the Insurance Department. Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey and Deputy Commissioner John Arnold explained a revised set of amendments negotiated with Representative Casper and the North Dakota Pharmacists Association. They said the bill largely kept the House policy intact but added technical corrections, narrowed some references in Chapter 19-02, created a separate PBM licensing class, set a delayed effective date for licensing, and established emergency authority so the department could begin building the new division. They also described the proposal to fund the program through existing trust fund resources, PBM license fees, and a transfer of about $1.6 million from the prescription drug transparency program fund, while allowing the department flexibility to hire needed attorneys, pharmacists, and examiners. A major point of discussion was Section 10, which would have required the Attorney General to represent and bear costs for lawsuits related to the bill. Chief Deputy Attorney General Claire Ness said the language was too broad and would go beyond normal constitutional defense work, potentially obligating her office to cover all lawsuits against the commissioner or state under the section. Representative Casper said the intent was only to avoid the Insurance Department having to seek emergency funding for litigation, and both he and department officials said they were open to removing the section or narrowing it. After further discussion, the committee agreed to remove Section 10 from the amendments. The committee then voted 4-0 to adopt the amended amendment package, and then voted 4-0 to give House Bill 1584 a do pass recommendation as amended and refer it to Appropriations. Members noted the bill was still a work in progress, but said the revised version was intended to move the PBM regulation issue forward while continuing discussion in the appropriations process.

Transcript Highlights:

• This makes it lawful to leave a motor vehicle engine running while unattended for no longer than 30 minutes
• This removes the requirement that the Department of Corrections sell the abortion medications it possesses
• Instead, it will allow, but not require, that DOC obtain payment for any abortion medications it distributes

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• leaders are here today doing a tour of the Capitol, learning a little bit about how a bill becomes a law
• SB 1395, abortion reporting requirements repeal. SB 1396. SB 1394, fertility treatment access.
• SB 1395, abortion reporting requirements repeal. SB 1396, contraception rights limits.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, number one, it's not unconstitutional under federal law or under Texas law. ...law.
• Under current law, but you're changing that law.
• State laws, right?
• By state law, you are changing that law to allow them to encourage.
• We should have it as part of this law because, again, this is our law.

Bills: SB263 , SB370 , SB663 , SB924 , SB987 , SB1939 , SB1937 , SB1598 , SB2798 , SB2801 , SB2580 , SB2569 , SB2514 , SB2064 , SB1940 , SB1621 , SB2601 , SB1379 , SB1376 , SB1372 , SB1353 , SB2216 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1612 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SCR8 , SB31 , SB33 , SB3 , SB1405 , SB1948 , SB243 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB2581 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB2570 , SB1566 , SB552 , SJR1 , SB646 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SB263 , SB370 , SB663 , SB924 , SB987 , SB1939 , SB1937 , SB1598 , SB2798 , SB2801 , SB2580 , SB2569 , SB2514 , SB2064 , SB1940 , SB1621 , SB2601 , SB1379 , SB1376 , SB1372 , SB1353 , SB2216 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1612 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SCR8 , HB3228 , HB2802 , HB45 , HB1318 , HB5560 , HB2894 , HB4344 , HB4238 , HB2775 , HB34 , HB33 , HB 12 , HB148 , HB 130 , HB4273 , HB4850 , HB2733 , HB4783 , SB1833

Transcript Highlights:

• It's stated in the law.
• That's what the current law is.
• That's what the current law is.
• And the yes was recorded in the registry, per the law, right? The law says you record a yes.
• We know what the law is.

Bills: SB57 , SB405 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB222 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB815 , HB949 , HB1092 , HB1214

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: SB 57, Act 735, Act 463, nutrition, public health, food additives, artificial colors, banned chemicals, ingredient labeling, food labeling, FDA, food and beverage regulation, consumer disclosure, school nutrition, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 40, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 17, food manufacturers, food retailers, compliance, effective date delay

Transcript Highlights:

• Our current law is one-sided.
• </c> Our current law is one-sided. Our current law is one-sided.
• </c> shall House Bill 148 become law. shall House Bill 148 become law.
• </c> become law. This is a roll call vote. become law. This is a roll call vote.
• Shall House Bill 613 become law. veto. Shall House Bill 613 become law.

Transcript Highlights:

• important ones to both the Senate and us out of committee, including the face mask bill, the access to abortion
• And I'll just add, in the Law and Justice Committee many times we'll see, you know, 200 people signed
• But there are many times, you know, in Law and Justice, I don't know if you've seen Senator Trudeau,
• What I'm telling you is that in the law since then, there have been a lot of different branches that
• And that's established law: that income by a business, their gross receipts, is not subject to the 1%

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a media availability focused on the session’s fast-moving cutoff period, the supplemental budget, and several major bills moving through committee. They said they had advanced a number of Senate bills, including the face mask bill, a bill on access to abortion medication, a bill on mobile devices in schools, and upcoming measures on driver privacy and IRS tax issues. They also said the House Finance Committee had held a hearing on the proposed millionaire’s tax, and that the budget would continue to emphasize food, shelter, health care, and continuity of government services. A major topic was allegations of fraudulent or bot-driven remote sign-ins and testimony on the millionaire’s tax hearings. Leaders said remote participation has broadened public access and they do not want to shut it down, but they acknowledged the system may need interim tweaks to improve accuracy. They said the issue appears unprecedented, that they learned of it through a complaint to the House chief clerk, and that legislative tech staff and Senate operations leaders would review possible changes after session. They also stressed that sign-in counts should be treated cautiously and are not the same as votes. The lawmakers also discussed the proposed income tax on high earners, defending it as constitutional and necessary to fund state priorities. They argued that state spending growth reflects inflation, population growth, McCleary-related school funding changes, and major investments in child care, higher education, Medicaid dental care, IT systems, and special education. In response to questions about tort claims against the state, they said Senator Dhingra’s arbitration bill is unlikely to move further this session, though the issue will continue to be worked on over the interim. They said the state needs to reduce liability through prevention and alternative dispute processes rather than through unconstitutional damage caps. On the millionaire’s tax process, leaders said the House Finance Committee is expected to add more tax reductions than the version heard that morning, with a goal of reaching roughly 25 to 40 percent in reductions and likely avoiding a conference committee if the House and Senate can concur. They said the bill may still include a sales-tax-on-services change, but that the final package is still being negotiated. They also said they do not support extending the tax to incomes below $1 million, and that no decision had been made on a possible governor-backed sales tax holiday.

Transcript Highlights:

• May your servants. in this room pass laws that broaden your table because Texas has always been a place
• HB 1522 by Gerdes, relating to the notice of immediate meeting under the open meetings law for the command
• HB 1578 by morale shall relate to the expectations to repeal the certain laws prohibiting abortion with
• private civil cause, action against local entities and campus police departments that violate certain laws
• portion of civil. were covered in suits brought by the local government for violations of certain laws

Transcript Highlights:

• to review and which is the catalyst for SB 890, which we're hoping will be approved and signed into law
• We also are looking to get at the heart of the conflict between federal and state law that deals with
• Just for clarification, these drugs under state law need to be hand counted, even though that would be
• Federal law doesn't require that.
• Should the minor have reason to obtain the abortion without parental consent or notification?

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a man who has transformed law enforcement on a state level.
• After his law enforcement career, he continued to advocate for the citizens of Florida, and I just want
• You have an incredibly distinguished career in law enforcement.
• I believe as long as that is within the confines of the law and doesn't constitute hate speech, then
• to free speech, and people have a right to enact that free speech as long as it doesn't violate the law

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider several gubernatorial appointees, beginning with Matthew Walsh, Secretary of Juvenile Justice, for confirmation. Walsh outlined his law enforcement background, social work training, and priorities at DJJ, including staff wellness, seeking statutory recognition and training standards for juvenile detention and probation officers, and increasing bed capacity so adjudicated youth can move from detention into residential programming sooner. Members asked about the impact of detention “dead time” and the need for more beds; Walsh said DJJ is evaluating ways to let youth begin programming earlier while in detention. Public support was noted, and the committee voted unanimously to confirm Walsh and forward his nomination to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Tina Vidal-Duarte, nominee to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. She described her business background, service on multiple boards, and prior service on FAU’s board pending confirmation, emphasizing governance, accountability, and strategic planning. Senators questioned her about FAU’s handling of faculty social media controversies, the university’s relationship with its new president, student and faculty engagement, AI planning, diversity, and her role on the Hope Florida board and with CDR Health’s state contracts, including work related to the Everglades detention center. Public testimony included strong opposition from one speaker who criticized her ties to state contracts and Hope Florida, while another senator spoke in support, citing her community service and business experience. The committee voted 5-2 to confirm her, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. Afterward, the committee considered the remaining nominees in Tabs 2 through 15, excluding Tab 10, en bloc. No separate votes were requested, and the committee approved the group of nominees by voice roll call to be forwarded to the full Senate. The meeting then concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant them a share of your wisdom and of your compassion as they shepherd the laws of this state to restrain
• Their main areas of focus include reproductive justice and abortion access, democracy and voting rights
• Senate Bill 1170 amends Sections 11-94, 13-407, and 13-408 of Arizona law relating to drug offenses.
• Senate Bill 1173 amends Section 36-411.02, Section 41-619.51, and Section 41-7508.07 of Arizona law relating
• I mean, Second Amendment, abortion, illegal immigration, taxation, where we routinely line up by party

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a proclamation declaring March as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month. Guests recognized included ACLU of Arizona volunteers for Lobby Day, a student intern, a doctor of the day specializing in dementia care, and members of the Arizona chapter of the American Institute of Architects for Architecture Advocacy Day. The chamber also received several appointments to committees and a series of House messages and bills for introduction and first reading. The main floor action was third reading votes on multiple measures. The Senate passed SB 1011, SB 1017, SB 1170, SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1275, SB 1332, SB 1544, SB 1557, SB 1585 on reconsideration, SCR 1022, SB 1273, and SB 1274, with most votes falling along a 17-9 or 16-10 split. Several senators explained their no votes, raising concerns about mandatory minimum drug penalties, juvenile court changes, diversion policy, and the light rail feasibility study; supporters argued for public safety, judicial discretion, or the need for updated studies and voter review. On SCR 1022, which would refer a constitutional amendment on legislative member districts, supporters argued Arizona’s House is too small for its population and should be expanded, while opponents said the idea needed more study before going to voters. The Senate also heard committee announcements for the next day, including meetings for Health and Human Services, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, Education, Judiciary and Elections, and Public Safety. The body then adjourned until Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a double board-certified full-scope OBGYN subspecializing in contraception and abortion care.
• care, and in the U.S. and in Hawaii, 65 to 70 percent of abortions are medication abortions.
• To support this bill and establish a medication abortion stockpile in Hawaiʻi, and, uh, we would, um,
• of taxes, cost of living, and homelessness, and said taxpayer money should not be used to buy the abortion
• not solve the problem, and added that locals on this island are leaving by the thousands, so the abortion

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to cesspools, Red Hill cleanup, water testing, environmental governance, and beverage container recycling. For SB 472, SB 501, SB 675, and SB 958 on cesspools, most testimony supported accelerating cesspool conversion and expanding Department of Health capacity, though the Attorney General flagged a single-subject issue on SB 472 and the Department of Health and others raised concerns about funding, program structure, and coordination. Supporters emphasized cesspools as a major water pollution source and urged earlier deadlines, while some testimony questioned the tax credit approach and asked for clearer grant and staffing language. For SB 639 on underground storage tanks and Red Hill cleanup, the Department of Health asked for clearer cleanup standards and noted limits on laboratory detection and sampling, while supporters argued the bill would create a binding legal standard for remediation and help prevent reopening of the facility. Testimony also stressed the need to remove all contamination to the extent practicable and protect aquifers and drinking water. SB 664 on water quality testing drew strong support from residents and water advocates, but the Department of Health warned the measure could duplicate existing authority and create significant cost; the Board of Water Supply supported the concept while noting it would expand responsibilities into private-property testing. SB 674 on environmental advisory council and waste reduction received mixed testimony: supporters said it would help address landfill siting and protect water resources, while industry groups requested changes to advisory council membership and exemptions for certain products, and one witness opposed the measure. For SB 1067 on deposit beverage container recycling, the Attorney General said the grant language may be constitutionally problematic because it lacks standards, while industry testimony both supported the recycling goals and asked for amendments, including broader representation on the advisory council and clearer treatment of compostable and packaging-related issues. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant them a share of your wisdom and of your compassion as they shepherd the laws of this state to restrain
• Their main areas of focus include reproductive justice and abortion access, democracy and voting rights
• Senate Bill 1170 amends Sections 13-3407 and 13-3408 of Arizona law relating to drug offenses.
• charges and lock people away for years and years and years under our draconian mandatory prison sentence laws
• I mean, Second Amendment, abortion, illegal immigration, taxation, where we routinely line up by party

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's do the last bill on the calendar, please: Senate Bill 1673, an act appropriating money to the Law
• Senate Bill 1673, an act appropriating money to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund.
• Senate Bill 1673, an act appropriating money to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund.
• House Bill 2364, abortion, including drugs, violations, classifications. June elections.
• H. 2364, abortion, including drugs, violations, classifications. June elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will that be used for abortion? Are you aware, Madam Chairwoman?
• of that 10 million, or is it—because one could read this as that one was specifically for... an abortion

Bills: SB240

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that like my sister-in-law? I'm not sure. Anyway, my daughter's husband's mother...
• We just passed a law telling them to do it. That's what this is.
• We've all heard about the statistics on law enforcement, the number we have in this state.
• We still have to hire more law enforcement officers.
• We still have to hire more law enforcement officers.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6170 , SB6176 , SB6182 , SB6335 , SB5647 , SB6047 , HB2367 , HB2606 , SB5998 , SB6005 , SB6003 , SB6129 , SB6225 , SB6228 , SB6231

Summary: The Senate met on February 23, 2026, opened with the usual roll call, pledge, prayer, and approval of the previous journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 8698 recognizing piano teachers, with several senators sharing personal remarks about their own teachers and the role of music education in families and communities. Guests from the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then moved into budget debate, considering a series of amendments to the operating budget. Several proposals focused on housing costs, local planning, utility rates, and state spending restraint. Amendment 0772, which would have created a housing-related task force and increased funding, was rejected after debate over housing affordability and regulatory costs. Amendment 0785, restoring growth management planning funding for local governments, was also rejected. Amendment 0791, directing the Department of Commerce to study the effects of climate and clean energy laws on utility costs, and Amendment 0769, related to grid capacity and clean energy investments, were both adopted. Other amendments drew sharper partisan debate. Amendment 0798, which would have reduced the Supreme Court from nine justices to five and redirected savings to public defense, failed. Amendments 0794 and 0795, seeking funding for ballot measure costs tied to initiatives, also failed. Amendment 0799, intended to redirect Pacific Tower lease savings to developmental disability services, was rejected after discussion of the building’s current public uses. Amendment 0773, capping state spending growth and tying it to median wage growth, failed on a roll call vote, while Amendment 0777, addressing concurrent use of paid family and medical leave and sick leave by state employees, also failed after extended debate. Later, Amendment 0776 on tort liability reporting was adopted, as were Amendment 0758 creating a DSHS work group on community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Amendment 0786 was introduced to reduce cash and food assistance work-related funding, with debate beginning before the transcript ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• This law has been this bill has law.
• We just changed the law. Changed the law.
• But what this law in effect does, it is a law that allows discrimination.
• ><c> that</c> law in effect does, it is a law that law in effect does, it is a law that allows allows
• </c> whether abortion is surgery. whether abortion is surgery.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• State education law varies from state to state.
• Dean Broyles National Center for Law Policy in strong support.
• National Center for Law and Policy in strong support.
• I should be able to access that unless it's excluded by law.
• Paige Clark National Center for Youth Law a proud co-sponsor.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• They referred me to a law center, and I called them. That is why I'm here today.
• The federal government... ...is the ban on abortion providers, a one-year ban.
• By law, we cannot turn anyone away, and by mission we never would.
• If finalized, these policies would force many providers to stop care that is required under state law
• Good afternoon, Linda Way with Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of federal H.R. 1 and related state budget actions on California’s health care system. Opening remarks framed the federal changes as a major threat to Medi-Cal, Covered California, hospitals, clinics, and the broader safety net, with warnings that millions could lose coverage and that costs would shift to providers, counties, and consumers. Testimony from the California Health Care Foundation and the Legislative Analyst’s Office focused on implementation challenges, the administrative burden of work requirements and more frequent renewals, the loss of federal funding, and the need for California to consider long-term structural changes to Medi-Cal, county safety-net programs, and cost containment. A Covered California enrollee, Chas Franklin, described sharply rising premiums for his family after losing subsidies, illustrating the personal impact of federal policy changes. Committee members raised concerns about whether premium increases were driven by H.R. 1 or insurer pricing, the cost of rebuilding county-based indigent care systems, and the need to account for the cost of inaction. Dr. Hernandez pointed to pre-ACA models such as Healthy San Francisco as examples of coordinated local safety-net care, while also emphasizing the importance of primary care, data interoperability, and the Office of Health Care Affordability in reducing waste and improving access. Department of Health Care Services officials then outlined the state’s implementation plan for H.R. 1, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, reduced retroactive coverage, cost-sharing, and immigration-related eligibility changes. They said the department would try to automate eligibility checks, expand outreach, and train counties and partners, but estimated up to 2 million Californians could lose coverage over time. Covered California reported that the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits and new federal marketplace rules are already raising costs and reducing enrollment, with an estimated 400,000 enrollees at risk of dropping coverage. County, hospital, and safety-net representatives warned that coverage losses will increase uncompensated care and strain local systems, while one coalition proposed a temporary state-funded coverage option as a bridge if full-scope Medi-Cal cannot be maintained. The hearing concluded with a policy analyst urging stakeholder engagement, immigrant protections, and new state revenue options to preserve coverage and offset federal cuts.

Transcript Highlights:

• They referred me to a law center, and I called them. That is why I'm here today.
• The federal government... ...is the ban on abortion providers, a one-year ban.
• Based on the law, someone who earns $580 per month would comply with the requirement.
• By law, we cannot turn anyone away, and by mission we never would.
• Linda Way with Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Committee: House Health