Video & Transcript : 'Uniform Commercial Code' :
Page 352 of 500
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Mar 26th, 2026
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- I can talk faster, but that sounds like a commercial. Well, they wouldn't believe you.
- I can talk faster, but that sounds like a commercial. Well, they wouldn't believe you.
- Now, HB 505 is just a streamlining process for the certification or reissuance of commercial applicators
- Now, we did send out letters to all the commercial entities telling them, and this was in response to
- We have one more representative codes. I'm trying to get you online. I'm trying to get you online.
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and welcomed a new member, then took up a series of agriculture-related bills, many focused on Louisiana seafood and producer protections. HB 121 by Rep. Domain would let the Department of Agriculture and Forestry seize and destroy adulterated imported seafood after a stop order, rather than relying on another agency to do it; the commissioner said the bill would improve enforcement without adding major cost, and it was reported favorably. HB 725, also by Rep. Domain, was amended to require retailers to keep invoices for imported seafood for six months so inspectors can verify country of origin and labeling; the committee adopted the technical amendment and reported the bill favorably. HB 367, dealing with Structural Pest Control Commission hearing notices, was described as a technical change to align notice procedures with the Administrative Procedure Act and was also reported favorably. HB 505, on certification cards for commercial applicators, pesticide salespersons, and agricultural consultants, was amended to keep unexpended pesticide fund money in the fund and streamline renewal timing; it too passed favorably.
The committee then considered several measures aimed at protecting farmers from market losses. HB 344 by Rep. Coates raised the Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund thresholds for suspending and restarting assessments, with the commissioner explaining that recent bankruptcies and broker failures had shown the need for a larger reserve; the bill was reported favorably. HB 370, a follow-up measure on the same fund, increased the assessment rate on agricultural commodities so the fund could grow faster, and it also passed without objection. HB 847, on Soil and Water Conservation Commission district supervisor elections, was amended to require certified nominating petitions, shift election administration to the Secretary of State, and remove outdated statewide election language; supporters said the change would modernize a system that had become costly and unwieldy, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 370 and HB 847 drew discussion about ballot access, election administration, and the nonpartisan nature of soil and water districts.
The meeting also included a lengthy agriculture update from Commissioner Strain and a presentation from LSU Ag Center Dean Matt Lee. Strain discussed seafood imports, labeling enforcement, shrimp industry promotion, feral swine damage, fertilizer and diesel cost pressures, pesticide disposal, and export markets for rice and timber, emphasizing that Louisiana agriculture depends on testing, marketing, and international trade. Lee reported that LSU Ag Center research is ranked among the nation’s top agricultural programs, with major work in sugarcane variety development, and said the center’s research generates substantial economic returns for Louisiana producers. Several industry representatives, including Louisiana Farm Bureau and LSU Ag Center staff, spoke in support of the bills and the state’s agricultural programs.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Dec 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- They have different codes. They have different modifiers. They have different portals.
- Well, we closed the power plant, which had commercial insurance.
- We closed the coal mine, which had commercial insurance.
- Halliburton left, which had commercial insurance.
- ConocoPhillips left, which had commercial insurance.
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion.
The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care.
The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- in those code books.
- I'm looking forward to using the entire code. ...of what I do can be found in those code books.
- I have never heard somebody say they were excited to be able to use the entire code.
- I have never heard somebody say they were excited to be able to use the entire code.
- And managing partner is just code word for HR.
Committee:
House Courts of Justice
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- It must previously have been used for commercial purposes in the beverage processing or manufacturing
- industry, not have been inhabited or used for commercial purposes for at least 20 years, and have experienced
- UTC are required to facilitate a workgroup of electric utilities to establish best practices for commercial
- UTC are required to facilitate a work group of electric utilities to establish best practices for commercial
- We prefer the way the bill came out a committee that was also including commercial projects, so just
Bills:
HB2104 , HB1903 , HB1909 , HB1982 , HB2034 , HB2105 , HB2210 , HB2215 , HB2271 , HB2345 , HB2355 , HB2384 , HB2389 , HB2397 , HB2418 , HB2429 , HB2442 , HB2479 , HB2481 , HB2681 , HB2688 , HB2714
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, energy assistance, low-income, utility costs, state program, energy affordability, court unification, task force, Washington courts, judicial administration, court reform, access to justice, local court rules, uniformity, centralization, rural courts
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a way of helping inform uniformity when you, as a legislator, instruct a fiscal analyst, 'I want
- They use regular uniform language informed by the budget rules to do that.
- when you when helping inform uniformity when you when uh<00:24:32.880><c> you</c><00:24:33.080><c> as
- </c><00:24:38.840><c> language</c> they use regular uniform language they use regular uniform language
- of fiscal the uniform treatment of fiscal Provisions<00:47:42.280><c> it</c><00:47:42.559><c> frankly
Committee:
Senate Finance
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- AB 1818 changes an antiquated code section in the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act, HEERA
- Menopause does not care about your education, zip code, income level, job title, or duty statement.
- Per Education Code 45103, short-term employees are defined as employees who are performing services that
- partnership model, working closely with SEIU United Service Workers West, more than 90 employers, and 60 commercial
- partnership model, working closely with SEIU United Service Workers West, more than 90 employers, and 60 commercial
Summary:
The committee heard a series of bills focused largely on labor, education, workforce, and public employment issues. AB 65 would provide public school employees up to 14 weeks of leave with full benefits for pregnancy and pregnancy-related health issues; supporters said current rules force educators to exhaust sick leave and suffer long-term retirement penalties, while the bill’s author noted it mirrors budget trailer language. AB 1818 would change HEERA procedures for CSU bargaining by shifting certain renegotiation disputes to PERB; Teamsters and other labor groups supported it as a way to stop CSU from unilaterally refusing agreed raises, while CSU moved from opposed to neutral after amendments. AB 1940 would explicitly reference menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause in workplace protections; supporters said it would clarify rights and improve awareness, while business opposition argued existing reasonable-accommodation law already covers these issues and warned of expanded liability. AB 1534 would add guardrails for new short-term Workforce Pell programs, including tuition caps, limits on income-share agreements, and transparency around partnerships with unaccredited entities; the author later said the bill would be amended to include private institutions. AB 1896 would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public jobs during a specified period; supporters framed it as a public-trust measure, while police and public-safety groups opposed categorical exclusion and urged a more individualized vetting approach. AB 2300 would streamline distribution of WIOA workforce funds and reduce delays in local workforce board contracting, with supporters emphasizing faster service delivery and no reduction in accountability. AB 2223 would require CDCR to report standardized data on contracted medical and mental health staffing, vacancies, and costs, following an audit that found heavy reliance on contractors and poor transparency. AB 2483 would create a pathway and certification for formerly incarcerated firefighters to move into firefighting careers after release, with strong support from the author and witnesses who described the work as a real career path and reentry opportunity. AB 2142 would require temporary classified school employees working more than 75% of the school year to receive permanent-employee benefits and protections; school administrators and community college groups opposed it as too rigid for grant-funded and fluctuating positions. AB 2367 would require quarterly reporting from state-run health care facilities on vacancies, overtime, registry/contract staffing, and missed staffing minimums, building on state auditor recommendations; health care workers supported it as a transparency and accountability measure.
Several measures were voted out of committee or placed on call. AB 1818, AB 1534, AB 2300, AB 2483, and AB 2223 all received do-pass votes to the Senate Appropriations Committee, though each was placed on call after roll call. AB 65 and AB 1940 also advanced on do-pass motions but were placed on call. AB 2142 received a do-pass vote with opposition and was placed on call. S.J.R. 15, a resolution urging Congress to protect California employers from higher federal unemployment taxes tied to the state’s UI debt, drew divided testimony: business groups supported it, while labor and some members argued California should solve the problem itself and keep the unemployment system solvent; the resolution was also placed on call. The transcript also included committee discussion about working with authors on amendments, especially for AB 1940 and AB 1534, and several members noted support or co-authorship while raising concerns about implementation details and fiscal impacts.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Rural Issues Mar 25th, 2026
Special Committee on Rural Issues
Transcript Highlights:
- I know it fairly well, but could you remind me what 020 is in the code?
- The current statute, going all the way back to like 1929, 1919, and even maybe the 1909 code—I just pulled
- A criminal case is always going to come from the criminal code where it says, it shall be a misdemeanor
- banking for 40 years in ag banking, 30 years in the Farm Credit System, and the last 10 years with a commercial
- banking for 40 years in ag banking, 30 years of the farm credit system in the last 10 years with a commercial
Committee:
House Special Committee on Rural Issues
Summary:
The Special Committee on Rural Issues heard House Bill 3375, sponsored by Rep. Koslow, a broad eminent domain reform measure aimed at protecting landowners, especially farmers and ranchers. The bill would create protections for beginning farmers and ranchers, require 15 days’ notice before surveyors enter property, extend the response period in eminent domain cases from 10 days to 60 days, bar eminent domain for wind and solar facilities, require land restoration and maintenance after construction, increase compensation to 125% of fair market value in certain cases, add tax-liability compensation, change treatment of heritage and blight-related compensation, and allow attorney’s fees when a landowner wins a higher award than the condemning authority offered. Members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, its effect on energy development, and several drafting and implementation issues, including surveyor access, maintenance standards, and whether the bill could create conflicts with existing attorney-fee provisions. The sponsor said he was open to changes and noted that an HCS would address some drafting errors and feedback.
Testimony in support came from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, a landowner/banker, and attorney Brent Hayden, who argued that landowners are often pressured into quick, low offers and should be treated as partners rather than obstacles. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency, due process, compensation, and restoration standards, and that it would not stop infrastructure development. Hayden described current eminent domain practice as giving landowners little leverage over route selection or restoration and said the bill would create needed discipline for condemning authorities. Several supporters also defended the wind-and-solar restriction as a response to the amount of land those projects can require and to concerns about using eminent domain for generation projects.
Opposition came from the Missouri Energy Development Association, municipal utilities, and MoDOT. Opponents said they agreed some reforms may be reasonable but warned the bill, as written, could increase costs, delay projects, and create litigation risk that would ultimately be passed on to customers and taxpayers. MoDOT said the fiscal impact could be substantial, potentially doubling annual right-of-way spending. Utility representatives also cautioned that the bill could conflict with existing attorney-fee rules and should be aligned with compromise language from other legislation. The hearing ended without a vote or committee action, with the sponsor and witnesses indicating further negotiations and possible revisions were expected.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-13 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- center doesn't pay its bill, if they have non-payment of their rates, that that would not fall upon commercial
- ...by the data center, can that additional load, in any circumstance or case, be offloaded onto commercial
- They're given a code name. You sign a confidentiality agreement. You can't talk about it.
- the blue ribbon bill, that we need to do a comprehensive overview, overhaul of the land development code
- We need to Of the land development code of the state of Florida. This should be part of it.
Summary:
The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions of guests and staff. The chamber then took up returning messages from the House and acted on several bills, including transportation facility designations (SB 628), affordable housing/Live Local Act changes (HB 1389), utility services (HB 1451), education (HB 1279 substituted for SB 7038), data centers (SB 484), and land use/development regulations (SB 208/HB 399). Several other measures were temporarily postponed, including education, emergency services, and environmental rule ratification bills.
On SB 628, the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 31-4. On the affordable housing bill, senators discussed the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act, including a new provision allowing certain affordable housing on religious institution property, removal of accessory dwelling unit language, and changes to tax exemption and expiration provisions; the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 35-0. On the utility services bill, the House amendment shortened the surcharge phase-out timeline and advanced reporting dates; the Senate concurred and passed the bill 30-6. The education package was substituted with the House companion, amended to include agreed-upon provisions on student health and safety, early learning, math, virtual instruction, career and technical education, school choice, accountability, tuition protections, and financial aid, and passed 36-1.
The data centers bill drew extensive debate over transparency and ratepayer protections. Senators questioned the removal of the Senate’s nondisclosure agreement prohibition, the 12-month confidentiality period, and whether costs could be shifted to residential and commercial customers. Supporters said the amendment strengthened ratepayer protections and maintained local land-use authority, while critics objected to the loss of transparency and the possibility of local NDAs. After debate, the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 31-6.
The land use and development bill generated the most contentious discussion. Amendments addressed a Fontainebleau/Miami Beach resort water park issue, a sunset provision, and a major rural boundary/property rights proposal affecting counties such as Orange and Seminole. Senators debated whether the rural boundary language protected property rights or undermined local planning and environmental safeguards, with concerns raised about takings, county liability, and the use of an Attorney General opinion. The transcript cuts off during extended debate on that amendment, so no final vote on the land use bill is shown in the excerpt.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- sawmills and wood processors, they are unable to sell their products for use in home, residential, or commercial
- That is a tremendous use of water which impacts other users, residential users, and other commercial
- It really hasn't sped up, and we are putting our best foot forward to navigate the procurement code.
- deployed, is funding for a large variety of energy efficiency improvements: municipal projects, building code
- going to what I said earlier, that our systems of law and our systems of money and our procurement code
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP-TRN-AEN-TCA Informational Briefing 06-25-2025
Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- opportunities in those areas commercial opportunities in those areas so<00:54:48.480><c> that</c><00
- So making sure that we distribute those commercial opportunities into different areas with real jobs,
- opportunities into different commercial opportunities into different areas<01:07:14.319><c> with</c>
- </c><01:22:31.040><c> opportunities</c><01:22:31.520><c> in</c> they have commercial opportunities in
- they have commercial opportunities in the<01:22:31.840><c> areas</c><01:22:32.080><c> where</c><01:22
Summary:
The joint informational briefing focused on the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s work under the Navah settlement, which was described as a first-of-its-kind climate agreement tied to the state’s constitutional public trust and clean-environment obligations. Speakers said the settlement was intended to accelerate progress toward Hawaii’s 2030 and 2045 clean energy goals, especially by addressing transportation, the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. They emphasized that the agreement formalizes milestones, reduces dependence on changing administrations, and includes a role for the legislature alongside the courts and executive branch.
DOT and Earthjustice representatives outlined the main settlement deliverables: creation of a new Office of Energy Security and Community Outreach, formation of a youth council, and development of an emissions reduction plan that will be updated over time. They also highlighted a new project-level greenhouse gas/VMT scoring tool, described as the first of its kind in the nation for DOT-wide use, to evaluate the climate impact of transportation projects. The presentation tied these efforts to prior legislative actions, including the state’s climate emergency declaration, net-zero/net-negative targets, and Act 131’s requirements for multimodal network planning and emissions reporting.
A substantial portion of the briefing was devoted to the youth council, which reported 20 members selected from 83 applicants, representation from across the islands, and work on bylaws, committees, and outreach. Youth members described feedback they gave on the energy security plan, a student leadership summit presentation, and future plans to meet with legislators and participate in the Climate Future Forum. DOT also said the settlement’s transportation strategies include clean fuels, electrification, aviation sustainable aviation fuel, marine shore power, and carbon sequestration, including expanded native tree planting and fire mitigation work.
No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the briefing. Members discussed implementation challenges, including cost and supply constraints for aviation and marine decarbonization, but DOT said industry stakeholders were not rejecting the goals, only raising affordability and timing concerns. Officials also noted that a GIS map for network gaps was in development and that the settlement’s pedestrian, bike, and transit connectivity requirement would compress roughly 15 years of work into five years, with an estimated annual commitment of $40 million to $50 million.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance and Education Committee Feb 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- know the state of Louisiana and perhaps other states have been doing in terms of having a statewide uniform
- know the state of Louisiana and perhaps other states have been doing in terms of having a statewide uniform
- different funding reports for the different programs that have come out, but the standard accounting code
- But the standard accounting code, there's bigger things within CDE that make it extremely hard even to
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Education Committee Apr 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- involving discrimination based on the protected characteristics outlined in Section 220 of the Education Code
- Section 220 of the Education Code covers race and ethnicity, religion, gender, LGBTQ+ identification,
- A lot of schools now may not have that uniform process that is more explicit.
- It's not something that we inserted into Education Code. It was kind of this aspirational...
- It's not something that we inserted into Education Code. It was kind of this aspirational document.
Summary:
The committee heard SB 998, which would define and expand the roles of discrimination prevention coordinators in the Office of Civil Rights, including a new disability-focused coordinator and a deputy coordinator on anti-AAPI discrimination. The authors and supporters, including representatives from LGBTQ, Black, Latino, and AAPI caucuses, argued the bill would help schools proactively address discrimination, improve student safety and belonging, and support learning. Opposition from the California Faculty Association and SEIU California focused on the appointment structure and preference for regular civil service hiring, while some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing anti-discrimination law and whether it would add government bloat. The committee ultimately voted SB 998 out on a due pass basis to the Senate Judiciary Committee and placed it on call.
SB 1082 was then presented as a measure to streamline inter-district transfer appeals by requiring more timely district action, allowing concurrent review, and clarifying that a district’s failure to respond is not treated as a denial. The sponsor, the Association of California County Boards of Education, and supporters from Families in Action for Quality Education said the bill would reduce delays, improve fairness, and help families make timely educational decisions without changing districts’ authority to approve or deny transfers. The California School Boards Association had previously been opposed unless amended and said it would re-evaluate after the committee changes. The committee supported the measure, and SB 1082 was voted out as amended to the Senate Appropriations Committee and placed on call.
The committee also took up SB 960, which would revise the rules for community college baccalaureate degrees by tying authorization to local access gaps and impacted CSU programs rather than a blanket statewide prohibition. Supporters, including the Campaign for College Opportunity and several community college and education groups, argued the bill would expand access for place-bound and adult learners and better align programs with workforce needs. CSU representatives and the California Faculty Association opposed the bill, warning it could duplicate CSU offerings, worsen enrollment and funding pressures, and affect faculty jobs. Members debated the Master Plan for Higher Education, impaction, and whether the state should instead fully fund CSU capacity; the committee nevertheless recommended SB 960 for passage as amended to Appropriations and placed it on call.
Finally, SB 965 was heard, a bill to make it easier for 16- and 17-year-olds to obtain public library cards without a parent or guardian physically present. The author and supporters said the bill would remove an unnecessary barrier to educational resources while preserving local library control over checkout policies and liability rules. The California Library Association expressed support for the goal but said details matter and urged language that preserves local discretion while encouraging reduced in-person requirements where feasible. The transcript ended during that testimony, before any committee vote on SB 965.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- involving discrimination based on the protected characteristics outlined in Section 220 of the Education Code
- Section 220 of the Education Code covers race and ethnicity, religion, gender, LGBTQ+ identification,
- And a lot of schools now may not have that uniform process that is more explicit.
- It's not something that we inserted into Education Code. It was kind of this aspirational...
- It's not something that we inserted into Education Code. It was kind of this aspirational document.
Committee:
Senate Education
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We thought it makes the most sense to codify this so that it's in code.
- And to avoid raising user fees, users feel some tweaks to code will free up unused funds or grant programs
- So just to summarize, the bill modernizes our recreational activities, chapter and Idaho Code, to be
- So just to summarize, the bill modernizes our recreational activities, chapter and Idaho Code, to be
- It's just kind of updates it and puts it into code. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And to clean up the use of service codes, which was another goal of rate reform, so that both profit
- and non-profit providers of those services can be in the same service code.
- Couple that with the fact that the uniform financial system is old, all the money is handled separately
- don't make it prohibitively expensive as we ask people to manually customize millions of lines of code
- recommendations focus on increasing the consistency of the practices of the rates used, the service codes
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- You just going to have some kid up there who going to write the laws and administrative code, and we're
- kid up there who going to write the laws and<00:59:22.960><c> administrative</c><00:59:23.680><c> code
- and we're going and administrative code and we're going to<00:59:25.599><c> be</c><00:59:25.760><c>
- fisherman, whether it was a commercial fisherman, whether it was a net<01:48:28.800><c> fisherman</c
- </c><01:48:56.880><c> seafood</c> bay, the health of commercial seafood bay, the health of commercial
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with a prayer by Pastor Jeremy Ward and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sophia Woods. A quorum was established with 27 senators present, and the Senate adopted routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with the previous day’s journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The chamber also referred Executive Message 69, appointing Brandy Williams to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards and Education Commission, to the Committee on Confirmations.
The Senate received several Judiciary Committee reports. House Bills 41 and 149 and Senate Bills 230, 87, 169, 238, and 233 were reported favorably, with amendments on Senate Bills 87, 169, and 233. Those measures received second reading and were placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 31, commending Mackenzie Grace Stigel, and Senate Joint Resolution 32, recognizing the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science for its national ranking; guests from the school were welcomed in the gallery.
The Rules Committee report was then adopted by a 33-0 vote, setting a special order calendar that included Senate Bill 71 on administrative rules, along with several other bills on dredging, county subdivisions, legislative matters, public corruption, rural hospital investment, minority affairs, campaign finance, and natural resources. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 71, the “sound science” bill, which would limit state agencies from adopting environmental rules more stringent than federal law and require science-based standards where federal law is absent. Senator Coleman-Madison offered an amendment to preserve stronger scientific and causal standards, arguing the bill could weaken protections in heavily burdened communities; the amendment failed on a roll call vote of 25 nays to 1 yea. Senators then continued debating the bill’s effect on ADEM’s authority, emergency rulemaking, federal standards, and environmental enforcement in Alabama.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- And whoever came up with the idea of putting the bathroom in the hallway and putting a code on it being
- So we have to ensure that the commercial insurance and any other insurance providers are billed first
- So we have to ensure that the commercial<00:54:01.119><c> insurance</c><00:54:01.839><c> and</c><00:54
- :02.079><c> any</c><00:54:02.400><c> other</c> commercial insurance and any other commercial insurance
- elevator at the Glen Cliff commercial elevator at the Glen Cliff home.<01:02:54.000><c> And</c><01:02
Committee:
Senate Capital Budget
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Therefore, your commercial off-the-shelf UASs could obviously degrade or impact our mission.
- Therefore, your commercial off-the-shelf UASs could obviously degrade or impact our mission.
- drivers, and the consequences to a commercial driver is very, very significant.
- And they may not know about the Code of Federal Regulations. There's no notice whatsoever.
- </c><01:05:15.000><c> of</c> they may not know about the code of they may not know about the code of
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- from this requirement, which occurred because TSTC is included in a different part of the Education Code
- guest lecturer at a university with future education administrators, teaching the Texas Education Code
- The bill is filed to all the commissioner actions under Section 39A.002 of the Education Code.
- Senate Bill 2138 would close a critical loophole by applying Government Code Chapter 809 to governing
- Senate Bill 2138 would close a critical loophole by applying Government Code Chapter 809 to governing
Committee:
Senate Education K-16
Summary:
The committee heard and discussed several higher education and public school bills. Senator Burwell presented SB 1242 to remove an outdated Coordinating Board approval requirement for Texas State Technical College land and facility acquisitions, and SJR 59 to create a constitutionally dedicated endowment for TSTC capital needs; both drew strong support from industry and workforce groups and were left pending. SB 757, by Senator Middleton, would create a debt-to-earnings accountability system for public college programs, with supporters saying it would protect students from low-value degrees and opponents warning it could unfairly penalize programs with long-term value, especially graduate, medical, and public service fields; it was also left pending. SB 1241, by Senator Millington, would expand acceptable college entrance exams beyond the SAT and ACT, including the Classic Learning Test, and was left pending after testimony from CLT, homeschool, and student groups in support. SB 1085, by Senator Blanco, would let Sul Ross State University offer lower-division courses at its satellite campuses in the Middle Rio Grande region; it too was left pending.
The committee then took up a series of public school and higher education measures, voting several out favorably. SB 605, as substituted, limits commissioner approval of charter school expansion amendments for schools under conservatorship or a management team and was reported favorably 9-0. SB 1871 and SB 1873, both by Senator Perry, were revised to narrow teacher immunity, clarify removal and suspension procedures, require periodic review of in-school suspension placements, and align discipline rules; both substitutes were adopted and reported favorably. SB 1872, SB 1874, SB 762, SB 1962, SB 1750, SB 2252, SB 2253, SB 2365, SB 1924, and SB 37 were also considered, with most reported favorably on party-line or near-unanimous votes. SB 1750 would replace a flat charter school facilities funding cap with an attendance-based formula; SB 2252 and SB 2253 address kindergarten readiness, early literacy/numeracy, and educator preparation; SB 2365 concerns student phone use during instructional time; SB 1924 restores local citation authority for certain school offenses and adds reporting, notice, and completion requirements; and SB 37 would expand state oversight of higher education curriculum, governance, faculty senates, and compliance with state law.
Other measures heard included SB 769, which would require a Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education; supporters emphasized the need for better data and accessibility, while witnesses suggested broader reporting on race, disability types, and K-12-to-college transitions. SB 2231 would designate a Free College Application Week in October and was left pending. SB 1878 would modernize the Josie School statute and provide formula funding and aid eligibility for Polytechnic College. SB 1409 would authorize universities to offer self-funded student health benefit plans, with Rice University and Texas 2036 supporting the measure as a way to lower costs and expand coverage. SB 2431 would require universities to give foreign language credit for study abroad programs, SB 2314 would require schools to inform students about opting in or out of record sharing for direct admissions through My Texas Future, and SB 2138 would extend the state’s anti-ESG contracting restrictions to public higher education endowments and governing boards; these later bills were introduced and left pending.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Feb 18th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- This provides uniform standards statewide by limiting judicial discretion for post-conviction releases
- Statute 61.16 is drafted exactly the same as Florida Statute 742.054 to ensure consistency and uniformity
- This is a technical amendment to create uniformity in the language. Okay.
- ensure consistent. is drafted exactly the same as Florida Statute 742.054 to ensure consistency in uniformity
- This is a technical amendment to create uniformity in the language. Okay.
Keywords:
foreclosure, court clerks, budget management, judicial sales, Florida statutes, bail bonds, pretrial release, forfeiture, criminal justice, bond conditions, surety, attorney fees, litigation costs, court jurisdiction, equitable awards, financial resources, domestic violence, protective injunctions, electronic monitoring, enhanced penalties