Transcript Highlights:

• How does this square with, if public funds are being used to fund some of these agencies, how does that
• It has nothing to do with ARPA funding. Further questions?
• Is there a sunset in this bill for this funding, or will it continue to just— is there a fund, a revolving
• fund attached to it?
• Using state funds to make up a huge portion of that salary.

Bills: SB1307, SB1425, SB1826, SB1365, SB1696

Keywords: Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Arts Council, J.M. Davis Memorial Commission, historical preservation, arts funding, museum, gun collection, state agency contracts, 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation, public funds, sectarian, religious funding restriction, appropriations, fiscal oversight, cultural institutions, historical artifacts, SB1425, health care, healthcare workforce

Summary: The Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee heard a presentation from Tourism Director Amy Blackburn on the Oklahoma Tourism spring 2026 marketing campaign. She described the agency’s new advertising contractor, spending plans split between in-state and out-of-state markets, and campaign themes centered on Route 66, state parks, fishing, Western heritage, and spring travel. She said the campaign’s goal is to increase visitation, bookings, park revenue, and traffic to TravelOK.com, and noted the use of data tools to track marketing performance. The committee then considered several Senate bills. SB 1307, by Sen. Daniels, would remove language that could bar religious organizations from receiving neutral public benefits or grants; it passed 7-1 after questions about church-state concerns. SB 1425, also by Sen. Daniels, repealed an obsolete healthcare workforce assistance board/program and passed 9-0. SB 1826, by Sen. Reinhart, removed the sunset on the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act; members discussed reporting and oversight, and it passed 7-1. SB 1365, by Sen. Fricks, was amended to add an emergency clause and to raise from $25,000 to $75,000 the threshold for Tourism Department retail purchases exempt from the Central Purchasing Act, with testimony that it would help stock gift shops and support local vendors; it passed 8-0. SB 1696, by Sen. Coleman, created a Commerce Department grant program to help cities and counties recruit new residents through local incentives advertised on MakeMyMove.com; members raised concerns about sunsets, audits, and overlap with other incentives, and the bill passed 5-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• Normally, we fund on prior year numbers.
• I definitely think we need to fix the funding.
• Chair, who are going to be losing funding.
• However, we're funding them with the budget.
• The prior year and give districts funding based on that number, Gallup is still receiving funding for

Bills: HB2, SB204, SB241, HB34

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• The funds that we appropriated now belong—the building belongs to the U of A—and so we're trying to get
• additional funds.
• The chair's bill specifically takes only the general fund portion and moves that 100% into the HURF fund
• It could jeopardize that funding, at which point those officers would not be funded by the federal government
• So the motorcycle safety fund is self-funded by motorcyclists. It's administered by ADOT.

Bills: HB2003, HB2057, HB2109, HB2111, HB2112, HB2114, HB2256, HB2259, HB2317, HB2323, HB2398, HB2443, HB2446, HB2574

Keywords: driver education, instruction permit, underage drivers, motorcycle licenses, traffic regulations, special plates, centennial, Arizona Department of Transportation, vehicle registration, commercial discounts, Arizona Centennial, distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• This is my first time in the Capitol, and obviously I do mostly farming, so I don't deal with mics much
• we can have this amazing success story where we bring manufacturing, we have this cool startup and build

Bills: SB8, SB650, SB667, SB779, SB1349, SB1355, SB1378, SB1585, SB1721, SB2312

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, China, Chinese-affiliated entities, Chinese military companies, People's Republic of China, Chinese Communist Party, divestment, state pension funds, public retirement systems, Teacher Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, Permanent School Fund, Texas Comptroller, foreign investment, national security

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs resumed consideration of several pending bills, first taking up Senate Bills 667, 1349, 1585, and 2312. After inviting testimony had already been heard, no members of the public came forward to testify on any of those measures, and the committee closed public testimony and left all four bills pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1355, which Senator Parker explained as a committee substitute aimed at helping Texas distillers recover unpaid invoices from wholesalers. The substitute would require distillers to invoice at the time of purchase, send a demand letter if payment terms are violated, and allow complaints to be filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which could determine an appropriate penalty based on the facts. Natasha Dehart of Bent Distilling Company testified in support, describing serious cash-flow problems and unpaid invoices from a Texas wholesaler that had forced layoffs, late vendor payments, and operational strain. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1378, a narrowly tailored local bill for a Carrollton facility recently acquired by Sazerac that employs more than 1,000 Texans. Senator Parker said the bill would create a limited exemption to avoid forcing the company to shut down or move because of current permit restrictions, while preserving the three-tier system and preventing the company from selling wine to itself. A Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission resource witness said the bill was drafted so it would not open the door to broader industry changes. Mason Moreland testified against the bill as filed, arguing it gave special treatment to one company and failed to address broader problems in the wine industry, including direct-to-consumer sales and permit issues. After questions from senators, public testimony closed and SB 1378 was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are actively engaged in raising funds for it.
• and to create and fund the facilities.
• Most of the funds are coming from...
• We have twice the suicide rate, so we thought when the opioid funds came up, here’s opioid funds!
• I will be in the building all day; my office is 400.

Bills: HB154, HB153, HB180, SB70

Keywords: veterans affairs, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, State Board of Veterans Affairs, commissioner, governor appointment, board advisory, veteran service organizations, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, veteran service officers, district managers, state veterans home trust fund, veterans benefits, military veterans, disabled veterans, elderly veterans, active-duty service members, state agency reorganization, executive authority, governance reform

Transcript Highlights:

• population and growing safety concerns, Senate Bill 2143 will allow assessors to use existing state-funded
• ensures that all builders are treated the same, fairly, and equitably by ensuring That standard building

Bills: SB683, SB1579, SB1389, SB1387, SB1390, SB1391, SB2063, SB1829, SB2060, SB1842, SB1398, SB1212, SB2158, SB102, SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966, SB1989, SB1191, SB1258, SB1920, SB1936, SB2143, SB2122, SB330, SB2071, SB2169, SB2069, SB2095, SB2157, SB1806, SB1430, SB206, SB1547, SB1849, SB1428, SB1653, SB1984, SB1644, SB1561, SB1813, SB1570, SB1796

Keywords: education, tax credit, student support, private school, Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, financial assistance, homeschooling, qualified expenses, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, school choice, tuition assistance, income limits, parental choice, accreditation, sales tax, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• population and growing safety concerns, Senate Bill 2143 will allow assessors to use existing state-funded
• ensures that all builders are treated the same, fairly and equitably, by ensuring that standard building

Bills: SB683, SB1579, SB1389, SB1387, SB1390, SB1391, SB2063, SB1829, SB2060, SB1842, SB1398, SB1212, SB2158, SB102, SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966, SB1989, SB1191, SB1258, SB1920, SB1936, SB2143, SB2122, SB330, SB2071, SB2169, SB2069, SB2095, SB2157, SB1806, SB1430, SB206, SB1547, SB1849, SB1428, SB1653, SB1984, SB1644, SB1561, SB1813, SB1570, SB1796

Keywords: education, tax credit, student support, private school, Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, financial assistance, homeschooling, qualified expenses, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, school choice, tuition assistance, income limits, parental choice, accreditation, sales tax, motor vehicles

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including introductions of the psychologist and nurse of the day, a citation for Diesel Fritz’s All-State Choir achievement, and a gallery introduction highlighting fine arts advocates from Norman Public Schools. Members also marked birthdays and read excerpts from George Washington’s first inaugural address in honor of the first president. On floor business, the Senate laid over item number three and then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1191 repealed the unused Oklahoma Energy Initiative Low Carbon Initiative Board and passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1258 clarified open-carry law to expressly allow firearms on boats and vessels on Oklahoma waters and passed 41-7. Senate Bill 1920 raised the salvaged title threshold from 60% to 70% to reflect repair costs and align more closely with neighboring states; it passed 48-0 after brief questioning about consumer benefits. Senate Bill 1936 added falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer, including federal officers, to the list of Class D1 felonies and passed 48-0. Senate Bill 2143, after an amendment restoring the title, authorized assessors to use state-funded aerial images to inspect property changes and included language intended to ensure fair treatment of builders and consistency with assessing standards; it passed 34-13. The chamber then heard announcements about upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Funds in the account may only be used after appropriation for the following purposes: interpretive and
• In this group, though, is the legislative building, which was completed in 1928.
• After July 1, 2033, any funds remaining in the account must be transferred to the Capital Furnishings
• Any funds remaining in the account must be transferred to the Capital Furnishings Preservation Committee
• Also, keeping us from being an Evergreen State is a fully funded transit system, but I digress.

Bills: SB5000, SB5325, SB6044, SB6313, SB6084, SB6137

Keywords: state nickname, evergreen state, identity, cultural heritage, tourism, state cactus, symbolic designation, ecological significance, state symbols, SB 6044, Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Washington state holidays, RCW 1.16.050, state holiday recognition, religious observance, Hindu holiday, Sikh holiday, cultural recognition, paid holiday

Transcript Highlights:

• You recognize FOA and financially speaking, the fund is it volunteer or is it paid?
• number of years ago, as we have discussed, part of the program was a division of how the assets of the fund
• The assets of the fund were to be used; it was a 75% rural, 25% urban split.
• give it a chance to see if it's going to work, see if the tool is going to be a useful use of state funds

Bills: HB4409, HB4414, HB4484, HB4486, HB3057, HB2588, HB4434

Keywords: housing, legislative committee, affordable housing, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, policy improvement, HB4414, Oklahoma Homebuilder Program, OHFA, single-family housing, homebuilder loans, 0% interest loan, housing finance, workforce housing, Legislative Workforce Housing Committee, housing needs assessment, community housing assessment, disaster recovery housing, federally declared natural disaster, rural housing, urban housing

Transcript Highlights:

• as duty and what they're going to be focusing in on you recognize FOA and financially speaking the fund
• number of years ago, as we have discussed, part of the program was a division of how the assets of the fund
• The assets of the fund were to be used: it was a 75% rural, 25% urban split.
• give it a chance to see if it's going to work, see if the tool is going to be a useful use of state funds

Bills: HB4409, HB4414, HB4484, HB4486, HB3057, HB2588, HB4434

Keywords: housing, legislative committee, affordable housing, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, policy improvement, HB4414, Oklahoma Homebuilder Program, OHFA, single-family housing, homebuilder loans, 0% interest loan, housing finance, workforce housing, Legislative Workforce Housing Committee, housing needs assessment, community housing assessment, disaster recovery housing, federally declared natural disaster, rural housing, urban housing

Summary: The committee took up several bills related to housing, state operations, veterans, and administrative cleanup. HB 4409, as amended by PCS, would create a bicameral, bipartisan legislative committee to oversee workforce and affordable housing issues and coordinate with outside stakeholders; members asked about membership, meeting frequency, and pay, and the bill passed 9-0. HB 4414, also with a PCS, would direct the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency’s housing stability program to use a needs-assessment tool to guide funding decisions, with the tool and related provisions sunset after five years; members discussed whether it would be data-mapping based and how it would connect to broader legislative decision-making, and it passed 6-3. The committee also advanced HB 4484, allowing Oklahoma Corporation Commission workers to use state-owned or state-leased vehicles between home and work when traveling statewide for duties; it passed 9-0. HB 4486 would authorize placement of a Gold Star Family Memorial Monument on state grounds as a gift from the Woody Williams Foundation, with OMES handling routine cleaning, and it passed 10-0 after questions about the final design and consultation with veterans groups. HB 3057, a cleanup bill based on a 2025 evaluation identifying more than 50 obsolete statutory reports, repealed outdated reporting requirements and passed 10-0. Two additional bills addressed governance rules. HB 2588 would add requirements for HOA board service, limiting board membership after developer turnover to owners who live in the neighborhood and excluding tenants and nonresident owners; it passed 10-0. HB 4434 would require the governor to notify officials in the line of succession before being out of state, with members briefly discussing whether 24 hours was enough notice and whether the succession order should mirror the federal model; it passed 10-0. The meeting ended with all bills reported due pass and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anticipating appropriating money into this fund or is it just setting the fund up and it will be appropriated
• Those funds there passed through and they go to several entities.
• That kind of sets a cap to where and make sure that the fund is sustainable.
• I understand that we're going to be redirecting the funds now to this specific fund.
• But Shall be paid from the fund per commercial motor vehicle.

Bills: SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• And the new fund, what will this... Thank you.
• Chairman, yeah, I think it got appropriated into the roads fund.
• Have been funded, and I was asking about the overlap.
• I understand that we are going to be redirecting the funds now to this specific fund, but it would be
• Another one’s license operating fees fund.

Bills: SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Summary: The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee met during deadline week and heard several Senate bills. Senate Bill 1966, naming a bridge after Clyde and Grace Cook, was briefly explained by Senator Bullard and advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 1475, designating the I-35 and Indian Hills Road interchange as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, also advanced after members confirmed the family’s support and clarified it was separate from a prior turnpike naming resolution. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 175, which creates an uninsured commercial vehicle recovery reimbursement fund to pay wreckers for cleaning up abandoned uninsured commercial vehicles. Members questioned the use of existing fee revenue, possible overlap with prior weigh station funding, and the $10,000 per-vehicle cap. Despite concerns, the bill advanced on an 8-3 vote. Senate Bill 1950, as amended, would prohibit using ADS-B aircraft tracking data to calculate or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators; the author said the goal was to preserve state registration revenue while preventing private third parties from using the data for fee collection. The bill advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 2049, as amended, would require the Transportation Commission rather than staff or the Attorney General to approve the decision to call a contractor’s bond on ODOT projects. Supporters said it adds oversight and protects staff, while opponents argued it is unnecessary and could delay action; it advanced 10-1. Senate Bill 2052 would update DPS commercial motor vehicle enforcement provisions, increase fines, and route appeals through the administrative process and then district court; members discussed fine levels, appeals, and related weigh station funding. It advanced 9-2, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's one-time funding of about $500,000 General Fund State.
• all general fund state.
• The Education Committee spent years working on and wrestling with where to invest funds in terms of building
• The Education Committee spend years working on and wrestling on where to invest funds in terms of building
• The Dan Thompson Fund, $2 million gets pulled out of the Dan Thompson Fund into the general fund.

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• That essentially shifts funding from the higher education building accounts in the operating budget and
• It's not excess funding.
• tuition funds.
• for low-income families, and funding for the wildfire resistance funds, which helps build community
• It took years to build rapport and establish a healthy, trusted program in our county, and cutting funding

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Bills: SF0085, SF0056, SF0084, SF0104, SF0109, SF0120, SF0050

Keywords: internet crimes, children, task force, law enforcement, funding, education, victim assistance, kratom, regulation, healthcare, age restrictions, manufacturing standards, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, higher education

Bills: SF0085, SF0056, SF0084, SF0104, SF0109, SF0120, SF0050

Keywords: internet crimes, children, task force, law enforcement, funding, education, victim assistance, kratom, regulation, healthcare, age restrictions, manufacturing standards, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, Senate Bill 1210 applies the student tuition recovery fund protections to students who attend
• They pay licensing fees and they pay into the student tuition recovery fund, which is in case of any
• providing online instruction to Arizona students, you don't have to get licensed or contribute to the fund
• obligations and guaranteeing. ...provided by the board or 30 days after the retirement of all program funding

Bills: SB1210, SB1370, SB1422, SB1423

Keywords: private postsecondary education, nondomiciled institutions, tuition recovery fund, accreditation, regulations, patriotic youth groups, public school, civic involvement, educational purpose, discrimination, youth access, credit enhancement eligibility board, school financing, public schools, financing assistance, bonding, debt obligations, guaranteed financings, program sunset, statutory continuation

Transcript Highlights:

• and a risk mitigation trust fund, the applications for such trust funds, and the documentation requirements
• and a risk mitigation trust fund, the applications for such trust funds, and the documentation requirements
• We're going to take up tab 4, Senate Bill 1604 on trust funds, vacancy relief trust fund, and risk mitigation
• trust fund by Senator Wright.
• Senate Bill 1604 creates the vacancy relief trust fund and risk mitigation trust fund within the Florida

Bills: S1512, S1602, S1604, S1656

Keywords: Space Florida, tax exemption, governmental purpose, aviation, defense industry, space exploration, semiconductor technology, veterans, housing, property management, incentives, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, vacancy relief, risk mitigation, housing finance, trust fund, Homes for Veterans, S1656, SB 1656, official state flagship

Summary: The Committee on Military Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum and considered several memorials and bills. It first passed Senate Memorial 1714, urging Congress to support the “No Tax Dollars for Terrorist Acts” measure to prevent U.S. funds from benefiting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The committee then favorably reported SB 1512, which expands tax exemptions and procurement flexibility for Space Florida, and SB 1656, which designates the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship in place of the Western Union. The committee also favorably reported SM 1186, which urges Congress to increase the Florida National Guard’s force structure, with supporters citing Florida’s large population and disaster response needs. Senator Sharif voiced support for the effort. Next, the committee took up SB 1602, creating a Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program in selected counties to help landlords house veterans through vacancy relief and risk mitigation funds; two amendments were adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as committee substitute. SB 1604, which creates the associated trust funds within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, also received one technical amendment and was reported favorably as committee substitute. Throughout the meeting, several measures drew supportive testimony or comments, including representatives from Space Florida and the Florida Chamber on SB 1512 and a supporter on SB 1602. Multiple members offered to co-sponsor or support veterans-related measures. No bills were opposed in debate, all amendments were adopted without objection, and each item was reported favorably before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a wonderful bill, and we ask that you continue funding this bill.
• available or needed, or if at some point during the biennium something happened with the funding, do
• The inmate welfare account pays for the staffing that is still left and is not part of the general fund
• Grants go toward funding for programs.
• Grants go towards funding for programs.

Bills: SB60, SB85, SB323

Keywords: elderly, vulnerable persons, criminal penalties, theft, civil penalties, criminal justice reform, traffic stops, law enforcement, data recording, public safety, racial profiling, SB323, Nevada, Department of Corrections, offenders, inmates, incarcerated people, prison phone calls, free phone calls, family communication

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this changed dramatically after the funding, or we changed what the funding availability or made
• Instead of the general fund, it will come out of the strategic investment, or SIF, fund.
• But either we fund it more or we just take the money away. And that was kind of the discussion.
• and when it's being funded.
• Funded when it's being funded, and again it can be overridden, but we're not going to move on.

Bills: SB2004, HB1600

Keywords: ethics commission, immunity, conflict of interest, complaints, public officials, transparency, legislative action, criminal prosecution, complaint resolution, HB 1600, immigration law clinic, University of North Dakota, UND Law, law school clinic, legal aid, immigration attorney, student clinic, pro bono, immigration legal services, caseload limit

Summary: The committee reconvened to continue work on water-related appropriations and related bills, with the chair emphasizing the need to move the water bill to conference committee soon because of differences with the House. Members reviewed project funding levels and carryover balances across several water projects, including NAWS, Southwest, Valley City, Cirrus River flood control, Hart River, Redder water supply, municipal and rural water, general water, and discretionary funding. The discussion focused on reduced revenue forecasts, the use of a $150 million line of credit as a working assumption, and concerns about large carryover amounts and piling up cash. No final changes were made to the water funding numbers, but the chair said the committee would revisit the bill after further cleanup of the draft language. The committee then took up House Bill 1600, which would create an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota law school. Members agreed the program should be treated as a one-time pilot rather than ongoing general fund spending, so they adopted an amendment changing the $400,000 appropriation to one-time funding from the strategic investment fund. The amended bill passed unanimously, and Senator Meyer was assigned to carry it. House Bill 1417, dealing with parole and probation-related policy, was also amended. The committee removed Section 8, which eliminated the bill’s appropriations language, based on testimony that the referenced funding was already included elsewhere in the budget. The amended bill then passed unanimously. The committee also discussed possible future amendments to water study language, including earlier reporting deadlines and a proposal to require larger new water project requests to go through the Water Topics Overview Committee before being introduced, but no final action was taken on those concepts. Several other bills, including the AI-related House Bill 1448 and law enforcement bonus bill 1193, were left for later consideration.