Transcript Highlights:

• So the budget for a community association must be based on the things the community...
• I don't know what that $35 million database is for.
• that budget.
• accurate database of HFC and PHA tax-exempt properties.
• I'm also pleased to share a link to our firm's database, should you like it. Thank you.

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several bills dealing with local government authority, homeowners associations, hospital district policing, school AED inspections, special district annexation, public contracting penalties, and guaranteed income programs. Senate Bill 2073 by Sen. Zaffirini would clarify that appraisal districts may finance purchases, leases, or construction of real property for appraisal offices without prior approval from taxing units; it was supported by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and left pending. Senate Bill 1935 by Sen. Hinojosa would increase homeowner control of property owners association boards, require more transparency, limit fines and assessment increases, and require accessible meeting locations; HOA and builder representatives opposed it, arguing it would hinder maintenance and make dues harder to manage, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 434 by Sen. Miles would authorize Harris County Hospital District police officers, was supported by Harris Health, and was left pending. Senate Bill 1177 by Sen. Alvarado, as substituted, would require school AED inspections during fire inspections and reporting to school leadership; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1214 by Sen. Perry would update Concho County Hospital District law to align with current procurement and notice rules; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1965 by Sen. Middleton, for Sen. King, would tighten notice and proximity rules for special district annexations; district witnesses warned the bill could interfere with service to noncontiguous tracts, and the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2046 by Sen. Bettencourt, which would increase criminal penalties for county purchasing act violations involving unauthorized separate or sequential purchases to evade competitive bidding, and create a tiered penalty structure based on contract amount. Former Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Deputy Attorney General Josh Reno, and James Quintero supported the bill, citing recent Harris County bid-rigging cases and arguing the current Class C misdemeanor penalty is too weak to deter misconduct; some members questioned whether the proposed thresholds were too low and whether stronger oversight, rather than higher penalties alone, would be more effective. The bill was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 2010 by Sen. Bettencourt would bar counties and other political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs and address constitutional gift-clause concerns. Testimony split sharply: Ogg and Quintero argued such programs are unconstitutional, can be used for political data collection, and should not be funded with public money, while Paige Terry Barry defended the bill as protecting taxpayers and discouraging dependency. Senators also debated whether the state can restrict use of federal grant funds and whether local governments should be allowed to run such programs; the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The measure is not anticipated to have a physical impact on the state budget or appropriations.
• My understanding is there are no dollars in the budget, and I don't believe that there have been any
• of Health has confirmed they will be able to absorb the cost of this measure within their current budget
• The bill creates an all-payer claims database overseen by transparency.

Bills: HB3767, HB3934, HB4199, HB4336, HB2947, HB3834, HB4302, HB4095, HB3287, HB3649, HB4430, HB4431, HB2059, HB3647

Keywords: dentistry, licensing, dental hygiene, foreign-trained dentists, temporary license, public health, emergency response, child care, workforce, pilot program, affordable care, income eligibility, interventional pain management, pain management clinic, chronic pain, acute pain, spinal injections, epidural steroid injection, peripheral nerve block, nerve ablation

Bills: HB4248, HB3194, HB3849, HB4095, HB4302, HB3342, HB3344, HB3287, HB3645, HB3647, HB3930, HB3931, HB1818, HB4454, HB4336

Keywords: HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation, controlled substances, beverage regulation, pregnancy centers, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs

Transcript Highlights:

• admissions and no centralized database admissions and no centralized database of<00:46:57.839>
• We also recommend that KDVA request funding in the next budget cycle for a study into the matter.
• So, as you know, every budget since I've been here, beginning in 2018, our budget has stated where the
• <01:07:23.119> since Um, so as you know, every budget since Um, so as you know, every budget
• You know, when you all approve a budget, we're frontloaded funding.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:00 Approve Minutes from November 13, 2025- 00:00:55 RiverLink Tolling Operations for Louisville Bridges-Quarterhill Testimony- 00:01:48 Staff Report on Veterans’ Centers- 00:26:45 Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Response to Staff Report- 0:58:53 Adjournment- 1:18:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the November 13, 2025 meeting and then heard testimony from Quarter Hill, the tolling subcontractor for RiverLink on the Indiana-Kentucky bridge system. Quarter Hill described its role in back-office support and call center operations for the Lincoln, Kennedy, and Lewis and Clark bridges, and said the contract began in 2021 with go-live in September 2023. The company reported that revenue has increased since it took over, customer service response times have improved, and it has been operating at a loss because the contract was based on outdated transaction estimates and did not account for higher-than-expected volume and added support costs. Members questioned Quarter Hill about the role of consultants, the low reported collection rate, and why the company was leaving the contract. Quarter Hill said a single large consulting engineering firm had been hired to help shape the RFP and contract, but argued that consultants and overly detailed requirements can create disputes and hinder efficient service. On collection rates, the company said the reported 85% rate reflects the absence of registration holds and other enforcement tools, and that the remaining unpaid tolls are the hardest to collect. The company also said it had lost significant money on the contract and had reached a change order and termination agreement, while emphasizing that the system itself was functioning well. The committee then received a staff report on Kentucky veterans centers. Staff said quality of care is generally high and staffing has improved, but reported occupancy figures are misleading because they are based on certified beds rather than functional capacity after conversions to single-occupancy rooms and capital projects. The report said actual occupancy is closer to 85% than the commonly reported 56%, and that increasing occupancy would not necessarily increase revenue because the state’s cost of care exceeds reimbursement and private-pay revenue. Recommendations included adopting functional occupancy reporting, continuing the move to single-occupancy rooms, reviewing modernization needs at Thompson Hood, including Eastern Kentucky in planning, and referring the Radcliffe HVAC procurement and installation to the Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney General for review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to Assembly Budget Sub 4.
• So what entities have access to the database?
• revised budget and schedule.
• of our budget change proposals.
• This is not a budget committee, but I will tell you, I'm on the budget committee.

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a temporary administrative position um added into DBEDT's budget within the bill to assist with
• There is a temporary administrative position um added into DBEDT's budget within the bill to assist with
• c><00:19:35.360> in<00:19:35.679> within<00:19:36.000> the added into DBET's budget
• in within the added into DBET's budget in within the bill<00:19:36.480> to<00:19:36.799> allow
• you think that we would be able to administer the performing arts grants that we put money in the budget

Bills: HB2436, HB2438, HB2532, HB2566

Keywords: arts integration, fine arts education, public schools, cultural education, student engagement, school coordinators, Hawaii education, Hawaii Cultural Trust, income tax credit, arts funding, cultural preservation, charitable contributions, HB2532, Hawaiian flag, Ka Hae Hawaiʻi, flag display, condominium, condo association, planned community association, cooperative housing corporation

Summary: The committee on Culture and the Arts heard several measures related to arts funding, administration, and access. Testimony was largely supportive across the agenda. For HB 2218 and HB 1815, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported the bills, and members discussed transition timing and administrative support, including the need for an additional year in one measure and a temporary administrative position to help with the transfer. HB 1764, the music accessibility pilot program, drew broad support from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Hawaii Public Library System, Hawaii Youth Symphony, and others, with testimony emphasizing library-based music programming, community access, and economic benefits. HB 2117, which would create an arts data mapping task force, also received extensive support, though witnesses suggested narrowing the initial scope, adding representatives from independent and charter schools and neighbor island arts programs, and ensuring adequate funding and a realistic timeline for the work. The committee also heard HB 2436 on arts integration in public schools, HB 2438 on the Hawaii Cultural Trust, and HB 2532 on the Hawaiian flag. HB 2436 and HB 2438 received support from SFCA, while the Cultural Trust bill prompted a lengthy explanation from the chair about how the proposed tax credit would work and amendments to clarify that donations to the trust and to qualifying cultural nonprofits must be made in tandem, with eligible organizations listed and updated annually by SFCA and OHA. HB 2532 drew testimony from Dr. Adam Jansen in support of protecting the Hawaiian flag as a historical and cultural symbol; he said the flag should continue to be used for solidarity, protest, inclusion, and identity. At the decision-making portion, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered. HB 2118, HB 764, HB 1815, and HB 2117 were passed with amendments, including date deferrals and technical changes; HB 764 also had its appropriation blanked out. HB 2436 was passed with amendments, and HB 2438 was advanced with substantial clarifying amendments to the cultural trust structure. The chair indicated that HB 2117 would include an interim report due in 2027 focused on music and dance, with a final report due in 2029 on arts education more broadly.

Transcript Highlights:

• already required either by statute or even being provided as outlined in the analysis of the state budget
• already required either by statute or even being provided as outlined in the analysis of the state budget
• Just because what we've done is we've created a database system that flags folks that are in what we
• I also happen to chair Budget Sub 1 for Education, so we did allocate money to create the database that
• and was given pending status to assess whether or not they should be placed into the database.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a budget analyst at the LBB, and I'll be discussing the budget recommendations for the Historical
• presentation on budget, Porter Wilson.
• LB budget budget presenter James Kessler, the executive director Gary Gibbs.
• I'm Charlie Smith, Legislative Budget Board.
• Posey with LBB's breakdown of ERS's budget.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the monies that have been appropriated, there's also a budget note in HB 2, a 504 budget note,
• in our budget cycle.
• think it's a discussion for a budget think it's a discussion for a budget year.<00:18:00.559>
• Which of those databases...
• We would have that we've budgeted for it to show that we're budgeting at a Group Two level.

Keywords: 9:00am HB 155 9:30am HB 1102 10:30am HB 1109 11:00am HB 1356 11:30am HB 1469 1:00pm HB 1323 2:00pm HB 1376, 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with unanimous committee approval of amendment 2026-2021S to HB 2. Senator Lang explained the amendment corrected a drafting error so that $2.5 million in state funds, matched with federal money for a total of $5 million, could be spent during the biennium rather than lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The money is intended to stabilize Medicaid per diem rates for county nursing homes, and members agreed without objection to adopt the amendment and continue working from the bill as amended by the Senate. The committee then discussed HB 155 and a proposed amendment, 2026-201H, dealing with the business enterprise tax. The House side described the proposal as a compromise that would raise the filing threshold from $250,000 to $375,000 and create a trigger that would reduce the BET rate by 0.05% for each $100 million in combined business tax surplus, down to a floor of 0.25%. Senate members opposed lowering the rate at this time, arguing that tax relief should focus on the filing threshold, which they said would remove filing burdens for about 3,500 small businesses, and that rate cuts should be considered in a budget cycle rather than an off-year. Concerns were raised that one-time revenues, such as tax amnesty receipts or federal repatriation-related surpluses, could unintentionally trigger reductions. Representative Sweeney later offered a revised approach by moving the effective date of the trigger mechanism to January 1, 2028, and said he was also willing to carve out tax amnesty revenues or adjust the effective date to avoid using one-time funds. The Senate remained unwilling to agree to a rate reduction, though it expressed openness to raising the filing threshold further. The committee ultimately did not resolve the business tax issue and recessed to continue discussions at a later time. The final item discussed was HB 1102, concerning an increase in the research and development tax credit paired with changes to state park fees. House members supported the R&D credit increase but opposed tying it to higher park fees, citing concerns about tourism, especially at border parks, and noting that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources had said it did not need the increase. Senate members defended the park fee changes as a fairness issue, arguing that New Hampshire residents should pay less than out-of-state visitors and that the department had not raised rates in many years. No vote was taken on this item during the discussion captured here.

Transcript Highlights:

• But up in the top section, you can see from the budget that we got from the House, we reduced this budget
• But up in the top section, you can see from the budget that we got from the House, we reduced this budget
• We didn't add FTEs to their budget.
• You see, park rec, that was in the park budget explained.
• There's a lot of pieces to this budget.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It seemed like, you know, uh, maybe we could share this—maybe you're having a database over here.
• So we need to find a way to at least do some kind of oversight of their budget.
• He said that when he comes to the last six months in a budget cycle, or the last five months in a budget
• <01:25:41.440> budget months in a budget months in a budget cycle<01:25:43.960> and
• <01:38:07.800> oversight a HHS budget oversight a HHS budget oversight subcommittee<01:38:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on February 2 and first approved the draft minutes from the prior meeting, with minor corrections to the meeting date and attendance notation. DHHS Associate Commissioner Patricia Tilly then gave a department update, describing the current uncertainty around federal priorities and funding, and provided two substantive reports: progress on the new Hampstead Youth Development Center and an update on the department’s review of an ALS registry proposal. She said the YDC project is underway with tree clearing, fencing, stormwater and site-prep work, and remains on track for completion by June 30, 2026 and operation by August 30, 2026. The center currently has 12 youth, and the new design is intended to provide flexibility for fluctuating census levels. On ALS, Tilly explained that HB 576 had prompted the department to examine whether a registry could be built, but the estimated cost of a HIPAA-compliant system was about $750,000. She said DHHS is reviewing whether existing data sources, such as hospital discharge data and CHIS claims data, could provide useful information, but noted both are incomplete for registry purposes. Committee members discussed whether the Rare Disease Advisory Council, Dartmouth, or existing cancer registry infrastructure could help reduce costs. DHHS said it is neutral and willing to continue exploring alternatives, while members emphasized the value of a registry and the need to consider shared infrastructure and funding. The committee also heard from Jenny Horan of the Alzheimer’s Association, who presented the subcommittee’s report on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She said the subcommittee spent the past year gathering information on dementia care, abuse and exploitation issues, caregiver strain, and available services, and is now moving into a second phase focused on identifying gaps and developing a state plan. Members asked about geriatric psychiatric capacity and long-term care availability; Horan said the state has limited capacity and that the plan will help clarify where needs are greatest. She offered to return for follow-up questions at a later meeting. Finally, Olivia May of DHHS presented the quarterly report on the 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage extension. She said New Hampshire implemented the extension after federal and state action, and the first claims data are still emerging because of reporting lags. In the initial cohort studied, 95% received some medical services during the extended period, 52.4% received mental health or substance use disorder treatment, 26.7% received preventive visits, and 3.2% received heart or hypertension services. Members asked about return on investment and whether higher federal matching rates are being used appropriately; DHHS said it claims the highest possible match based on eligibility group and will return with more data over time. The committee then heard the annual therapeutic cannabis program report from Michael Holt, who said the program had 1,475 registered patients as of June 30, 2024 and that growth has slowed, with New Hampshire having the lowest per-capita medical cannabis enrollment nationally.

Transcript Highlights:

• public reporting to the DOE and establishes a recurring $2.4 million appropriation, which is in the budget
• CS for SB 196 is relating to the Uterine Fibroid Research Database.
• Senators, we will now take up tab 10, CS for SB 864 on public records, uterine fibroid research database
• This bill, SB 864, relating to public records and uterine fibroid research database as amended, is a
• This bill, SB 864, relating to public records and uterine fibroid research database as amended, is a

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and considered a large agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, limited public testimony, and roll-call votes. Early actions included CSSB 1062 creating Florida Speech and Debate Week and the Florida Debate Initiative with a recurring $2.4 million appropriation, and CS for SB 196 establishing the Uterine Fibroid Research Database. The committee also approved the companion public-records bill, CS for SB 864, to keep sensitive fibroid database information confidential. Other health and public-safety measures reported favorably included CS for SB 432, which was amended to address xylazine and restrict recreational nitrous oxide sales by tobacco-permit retailers; CS for SB 646, narrowing drug-paraphernalia testing equipment exemptions to fentanyl, its analogs, and xylazine; and CS for SB 1684 and CS for SB 1686, creating and exempting records for a Parkinson’s Disease Registry at the University of South Florida. The committee also advanced several workforce, regulatory, and local-governance bills. SB 1112 on the Florida Labor Pool Act passed with testimony emphasizing removal of placement fees, annual labor-pool registration, and stronger enforcement to help workers, including returning citizens. CS for SB 524 updated Department of Law Enforcement duties and medical examiner procedures; CS for SB 530 revised lottery operations and security rules; CS for SB 676 expanded animal-cruelty penalties and the public abuser database; CS for SB 1180 created a recall framework for community development district supervisors and updated CDD rules; and CS for SB 800 increased penalties for unlicensed engineering practice after removing a student-loan assistance provision to align with the House version. CS for SB 1404 created a memory-care specialty license for assisted living facilities, with amendments extending rulemaking deadlines and clarifying advertising and resident-choice provisions. SB 1072 created an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s office, and CS for SB 1630 modernized aging and disability services, guardianship oversight, and dementia-related policy. Two memorialization bills generated the most extended debate and public comment. SB 194 would designate October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, and SB 174 would name a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Both drew strong support from some speakers who framed them as recognition of civic engagement and free expression, and strong opposition from others who criticized Kirk’s rhetoric and argued the state should instead honor broader civic values or other figures. A late-file amendment to SB 194 that would have converted it into a general day of remembrance for victims of political violence was withdrawn. Despite the controversy, both bills were reported favorably. The committee adjourned after members requested to be recorded on various bills.

Bills: HJR1101, SB1319, SB1264, HB4237, SB1277, SB2069, HB3066, HB2115, HB2153, HB2268, HB2961, SB1679, SB2018, HB4294, SB2095, HB4113, SB1894, SB1810, HB4268, HB1752, HB3413, SB625, HB3644, HB3940, HJR1096, HJR1100, HJR1099, HB2992, SB1636, HB4302, SB1613, SB1443, HB1409, HB1675, HB1225, HB1381, HB4359, SB1503

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, permanent rules, rule approval, joint resolution, legislative oversight, Title 75 Section 308, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 442, patients, caregivers, licensees, dispensaries, growers, processors, SB1319

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, and pledge, and then took up a series of Senate amendments, conference reports, and Senate bills. Early action included unanimous adoption and passage of House Bill 3940, which added a five-year Oklahoma National Guard service requirement for benefits. Members also passed H.J.R. 1096 on Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority rule changes, H.J.R. 1100 on Office of Management and Enterprise Services fleet-related rules, and H.J.R. 1099 on Oklahoma Health Care Authority rules, with little debate. The chamber also rejected Senate amendments to H.J.R. 1067 and held a special recognition for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People awareness, including a citation honoring MMIP advocates and Oklahoma’s response through Ida’s Law and related efforts. Several other measures were considered and passed, including House Bill 2992 on Corporation Commission/data center ratepayer protections, Senate Bill 1636 establishing a procedure for cold-case review, House Bill 4302 on children-related disclosure language, Senate Bill 1613 on liquefied petroleum gas, Senate Bill 1443 on anesthesiologist payment in health benefit plans, House Bill 1409 on open meetings, House Bill 1675 on emergency management, House Bill 1225 on vital records, and House Bill 4359 on extending the school testing window from the last three weeks to the last four weeks. House Bill 1381 on alcoholic beverages failed on final passage after debate. Several bills also carried emergency clauses, including House Bill 2992, House Bill 1225, and House Bill 4359, and those emergency votes were adopted where applicable. The longest and most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 1503, the Choosing Childbirth Act. Supporters argued it would help pregnant women choose childbirth, connect them to resources, and save babies’ lives, while opponents raised concerns about women’s autonomy, maternal health, privacy of online data, out-of-state nonprofit involvement, and whether state funds should instead support Oklahoma-based services and broader health care needs. After extensive debate and multiple questions, the House passed the bill 73-18. The chamber also heard announcements recognizing the Doctor of the Day, Nurse of the Day, Beef Day at the Capitol, and a farewell acknowledgment for Representative Kevin West, who was noted as having presented his last bill on the House floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Osborne, do we expect to see any improvements in budget as a result of kind of synergies that

Bills: HJR1101, SB1319, SB1264, HB4237, SB1277, SB2069, HB3066, HB2115, HB2153, HB2268, HB2961, SB1679, SB2018, HB4294, SB2095, HB4113, SB1894, SB1810, HB4268, HB1752, HB3413, SB625, HB3644, HB3940, HJR1096, HJR1100, HJR1099, HB2992, SB1636, HB4302, SB1613, SB1443, HB1409, HB1675, HB1225, HB1381, HB4359, SB1503

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, permanent rules, rule approval, joint resolution, legislative oversight, Title 75 Section 308, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 442, patients, caregivers, licensees, dispensaries, growers, processors, SB1319

Summary: The House considered and passed a series of Senate bills and Senate amendments, mostly on criminal justice, education, health, and administrative matters. Measures approved included SB 1319 creating a revolving fund for the Corporation Commission; SB 1264 expanding the definition of great bodily harm; HB 4237 streamlining court collection of fees, fines, and costs; SB 1277 codifying OESC employment-benefit procedures; SB 269 creating the Advanced Nuclear Office through a strike-everything amendment; HB 3066 renaming a health workforce revolving fund; HB 2153 removing statutory eligibility language and leaving OSSAA transfer rules to the association; HB 2268 adding $2.5 million for PACE; HB 2961 providing a tuition waiver for Gold Star recipients; SB 1679 reaffirming the Oklahoma and U.S. Constitutions as courtroom standards; SB 2018 addressing ad valorem tax cost basis for new construction; HB 4294 restoring title and enacting clause on a health insurance measure; SB 2095 protecting landowners in guiding-service situations; HB 4113 clarifying voting rights restoration for felons; SB 1894 allowing extra professional development hours for newer teachers; SB 1810 updating human trafficking victim and expert-testimony provisions; HB 4268 adjusting terms on the education commission; HB 1752 allowing certain prosecutorial agencies to buy vehicles directly; HB 3413 modifying contract-services dashboard reporting; SB 625 using a strike-everything amendment for domestic-violence/civil-procedure cleanup; and HB 3644 on venous thromboembolism, with title/enacting-clause restoration and other cleanup. Most bills passed with little or no debate, and several emergency clauses were adopted by the required two-thirds vote. One notable bill that failed was HB 2115, which would have moved administration of the federal weatherization assistance program from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. Representative Osborne explained the bill as a placement change for the program, but after questions about possible budget synergies, the House rejected it 39-41. Osborne later gave notice of intent to reconsider the vote. HB 2153 drew the main substantive debate: Representative Pogemiller opposed the measure, arguing it would weaken transfer-eligibility safeguards for student athletes, while Representative Hall said the bill simply removed duplicative statutory language and left eligibility decisions to OSSAA rules. The chamber also handled several Senate amendments that were largely technical, such as restoring titles and enacting clauses or clarifying fund names and commission terms. Votes on the measures that passed were generally strong, including unanimous or near-unanimous support on several bills. The House later noted a main water break in the building, shifted to announcements and introductions, and adjourned with a motion to reconvene on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The same weekend, the Office of Management and Budget director and acting CFPB director, Russell Vought
• As Chair Klein had said, they have a complaint database.
• Commerce goes in and accesses that database to pull information to see where the Minnesota consumers
• <00:09:20.880> to we go in and we access that database to we go in and we access that database
• that would have a big complaint database that would have a big impact<00:09:38.760> on<00:09:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Really, there's a lot of power in having a database full of product standards.
• And they can be grabbed out of a database. They're pre-approved.
• The idea would be that we would have some databases already established of drawings like these.
• And there's reasons for that; you know, there's some budget fiscal year alignments.
• Office of Management and Budget for how much a project is going to cost.

Transcript Highlights:

• ' first budget, his last budget of his tenure as well.
• state budget.
• state budget. transportation and economic development silo with 15% of the state budget.
• So the budget that you see here of $61.8 million is our recommended budget that includes maintaining
• To create a database, yes, ma'am. Okay.

Bills: S7010

Keywords: Roth contributions, deferred compensation, retirement savings, Florida Statutes, tax benefits

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met to take up SB 7010 by Senator Mayfield, which would authorize Roth post-tax contribution options in state and local deferred compensation plans. The bill was briefly explained, received one appearance in support, had no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended $117.4 billion “Floridians’ First Budget.” The presentation highlighted major spending areas including education, health care, public safety, transportation, environmental restoration, and economic development. Key proposals included increased FEFP funding for K-12 schools, teacher salary funding, higher education support, Everglades and water quality funding, emergency preparedness reserves, corrections staffing and pay increases, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, cybersecurity, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserve planning, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and expenditures, the use of federal reimbursement for the Everglades detention facilities, the animal abuse hotline, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and the proposed reduction in ADAP eligibility for HIV/AIDS medication assistance. A member of the public also testified at length about concerns that the ADAP changes would harm access to life-saving medications and alleged improper shifting of program funds. Committee members and the presenter acknowledged follow-up questions on several items, but no additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the favorable report on SB 7010 and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2130 allows municipalities to be able to make mid-year budget adjustments
• Thanks. to make mid-year budget adjustments with that I am available for questions okay looking at the
• So if we don't pass a budget by April 30th, is that right? Madam Chair and members, yes.
• Since we haven't, I don't think—well, we haven't passed a budget by April 30th since I've been here.
• So thank you for your support, members, and we will continue to fight to get this bill in the budget.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills and resolutions, with staff giving brief descriptions and members flagging which items were on consent, had unanimous committee votes, or should be pulled for further discussion. Topics included education, health care, public safety, labor, water, taxation, housing, and elections. Several measures were noted as party-line or mixed votes, while many others were reported as unanimous and placed on third-read or consent calendars. Among the more discussed items were bills on school and labor policy, including a proposal to prohibit teacher strikes, a measure restricting school district bond actions, a bill requiring school safety protocols and assigning felony penalties for noncompliance, and a resolution limiting public money for labor organization activities. Members also raised concerns or requested further review on bills involving pharmacist testing authority, expired opioid antagonists, a county sheriff-related measure, a housing affordability district proposal, and a tobacco/vape regulation bill. Some measures were explicitly pulled from consent, including a Medicaid audit resolution, a budget-related pay-withholding resolution, and several education and public safety bills. The caucus also heard multiple health and human services measures, such as genetic counselor licensing, nursing board and pharmacy board continuations, foster care rights, psychiatry access funding, and free school meals. In addition, there were water and energy bills on Colorado River management, groundwater, transmission-line review, and renewable energy valuation, plus election and campaign-related proposals. The meeting ended with announcements, including an upcoming Colorado River breakfast briefing and an internal award recognizing Representative Brian Garcia, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor's proposed budget offers $32.5 billion, or 27% of the total state budget, to be spent on
• The department's total budget includes a reduction of approximately $419,000 in budget authority for
• With this budget, Mr.
• our operating budget.
• our operating budget.

Summary: The committee met to hear the Governor’s proposed budget for the Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development silo and to consider one bill. The Governor’s Office outlined a $117.4 billion state budget, including $18.3 billion for the TED area, with major allocations for the Department of Transportation, Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, State, Military Affairs, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard. Agency heads then presented their priorities, including housing and disaster recovery funds at Commerce; pay, vehicles, aviation, and data systems at Highway Safety; facility modernization, recruitment, retention, and maintenance at Military Affairs; election audit, conservation lab, and historic preservation funding at State; transportation, aviation, seaport, and safety investments at DOT; and emergency response, flood mitigation, grant systems, and alerting at Emergency Management. Members asked questions about Visit Florida’s private match, FHP’s role in immigration enforcement and body cameras, National Guard deployment tempo and staffing, State Guard staffing and facilities, arts grant rules, rail funding, and the number of detainees at the Everglades detention site. Several notable positions were expressed during questioning. Visit Florida said it met and exceeded its private match requirement and described the match as important to ensuring value from public dollars. The Highway Patrol said its aviation assets have been used more heavily in immigration enforcement and that in-vehicle camera systems were a higher priority than body cameras at present. The National Guard and State Guard both emphasized heavy operational demands, readiness needs, and the importance of additional funding for facilities, personnel, and equipment. The Department of State said its audit funding would help counties move to automated post-election audits and that its arts grant rule changes were intended to create more consistent scoring rather than reduce access. The committee then took up CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units. The bill requires local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, preserves homestead treatment for the primary residence portion, limits parking restrictions, and extends density bonus incentives to housing for military families receiving basic housing allowance. An amendment was adopted removing reusable tenant screening reports and clarifying that compliant ADUs are allowed by right without a separate hearing or permit. Testimony from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, especially the long-term rental requirement, as a tool to help workforce housing. The committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• governor's supplemental budget. governor's supplemental budget.
• <00:24:51.840> neutral budget, Minsure has one budget neutral budget, Minsure has one budget
• our budget responding to federal action. our budget responding to federal action.
• tax that's budget neutral. tax that's budget neutral.
• Um and this one is budget neutral. Um and this one is budget neutral.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all