Transcript Highlights:

• Santelises has been a powerful advocate for whole-child support, recognizing that academic success is
• Santelises has been a powerful Dr.
• Santelises has been a powerful advocate<00:04:45.680><c> for</c><00:04:45.840><c> whole-child</c><00:
• Excuse me, amendment number two requires the governor to include an annual appropriation to the grant
• Prohibits the governor from reducing an Prohibits the governor from reducing an appropriation<01:09:23.279

Summary: The House convened with 124 members present, offered a prayer, and recognized foster youth visiting the chamber. Members then adopted two House resolutions honoring Dr. Sonja Santelises for 10 years as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools and recognizing Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, for 104 years of service, scholarship, and sisterhood. The House also received Senate bills and began taking up committee reports. Several bills were reported favorably and advanced to third reading, including measures on higher education grants, public safety pay restrictions, retirement and pension system work group extensions and cost-of-living adjustments, synthetic turf and aquaculture studies, rail crew requirements, Howard County speed limits, election address confidentiality, IT investment fund uses, ethics financial disclosures, Public Information Act divorce records, aging-in-place grants, judicial assignments, clerk and register salaries, and firearm literature distribution. House Bill 428, concerning temporary assignment of former judges, was special ordered until the next day after the minority whip requested time for an amendment. The chamber also considered and adopted amendments on several bills. House Bill 437, the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026, was amended to exempt the Chesapeake Bay Bridge project and then special ordered after questions about greenhouse gas impacts on major highway expansion projects. House Bill 457 on menstrual hygiene products at higher education institutions, House Bill 538 on student enrollment disclosures, House Bill 561 on child care credential funding, House Bill 720 on a veterans scholarship, and House Bill 212 on out-of-state vehicle registration all received amendments and favorable reports as amended. HB 212 drew extended debate about Maryland residents using out-of-state tags, with supporters saying it would help enforce registration laws and opponents raising concerns about legislative вмешательство in vehicle regulation and enforcement discretion.

Transcript Highlights:

• How about the governor? >> Yes, they do. >> Okay. So, we got two. Who else? >> I'm sorry, Chair.
• We fought for months to get a meeting with our governor because we agree this is an issue and we wanted
• because we agree this is an governor because we agree this is an issue<01:26:15.600><c> and</c><01:26
• The chair is a very<01:42:02.320><c> powerful</c><01:42:02.719><c> position</c><01:42:03.600><c> and<
• /c><01:42:03.920><c> the</c><01:42:04.080><c> chair</c> very powerful position and the chair very powerful

Bills: HF3378

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:22.240><c> to</c> election I ran against the governor to election I ran against the governor
• As a mother, I want to do everything in my power to wrap up the testimony. Thank you.
• As a mother, I want to do everything in my power to wrap up the testimony. Thank you.
• As a mother, I want to do everything in my power to wrap up the testimony. Thank you.
• As a mother, I want to do everything in my power to wrap up the testimony. Thank you.

Bills: HF2296 , HF1566 , HF1854 , HF1385 , HF1142

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Her story is powerful, but it should not be rare, especially here in Louisiana.
• Members, Gary Evans, I'm a deputy executive counsel for Governor Jeff Landry. Thank you, Mr.
• Members, Gary Evans, I'm a deputy executive counsel for Governor Jeff Landry. And, Mr.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Given that the governor has already stopped GLP for Medicaid, there was no reason for us to be passing
• And so, you know, if you thought the governor was going to pass this— No, I mean, but it's an amendment
• We have the power. >> What bill was that? >> Thank you.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• private sector, increasing our regulatory environment that we're already ranked, you know, if the governor
• Senator Green: On page 4, section C, it says an electronic report shall be submitted annually to the governor
• Nuclear power is older than I am. It is very reliable.

Bills: HB3005 , HB3007 , HB3403 , HB1907 , HB3175 , HB3986 , HB3466 , HB3411 , HB4246

Committee: Senate Energy

Summary: The committee took up several measures dealing with environmental regulation, waste management, and energy. Early on, it passed sunset-extension bills for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey and several environmental advisory councils. It then heard extensive debate on HB 1907, the Battery Stewardship Act, which would create a battery recycling system for small and medium batteries through DEQ. Supporters argued it would reduce landfill and garbage-truck fires, protect the environment, and create recycling value, while opponents raised concerns about added regulation, costs shifted to producers and retailers, and the creation of a new state FTE. Despite those objections, the bill passed 8-3. The committee also considered HB 3403, a pilot study on biosolids and sewage sludge applied to farmland. Members debated a committee substitute that shortened the study timeline from five years to three years and added a phased rollback of land application. Supporters said the study was needed because of unresolved questions about PFOS, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and other contaminants, while critics argued the timelines conflicted and the bill could be hard to implement. The committee substitute was adopted, an amendment to delete key rollback provisions failed, and the bill ultimately passed 8-2 after testimony from Oklahoma City utilities officials and multiple rounds of questions about testing, health risks, and disposal practices. The committee then passed HB 3175 to establish the Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, with members noting it would have minimal fiscal impact and could help Oklahoma build nuclear expertise and jobs. It also passed HB 3986, expanding a gross production tax exemption for wells completed with recycled water, and HB 3466, which removes the statutory requirement that the Corporation Commission maintain a petty cash fund. Finally, HB 3411, another biosolids-related bill to buy testing equipment and provide information to landowners, and HB 4246, a rural water transparency/lowest-bid bill, both passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The meeting ended with the chair thanking members and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been beaten by a former governor. So I know it's been proposed before.
• It's been beaten by a former governor.
• So there's monitors, there's a keyboard with that, there's a docking station to plug it in for power.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Summary: The Government Finance Committee met with new leadership and approved the December 11 minutes. The committee first received an update from the Office of Management and Budget on the state general fund and major special funds. OMB reported revenues were tracking very close to forecast, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397 million, higher than previously expected. Staff also reviewed balances in the budget stabilization fund, legacy fund, foundation aid stabilization fund, social services fund, and strategic investment and improvements fund, along with oil tax collections and the current revenue picture. Legislative Council staff then summarized the special session budget changes and noted the updated beginning balance increased the projected ending balance for the next biennium. The Tax Department presented taxable sales and purchases data by county and industry, showing overall sales tax activity remained strong, with retail trade the largest sector and several counties posting notable gains. Commissioner Kraschis then reviewed federal tax changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and estimated their impact on North Dakota income tax collections, explaining that the figures were compared to the 2025 baseline and would be incorporated into future forecasts. Members asked about the overtime and tip exclusions, the senior standard deduction, and the primary residence property tax credit application count, which was running ahead of last year at more than 154,000 applications. The committee also heard from the Department of Transportation on fee schedules, with members focusing on driver’s license fees and the fact that current fees cover only about half of program costs, meaning the highway fund subsidizes the remainder. DOT also reported on specialty plate activity, including nearly 3,900 blackout plates issued, and noted increased state fleet usage. The Information Technology Department explained its internal service fund rate-setting process and discussed possible billing simplification, including annual billing and improved invoice detail. OMB also provided data on leased office space in the Bismarck-Mandan area and state workforce counts, and Legislative Council updated the committee on legislative branch space planning. Finally, subcommittee reports noted continued work on fixed-route transit funding and regional jail capacity, including Burleigh-Morton’s new DOCR housing wing and ongoing overcrowding in state correctional facilities. No formal votes beyond the minutes approval were taken, and the meeting adjourned with the next meeting set for June 25.

Transcript Highlights:

• Knowledge is power. Let people control their own lives. And with that, if you have any questions...
• a bill last year on the same issue, but we request from the legislature, the department, and the governor
• The exposure of the state, of you and this governor, is three beds.

Bills: HB2050 , HB2082 , HB2176 , HB2195 , HB2202 , HB2307 , HB2584

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• language that was contingent would have required DO IT themselves to come over, so it's a separation of powers
• Continuing with the sort of the governor stuff.
• We're giving a lot of latitude with a large amount of money for the governor. Mr.

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• the... ...education study committee shall submit a final report on the comprehensive study to the governor
• Then Section 8 on page 7: the department shall submit an annual report to the governor and the appropriate
• There are clauses in here that allow for adjustments, and I think that would be based upon who's in power

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 253, a committee substitute dealing with virtual and distance learning programs and school funding. Sponsors and staff explained that the substitute removed several earlier restrictions on virtual education, including residency requirements, the 10% enrollment cap, the ban on K-5 distance programs, and the moratorium on new enrollments. It also changed the State Cyber Academy Act to the Distance Learning Act, added reporting and evaluation requirements for districts and charter schools, and allowed the Public Education Department to withhold funding if programs are out of compliance. Members discussed concerns about impacts on rural districts, charter schools, and programs like Mosquero and the New Mexico Communications Academy, as well as the temporary funding fix for Gallup Public Schools, which was amended to average prior-year and current-year enrollment rather than use current-year membership alone. Public testimony on HB 253 was largely supportive, with school leaders and education organizations backing the amendment and the broader substitute while noting that more work may be needed on oversight and funding formulas. Committee members then debated the bill’s temporary provisions, the study requirement, and whether the changes would adequately address the Gallup funding issue and broader virtual-learning accountability. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for HB 253 a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 153, a voluntary industrial decarbonization package that combines an Environmental Product Declaration grant program, a rebate or incentive program for lower-carbon building materials, and production tax credits and capital grants for eligible industrial products. Members asked detailed questions about environmental product declarations, hydrogen, anti-donation concerns, funding sources, and whether the bill would support sawmills, engineered wood, biofuels, and forest-thinning-related industries. Supporters from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and Clean Air Task Force testified that the bill would encourage innovation, attract private investment, and reduce emissions without imposing mandates. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted do pass on the bill, with Representative Brown noted in opposition. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 255, which consolidates public safety workforce funding into a single competitive fund for recruitment, retention, and professional development in law enforcement, firefighting, corrections, and public attorney offices. Testimony from counties, the chamber, AFSCME, and State Police supported the measure as a targeted response to staffing shortages and public safety vacancies. The committee took no extended debate and approved HB 255 with a do pass recommendation. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for those who succeed, it defers conviction and dismisses the charge, and that is a powerful incentive
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor

Bills: HB2217 , HB2558 , HB2641 , HB2648 , HB1239 , HB1591 , HB2209 , HB2310 , HB2526

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: rehabilitation, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, first-time offenders, pathways to rehabilitation, mental health, sentencing alternative, criminal justice, diversion programs, HB 2641, ICE out act, law enforcement hiring, immigration and customs enforcement, ICE officers, former federal employees, sworn officer, police staffing, general authority law enforcement agency, limited authority law enforcement agency, immigration enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• But for those who succeed, it defers conviction and dismisses the charge, and that is a powerful incentive
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor
• of us not to prepare for a possibility of federal intervention here, and that is exactly why our governor

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 29, 2026, and announced it would not hold executive session that day because of the large number of public hearing sign-ups; those executive sessions were pushed to the following Monday. The committee first heard House Bill 2558, relating to the mental health sentencing alternative (MHSA). Staff explained that the bill narrows eligibility to people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, adds restrictions for certain domestic violence and prior violent offense cases, requires more detailed DOC reports, lengthens some community custody terms, mandates regular progress hearings, and shifts assessment work to contracted providers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to refocus the program on people whose offenses are tied to serious mental illness and to reduce misuse in domestic violence and other violent cases. No public testimony was taken on HB 2558 that day, and the hearing was held open for later testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 2217, which would replace the current first-time offender waiver with a pretrial deferral option and a suspended sentence option for eligible first-time felony defendants. Supporters, including public defense, immigration advocates, judges, economists, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, argued the bill would create a meaningful rehabilitation pathway, reduce recidivism, improve employment outcomes, and avoid the long-term harm of an immediate felony conviction. They also said the deferred-adjudication structure could help immigrants avoid immigration consequences and would better incentivize restitution and compliance. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, and victim advocates, raised concerns about expanding eligibility to offenses such as assault 2 and robbery 2, the meaning of “violent offense,” the possibility of judicial diversion without prosecutor consent, and the impact on victims and public safety. After testimony, the sponsor said she would remove the bill’s strong presumption in favor of relief, and the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2217. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2641, the “ICE Out Act of 2026,” which would bar Washington law enforcement agencies from hiring people who were sworn ICE officers after January 20, 2025, with the restriction applying prospectively beginning October 1, 2026. The sponsor said the bill was meant to protect communities and prevent hiring officers associated with federal immigration enforcement practices she described as harmful. The committee then heard House Bill 2648, which would require state and local officers who encounter suspected ICE employees conducting immigration enforcement to activate body and dash cameras, report the encounter, and document it, while providing state indemnification for officers acting in good faith. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and protect communities and officers; the Washington State Patrol said many of the practices already align with its policies. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs expressed concerns about added reporting requirements, possible effects on federal-local cooperation, and asked for changes to soften mandatory language and strengthen indemnification. The committee ended the hearing without further testimony and adjourned, noting executive sessions on about a dozen bills would occur the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• also gets included in the special session, which... which I believe is one of the topics that the governor
• One of my goals in the coming year is to start meeting with the governors of the different tribes and
• I would also like to note the states that you feel are more powerful in their recruitment of residents

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor for including AB 617 program funding.
• comments with our AFSCME affiliate Local 3930 UDW on AB 151 and 156, and we really appreciate the governor
• Good afternoon, Kim Delfino on behalf of Audubon California, California Native Plant Society, and the Power

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• The emergency project had to stem from a certified disaster declared by the governor in the last three
• An emergency as a result of a natural disaster declared such by the governor. Declared a disaster.
• This gives you some sense of how broad those powers go.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• installing, erecting, repairing, and altering electrical systems and conductors to be used for light, heat, power
• As Governor Guillen mentioned, there are 35 states that currently do this.
• In clear transparency, it received a veto from the governor.

Bills: HB589 , HB705 , HB1842 , HB1874 , HB2349 , HB2614 , HB2827 , HB3012 , HB3214 , HB3308 , HB3385 , HB3529

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a failure in our justice system and that's a failure that you have the power to fix.
• I think basically we would if it's approved in the legislature goes through the process and the governor
• Thank you, Senator Osgood, you're recognized in debate. >> Thank you, Senator Governor and thank you,

Transcript Highlights:

• So just to ensure public transparency, we'll amend the measure also such that the governor, legislature
• 46.720><c> for</c><00:29:46.880><c> international</c> We'll amend the measure also such that the governor
• the inclusion within that the community co-management agreement that does that just amplifies the power
• /c><01:13:06.520><c> the</c><01:13:06.640><c> board</c><01:13:07.080><c> to</c> just amplifies the power
• of the board to just amplifies the power of the board to engage<01:13:07.840><c> on</c><01:13:07.920

Summary: The committee first heard HB 649, which would create a small boat harbor commercial vessel special fund and raise mortgage fees on commercial vessels to fund harbor improvements. DLNR stood on written testimony in support, while the Ocean Tourism Coalition, Activity and Attractions Association of Hawaii, Calypso Charters, and a local commercial operator all opposed the bill, arguing that the fee increase would burden thin-margin businesses without fixing procurement and staffing problems and that the bill’s fee language and fund allocations were too vague. A DLNR witness also noted a prior bill, HB 2477, had sought to broaden the fee base to more ocean operators statewide rather than increase the percentage. No vote was taken on HB 649 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2599 on aquatic protection, which would prioritize ecosystem integrity and use of best available science in managing aquatic resources and set coral reef resilience goals. DLNR supported the measure, and a testifier from the public urged stronger coral goals for Oahu and a broader framework including water quality, herbivore management, fishery management, enforcement, and coral restoration. There was no opposition or vote shown on HB 2599 before the committee recessed to a joint hearing. In the joint Economic Development and Tourism / Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts hearing, members heard HB 2118 on transferring the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBED, HB 2474 on authorizing non-binding international cooperative agreements, HB 1863 on creating an honorary ambassador to Canada, HB 1943 on out-of-state DBED offices and export promotion, and HB 2604 on a performing arts ticket surcharge. Testimony was generally supportive for HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943, with questions focused on agency placement, sister-state relationships, and the rationale for overseas offices. HB 2604 drew opposition from the Tax Foundation and others, who argued the surcharge functioned as a tax and would make arts participation more expensive; the chair recommended deferring it. During decision-making, both committees passed HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943 with amendments, including technical changes and revised effective dates. For HB 2474, the amendments were described as clarifying definitions for sister-state and international cooperative agreements, allowing relationships with national governments, and preserving legislative approval and transparency. HB 1943 was amended to require an office in Laoag City, Philippines, rather than a non-existent DBED Philippines office. HB 2604 was deferred. After the joint session, the Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts committee resumed and heard HB 2395 on permits for taking marine deposits and HB 2361 on administrative support for the Kahului Bay Regional Council, both of which drew only DLNR written testimony and no further action in the excerpt. The committee then began HB 1823 on Coastal Zone Management Act exemptions, with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs testifying first, but the transcript cuts off before further testimony or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also want to highlight<00:23:08.240><c> that</c><00:23:08.360><c> Governor</c><00:23:09.000><c
• </c><02:12:07.600><c> to</c> workers who have the least power to workers who have the least power to
• This is how much organized money and power was aligned against it.
• </c><02:41:09.800><c> was</c> how much organized money and power was how much organized money and power
• The power dynamic in this industry is structural.

Transcript Highlights:

• with the author and hope that we'll be able to resolve our concerns before the bill advances to the governor
• And we all know that HOAs have government-like powers in many cases.
• I have a lot of respect for homeowners associations, but also given their government-like powers, wanted
• with that, you know, and so that's kind of my philosophy on these views because they do have the powers

Committee: Senate Housing