Transcript Highlights:

• The Palisades is an entire integrated community that was destroyed, full of homeowners and full of renters
• As an integrated community that... ...subject to the TPA.
• As an integrated community that was vibrant and relatively open in the sense of L.A., it was its own
• I just want to say that the fact that we're doing this bill doesn't, you know, mean that we're integrating

Summary: The committee heard several housing bills, with the longest discussion focused on SB 79, which would allow more housing near high-capacity transit stops and on transit agency-owned land. The author and supporters argued it would address California’s housing shortage, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and strengthen transit systems by putting more residents near rail and rapid transit. Supporters included housing advocates, local officials, environmental groups, and transit-oriented development organizations. Opponents, including many cities, the League of California Cities, and some tenant and legal advocacy groups, raised concerns about affordability requirements, displacement, demolition protections, local control, and the bill’s interaction with existing local planning efforts. The committee discussed amendments to strengthen anti-displacement protections, minimum density, affordability standards, and a local flexibility alternative, and SB 79 was moved out on a due-pass-as-amended vote of 8-1, with one member not voting. The committee then took up SB 21, which would amend the Housing Crisis Act to allow limited unit reductions when converting deed-restricted SRO buildings into larger, more livable affordable units with private bathrooms, kitchens, and supportive services. The author and nonprofit housing providers said many SRO buildings are financially unsustainable and that the bill would preserve deeply affordable housing while improving conditions for residents. There was no organized opposition testimony at the hearing, though one business property group registered opposition. Members expressed support for the preservation-focused approach, and SB 21 was approved on an 8-0 vote and sent to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. Next, SB 92 was heard, a measure to close a density bonus loophole by limiting how much additional commercial floor area a project can receive and preventing the law from being used to justify very large nonresidential projects with only minimal affordable housing. The author cited a San Diego project as an example of the problem, and the City of San Diego supported the bill as a reasonable fix. Several labor and housing groups also supported it, while no formal opposition witnesses testified. The committee accepted amendments, members praised the effort to curb abuse while preserving feasibility, and SB 92 passed on a 7-0 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 522, which would extend just-cause eviction protections to units rebuilt after disaster if they had previously been covered by the Tenant Protection Act. The author and the Los Angeles City Attorney said the bill would help preserve rental housing in disaster-affected communities, especially after the Pacific Palisades fires, and would not create new rent control. Opponents, including apartment, realtor, and property owner groups, argued it would add burdens to rebuilding and could discourage reconstruction. Members raised questions about whether existing law already protects returning tenants and whether the bill was necessary, and the hearing continued into committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nevada already has strong safeguards in place to protect election integrity.
• This amendment isn't about preventing fraud or election integrity; it's about suppressing turnout.
• They would also still have to do additional work if they integrated it into their new system as an internal
• In the 2021 session, $1.4 million was appropriated to the Department of Corrections to integrate the

Bills: AB49 , AB169 , AB188 , AB284 , AB296 , AB306 , AB356 , AB366 , AB467 , AB499 , AB515 , AB540 , AB542 , AB595

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: educational personnel, teacher licensing, reciprocal licensure, provisional teaching, school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, state education standards, health insurance, speech-language pathology, stuttering, rehabilitative services, habilitative services, coverage requirements, health plans, retired public employees, subsidy, Medicare, health reimbursement arrangement, Public Employees' Benefits Program

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to maintain proper platting authority to protect the integrity of our landscape in our county
• By passing Senate Bill 2172, the legislature can ensure fair tax administration and uphold the integrity
• These arrangements undermine both the integrity of the industry and the ability of local governments
• So if we want to maintain the integrity of our system and have annual reappraisals for equality and for

Bills: SB467 , SB325 , SB867 , SB994 , SB1052 , SB1237 , SB1449 , SB1531 , SB2063 , SB2172 , SB2173 , SB2520 , SB2529 , SB2538 , SB2541 , SJR46 , SJR84

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: SB 467, Texas property tax, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, fire damage, house fire, destroyed home, temporary tax relief, appraisal district, chief appraiser, local taxing unit, tax rollback, tax refund, Tax Code Chapter 11, prorated exemption, homestead improvement, disaster relief, property tax exemption, residential property

Summary: The committee heard several local government and property tax bills, with most testimony focused on appraisal disputes, tax administration, and development rules. Senate Bill 1052 by Senator Hinojosa would address coastal county appraisal litigation by requiring property owners in certain large-value disputes to report an uncontested taxable value while appeals are pending, so taxing units can base truth-in-taxation calculations on more realistic revenue. Nueces County, Del Mar College, and Corpus Christi ISD testified in support, describing major budget shortfalls caused by refinery valuation disputes; the committee substitute narrowed and clarified the bill’s scope. No opposition was heard, public testimony closed, and SB 1052 was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1531, which would require local tax collectors to accept common electronic property tax payments such as credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. Witnesses supported modernizing payment options and the committee substitute removed ACH/electronic funds transfer language to avoid bank-account disclosure concerns. Public testimony closed and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 325, by Senator Perry, would restore platting and groundwater-certification requirements that were unintentionally weakened by prior legislation; supporters from county government, water groups, and builders’ representatives debated whether the real issue was groundwater protection or road standards for private roads. The bill was left pending after extensive testimony and no vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 994 and SJR 46, which would exempt certain livestock feed inventory from property tax and provide the constitutional amendment needed for that change. Feed store and Farm Bureau witnesses supported the measure as relief for seasonal inventory taxes, and the bills were left pending. Senator Paxton presented SB 467 and SJR 84 to create a temporary property tax exemption for homes completely destroyed by fire, with refunds or corrected bills based on the date of loss; both were left pending. SB 1237 would clarify charitable property tax exemptions for senior housing and retirement communities, with testimony from Catholic and Baptist retirement organizations and a resident describing rising costs and exemption revocations; it was also left pending. The committee later voted 6-0 to report SB 2073, a pending bill on appraisal district authority to purchase or finance real property, and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 2172, SB 2173, and SB 2063, all related to property tax administration. SB 2172 would limit when appraisal districts can require homeowners to reapply for homestead exemptions, requiring a specific reason and written notice; SB 2173 would protect new homeowners from surprise tax liabilities caused by prior owners’ erroneous homestead exemptions, with testimony describing large back-assessment bills; both were left pending. SB 2063 would bar appraisal districts from using market-value evidence in unequal appraisal protests, and testimony sharply divided between taxpayer advocates, who said market data improperly overwhelms equity claims, and appraisal district representatives, who argued market value is inherently tied to equal-and-uniform taxation and cited a recent Texas Supreme Court decision; the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will help cities better integrate ATVs into their local transportation networks, boosting tourism
• this bill will help cities<00:01:52.600><c> uh</c><00:01:52.759><c> better</c><00:01:53.040><c> integrate
• </c><00:01:53.479><c> ATVs</c><00:01:54.079><c> into</c> cities uh better integrate ATVs into cities
• uh better integrate ATVs into their<00:01:54.479><c> Local</c><00:01:54.799><c> transportation</c><00

Bills: HF2066 , HF340 , HF341 , HF566 , HF2107 , HF2130

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: electric bicycles, tax rebate, transportation, environment, local economy, fleeing peace officer, culpable negligence, traffic laws, public safety, motor vehicle offenses, driving violations, penalties, license suspension, traffic enforcement, all-terrain vehicle, ATV, class 1 ATV, class 2 ATV, road rights-of-way, public roads

Transcript Highlights:

• postsecondary education, a little-known fact is that Kentucky's institutions were considered non-integrated
• </c><00:15:07.480><c> non</c> institutions were considered non institutions were considered non integrated
• 10.320><c> but</c><00:15:10.480><c> once</c><00:15:11.040><c> 2009</c><00:15:11.759><c> hit</c> integrated
• until 2009 but once 2009 hit integrated until 2009 but once 2009 hit and<00:15:12.680><c> and</c><00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education met to consider House Bill 4, relating to postsecondary education. Before taking up the bill, the committee adopted a committee substitute. The substitute removed language creating a private right of action and immunity provisions, added a definition of “indoctrinate,” revised language tied to the Attorney General, and added a new section directing the Auditor of Public Accounts to review compliance every four years. If an institution is found out of compliance, it would have 180 days to cure the issue or become ineligible for formula funding increases in the following fiscal year, with an opportunity to petition the Attorney General. The substitute also added language barring licensing authorities from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion training as a condition of initial or renewal licensure. Representative Decker presented the bill as an effort to end what she described as unconstitutional DEI practices in Kentucky’s postsecondary system and to refocus colleges on academic instruction, equal opportunity, and affordability. She argued that DEI offices and initiatives have cost taxpayers heavily and have not improved enrollment outcomes for low-income and underrepresented students. Michael Frasier, testifying in support, framed the bill as an equal-protection measure rather than simply an anti-DEI bill, saying it targets preferential treatment and discrimination while exempting traditional civil-rights compliance offices such as Title IX, disability, and other anti-discrimination functions. He also argued that the bill aligns with recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent and that Kentucky should shift toward socioeconomic-based approaches. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s assumptions and effects. Representative Willner questioned the claim that DEI initiatives caused enrollment declines and asked why the state would not make such programs more inclusive instead of eliminating them. Representative Stalker argued that the bill ignored decades of exclusion in higher education and asked what would replace DEI efforts aimed at closing achievement gaps and preventing brain drain. Supporters responded that the bill addresses unconstitutional preferences and that the state should move toward equal treatment and socioeconomic factors rather than race-based criteria. After discussion, the committee substitute was adopted, and the committee continued consideration of House Bill 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• Patients want to know that healthcare professionals are working with ethical integrity and that they
• > professionals working working with professionals working working with ethical<00:04:02.400><c> integrity
• c> that</c><00:04:03.319><c> they</c><00:04:03.400><c> won't</c><00:04:03.599><c> be</c> ethical integrity
• and that they won't be ethical integrity and that they won't be forced<00:04:04.079><c> to</c><00:04

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 132, a health care conscience-protection measure. Supporters said the bill would protect health care professionals from being forced to participate in procedures or services that violate sincerely held religious or ethical beliefs, while explicitly excluding emergency care. They argued it would help recruit and retain providers, preserve ethical integrity in medicine, and has worked in several other states. Supporters also emphasized that the bill is aimed at procedures or services, not at denying care based on who a patient is, and noted that the bill includes a civil cause of action to give it enforcement teeth. Several supporters described personal experiences. A nurse said lack of conscience protections affected her career choices and limited her path into women’s health. Dr. Warman said he had requested not to perform anesthesia for abortions and later chose non-narcotic pain management because he objected to heavy opioid prescribing, saying conscience protections allow professionals to practice responsibly. Senators asked about examples, the bill’s scope, whether it could be used to discriminate, and which states have similar laws; Mississippi, Florida, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Arkansas were named. Questions also focused on the bill’s civil enforcement provisions and whether it could be used against patients based on identity or religion. Opponents warned the bill was overly broad and could allow refusals of care by a wide range of health workers, including clerks, ambulance drivers, pharmacists, nurses, and physicians. Dr. Karen Abrams said it could lead to denial of birth control, Plan B, blood transfusions, and other care, especially in rural areas with few alternatives, and could worsen Kentucky’s provider shortages. David Conway said the bill lacked patient protections, could increase delays and discrimination, and could prevent reassignment of objecting staff. The chair noted there were seven people signed up in opposition, limited testimony to two minutes each, and said the committee would return to the bill after hearing additional opposition and other pending bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to speak specifically to the mountain of regulations we are required to integrate into our
• mountain of regulations we are required mountain of regulations we are required to<00:03:07.799><c> integrate
• <c> our</c><00:03:08.640><c> business</c><00:03:09.000><c> model</c><00:03:09.680><c> and</c> to integrate
• into our business model and to integrate into our business model and to<00:03:09.959><c> share</c><00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I humbly ask for your support in this endeavor, and I pledge to work with integrity, transparency, and
• 39.120><c> with</c> this endeavor and I pledge to work with this endeavor and I pledge to work with Integrity
• transparency</c><00:15:40.759><c> and</c><00:15:40.959><c> dedication</c><00:15:41.800><c> to</c> Integrity
• transparency and dedication to Integrity transparency and dedication to the<00:15:42.079><c> people<

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such a working group may also identify state resources that may be needed to coordinate and integrate
• :02:46.360><c> and</c> that may be needed to coordinate and that may be needed to coordinate and integrate
• <c> processes</c><00:02:47.599><c> with</c><00:02:47.760><c> the</c><00:02:47.959><c> county</c> integrate
• such processes with the county integrate such processes with the county and<00:02:49.200><c> working

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing. During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• But our places of worship, their integrity, that sanctuary, that should be protected.
• But our places of worship, their integrity, that sanctuary, that should be protected.
• Vote for this amendment, have some integrity, and support the students who want to work for this state
• It ensures the safety of our neighbors. ...the financial stability of our state, and the integrity of

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar for the day. The chamber then took up House Bill 1B on immigration, along with discussion of anticipated Senate changes. The sponsor described the bill as creating a chief immigration officer housed in the Department of Agriculture, establishing an Office of State Immigration Enforcement, expanding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, increasing criminal penalties for certain offenses by unauthorized aliens, ending undocumented-student fee waivers, and providing substantial appropriations for enforcement and related programs. Members also questioned the Senate version’s proposed mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses involving unauthorized aliens, as well as pretrial detention, 287(g) participation, DMV reporting requirements, and the bill’s effects on schools, teachers, social workers, and local agencies. The sponsor and supporting members repeatedly said the bill required broad cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and that existing federal law would control where conflicts arose. A major portion of the debate focused on whether the bill would allow or require immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive settings, and whether teachers, school resource officers, and social workers could be placed in conflict with federal privacy or professional obligations. Members also raised concerns about detention based on suspected status, the standard of proof for immigration-status determinations, prison and jail impacts, workforce shortages, and the fiscal effects on counties and state agencies. The sponsor said the bill did not provide DMV funding, that the state would need to study some implementation questions, and that the appropriations included $25 million for a local law enforcement participation incentive program and up to $350 million for broader implementation and coordination. Several amendments were offered and failed. Representative Chambliss proposed protecting schools, churches, and places of worship from enforcement activity; Representative Escamani offered amendments to preserve in-state tuition for Dreamers and to grandfather currently eligible students; Representative Woodson offered a similar Dreamer-related amendment; and Representative Bartleman proposed barring local law enforcement from entering schools during school hours to detain children solely for immigration status. Supporters of these amendments argued they would protect children, preserve educational access, and prevent trauma in schools and houses of worship. The House rejected each amendment by voice vote, and the transcript ends during debate on the Bartleman school-safety amendment before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're integral to the product that comes about because of being able to do that.
• Capital Equipment for manufacturers with Capital Equipment for manufacturers they're<00:15:34.240><c> integral
• 35.360><c> the</c><00:15:36.079><c> the</c><00:15:36.360><c> um</c><00:15:36.560><c> the</c> they're integral
• to the the um the they're integral to the the um the product<00:15:37.399><c> that</c><00:15:37.880>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The third is integrating civics education across disciplines.
• of those immersive tools, integration of those immersive tools, including<01:30:54.000><c> that</c><
• However, the concerns here lie more with the operational, financial, regulatory, and program integrity
• And this could potentially dilute the program integrity and create confusion as to what constitutes the
• and create confusion program integrity and create confusion as<04:27:58.880><c> to</c><04:27:59.359>

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These success stories show that integrated pest management works and non-rodenticide methods are effective

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a brief hybrid hearing on late-file bills, with Chair Becca Rausch outlining procedures and limiting testimony to three minutes. The hearing focused on six home rule petitions from Ayer, Boxborough, Groton, Lincoln, Nahant, and Sharon that would restrict or prohibit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides, referred to by speakers as harmful “escars.” Testimony was uniformly in support of the petitions. Speakers including Christine Goulet, Heather Packard of Mass Audubon, Carrie Stamos of Save Lincoln Wildlife, and Lisa Nayan de Muel described the dangers of these poisons to bald eagles, other wildlife, pets, and ecosystems, and argued that towns had already shown local support for restrictions. Several witnesses said non-rodenticide pest management methods and integrated pest management can work effectively, and urged the committee to report the bills favorably. Mass Audubon also framed the local petitions as a step toward a broader statewide ban, citing recent action in Rhode Island, California, and other states. No opposition testimony was presented, and no votes were taken during the hearing. After the final witness, the chair asked whether anyone else wished to be heard and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• carry out their responsibilities, and the vast majority of public employees work with dedication and integrity

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: Oregon Attorney General staff held a press event on National Health Care Fraud Take Down Day to announce new Medicaid fraud enforcement actions and highlight the work of the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The attorney general said the unit, created in 1986, has secured 348 criminal convictions, 156 civil settlements and judgments, and significant recoveries since 2010, and noted the legislature recently approved additional staffing. She framed the work as protecting vulnerable Oregonians and taxpayer dollars, and said the unit is a small multidisciplinary team of investigators, auditors, attorneys, data analysts, and a nurse investigator. The office announced criminal filings in four cases involving alleged fraud by providers or public employees, including charges against a Beaverton man tied to housing assistance funds, a Corvallis provider and company accused of billing Medicaid for services not provided, a former Lane County employee accused of improper personal purchases on a government credit card, and a Tigard man in a medical transportation-related case. The attorney general also cited recent outcomes in other cases, including a Portland nurse who pleaded no contest and was sentenced to jail, probation, and restitution for billing for services not provided. She emphasized that the defendants are presumed innocent. In response to questions, the attorney general said Oregon staff attended a recent federal meeting on Medicaid fraud despite late notice to many Democratic states, describing the issue as bipartisan even amid broader disagreements with the Trump administration. She said federal staffing cuts have made state enforcement more important and that Oregon is already evaluating how to adapt to a more complex fraud landscape. She also said the cases announced are primarily against providers and entities rather than Medicaid recipients, and that Oregon’s managed care system is not currently a major barrier to investigations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2104 is a cleanup and integration bill following Oklahoma's adoption of the Oklahoma Uniform

Bills: SB137 , SB372 , SB1209 , SB1226 , SB1256 , SB1303 , SB1595 , SB1636 , SB1772 , SB1827 , SB1876 , SB1944 , SB2072 , SB2104 , SB2180

Committee: House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus

Summary: The committee heard a series of Senate bills, most of them receiving unanimous or near-unanimous do-pass recommendations. SB 1595, as amended, exempts commercial driver training schools administered by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections from provisions regulating state agency interactions with CDL schools; the amendment was adopted and the bill passed 9-0. SB 1303 transferred property and records from the Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation to the Workers’ Compensation Commission, SB 2180 required certain foreign principals’ agents to register with the Secretary of State, SB 2072 expanded title-theft protections and allowed broader law-enforcement investigation and fee waivers, SB 1772 clarified when vehicle lights must be used, and SB 1209 excluded Sundays and federal holidays from eviction timelines; each passed without opposition or with overwhelming support. Members also advanced SB 137, a mirror bill to a House measure dealing with a corrections-related issue, after discussion about retroactivity and possible amendments on the Senate side; it passed 9-1. SB 1944 adjusted an agriculture payroll threshold exemption and passed 10-0. SB 372 clarified that a person may carry a weapon from the front door to a room in a state-owned hotel or lodge and passed 9-1. SB 1636 allowed a victim’s family to request a cold case review from any law enforcement agency and passed 11-0. SB 1256 was amended to remove language requiring certain written judicial findings, then passed 11-0. Additional bills approved included SB 1827, which updated definitions in the Government Tort Claims Act; SB 2104, a cleanup and integration measure following adoption of the Oklahoma Uniform Trust Code; SB 1226, clarifying when a driver must stop after an accident involving property damage; and SB 1876, allowing a foreign insurer to be served through its registered agent rather than only the insurance commissioner. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures out favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• You graciously offer an abundance of forgiveness, resulting in the freedom to live and serve with integrity

Bills: SB1636 , SB1772 , SB1221 , SB1932 , SB1687 , SB1213 , SB843 , SB1410 , SB1317 , SB1338 , SB1976 , SB1314 , SB1191 , SB1613 , SB1246 , SB1439 , SB1930 , HR1044

Keywords: cold case, unsolved homicide, violent crime, case file review, law enforcement, police records, victim family, immediate family member, designated person, forensic testing, witness reinterview, investigative leads, cold case unit, unsolved murder, public safety, Title 21, Oklahoma statutes, motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights

Transcript Highlights:

• his professional accomplishments, Lieutenant Colonel Carpetano was also known for his humility, integrity

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem, then recorded attendance and approved the prior journal. Senators also welcomed radiologists in the gallery for Radiology Advocacy Day. The chamber adopted a motion to request House consent to adjourn after completing business on Thursday, April 2, 2026, and return Tuesday, April 7, 2026; the motion passed and the House was to be notified. The Senate also noted that House messages would not be read and that Senate bills 1020 and 1247 were transmitted to the Governor. The main substantive item was Senate Resolution 1002, a death resolution honoring Lieutenant Colonel Salvatore Capitano, an Italian Air Force officer who served at Luke Air Force Base as an F-35 instructor and evaluator pilot. The resolution and floor remarks emphasized his military service, leadership, support for allied cooperation, and his role in Arizona’s partner-country driver’s license reciprocity effort. Senators introduced several guests connected to the Italian military and consular community, and the resolution was unanimously adopted, followed by a moment of silence and transmission of the resolution to the Secretary of State. Before recess, a senator introduced a student guest in the gallery. Senate Democrats also entered a statement into the journal protesting the earlier floor handling of HB 2072, the bill repealing Cesar Chavez Day, saying amendments were not fully heard and criticizing the lack of dialogue and transparency. The Senate then recessed for caucus and later adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• his professional accomplishments, Lieutenant Colonel Carpetano was also known for his humility, integrity

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He was an integral part of the civil rights era.

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 17 and first took up three bills by Rep. Walters. HB 129, as amended, designated a portion of Louisiana Highway 173 as the Dr. Harry Blake Senior Memorial Highway and also added a new memorial highway designation for a portion of Louisiana Highway 3194 in Shreveport for Virginia Green Evans. The bill was reported with amendments after brief remarks honoring both individuals. HB 130, as amended, redesignated the elevated portion of Interstate 220 in Caddo Parish as the American Legion Post No. 14 Memorial Bridge; the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill. HB 854, as amended, created several specialty license plates, including additions for Haynesville Junior and Senior High School and Lincoln Preparatory High School, and revised the fee structure so annual fees would be forwarded to the Alzheimer’s Association, Louisiana chapter, and the R. Tamney Fleming Lupus Foundation. Members raised a general concern about the growing number of specialty plates and OMV production capacity, but the bill was still reported with amendments. The committee then discussed the proposed privatization of the Cameron Ferry Service. The Secretary explained that the process began with an unsolicited proposal from Laborde, was approved for competitive solicitation, and resulted in a responsive qualified bid. He said the goal was to negotiate a contract for Laborde to operate the ferry system, including staffing and operations, while the company would handle fuel and maintenance. Members asked whether privatization would save money; the Secretary said it was more about improving service and reliability than reducing costs, especially given the need for consistent labor and the upcoming new ferries. He also said the department was aiming to complete the process by the end of the fiscal year, around July 1. Finally, the committee adopted the minutes from the 2025 regular session en bloc and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, our goal is to maintain the highest standards of safety, integrity, and fairness in all combative

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all