Transcript Highlights:

• entities entities annual<01:37:37.840><c> budget.
• So if this were a school would<01:37:41.679><c> the</c><01:37:42.080><c> entity</c><01:37:42.639><c>
• be the could it be the would the entity be the could it be the entire<01:37:44.960><c> town</c><01:37
• In my view, the word entity here school?
• In my view, the word entity here is<01:37:53.840><c> acting</c><01:37:54.800><c> on</c><01:37:55.119>

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In code, there are entities that have authority to issue taxes for their particular entity, so they would
• In code, there are entities that have authority to issue taxes for their particular entity. so they would
• be a tax. ...issue taxes for their particular entity.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. The chamber then processed a large number of messages and committee reports, including enrollment/transmittal actions for several bills and resolutions. Senate Concurrent Resolution 128, which approved temporary and pending administrative rules and rejected others, was adopted and transmitted to the House. The Senate also received and introduced several House bills, including appropriations measures and other legislation, and moved through multiple orders of business with several recesses and at-ease periods while awaiting paperwork and additional House action. The main floor action centered on a series of appropriation bills and one policy bill. House Bill 973, a supplemental appropriation for the Military Division to replace climate control systems at Gowen Field, passed 29-2. House Bill 975, which would have limited transfers from the Budget Stabilization Fund and left the higher balance in place, passed 19-13 after debate over whether the money should instead be used to address budget shortfalls and service cuts. House Bill 976, changing how local highway distribution funds are allocated, passed 32-0. House Bill 972, a trailer appropriation for the Department of Health and Welfare tied to SNAP eligibility system changes, passed 25-8. House Bill 974, an appropriation for the Idaho State Police to implement a new pay plan and related funding structure, passed 33-0. House Bill 978, a Health and Welfare appropriation restoring the Immune Assessment Fund and related public health funding, passed 24-11 after discussion of vaccine access and cost savings. The Senate also considered House Bill 896, a civil enforcement bill that would allow certain officials to seek Attorney General review of alleged violations of statutory prohibitions and, after court process and a finding of willful violation, could render a public official ineligible to hold office for up to five years. Supporters framed it as a due-process-based accountability measure, while opponents argued it was overly broad, centralized power in the Attorney General, and could be weaponized against local officials. The bill failed 8-27. Later, House Bill 959, dealing with initiative procedures and budget caps for fire protection and ambulance districts, passed 33-0. The Senate then completed final transmittals, received gubernatorial messages, and adjourned sine die at the close of the second regular session of the 68th Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• So just to make that distinction between these entities are regulated now in regards to environmental
• Fronin said, there's probably that additional, or what, 16 or so, somewhere in there, 10 to 16 more entities
• Fronin said, there's probably that additional, or what, 16 or so, somewhere in there, 10 to 16 more entities
• And there are 10 to 16 more entities that would fall under this that are only providing wastewater service
• But because if you're inside the boundaries of a sewer district and the entity created by the state,

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just would feel much more comfortable if we had an Idaho entity who had Idaho communities' interests
• And it has been customary for many, many decades that other entities, whether it be, you know, your local
• And what this bill does is it just simply says ...that when one of these entities offers up their place
• And what this bill does is it just simply says that when one of these entities offers up their place,
• I think it's no surprise I typically don't like these bills that eliminate liability for entities.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as the Arizona Medical Freedom Act, prohibits businesses, ticket issuers, schools, and government entities
• the bill authorizes enforcement by the Attorney General or County Attorney and requires a violating entity
• This bill doesn't specifically address that exact entity, but of course these are the people that would
• Remember, the entity that is chosen to conduct the audit, they are compensated based on what they recover
• They're both state entities.

Bills: HB2048 , HB2189 , HB2248 , HB2403 , HB2728 , HB2729 , HB2730 , HB2731 , HB2906 , HCR2058

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: orders of protection, domestic violence, court procedures, legal guardian, enforcement, healthcare, licensed health aides, scope of practice, ventilator care, training standards, medical freedom, healthcare mandates, employment requirements, public health, government regulation, elderly, physical disabilities, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, home and community based services, funding increase

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 853 by Representative McMakin, relative to misleading solicitations by nongovernment entities
• the requirements that an individual, if an individual seeks to bring a private action against an entity
• Under current law, these solicitations must disclose that they are not from a government entity and that
• But these are national entities sending these out.
• they talk about jobs on the data center, and this is not coming from LED, this is coming from local entities

Bills: HB207 , HB267 , HB300 , HB464 , HB618 , HB853

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board, auctioneer licensing, professional licensing board, board membership, gubernatorial appointments, consumer members, public at large, Public Service Commission district, East Baton Rouge Parish, venue, domicile, licensure requirements, licensed auctioneer, occupational licensing, state board governance, Act 138, home inspectors, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board

Transcript Highlights:

• Then you count up how many applications were tied to these entities.
• There are hundreds sometimes of applications tied to the same entity in the background.
• There were several entities that were connected to many applications.
• from the hundreds they were connected to; several of the licenses would be connected to the same entity
• here, another entity here, another one over there.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Health to provide at least 50 percent of grants provided under the Abortion Savings Program to these entities
• property tax that would have been levied on the facility if the facility were owned by a taxable entity
• The transmission authority already is a publicly accountable entity.
• Normally, transmission is done by privately held entities or by the Bonneville Power Administration.
• The way that the law is structured currently, those entities do payments to the counties or the governing

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• penalty assessed for when a violation is incidental and the result of a good-faith error and that the entity
• Again, I don't represent lab-grown meat entities at this point, and it's my understanding that there
• It took everybody: the government, local entities, and the public, to take control so they did not have
• 1950s, where the same rat problem was addressed with a plan that involved the government, local entities
• Nichols continued that it took everybody: the government, local entities, and the public, to take control

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When manufacturers sell directly, pricing is controlled by a single entity, reducing consumer choice
• When manufacturers sell directly, pricing is controlled by a single entity, reducing consumer choice
• My fear for the state of New Mexico is that the corporate entity doesn't have the local accountability
• pursuing this direct consumer sales model because they already have the relationship with the tribal entities
• And so we don't view this as a way that will impact the tribal entities because Tesla is going to continue

Bills: SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 22, which would allow certain motor vehicle manufacturers, including electric vehicle companies, to be licensed as dealers in New Mexico and sell/service directly to consumers. Supporters, including the sponsor’s office, Taxation and Revenue, Rivian, and clean-energy advocates, argued the bill would expand consumer choice, lower prices, improve EV access and service in-state, and bring new investment and jobs without eliminating existing franchise dealers. Opponents, including auto dealer associations, chambers of commerce, and franchise owners, argued the measure would weaken the franchise system, harm local businesses and jobs, reduce community reinvestment, and could disadvantage rural and tribal communities. After questions about trade-ins, tribal land sales, tax effects, and economic impacts, the committee voted to table SB 22 by a vote of 7-2. The committee then took up Senate Bill 310, which appropriates $1.1 million to the New Mexico Environment Department for planning, design, and construction improvements to the Mora mutual domestic water system. Supporters described aging water and wastewater infrastructure, an AOC related to discharge into the Mora River, flood and fire impacts, and heavy-metal contamination concerns in private wells. They said the project is part of a larger effort to address inflow and infiltration, improve treatment capacity, and protect public health, with additional funding already sought through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Water Trust Board. Some senators questioned whether the request should instead go through existing water funding programs and raised concerns about piecemeal financing and the Environment Department’s role, but others supported the need for the project. The committee approved SB 310 on a 5-3 due-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• allows for public input, integration of local priorities, partnerships with multiple diverse local entities
• public input, transparency, and we have the ability to work across jurisdictional lines with any entity
• So whether it's a state park, whether it's another cooperative jurisdiction with a state entity.
• the programs that we've been able to provide really have not been tailored to those land developer entities
• to customers to take advantage of, and again, in their business, at their home, or the government entities

Summary: The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee met on February 5 and heard three measures. House Bill 246 would provide state matching funds for local governments already approved for federal flood mitigation assistance to buy out and rehabilitate floodplain properties, especially in Lincoln County, to reduce repetitive flood damage and restore land to a more natural floodplain. Supporters included county officials, emergency management, and a racetrack lobbyist, all emphasizing public safety, reduced disaster costs, and community recovery. Some members raised concerns about pre-flood property valuation and anti-donation issues, but the bill passed on a do-pass motion. House Bill 271 would appropriate funds through the Office of Natural Resources Trustee for natural resource recovery and public land access, including disaster recovery projects and expansion of recreational opportunities. Supporters argued it would help restore watersheds, improve access to public lands, and support hunting, fishing, and local outdoor economies. Several members questioned whether the bill was too open-ended, whether it could affect grazing or other existing rights, and why the trustee’s office was the right vehicle; the sponsor and trustee said the office has a transparent public process and that the bill would not create new eminent domain authority or adverse changes to existing rights. The committee approved the bill 9-1, with one member explaining support but noting lingering concerns. House Bill 254 would allow investor-owned electric utilities to count avoided greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency programs under the utility cost test. The sponsor and utility witnesses said this would help expand programs such as heat pumps, HVAC upgrades, and all-electric development, while opponents worried it could function as a rate increase or “double dipping” because customers already pay fees supporting efficiency programs. The committee passed the bill 7-3. Finally, House Joint Memorial 3 would ask the Environment Department to study PFAS exemptions and report back during the interim as rulemaking on the PFAS Protection Act proceeds. The memorial drew both support and opposition, with critics saying it conflicted with existing statute and was unnecessary, while supporters said it would ensure a thorough review of federal changes and consumer-product exemptions. The memorial passed 8-2, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's specifically to any entity that would be allowed behind there that the public's not allowed behind
• Some of them are going to be private entities that are not going to There's a lot of people, some of
• them are going to be private entities that are not going to fall under any specific agency control, so
• They're their own private entity, beyond just saying, well, we're not going to use this record service
• They're their own private entity, beyond just saying, well, we're not going to use this record service

Bills: SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: motor vehicle, accident, notification, liability, civil action, gender neutral, SB1456, Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, sunset extension, sunset law, breath alcohol testing, DUI, DWI, drunk driving, drug testing, chemical testing, field sobriety, roadside screening, blood test, saliva test

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1226 by Senator Rader, which would add property damage to the state’s leaving-the-scene statute so a driver who damages property and leaves would be treated similarly to a vehicle accident. After brief questions about whether the driver would need to wait for law enforcement or the property owner, the bill advanced unanimously, 6-0. Several sunset-extension bills from Senator Burstrom were then considered. Senate Bill 1456 would extend the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence to 2036 and passed 6-1. Senate Bill 1462 would extend the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force to 2036; members questioned whether a task force created in 2023 needed such a long extension, but it still passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1463 would extend the Polygraph Examiners Board to 2036 and passed 8-1, with some members again objecting to the 10-year sunset length. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1980 by Senator Logan, which updates larceny and forgery language to cover gift cards, gift certificates, and redemption information when possessed or used with intent to defraud. Members pressed the author on whether the offense would be a misdemeanor or felony and on the bill’s scope, but the measure passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1479 by Senator Stewart, dealing with release of crime- and collision-scene information by first responders, was amended to strike the title after concerns about scope and private entities; it then passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1608 by Senator Frick, as amended, would make school location and employer information searchable in sex offender and violent offender registries, and it passed 6-2. Finally, Senate Bill 1923 by Senator Murdoch would prohibit inmates from accessing social media, prompted by a constituent’s concerns about inmates contacting victims’ families through contraband cell phones. Members questioned whether the bill was necessary given existing DOC policies and whether it should address tablets as well; an amendment was withdrawn, and the bill passed 7-1. The committee also laid over Senate Bill 1612 and concluded its Public Safety agenda for the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Investment by public and private entities together is the clear path to a strong water future and a stronger
• see every city essentially on the Boise River, along with Ada and Canyon County and also private entities
• We are a surface water delivery entity.
• We are a surface water delivery entity.
• We are a surface water delivery entity.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any project applying, or any entity that applies, has to be a qualified grantee under the Affordable
• One of the things we added to the substitute is requiring, again, that there be, that the entity be a
• And then their concerns are also that there would be a pass-through entity...
• You know, that there would be a pass-through entity and that those credits would be transferred and kind
• Representative, you're saying that those entities will continue to dictate traffic flow.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligible folks here are tribes and nonprofit entities again.
• What when, I mean, you work with entities to, you know, you build when you're asked to build something
• making those requests or what kind of criteria do you use in order to ensure that those nonprofit entities
• Yeah, we do look into the entities who are applying for our grants.
• The Pullman campus is a covered entity under the Climate Commitment Act, and the cost of conversion for

Summary: The committee first received a Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and project examples such as an early learning center in Spokane, a rural library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities have been opened and how capital planning aligns with operating funding; Commerce said it could provide more data later and noted it focuses on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about nonprofit financial stability, project licensure, siting, and the burden of non-state match, while Commerce emphasized shovel-ready projects, community match, and efforts to reduce application burden. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. Staff reviewed Washington’s building emissions laws, compliance tiers, exemptions, incentives, and district energy system decarbonization planning under House Bills 1543, 1976, and 1390. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, a fellowship program that has helped more than 250 buildings in 16 counties, and review of nearly 30 district energy plans. The presentation highlighted that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets, that Tier 2 incentive applications suggest the 30-cent-per-square-foot incentive often covers compliance costs, and that district decarbonization plans face common challenges such as aging infrastructure, grid readiness, workforce, and inconsistent cost reporting. Members asked what additional legislative action might help, and Commerce said it was still learning from the new rulemaking and implementation changes. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible off-campus thermal energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high emissions, maintenance costs, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received to transition toward an electric hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex explained its existing district energy system at the Port of Bellingham, which uses industrial waste heat and is operating at very high efficiency, and said it is exploring a heat transmission line to WWU and possibly sewer-heat recovery. Testimony from WSU and UW supported the broader decarbonization effort but raised concerns about the scale of costs, deferred maintenance, and the need for predictable state funding. A contractor witness urged the state to think bigger about public-private partnerships and other financing tools rather than forcing campuses to compete for limited funds. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2330, which would create a prioritization process for capital funding for state campus district energy system decarbonization projects. Staff said the bill would establish a Commerce committee to score and rank projects, issue a preliminary framework report by December 30 of this year, and provide biennial recommended project lists beginning in 2028, while also studying barriers to energy-as-a-service contracts and public-private partnerships. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to create a thoughtful, predictable process for deciding which projects to fund, emphasizing energy savings, emissions reductions, operating cost reductions, shovel-readiness, and the value of public-private partnerships. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive: WSU and UW backed the bill as a way to advance compliance and predictability, though WSU warned that compliance costs could be very large and that the university would likely seek state help if fines were imposed. A contractor witness supported the concept but argued the bill should help build a larger funding “pie” through partnerships and financing tools rather than simply dividing scarce resources. The committee then opened and heard testimony on House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects. Commerce staff said the bill would allow weatherization funds and matching funds to be used for neighborhood-scale projects affecting multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households; the fiscal note estimated about $273,000 in FY 2027 and about $237,000 per biennium ongoing for administration. Supporters from community action agencies and Spark Northwest said the bill would improve health, safety, affordability, and contractor participation by allowing weatherization to be done at a community scale, especially in mobile home parks and low-income neighborhoods. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The local entities are really the first responders that are there.
• , of course, we collaborate with the fire and the rescue and the law enforcement and those other entities
• then of course we collaborate with the fire and the rescue and the law enforcement and those other entities
• I think the respondent entities need to obviously augment what they do and do it well, but one of the
• I think the respondent entities need to obviously augment what they do and do it well, but one of the

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FIOC in there, I'm sure you've heard that—that's Foreign Entities of Concern.
• FIOC, meaning you cannot be eligible for the federal tax credit if you are controlled by a foreign entity
• Elective pay is a way for entities who don't normally pay taxes to be eligible for these federal taxes
• One is that the local entity must render a decision within a certain amount of time, like six months
• I see you didn't capture anything here because that's an entity, if you will, that needs to be regulated

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligible entities are very broad; eligible entities include really any public water system that's publicly
• So that is a large amount of dollars then going to entities that qualify for the disadvantaged community
• We increased the number of entities and communities in New Mexico public water systems that would benefit
• that they're providing the supporting documents that the Environment Department needs to put those entities

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The Anti-Red Flag Act prevents all governmental entities in Texas from recognizing or enforcing red flag
• Furthermore, the bill prohibits Texas entities from accepting federal funds to enforce red flag laws
• Senate Bill 1362 seeks to place a prohibition on local regulation by stopping all governmental entities
• The bill also prevents state and local entities from accepting federal grant funds for the implementation
• determines that a person is in immediate danger to self or others, we will prohibit and even punish entities

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Chiia: We want to park it in a marketing entity.
• Otherwise, government does benefit because some of like, the CVB is a quasi-governmental entity, essentially
• So by implementing these changes, House Bill 1998 allows local governmental entities greater flexibility
• would provide more efficiency for those lower value contracts, and it would help the governmental entities
• voucher program to ensure that it's not just given to the person and that it's given to the housing entity

Bills: HB158

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivision, government spending, transparency