Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you so much for stopping by and making us part of your morning.
• talking about one school district right now, but there could be many other school districts in that same boat
• talking about one school district right now, but there could be many other school districts in that same boat

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you so much for stopping by and making us part of your morning.
• talking about one school district right now, but there could be many other school districts in that same boat
• talking about one school district right now, but there could be many other school districts in that same boat

Summary: The House Education Committee heard several bills focused on school district operations, student access, and special education. Substitute Senate Bill 6222 would allow school districts and educational service districts to sell or grant surplus technology hardware, such as laptops and tablets, directly to public school students, with priority for low-income students and documentation of the transfer. Testimony from the sponsor, district staff, and advocates emphasized helping students keep familiar devices, reducing waste, and extending the public investment in technology. The committee also heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 5969, which would better integrate IEP transition plans with the statewide online IEP system and the universal high school and beyond plan platform to reduce duplication; staff noted a fiscal note had been requested, and there were no public testifiers on the bill. The committee spent substantial time on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6247, a school district financial management bill. The bill would require additional ESD oversight and support for districts showing signs of financial distress, create mandatory school director training on funding and finance, strengthen penalties for knowing violations of budget expenditure limits, and require disclosure authorizations before hiring certain budget or accounting personnel. Senator Dozier said the bill was prompted by district financial problems, declining enrollment, failed levies, and reserve fund declines. ESD, WSSDA, WASA, WOSBO, and OSPI testified in support overall, though some witnesses raised concerns about mandatory training, funding for implementation, and whether training should extend beyond school directors. Committee members asked about the bill’s scope, the undefined term “significantly,” the $750,000 reimbursement cap, and how it compared with House Bill 2593. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 622, which would exempt school districts and ESDs from certain surplus-property notice requirements when selling or granting surplus technology hardware to students at depreciated cost or no cost to low-income students. Senator Hunt said the bill came from constituent concerns about unused laptops and tablets and would help students transition to work, college, or technical school. Zero Waste Washington and an Issaquah School District official supported the measure, citing environmental benefits and practical student access to technology. The committee closed public hearings on the bills, noted sign-in counts for pro and con positions, and announced amendment deadlines and upcoming executive sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Otherwise, you're going to be in the same boat five or 10 years from now, regardless of how that happens
• Otherwise, you're going to be in the same boat five or 10 years from now, regardless of how that happens
• Chair, if I may, and I'll stop with this one.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of the people are having to just park their boats and find other jobs for work.
• Whether it's direct at a farm or indirect working for let's say a boat mechanic, a welder or another
• And so we inject blue dye into the drip tape and then stop the injection of blue dye and let the former

Transcript Highlights:

• the $120,000 appropriation to the Allen Parish Police Jury for equipment and materials to build a boat
• The Allen Parish Police Jury for equipment and materials to build a boat ramp on Highway 26 was clarified
• to be the Allen Parish Police Jury for equipment and materials to build a boat ramp on Highway 190.
• This appropriation needs further clarification, too, for all costs to build a boat ramp on Highway 190

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received an unchanged fiscal status statement and five-year baseline projection from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members approved the fiscal status statement, and the baseline budget was noted as unchanged from the prior month. The committee also approved Facility Planning and Control’s request to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the Act 751 eligible list, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes. The committee then approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget. Lottery officials reported $610 million in projected gross revenue, emphasized 29 consecutive years without legislative auditor findings or management comments, and noted the corporation’s long-running transfers to the MFP and State General Fund. Members also approved the 2026-2027 operating budgets for LASERS, TRSL, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System en bloc. The retirement systems described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and continued progress in reducing unfunded liabilities; members discussed COLA prospects, UAL paydown, and the impact of surplus dollars on retirement debt reduction. The committee approved prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures of $20,262.32 and then approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including items for Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish. It also approved the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for an additional $2.8 million for four ongoing water and sewer projects. Several contract items were reviewed without action, including DEQ’s extension with RTI International, Tourism’s marketing contract amendments, and the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration amendment. The meeting concluded with adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• the $120,000 appropriation to the Allen Parish Police Jury for equipment and materials to build a boat
• The Allen Parish Police Jury for equipment and materials to build a boat ramp on Highway 26 was clarified
• to be the Allen Parish Police Jury for equipment and materials to build a boat ramp on Highway 190.
• This appropriation needs further clarification, too, for all costs to build a boat ramp on Highway 190

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received unchanged fiscal status and five-year baseline budget reports from the Office of Planning and Budget; the fiscal status statement was approved without objection, and the baseline budget required no action. The committee then approved a request from Facility Planning and Control to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the eligible list under Act 751, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes only. Members approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget after testimony highlighted projected gross revenue of $610 million, 29 years without legislative auditor findings, and continued support for the MFP. The committee also approved, en bloc, the operating budgets for LASERS, the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Retirement officials described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and ongoing efforts to reduce unfunded liabilities; members discussed the impact of surplus payments toward UAL debt and the possibility of future COLAs, including a 2% COLA if the legislature reaches the required two-thirds vote. The committee approved payment of $20,262.32 in prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures from the current-year budget. It also approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including changes involving Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish School System-related funding. In addition, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for $2.8 million in additional funding for four ongoing water and sewer projects was approved. The remaining items were reviewed without action: an RTI International contract extension for DEQ air-quality filter weighing, amendments to four Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism marketing contracts to extend and supplement funding, and the fifth-year amendment to the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration contract, valued at $21.1 million. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and it was over a boat. Somebody like ran me off the road. Um, and I sued lawyers.
• it</c><00:10:07.440><c> was</c><00:10:07.519><c> over</c><00:10:07.760><c> a</c><00:10:07.920><c> boat
• Um and it was over a boat. years ago. Um and it was over a boat.

Bills: HB66 , HB110 , HB114 , SB210 , SB228 , SB231 , HB66 , HB110 , HB114 , SB210 , SB228 , SB231

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: elder abuse, financial exploitation, inheritance, joint tenancy, conviction effects, HB110, sunset bill, Alabama Sunset Law, State Board of Medical Examiners, Medical Licensure Commission, medical licensing, physician regulation, healthcare regulation, professional licensing, ethics law, state ethics code, public servants, board members, agency continuation, sunset review

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we sort of stop that?
• Like, did they stop a program? Did somebody lose their job?
• , start, stop.
• Impacts if your federal dollars contract payments were to stop?
• At the end of the day, the buck stops with him.

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2937 simply allows for the carrying of firearms on boats.
• those that are otherwise qualified to carry a weapon in the state will be qualified to do so on a boat
• Please open the q Voting or boats, I Please announce the vote.

Bills: HB2937 , HB3419 , HB3264 , HB3266 , HB3267 , HB3268

Committee: House Criminal Judiciary

Keywords: firearms, carry on vessels, self-defense, Oklahoma law, gun rights, hunting, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law, public office, criminal justice, minimum sentences, parole eligibility, violent crimes, Oklahoma statutes, reckless driving, D2 felony, penalties, traffic offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• Band of Lake Superior to use some money that was allocated to them in the past in order to buy some boats
• Building those boats, those boats are usually built from scratch, and in my experience in the fire service

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:36.480><c> that's</c> argument to stop something that's argument to stop something that's
• Bad weather postponed the invasion. stepped off the landing boat, dragged stepped off the landing boat
• And yet, he was the leader in the boat that day, praying over his charges.
• </c> boat that day, praying over his charges. boat that day, praying over his charges.
• No one is stopping Get back on Bumble.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recreational Boaters of California, a 52-year-old advocacy organization for the 700,000 registered boats
• fuel to be accelerated in California, there will be a problem for the boaters who often fill their boats
• And so there could be a drastic effect on the 700,000 registered boats in California and the 3 million
• They're prohibited from being put into these types of engines, and it's not just boat engines.
• we're not having issues with boaters being unable to provide a fuel that they would like for their boats

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a series of natural resources and climate-related bills. AB 70 would codify a definition of pyrolysis and allow procurement credit for projects using organic waste to generate pipeline biomethane; supporters said it would help divert organic waste from landfills, reduce methane, and support energy reliability. AB 30 would authorize E15 fuel sales in California, with supporters arguing it could lower consumer fuel costs and emissions, while opponents from boating and marine groups raised concerns about engine damage and the need for clear labeling and continued E10 availability. AB 66 would create a CEQA exemption for emergency evacuation routes in high fire-risk areas; supporters emphasized wildfire evacuation safety, while some members worried the bill lacked sufficient guardrails and environmental review. AB 399 would let the Coastal Commission consider blue carbon sequestration in coastal permitting and authorize blue carbon demonstration projects; environmental groups supported it, while business groups objected to new costs and regulatory uncertainty. AB 491 would codify California’s nature-based solutions climate targets for lands and wetlands, with supporters citing climate and adaptation benefits and the Farm Bureau opposing statutory targets. AB 580 would extend Metropolitan Water District authority related to the Colorado River Aqueduct, and AB 43 would make permanent state authority to protect federally designated wild and scenic rivers if federal protections are weakened. The committee also considered AB 436 to streamline siting and permitting of composting facilities and AB 539 to streamline certain Coastal Act procedures and reporting. Most measures received due-pass recommendations and were reported out on roll calls, with several bills also moving on consent; AB 404 was pulled at the author’s request.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ferry fleet, while there are some new boats that are... ...additional funding.
• Ferry fleet, while there are some new boats that are being procured, my understanding is there's still
• Don't let us stop you. Be the slowdown driver.'
• So after this four-week program was over, the extra enforcement stopped, the communication stopped, they
• But one thing that can be problematic is that they need to be turned on to stop drivers.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee began with a transportation budget and revenue overview from Haley Gamble and Brian Moore. They reviewed the 2025-27 adopted transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, with the Department of Transportation making up the largest share. They said the 2025 session’s new revenues, including the fuel tax increase and other fee changes, allowed the committee to move from projected structural deficits to a balanced four-year plan, while preserving major programs such as culverts, ferry timing adjustments, highway preservation, and local maintenance funding. They also discussed updated revenue forecasts, including a modest downward revision in fuel consumption and uncertainty around some revenue sources, but said overall revenues remain stronger than previously projected. Committee members asked for more detail on dedicated funds, regional fuel tax patterns, and whether preservation needs could be supported through bonding. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chichino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She described the group’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce traffic fatalities 30% by 2030, citing increases in deaths for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and comparing U.S. fatality rates unfavorably with other high-income countries. Her presentation emphasized speed management, impaired driving enforcement, safer roadway design, and pedestrian protections such as lower speed limits, speed cameras, traffic calming, roundabouts, better lighting, and pedestrian beacons. She also highlighted research showing that larger vehicles increase pedestrian risk and discussed Bellevue pilot projects using smart signal technology that reduced near misses. No action was taken on the presentation. In the final work session item, Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT and Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association discussed potential transit and active transportation grant programs that had been proposed but not enacted in 2025. Chamberlain explained how new grant programs require runway time, staff capacity, and clear program design, and contrasted “projects first, funding after” with “funding first, projects after” approaches. She addressed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting questions about eligibility, scoring, and how such projects would fit with existing active transportation and preservation work. Leighton reviewed the state’s transit grant portfolio and argued that a transit safety and security grant could help agencies fund operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health support, and non-uniformed security staff. He also raised concerns about sales tax treatment of security contracts, staffing shortages, federal uncertainty, CDL non-domicile issues, and long procurement timelines for buses. The committee asked questions about definitions, program purpose, and implementation challenges, but did not take any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what the amendments that we put on, it allows boats to anchor in Oyster Bayou provided that the boat
• So if I'm going to negotiate it, can I stop the project? The answer is no.
• Because we can't stop the project. So we have no leverage.
• Does that ever stop?
• And the state portion stops after $5 million, or $10 million depending on which one is first. Okay.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 480, which would allow anchoring in certain waterways, specifically Oyster Bayou, with restrictions to protect oyster leases and require a person to remain on board. After brief explanation from the sponsor, Representative DeWitt moved favorable and the bill was reported favorable without objection. House Bill 510, which would have prohibited importation of captured carbon dioxide into Louisiana for sequestration, was discussed briefly. The sponsor said the proposal appeared to conflict with federal law and interstate commerce concerns, and he asked to voluntarily defer the bill. The committee agreed, and HB 510 was deferred. The committee also heard House Resolution 279, urging the state to study geothermal energy policy; after questions about geothermal technology and possible overlap with CCS infrastructure, the resolution was adopted on a 10-3 roll call vote and reported favorable. The bulk of the meeting focused on House Bill 1152, as amended, dealing with the Carbon Dioxide Geologic Storage Trust Fund and a proposed injection fee for carbon sequestration projects. The amendment would set the fee at 19 cents per ton, with 12 cents going to the state trust fund and 7 cents going directly to affected parishes, while retaining existing fund caps and adding evacuation routes as an eligible local expenditure. Industry groups and local government representatives both testified: industry warned the proposal was rushed, could create uncertainty, and might hurt Louisiana’s competitiveness; parish officials argued locals need a meaningful revenue share, transparency, and bargaining power because they will bear emergency-response burdens. Members raised questions about the fee structure, exemptions for state lands and parish agreements, and whether the local share would continue for the life of a project. The bill remained under discussion at the end of the transcript, with talk of creating an off-session task force or working group to continue negotiations for next year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over that time, the infections lessened, the ER visits stopped.
• Over that time, the infections lessened, the ER visits stopped.
• For a boating family like this, this vote is not theoretical.
• For boating families like this, this vote is not theoretical.
• This doesn't stop us from doing everything we can, nor does it mean that we care less for them.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal by roll call. Members then offered personal privilege remarks honoring Dr. Penelope Martin Knox of Raytown Schools for Black History Month and introduced guests, including Adeline Overcast, who was made a page for the day, and visitors from a rural hospital in Rolla. Several new bills were first read, including measures on blind pensions, penalties for impeding first responders, and flag display in the state capitol. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 2596, dealing with multiple employee self-insured health plans for small businesses, passed unanimously after supporters said it would help small employers offer affordable health coverage. House Bill 1644, addressing franchisor liability and joint-employer issues, passed 103-45 after debate over whether it protected small businesses or limited workers’ ability to sue franchisors. House Bill 2423, increasing funding for the Division of Finance through fee authority, passed 146-0 despite concerns about higher costs being passed on to consumers. House Bill 2641, regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products and aligning state law with federal changes, drew extensive debate over a beverage carve-out, impacts on hemp businesses, and public safety; it passed 109-34. The House also passed House Bills 2498 and the combined House Bills 2637 and 3155. HB 2498, a juvenile justice reform bill shifting some referral responsibilities to prosecutors and expanding information sharing, passed 100-44 after strong debate over whether it would politicize juvenile cases and overburden treatment facilities, versus claims it would improve accountability and public safety. The combined sentencing bill, HB 2637/3155, passed 102-45 amid disagreement over whether it was truly a transparency measure or instead increased mandatory minimums and reduced judicial discretion. Finally, the House considered House Joint Resolution 154, which opponents described as an attack on Medicaid expansion tied to work requirements. Supporters argued it would encourage able-bodied recipients to work, volunteer, or attend school and reduce administrative costs, while opponents warned it would increase bureaucracy and risk coverage losses for vulnerable Missourians. The transcript ends during the procedural vote on the previous question for HJR 154, before the final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then secondly, when it comes to creel limits, if a game warden were to stop somebody that possessed
• And then secondly, when it comes to creel limits, if a game warden were to stop somebody that possessed
• And then secondly, when it comes to creel limits, if a game warden were to stop somebody that possessed
• And then secondly, when it comes to creel limits, if a game warden were to stop somebody that possessed
• If a game warden were to stop somebody that possessed, we'll just say, illegal fish, and there are no

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• Megan Stats, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, LNR 802.
• So our boat operation, we run the boats going back and forth.
• Right next door is the Keii small boat harbor.
• </c> right next door is the keii small boat right next door is the keii small boat harbor<02:33:59.880
• </c><04:17:00.840><c> you</c> level you know they were to stop you level you know they were to stop you

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The administration started bombing boats that they could have chosen to interdict or stop in other
• Full stop.
• </c> tough on crime, they should stop tough on crime, they should stop protecting<04:02:01.439><c> the
• Stop attacking Washington, D.C.
• Stop attacking Washington, D.C.

Bills: HR893 , HB6019 , HB4058 , HB5107 , HB5214 , HB4071 , HB4070 , HB3965 , HB2259 , HB1736 , HR1327 , HR581

Keywords: censure, conflict of interest, domestic violence, military contracts, ethics, HB6019, H.R. 6019, Senate data, legal process, subpoena, warrant, court order, notification requirement, Senate offices, legislative branch, data disclosure, privacy, records access, Congress, repeal

Transcript Highlights:

• He thought he could get by without doing a speech of any sort, but he couldn't stop his assistant from
• Those are boating against.
• Olseni Stinsoni or i lin nay Sterlingi although those wishing to bow chains the boat chairs appearing
• We were taught in debate to talk to the whole audience, so I'm gonna stop doing that, OK?

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't stop. Yeah, you're 14, and you're speaking at a level way beyond your years. Don't stop.
• legislators that our bills are perfect, and we come to find out in practical application we've missed the boat
• legislators that our bills are perfect, and we come to find out in practical application, we've missed the boat

Committee: Senate State Affairs