Transcript Highlights:

• So, if the tenant has to pay some rent.
• </c> they can pay that portion of the rent. they can pay that portion of the rent.
• that they can pay that.
• that they can pay that.
• that they can pay that.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• done, but how much we're paying for them, how often.
• </c><00:19:19.400><c> for</c> performance of of what we're paying for performance of of what we're paying
• We're not just serving, we're not just paying for sick care, we pay for well care.
• for sick care, we we're not just paying for sick care, we pay<00:38:42.480><c> for</c><00:38:42.640>
• </c> pay for well care. pay for well care.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to discuss creating a Healthcare Transparency Dashboard focused largely on Kentucky Medicaid. Members introduced themselves and described their interest in using data transparency to improve policy, access to care, and program efficiency. The co-chairs said the dashboard should begin with a basic framework and expand over time, with a mission centered on collaboratively designing and maintaining a secure, data-driven dashboard housed with the Legislative Research Commission. Discussion focused on what should be measured and how data should be organized. Members agreed the dashboard should segment Medicaid populations rather than aggregate them, with separate attention to aged and disabled enrollees, expansion adults, and children. Suggested measures included emergency department utilization and follow-up, cancer screenings, child and adolescent well visits, adult well visits, postpartum care, newborn screenings and follow-ups, hospitalization and readmission rates, pharmacy, behavioral health, and claims data. Several members emphasized the need to include demographic and geographic information, while noting some items such as education may not be readily available in Medicaid data and that HIPAA and access issues will affect how detailed the public-facing dashboard can be. Members also discussed existing data sources and warned against duplicating work already being done by the cabinet, the Office of Data Analytics, CMS scorecards, and university Medicaid directed payment reporting. The group was encouraged to review the Medicaid and CHIP scorecard, which includes quality, administrative, and program characteristic measures, as a possible model. No formal votes were taken, but the subcommittee agreed to continue refining the mission statement, identify priority metrics, and consider benchmarking, outcomes, data-sharing, and technical platform issues before the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The localities are paying property taxes. So I ask support for the amendment.
• We don't know what they pay out. And the consumer doesn't either.
• Just follow all these rules, regulation, pay your taxes, right?
• Just follow all these rules, regulation, pay your taxes, right?
• So there could be somebody who's not paying their taxes.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in the process of paying out the debts.
• They're in the process of paying out the debts.
• bills or failed to pay bills.
• bills or failed to pay bills.
• bills or failed to pay bills.

Keywords: The original version of this live stream dropped before the meeting was technically finished. This is the complete copy pulled from back up sources., 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear updates from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on two related issues: a proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility and medical services contracts, including the impact of Wellpath’s bankruptcy proceedings. At the start, the chair agreed to hear the Department of Corrections first so members could get context on the medical contract before turning to DJJ’s proposal. DOC officials said Wellpath, the department’s comprehensive medical and mental health provider since 2013, was awarded its current contract through a 2021 procurement process. They reported that Wellpath’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan had been confirmed and that the company had transitioned ownership to lenders, but had not yet fully completed the bankruptcy process. DOC said there had been no service lapses, no reduction in care, and no known impact on Kentucky vendors or hospitals, and that DOC staff meet with Wellpath almost weekly. Members asked whether the committee had been kept informed and whether the bankruptcy could affect future services or subcontractors. DJJ then presented its concept for a high-acuity facility, explaining that the project is still in the preliminary programming and conceptual stage and has not yet entered the formal design phase with DECA. Officials said the proposal in the capital plan would create a 24-bed facility, with 16 clinical beds and 8 assessment/stabilization beds, to serve justice-involved youth with serious mental health needs. They said the facility would need to separate males and females and high- and low-risk youth, and that current placements often require sending youth out of state to places such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas. Staff said the goal is to centralize treatment, improve safety, and reduce the need for fragmented or out-of-state placements. Committee members questioned the cost estimates, staffing needs, and whether the facility was justified given the small number of youth currently placed out of state. DJJ said the operational estimate includes an unknown medical-contract component and that the number of youth needing the facility can fluctuate because of surges in the juvenile population. Officials also said they had consulted with South Carolina, which is developing a similar facility, and noted that renovating existing facilities was considered but could be more expensive or impractical than building a separate site. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that means they are paying more than 50% of their income towards rent.
• If you have some, you'll end up paying 30% of that income towards the voucher.
• They pay less when they're homeowners.
• Then they're just paying taxes and insurance.
• It's really important to pay attention to all of it.

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, there's a matter, you know, for those of you that don't pay attention every day, uh, there was
• matter, you know, for those of you<00:02:19.680><c> that</c><00:02:20.080><c> don't</c><00:02:20.319><c> pay
• <00:02:20.560><c> attention</c><00:02:20.959><c> every</c><00:02:21.280><c> day,</c> you that don't pay
• attention every day, you that don't pay attention every day, uh<00:02:21.840><c> there</c><00:02:22.000

Bills: SF1832 , HF2440 , HF2442

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, labor market, employment, funding, data analysis, climate finance, energy finance, renewable development account, RDA, weatherization, preweatherization, low-income housing, energy efficiency, clean energy

Transcript Highlights:

• through the taxes our students' parents pay.
• </c> is supported through the taxes I pay is supported through the taxes I pay through<01:16:47.040><
• Chartered public schools do not get pay.
• I have no problem paying extra taxes to meet those needs.
• </c> on their income and ability to pay. on their income and ability to pay.

Bills: HF3653 , HF2717 , HF3451 , HF3857

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, safe schools revenue, school safety, charter schools, funding, safe schools, school security, school levy, pupil units, safe schools aid, cooperative units, intermediate school district, school resource officer, peace officer liaison, sheriff liaison, drug abuse prevention, gang resistance education, violence prevention, suicide prevention, mental health services

Summary: The committee first adopted the March 3rd minutes by voice vote after Representative Lee moved them and there was no discussion. Members then reviewed hearing rules on decorum, safety, and participation before taking testimony from Dr. James Densley and Dr. Jillian Peterson of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University. The presenters summarized research on mass shootings and K-12 school shootings, drawing on a database of homicides in school settings from 2000 to 2025 and a smaller set of 15 K-12 mass shooting cases. They said school shooters are usually insiders, most often current or former students, and typically young males. They described common patterns including a noticeable crisis before attacks, perpetrators viewing the shooting as a final act, studying prior shooters online, and “leakage” in which most tell someone in advance. They also emphasized that many perpetrators use unsecured firearms from family members and argued that prevention should combine reporting systems, behavioral threat assessment, counseling, mentoring, secure storage, and other layered interventions rather than rely on a single solution. The presenters also discussed broader violence trends in the Twin Cities, saying much school violence is spillover from community violence and that pandemic-era disruptions and weakened trust in institutions contributed to serious violence. They cited a national survey finding that exposure to gun violence is associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and fear of public spaces, especially among young people. During member questions, Representative Wam asked for clarification on the data set and the rural/small-town share of the survey sample.

Transcript Highlights:

• It really all depends what you are looking for and what you pay for.
• He said if Manchester and Nashua want trains, they can pay for it.
• He has always believed that those who use a service should pay for it.
• The residents here pay taxes.
• </c><02:23:18.000><c> back</c> state bonds and the railroads pay back state bonds and the railroads pay

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee heard testimony on House Bill 375, which would allow municipalities to designate certain road segments for ATV travel, create maps and signage for those routes, set seasonal limits, and require certain equipment on ATVs such as lights, a horn, flashers, and directional signals. The sponsor, Rep. Dan Maguire, said the bill is intended to support tourism and give towns a structured, optional way to permit ATV use on roads, not to override existing uses. Members asked about possible overlap with agricultural vehicle rules, golf carts, speed limits, and whether the bill could allow ATV use on busier roads or expressways; the sponsor said he did not intend to interfere with existing lawful uses and believed golf carts would only be included if they met the relevant statutory requirements. NHDOT State Maintenance Engineer Alan Hennessy said the department had concerns with language exempting municipalities and the Bureau of Trails from the permitting process, arguing that the existing permit system provides needed review, public notice, and signage requirements. He also raised questions about road funding and maintenance if ATVs were allowed on state highways. Fish and Game Captain Michael Eastman testified that his commission opposed the bill as written, citing concerns about the ATV definition, the distinction between ATVs, UTVs, and other OHRVs, and the potential impact on state highways and road maintenance. He said towns can already open roads to OHRV use under existing law, and he noted that accident data for road use would generally be handled by local police or State Police rather than Fish and Game. Craig Reny, chief of the Bureau of Trails, said the current Bureau of Trails/DOT permit process for highway crossings and connectors works well and is used to ensure safety through engineering review. He said his bureau was not taking a position on the bill but wanted to clarify that existing procedures already address many of the issues the bill appears to cover. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is increasing FFN providers' pay to at least the state minimum wage.
• The first is increasing FFN providers' pay to at least the state minimum wage.
• I had to go to work and take care of my child and also pay my bills. But how?
• But because there is no pay, you can't afford to do it.
• But at least if they pay a provider, FFN, you know you have someone you can stay your child with from

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its sixth public hearing and took testimony on a large slate of bills, with the chair moving H. 542/S. 341 on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care to the top of the agenda so young constituents would not have to wait. Witnesses from labor, community organizations, and FFN providers strongly supported the bill, saying FFN care fills critical gaps for families working nonstandard hours, especially in low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC communities. Testimony emphasized that FFN providers are currently underpaid, often receive only about $24 per child per day, and should be guaranteed at least the state minimum wage. Witnesses also backed changes to the voucher system to allow families to combine formal and FFN care more flexibly, and they supported creating an FFN advisory council. Committee members asked about the difference between FFN and center-based care, registration requirements, fingerprinting/background checks, EEC’s ongoing study group, and the fiscal impact; witnesses said the current annual cost is about $1.8 million and could rise to about $6 million if all current FFN providers were paid minimum wage, still under 1% of the EEC budget. The committee then closed testimony on that bill. The committee next heard testimony on several preschool and universal pre-K bills, including H. 707 on public preschool facilities, H. 687/S. 339 on universal pre-K and mixed delivery, and related bills such as H. 606, H. 523, H. 618, H. 522, H. 510, and H. 615, many of which were later closed without additional witnesses. A Lowell school official testified that space and facilities funding are major barriers to expanding preschool and that the city has hundreds of children on voucher waitlists. Other witnesses and organizations, including the Early Care and Education Consortium and AFT Massachusetts, supported mixed-delivery universal pre-K and warned that public-school expansion should not undermine community-based providers, whose preschool tuition helps subsidize infant and toddler care. Several witnesses also urged stronger standards for preschool teachers, better staffing ratios, and more integrated special education and support services. The committee accepted written testimony on some bills and closed testimony on the others when no one else came forward. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 541/S. 373, which would ban school exclusion in pre-K through third grade. Advocates from Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Mass Appleseed, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, AFT Massachusetts, and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee argued that suspensions and expulsions at young ages harm learning, worsen inequities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They cited data showing disproportionate impacts on Black and Latinx students, students with disabilities, and low-income children, and described personal stories of children whose behavior improved when schools kept them in class and addressed underlying needs. Committee members asked for updated data on the number of students and districts affected, and witnesses said they would provide more detailed written information. After testimony on this and a few other bills, including S. 372, S. 357, and H. 275/S. 133, the committee closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm thankful to be before you today to discuss a pay disparity that has created a two-tiered system of
• This legislation would eliminate that pay disparity.
• one staff member in the community-based human services sector at just $20.79 an hour, yet the state pays
• one staff member in the community-based human services sector at just $20.79 an hour, yet the state pays
• This legislation being heard today would eliminate this pay disparity gradually through July 1, 2029,

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing focused on accessibility-related legislation, with the chairs emphasizing ASL and CART accessibility and asking testifiers to speak slowly and clearly. The committee heard testimony first on H.223/S.130, a bill to establish a livable wage for community-based human service workers by reducing the pay gap with state employees. Providers’ Council, Communities for People, the Key Program, and BAMSI all supported the bill, describing persistent wage disparities, high vacancy and turnover rates, and the impact on continuity of care for children, youth, and families. Witnesses said the bill would help recruitment and retention and stabilize services across the Commonwealth. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H.224/S.160, the ACE Act, which would create a dedicated funding source to improve accessibility in the creative economy. Arts organizations and advocates, including Community Access to the Arts, Abilities Dance Boston, Jacob’s Pillow, the Multicultural Arts Center, Northampton Community Music Center, Mass Creative, Open Door Arts, and Monkey House, described barriers such as inaccessible buildings, lack of ASL interpretation and captioning, inadequate lifts and backstage access, and the high cost of renovations. Testifiers said the bill would help smaller and historic institutions make physical and programmatic improvements and allow people with disabilities to participate as artists, workers, and audiences. The committee also heard testimony on H.4180, which would require DDS to consider neuropsychological evaluations when determining eligibility for intellectual disability services. Parents and advocates argued that IQ cutoffs alone can miss significant functional needs, especially for autistic adults and others with complex developmental profiles, and urged broader access to DDS supports. Additional testimony supported S.101 on closed captioning and telecommunications in public areas, and S.158 on requiring restaurants to have some chairs with arms to better accommodate physically disabled and older patrons. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after hearing from the scheduled witnesses and noting a few signups that were not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine your water and sewer bill on time for years, only Imagine paying your water and sewer bill on
• Recently, our governor took it upon himself to negotiate a price cap on the price we pay for electricity
• States that choose to suppress their own generation, Maryland and Virginia can pay less.
• They also want to get what they pay for.
• our grid and the infrastructure that our utilities use to ensure That our ratepayers get what they pay

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and a quorum call before moving into committee reports and floor action. Committees reported a number of bills and resolutions, including measures from Local Government, Energy, Health, Judiciary, Appropriations, Rules, and Finance. The chamber also announced caucus and committee meetings, then recessed and later reconvened for final consideration of legislation. Several bills passed the House finally, including House Bill 2299 on body cameras for county probation officers, House Bill 167 designating a scenic byway along Allegheny River Boulevard, House Bill 95 requiring disclosure when content or advertising is generated or substantially modified by artificial intelligence, House Bill 1944 expanding medical amnesty and Good Samaritan protections on campuses, House Bill 2443 creating a child victim recovery fund, House Bill 246 updating references from the Public Welfare Code to the Human Services Code, and House Bill 2586 establishing title protection for music therapists. The House also adopted House Resolution 463 recognizing Korean-American Citizenship Day, House Resolution 499 recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day, and House Resolution 547 directing a study of electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration. The House spent significant time on amendments to House Bill 133, which concerns reinstatement of parental rights, and House Bill 138, which addresses parental incarceration and termination of parental rights. Both bills received bipartisan amendments adding guardrails and exceptions, and the amendments were adopted unanimously. The chamber also debated House Bill 2224, the Fair Act, with multiple amendments on utility rates, return on equity, and scope; some amendments were adopted, several tied votes failed, and the bill was left amended for reprinting. House Bill 2544, dealing with school administrators’ rights and negotiations, saw an amendment to allow individual bargaining, but that amendment failed and the bill was agreed to. The session ended with a correction to the record on House Bill 1944, a motion to recommit several bills to Appropriations, and adjournment until June 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they have the cash to pay those vendors.
• So they weren't getting people that were paying. They were getting all the people that weren't.
• We need to be able to help the hospitals that are providing that care to the most needy that can't pay
• And you'll find out if CDPH is paying in a 30-day or a 10-day time frame?
• And we're having to take benefits away from some of the very people who most need it, who are paying

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Summary: The committee heard AB 108, a budget bill junior that would amend the 2025 Budget Act to create a one-time $25 million General Fund grant program at HCAI for hospitals in immediate and significant financial distress. The bill also included a technical change related to property tax deferments for eligible low-income seniors. Finance explained that eligible hospitals would have to be not-for-profit, have less than 10 days cash on hand, show best efforts to exhaust other financing, and have a payer mix of more than 50% government payers and uninsured patients; the bill also gives HCAI expedited contracting and rulemaking authority. Members and the LAO noted the proposal is intended as a short-term bridge until July 1, while broader hospital support is expected in the May Revision and next year’s budget. Much of the discussion focused on whether $25 million is enough, how many hospitals would qualify, and whether the 10-day cash threshold is too narrow. Several senators argued the administration had not provided enough data or a clear methodology, and raised concerns about fairness compared with the earlier Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which used broader criteria and provided loans rather than grants. Members also raised broader policy issues affecting hospital finances, including Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, seismic retrofit costs, federal funding changes, and the need for better data and more immediate assessment of hospital distress. The LAO said the current proposal is narrower than the prior loan program and emphasized the need for better reporting and analysis going forward. Public commenters, including the California Hospital Association, district hospital representatives, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and county officials, supported the bill and urged additional longer-term funding for distressed hospitals. The chair and several members said the bill is a short-term emergency measure for a small number of hospitals at risk of imminent closure, while broader solutions will be addressed later in the budget process. AB 108 was then moved and passed out of committee on an 18-0 vote, with the roll held open briefly to secure remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Mayhew continued, saying that, like the breathalyzer-type device, the person has to pay
• He said that, especially when he is paying attention to it, those dashboard speed-limit readings are
• Because I'm telling you right now, especially when I'm paying attention to that, those are not always
• I think if she could come up here and say, I'll pay you...
• I think if she could come up here and say, I'll pay $50 a month for a speed deterrent on my car, she

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• refinery work or retraining in my own district—that they're effective and that those investments are paying
• And that missing pay, we know, is rent, it's groceries, it's childcare, it's gas, it's the things that
• want to make sure that workers on public works projects no longer have to continue waiting for the pay
• have pre-apprenticeship programs that we've established that the state does not subsidize, that we pay
• During those three years, the pay rate reporting errors and consequences for their errors compounded,

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several labor-related bills. SB 1166 would place AC Transit employees under PERB jurisdiction for unfair labor practice disputes; supporters said it would reduce cost and delay compared with court litigation, AC Transit was neutral, there was no opposition, and the bill passed 4-1 and later 4-1 on call. SB 1054 would add wage-data elements to state reporting to improve Medi-Cal and other eligibility verification and strengthen workforce-program data; supporters emphasized reducing administrative burden and improving accountability, and it passed 4-0, later 5-0 on call. SB 1149 would expand bereavement leave to cover a “designated person” and align it with other family-leave laws; it drew broad support from caregiving, LGBTQ+, labor, and advocacy groups, no opposition, and passed 3-0, later 5-0 on call. The committee also considered SB 909, which would raise and index public works contractor registration fees and prevailing-wage penalties and direct more penalty revenue to enforcement. Supporters argued it would deter wage theft and fund enforcement staffing, while contractor groups warned it would raise costs, increase uncertainty, and not solve staffing delays; the bill passed 2-1 and later 4-1 on call. SB 1132 would require a standardized know-your-rights curriculum through the workforce development system; supporters said workers need rights education at job-entry points, especially immigrants and other vulnerable workers, and the bill passed 3-1, later 4-1 on call. SB 1241 sought to strengthen enforcement of skilled-and-trained workforce requirements on public works projects by defining substantial compliance, limiting repeated reliance on compliance plans, and increasing accountability for reporting failures. Labor supporters said it would close loopholes and protect apprenticeship-trained workers, while contractor groups argued the market lacks enough qualified workers and that the bill could increase penalties and debarment risk; after extended debate it passed 4-1. Finally, SB 1038 would require CalPERS to notify unions when employer audits are initiated so they can assist members facing repayment or pension adjustments; supporters said it would help workers navigate audit consequences, there was no opposition, and it passed 4-0 before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• reason those are not filled, it's kind of difficult to get those people to come to Frankfort with no pay
• , we pay them mileage.
• take a day and come to Frankfort<00:08:56.000><c> for</c><00:08:56.120><c> no</c><00:08:56.320><c> pay
• </c><00:08:56.640><c> other</c><00:08:56.920><c> we</c><00:08:57.080><c> pay</c><00:08:57.280><c> them
• </c> Frankfort for no pay other we pay them Frankfort for no pay other we pay them mileage. mileage.

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: Consideration of SB 70 00:03:41 Consideration of SB 85 00:13:04 Consideration of SB 29 00:16:56 Consideration of SB 226 00:23:09, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The merchant's paying a fee on other things outside of their product.
• So to be able to do that, though, you have to be able to buy it, right, or to be able to pay for it.
• And so the insurance company would pay that cost. Thank you for that. issue, right?
• And so the insurance company would pay that cost. Thank you for that question.
• The insurance would pay for the cost up to the limit of the policy, subject to deductibles, which is

Bills: SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1442 , SB1592 , SB1623 , SB1625 , SB1913 , SB1940 , SB1949 , SB2102 , SB592 , SB992

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: ticket sales, resale, consumer protection, fraud, bots, transparency, refunds, event tickets, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana license, commercial grower, grow operation, bond requirement, land reclamation fee, revolving fund, environmental remediation, redevelopment, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a series of bills focused on credit card interchange fees, insurance regulation, alcohol licensing, utility contractor authority, medical marijuana bonding, and business liability. Senators Thompson’s SB 2102 and SB 1940 sought to limit swipe fees on large financial institutions and on taxes and tips, respectively; both passed after questions about the asset thresholds and their impact on merchants and banks. SB 1625, by Senator Fricks, would let the Oklahoma Insurance Department prepare impact analyses on health benefit plan legislation, and passed unanimously. SB 1442, by Senator Dossett, lowered distiller licensing fees, created a microdistillery license, and restored a liability insurance proof requirement through an amendment; it passed 11-0. SB 1623, by Floor Leader Daniels, would revise the state credit union charter and passed 11-0. SB 1242, by Senator Hamilton, increased the bond required for medical marijuana grows from $50,000 to $100,000 and passed 10-0. The committee also heard SB 1949 from Senator Logan, which would allow utility contractors to work closer to buildings on private property, up to five feet from structures, instead of stopping at the property line. The bill drew extended questioning from Senator Brooks about permitting, training, liability, and the relationship between utility contractors and plumbers; an industry representative testified that utility contractors already do much of the work under licensed plumbers and that the bill would reduce costs and speed projects, especially in rural areas. SB 1949 passed 8-2. Senator Reinhardt’s SB 1592 and SB 1913, both insurance-related committee substitutes, were described as ongoing negotiations aimed at homeowner insurance transparency and consumer protections; members were told the bills were still being refined, but both passed, 9-1 and 10-0, respectively. Additional measures included SB 592, which would let distributors issue credits to retailers after repeated product replacements, aimed at reducing losses from poor inventory control at large retailers; it passed 9-0. SB 992 would provide civil liability protection for businesses and property owners when violent criminal acts occur on their premises, except in cases of gross negligence; it prompted debate over gun-free zones, security, insurance, and whether the bill would reduce incentives for safety measures, but passed 5-3. Finally, SB 1241 created the Oklahoma Fraud and Ticketing Accountability Act to address fake tickets, bots, deceptive resale websites, and venue liability in the live-event market; supporters included arts venues, and the bill passed 8-0. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Pay on page six. Representative Duhl, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Representative Pay, on page six, would you agree with me that if a tenant brings a bad-faith lawsuit
• like this is an individual at first saying, 'Oh, I don't work, I don't work, I don't work, I can't pay
• And these are individuals that have children; they know they have children, and they're not paying the
• money that they're supposed to be paying for the support of those children.

Bills: HB1016 , HB1453 , HB1992 , HB2015 , HB2940 , HB2959 , HB2997 , HB3037 , HB3045 , HB3053 , HB3087 , HB3267 , HB3301 , HB3453 , HB3495 , HB3521 , HB3581 , HB3584 , HB3586 , HB3587 , HB3662 , HB3691 , HB3695 , HB3697 , HB3742 , HB3743 , HB3845 , HB4058 , HB4125 , HB4198 , HB4227 , HB4425

Committee: House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Keywords: minors, content creation, trust account, compensation, civil action, digital content, Oklahoma statutes, foreign ownership, property rights, agricultural land, Attorney General, divestment, real estate, felony penalties, motor vehicles, towing services, combination vehicles, wrecker fees, possessory lien, landlord

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a large number of bills covering tort claims, criminal law, child protection, licensing, housing, and public transparency. Early measures included HB 3037, adding students in curricular activities to the Government Tort Claims Act definition of employee; HB 3581, revising riot statutes and removing a no-bail provision; HB 458, allowing voluntary blood type notation on driver’s licenses; HB 2929, tightening mandatory child abuse reporting by school employees; and HB 3087, extending garnishment notice and objection timelines. All of those bills received unanimous or near-unanimous due-pass recommendations. Several bills drew more substantial discussion. HB 4227, the Cindy Clemishire Act, was amended to allow minors to discuss sexual abuse with health care providers and was named after a survivor; it passed 13-0. HB 4125, restoring Second Amendment rights to certain nonviolent felons, passed 13-1 but members raised concerns about federal law and asked for further explanation before floor consideration. HB 1453, which would criminalize hostile foreign nationals and entities owning Oklahoma real property and agricultural land, generated extensive debate over indirect ownership, foreclosure timelines, logrolling, and constitutional concerns, and it ultimately failed 3-10. HB 3521, modernizing money transmission regulation and adding payment processors and digital asset kiosks, passed 13-0. Other measures advanced after questions or minor amendments, including HB 3691 on self-certifying medical fitness for a Class D license, HB 2015 on landlord-tenant repair and tenant remedies, HB 2940 on recording public meetings, HB 1016 on trust protections for minors appearing in monetized online content, HB 3267 making breaking and entering an occupied dwelling a felony without needing proof of another intended crime, HB 3695 expanding the definition of great bodily injury for DUI cases, HB 3453 shifting the burden in eminent domain cases to the condemning authority, and HB 3053 creating parole review criteria for older eligible inmates. The committee also advanced bills on self-defense definitions, straw purchasing of land for prohibited foreign parties, human trafficking parole guidelines, child welfare/adoption terminology, outpatient treatment, child support-related license revocations, workplace violence protective orders, and protections for charities reporting sexual misconduct. The meeting ended with several bills laid over and the committee adjourning, with a note that it would meet again Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope that your ears are open and paying attention to what they are asking of us.
• support, and they would look at me and say, 'I'm doing the best I can, but how do you expect me to pay
• So I'll definitely be paying attention to the statistics to see the benefits behind the implementation
• Statistically, check and see how many fathers out here that pay their child support.
• Statistically, check and see how many fathers out here that pay their child support.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened after a quorum call and welcomed several guests and advocacy groups, including disability rights advocates, American Heart Association volunteers, and special guests connected to public safety, transportation, and Miss Missouri. After quorum was established, the chamber moved into House bills on perfection and formal passage. Members first debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2587, which would update Missouri law on unmanned aircraft and give trained law enforcement clearer authority to detect, track, and respond to dangerous drone activity around critical infrastructure and major events such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches. Supporters said it was needed for public safety and to align with federal law; some members raised concerns about FAA jurisdiction, commercial drone use, privacy, and possible future expansion. The substitute was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The House then took up House Bill 1977, which removes notarization requirements for detention and evaluation applications and related documents when completed by certain qualified professionals; members said it would help rural hospitals and streamline 96-hour commitment paperwork. That bill was also adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Bill 2593, a Missouri National Guard and military affairs bill modernizing Guard authority to respond to cyber threats, updating awards and emergency relief provisions, and adding veterans’ recognition language. Three amendments were adopted: one creating a living organ donor leave/status provision for Guard members, one providing a monthly allowance to cover TRICARE or similar premiums for certain service members on state active duty, and one extending legal protections to Guard personnel activated for state emergency duty, similar to federal servicemember protections. The amended bill was then ordered perfected and printed. Finally, the House debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1948, the fatherhood bill creating a state fatherhood program to support community organizations and nonprofits that help fathers overcome barriers to involvement with their children. Supporters cited child welfare, poverty, incarceration, and reintegration benefits; opponents questioned whether it was an appropriate government role. An amendment was adopted to preserve certain driving, hunting/fishing, and occupational license relief for participating fathers who comply with child support or custody obligations. The amended bill was then ordered perfected and printed. The House also adopted House Bill 2473, which clarifies rules for real estate brokers’ trust accounts by allowing limited personal funds for service charges and permitting interest to be withdrawn within 30 days, and then adjourned after announcements and notice of bills to be considered on the next legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as lawmakers, we have to make the decision: are we going to pay for this?
• Are we going to pay to make sure... Are we going to pay for this?
• Are we going to pay to make sure people are safe in this state? Freedom is not free.
• We don't need to be whacking them again so they can pay for the dairy program.
• So they can pay for the dairy program. And we're talking about one penny.

Bills: SB2122 , SB330 , SB2071 , SB2169 , SB2069 , SB2095 , SB2157

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Keywords: poultry, agriculture, out-of-state processing, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, regulation, food safety, elk population, wildlife management, Oklahoma State University, veterinary medicine, ecosystem health, habitat assessment, milk, dairy, dairy farm, milk products, Grade A milk, pasteurization, raw milk, milk inspection

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2122, which would give the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry more flexibility to allow out-of-state poultry processing when in-state processing is unavailable. Supporters said the bill would help poultry producers who face short processing windows and lack sufficient in-state capacity, while opponents raised questions about food safety and environmental standards. The bill passed 13-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 330, as amended, to help the Oklahoma State Veterinary School Committee study and support the state’s growing elk herd in western Oklahoma. An amendment updated dates and removed a fiscal section, and the bill passed 11-2. Senate Bill 271 followed, updating dairy regulation authority from milk from cows and goats to milk from all hoofed mammals and increasing the milk production fee from one cent to two cents per hundredweight. The Department of Agriculture said the change was needed to preserve Grade A status, maintain interstate milk shipping, and cover program costs without subsidizing the dairy program from poultry fees. After extensive debate over fees, federal pressure, raw milk safety, and state sovereignty, the bill passed 8-7. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 2169, which creates a framework for managing invasive woody species and cedar removal on state lands to improve forage, reduce wildfire risk, conserve water, and increase school land revenues; it passed 12-1. Senate Bill 269, addressing baiting in migratory bird hunting and related penalties for guides, also passed 12-1. Senate Bill 2095, setting fees and fines for hunting guides and outfitters, passed 12-1 after questions about misdemeanor versus felony penalties. Finally, Senate Bill 2157, creating a Southeast Scenic Rivers framework, passed 8-5 after testimony that it would protect water resources and avoid federal scenic river designation, while critics argued it could expand government and affect property and agricultural rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• We asked that there be a charge so that the state citizens weren't paying for... ...somewhere that I'm
• We asked that there be a charge in that so that the state citizens weren't paying for... ...a charge
• You should not be, as a citizen of this state, paying for...
• You should not be, as a citizen of this state, paying for all the other states' free abortion pills.
• Clearly put, this bill is a good bill because it sets a routine, just like we pay bills by the end of

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, the pledge, prayer, and recognition of guests from the Sikh Coalition and Kalsa Gramath Center. Members then approved the journal and moved through committee reports and resolutions, including Senate Resolution 8678 honoring the Chimicum High School Marching Band for being selected to represent Washington in the 2026 National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. The resolution was adopted unanimously, and the band and its supporters were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then confirmed two gubernatorial appointments to major health agencies. Ryan Moran was confirmed as Director of the Health Care Authority by a 49-0 vote, with supporters citing his Medicaid and health system experience and ability to provide stable leadership. Dennis Worsham was also confirmed as Secretary of Health by a 49-0 vote, with senators highlighting his long public health career, statewide outreach, and work on HIV/AIDS and community health. On legislation, the Senate passed Senate Bill 6011, expanding Court of Appeals bailiff authority to conduct threat assessments, and Senate Bill 5831, creating the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act. Senate Bill 6188, which expands Labor and Industries’ authority to update asbestos training and certification rules, passed 38-19 after an amendment to limit the bill to federal standards was rejected. Substitute Senate Bill 5917, concerning access to abortion medications through the Department of Corrections pharmacy, passed 32-17 after several Republican amendments were defeated. The Senate also passed In Gross Senate Bill 6024 on developmental disability services confidentiality and Substitute Senate Bill 6091 on prohibiting real estate brokers from marketing residential properties in exclusive private listings. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5840, adjusting campaign finance expenditure reporting deadlines, passed 46-3. After completing the day’s business, the Senate recessed for caucus and lunch until 1:15 p.m.