Transcript Highlights:

• the door to billions in investment in Virginia and led to Virginia being the number one data center
• the door to billions in investment in Virginia and led to Virginia being the number one data center
• I'm glad you brought up Virginia.
• One's from Virginia? Are you from—you said from Virginia? Are you from Midwest Auto?
• We've heard a lot about Virginia.

Bills: HF1277 , HF1006

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• the door to billions in investment in Virginia and led to Virginia being the number one data center
• the door to billions in investment in Virginia and led to Virginia being the number one data center
• the door to billions in investment in Virginia and led to Virginia being the number one data center
• the door to billions in investment in Virginia and led to Virginia being the number one data center
• I'm glad you brought up Virginia.

Transcript Highlights:

• Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers who engage in secondary tasks like watching
• Okay, so I know that we're a little bit different out here in the West from Michigan, I know that we're
• a little bit different out here in the West from Michigan, just because that's the whole reason Rural

Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee approved the minutes from February 18, February 20, and March 4, 2026, then took up several measures while holding others in reserve. House Bill 2006, which would require counties without a USPS processing and distribution center to mail printed sample ballots 14 days before an election instead of 11, received support from the Association of Counties and passed on a 7-0 vote. House Bill 2167, which would impose liability on the Attorney General for certain public nuisance or consumer fraud actions that are dismissed or found meritless, drew opposition from some members who said it would interfere with the AG’s work, but it passed 4-3. The committee also discussed House Bill 2109, a hands-free driving bill that would increase penalties and expand the prohibition to watching or streaming video on a device; after extensive testimony and concerns about vagueness, dash cameras, CarPlay, navigation, and other in-car systems, the chair held the bill without prejudice for stakeholder discussions. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 2016, which would send to voters a proposal to eliminate county vote centers and on-site early voting and require precinct-based polling places with a 2,500-voter cap per precinct. Testimony from voting rights groups, county officials, and rural and tribal representatives strongly opposed the measure, citing higher costs, more provisional ballots, longer lines, delayed results, and reduced access for voters in rural areas and on the Navajo Nation. County representatives asked for a delayed effective date, funding, a higher precinct cap, and a fallback option if precinct sites cannot be secured. After hearing the testimony, the chair announced the resolution would be held without prejudice until the following week to allow further stakeholder discussions with the sponsor.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at what happened in West Virginia and what Maine has gone through with their policy, other
• jurisdictions or whether this was isolated to West Virginia.
• The witness responded that it is not isolated to West Virginia.
• That is what they are seeing in places like West Virginia: it tipped the scale, became too restrictive
• The witness said that is what is happening in places like West Virginia: it tipped the scale, became

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Will Morefield, representing the 43rd District in the Coalfields of Southwest Virginia.
• I represent Senate District 13, eight localities in Central Virginia. Good morning.
• And our task is to keep doing the serious work of preparing Virginia for a regulated market, even while
• So now we will have an overview of new Virginia laws that are relative to cannabis.
• Hatcher for those new Virginia laws.

Transcript Highlights:

• Leonard Hollis, Jr., Virginia. Mr. Leonard Hollis, Jr. Might be in the overflow room.
• Prior to the Civil War, my family employed slaves, first in the tobacco fields of Virginia and later
• I grew up watching The West Wing with my mom. That is also my political North Star.
• My legal name is Virginia Morrison, and I said, will do, so I did. Let's see who else.
• You separate me from West Jefferson Parish.

Bills: SB116 , SB121 , SB130 , SB407

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Virginia Eugenie Moore. We show you registered as Virginia Eugenie.
• As a result, other states have responded: Virginia, Connecticut, and several others have passed laws.
• You heard today about two states, Connecticut and Virginia, that require disclosure only for revenue-based
• OneHot, Venmo, PayPal, I mean there's lots of innovations coming out of the West Coast.

Bills: HB245 , HB700 , HB2783 , HB3526 , HB3900 , HB4061 , HB4124 , HB4166 , HB4395 , HB4534 , HB4609 , HB4641 , HB4736 , HB4738 , HB4739 , HB4945 , HB5015 , HJR175 , HB245

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Wilson Fawber from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
• As a background in 2023, I also... the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
• As a background, in 2023 I also ran for our local city council in Stanton, Virginia.
• It's not just in Virginia.
• There she is, Virginia Kettler. Mayor Elizabeth Castle, there she is, Virginia Kettler. Mr.

Bills: SB2101 , SB2334 , SB2633 , SB2637 , SB2713 , SB2781 , SB2782 , SB3059 , HB 1130 , HB256 , HCR19

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several bills, mostly on alcohol regulation, ethics procedures, the Alamo, and free speech in professional associations. SB 2633 would let the City of Garland hold local option elections on alcohol sales within designated zones and use zoning/land-use rules for alcohol-selling businesses; Senator Johnson and Garland officials said it would reduce the burden of the petition process and support economic development. SB 2637 would require social media platforms to disclose when posts are made by bot accounts and allow Attorney General enforcement; supporters framed it as consumer protection against misleading automated content, while members raised questions about how platforms would identify bots and how enforcement would work. SB 2334 would allow airlines with passenger transportation permits to store sealed alcoholic beverages within five miles of an airport in the same county, which the sponsor and an American Airlines witness said would improve logistics without changing permits, taxes, or alcohol sourcing. The committee also heard SB 2781 and SB 2782, both related to Texas Ethics Commission procedures. SB 2781 would cap civil penalties tied to certain campaign contribution violations by former legislators who later lobby, and SB 2782 would require TEC to adopt discovery control plans and align discovery rules more closely with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to limit costly, open-ended discovery. Both bills were left pending after no public testimony. SB 3059 would transfer oversight of the Alamo from the General Land Office to a new Alamo Commission beginning in 2027; Senator Campbell said it would provide long-term stewardship and transparency, while Senator Birdwell questioned the need for a change and the commission’s structure, and GLO witnesses said they were not aware of any problem prompting the shift. HB 1130, a House companion to a previously passed Senate bill, would provide liability protections for cavern entities that post warning signs, and it was also left pending. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 2713, which would bar professional or trade associations from denying membership or access based on protected characteristics or lawful speech and assembly. Senator Middleton and invited witnesses described disciplinary actions by realtor associations against members for social media posts, sermons, or political speech, arguing that the National Association of Realtors’ ethics rules were being used to punish private expression and threaten livelihoods through loss of MLS access. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the bill should be narrowed to avoid affecting religious organizations, how association discipline works, and whether the measure should address existing penalties or only future conduct. The bill was left pending after extensive invited testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a policy fellow with Americans for Prosperity federally uh based out of Virginia and um I'm here
• and um I'm here in support of Virginia and um I'm here in support of HF3<00:03:21.040><c> 936.
• That office was able to save roughly 1.25 billion in two years at zero cost to the state of Virginia.
• That's something that Virginia did as well, and increasing transparency in the rulemaking process is
• That's something that Virginia did as well, and increasing transparency in the rulemaking process is

Transcript Highlights:

• But the current wild west system is out of control and it must end.
• But the current wild west system abuse.
• The reason we can say that is because we know from seven plus years in Ohio and West Virginia, we have
• > over</c><01:09:31.440><c> 300,000</c> and West Virginia, we have over 300,000 and West Virginia, we
• That's what we're learning in West Virginia and Ohio. We're learning that information.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our on-deck panel will be Arthur West and Jamie Nixon.
• And then our on deck panel will be Arthur West and Jamie Nixon.
• My name is Arthur West. This bill provides an exemption you could drive a truck through.
• West, if you want to come up to the table, we'll conclude testimony in the room.
• West, if you want to come up to the table, we'll conclude testimony in the room.

Summary: The committee first heard staff and sponsor testimony on House Joint Resolution 4210, which would remove constitutional limits on the length of regular legislative sessions and instead let the legislature set adjournment dates by statute. Rep. Breonna Thomas and supporters said the measure would give lawmakers flexibility to set a sustainable schedule and improve working conditions, while opponents argued it would concentrate more power in the legislature and could lead to a year-round session. No vote was taken on the resolution during the hearing. Members then heard House Bill 2520, which would clarify that county governing bodies may hold emergency special meetings outside the county seat or remotely during true emergencies and may act at such meetings even if the public cannot first listen in. Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the bill was prompted by the Skagit Valley flooding and was meant to help local governments respond quickly in disasters. Testimony was split: counties and some others supported the clarification, while open government advocates urged tighter language defining “emergency” and limiting the bill to state or federally declared emergencies. The hearing was closed without a vote. The committee also took testimony on House Bill 2499, in proposed substitute form, concerning conservation district supervisors. The substitute would let conservation districts opt into the general election system under Title 29A, remove the landowner requirement, keep a farm-operator requirement for some seats, extend terms from three to four years, and require financial disclosure filings in some circumstances. Supporters argued the bill would modernize elections, increase transparency, and improve voter access; opponents warned it could be costly for small districts, reduce participation, and create unintended consequences. No final action was taken in the hearing portion shown. In executive session, the committee voted 7-0 to report House Bill 2408, a cleanup bill removing obsolete references to the Office of Financial Management, with a due pass recommendation. It also voted 5-2 to report House Bill 2435, creating a legislative office of Indian affairs, with a due pass recommendation; some members supported the bill as improving government-to-government relations with tribes, while others wanted a fiscal note before fully supporting it.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an application that our weather stations reside upon, and our neighbors to the west, Arizona, they
• Okay, I that wouldn't be I-25 and Deming, but I-10 goes through east-west.
• Andy Nez, who mentioned the need. for improvements on Highway 134, which is just west of Sheepstrings
• You know, there's some heavy snow to your west or whatever it may be, and actually give your operators
• Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Virginia currently have a VMT tax program for passenger vehicles.

Transcript Highlights:

• From Saratoga to West Point, his work protected the colonies, strengthened the Continental Army until
• AND HE HELPED TO DEFEND ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENTS IN OUR NATION'S FOUNDING, FROM SARATOGA TO WEST
• Virginia Apgar, who helped the Apgar score that assessed the health of every newborn for generations,
• VIRGINIA APGAR WHO HELPED THE APG A AR THAT ASSESSED THE HEALTH OF EVERY NEWBORN FOR GENERATIONS AND

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and took up a series of motions to discharge identical Assembly bills to the Third Reading Calendar, along with committee reports and amendments. The chamber also received an introduction from Senator Gonzalez honoring Maria Raine and her advocacy for guardrails on AI chatbots after the death of her son, and later adopted a Rules Committee report sending several General Business Law bills directly to Third Reading. The resolution calendar was adopted with some exceptions, and the Senate recognized several previously adopted resolutions honoring individuals and observances, including Barnabas McHenry, Arthur Jones Jr., Floyd Todd Peterson III, the Lexington School for the Deaf, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Apraxia Awareness Month, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Prevention Week, Physician Anesthesiologists Week, and Golf Day in New York. The Senate then considered and passed numerous bills, many on consumer protection and public policy topics. Measures included bills on General Business Law, Public Health Law, Correction Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Executive Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Public Officers Law, Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, Public Housing Law, Education Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills were laid aside, including a Public Health Law bill by Senator Fernandez and a Public Service Law bill by Senator Parker. The chamber also passed a concurrent constitutional resolution by Senator Stec proposing an amendment to Article 14. During floor debate, senators explained votes on several measures. Senator Ramos spoke in support of paid sick leave for domestic workers, describing the bill as a long-overdue labor protection for a workforce historically excluded from such rights. Senator Fernandez described her bill as the Manufacturer Disclosure and Transparency Act, aimed at requiring notice and public disclosure of certain pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements to improve transparency and competition in prescription drug pricing. Senator Ryan and Senator Martins supported a bill restricting hidden algorithmic price manipulation online, and Senator May supported a bill limiting excessive rental car fuel charges as part of a broader consumer protection package. The Senate also passed a memorial highway bill naming a portion of Route 19 in LeRoy for Lieutenant Gary A. Scott, with Senator Borrello explaining the veteran’s service and sacrifice.

Transcript Highlights:

• undefeated to win the Chesapeake Regional Championship, rising above more than 300 teams from Maryland, Virginia
• , West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
• Senate Bill 140, Senator West, Criminal Law—Benefits Exploitation.

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Pastor Delman Coates, and received several guest introductions, including the doctor of the day, student visitors, homeschool advocates, community leaders, and the Braver Angels group. The chamber also journalized remarks welcoming Dr. Coates and recognized a prayer breakfast, with members offering brief thanks and acknowledgments before moving to legislative business. The Senate handled several messages and nominations, including withdrawal of an appointment, Johns Hopkins Police Accountability Board nominations, and Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners nominations, all referred to Executive Nominations. The chamber also received House Bill 156 and an Executive Nominations Committee report recommending confirmation of a slate of appointments, which was special ordered for later consideration. A motion to return Senate Bill 463 to second reader and special order it for Tuesday was adopted without objection, and Senate Bill 473 was also special ordered for Tuesday. On third reading, the Senate passed a large number of bills, including measures on ignition interlock participation, school construction, port hearing notice, veteran status notation for educators, correctional officer scholarships, benefits exploitation, veterans trust fund applications, presidential electors, advance enrollment for children of active service members, retired law enforcement handgun permits, high-risk pregnancy discharge communication, charitable organization audit thresholds, child care criminal history checks, water pollution discharge permits, blockchain task force creation, franchise registration reform, licensing portability for foreign service members and spouses, Medicaid collaborative care cost-sharing, gift card fraud, school for the deaf board membership, vehicle dealer hearings, massage therapy advertising, protective body armor reporting, lithium-ion battery safety, pharmacy prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, human relevant research fund contributions, state and higher education email requirements, and auto insurance producer commissions. Most passed unanimously or by wide margins; Senate Bill 348 and Senate Bill 585 passed with 30 and 32 votes in favor, respectively. Senate Bill 140, concerning benefits exploitation, drew extended debate over constitutionality and pending litigation, with one senator citing an Attorney General opinion and another citing a Supreme Court case on neutral principles in church property disputes; the bill ultimately passed with 40 votes. Members later changed several votes on the floor, including on Senate Bills 172, 376, 428, and 48. The session ended while the clerk was beginning to read Senate Bill 629, with the remaining calendar not completed in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kennedy studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia
• I do community organizing in the West Side of Chicago, and I certainly admire your energy and your effort
• Medicare fraud in the case in the state of West Virginia.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not gonna be able to get a pack out of Virginia. Right.
• outside curb of 10th Street and east by the outside curb of Brazos Street, south by Ladyburg Lake. and west
• Clements building on West 15th Street. The white section would be the proposed expansion.
• Bird Lake on the west by the outside curve of Colorado Street.

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Most focus to the East and West when they think of great power competition.
• My math is terrible, I went to West Point.
• He finished his marine service and then went and got a social work degree at Virginia Commonwealth University
• So, again, thank you for all those in uniform who served those out West.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: national security, China, Russia, cybersecurity, border security, military deployment, transnational crime, defense modernization, military strategy

Summary: In this meeting, key topics included national security concerns with an emphasis on threats from China, Russia, and transnational criminal organizations. Senior military officials provided testimony on the evolving risks posed by these adversaries, particularly focusing on cybersecurity and advancements in weaponry. The discussion highlighted the importance of a cohesive strategy among government departments to effectively respond to the challenges presented by these threats, emphasizing the need for modernization in defense capabilities. Committee members grilled the witnesses on border security and the implications of deploying military resources in domestic operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hereby appoint the honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day.
• Army Specialist Sarah Beckm, a 20-year-old from West Virginia who was killed while defending Washington
• Thomas, a community leader in Northern Virginia.
• In 2006, leader in Northern Virginia.
• Thomas, a community leader in Northern Virginia.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, it passed the Virginia House of Delegates 99 to zero with full bipartisan support. ...last
• year, it passed the Virginia House of Delegates 99 to zero with full bipartisan support.
• are retired veterans that are in Yuma, and they deserve this, and the rest of the state over in the West

Summary: The committee first approved the February 9, 2026 minutes and then took up SB 1618, which restructures the Military Affairs Commission to add governor-appointed defense and industry experts, expand advisory participation, require more frequent meetings and reporting, and create a commission fund. The sponsor and a witness from the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center said the bill would modernize Arizona’s approach to retaining and attracting military missions and defense-related business. After adopting a Gowan amendment, the committee voted 6-1 to give SB 1618 a do pass recommendation as amended. The committee then heard SB 1047, the “Defend the Guard” bill, which would bar deployment of the Arizona National Guard into active combat without a congressional declaration of war. Supporters, including veterans and activists, argued it would restore constitutional limits and protect Guard members from unauthorized foreign wars. Opponents, including a retired National Guard officer, warned it could harm readiness, create tension with the Pentagon, and risk federal funding or missions. The committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1047 a do pass recommendation. Next was SB 1474, which preempts state and local restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities, requires immigration-enforcement training, and, under amendment, requires county sheriffs to enter 287(g) agreements with ICE by January 1, 2027. The sponsor said the bill would improve cooperation and enforcement consistency, while opponents—religious leaders, public servants, and others—argued it would expand federal immigration enforcement, increase fear in communities, and burden local agencies with an unfunded mandate. After a lengthy and contentious debate, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1474 a do pass recommendation as amended. Finally, the committee considered SB 1620, which changes Arizona Space Commission membership by reducing governor appointments, adding the lieutenant governor as chair, and making legislative and executive leaders nonvoting advisory members. The commission chair said the changes would align Arizona with other states and improve structure and continuity. The bill passed 5-1 with a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard SB 1365, a strike-everything amendment removing the income cap for disabled veterans’ property tax exemption on a primary residence; members discussed whether very high-income veterans should still qualify, but agreed the bill would help disabled veterans. The committee adopted both amendments and gave SB 1365 a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• adopted in Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona, Montana, Louisiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, and West
• Virginia.
• Folks in the private market, insurance market, who are receiving care at, like, Virginia Mason, you know

Bills: HB2255 , HB2320 , HB2548

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements, health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change