Transcript Highlights:

• We are all in agreement with that.
• We just want the governors to be involved in agreements when a unit comes in. Okay.
• As a real estate broker, and that's been my life for many, many years, I've seen firsthand how purchasing
• For veterans, raising a family, homeownership is more than just a purchase or an investment.
• And we also owe it, after their service to this country, to give them the opportunity to purchase a home

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They did this by purchasing medical debt on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar, making the
• This program will purchase and cancel qualifying medical debt for low- and middle-income Californians
• I agree. ...consistent with those agreements. I'm going to be would add it.
• And I think that is something that I think we could come to an agreement on.
• And, you know, if I purchase something somewhere I don't normally purchase things, I get a text saying

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> could say you none of these agreements. could say you none of these agreements.
• . agreements. agreements.
• </c> uh for ICE without a 287g agreement. uh for ICE without a 287g agreement.
• There's a jail agreement, there's a law enforcement agency agreement, and then there's a warrant agreement
• . agreement. agreement.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Summary: The hearing focused primarily on House Bill 1087 and House Bill 123, both related to firearms. HB 1087 was introduced as a Second Amendment measure, but after questions from the chair and discussion with law enforcement, the sponsor agreed it should be set aside and referred to a study committee for further review, rather than advanced as written. The New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association testified in opposition to the bill as written, while also indicating support for the sponsor’s proposed amendment or a study approach. The bulk of the discussion centered on HB 123, which would require the return of firearms after a not guilty verdict or dismissal. The sponsor and several members described the bill’s purpose as speeding up the return of property, but law enforcement and judicial branch witnesses raised concerns about federal law, the need to ensure a person is still legally eligible to possess firearms, and the bill’s 24-hour return requirement. Witnesses from the State Police and judicial branch explained the current process, including background checks through the state police gun line, and said the existing procedure already aims to return firearms promptly while allowing time to verify disqualifying information. Members and witnesses discussed possible amendments, including removing language that would bar background checks and instead tying return of firearms to completion of the check within a set time frame. Judicial branch and State Police witnesses said a process that requires a background check and return within a reasonable period, with notice if there is a delay or denial, would better address safety and legal concerns. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee closed the public hearing and indicated it would continue working on the language before executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• About 22 states have an opportunity to purchase legislation.
• And sign a purchase and sales contract like any other buyer.
• So, the community owner is looking at a purchase contract that is absolutely the same as any other purchase
• Once a homeowner signs a contract, they close on the purchase.
• Their house that they have purchased, it's their asset.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• If the parties are unable to come to an agreement within 90 days of the permit being submitted, the county
• One amendment made sure that any current obligations or current operating agreements will be in place
• Like in one instance, when a city cautioned us against purchasing private property with our own funds
• So that has been a desire on the operating agreement side.
• expectations. ...are not currently authorized to have these sort of funding agreements expectations,

Bills: HB2304 , SGA9280 , SGA9281

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> could be purchased for $20 million. could be purchased for $20 million.
• ><c> Senator</c> Despite the agreement that Senator Despite the agreement that Senator Bradley<00:24:
• </c><01:58:13.199><c> this</c> is that if the state purchases this is that if the state purchases this
• </c><01:58:34.239><c> this</c> taxes in NSHA by purchasing this taxes in NSHA by purchasing this property
• </c> process under the settlement agreement process under the settlement agreement could<02:07:59.119

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So we negotiated with the chair, and they're in agreement.
• And it allows group net metering members to sign agreements with multiple group hosts, as long as their
• agreements is so strong from a financial perspective that he won't be voting for it.
• </c><00:21:16.640><c> from</c><00:21:16.960><c> a</c> purchase agreements is so strong from a purchase
• agreements is so strong from a financial<00:21:18.000><c> perspective</c><00:21:19.360><c> that</c><

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• of work per month, remain employed by the same participating employer at the time of the service purchase
• of work per month, remain employed by the same participating employer at the time of the service purchase
• , and they must purchase the service credit within six months of successfully completing the probationary
• officer or firefighter to purchase it on officer or firefighter to purchase it on their<00:24:40.559>
• </c> pre-arranged return to work agreements pre-arranged return to work agreements prior<00:30:31.360

Committee: House State Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Like I said, that's the agreement between the contractor and the city as far as issuing the building
• This bill would allow them to purchase a group health plan outside of the ACA framework.
• So I'd rather he speak to those. what he was forced to purchase.
• I want the option to purchase a plan that works best for my family.
• In here, it has relation to rental agreements, how they're delivered.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The committee first went into executive session on House Bill 2099, adopting a House committee substitute and an amendment clarifying language about non-private, non-commercial property and authorized agents, including executors, administrators, trustees, and verified heirs. Members discussed the amendment as a way to prevent people from exploiting recent obituaries to occupy property without authorization. The committee then voted unanimously to do pass the House committee substitute for HB 2099. The main public hearing was on House Bill 1791, which would set deadlines for political subdivisions to act on building permit applications and reduce fees if deadlines are missed. The sponsor and supporters, including the Missouri Municipal League’s critics from the construction industry, argued the bill would reduce costly delays, improve predictability, and help housing and business development. Opponents from municipal groups said the bill could create liability concerns, impose one-size-fits-all mandates on cities of different sizes, and interfere with local inspection and safety processes. Several witnesses said they were willing to work on the bill’s definitions and timelines, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The committee also heard House Bill 2465, which would let sole proprietors and single-member businesses obtain group health coverage outside the ACA framework and would revise the employee-count threshold from two to one, with discussion about whether the upper limit should remain 50 or be changed. Supporters said the bill would help small businesses, especially family-run firms, access more affordable and flexible coverage, including out-of-network options; one witness described personal difficulty obtaining coverage for a spouse who works in the business. Members raised questions about federal implications and the impact of changing the 50-employee cap, but the hearing ended without a recorded vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2717, a storage-unit and public notice bill that would modernize notice requirements by reducing reliance on newspaper advertisements, allow electronic delivery of rental agreements, shorten certain notice periods, and address storage units being used as housing. Supporters said the bill reflects current business practices and improves communication and efficiency, while opponents focused on preserving newspaper notice and raised concerns about public awareness and process. The sponsor said the bill had been repeatedly introduced in prior sessions and was intended to update the industry’s rules; the hearing concluded without final action in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So overcrowding, universally, we are all in agreement that that is a problem, going back to the jail.
• We are all in agreement that that is a problem.
• I would agree, you know, the overcrowding is, I think, probably universally in agreement that there's
• “Then buyers of biogas processing equipment must report exempt purchases on an addendum on their tax
• For a purchase to qualify for the preference, the VA must pay the business directly.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but began without a quorum, so it could not adopt the previous minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and introduced new JLARC staff. The committee then heard a preliminary JLARC performance audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Auditors said overcrowding, staffing shortages, weak training, unreliable risk assessments, and uneven program access combine to create unsafe conditions and limit rehabilitation. They reported that about 74% of youth are in two large secure facilities, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessments are not valid for the population, and program offerings are tied more to facility location than individual need. JLARC made eight recommendations, including one to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF on retention, training, incident procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, individualized programming, and better data. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter agreed overcrowding is a major problem, said the agency would respond in detail later, and noted the department needs legislative help on staffing, pay, education, and program funding. Senators and representatives asked about JR-25, training adequacy, assessment validation, contraband, education access, and possible retaliation concerns, and JLARC staff and DCYF answered that the issues are interrelated and that a fuller agency response would come later. The committee next heard JLARC’s preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. JLARC concluded that L&I generally meets timelines for health and safety inspections but not for wage-and-hour or retaliation complaints, largely because complaint volume exceeds staff capacity and delays occur before assignment to investigators. Auditors said recent agency changes and 2026 legislation may help, including added staff, screening processes, workload reorganization, the ability to prioritize complaints, a later start date for the 60-day wage complaint clock, and authority to expand some investigations to similarly affected workers. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. L&I’s deputy policy director said the agency appreciates the report, is hiring additional investigators, and expects the new laws to substantially change how wage complaints are handled. Members asked for clarification on what counts as a wage complaint, the share of farm worker complaints, and how the new authority will work. JLARC then provided an update on the Department of Health’s strategic management plan for hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff summarized prior recommendations and noted that House Bill 2577 clarified hospital inspection timing. DOH officials described a detailed plan with measurable milestones for improving inspection compliance, verifying accreditation standards, expanding complaint forms into more languages, addressing language-access barriers, and seeking long-term funding for adverse event reporting and financial data reporting. DOH said acute care inspection compliance had risen from 28% to 61% and projected further increases through 2028, while also working on staffing, a new licensing system, and public reporting tools. Committee members praised the specificity of the plan but raised concerns about the long timeline for language access and whether hospitals should do more outreach as part of their community health assessments. After lunch, the committee began the 2026 tax preference performance reviews preliminary report. JLARC staff introduced the first three reviews, starting with the Main Street tax credit and program. Auditors said the preference appears to have met the legislature’s broad goal of increasing Main Street communities and businesses overall, though results vary by community. They reported that Main Street communities grew from 9 in 2005 to 40 in 2025, business counts in those communities rose overall, and donations and tax credits have remained high, with many local businesses donating to support their own downtowns. The committee then moved into the rest of the tax preference review presentation, with additional reports to follow later in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and they aren't able to legally purchase it. So, this bill would help to change that.
• Um, and they aren't able to legally purchase it. So, this bill would help to change that.
• There is no new language in agreement.
• the purchase of a 1-ounce gold state commemorative coin or 1-ounce silver coin.
• company for the purchases of private company for the purchases of ming<00:35:23.599><c> a</c><00:35:23.760

Committee: Joint Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• that we had specifically to what I think we all agree is a quite a challenge with rising costs purchasing
• have spoken about this but just for the benefit of the committee I think there could be a broad agreement
• > rising</c><00:04:31.360><c> costs</c> challenge with rising costs challenge with rising costs purchasing
• </c> purchasing homeowners insurance. purchasing homeowners insurance.
• </c><00:04:52.680><c> on</c> a broad agreement on a broad agreement on uh uh uh tax<00:04:55.160><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Responsibilities to emergency service districts through interlocal agreements.
• with the county to delegate all or part Emergency service districts may enter into an interlocal agreement
• and the bill as filed is that it would provide additional flexibility by authorizing interlocal agreements
• This expenditure threshold, set in 1989, no longer reflects modern purchasing needs.
• But that's not in, that's general CPI, not specific to this type of equipment purchases.

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the bulk of the amendment is about the new authority for campaigns to purchase those items.
• Uh, this instead just requires that the board determine that the devices are being purchased solely to
• Uh compared to the purchase those items.
• </c> purchased solely to provide security. purchased solely to provide security.
• </c><00:10:00.480><c> security</c> if a candidate purchased security if a candidate purchased security

Summary: The committee took up House File 3363, a bill focused on protecting the privacy and safety of legislators and other candidates by limiting public access to home addresses and related information in campaign finance and election filings. The author said the bill was prompted by the events of June 14 and was intended to make temporary Campaign Finance Board changes permanent. No public testimony was offered, and the author explained that the bill had been narrowed and reorganized after a Senate delete-everything amendment expanded its scope. Members then considered a series of amendments. The A1 amendment, which added security devices and security services as allowable non-campaign disbursements, was adopted after questions about family relationships and whether payments to relatives could qualify. The A2 through A9 amendments were also adopted, covering data classification or redaction of street addresses in Campaign Finance Board reports, lobbyist gift reports, candidate affidavits of candidacy, nominating petitions, local government candidate reports, and retroactive redaction of existing reports. The A4 amendment was modified by A12 to apply city, state, and ZIP code reporting to political committees, political funds, and party units. The A13 amendment removed a proposed misdemeanor penalty tied to disclosure violations, and the A14 amendment was adopted to give caucus and chamber leaders access to actual candidate addresses, though members noted the language still needed refinement and that the intent was to continue working on it. There was discussion about whether the address-access language in A14 would apply to all candidates or only legislative candidates, and whether it would affect residency disputes; staff said it would not change complaint or court processes, but could be a data point. Several members said they had concerns about the breadth of the language but were willing to keep working on it. After the amendments were adopted, the committee moved to the bill as amended and recommended that House File 3363 be re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• file a financing statement only if the debtor authorizes the filing in a signed record, security agreement
• But there's no underlying legitimate security interest or agreement between the two.
• interest against the person that doesn't necessarily reflect a contract, underlying contract or agreement
• But there's no underlying legitimate security interest or agreement between the two.
• interest against the person that doesn't necessarily reflect a contract, underlying contract or agreement

Bills: HB2640 , HB2161 , HB2304 , HB2445 , HB2590 , HB2412

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: Uniform Commercial Code, business filings, legal filings, commercial transactions, UCC compliance, attorney general, legal authority, state powers, judiciary, civil rights, condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, probate, estate administration, inheritance, heir finder, heir locator

Transcript Highlights:

• Requires reporting the sale or purchase of individual stocks if the elected official's shares of the
• The only way to really tell that is to look at when the stocks were purchased or sold.
• stock options that take and to purchase stock options that take time<00:46:45.200><c> and</c><00:46:
• </c><00:47:19.559><c> or</c> at when the stocks were purchased or at when the stocks were purchased or
• what stocks to purchase or sell and<00:51:12.640><c> so</c><00:51:12.799><c> with</c><00:51:12.960><

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• the purchasing of electronic recording.
• So you can still purchase it; you just can't only purchase it to monitor subordinate judicial officers
• The essence of price fixing is that agreement, and that's really important.
• It's an agreement between competitors.
• rarely make such agreements in the open or document their illicit agreements.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 2, which would create enhanced civil penalties for large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to address addictive algorithms and harmful content, while opponents warned it was vague, could chill speech, and might be preempted by federal law. Members largely focused on whether the bill changed the standard of care or burden of proof; the bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with some members noting concerns but supporting it to continue the discussion. AB 282, dealing with housing vouchers and source-of-income discrimination, would clarify that housing providers may prioritize applicants who qualify for rental assistance without violating fair housing law. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, and advocacy groups said it would help voucher holders find units and improve use of housing funds. There was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote, with two no votes. The committee also considered AB 882 on court reporter availability and electronic recording in certain cases when a court reporter is unavailable. Supporters said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage of reporters and would preserve access to accurate records, while opponents argued it was too narrow, raised access-to-justice concerns, and should be broadened. Members from both sides emphasized the importance of court reporters and electronic recording as a backup; the bill passed with an urgency clause and was sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, AB 935 on civil rights data clarity, AB 1414 on tenant choice of internet service provider, and AB 67 on Attorney General enforcement of the Reproductive Privacy Act; each drew support from sponsors and advocacy groups, opposition centered on overbreadth or policy concerns, and each advanced on committee votes, with several members requesting further amendments or clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• the purchasing of electronic recording.
• So you can still purchase it; you just can't only purchase it to monitor subordinate judicial officers
• It's an agreement between competitors.
• , conspirators rarely make such agreements in the open or document their illicit agreements. ...that,
• agreements in the open or document their illicit agreements.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first heard AB 2, which would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters, including Common Sense Media and education and child advocacy groups, argued that social media algorithms and design features amplify harmful content and that existing remedies are not enough to deter misconduct. Opponents from TechNet, CCIA, the Chamber of Commerce, EFF, and others warned the bill was vague, could chill content moderation and encryption, invite litigation, and be preempted by Section 230. Several members raised concerns about defining “harm,” but the bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent onward. The committee then took up AB 282, which would allow landlords and housing providers to establish preferences for tenants who use housing vouchers or other rental assistance, clarifying that such preferences are not unlawful source-of-income discrimination. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, AARP, legal aid groups, and housing nonprofits said the bill would help voucher holders find units and improve voucher utilization. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. Next was AB 882, dealing with court reporter availability and the use of electronic recording in certain cases when an official court reporter is unavailable. The author and supporters, including court reporter and labor representatives, said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage while preserving accurate records. Opponents from consumer attorneys, defense counsel, the Judicial Council, and others argued the bill was too narrow, could harm access to justice, and should be expanded or revised. Members from both parties expressed mixed views but generally supported continuing the conversation; the bill passed and was placed on call. The committee also heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, which would update antitrust law to address collusion through pricing software and digital tools. Supporters said the bill targets modern forms of cartel behavior and closes loopholes that let companies coordinate prices through algorithms. Opponents from the Chamber of Commerce, Civil Justice Association, TechNet, retailers, hospitals, and others argued the conduct is already illegal, the bill is overbroad, and its definitions and burden-shifting provisions need work. Members requested clarifications to key definitions and pleading standards, but the bill passed as amended and was placed on call. The committee then briefly heard AB 935, which would strengthen civil rights data collection and transparency, especially for educational settings; it had no opposition, passed, and was placed on call. Finally, AB 67 was presented to let the Attorney General enforce the Reproductive Privacy Act and seek penalties against local governments that interfere with abortion access. Supporters framed it as an enforcement tool to protect reproductive rights, while opponents from California Family Council and others denounced it as expanding state power to protect abortion access; the transcript cuts off during that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• evidence-based items that are purchasing evidence-based items that will<00:15:39.839><c> actually</c
• Representative Bakeberg said that school security and keeping kids safe is a bipartisan agreement.
• But keeping kids safe at school is a bipartisan agreement that we can do.
• But keeping kids safe at school is a bipartisan agreement that we can do.
• But keeping kids safe at school is a bipartisan agreement that we can do.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in agreement there. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, members. Any other questions?
• So this bill simply allows us to purchase fireworks on that Sunday, July 5th.
• Although development agreements are not required for development to proceed, they do provide us with
• Again, being a small business, we are not able to just purchase property and hang on to it until that
• This was regarding the bond or the purchase of personal property, correct? Well, hold on a second.

Bills: SB32 , SB464 , SB996 , SB1163 , SB1173 , SB1277 , SB1452 , SB1453 , SB1548 , SB1882 , SB1883 , SB2016 , SB 32

Committee: Senate Local Government