Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1005, House Bill 1008, we're going to pull out House Bill 1005, House Bill 1008, House Bill
• 1037, House Bill 1051, House Bill 1052, House Bill 1068.
• So on the first page, House Bill 1050, and House Bill 1068, and House Bill 1068, we're going to pull
• out House Bill 1089 for a separate vote, House Bill 1090 for a separate vote, House Bill 10903.
• So on the first page, House Bill 109 House Bill 1093.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and a bill that is the result of months of negotiations between both houses of the Legislature and
• Specifically, this bill will do the following.
• We're aggressively neutral on this bill. We're aggressively neutral on this bill.
• Limon in the next bill.
• This bill has a motion by Mr. Conley. This bill has a motion by Mr. Conley, second by Ms.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard three major bills focused on California’s energy transition, fuel supply, and climate investments. SB 237 by Sen. Grayson proposed short-term measures to stabilize gasoline supply and prices, including validating the Kern County EIR for new oil and gas permitting with setbacks, a well cap, offshore/pipeline provisions, possible suspension of summer fuel blend requirements, and a study of regional fuel blends. Supporters argued it would help keep refineries operating, protect jobs, and reduce price spikes during a “mid-transition” away from fossil fuels, while opponents said it was a fossil-fuel giveaway that would worsen pollution in Kern County and fail to address refinery-community protections or broader transition planning. The committee approved SB 237 on a due-pass vote, with some members voting no or not voting. The committee also heard SB 352 by Sen. Reyes, which would strengthen implementation of AB 617 by codifying the Environmental Justice Bureau in the Attorney General’s office, requiring at least five years of monitoring in AB 617 communities, and mandating annual reporting by CARB and air districts on program implementation. Supporters said the bill would add accountability and ensure the new continuous funding for AB 617 leads to real emissions reductions, while opponents criticized the process and argued the bill was an end run around separate negotiations and imposed rigid requirements on limited resources. The bill advanced on a due-pass vote after extensive testimony from environmental justice groups, business organizations, and local air districts. Finally, SB 840 by Sen. Limon was presented as the cap-and-invest package, maintaining California’s climate leadership while directing revenues to state and community priorities. Supporters highlighted stronger offset integrity, more frequent protocol updates, continued funding for programs such as AB 617, transit, housing, and other climate investments, and broad labor and local government support. Some witnesses and members noted the bill did not include dedicated funding for zero-emission vehicles or climate-smart agriculture and urged future work on those priorities. The committee passed SB 840 on a due-pass vote as well, and all three bills were later confirmed out of committee on the floor call.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> House Bill 289 regarding domicile House Bill 289 regarding domicile qualifications<00:21:04.080>
• All right, that was House Bill 289.
• c> to</c> on House Bill 385 inexpedient to on House Bill 385 inexpedient to legislate<00:26:51.000><c
• That is 5-0 inexpedient to legislate. take the vote on House Bill 418 take the vote on House Bill 418
• before us, House Bill 686.

Summary: The House Election Law Subcommittee met to review its report and vote on eight bills concerning voter registration, absentee voting, domicile qualifications, photographic identification, and related election procedures. The chair explained that the subcommittee’s mission was to consolidate and reconcile the bills, review constitutional and federal-law issues, and issue recommendations. Members thanked the chair, legislative staff, and outside contributors for the report and supporting materials, including research memos and testimony. The report was expected to be formally issued later in the week, with the bill recommendations finalized at the meeting. The subcommittee first voted on House Bill 27, relative to absentee ballots, where members discussed a proposed bipartisan follow-up bill to clarify language for voters in jail and correctional facilities. The bill was recommended ought to pass by a 3-2 vote. House Bill 289, on domicile qualifications for voting, and House Bill 323, requiring government-issued photographic identification to vote, were both retained by unanimous 5-0 votes. House Bill 385, concerning a prior voting law, was recommended inexpedient to legislate by a 3-2 vote after members cited constitutional concerns and cost. House Bills 418, 618, and 684 were each recommended inexpedient to legislate unanimously, with members saying the subcommittee was consolidating overlapping bills into one measure per topic. The final bill, House Bill 686, requiring identification when requesting an absentee ballot, was retained unanimously for further work over the summer and review by the full Election Law Committee in November. After completing all eight votes, members said the process helped them better understand the issues and that there was substantial bipartisan agreement on many principles, even where they differed on implementation. The meeting concluded with thanks and no further action beyond the subcommittee recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third reading of the bill, House House Bill 2997 by Kerbs of the House and Alakhar of the Senate,
• Third reading of the bill, House Bill 1823 by Newton of the House and Deck of the Senate, an act relating
• That'll be the third reading of the bill, House Bill 3372 by Hall of the House and Pew of the Senate
• Third reading of the bill, House Bill 3128 by West Kevin of the House and Stuart of the Senate, an act
• Third reading of the bill. House Bill 3006 by Kendrick of the House and Bergstrom of the Senate.

Bills: HB2997 , HB2021 , HB3041 , HB1823 , HB3372 , HB1427 , HB3127 , HB3128 , HCR1020 , HB4198 , HB3000 , HB3001 , HB3002 , HB3003 , HB3004 , HB3005 , HB3006 , HB3007 , HB3008 , SB392 , HB3320

Keywords: motor vehicles, administrative fines, license regulation, state agencies, employment levels, after-school programs, grant funding, community organizations, child care, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, housing finance, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, publication requirements, housing policy, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members, for hearing my bill, SB 1376. It's a good bill. It's a long day. Good bill.
• The bill also modifies the definition of normal retirement date for Tier 3 members to allow the option
• Senate Bill 1504 allows a Tier 2 or Tier 3 member who participates in the defined benefit program to
• This bill is not an immigration bill.
• Chairman, Members, House Bill 1498 appropriates $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the state general

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the February 4 minutes and announced several bills would be held, including SB 1317, SB 1416, SB 1419, SB 1490, and SB 1493. It then heard SB 1579, which would appropriate about $4.7 million from the general fund to expand a law enforcement data-sharing pilot through the Department of Administration, with funding for DPS, county sheriffs, university police, city/town police, and an amendment adding $125,900 for Scottsdale Police. Supporters, including the Flagstaff mayor, the Eloy police chief, and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office staff, said the system improves real-time information sharing, officer safety, and efficiency. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1579 a do pass as amended recommendation by a 6-0 vote with one not voting. The committee next heard SB 1581, which would use the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund for pepper ball equipment and public safety training simulators. The amendment increased the Nogales Police Department’s pepper ball appropriation and expanded simulator funding so Yavapai County could buy two simulators with a three-year warranty. Testimony from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Phoenix Police, Glendale Police, Flagstaff, and Cochise County emphasized pepper ball’s de-escalation value and the simulators’ role in crisis-response and scenario-based training, including interactions involving autism, mental illness, and hearing impairments. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1581 as amended on a 7-0 vote. SB 1673 was then heard to appropriate $8.2 million from the general fund to the Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund, with the sponsor and witnesses describing the automated victim-notification system as constitutionally required and already reducing workload while keeping victims informed through texts and other alerts. The committee passed SB 1673 with no amendment on a 7-0 vote. SB 1544, which would make adult probation records public on request subject to redactions and appeal procedures, drew mixed testimony over transparency versus privacy concerns, especially around risk assessment tools and sensitive records; the committee passed it 4-3, with several members explaining no votes pending amendments. SB 1376, a civic leadership development special plate bill directing funds to a nonprofit focused on youth civic education and leadership, passed unanimously 7-0. Finally, SB 1550, a three-year Queen Creek pilot program to address runaway youth and exploitation through specialized police work, received support from local officials and anti-trafficking advocates but drew a no vote from one member over concerns about how runaway youth are treated in other legislation; it passed 5-1 with one not voting. The committee also heard SB 1504, a public safety retirement bill changing normal retirement and COLA timing for Tier 2 and Tier 3 members, with strong support from police and fire groups and opposition from local government and pension reform advocates, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of bills: House Bill 2785, relating to taxation.
• third reading of bills of the House third reading of bills house house bill bill 2785 House bill 2785
• House bill 2785 meeting sections 42 1000 143105 403 3 1 433 3 2 433 3 2 424 141 and 4 to 142 1122 ARS
• The report listed House Bill 2688, do pass; House Bill 2689, do pass; House Bill 269, do pass as amended
• ; House Bill 2796, do pass as amended; and House Bill 2797, do pass as amended.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions and proclamations, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Nurses’ Day, Environmental Day, Teamsters Local 104, and Arizona Aerospace Day. Attendance was recorded at 57 present, zero absent, and three excused. The chamber also announced committee meetings, bill referrals, and later adjourned until Thursday, February 12, 2026. The main floor action centered on House Bill 2785, a taxation measure tied to federal tax conformity. Members debated whether Arizona should conform to federal tax changes, with supporters arguing it would validate current tax forms and provide tax relief, and opponents warning it would mainly benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations while reducing state revenue. The bill passed 32-26 with two not voting. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole for two calendars of bills. In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced HB 2190, HB 2206, HB 2396, HB 2442, and HB 2448, all on health and human services topics, with amendments adopted on the first three. HB 2206 drew extended debate over SNAP payment error rates and whether the bill would impose an unfunded mandate and make benefits harder to access; supporters said it would reduce waste and save money, while opponents said it would set DES up for failure. HB 2396, which would restrict certain SNAP purchases, drew testimony over whether it would improve nutrition or unfairly limit low-income families and create a “food police” system. HB 2442 and HB 2448 also drew criticism over added SNAP work requirements and limits on agency waiver authority during recessions. The Committee later advanced HB 2688, HB 2689, HB 2690, HB 2796, and HB 2797, including bills on government staffing, hospital immigration-status data collection, unemployment benefits, SNAP eligibility/redeterminations, and fraud reporting. HB 2689 prompted sharp opposition over fears it would deter immigrants and mixed-status families from seeking medical care, while HB 2796 and HB 2797 were criticized as adding administrative burdens and duplicative SNAP checks. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report, and a motion to amend the report to show HB 2689 failed was rejected 24-32.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1 and House Bill 6.
• Bill 6 the cabinet pursuant to House Bill 6 the Kentucky<00:03:06.000><c> Communications</c><00:03:06.680
• </c><00:03:12.080><c> Bill</c><00:03:12.319><c> one</c><00:03:12.519><c> and</c><00:03:12.680><c> House
• </c><00:03:12.959><c> Bill</c><00:03:13.239><c> six</c> to House Bill one and House Bill six to House
• Bill one and House Bill six Eastern<00:03:14.360><c> Kentucky</c><00:03:14.879><c> University</c><00

Summary: The committee first handled informational reports on several bond and lease matters, including school district and board of education debt-service items, upcoming revenue bond issues in Henderson and Jessamine counties, and three advertised lease-space requests for state agencies. Members also reviewed prior lease transactions that had not been approved in November and December; the Finance and Administration Cabinet later canceled and rebid the Harlan County lease and moved ahead with the Perry County lease modification. Additional information items included a Kentucky Communications Network Authority quarterly capital projects report and Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation revisions. The committee then heard from Deputy State Budget Director Janice Thomas on four action items. She reported a $2.85 million USDA-funded renovation at Kentucky State University’s Betty White Building, a $294,000 increase for the Kentucky School for the Deaf’s Middleton Hall renovation, and a $6.1 million restricted-funds scope increase for the KCTCS Science Building Expansion in Elizabethtown. Members asked about how often the statutory 15% increase authority is used for school dormitory and cottage projects and about the competitiveness of construction bids; Thomas said bids are typically competitive but recent estimates have been difficult because of higher material and equipment costs. The committee approved the three action items unanimously and also received a no-action report on a $3.918 million Corrections project to repair and replace the KCIW kitchen drain line. Next, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented seven loans and grants, all of which the committee approved unanimously. The package included sewer and water projects for Frankfort, Sturgis, Scottsville, Morganfield, Western Pulaski County Water District, and Springfield, plus an emergency $5.487 million Kentucky Waters grant for Eddyville after a catastrophic sewer plant failure and weather-related emergency declarations. The projects covered wastewater interceptor and treatment upgrades, sewer collection rehabilitation, water transmission main installation, and planning/design work, with loan terms ranging from five to 30 years and interest rates from 0.5% to 2.25%. Finally, the committee considered a $38.4 million Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit issuance for a 322-unit multifamily rental project in Jefferson County. A member asked how the committee participates in the transaction, and staff explained that it is a conduit issuance and not state debt. The committee then moved to approve the issuance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the committee, this bill, House File 327, is the Our Future Starts at Home Constitutional
• . housing. housing.
• So, what this bill does, it proposes four buckets of funding, um, to be distributed across the Housing
• So, what this bill does, it proposes four buckets of funding, um, to be distributed across the Housing
• </c> this bill up. this bill up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, I bring to you House Bill 3 and its companion Senate Bill 38 by Senator Richardson will ensure
• </c> House Bill 3. Go ahead. House Bill 3. Go ahead.
• Today, I bring to you House<00:15:51.160><c> Bill</c><00:15:51.520><c> 3.
• </c><00:15:53.280><c> its</c> House Bill 3.
• House Bill 3 and its House Bill 3.

Committee: Senate Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2275, an act authorizing the town of Wellesley to amend the income threshold for senior real
• House Bill 4143, an act amending the charter of the town of Hoppington to incorporate a property...
• House Bill 4292. Question comes on passing the bills to be enacted. All those in favor say aye.
• The Committee on Rules, to whom was referred the House bill relative to certain powers of the Board of
• The Committee on Rules, to whom was referred the House bill authorizing the Cotuit Fire District to raise

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and several ceremonial items, including introductions of championship Tri-County High School football and boys’ cross-country teams and adoption of a resolution honoring Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. The chamber then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting Wellesley’s senior property tax deferral income threshold, amending the Hopedinton/Hopkinton town charter regarding library trustees, and other local matters, all of which were passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and took up several local bills from the Orders of the Day. These included bills enhancing the powers of the Cotuit Fire District’s Board of Water Commissioners, authorizing the Cotuit Fire District to raise money for the Historical Society of Santuit and Cotuit, further regulating the Salem licensing board, and validating the results of Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. Each was advanced by unanimous consent, read a third time, and passed to be engrossed. A major portion of the session focused on two orders from Senator Friedman requesting advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on initiative petitions. One concerned a public records proposal that would extend public records law to the General Court and Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends proposal that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney argued the requests were needed to clarify constitutional issues before the Legislature acts on the initiatives, and both orders were adopted. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on Senate Bill 2720, a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft, Senate No. 3014, recommended. The chamber adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026, with amendments in order, and then adopted a separate order to adjourn until Monday at 11 a.m., dispensing with the printing of a calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a full house today.
• Bill 47.
• We're at 3; they're at 1.
• We're really going to need our House friends who are on House Appropriations...
• Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 47.
• We're really going to need our House friends who are on House Appropriations.
• Part 2 of 3.
• Lists out recommendations for that Section 4 language of House Bill 2.
• Remember that LFC has 1; LESC has 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 721, 603, 689, 690, 698, 641, 642, Senate Bill 1221, House Bill 623, and House Bill 728 will
• House Bill 721, 603, 689, 690, 698, 641, 642, Senate Bill 1221, House Bill 623, House Bill 728 will be
• The majority having voted in favor of House Bill 556, House Bill 556 has passed the House.
• The majority having voted in favor of House Bill 602, House Bill 602 has passed the House.
• Majority having voted in favor of House Bill 663, House Bill 663 has passed the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• Modernizes intangible asset law in section 3 of the bill.
• That is the bill. Thank you. There's an amendment. >> We can take up Barcode 3, 3, 6, 3, to 2.
• This is the bill. Are there any questions on the bill appearance forms?
• It also aligns us with the House Bill.
• That is the bill. >> Having presented Senate Bill 18 0, 4, and explain the bill senators are there questions

Transcript Highlights:

• In gross, second substitute House Bill 2034.
• Senator Robinson moves that the rules be suspended that Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034 as
• Engrossed second substitute House Bill 2034, as amended by the Senate, is declared to pass.
• Hearing none, the question before the Senate is final passage of Substitute House Bill 2178.
• Substitute House Bill 2178, as amended, is declared passed.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675 , HB2426 , SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , HB1796 , HB2091 , HB2249 , HB2353 , HB2431 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB2124 , HB2104 , HB2624 , HB2510 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2436 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Transcript Highlights:

• As illustrated in Tables 8 and 9, our evaluation of the department's 6/20, 2/0, 3/0, and 3/0 cross-checks
• They sent out the surveys for the 3-0.
• do not have a perfect bill to introduce.
• And that's what our bill does.
• How about our House counterparts?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes. Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process. President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also modifies the definition of normal retirement for Tier 3 members to allow the option for
• Senate Bill 1504 allows a Tier 2 or Tier 3 member who participates in the defined benefit program to
• And especially considering we see bills in the House, as I saw coming up, that there's going to be a
• There was, I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that there was a bill to change their Tier 3, and um... for
• I'm not mistaken, there was a bill to change their Tier 3.

Bills: SB1041 , SB1050 , SB1131 , SB1138 , SB1249 , SB1267 , SB1272 , SB1317 , SB1461 , SB1488 , SB1504 , SB1517 , SB1523 , SB1580 , SB1582 , SB1584 , SB1585 , SB1602 , SB1630 , SB1654 , SB1672 , SB1673 , SB1718 , SB1761 , SB1819 , SB1826 , SB1827

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• 2105, Engrossed House Bill 2211, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, Engrossed Substitute House Bill
• House Bill 2418.
• House Bill 2418.
• Substitute House Bill 2416, and House Bill 2624.
• Second Substitute House Bill 1906. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 and House Bill 2624.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, uh members of the House, uh the State Affairs Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:00
• Speaker, uh members of the House, uh the State Affairs Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:00
• </c><00:09:03.760><c> be</c> like to ask that the whole house be like to ask that the whole house be
• </c> house, Jason White. house, Jason White.
• </c> &gt;&gt; State affairs tomorrow at 3. &gt;&gt; State affairs tomorrow at 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2165. House Bill 2156, the do pass recommendation. House Bill 2165, Mr.
• Members, by your vote of 5 ayes, 3 noes, and 2 not voting, you have given House Bill 4049 a do pass recommendation
• Members, by your vote of 5 ayes, 3 noes, and 2 not voting, you have given House Bill 2446 as amended
• House Bill 2305 as amended to do pass recommendation. House Bill 2399, Mr.
• House Bill 2812 as amended receives a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2939. Mr.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2615, as amended by a strike-everything amendment creating an Independent Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety with 15 members, authority to review DCS data and practices, request briefings and audits, conduct site visits, and receive confidential complaints, with a $2.2 million FY 2027 appropriation. The sponsor and several parents and foster/adoptive caregivers testified in support, describing child safety failures and arguing for independent accountability, while some members questioned whether the Ombudsman’s office was the right home for the committee and suggested other oversight structures. The amendment was adopted, but the bill itself failed on a 5-5 vote. House Bill 2620, which would appropriate $300,000 annually from FY 2027 through FY 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services for grants to emergency shelters serving veterans, received strong support from the sponsor and shelter advocates who said the funding would help move homeless veterans toward stable housing and connect them with VA services. Members emphasized veterans’ service and the need for trauma-informed case management, and the bill passed with a 10-0 do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2321, requiring DCS to place and later remove a credit freeze for children in care to prevent identity theft, also passed unanimously after the sponsor and members discussed the administrative process and protections for foster youth. The committee then considered House Bill 2601, directing ADOT to seek federal segmentation for the Interstate 11 project between Casa Grande and Wickenburg so environmental review could proceed separately from litigation affecting the southern portion. Supporters framed the bill as a bipartisan way to keep the project moving, while opponents from environmental groups and several members argued it would encourage sprawl, harm desert habitat, and add cost and delay; the bill passed 6-4. House Bill 2992, a pilot program for child sexual abuse and grooming awareness education in six public schools, drew testimony from a trafficking survivor and others who supported prevention efforts, but some members argued the topic should be handled through broader sex education or parent education; it passed 6-4. Later bills also advanced: HB 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, passed 7-3; HB 2165, exempting certain veterans and National Guard members from state park admission fees, passed 6-4 after amendment narrowing the exemption; HB 2960, creating a veterans specialty court grant program and related data-sharing requirements, passed 8-0; HB 2014, directing studies on gasoline blends and fuel feasibility amid EPA waiver concerns, passed 6-2; and HB 2957, preserving non-Real ID licenses and limiting biometric/data retention with a Kavanaugh amendment, passed 5-4-1.