Transcript Highlights:

• He met his lovely wife of 50 years, who has since passed, and we all knew her, Emily, in prison.
• So when we talk about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, So when we talk
• about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, those two met actually in prison
• And when people were literally being arrested and going to prison for making sure that people had access
• And when people were literally being arrested and going to prison for making sure that people had access

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, offered a prayer and pledge, and welcomed several guest delegations, including Hubert Humphrey Fellows and Congressman Jim Clyburn. Members gave extended remarks honoring Clyburn’s civil rights and congressional leadership, as well as his work on rural issues, the Affordable Care Act, and bipartisan relationships. The chamber also announced a joint hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions to be held upon adjournment. The main floor action was on Senate Resolution 72 by Senator Wahab, celebrating Lunar New Year. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting the holiday’s significance across Asian cultures, its themes of family, renewal, courage, and community, and California’s large Asian American population. Several members also noted the history of Chinese immigrants in California and the importance of recognizing and supporting Asian American communities amid ongoing concerns about anti-Asian hate. The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of 37-0. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Senator Becker honored Niles Telenius, a young climate and aviation advocate; Senator Gonzalez, joined by Senators Strickland, Laird, Cabaldon, and Umberg, honored former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster for his leadership in city government, energy policy, and public service; and Senator Wiener honored Terence Allen for his work in San Francisco’s cannabis, LGBTQ, small business, and nightlife communities. The Senate then announced it would reconvene on Thursday, February 19, at 9 a.m., with recess until 3:30 p.m. for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• He met his lovely wife of 50 years, who has since passed, and we all knew her, Emily, in prison.
• So when we talk about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, So when we talk
• about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, those two met actually in prison
• And when people were literally being arrested and going to prison for making sure that people had access
• And when people were literally being arrested and going to prison for making sure that people had access

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, and heard opening prayer and pledge. Members also welcomed Hubert Humphrey Fellows from several countries and received introductions of guests, including California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia and Congressman Jim Clyburn. The chamber then approved the Senate journals and announced a joint hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions to be held upon adjournment. The main floor item was Senate Resolution 72 by Senator Wahab, recognizing Lunar New Year. Senators from several caucuses and districts spoke in support, describing the holiday’s significance across Asian cultures, its themes of family, renewal, courage, and prosperity, and California’s large Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Senator Wiener also highlighted the history of Lunar New Year celebrations in San Francisco and the contributions of Chinese immigrants and workers to California. The resolution passed by a 37-0 roll call vote. At the end of the session, members offered adjournment memorials for Niles Telenius, former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, and Terence Allen, with tributes describing their public service, community leadership, and personal impact. The Senate then announced it would reconvene on Thursday, February 19, at 9 a.m., with the chamber in recess until later that day for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• He met his lovely wife of 50 years, who has since passed, and we all knew her, Emily, in prison.
• So when we talk about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, So when we talk
• about protests today and people going to prison and coming together, those two met actually in prison
• And when people were literally being arrested and going to prison for making sure that people had access
• And when people were literally being arrested and going to prison for making sure that people had access

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those volunteers are inmates in nine different Minnesota and Wisconsin prisons who raise dogs
• Some of those volunteers are inmates in nine different Minnesota and Wisconsin prisons who raise dogs
• Some of those volunteers are inmates in nine different Minnesota and Wisconsin prisons who raise dogs
• Some of those volunteers are inmates in nine different Minnesota and Wisconsin prisons who raise dogs
• Some of those volunteers are inmates in nine different Minnesota and Wisconsin prisons who raise dogs

Transcript Highlights:

• The idea is instead of counting them at the prison location, it counts those inmates at their last place
• The idea is instead of counting them at the prison location, it counts those inmates at their last place
• The law proposed says if you are out of state, you're discounted as a person at that prison.
• So how does this bill also deal with a census about local jails or just prisons?
• I don't know that our prison populations are primarily one type or another type, you know, whether it's

Bills: HB4272 , HB3277 , HB3148 , HB3651 , HB3323 , HB4287 , HB4105 , HB3304 , HB3345

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The Public Safety Committee heard several bills related to vehicle titling and VIN inspection procedures. House Bill 4272, by Representative Miller, would create a formal certificate of titling system for boats and vessels in Oklahoma to document ownership and reduce fraud; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3277, a cleanup bill on VIN inspections and salvage vehicles, clarified who may perform inspections and added salvage pools as authorized entities; it passed 7-0. House Bill 3148 made additional changes to the VIN inspection process, including salvage pool language and anti-fraud protections, and also passed 7-0. House Bill 3323 removed notarization requirements for documents submitted electronically to Service Oklahoma and passed 7-0. House Bill 4105 clarified exemptions under the Oklahoma Security Guard Act and passed 6-0. House Bill 3304, renamed the Ray Davis Safe Roads Act, requires Service Oklahoma to check the methamphetamine database before issuing commercial driver licenses and passed 6-0. The committee also considered House Bill 4287, which would change how incarcerated people are counted for legislative apportionment by using their last residence rather than the prison location. Supporters argued it would create more equal representation and address a historical anomaly, while opponents said it would disconnect incarcerated constituents from the districts that currently represent them and could affect rural representation. After debate, the bill failed 4-5 and remained in committee. House Bill 3345, a Department of Mental Health bill, would expand pretrial behavioral health and substance use screening services to any charge, felony or misdemeanor, to help identify diversion opportunities earlier and support treatment referrals. Testimony emphasized that the screenings would be done by certified local contractors at no cost to county jails and would help courts, prosecutors, and defense counsel. The bill received a 4-4 vote but was reported out as a due pass. The committee then laid over House Bill 315 until the following week and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3169, to encourage donations to local nonprofits; House Bill 5125, limiting the use of prison
• The House bill, limiting the use of prison labor, House number 5125, and the House Bill, establishing
• An act limiting the use of prison labor, House No. 5125.
• An act limiting the use of prison labor, House No. 5125, and an act establishing a sick leave bank for

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> prison, which of course federal prison prison, which of course federal prison is<00:47:34.400><c
• </c> person who I mentioned got a prison person who I mentioned got a prison sentence<00:49:43.680><c
• </c> 21-month prison 21-month prison sentence.<01:25:56.000><c> As</c><01:25:56.239><c> you</c><01:25
• </c> maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
• That is a stayed prison offense.

Bills: HF3043 , HF2891

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, we have invested $56.4 million in recurring funds to expand prison capacity at Lancaster
• committee where we heard from Secretary Dixon and others about the many challenges that our state prisons
• Do you think that this increase is enough, considering many of our prisons are in the Panhandle?
• many of our prisons are in the panhandle they are proximity wise very close to states like Alabama who
• us is that we were going to need just over $2 billion, I think, in emergency repairs to our state prisons

Transcript Highlights:

• The money that's in the budget is for the design of a prison hospital.
• It also requires— And a new prison.
• Representative Maney: Yes, ma'am, we're talking about prisons.
• Are we doing anything about what's coming into our prisons?
• Representative Maney: This program is designed for prisons.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I can promise you we're going to prison for a lot longer than they are in California. Right.
• I hope you can explain why there's a difference being made with the women in prison and the men in prison
• You're not going to get any state prisoners and keep making money on our state prisoners anymore?
• I don't believe we have Going to get any state prisoners and keep making money on our state prisoners
• So I'm kind of in the same— So I'm the warden of a state prison.

Summary: The committee held its inaugural meeting on March 5, 2026, with opening remarks from Chair Freiberg and Vice Chair Marcelle describing the panel’s purpose as studying issues affecting women and children, including health, education, economic opportunity, safety, and criminal justice. After roll call, the chair noted the meeting was informational only and not requiring a quorum. The committee then heard presentations and asked questions on human trafficking and child exploitation, followed by an audit report on the treatment and care of incarcerated women. Mary Kate Andrepont of the Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention presented 2025 data showing 2,963 victims identified, 15,437 service instances, and 33% of victims remaining in services at least nine months. She said 93% of reported victims were sex trafficking victims, most were under 18, and 62 of 64 parishes had trafficking reports. She explained familial trafficking, described screening and coordinated response procedures, and highlighted new tools and outreach campaigns. She also discussed two priority bills: HB 321 by Rep. LaFleur, which would create immunity from prostitution offenses for child trafficking victims under Safe Harbor principles, and SB 83 by Sen. Edmonds, which would require school board trafficking policies and expand victim advocacy services to labor trafficking victims and survivors up to age 21. Committee members asked about reporting procedures, data trends, service gaps, and the reach of the screening tools. Chris Masters of the Attorney General’s office then presented on online child exploitation and child sexual abuse material through the Louisiana ICAC Task Force. He reported 31,203 tips in 2025, 545 arrests, more than 80 children identified or rescued, over 1,500 search warrants, and more than 100 community presentations. He said the task force is expanding statewide, including an Orleans Metro unit, and asked for more analysts and outreach personnel to handle a projected rise in cyber tips. Members asked about community presentations, the scope of the investigations, sex offender social media restrictions, interstate cases, sentencing, and how online enticement and live abuse are prosecuted. The discussion emphasized parental monitoring, school outreach, and coordination with federal partners. The final item introduced an audit report on the treatment and care of incarcerated females. Legislative Auditor staff said the review, requested by a 2023 resolution, found that Louisiana’s jails and guidance documents had not fully addressed the key laws and standards governing women’s incarceration, including restraint use during pregnancy and childbirth, health care, hygiene, dignity, and reentry. They noted that local jails still house a majority of incarcerated women despite the opening of a new state facility, and that several facilities had confirmed prohibited restraint use or failed to provide required written advisements. The staff said the report included legislative considerations for improving compliance and care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, is he tried as an adult and goes to adult prison, or is this an option for him?
• Do we put those folks in prisons? No, we don't. They're in state mental health hospitals.
• </c><00:27:46.320><c> No,</c><00:27:46.640><c> we</c> do we put those folks in prisons?
• No, we do we put those folks in prisons?
• </c><00:41:51.520><c> but</c> adults would be housed in prisons but adults would be housed in prisons

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And while they're in prison, sometimes they go, and they get a 30-year sentence, maximum sentence for
• And while they're in prison, sometimes they're getting treatment, but they find out that this person
• that's in prison is still got all these thoughts in his head that he can't tell them he won't go out
• They only had to stay in prison. The one that moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, changed his name.
• They only had to stay in prison. The one that moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, changed his name.

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties. The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill. Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost. A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of individuals that do leave the prison system do not possess valid state-issued identification
• I know that they have just, I believe, finalized reentry centers in the majority of the prisons, including
• I know that they have just, I believe, finalized reentry centers and majority of the prisons, including
• the two women correctional facilities in. ...of the prisons, including the two women’s correctional
• I hired probably four or five people that came out of prison.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM DENNIS BAXLEY AND I RODE FROM TALLAHASSEE TO ANGOLA PRISON ONCE.
• IT WAS THE MOST VIOLENT PRISON IN THE COUNTRY BUT THEY HAD A THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BEHIND THE PRISON WALLS
• LEADERS AND WE BROUGHT THE CONCEPT BACK HERE AND I THINK IS OPERATING IN HARDY AND DE SOTO COUNTY PRISONS
• , FAITH-BASED PRISONS.

Transcript Highlights:

• If this guy had been convicted, a first-degree murderer, he'd be in prison, paid for by the state. ..
• .convicted a first-degree murderer, he'd be in prison, paid for by the state.
• If they're in prison, that's the state's responsibility. That's not the counties.
• But if the counties want to pay for the costs of the prison, then we can have space.
• of the prison, then we can have space.

Bills: HB2050 , HB2082 , HB2176 , HB2195 , HB2202 , HB2307 , HB2584

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Keywords: radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice, health workforce, rural health care, critical access hospital, supervision, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a fee for conveying a felony prisoner from one county to another.
• And there's also conveying prisoners to penitentiaries that the sheriffs will do.
• There's a fee for conveying a felony prisoner from one county to another.
• And some are paid more, some are paid less or not less felony prisoner from one county to felony prisoner
• </c><00:15:26.880><c> that</c> conveying prisoners to penitentiies that conveying prisoners to penitentiies

Summary: The committee met for its fourth budget subreview session focused on personnel, public retirements, and finance. Members approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard from Finance Cabinet staff on two main items: a $7.5 million request related to generator systems and a sheriff’s fees budget request. The generator request was described as a preventive, life-cycle replacement and capacity-enhancement effort for 26 generators serving Frankfort-area state buildings, intended to protect continuity of government and expand beyond basic emergency power to support continuity of services. Members asked detailed questions about how many generators would be replaced, the cost per unit, the scope of the study, and whether the work could be phased. Staff said the $7.5 million would cover a full evaluation and any resulting engineering/replacement work, but the exact number of replacements was not yet known. They estimated the initial study would cost about $500,000 to $750,000, would take six to nine months once funded, and would produce building-by-building recommendations. Staff also said typical generator life cycles vary widely, often around 15 to 20 years but sometimes longer depending on run hours and usage. The committee then reviewed sheriff’s fees, with the Division of Local Government explaining that the state reimburses counties for several statutory sheriff-related costs, especially court security, which accounts for more than 90% of the claims. Staff said the current budget base is about $20 million, while actual spending has been running above $23 million, leading to a $3.5 million growth request to align the base with projected spending and reduce the need for non-general fund expenditure (NGE) adjustments. Members asked about claim volume, county participation, reimbursement controls, and whether the request reflected growth or underfunding; staff said all 120 counties submit claims, volumes have been fairly steady, and reimbursements are governed by statute and signed monthly certifications. No votes were taken on the requests, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they will not be, I assume, anxious to go to prison.
• They will not be, I assume, anxious to go to prison.
• Under a level one, you can't ever go to prison.
• You're not going to score enough points... ...you can't ever go to prison.
• You're not going to score enough points to reach sentencing somebody to prison.

Summary: The Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee met to hear a panel on the prosecution and enforcement of illegal gaming in Florida. The chair opened with a video showing seized machines at a Florida Gaming Control Commission warehouse and described the scale of illegal operations. Panelists included the commission’s executive director, local sheriffs and police officials, and state attorneys from several counties, who described widespread illegal slot-machine locations, often in strip malls or convenience-store-type settings, and said the machines are typically used in organized criminal activity rather than legitimate amusement gaming. Witnesses repeatedly said the current penalty structure is ineffective because possession and operation of illegal slot machines are generally second-degree misdemeanors, which they described as too minor to deter operators who can quickly reopen after paying fines or completing diversion. They said enforcement is resource-intensive, requiring undercover work, search warrants, machine seizure, storage, forensic review, and long prosecutions, often while the same operators reopen elsewhere. Several panelists cited associated crimes such as robberies, firearms offenses, prostitution, drug activity, human trafficking, and at least some homicides tied to illegal gaming locations. Members also asked about the difference between legal amusement devices and illegal slot machines, online gambling, illegal horse racing, local licensing and ordinances, and whether manufacturers or distributors could be pursued. The commission and prosecutors said legal slot machines are limited to specific regulated locations and that lawful amusement machines lack a material element of chance. They said many illegal machines are imported or reworked versions of gaming devices and that upstream accountability is difficult under current law. Panelists also discussed cooperation with licensed casinos, tribal gaming entities, and local governments, noting that some local ordinances have tried to permit or limit these businesses. The main policy takeaway from the panel was a call to increase penalties, likely to felony-level offenses, and to consider stronger forfeiture and enforcement tools. No vote or formal action was taken at the meeting, and the chair adjourned after thanking the panelists.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you can explain why there's a difference being made with the women in prison and the men in prison
• So what's done in the state prisons would be reflective of what we do.
• Are required to follow when they have the DOC prisoners?
• You're not going to get any state prisoners and keep making money on our state prisoners anymore?
• So I'm the warden of a state prison. I don't. So I'm the warden of a state prison.

Summary: The committee held its inaugural meeting and heard opening remarks from the chair and vice chair about the committee’s purpose: studying issues affecting women and children in Louisiana, including health, education, economic opportunity, safety, and criminal justice. After roll call, the committee proceeded with informational presentations rather than taking any formal votes. Members emphasized the committee’s role in gathering testimony and identifying policy solutions. The first major presentation came from the Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention. The director reviewed 2025 data showing 2,963 identified victims, 15,437 service instances, and trafficking reports in 62 of 64 parishes. She explained Louisiana’s coordinated response system, including screening tools, child advocacy center referrals, and the DCFS hotline option for trafficking reports. She also described familial trafficking, new victim outreach and identification tools, and two priority bills: HB 321, which would create immunity from prostitution offenses for child victims under Safe Harbor principles, and SB 83, which would require school board trafficking policies and expand victim advocacy services to labor trafficking victims and survivors up to age 21. Committee members asked about reporting procedures, school use of the tools, service gaps, and whether the data showed increases due to better identification. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office on online child exploitation and child sexual abuse material. The presenter said the Louisiana ICAC Task Force received 31,203 tips in 2025, made 545 arrests, identified or rescued more than 80 child victims, and executed over 1,500 search warrants. He described rapid tip-to-arrest responses in recent cases, the expansion of partner agencies statewide, and the creation of an Orleans Metro ICAC task force. Members asked about community presentations, the role of social media in exploitation, the use of geolocation, the prosecution of out-of-state offenders, and the need for more analysts and outreach staff. The discussion also covered sadistic online enticement, sextortion, live-streamed abuse, and the need for parents and schools to monitor children’s online activity. At the end of the meeting, the committee began receiving a legislative auditor’s presentation on the treatment and care of incarcerated women, focusing on jail policies, health care, restraint use, and reentry, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation is completed. No committee votes or formal actions were recorded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for those women who are languishing in prison from years past, under rules and considerations that
• And then they could have their time in prison lowered based on what the trier finds the second time that
• I was a domestic abuse victim and I was getting beaten every day and I kill my husband and I'm in prison
• We're actually working with the DOC to speak with women who are in jail or in prison right now.
• We're actually working with the DOC to speak with women who are in jail or in prison right now.

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• He said they had considered spending $40 million a year for 10 years to pay for a $400 million prison
• ><00:18:54.559><c> payments</c><00:18:55.080><c> on</c><00:18:55.320><c> the</c><00:18:55.919><c> prison
• </c> and the the down payments on the prison and the the down payments on the prison may<00:18:57.159
• for a million a year for 10 years to pay for a $400<00:19:05.480><c> million</c><00:19:06.159><c> prison
• <c> are</c><00:19:07.559><c> not</c><00:19:07.960><c> in</c><00:19:08.360><c> in</c> $400 million prison

Summary: The Finance Committee met on February 18 and retained several bills for possible inclusion in the budget. House Bill 97, appropriating funds to the Department of Environmental Services for wastewater infrastructure projects, was retained on a 21-0 vote. House Bill 197, which would have the state pay 7.5% of certain political subdivision employees’ retirement contributions at an estimated annual cost of $28 million to $29 million, was also retained unanimously. House Bill 246, creating the Conservation District Climate Resilience Grant Program with a small appropriation of about $50,000 per year for two years, was retained 22-0. House Bill 519, appropriating $500,000 annually to support the Waypoint Youth and Young Adult Shelter, was likewise retained 22-0. The committee then shifted to a broader budget discussion. Representative Maguire said the committee was facing a roughly $732 million gap between projected revenue and spending, based on preliminary Ways and Means figures and the governor’s budget. He noted that the governor’s plan included $81 million from the rainy day fund and $127 million from proposed slot machine revenue, while other potential obligations such as $150 million in YDC payments and prison down payments were not included. Members discussed how Ways and Means revenue estimates are based on current law, meaning proposals not yet enacted would not be counted in the official forecast. Members also asked about the relationship between the education funding committee and Finance, and were told that many education bills would likely come back to Finance after action in the other committee and on the floor. The chair and members discussed donor towns, swept funds, and the possibility of moving more information technology spending into the capital budget if appropriate. The meeting ended with agreement to let Division 2 head to education funding, and the committee adjourned.