Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :
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OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 43 Apr 20th, 2026
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The House is now in session. Clerk will call the roll. The House is now in session.
- in 2021.
- Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, we do so not in vain, thinking nothing has truly changed in
- Some were in the Murrah Building, others Some were in the Murrah Building, others were in the Oklahoma
- Do we want volatility in the cost of living in Oklahoma?
Keywords:
Oklahoma City, terrorism, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, memorial, remembrance, first responders, community support, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, fossil fuels, liability protection, climate change, energy independence, oil and gas
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several special recognitions tied to the 31st anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The chamber honored the 138th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department as Veterans of the Week, and also recognized Dr. Camissa Stewart as Doctor of the Day and Tammy Powell as Nurse of the Day for their roles in the 1995 bombing response. A lengthy floor presentation followed, featuring remarks from legislators, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, memorial museum leaders, Justice Stephen Taylor, and Pastor Ronnie Fields, all focused on remembrance, the Oklahoma standard, the victims and survivors, and the importance of hope, civility, and the rule of law.
On legislation, Senate Bill 1733 was presented and debated. The bill requires school personnel who have reason to believe a student is a victim of child sexual abuse or sexual misconduct to report it to law enforcement within 24 hours. Supporters said it clarifies and strengthens reporting requirements to protect children, while opponents warned it could trigger harmful public accusations and undermine trust in educators and administrators. The House passed the bill 92-1, and the emergency clause also passed 92-1.
The House also considered Senate Bill 1439, an oil and gas measure intended to bar speculative climate-related lawsuits and limit liability to actual violations and provable harm. Supporters argued it would prevent frivolous litigation, protect the state’s energy economy, and keep costs down for consumers; opponents said it would create a special legal carve-out for industry and shift costs to taxpayers and families. The bill passed 74-16. In addition, Senate Bill 2184 was assigned to Rules, and H.J.R. 1078 and H.J.R. 1079 were withdrawn from Rules and sent to appropriations and budget committees. The House adjourned after announcements and introductions.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So, in your purple packet—I'm in your purple packet—I'm in your purple packet.
- and flocked in.
- and flocked in.
- This is not fair. It's not an equal reduction across the board in all of education.
- We're back in order. We're back in order. We're back in order. We're in order. We're in order.
Summary:
The committee first approved a technical correction to the Health and Welfare Division of Licensing and Certification budget, restoring 2 FTP that had been cut in error while leaving funding unchanged. It then adopted language extending the deadline for Medicaid comprehensive managed care-related state plan amendments and waivers from July 1, 2026 to 2027, and passed that language after brief discussion about MMIS delays and legal issues. The committee recessed briefly before moving to public school support items.
For the Division of Student Support, the committee approved a FY 2026 supplemental adding $7.8 million in federal spending authority, then considered several FY 2027 budget motions and related language. After debate over special education high-needs funding, ELL funding shifts, health insurance, classified staff, and virtual-school funding, the committee ultimately adopted a motion reducing the division’s general fund by $16,222,300, adding $4,141,200 in dedicated funds and $7.8 million in federal funds, and passed several pieces of accompanying language. Those language items included a $3 million reduction to virtual-school discretionary funding, a $7.5 million transportation funding reduction tied to prior statutory changes, reporting requirements for virtual programs, a one-time ELL distribution shift to LEAs, a change to technology curriculum contract requirements, and a special education expenditure report to JFAC.
The committee then turned to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. After extensive debate over alleged “double dipping,” rural access, and the need for policy changes, it rejected a proposed $15 million cut, then approved a smaller $13,500 reduction tied to a pending policy bill. It also adopted language restricting PCIF access and directing IDLA to reduce offerings as needed, plus reporting language on DEI compliance and a usage/enrollment report with more detailed data on synchronous versus asynchronous courses and LEA-level enrollment. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again Monday to take up the Secretary of State budget and trailer bills.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- in state government.
- In a lot of ways, I'm an unlikely person to be sitting in this chair.
- In a lot of ways, I'm an unlikely person to be sitting in this chair.
- There were many shelters in place in Deer Park.
- I've been fortunate to serve Texas in a variety of roles in the Senate, in the courtroom, and in the
Committee:
Senate Nominations
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Nominations met with a quorum and first took up pending nominations from an earlier agenda. Members severed Douglas McReecken, nominated to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, from the rest of the list and then voted to report the remaining nominees to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote. The committee then voted on the severed nomination itself and reported Douglas McReecken to the full Senate as well, by a 5-2 vote.
The committee heard testimony from Brooke Pop, reappointed as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and later from Commissioner Katarina Gonzalez, also of TCEQ. Questions focused on whether TCEQ rules comply with state law, ex parte restrictions, public transparency, concrete batch plant permitting, MUD approvals, water availability, illegal dams, enforcement, and the agency’s role in local environmental disputes. Both nominees said they follow the law as written, described internal legal review of rules, and emphasized transparency, public outreach, and enforcement; Gonzalez said she had already sent back two rules she believed did not comply with legislation. Members also discussed TCEQ’s authority limits and the need for clearer public communication about what the agency can and cannot regulate.
The committee also considered Alethea Sullivan, nominated to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents. Questions centered on TSU’s status as an independent institution, the role of HBCUs amid DEI-related legal changes, and student outcomes. Sullivan said she would focus on ensuring taxpayer and student resources produce valuable credentials and noted concerns from her review of graduation and bar passage rates. The committee then heard from Benjamin Barkley, appointed chief executive and public counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel. Barkley said OPUC’s main need is additional funding to recruit and retain attorneys and expert witnesses, reduce turnover, and continue representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility rate cases; he said the office was involved in 73 contested cases and saved Texans $2.2 billion in FY 2024. No final action was taken on the later nominees, and the committee recessed with nominations left pending.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So in your purple packet, I'm in your purple packet.
- So in your purple packet on page one and on the screen in front of you is a correction.
- in Rezhab because we increased the money, so they all came in and flocked in.
- This is not fair. It's not an equal reduction across the board in all of education.
- We're back in order. We're back in order. We're back in order. We're in order. We're in order.
Summary:
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee first approved a technical correction to the Health and Welfare Division of Licensing and Certification budget, restoring 2 FTP that had been cut in error while leaving funding intact. The committee then adopted language extending the deadline for Medicaid’s state plan amendments and waivers related to the move to comprehensive managed care, after discussion of delays tied to the MMIS procurement and litigation. Both items received do-pass recommendations.
The committee next considered Public School Support, beginning with a FY 2026 supplemental for the Division of Student Support to add $7.8 million in federal spending authority so schools can access full federal grant allocations. That supplemental passed. For FY 2027, members debated several competing motions on the Student Support Division budget, including proposals to reduce classified staff funding, add health insurance funding, and cut virtual school-related funding. After multiple failed motions, the committee ultimately approved a motion reducing the general fund by $14,751,600, including a $3 million reduction to virtual school discretionary funding, and adopted related language. Additional language was also approved to require reporting on virtual enrollments, shift English learner funding from central services to direct LEA distribution, modify technology curriculum contract requirements, require special education expenditure reporting, and reduce transportation funding by $7.5 million by undoing a prior statutory change.
The committee then turned to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. After extensive debate over alleged double-funding, rural access, and the absence of a policy bill, members rejected a larger $15 million reduction and then approved a smaller $13,500 reduction tied to the pending policy bill’s fiscal note. They also adopted language restricting PCIF access, requiring compliance reporting on DEI-related courses, and requesting a detailed report on IDLA expenditures, enrollments, and usage, including synchronous versus asynchronous instruction and course-level data by LEA. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would next take up the Secretary of State budget and trailer bills, with an additional 7:30 a.m. meeting before the Monday session.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- For parents and children in Idaho, fairness and transparency in the system matter.
- in the accessibility.
- there in this statute.
- I live in Meridian.
- forward in court.
Summary:
The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee approved the minutes from March 11, 2026, then took up House Bill 803 on execution procedures. The bill would extend confidentiality protections for people involved in firing squad executions to match those already used for lethal injection, with supporters saying it protects state employees from doxxing and is consistent with recent court rulings. Some members objected that the bill reduces transparency and removes even limited administrative review, but the committee passed it on a roll call vote, 11-2, with Representatives Matthias and Rubel voting no.
The committee then heard House Bill 857, which would give both parents equal access to a minor child’s records, including medical, educational, child care, law enforcement, and court records, unless a court order restricts access with written findings that the restriction is necessary to prevent substantial harm to the child. The sponsor said the bill clarifies parental rights and helps schools and providers know when records must be released, while opponents argued it could expose parents and children to danger, create a high burden for courts, and reduce privacy protections. After testimony from family law attorneys, a court representative, and parents, the committee sent the bill to General Orders unanimously.
House Bill 859, also from Representative Scott, would require restoration of parenting time when a parent loses time due to abuse allegations that are later found unsubstantiated or insufficient, and would require courts to order make-up time and report willful interference to prosecutors. Supporters said it would deter false allegations and restore time wrongfully lost, while opponents said existing family law rules already provide make-up time, the bill would burden courts, and the reporting requirement would compromise judicial neutrality. The committee rejected a motion to hold the bill and instead passed a motion to hold it in committee by a 7-5 roll call vote. The committee then quickly passed Senate Bill 1308, a cleanup bill related to mediator information, and Senate Bill 1293, which clarifies that crime victims compensation is not a public benefit under last session’s public benefits law. Both were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There are examples in, in other states. Uh, I don't know that I have any in this state as of yet.
- So in.
- or they're in located in.
- Uh in nowhere in Texas, uh, you know, we, we have in, in affordable housing, we provide, uh, services
- Uh, in 2024, we represented almost 5200 tenants in eviction cases in Dallas County, which represents
Bills:
HB303
Committee:
House Intergovernmental Affairs
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator, that's currently in statute. That's not a change in the statute? Okay, thank you.
- Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye.
- Seeing none, all in Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed?
- But 'in any way inducing' is not defined in the bill.
- I'm a physician in Washington State and have been licensed in Washington State for 30 years.
Summary:
The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require Labor and Industries to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and supporters from the hospitality, retail, business, and construction sectors said the bill would improve transparency about how rates are set and how reserve funds and investment earnings are used to hold down premiums. L&I testified that the bill would require publication of a large amount of rate-setting information, but said it was already developed in the normal process and that the bill had no fiscal impact. Questions focused on reserve use, advisory committee involvement, and how the actuarial calculations interact with investment returns. The committee then moved to executive session and took action on several bills, adopting substitutes or amendments and advancing bills including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the L&I provider network when no provider is available nearby, limiting employer steering to specific providers, shortening utilization review timelines, allowing provider deviation from L&I guidelines when medically appropriate, and expanding continued treatment and cancer monitoring. Labor and worker advocates argued the bill would better reflect the Murray decision and reduce delays in care, while L&I and employer groups said the current evidence-based guideline system works for most claims and warned the bill could weaken quality controls, create vague standards, and increase costs. Testimony also raised concerns about the 15-mile access rule, the employer communication restrictions, and the appeal process for provider removal. The sponsor said the goal was to improve individualized care and continue working with stakeholders.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so that 100% of the employer-paid health insurance contribution is included in the benefit calculation instead of the current partial inclusion. Supporters said the bill would help injured workers keep health coverage during recovery and reduce pressure to choose between medical care and income, while opponents argued it would not guarantee the money is actually used for health insurance, could be diverted to other uses or attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs for employers and the accident fund. L&I said the bill would require IT and administrative changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs. The hearing ended without further action on SB 6067, and the chair closed the session after public testimony concluded.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- For parents and children in Idaho, fairness and transparency in the system matter.
- in the accessibility.
- Okay, fair enough. Is not protected. Okay, fair enough. Okay, thank you, Mr.
- I live in Meridian.
- forward in court.
Committee:
House Judiciary, Rules and Administration
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 23rd, 2026 at 08:00 am
Labor & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator, that's currently in statute. That's not a change in the statute? Okay, thank you.
- All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed? No. No. The amendment... All in favor, say aye. Aye.
- Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye.
- But 'in any way inducing' is not defined in the bill.
- I'm a physician in Washington State and have been licensed in Washington State for 30 years.
Bills:
SB5847 , SB6067 , SB6136 , SB6014 , SB5972 , SB5869 , SB5874 , SB6058 , SB6039 , SB5944 , SB6188
Committee:
Senate Labor & Commerce
Keywords:
workers' compensation, industrial insurance, injured workers, medical provider network, occupational health, occupational medicine, medical care access, L&I, Department of Labor and Industries, self-insured employers, state fund claims, utilization review, provider credentialing, provider network, treatment guidelines, evidence-based medicine, claims management, claims managers, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- In the middle of another, in the middle of a public hearing?
- I'm in favor of that language staying in the bill.
- In Kansas, In Kansas, through the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, KCDH, in my personal
- If you're in a situation in an emergency room or in a... ...abilities to communicate.
- If you're in a situation in an emergency room or in a courtroom, and I've seen it time after time, we
Committee:
House General Laws
Summary:
The House Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and went into executive session on House Joint Resolutions 153 and 119, House Bill 2266, and House Bill 2207, then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1062. On HJR 153/119, the committee adopted a substitute that would remove trial-level judges from the gubernatorial appointment framework and create a joint House-Senate committee to confirm Supreme Court and Appellate Court nominees. Several members objected that the changes were substantial and should have had public hearing, while supporters argued the change would streamline confirmations and add legislative accountability. The committee adopted the substitute and voted the resolutions do pass by 8-6. On HB 2266, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that the bill’s exception for the Attorney General’s office applies to Assistant Attorneys General rather than broader staff, then rolled it into a committee substitute and voted the substitute do pass by 11-3. On HB 2207, the committee adopted an amendment combining HB 2207 and HB 2233 into one bill string, but after a motion to reconsider was withdrawn, the combined substitute failed on a 6-8 vote.
The public hearing on SB 1062 focused on expanding communication access services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind Missourians. Senator Carter described the bill as a way to connect Department of Social Services caseworkers with churches, nonprofits, and other community resources to help families avoid foster care placements and better meet local needs, saying the model already exists in some counties and other states. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, family members, and advocates, who described repeated barriers in hospitals, courts, schools, businesses, and emergency settings, including delays in interpreter access, reliance on family members, and problems with video remote interpreting. Witnesses said the bill would improve access, reduce delays, and provide needed coordination and funding support. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing was closed without a vote on SB 1062.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Higher Education and Workforce Development Apr 7th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- in time.
- If you are in one of these 48 programs, starting I think in 2027 in Missouri, you will not be able to
- But like in Texas, in their court, it's much different.
- Any other witnesses in support? Seeing none, witnesses in opposition.
- in August of '25.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2020, one in eight Texans overall and one in five children face a daily threat of hunger.
- put down roots in Texas.
- in San Antonio.
- In plain terms, if a young family buys a home in a declining neighborhood and invests in fixing it up
- in their rulemaking.
Bills:
HB485 , HB1367 , HB1370 , HB1827 , HB1879 , HB2032 , HB2133 , HB2357 , HB3581 , HB3830 , HB4060 , HB4085 , HB4270 , HB4979 , HB5217 , HB5268 , HB5478 , HJR96 , HJR97 , HJR119 , HJR195 , HJR209 , SB4 , SB23 , SJR2 , SJR85 , SB 4 , SB 23 , SJR 2
Committee:
House Ways & Means
Keywords:
healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Fraud Committee Meeting - 2025-07-08
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Most of the provisions that were in the governor's budget in the fraud package were supported by the
- I think the number was in the 40 or so range of convictions that they got in last calendar year.
- that in Minnesota.
- We have waivers in place that allow people to live in the community and thrive.
- Medicaid providers in this state.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- No, I don't live in Greensburg. I live in Hammond.
- He's in Pineville, Alexandria. So when I get here in Baton Rouge, I don't go home.
- He's in Pineville, Alexandria. So when I get here in Bad Rouge, I don't go home.
- in gates.
- It's in the legislators' hands. I think it's in your hands, not in the clerk of court's.
Committee:
House Civil Law and Procedure
Keywords:
exemption, motor vehicles, health savings accounts, debt relief, bankruptcy, civil procedure, abandonment, default judgment, court costs, notice requirements, construction contracts, jurisdiction, dispute resolution, public policy, Louisiana law, professional engineer, peremptive periods, construction, architect, real estate developer
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- that area. what those property tax values are in assessed values or in that area.
- in that effort.
- They did in the guidelines.
- In the County of St.
- Yeah, and as I guess in my district anyway, in my county, what I heard, I guess in my district anyway
Committee:
House Ways and Means
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- $35 million in 2024.
- $35 million in 2024.
- I think that the way It's set up in in in the term sheet and the legislation and so therefore We are
- Well, I mean, we're trying to be fair and take a bigger scope to truly see what's going on in the communities
- Well, I mean, we're trying to be fair and take a bigger scope to truly see what's going on in the communities
Committee:
Senate Finance
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We now say given that SpaceX is headquartered in Texas as the best place in the galaxy for business.
- The vast majority being based in our offices in the U.S.
- As in terms of, I mean if you see a child, in a lot of cases you know it's a child.
- This is just in plain English.
- With that in mind...
Bills:
HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204
Committee:
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Keywords:
eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Jan 21st, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Consumer Protection & Business
Transcript Highlights:
- from them in person?
- So I think often in this, maybe not in this committee, but in previous iterations of this committee,
- We were founded in 1992, about the 50th winery in the state, fifth in Woodinville, and today we're the
- can't get in.
- in that theater.
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Business
Keywords:
alcohol service, sports facilities, amusement venues, recreational activities, patron engagement, alcohol warehousing, regulation, liquor distribution, storage standards, state laws, liquor licenses, multiple premises, alcohol distribution, commercial leasing, regulatory reform, winery, restaurant license, alcohol, spirits, beer
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- in this particular moment?
- as a freshman in history?
- The state fair bonding, that's the same language as we used in the supplemental.
- The state fair bonding, that's the same language as we used in the supplemental.
- And page 11 in the document, sorry. Page 11 in the document, two. And page 11 in the document.
Committee:
House Utilities
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Eight in favor. Okay, well, there being eight in favor... Bureau Nays.
- In 2023, there were 16 disasters in Texas that caused... ...one billion or more.
- The Texas Fair Plan continues to see an increase in premiums.
- So the goal with this bill ... ...goal is to preserve patient rights, promote fairness in the claims
- Aaron Liss, One Oncology in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in New York.
Bills:
HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458
Committee:
House Insurance
Keywords:
insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage