Transcript Highlights:

• Respectfully, I request your aye vote. Good afternoon, Chair and committee members.
• The temporary federal non-enforcement request is just that: only a request, and it does not lessen the
• And I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you. That was your close. Thank you.
• I'm happy to give consideration to the urgency clause request or suggestion, I guess.
• And so with that, on behalf of Assembly Member Rodriguez, I respectfully request your I vote.

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One third of our budget is federal dollars.
• Chair, I, I, I, I need to understand you, you're requesting 50 million.
• Chairman, Representative Verrera, the $50 million that we're requesting as the village of Questa will
• It's not affecting any of our rivers, it's not affecting any of our aquifer or our field's request to
• , is, is also timely to remind the legislature that we made this request about a year ago.

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid expansion would cause a vast expansion of our Medicaid budget.
• He learned the budget process better than almost any of us will ever hope to know.
• And we were in the budget process and all of us, or most of us in this room, We were in the budget process
• Actually, I outlasted you in this building last year during that budget process.
• Then we got to the budget time. He said, did you submit your request? I said, yeah.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including a resolution honoring the late Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also adopted a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day in Florida. Later, the Senate adopted a memorial-style recognition of the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on health care coverage, veterinary licensure, and affordable housing. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a public assistance/Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described five major changes: stronger anti-fraud authority, a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services through a waiver, pharmacy program changes to reduce costs, and a SNAP fraud-reduction plan with photo ID and work requirements. Democrats offered amendments to condition the work requirement on Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP photo ID use by caregivers, seniors, disabled people, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators then questioned implementation details, exemptions, and eligibility impacts. The bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed CS/HB 7031 on taxation, substituting it for the Senate bill and adopting a technical amendment, by a vote of 34-0. The chamber passed a series of other bills, generally after substituting House companions and adopting technical amendments. These included a computer science education bill adding digital literacy and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry bill and related public records exemption, a bill designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s official flagship, a local government electronic payments bill, a legal tender bill repealing a sunset on gold and silver recognition, public records exemptions for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a stablecoin pilot program, local government spending transparency requirements, a digital voyeurism bill expanding privacy protections to private fenced yards, an insurance licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework, and a medical freedom bill addressing vaccine information, conscience exemptions, ivermectin access, and the mRNA mandate sunset. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, with recorded votes ranging from 31-3 to 34-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not about what Congress, the budget passes.
• people for the the budgets that we people for the the budgets that we already<01:00:56.599><c> allocated
• [Roll call requested.] Members, this is a very important bill.
• House File 3023, had there been a roll call requested?
• </c> back next week dealing with budget back next week dealing with budget issues<01:50:06.199><c> uh

Bills: HF3023 , HF3078 , HF107 , HF2171 , HF3079 , HF689 , HF1316

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: unemployment benefits, iron ore mining, economic support, workforce development, Minnesota, unemployment insurance, deferred resignation, employment, worker rights, benefits eligibility, Ellsworth Independent School District, ISD 514, school construction, school renovation, sales tax exemption, use tax refund, construction materials, HVAC replacement, boiler replacement, window replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155, and request
• has moved that the House refuse to adopt the Senate substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155 and request
• has moved that the House refuse to adopt the Senate substitute for House Bills 2637 and 3155 and request
• hereby appoints the following conference committee to act with a like committee on the following budget
• For the budget bills 2002 through 2013, the Speaker appoints Deaton, Davidson, and Fogle to all committees

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand in a budget crunch year we don't want to do anything to be taken potential revenue away
• Unanimous consent has been requested to discuss previous legislation. Any objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested to discuss previous legislation. Any objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested to discuss previous legislation. Any objection?
• really getting beat down because they are getting the blame for what they have to do, balancing our budget

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There were no negative right-to-request-to-speak entries last year.
• Instead, these supply and demand assessments are structured as water budgets, focusing on total inflows
• These supply and demand assessments are structured as water budgets, focusing on total inflows and outflows
• And so we cannot just create additional burdens or requests of the agency hoping that water will magically
• I live in Tucson, Arizona, and I believe I signed up on the request to speak as needed for this bill.

Bills: SB1005 , SB1202 , SB1278 , SB1279 , SB1280 , SB1287

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: cosmetics, animal testing, prohibition, manufacturers, sales regulation, state preemption, groundwater, water conservation, Arizona water resources, drought management, water quality, solar radiation management, environment, regulation, Arizona Revised Statutes, weather modification, licensing, environmental impact, public safety, cloud seeding

Transcript Highlights:

• I request unanimous consent for a letter to be printed in the journal.
• King taught us that budgets are a moral document and that public policies reflect our values.
• At the same time, current federal budgets, as we talked about, have threatened the lives of so many.
• It was written in response to who he viewed were colleagues, people he respected, and I request permission
• Colleagues, I rise today to request the Senate adjourn in memory of a California icon and American institution

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and for wages and benefits at a time when they're struggling, just like the state, to balance their budgets
• We respectfully request that you not move this bill forward.
• and for wages and benefits at a time when they're struggling, just like the state, to balance their budgets
• We respectfully request that you not move this bill forward.
• would be the attending provider, so they would be the one certifying time loss, submitting all the requests

Bills: HB2107 , HB2137 , HB2243 , HB2264

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: construction safety, hazard notification, worksite regulations, labor safety, state law, law enforcement, correctional officers, interest arbitration, collective bargaining, public safety, workers' compensation, healthcare providers, physical therapy, occupational therapy, employment, unemployment insurance, benefits, layoffs, workforce reduction, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the big request from us. Today, right?
• We go back and we update the budget to make sure they've got the most recent budget numbers.
• Maybe one of those questions that we ask during the request for proposal. in terms of trying to determine
• So you are asking for consideration that we present a policy change, that maybe we request a detailed

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It clarifies that the reporting includes the results, but not the testing, as per request of the courts
• As per request of the courts. Okay, excellent.
• are, because, ...and what the impacts to our budget are, because as I understand it, this is an area
• And as was mentioned, I appreciate the comments that have been made that this was in the budget last
• And as was mentioned, I appreciate the comments that have been made that this was in the budget last

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a series of personal privilege introductions recognizing guests including the Doctor of the Day, realtors visiting for Realtor Day, and the family of former Senator Barbara Leff. The chamber also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 264 honoring Barbara Leff, followed by a moment of silence in her memory. The Senate then moved through a large number of bill introductions and first readings, as well as Committee of the Whole consideration of several measures. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered and advanced multiple bills, often with technical or negotiated floor amendments. Among those reported out as do pass or do pass as amended were SB 1494, SB 1497, SB 1503, SB 1535, SB 1544, SB 1580, SB 1582, SB 1584, SB 1585, SB 1602, SB 1632, SB 1723, and SB 1798. The amendments addressed topics such as technical corrections to mining and pension language, classical learning tests, sex trafficking record sealing, probation reporting, school safety funding, kinship foster care stipends, DES credentialing, domestic violence release conditions, and a school safety/threat identification pilot program that was revised into a FAFSA awareness recognition program. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several bills. HB 4115, SB 1012, SB 1213, SB 1416, SB 1474, SB 1511, SB 1549, SB 1573, SB 1634, SB 1647, SB 1649, SB 1664, and SB 1725 were considered, with most passing on party-line or near-party-line votes; SB 1416 and SB 1664 passed unanimously, while SB 1549 passed with broader support. Several members explained votes on immigration enforcement, concealed carry in establishments serving alcohol, commercial driver licensing, campaign finance, and a digital asset reserve fund. HB 2993, dealing with DPS legal representation funding, passed 16-13 after debate over constitutional concerns, funding sources, and the use of the Attorney General’s consumer fraud fund. The session ended with the Senate adopting the Committee of the Whole report and transmitting the passed bills to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• These draft amendments ensure long-term allowance budgets beyond 2030 support achieving the state's 2045
• For evaluating existing offset protocols and developing new protocols, CARB has requested additional
• And so I've heard some requests to have oil put in this carbon adjustment, cap adjustment factor.
• And so under that approach, you're removing an allowance from the subsequent year's allowance budget
• As allowance budgets decline, price volatility likely increases.

Committee: House Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policy heard an overview from CARB on proposed amendments to California’s Cap-and-Invest program, which was reauthorized through 2045 by AB 1207 and SB 840. CARB said the draft rules are intended to preserve affordability, market certainty, and progress toward the state’s 2030 and 2045 climate targets. The agency described the program’s main features, including the declining emissions cap, utility and industrial allowance allocations, offset changes, the allowance price containment reserve, and new reporting and oversight requirements. CARB also said the rulemaking is on a public comment timeline, with board consideration planned for late May and an effective date targeted for September 1, 2026. Committee members focused heavily on electricity affordability, the planned shift of free allowances from natural gas utilities to electric utilities, and whether the proposal would raise rates for investor-owned and publicly owned utilities. CARB said the proposal is meant to protect ratepayers from compliance costs and that the utility allocation is based on updated data showing utilities are greener than before, but members and utility representatives argued the transition should happen faster and that the current draft could reduce expected revenues and disrupt long-term planning. Members also pressed CARB on carbon capture and sequestration, asking that the regulations clearly recognize it as a compliance pathway, and on whether the SB 905 rulemaking for carbon capture should move forward on schedule. A second major topic was industrial allocations, especially for refiners and other sectors at risk of leakage. CARB said it is keeping all industries at high leakage risk through 2030, maintaining the current cap-adjustment approach, and leaving room for additional comments and data on whether refiners need more allowances to avoid economic leakage and preserve in-state refining. Members also questioned how imported gasoline is treated, and CARB explained that transportation fuel is regulated at the rack and through the low-carbon fuel standard, while cap-and-invest covers in-state tailpipe and smokestack emissions rather than full life-cycle emissions. CARB said it is open to using additional data, including SB 253 reporting, to improve fuel carbon-intensity estimates. The panel of outside experts largely agreed that the program must balance affordability, ambition, and leakage concerns, but they differed on how much allowance value should go to utilities, industry, and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The Legislative Analyst’s Office emphasized that the Legislature should scrutinize CARB’s allocation choices now because they will be hard to change later. An IEMAC representative said the proposal appears to shift more allowance value to industry and utilities, which could reduce GGRF revenues, while EDF argued the cap could be tightened further in the near term without triggering price containment. SCAPA, representing publicly owned utilities, warned that the proposal would reduce utility allowances and could raise costs for ratepayers and undermine early decarbonization investments. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But my follow-up would be, who requested this legislation?
• And so evidently this amount is already in their budget, so there's no fiscal impact to do this, but
• I think that's some of the motivation for this request. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you, Mr.
• agency, and they could... ...with some contract from a temporary agency, and they could not get requests
• This request would be to move that office officially underneath the Oklahoma Insurance Department, again

Bills: SB2063 , SB1877 , SB1884 , SB2174 , SB1525 , SB1771 , SB1805 , SB1916 , SB1365 , SB1810

Committee: House General Government

Keywords: unclaimed property, abandoned property, state treasurer, unclaimed property fund, public website, claimant, hearing, administrative procedures act, sales tax exemption, income tax subtraction, youth entrepreneurs, teen business, minor-owned business, sole proprietorship, business license exemption, entrepreneurship, youth vendor, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Title 60, Title 68

Summary: The committee first laid over Senate Bill 263, then took up several other measures. Senate Bill 1877, which would create a centralized reporting system for reports through the Secretary of State, was discussed as similar to House Bill 3047 and was reported due pass by a 6-0 vote. Senate Bill 1884, concerning access for statewide educator associations and individual school employees, drew questions about union access, off-campus recruitment, right-to-work law, and possible conflicting language on fees and reimbursement; it was reported due pass 6-1. The committee then advanced tourism and public safety measures. Senate Bill 1365 would update promotional fund language and allow the Tourism and Recreation Department to make certain merchandise purchases outside the central purchasing process up to $75,000; it passed 6-2. Senate Bill 2174 would change the appointment and makeup of the State Fire Marshal Commission board and was reported due pass 8-0. Senate Bill 1525, as amended by a PCS, would let the Tourism and Recreation Department contract for support of its annual tourism conference and charge registration fees to recoup costs, with emergency language added; it passed 6-2. The committee also approved House Bill 1810, which would allow expert testimony in human trafficking cases and add trafficking victims to existing victim services, by an 8-0 vote. On workforce and agency administration, Senate Bill 1771 would expand the Workforce Commission’s authority to collect funding, expenditure, and performance data and to hire outside counsel; it passed 5-2. Senate Bill 1805 would bar certain group homes and post-adjudication treatment facilities from using contract staff, due to concerns about records access and staffing; it passed 6-1. Finally, Senate Bill 1960 would move the Oklahoma Receivership Office under the Oklahoma Insurance Department to modernize and reduce duplication, and it was reported due pass 7-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• with us, with the Legislature, with legislative committees, and with legislative staff that make requests
• So as you, I'm sure, recall, we made some changes on legislative public records requests that come out
• And so this was, and you can extend a current public records request. You can get an extension.
• This was, and you can extend a current public records request. You can get an extension on that.
• special privilege that we fall right in there with knowing that you could extend a public records request

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Families receive referrals only after requesting them, and they are never obligated to use them.
• At the request of the author, Representative Campos, House Bill 3589 will not be heard today and will
• Thank you, members, and I respectfully request my right to close.
• I respectfully request your favorable consideration of House Bill 4129. And with that, I close.
• I request your favorable consideration, and with that, I close. Thank you. Questions?

Bills: HB1531 , HB2667 , HB2809 , HB2865 , HB3589 , HB3151 , HB3748 , HB3750 , HB4419 , HB4643 , HB3597 , HB4129 , HB4130 , HB4131

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• So the same county that is managing its own budget is also deciding, for example, who's good.
• practicing in rural and high-needs areas, but unfortunately that request was not funded.
• And y'all heard a lot of requests. It's sadly simple and extremely hard.
• That person should, if they've requested an attorney, be given an attorney.
• Getting our public information requests handled on the general county funds.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully when that time comes... >> So those are just some quick reports on AEDs and... budget budget
• </c><00:44:27.800><c> So</c><00:44:28.120><c> um</c> budgets if we need to add for it.
• So um budgets if we need to add for it.
• </c> have we can keep up with the the request have we can keep up with the the request versus<00:47:20.680
• In terms of a budgetary request.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a reasonable request.
• </c><00:36:44.760><c> that</c> prudent that the request that prudent that the request that they<00:36
• operating budget.
• operating budget.
• ><c> budget</c><01:38:56.440><c> the</c><01:38:56.639><c> legislator</c> state operating budget the legislator

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 622, but after the sponsor said further research raised concerns, he asked that the bill be tabled. The committee then moved in executive session and voted unanimously to find the bill inexpedient to legislate, sending it to consent. The committee also retained House Bill 349, the ophthalmologic laser bill, after members said more time was needed for the professions involved to work out training standards and provide additional information; that motion also passed unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 244, a municipal building/fire code recodification measure. Members said the bill needed more review and careful scrutiny because of its length and possible unintended effects, and they voted unanimously to retain it as well. House Bill 534 was then heard; the sponsor said the bill did not do what was intended because of a misunderstanding about current processing, and the committee voted inexpedient to legislate and placed it on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 233, with an amendment to remove a requirement affecting the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Supporters argued the bill would reduce an unnecessary burden and improve transparency, while opponents said the committee should not single out one private 501(c)(3) organization. The amendment was adopted 8-5, and the bill as amended then passed 7-6; a minority report was requested. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 536, a proposed 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment for certain state retirees. The sponsor and supporters argued retirees had not received adequate COLAs and that the bill would help offset inflation, while the retirement system testified that the proposal would add significant costs, including an estimated $1.5 million for the state, $6.6 million for political subdivisions, and about $100.7 million in present-value unfunded liability, with the impact reflected in future employer contribution rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, requesting the Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology and the House of Representatives
• Um how did you guys determine requested.
• Moving on to STR 64, SR49, requesting DER to establish the Hawaii State Fellows Program.
• </c><00:38:22.880><c> And</c> requested to more closely cooperate.
• And requested to more closely cooperate.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several resolutions focused on workforce shortages and program development. STR 145/SR 117 would create a legislative working group on paid family and medical leave; testimony from state agencies, labor groups, advocacy organizations, and others was overwhelmingly supportive, though some asked for broader representation and legal expertise. Members raised questions about prior studies, staffing estimates, and funding needs for administering a future program. The chair ultimately deferred decision making on this measure to March 28, 2025. The committee also heard STR 55/SR 37 on reviewing the boiler and elevator inspection branch to improve recruitment and retention. DLIR supported the measure, while the Department of Human Resources Development supported the intent but suggested labor should lead the study. Industry witnesses described long inspection wait times, backlogs, and difficulty recruiting inspectors, and several said higher pay and training pathways were needed. The committee voted to pass the resolution unamended. For STR 64/SR 49, which would establish a Hawaii State Fellows Program, the department supported the concept but said resources would be needed and should be included in the budget rather than a resolution; the committee recommended deferral indefinitely. STR 67/SR 51, addressing hiring shortages in the public mental health care system, drew support from the State Council on Mental Health and others, with requests for amendments to ensure broader cooperation and added agencies. The committee moved the measure as a Senate draft with amendments. STR 63/SR 48, proposing a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award, received support from DLIR, and the committee later recessed and reconvened for decision making on the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but of a person previously enrolled in CPP to file a notification request with DHS and be informed
• B4 establishes a process for a staff member of a jail to request an accommodation, exempting the staff
• This one establishes a process for staff members to request accommodation.
• Then, if budget allowed with DOC, they could increase that based on the CPI.
• It just says that that is the base, and everything is based on budget.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee met on February 24 to executive a large docket of bills and one gubernatorial appointment. The committee first heard and then moved several bills in two packets. Topics included the Community Protection Program (SHB 1390), jail search policies for transgender and intersex individuals (EHB 1604), medically tailored meals (EHB 2211), limits on DSHS reviews of community residential service providers (SHB 2230), and a children and youth behavioral health coordination bill (2SHB 2429). Later, the committee also considered bills on foster care licensing and adult family homes (SHB 2505), DOC supervision of stalking convictions (HB 2510), inmate funds and indigency thresholds (SHB 2539), and transparency for residential habilitation centers (SHB 2350), along with the reappointment of Corey McNally to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. Most of the debate centered on SHB 1390 and EHB 1604, where Senator Christian offered numerous amendments aimed at adding restrictions, notifications, assessments, and delays; most of those amendments failed on party-line votes. On SHB 1390, the committee adopted only a technical amendment updating agency names and references, then advanced the bill to Rules. On EHB 1604, all proposed amendments failed and the bill was sent to Rules. On EHB 2211, an amendment to add a competitive bidding credit for nonprofit and small-business meal vendors failed, and the bill advanced. SHB 2230 moved forward without amendment, and 2SHB 2429 was amended with a striking amendment and referred to Ways and Means because of its fiscal impact. In the second packet, SHB 2505 and HB 2510 were both moved out of committee without amendment. On SHB 2539, the committee rejected an amendment to lower the indigency threshold to $50, adopted an amendment allowing the threshold to be at least $100 and adjustable, and then advanced the bill as amended. On SHB 2350, the committee adopted a negotiated amendment requiring notices about residential habilitation center noncompliance to be emailed to relevant legislative committees, withdrew a second notice amendment, and passed the bill. The committee also voted to recommend confirmation of Corey McNally’s appointment to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. Several bills were reported out subject to signatures, and the meeting adjourned after the final vote.