Transcript Highlights:

• However, under the current law, and also reinforced by the Attorney General’s opinion, although we are
• My office, my vehicles are exempt as district attorney. I have investigators.
• Charles Ballet, District Attorney of the 25th JDC, Plaquemines Parish. Thank you, Mr. Ballet.
• District Attorney from Plaquemines Parish, present in support and speaking. Dr.
• Some are statewide, some are local, some are regional. There's a variety. Yeah. Okay.

Bills: SB309 , SB457 , SB513 , HB148 , HB149 , HB358 , HB384 , HB428 , HB487 , HB593 , HB613 , HB657 , HB675 , HB712 , HB716 , HB720 , HB723 , HB728 , HB732 , HB845 , HB846 , HB965

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Keywords: driving school, driver education, prelicensing course, motor vehicles, Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles, third-party tester, third-party examiner, private driving instructor, license application, consumer protection, course pricing, tuition regulation, administrative rules, transportation committee, construction, management, project delivery, public contracts, legislative approval

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several transportation-related bills, many involving license plates, toll exemptions, and administrative changes. The committee first advanced HB 988 by Rep. Bagley, which changes the fee distribution for current and retired legislators’ special prestige license plates so the proceeds support repairs at the Pentagon/first LSU building rather than going to the state. It then heard HB 1001 by Rep. Marcel, designating a portion of U.S. Highway 190 as the Jesse Jackson Memorial Highway; the bill was supported with remarks honoring Jackson’s civil rights legacy, and the committee observed a moment of silence before reporting it favorably without objection. The committee next considered HB 989 by Rep. Boyer, which updates and clarifies fees charged by public license tag agents. Rep. Phelps offered an amendment to exempt Shreveport from the fee increase, but it failed on a roll call vote, and the bill was then reported favorably by a 13-2 vote. HB 1192, also by Rep. Boyer, creating a Louisiana Dental Hygienist Association specialty license plate, was amended to remove a restriction limiting issuance to association members and then passed favorably without objection. HB 1032 by Rep. Wiley, which clarifies the substances referenced in DUI-related motor vehicle statutes, received technical amendments and was reported favorably without objection. The committee also advanced HB 748 by Rep. Brough, exempting Louisiana school board-owned and leased vehicles from tolls on bridges and highways, including the Bell Chasse toll bridge area, after testimony from Plaquemines Parish school officials and the district attorney describing toll costs and operational burdens; the bill was amended to include leased vehicles and then reported favorably without objection. HB 1108 by Rep. Omade creating a homeschool pride specialty plate was also reported favorably without objection after discussion of the plate design and proceeds going to Homeschool Louisiana. Finally, HB 1081 by Chairman Wright, restructuring the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission under the Office of Multimodal Commerce and DOTD for administrative support, was amended at the request of the Governor’s Office and reported favorably without objection. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 18 local water, sewer, and infrastructure bonding projects.
• We have 18 local water, sewer, and infrastructure bonding projects.
• We have 18 local water, sewer, and infrastructure bonding projects.
• </c> being uh worked on through local being uh worked on through local cooperation<00:24:19.080><c> with
• </c> cost of the project requires local cost of the project requires local governments<00:58:44.000><

Bills: HF458 , HF459 , HF461 , HF449 , HF450 , HF965 , HF1280 , HF612 , HF615 , HF616 , HF622 , HF650 , HF651 , HF1045 , HF972 , HF851 , HF644 , HF1050

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF458, Henderson, water treatment facility, drinking water, municipal water, public infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, bonding bill, Public Facilities Authority, water distribution system, well connection, local government grant, Minnesota capital budget, HF459, Carver levee, City of Carver, levee restoration, flood control, flood mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Hadley farmer and our shared constituent Wally Sikowsky said to the Greenfield Recorder, the local paper
• We actually have two students in the front row whose families are local asparagus farmers.
• Tudrin is a respected local leader, and I'm going to hand it over to her.
• You are helping show the next generation that local traditions and agriculture are worth celebrating.
• .. ...that local traditions and agriculture are worth celebrating, protecting, and just like asparagus

Bills: H5088 , H5315 , H5335 , S3061 , S3073

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: asparagus, official vegetable, state symbol, Massachusetts, Veterans Memorial Rink, Waltham, municipal lease, capital management, city right of first refusal, American lobster, cultural significance, marine life, property, Lowell, state administration, legislation, local government, official state vegetable, state designation, Commonwealth

Transcript Highlights:

• Board is low-income representation directly from the local level.
• So it's federal money overseen by the state and controlled, administered, and dictated by local democratic
• fantastic because, as I said, it is federal money administered. by the state but actually guided by local
• needs, local decisions.
• The dollar is very flexible, and we trust our local partners to address local needs with local solutions

Bills: SB80 , SB1101 , SB1813 , SB1966

Committee: House Commerce & Economic Development Oversight

Keywords: SB80, legislation, state law, public safety, community impact, local governance, dental coverage, insurance reporting, healthcare access, dental loss ratio, community benefits, Oklahoma law, Athletic Trainer, Compact, interstate practice, licensure, public health, workforce development, military spouses, telehealth

Bills: SB371

Committee: Senate Madison County Legislation

Keywords: SB371, Madison County, Alabama constitutional amendment, senior property tax exemption, property tax freeze, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, age 65 and older, owner-occupied housing, principal residence, residential property tax, local tax relief, property tax assessment, county tax exemption, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Opposed, same sign. a local unit of government um could a local unit of government um could actually<
• ><c> weren't</c> local emergency services weren't local emergency services weren't overwhelmed.<01:18
• </c> bill requires notification to local bill requires notification to local jurisdictions<01:20:49.200
• c> personnel,</c> Our local public safety personnel, Our local public safety personnel, police,<01:29
• They and local level do the opposite.

Bills: HF4110 , HF4101 , HF4144 , HF3546

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, medical assistance, data matching, eligibility, reporting, human services, assisted living, health regulations, inspection authority, vulnerable adults, local government, program integrity, high-risk providers, enrollment requirements, fraud prevention, compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• Local taxing jurisdictions must explicitly consent.
• Local taxing jurisdictions must explicitly consent.
• The study must analyze the effects on schools, local districts, local taxing entities, and net economic
• It's pro-taxpayer, pro-school, pro-local consent.
• I would completely agree, especially with local control, ensuring that locally elected individuals who

Bills: HB3310 , HB4311 , HB3841 , HB3024 , HB3075

Committee: House General Government

Keywords: purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, unclaimed property, service charges, property fund, accountability, government transparency, local development, economic impact, voter approval, tax increment financing, review committee, public finance, blight, salary increase, bonus limits, job performance

Summary: The committee met for its first General Government meeting of the second part of session and laid over several agenda items, including bills listed as numbers 3, 4, and 10. HB 3310, the Government Accountability and Budget Transparency Act, was presented as a procurement accountability measure to strengthen oversight, efficiency, and timely payment to private vendors doing business with the state. After brief questioning about whether late payment is a widespread problem, the committee voted 8-0 to pass the bill. HB 431, which would increase the treasurer’s share of the unclaimed property administration fee from 4% to 6%, was presented as necessary to cover higher operating costs such as salaries and IT. The author emphasized that the change would not cost taxpayers anything or reduce the amount returned to owners of unclaimed property. The committee approved the bill after questions about long-term impacts on the unclaimed property fund. The most extensive discussion centered on HB 3841, a major reform of tax increment financing (TIF). The author said the bill would not ban TIFs but would require voter approval, separate consent from affected taxing jurisdictions, more transparency, annual training for review committees, independent legal and financial opinions, and economic impact studies. Members raised concerns that the bill’s wording—especially the “majority of the eligible voters” language and removal of executive-session confidentiality—could make TIFs impractical or eliminate trade-secret protections, and they also questioned costs and effects on economic development. At the author’s request and with committee support, the bill was laid over for further work. The committee then passed HB 3024, which creates statutory limits and oversight for state employee pay increases and bonuses, including a 10% cap unless higher amounts are approved through cabinet secretary/OMES procedures. Supporters said it would add transparency and curb large, unreported raises, while questions focused on whether it would help address broader pay disparities. Finally, HB 3075, as amended by a PCS, was presented to authorize rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel for state agencies and local governments in response to the practical disappearance of pennies. The committee approved that bill as well, and the meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• from directly or indirectly contributing or donating money in connection with a federal, state, or local
• It really is just allowing these local jurisdictions to exercise this if they wish. Great.
• I worry that intermingling these potentially problematic moves in local policy and voting for local elections
• And these rules apply uniformly at the state level, county level, at the local level.
• Passing this bill continues that local punishment rather— Passing this bill continues that local punishment

Bills: HB2210 , HB2123 , HB2206 , HB2281 , HB2411

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: local representation, fair elections, government accountability, voter rights, transparency, foreign nationals, elections, Washington state, voter participation, government oversight, voting rights, uniform standards, overseas voting, civilian voting, state legislation, tribal relations, government, state policy, sovereignty, federalism

Transcript Highlights:

• small farmers who are selling their ungraded eggs at the farmers market and let them get into the local
• However, under current law, if these farmers want to sell to a local restaurant or a community grocer
• The bill simply gives them access to new local market channels.
• We don't have corporate attorneys or insurance teams to back us up.
• Senate Bill 1864 strengthens rural economies, supports veterans and new farmers, improves local food

Bills: SB1864

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: eggs, ungraded eggs, egg grading, poultry, farm products, local food, small farmers, direct-to-consumer sales, wholesale food sales, food safety, refrigeration requirements, sanitation standards, occupational license, dealer-wholesaler license, Texas Department of Agriculture, restaurants, small grocery stores, cooperatives, farmers cooperative, agricultural regulation

Bills: HB441 , HB425 , HB416

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, mental health, regional authority, board of directors, local governance, public health, sudden cardiac arrest, automated external defibrillator, AED, school safety, emergency response, cardiac emergency response plan, training, athletic events, first aid, sessions

Bills: HB424 , SB286

Committee: House Montgomery County Legislation

Keywords: HB424, Montgomery County, sheriff, county sheriff, salary increase, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, public official compensation, law enforcement pay, elected official salary, Montgomery County legislation, sheriff compensation, term-based salary, retirement system, Montgomery City Council, constitutional amendment, employees, service credit

Transcript Highlights:

• The FCIC has tackled these crimes, driving large scale investigations and mass prosecutions.
• I would greatly appreciate your favorable consideration and ask that the bill go to local and consent
• Enabling more effective investigations and prosecutions of these organized groups.
• Have, has the, have the district attorneys weighed in on this?
• Um, the district attorneys are aware of this, and the district attorneys in Smith County and Harris County

Bills: HB201 , HB272

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: disabled veteran, partially disabled veteran, veterans property tax exemption, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, surviving spouse, appraisal district, Tax Code, local government revenue, homestead portability, service-connected disability, veteran benefits, Texas property tax, residence homestead, disability rating, disaster response, financial assistance, helicopter, municipalities

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> practices utility providers and local practices utility providers and local municipalities<00:05
• with local regional contractors and companies who hire local workers—workers who live in our own communities
• </c><00:19:26.679><c> Minnesota</c> approach in using local Minnesota approach in using local Minnesota
• </c> energy utilities state and local energy utilities state and local officials<00:46:12.440><c> uh<
• </c> to keep or enh jobs increase the local to keep or enh jobs increase the local tax<01:31:26.199><

Bills: HF47 , HF335

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

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF335, Greater Minnesota, economic development, public infrastructure, grant program, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, business development, infrastructure grants, local government aid, general fund appropriation, rural development, site development, utilities, roads

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe while she's here, she will decide to stop, be an attorney, and come with me to the Senate.
• of going across the board, it's not, there was another issue last week, a conversation about the locals
• And so I encourage all of you to sign it, fill out an application, and submit it to your local clerk
• disciplinary review of cases in child abuse, I think this is really important, and this would be led by the Attorney
• disciplinary review of cases in child abuse, I think this is real important, and this would be led by the Attorney

Bills: SB83 , SB135 , SB143 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB237 , SB261 , SB276 , SB295 , SB450 , SB465 , SB506 , HB1070

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: human trafficking, trafficking prevention, school safety, public schools, elementary and secondary education, charter schools, mandatory reporting, victim identification, victim services, child trafficking, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, commercial sexual activity, DCFS, Department of Children and Family Services, Louisiana State Police, governor's office of human trafficking prevention, counselor training, mental health professional, administrator training

Bills: SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146 , SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: SB143, solid waste, garbage collection, trash fees, refuse collection, municipal fees, county fees, fee exemption, veterans benefits, veteran household, disabled veteran, VA benefits, Social Security exemption, low-income households, poverty level, county commission, municipal governing body, Alabama solid waste law, certificate of exception, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• but they can outsource that to a third party, whether that be an accountant, a family friend, an attorney
• friend,</c><00:31:54.880><c> an</c> accountant, a family friend, an accountant, a family friend, an attorney
• 55.840><c> but</c><00:31:56.159><c> it</c><00:31:56.399><c> allows</c><00:31:56.799><c> another</c> attorney
• , whoever, but it allows another attorney, whoever, but it allows another individual<00:31:57.600><c>
• have a 17-year-old who cuts grass, and so in order for him to get paid now, obviously anybody could locally

Bills: HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174 , HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, HB170, supplemental appropriations, Education Trust Fund, Alabama education budget, school funding, K-12 education, local boards of education, textbook adoption, school buses, school safety, charter schools, summer programs, afterschool programs, reading intervention, college and career readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative costs to the Department of Revenue of $120,000, and there is no impact to state or local
• There's also a local school district fiscal note that's pending, so we don't have access to that just
• Without funding attached, Senate Bill 5883 shifts costs to local districts and ultimately to students
• There's also a local fiscal note that provides some helpful context.
• The local fiscal note provides helpful context related to the two port districts in question.

Bills: SB5834 , SB5835 , SB5883 , SB5905 , SB6151 , SB6163 , SB6177 , SB6173

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: Washington retirement systems, retirement trust funds, interest earnings, public employee retirement system, teachers retirement system, state patrol retirement system, judicial retirement system, judges retirement system, school employees retirement system, public safety employees retirement system, law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system, PERS, TRS, LERS, legal expenses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, fraud prevention, overpayment recovery, trust fund protection

Transcript Highlights:

• and 0 nays, the committee substitutes Senate Bill 1006 as favorably report it and we'll send that to local
• will be nine ayes and zero nays, Senate Bill 917 is favorably reported. without objection, sent to local
• And finally, the Office of Attorney General may bring action of injunctive relief if a city, county,
• Additionally, with SB 1252, these standards remain, but the local red tape would be removed, creating
• PDLR's authority to continue its work in both regulatory enforcement and assisting local and federal.

Bills: SB213 , SB378 , SB610 , SB681 , SB918 , SB1172 , SB1252 , SB1343 , SCR8

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: SB 213, Texas insurance, Insurance Code, Chapter 551, Chapter 541, bundling, tying arrangement, cross-selling, homeowners insurance, residential property insurance, auto insurance, personal automobile insurance, consumer protection, unfair trade practice, deceptive insurance practice, property and casualty insurer, Lloyd's plan, county mutual, reciprocal exchange, farm mutual

Transcript Highlights:

• that choose not to use DCM, uh, there is questions about whether the state can be involved or the local
• </c> state can be involved or the local state can be involved or the local governments.<00:21:23.919>
• General's opinion that says local governments have no authority over state buildings like schools.
• So if SB 88 says that the state doesn't do it, and the Attorney General's opinion says the locals don't
• </c><00:26:03.120><c> general's</c> minute ago about a attorney general's minute ago about a attorney

Bills: SB88 , SB337 , SB88 , SB337 , HB623

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: expungement, criminal records, courts, victim rights, rehabilitation, Alabama law, SB337, Montgomery County, probate judge, judge of probate, county officer compensation, salary increase, circuit judge parity, local legislation, county commission, general fund, public official pay, judicial compensation, Montgomery County Legislation, construction management

Bills: HB393 , HB61 , SB234 , SB234

Committee: Senate Tourism

Keywords: entertainment district, alcohol consumption, local governance, city council, public spaces, home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, Cherokee County, off-road vehicle park, ORV park, ATV, all-terrain vehicle, dirt bike, off-highway vehicle, recreational vehicle, county permit, inspection