Transcript Highlights:

• detection, brain health, risk reduction, clinical trial access, and community resources targeting the general
• 2021, the law was improved with help from the elder law section of the Florida Bar and the Attorney General
• And so a child who would be in one of those facilities would be eligible to participate in a placement
• And so a child who would be in one of those facilities would be eligible to participate in a placement
• So there is contemplation... ...from an inpatient residential treatment facility.

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and first took up SB 398, which would create a statewide public health awareness campaign through the Department of Elder Affairs on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Senator Burgess said the campaign would focus on early detection, brain health, risk reduction, clinical trial access, and community resources. The committee heard supportive testimony from a caregiver, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and others, with members discussing the need for culturally responsive outreach and continued funding. SB 398 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 106, which would strengthen Florida’s exploitation injunction law for vulnerable adults by allowing service of an unascertainable exploiter through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp. Senator Martin explained the bill as a way to close a loophole that lets scammers evade traditional service, and witnesses from the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section supported it, describing how the bill could stop ongoing thefts more quickly while preserving due process. Members asked about gift card scams, clerk workload, and the definition of an unascertainable respondent. SB 106 was reported favorably. The Department of Children and Families then presented an update on the Adoption Benefits for Qualifying Adoptive Employees Program, describing its expansion over time and the current one-time lump-sum benefit structure for eligible adoptive parents. The presentation covered eligibility rules, open enrollment, funding history, and the program’s impact on adoption placements, with members asking why tax collectors were included but other constitutional offices were not, and whether foster relatives could qualify. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7012, a committee bill addressing child welfare workforce shortages, treatment foster care for high-acuity children, and improved data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill would direct DCF to recruit former public safety workers for CPI and case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and require more detailed, analyzable data and capacity studies. The bill drew support from child welfare advocates, with some members urging DCF to return with a more developed framework; it was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but that the results that we accomplished together will impact the people of Florida for many generations
• Cantella, Secretary, by Rules Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
• And I'd be remiss to acknowledge that our appointed attorney general has made some pretty anti-surrogacy
• A general advanced course is 0.5, and AP, IB, ACE is 1.0.
• the facility is regulated by and in compliance with the several departments that I mentioned.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Facilities or to fund the operations and maintenance of new affordable housing units.
• At a minimum, adjust the generous benefits before increasing the tax.
• At a minimum, adjust the generous benefits before increasing the tax.
• It's a different fund source than the general fund state.
• It's a different fund source than the general fund state.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a series of housing, education, workforce, and court-related bills. On Substitute Senate Bill 5884, staff described changes to a sales and use tax deferral for redeveloping vacant or underused land into affordable housing, including broader eligible property definitions and lower affordability thresholds in designated areas. Testimony was mixed: builders opposed language they feared could encourage project labor agreements, while Spokane and Kent representatives supported the bill but asked for flexibility on affordability mix requirements. On Senate Bill 6256, which expands a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income rental housing to include certain co-located community uses during construction and extends the pre-construction exemption period, testimony was strongly supportive from housing nonprofits and local housing partners, with questions focused on clawback provisions. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6027, which expands allowable uses of local housing and supportive housing sales tax revenue, adjusts a REET exemption timeline, broadens emergency housing definitions, and changes use of the Affordable Housing for All account. County, housing, and nonprofit witnesses said the bill would help preserve housing and services amid federal funding uncertainty, though Snohomish County asked for an amendment to allow rental assistance. Substitute Senate Bill 6018 would revise the Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including direct lending and bond counsel terms; commission staff said it would modernize outdated restrictions and improve financing flexibility. Substitute Senate Bill 6028 would create a revolving loan fund for mixed-income homeownership projects; supporters said it would help smaller infill projects pencil, while staff noted the loans would be subordinate and carry some risk. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 6275 on the community reinvestment program, which would require periodic plan updates, reporting, and a WSIPP study, while also expressing legislative intent to continue at least $100 million annually in the account. Advocates, workforce groups, legal aid providers, and small business owners testified that the program supports communities harmed by past disinvestment and should be made permanent and more accountable. Substitute Senate Bill 5961 would move the Imagination Library program from DCYF to OSPI; early literacy advocates and local partners supported the transfer as better aligned with school readiness. Substitute Senate Bill 5969 would integrate IEP transition plans with high school and beyond plans, and a prior critic said amendments addressed her concerns. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5292 would shift PFML premium rate-setting to the annual actuarial report and raise the reserve target; labor and industry witnesses supported the change, while a policy group opposed the program’s costs. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5868 to add one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties. Judges and county officials testified that caseloads, population growth, and backlogs justify the additions, and county leaders said they had already budgeted for their share. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5827 would allow service members to use pre-discharge certification to claim veterans’ civil service preference; the sponsor said it would solve a timing problem for transitioning service members. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, as the meeting consisted of bill briefings and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• public buying the concessions, or to the facility that's offering the solicitation?
• public buying the concessions, or to the facility that's offering the solicitation?
• I think it, you know, generally speaking, it could be changed to, like, government entities.
• The Adjutant General was just last session. So I don't know if much came up of that.
• Say we have a storm and a roof is damaged on an existing facility.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reliable economic driver, generating reliable economic driver, generating multiplier<00:34:42.359
• I move to lay over general orders, second reading of bills until Thursday, March 19th.
• </c> General orders, second reading of bills. General orders, second reading of bills.
• </c><00:50:45.280><c> orders,</c> The motion is lay over general orders, The motion is lay over general
• And general orders, The eyes have it.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Angelida, if we can get you, we will be generous and give you three minutes. Welcome.
• for us as a city agency for sure because we don't have the ability to just hold them in a holding facility
• for us as a city agency for sure because we don't have the ability to just hold them in a holding facility
• I don't have a holding facility.
• So I'm not opposed to it in that structure, but from here to general orders, I don't know what would

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He'll talk a little bit about the CODIS database and DNA collection in general.
• And DNA collection in general, and you'll hear from Lisa Boastaff, Dr.
• If you went to an IDOC facility, they were awesome at collection.
• So if they went direct to probation, they didn't bump into an IDOC facility and it wasn't collected.
• So if they went direct to probation, they didn't bump into an IDOC facility and it wasn't collected.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of, of establishing MUDs, establishing neighborhoods that then, um, are generally are either incorporated
• The core function of a mud is to provide municipal quality water, sanitary sewer, and drainage facilities
• It does not design facilities to their own standards.
• At the end of the day, if the development is successful enough to generate the property values to support
• Um, we have the ability to partner on firefighting facilities.

Bills: HB23

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest, county property tax, nonprofit-owned property

Transcript Highlights:

• The core function of a MUD is to provide municipal quality water, sanitary sewer, and drainage facilities
• May not be able to accommodate what today's equipment and facilities need.
• It does not design facilities to their own standards.
• At the end of the day, if the development is successful enough to generate the property value... ...to
• We have the ability to partner on firefighting facilities.

Bills: HB23 , HB363 , HB447 , HB954 , HB23

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, municipal utility district, petition, county clerk, water code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, traffic impact studies, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, extraterritorial jurisdiction, county authority

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a resident of Nampa, a first-generation college student at Boise State University, and I attended
• I ask you to protect that opportunity for the next generation. Please reject H.J.R. 7.
• The charter school looked for public bond funding to expand their facilities.
• They actually welcomed us and said, we're so glad that you're here and renting this facility.
• They actually welcomed us and said, we're so glad that you're here and renting this facility.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pardip had mentioned, you have one of the largest blood cord facilities in the country.
• So many women are choosing to save and store them for future generations.
• Truth be told, one umbilical cord can generate almost 200 vials of stem cells.
• We don't have other facilities. It's kind of a mess.
• We don't have other facilities. It's kind of a mess.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then took up a large agenda of health-related bills. SB 1214, the Arizona Stem Cell Therapy Act, drew extensive testimony from supporters who said it would create guardrails for regenerative medicine, protect patients, and encourage biotech investment, while opponents argued it was tied to abortion politics and imposed harsh penalties. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. SB 1194, which would prohibit health professionals and institutions from denying care based on vaccination status, also passed 4-3 after testimony from supporters framing it as an access-to-care and religious-freedom measure and opponents warning it would interfere with private practice policies and parental choice. SB 1814, creating a study committee on substance use disorder treatment standards and oversight, passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1602, increasing stipends for kinship foster parents, passed as amended 7-0, and SB 1603, expanding child-only cash assistance eligibility, also passed as amended 7-0. The committee then considered several bills focused on gender-related care and public funding. SB 1177, which bars public monies from funding gender transition procedures and makes intentional violations a felony, passed 4-3 amid testimony that it protects taxpayers and counterarguments that it is discriminatory and unsupported by evidence. SB 1014, requiring insurance coverage for detransition procedures when transition care is covered and directing data reporting on transition and detransition, passed 4-3 after supporters said it would help detransitioners and collect needed data, while opponents argued it would chill providers and target transgender patients. SB 1094, creating civil liability for physicians who perform irreversible gender reassignment surgery on minors, was heard with testimony from supporters citing malpractice concerns and detransitioner harms and from opponents saying it would create a hostile environment for providers and treat trans patients differently; the transcript cuts off before the vote is shown. SB 1752, which classifies commercial harvesting or sale of mescaline as a felony while preserving bona fide religious use defenses, passed unanimously 7-0. Later, SB 1628, requiring insurers to report claims-denial and prior-authorization data and DIFI to publish standardized reports, passed unanimously 7-0 after supporters emphasized transparency and opponents called it redundant to federal reporting. SB 1629, requiring AHCCCS managed care organizations to give advance notice and network-adequacy documentation before terminating high-volume providers without cause, also passed 7-0; supporters said it would prevent patients from losing access to behavioral health care, while health plans and Access said existing oversight already covers much of this and warned the bill could slow necessary network changes. Throughout the meeting, the committee repeatedly adopted motions for due-pass recommendations and, where applicable, amendments, with several bills passing on party-line or near-party-line votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• adjustments and paying facilities to close beds and facilities.
• </c><01:04:56.400><c> to</c> board require nursing facilities to board require nursing facilities to
• </c> that that 9% cut to that one facility that that 9% cut to that one facility would<01:06:47.599><
• </c> care and interest in nursing facilities care and interest in nursing facilities uh<01:07:10.319>
• </c> facilities. They're going to apply. facilities. They're going to apply.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's speaking from a general perspective from the service. That's true.
• in the facility.
• That is long overdue, and I have lived this with three generations.
• We cannot transfer the revenues of county fees to the general fund.
• This also protects things like going to a medical facility, right?

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from the prior February meetings and then took up several measures. HCR 2013, designating June 2026 as “Celebrate Life Month” in Arizona, drew emotional testimony from Crystal Cooper and Bella Stockton about their lives with spina bifida and support for the resolution. Senator Kennedy and others questioned the purpose of the resolution, arguing the state should focus on concrete supports for families, but the motion passed 4-1 with two not voting. Members then advanced HB 2327, which clarifies protections for eligible persons’ identifying information in county recorder records, with an amendment excluding voter registration records; it passed 5-0 with two not voting. HB 2258, adding La Paz County to the Tourism Advisory Council’s geographic area, also passed unanimously among those voting. HB 2397, expanding HOA/COA disclosure requirements for prospective buyers, was amended twice and passed 5-1; supporters said it would improve transparency about assessments and defects, while opponents warned about cost and administrative burdens, especially for smaller associations. HB 2015, imposing penalties for late federal/state financial reporting by state organizations, passed 4-2 despite concerns that the automatic penalties were too harsh and could be out of agencies’ control. The committee also approved HB 4049, allowing DCS to hire its own counsel and directing the Attorney General to represent the state’s interest in certain cases involving alleged DCS misconduct, though some members argued current law already addresses conflicts and that DCS had not been consulted. HB 4087, authorizing placement of a Barbara Love memorial in the governmental wall, passed without opposition. HB 2100, allowing counties to authorize certain small land subdivisions, passed 4-2 amid debate over water adequacy and the risk of “wildcat” development. HB 2460, preempting local fees and penalties tied to abandoned or stolen movable business property such as shopping carts, passed 4-2 after extensive testimony from cities, retailers, and advocates over local control, costs, and theft prevention. Finally, HCR 2056, a proposed constitutional amendment recognizing a right to refuse medical mandates, began hearing testimony; supporters framed it as bodily autonomy, while opponents, including pediatric and public health advocates, warned it would weaken vaccine requirements and outbreak protections for schools and children.

Transcript Highlights:

• The memory of the Shoah calls us to act every day from our most courageous, generous selves, and to lead
• selves, and to lead and make generous selves, and to lead and make policy<00:03:18.080><c> from</c><
• ,</c><00:15:21.440><c> and</c><00:15:21.760><c> Survey</c><00:15:22.400><c> and</c> care facilities,
• </c><00:15:29.120><c> Again,</c><00:15:29.400><c> that's</c> long-term care facilities.
• Again, that's long-term care facilities.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, this sister died of extreme heat in one of our facilities here in California.
• And in facilities like Wasco and California Health Care Facility in Stockton, members describe heart
• And in facilities like Wasco and California health care facility in Stockton, members describe heart
• This is about the men and women who are in these facilities coming to work.
• But in general, you're going to have an FLC that's running one single bond, yes.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced a series of bills, mostly on worker safety, wages, workforce training, and retirement savings. AB 2137 (Chen) would strengthen safety rules and certification for artificial stone fabrication shops to reduce silica exposure; AB 2499 (Gibson) would require Cal/OSHA to develop heat-illness protections for incarcerated workers and staff in correctional facilities; AB 2300 (Arambula) would streamline the disbursement of state and federal workforce funds; AB 2646 (Krell) would establish a minimum wage floor for certain agricultural workers; AB 2227 (Connolly) would tighten licensing and bond requirements for farm labor contractors and add default-judgment procedures for wage claims; AB 1869 (Haney) would create a reporting process for alleged REIT interference in hotel operations; AB 2650 (Pellerin) would expand CalSavers with emergency savings accounts and other updates; AB 2634 (Zbur) would prioritize labor-management partnerships in High Road Training Partnership grants; and AB 1888 would require skilled-and-trained workforce and prevailing wage standards for work under the Safe Home Grant Program. AB 1534 (Irwin) would create California’s approval process for short-term Pell-eligible workforce programs. The committee also took up several consent items, including AB 1904, AB 1980, AB 2550, AB 2078, and AB 2682. Most bills were described as aligning state programs with federal law or improving worker protections and program quality, while opponents generally raised concerns about costs, administrative burden, regulatory uncertainty, or reduced oversight. Testimony was largely split along labor and industry lines. Supporters included labor unions, legal aid groups, workforce boards, and affected workers or family members, who emphasized heat illness, wage theft, silica exposure, poor prison conditions, and the need for higher-quality training and retirement access. Opponents on several bills, especially those affecting agriculture, REITs, and workforce administration, argued the measures would increase costs, create uncertainty, or duplicate existing law. On AB 2227, committee members engaged in extended discussion about Labor Commissioner delays and whether the bill’s default-judgment and bond provisions would meaningfully help workers. On AB 1869, members and witnesses debated whether the bill created new standards or simply improved enforcement of existing REIT rules. The committee voted to pass all of the measures heard, generally with motions to do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Several bills were held open for absent members during the meeting, and later add-on roll calls recorded additional ayes, moving the bills out of committee. The meeting concluded after the consent calendar was approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Substitute House Bill 2152, permitting the medical use of cannabis in specified health care facilities
• of Substitute House Bill 2152, permitting the medical use of cannabis in specified health care facilities
• I think it's very unique that we have similar values reaching across generations, and that young people
• She volunteers at memory care facilities with her dog, visits residents, is actively involved in serving
• Kaylee Pearson volunteers at memory care facilities with her dog, visits residents, is actively involved

Summary: The Senate opened by suspending Rule 46 to allow continued committee action during the floor session, then approved the previous day’s journal. It received standing committee reports and, on motion, referred listed measures as designated, with Substitute House Bill 2152 on medical cannabis in specified health care facilities and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2471 on collective bargaining redirected to the Committee on Ways and Means. The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 8694, which celebrates civil, open-minded discussion and recognizes students from Marysville-Getchell High School’s Advanced Placement Government class and the Building Bridges program for their work on civic discourse, media literacy, and respectful dialogue. Senators spoke in support of the resolution, emphasizing civility, diversity of opinion, and youth leadership. The resolution was adopted by voice vote. Next, the Senate considered Senate Resolution 8691 honoring the 2026 Apple Blossom Festival Royal Court from Wenatchee. The resolution highlighted the festival’s history, the accomplishments and community service of Queen Breel Precht and Princesses Kaylee Pearson and Parker Avery, and their roles as ambassadors for the festival. Senators praised their leadership and service, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote. The Senate then welcomed the royal court and guests to the North Gallery before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Rymer moves House File 2543 be placed on the General Register.
• </c> house file 2524 is placed on the general house file 2524 is placed on the general register<00:04
• </c> house file 2543 is placed on the general house file 2543 is placed on the general register<00:05
• </c> dogs that are in overheated facilities dogs that are in overheated facilities that<00:37:28.160>
• </c><00:38:09.359><c> out</c> are some good uh good facilities out are some good uh good facilities out

Bills: HF2543 , HF2566 , HF2627

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings levy, bank levy, execution, judgment debtor, judgment creditor, exemption notice, exempt property, bank account freeze, financial institution levy, employer disclosure, garnishee, writ of execution, debt collection, consumer debt, collections, bankruptcy exemptions, public benefits, means-tested benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is Department of Mental Health doesn't run holding facilities.
• Section 3 of the health care facility definition, where it says any urgent care center or facility that
• Louis could be removed is by a writ of quo warranto initiated by the Attorney General.
• Louis could be removed is by a writ of court warranto initiated by the attorney general.
• You know, the police department enforced general laws.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 982. Members adopted a House committee substitute that updated the bill to reflect recently enacted sex offense classifications and added language related to sexual violent predator civil commitment, including permission for the Department of Mental Health to contract with the Department of Corrections for housing. After questions about the civil commitment process and registry-related provisions, the committee adopted two House committee amendments, rolled them into the substitute, and voted the bill do pass by a vote of 14 aye, 1 no, and 1 present. The committee then approved House Bill 3414 by a vote of 12 yes, 1 no, and 3 present. Next, it considered a combined substitute for House Bills 3434, 3460, and 2628, which dealt with emergency contraception and related health care facility language. Members discussed whether the substitute should include religious objection protections and whether the facility definition was broad enough for rural clinics. After adopting an amendment clarifying that emergency contraception does not include medication approved to terminate a pregnancy, the committee adopted the substitute and voted the combined bills do pass by 11 aye, 4 no, and 1 present. In public hearing, the committee heard Senate Joint Resolution 87, which would place the election of sheriffs in the Missouri Constitution and preserve local election of sheriffs, with carve-outs for St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jackson County, and the City of St. Louis. The sponsor and supporting witnesses argued it would protect local control and accountability, while members asked about removal procedures and the role of the Attorney General versus local prosecutors. Supporters, including the Osage County sheriff and the interim sheriff of the City of St. Louis, testified in favor; no opposition testified. The committee also heard House Bills 1868 and 3257, identical bills creating an offense for impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders after an oral warning to stay back. Sponsors said the measure was intended to protect officers, EMS, firefighters, and others from interference at scenes, and supporters from ambulance, physician, and fire service groups backed the bill, with a suggested cleanup to remove the outdated term “ambulance driver.” Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3017, which would create the offense of permitting a public nuisance on property after repeated documented complaints and allow authorities to secure or board up nuisance properties. The sponsor and Kansas City police supported it as a tool for public safety, while members raised concerns about landlord liability, due process, and whether the felony penalty and boarding costs were too burdensome; Kansas City police testified in support and no opposition was heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I listed a few here already, but to answer her question, it would go into our general fund if we
• It is working on building facilities so that the state doesn't have to incur the cost, but until then
• SB 1157 appropriates $20 million from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Department of
• You've probably seen it at the tops of facilities sometimes, like prisons... ...facilities sometimes,
• This bill would take $20 million from Arizona's general fund to pay for border fencing and walls.

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee met for its second meeting, opened with a lengthy reminder about Senate decorum rules and the consequences for disruption, then approved the January 26, 2026 minutes. The committee first heard SB 1268, an emergency measure clarifying that a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability receives a full property tax exemption on a primary residence, including when the home is jointly owned with a spouse. County assessors said the bill was a needed cleanup to prior legislation and urged quick passage so applications could be processed before tax deadlines. The bill passed 7-0 with a do pass recommendation; one senator supported it in committee but objected to the emergency clause on the floor because it limits referendum rights. The committee then considered SB 1152, which would make people with pending asylum applications eligible for state or local public benefits until an immigration judge grants asylum. Supporters argued it would prevent state funds from going to people whose status is not yet verified and emphasized taxpayer responsibility; opponents said existing law already covers the issue, warned it could encourage racial profiling, and cited the economic contributions of refugees and asylum seekers. After debate, the bill passed 4-3. Next, SB 1156 appropriated $20 million to DPS to reimburse cities, towns, and counties for short-term detention costs for unauthorized persons. Supporters said local governments were bearing an unfair burden and needed backfill funding; opponents argued the money was unnecessary, not requested by DPS, and should not be spent on detention. The bill passed 4-3. SB 1157, which would appropriate $20 million for reimbursement of local border fencing or walls in high-crossing areas, drew the most extended and contentious testimony. Supporters framed it as a response to border gaps, cartel activity, and local security needs, while opponents said it would worsen fear, harm wildlife and communities, and divert funds from education and other priorities. The meeting briefly became disorderly during public testimony, prompting a rules clarification from the committee attorney about audience decorum and the chair’s authority. After debate, SB 1157 also passed 4-3. Finally, the committee heard SB 1213, as amended, which makes unlawfully present persons convicted of state or local offenses ineligible for probation and requires ICE notification; the amendment removed CBP from the notification provisions. The sponsor tied the bill to a recent child sexual assault case and said it would ensure convicted noncitizens are not placed on probation at taxpayer expense. Opponents raised due process and equal protection concerns and said the bill would profile noncitizens. The amended bill passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• and are prohibited from selling kratom products from self-service or unsecured displays open to the general
• It is separate and in addition to general state and local sales and use taxes, and the tax must be reflected
• , and the amendment would restrict that enforcement just to attorney general enforcement."
• House Bill 1701 authorizes multiple liquor licensees to have licensed premises within a facility owned
• in which they operate, and between the different liquor licensees of the facility.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2291, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, and then moved into executive session on several bills. Staff explained that HB 2291 would license kratom retailers and processors, set age 21 purchase limits, require labeling, child-resistant packaging, independent testing, an LCB-approved product directory, and an 11% excise tax, while banning certain synthetic or adulterated kratom products and restricting online/mail sales and public consumption. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to regulate natural kratom while banning the synthetic or chemically altered forms, and several witnesses supported stronger youth protections and product standards. Others opposed the bill’s licensing fee, statewide preemption of local bans, or the regulatory approach, while some testified that natural kratom helps with pain or recovery. The hearing on HB 2291 was then closed without action. In executive session, the committee took action on multiple bills. HB 2439, dealing with cigarette, vapor product, and tobacco product policy, was amended and reported out with a do pass recommendation; the adopted amendments limited Consumer Protection Act enforcement to the Attorney General, adjusted coupon language, and restored state preemption over local retail regulation. HB 1078 on pet insurance, HB 1701 on shared liquor-license premises, HB 2207 on bonded beer warehousing, and HB 2501 on real estate oil-tank disclosure were all reported out with do pass recommendations, with HB 1701’s substitute removing a Public Records Act exemption and HB 2207’s substitute aligning beer warehousing more closely with spirits warehouse rules. HB 2361, which raises the maximum small loan amount, was amended to make inflation adjustments biennial and to change publication requirements, then passed out of committee. The committee also approved HB 1932, which would authorize cannabis consumption events in regulated environments. The substitute bill would create a cannabis consumption event organizer license, allow limited adult-use events subject to local approval, and establish permit and budtender training requirements; members discussed the bill as a way to provide lawful consumption spaces while others objected to expanding cannabis access. In the final votes, HB 2439 passed 12-3, HB 1078 passed unanimously, HB 1701 passed 14-1, HB 2207 passed 14-1, HB 2501 passed unanimously, HB 2361 passed 13-2, and HB 1932 passed 11-4, all with do pass recommendations.