Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2753, board of directors, Commerce Authority, IT.
• HB 2754, Commerce Authority Board of Directors, IT.
• HB 2754, Commerce Authority Board of Directors, IT.
• HB 2758, Board of Directors, Commerce Authority, FMAE.
• HB 2754, Commerce Authority Board of Directors, Office.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recorded attendance at 56 present, zero absent, and four excused. Members then used personal privilege to introduce guests and recognize visiting groups, including the West Valley Regional Chamber, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Arizona, Vitalant, and veterans and military representatives. The chamber and blood donor month proclamations were read, with Representative Bliss recognizing January as National Blood Donor Month in Arizona and Vitalant’s role in supplying most of the state’s blood supply, and Representative Aguilar declaring January 22, 2026, West Valley Regional Chamber Day. The House handled a large volume of procedural business, including reports of standing committees, first reading and referral of numerous bills and resolutions, and announcements of committee meetings. The bills covered a wide range of topics such as elections, education, housing, taxes, health care, artificial intelligence, veterans, public safety, and energy. Several measures were also withdrawn and reassigned to different committees, including referrals to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, Government, Public Safety and Law Enforcement, and Natural Resources, Energy, and Water. Members also made brief remarks honoring guests and community causes, including a Veterans Caucus lunch announcement focused on military-family policy and a personal remembrance by Senator Cruz. No substantive floor votes on legislation were taken beyond procedural approvals and the motion to adjourn. The House recessed and later adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Utah legislature actually used the authority to challenge a Biden executive order that would
• Reserve those for the author as well. Thank you, Senator Middleton.
• Uh, is there any questions for Senator Middleton on behalf of the author? Very well.
• not give explicit authority to defend a district attorney for the enforcement of a state statute.
• And, and members, any, any other questions for Senator Betancourt on behalf of the author?

Bills: SB 18 , SB 19 , SB 666 , SB 688 , SB 707 , SB 888

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• So again proceeds prosecuting authority.
• </c> prosecuting authority. prosecuting authority.
• </c> authority shall blah blah blah. authority shall blah blah blah. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Yeah.
• </c> general or prosecuting authority general or prosecuting authority pursuant<01:09:33.839><c> to</
• So, we just authorized a school, a high school for $170 million.

Bills: SF0087 , SF0088 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: felony, law enforcement, police officer, criminal penalties, public safety, sex offender, child care facility, residency restrictions, criminal law, sex offenders, child care facilities, legislation, false claims, civil penalties, state accountability, whistleblower protection, fraud prevention, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So last session, you did authorize one additional fiscal staff person for our office.
• So last session, you did authorize one additional fiscal staff person for our office.
• There was authority that you had provided for us to do an allocation.
• So we include the status of all of the different loan authorizations.
• During the legislative session, you authorized them for FTE positions, and then also authorized the transfer

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other than that, we will bring it back to committee and have conversation there, and the author will
• In addition to speaking with the author, ...we shared our concerns with committee staff and sponsors
• And I want to thank the author for bringing this forward and appreciate it.
• It ensures that physician-authored notes, diagnoses, and treatment plans remain just that: physician-authored
• under the delegated authority of the physician.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then took up a series of bills on business, professions, health, cannabis, and consumer protection. AB 72, creating an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone in Riverside County, drew questions about whether the state should target one region over others, but supporters argued it would help bring EV manufacturing and related jobs to the Inland Empire. The bill passed on a 8-1 vote to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. AB 685, which would create the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Fund to support technical assistance and capital infusion programs, drew broad support from small business networks and chambers, but some groups raised concerns that the June amendments could affect eligibility and that the funding should be clearly supplemental rather than replacing existing support. The author said discussions were ongoing, and the bill passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 173, a resolution, on a 7-0 vote, and AB 1760, a Dental Practice Act cleanup bill sponsored by the Dental Board, on a 10-0 vote. AB 1637, which would limit changes to physician-authored medical records and make unauthorized alterations a misdemeanor, was supported by physicians and labor groups who said it would protect patient safety and professional accountability; it passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. AB 1785, allowing online sales of pseudoephedrine products with existing age and quantity safeguards, passed 10-0. AB 1973, expanding the ability of advanced practice clinicians to perform procedural abortions within their training, drew strong support from reproductive health providers and strong opposition from anti-abortion witnesses who raised safety concerns; after questions about training and oversight, it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. The committee then considered AB 2025, requiring disclosure when rental listings use digitally altered or AI-staged images. Supporters said it would prevent renters from being misled, while the California Apartment Association said it was working with the author on implementation; the bill passed 8-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. AB 2697, allowing drive-through cannabis sales with local approval and security requirements, was supported by cannabis businesses and operators as a way to improve access and compete with the illicit market, while narcotics officers opposed it over ID verification and public safety concerns; it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. Finally, AB 2249, responding to a state audit on cannabis packaging attractive to children by defining prohibited imagery and creating a public rubric and pre-review process, received support from the cannabis operators association and the state auditor’s office, while small independent farmers raised concerns that some categorical bans could sweep too broadly. The transcript cuts off during that bill’s opposition testimony, and no final action on AB 2249 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not have a water authority.
• We do not have a water authority.
• If legislative authorization were suspended... ...months.
• If legislative authorization were suspended, NMFA expects that would shrink to about six months.
• was added because all authority would be with the Water Trust Board.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect standard language related to authorization to start work, authorization to pay insurance...
• We expect standard language related to authorization to start work, authorization to pay insurance, Standard
• language related to authorization to start work, authorization to pay insurance companies directly for
• However, there's a couple of differences in how the licensing and authorizations under the bill could
• We have an insurance company as well as a fully licensed insurance producer authorized to do business

Bills: HB2428 , HB2399 , HB2087

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency

Transcript Highlights:

• The statute is the authorizing statute.
• They have concurrence review authority for all projects that involve typed waters.
• They have the authority to issue and enforce conditions on development on forest land.
• This is a permitting system that authorizes forest practices across the state.
• So... ...authority to approve or provide concurrence on hydraulic projects.

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to a housing authority property.
• We can work in conjunction with housing authorities.
• Housing authorities are designated as public housing authorities, so there are specific requirements
• that come with public housing authorities.
• The Pierce County Housing Authority, the Tacoma Housing Authority, both own properties, both rent properties

Summary: The committee met for work sessions on land banking/shared homeownership and on maximizing existing housing stock. Members first heard an overview from Commerce on alternative homeownership models, including community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, middle housing, church land for housing, and public land transfers. The discussion focused on how these models can help households build equity while keeping housing permanently affordable. Committee members asked about statewide counts of co-ops and land trusts, and Commerce said it does not track all of those entities directly. Pierce County staff then described the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s rapid acquisition fund and its role in acquiring, holding, and transferring public land for affordable housing. They said the county used general fund and affordable housing sales tax dollars to buy properties, preserve a manufactured home park through resident ownership, and create a pipeline of sites for future development. Members asked about the advantages of a public development authority, funding sources, the use of surplus and underutilized public property, and how the model works with housing authorities. Spokane land bank staff followed with testimony that land banks can reduce blight, preserve affordability, and help nonprofits acquire land quickly, but that holding costs and taxes can make the work harder without state support. They also described brownfield assessments, donated properties, and work on Black homeownership and public surplus properties. The committee then heard from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center on limited equity cooperatives, especially in manufactured housing communities. The witness said Washington now has about 43 limited equity co-ops and that recent subsidy funding and legislation have accelerated resident purchases of manufactured home communities. Members asked how residents benefit from capped equity, how values are affected, and whether the model improves access to lending; the witness said the model stabilizes costs, allows modest equity gains, and that a recent law allowing manufactured homes in co-ops to be titled as real property should improve access to traditional financing. The committee also discussed House Bill 1974 from the prior session and possible updates to land banking legislation. In the second work session on maximizing existing housing stock, Commerce reviewed recent housing laws and implementation timelines, including ADUs, middle housing, condo liability reform, SEPA changes, tiny homes, and co-living. Members raised concerns about the long implementation horizon, vacancy data, corporate ownership of homes, and the need for better support for small landlords and first-time ADU owners. Sightline then testified on mobile dwelling units, arguing that RVs, tiny houses on wheels, and similar units are a low-cost, quick-to-install housing option that is often blocked by zoning; the witness said many Washington residents already live in these units, often informally. Finally, AARP discussed housing options for older adults, including ADUs, missing middle, manufactured home communities, co-living, universal design, and village-style support models, emphasizing aging in place and the need for more accessible, affordable housing choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the New Mexico Legislature passed the New Mexico Natural Resources Trustee Act, so my authority
• , the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
• To Gay goes, so one of the limits on our authority, or my authority as trustee, Under federal laws, we
• by spending into general fund accounts without explicit authorization.
• Yeah, she can't make those transfers in without legislative authority, correct?

Transcript Highlights:

• For both the contract and the premiums and deductibles, the subcommittee authorized ALC co-chairs to
• finalize the authorization by emergency action, and those actions are attached to your report.
• ALC co-chairs to finalize the authorization by emergency action, and those actions are attached to your
• By this report, the ALC co-chairs report emergency actions taken May 18th, 2026, as authorized with the
• need and cannot wait until August, and give final action authority to subcommittees for actions taken

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• regulate and to have a little bit more authority over who comes and who can participate in events.
• regulate and to have a little bit more authority over who comes and who can participate in events.
• regulate and to have a little bit more authority over who comes and who can participate in events.
• regulate and to have a little bit more authority over who comes and who can participate in events.
• regulate and to have a little bit more authority over who comes and who can participate in events.

Committee: Senate State & Local Government

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:07 Attendance Roll Call: 00:14 SB 68 Discussion 01:21 SB 68 Vote 04:40 SB 20 Discussion 05:34 SB 20 Vote 08:12 Adjournment: 09:15, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :33.920><c> solar</c> Additional authority to regulate solar Additional authority to regulate solar projects
• uh in a use uh of this authority uh in a different<00:15:41.279><c> circumstance.
• </c><00:20:31.280><c> and</c> preserving home rule authority and preserving home rule authority and granting
• We authorize every cremation of an individual that would die in our counties.
• We authorize every cremation community.

Committee: Joint Local Government

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:08 Roll Call 00:00:29 Discussion of Large Project Siting in Local Governments Following Clover Creek Solar v. Breckinridge County 00:03:34 Discussion of Coroners’ Issues 00:24:49 Adjournment 01:01:11, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> thank our bill off authors, thank our bill off authors, Representative<00:04:06.320><c> Nadeau<
• Further member questions for the authors. Let's go back to the authors before we ask for a motion.
• Uh, thank Chair Lilly for being the co-author of this bill.
• Chair, and question for staff or the bill author.
• We are adjourned. comments before we go to the author. comments before we go to the author.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• local authority is not about removing<00:06:57.520><c> rights.
• Yeah, if we could stick to the issue of local authority.
• I think to the issue of local authority.
• </c><00:46:50.160><c> can</c> and I'm I'm wondering if the author can and I'm I'm wondering if the author
• c> is</c><01:06:18.720><c> consistent</c> local government authority is consistent local government authority

Bills: HF3351

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun control, gun safety, local control, home rule, preemption, municipal regulation, county regulation, city ordinances, zoning, firearm dealers, gun dealers, ammunition, carry permits, permit to carry, pistols, Saturday night special, metal-penetrating bullets, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo, urges Congress to enhance coordination among federal, state, and local authorities
• Members, questions of the author. All right.
• Does anybody wish to ask questions of the author? All right, we'll move to public testimony.
• can improve our border security measures and enhance coordination and address... ...and authorities
• HB 160 seeks to codify this authority and enable Texas to coordinate directly with Mexican officials.

Bills: HCR98 , HB180

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: counter-unmanned aircraft systems, C-UAS, counter-drone, drone mitigation, unmanned aircraft systems, UAS, border security, U.S.-Mexico border, aviation safety, airspace regulation, federal preemption, Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, FBI, state-local coordination, tribal and territorial partners, border patrol, cartels

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security met with a quorum present and first took up HCR 98, a resolution urging Congress to improve coordination among federal, state, and local authorities on counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) technology for border security. The author and sponsor described increasing drone activity along the border, saying unauthorized drones are used to track agents, identify weaknesses, and smuggle contraband, and argued for clearer procedures to detect, identify, and neutralize such aircraft. There was no public testimony, and the committee voted 4-0 to report HCR 98 favorably to the full Senate; the resolution was also ordered for local and uncontested calendar placement without objection. The committee then heard HB 180, sponsored by Chairman Birdwell, which would authorize the governor to coordinate directly with Mexican officials and individual Mexican states on border security agreements and appoint representatives to implement them. Birdwell said the bill would codify prior border-security cooperation efforts, improve responses to cross-border challenges such as drug and human trafficking, and include a finding that entrants from foreign countries must use a legal port of entry. No questions were asked, and there was no invited or public testimony. After the hearing, the committee left HB 180 pending. The meeting concluded with no further business and the committee standing in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, and with authority, consider the reality of domestic abuse quite frankly, and in numerous
• That's an issue that should be taken up with the authority.
• And and what the author be interested in knowing.
• That's something you should be taken up with the author. Senator Goodwin, thank you.
• This is actually just a direct authorization of those right to suit.

Bills: SB1238 , SB1277 , SB1304 , SB1378 , SB1423 , SB1484 , SB1501 , SR32 , SB1502 , SB1721 , SB1735 , SB1832 , SB1847 , SB1859 , SB1876 , SB2170 , SB2182

Keywords: domestic abuse, domestic violence, assault and battery, strangulation, intimate partner violence, family or household member, repeat offender, felony enhancement, Class B5 felony, stalking, batterers intervention program, court-ordered treatment, protective order, presence of a child, pregnant victim, great bodily injury, animal cruelty, cockfighting, dogfighting, sex offender registration

Transcript Highlights:

• So Senate Bill 6188 removes the provision limiting L&I's rulemaking authority for asbestos certification
• And the bill gives our state agency the authority in this critical worker safety area for Washington
• Last year, legislation was enacted changing the enforcement authority for these requirements from the
• So, but we’re limited today by the state law, by the authority in that state law.” “Understood. Mr.
• This amendment provides that the arbitrator's decision is not binding on the legislative authority of

Bills: SB6136 , SB6188 , SB5944

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency, actuarial rates, contingency reserves, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, risk classifications, employer premiums, insurance regulation, rate setting, premium increase limits, workers' compensation advisory committee, retrospective rating, state insurance fund, accident and medical aid funds, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> authorization in administrative rule. authorization in administrative rule. legal<00:07:58.720><
• It's about taxing authority.
• It's about taxing authority.
• It's about taxing authority.
• To authorize only. To authorize who?

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill authorizes civil civil penalties of up to $5000 per violation with enforcement through district
• Um, Section, Article 3, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution, Gives us the authority to to compel members
• That's why I joined authored it, but this is a step, uh, and hopefully we can at least get this step,
• This bill's been acted as an exercise of the legislature's rulemaking authority.
• Senator, any other questions, uh, for the author or anything on the bill before we, before we vote?

Bills: HB18

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance