Transcript Highlights:

• HCR 2030, Colorado River Seven State Agreement.
• , Pattern Energy, AES, Leeward, Clinera, Apex Clean Energy, RWE, Triple Oak, EDF, Energy Dome, Primary
• of that state land.
• We statutorily stated that the board would repeal in 233.
• To service our tribal members in the state of Arizona.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a recorded quorum, and approval of the prior journal. Members then introduced several guest groups in the gallery, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, a student shadowing Sen. Gonzalez, Gilbert EduPrize students, InterWest Energy Alliance representatives, and Kingman city leaders. The chamber adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the Senate also approved a motion to request House consent to adjourn after Wednesday, March 11, until Monday, March 16. A large number of bills were introduced on first reading, and standing committee reports were ordered entered without being read aloud. The Senate then took up numerous third-reading measures. Bills passed included SB 1654 (elections funding), SB 1711 (school safety/age-appropriate information), SB 1743 (campaign contribution address privacy), SB 1747 (assistive technology content), SB 1212 (health insurance reimbursement rules), SB 1284 (moving violations), SB 1336 (State Land Department-related changes), SB 1365 (property tax exemptions/veterans park discounts), SB 1655 (juror summoning/poll worker recruitment), SB 1662 (probation), SB 1803 (veterans’ services), SB 1818 (vehicle statutes), SB 1494 and SB 1497 (school insurance-related changes), SB 1503 (pension benefit plans), SB 1584 (Department of Corrections staffing), SB 1632 (Department of Economic Security), SB 1723 (bail), SB 1206 (insurance claims on reconsideration), and SB 1827 (aviation appropriations on reconsideration). SB 1134 on political signs initially failed, but the Senate later reconsidered and passed it. SB 1544 (probation) and SB 1585 (sex offender monitoring funding) failed. Several votes were close, and members offered explanations for both support and opposition on issues such as election administration, campaign privacy, health care incentives, veterans’ claims assistance, and criminal justice policy. The chamber then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for a long series of bills, adopting committee and floor amendments and recommending do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672. Testimony in committee focused on topics including high school training standards, veterans’ state park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS reimbursement and workforce issues, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug access. Later, the Committee of the Whole also considered SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, and SB 1611. SB 1173 drew debate over whether additional fingerprint/background checks were needed for AHCCCS providers; SB 1234 and SB 1295 addressed juvenile court representation and inmate medical release; and SB 1611, on the American Indian Health Program, prompted extensive discussion about fraud in the program, tribal consultation, and whether the program should be moved out of AHCCCS. The committee adopted amendments and advanced these bills with do pass recommendations, while members on SB 1611 emphasized both the need for reform and concerns about consultation with Arizona tribes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not true with other states.
• And there's actual tax code, so...
• Other states do this all day long.
• So the state would actually own stock in the company, and in fact, if that company moves out of state
• We were one of those states.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, my question on a state stakeholder process in state rulemaking.
• But if the state, Mr.
• Because that is also a state issue.
• Lee is 44.6, 24 above the overall state rate. And Rio Riba is 43, 19 above the overall state rates.
• in your corner of the state.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 215, continuation; State Land Department. SB 2264, mining; middle museum; state history.
• HB 2975, state land solar scenes maps. HB 2979, state land solar scenes maps.
• HCR 2030, Colorado River Seven State Agreement.
• , Pattern Energy, AES, Leeward, Clinera, Apex Clean Energy, RWE, Triple Oak, EDF, Energy Dome, Primary
• on the leases of state lands, such as that in the Fundamante example, and the State Land Department

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislation to close those loopholes has included Washington, D.C., and 13 states, notably our abutting
• Every other state, right? Every other state has these traps available in some capacity.
• Right now, the state loses a lot of license revenue to other states, because...
• states.
• There's also no fur farms in the state of Rhode Island—I'm sorry, the state of Massachusetts.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of animal, wildlife, hunting, and environmental bills. Early testimony focused on deer management, with Rep. Markey urging creation of a deer commission to address crop damage, vehicle collisions, and Lyme disease, and Sen. Durant supporting bills to allow Sunday bow hunting, expand crossbow use, and reduce the 500-foot dwelling restriction for archery hunting. Supporters framed these measures as practical wildlife-management tools, while questions centered on how they would differ from existing Fish and Wildlife authority and whether they would allow hunting closer to residences. Later, Rep. Sena also spoke in support of a bill to increase protected wildlife management areas and another to require non-lead ammunition, arguing both would benefit biodiversity and reduce environmental harm. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed animal welfare and commerce. Multiple witnesses supported bills to ban or phase out the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops, arguing that pet stores rely on puppy mills and obscure the source of animals, while opponents said the bills would hurt responsible breeders, small businesses, and consumer choice. The committee also heard strong testimony for bills to ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops, with supporters citing sick animals, consumer deception, and the need to cut off the puppy mill supply chain. In a separate animal-testing segment, witnesses backed bills requiring non-animal testing methods for cosmetics and household products, saying alternatives are more accurate and humane; biomedical research representatives opposed those bills and a related research-animal measure, warning of unintended restrictions on research institutions and arguing animal models remain necessary for many studies. The committee also heard testimony on horseshoe crab conservation, with supporters of H. 898 urging an end to taking horseshoe crabs for bait because of population declines, shorebird impacts, and the species’ importance to biomedical science. On wildlife trafficking, witnesses backed bills to ban intrastate sales of ivory and rhino horn, saying Massachusetts should close loopholes that aid poaching and align with federal law and other states; one antique dealer testified in support, saying he avoids such items and still sees them in the marketplace. Additional testimony supported bans on fur products from factory farms and on force-feeding birds for foie gras, with advocates emphasizing cruelty, public health, and environmental concerns. The hearing was lengthy and heavily attended, with the chairs repeatedly limiting testimony to three minutes and inviting written submissions; no committee votes or final actions were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• there's an impact within their state.
• just under 25% of the state population.
• It's in Massachusetts, rejoin Washington State, which enacted a similar repeal last year.
• It's in Massachusetts, rejoin Washington State, which enacted a similar repeal last year.
• It's in Massachusetts, rejoin Washington State, which enacted a similar repeal last year.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a late-file hearing on several bills, with testimony limited to three minutes per individual or set time limits for panels. Chairs Michael Day and Lydia Edwards outlined hearing rules, written testimony procedures, and confidentiality protections before moving through the agenda. The committee heard testimony on bills including H.4876, H.5111, H.4783, H.4826, H.5116, H.5244, S.2975, and S.2976. On H.4876, supporters described it as the “Overcomers Law,” aimed at strengthening supports for survivors of abuse by limiting abusers’ legal standing after death, requiring survivor notification of an abuser’s death, expanding coercive control definitions, improving privacy protections, and creating education and resource programs. On H.5111, the Attorney General’s Office and legislative sponsors backed changes to strengthen Massachusetts antitrust enforcement, including broader jurisdiction over multi-state conduct, higher penalties, clearer treatment of invitations to conspire, labor-market protections, housing-related changes, and a longer statute of limitations. The committee also heard support for H.4783, which would reaffirm the rights of people experiencing homelessness and push back against criminalization of homelessness, and for H.4826, which would update condominium law to give owners more rights and nonjudicial dispute-resolution options. A large portion of the hearing focused on H.5116, which would rename the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse. Representative Worrell, the Harris family, senators, prosecutors, lawyers, educators, and community advocates testified in strong support, describing Judge Harris’s legacy of fairness, mentorship, community service, and support for young people and Black legal professionals. The committee also heard testimony on S.2975, which would prohibit civil immigration arrests in courthouses to protect access to justice, and S.2976, which would create a state cause of action for constitutional violations by federal officers. Finally, H.5244 was supported as a repeal of an archaic criminal statute that advocates said has been used to punish pregnancy loss and should be removed from the books. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after all registered testimony was heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're talking about energy affordability and reliability.
• in telecommunications and in energy policy.
• This program is having a real impact in communities across the state.
• It's the whole state that you're managing.
• Are weak spots in the state for resiliency?

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It can get filled at a regional level; if it can't, then it goes to the state, and then the state fills
• It can get filled at a regional level if it can't, then it goes to the state, and then the state fills
• And I think you've heard from all of us in some ways just about the state of the state when it comes
• Of this state.
• State of California. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established quorum and approved several routine items on the agenda, including governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee noted that some 2026 committee changes would take effect February 1, 2026, and that new committees would depend on adoption of a Senate resolution. The committee then heard from Dr. Hernando Garson, nominated as chief medical officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority. He described his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, and EMS leadership, and members questioned him about EMSA’s strategic plan, data integration, statewide standards versus local flexibility, ambulance patient offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and emergency response coordination. Dr. Garson emphasized data-driven decision-making, technical assistance to local agencies, collaboration with hospitals and EMS stakeholders, and the need for safer alternatives to routine ambulance transport such as community paramedicine, telehealth, and nurse triage. He also discussed disaster preparedness for vulnerable and rural communities and the use of regional and state assets, including ambulance strike teams, during fires and floods. The committee approved his appointment 4-0. The final item was Stephanie Weldon’s nomination as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health. Weldon, who identified as Yurok-Tolowa and Karuk, spoke about her tribal, county, nonprofit, and state experience, her role as the first Native American woman in the position, and her commitment to health equity, rural communities, and culturally responsive public health work. Senators asked about how the office sets priorities, measures outcomes, addresses behavioral health, tribal consultation, youth mental health, and how it responds to political pressure around DEI language; Weldon said the office focuses on community-driven, data-informed work and transparency. Public commenters strongly supported her confirmation, citing her leadership on the California Reducing Disparities Project and related equity efforts. The committee approved her appointment 4-0, sending it to the full Senate for confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• That saves the state money.
• The thousands of miles of States.
• </c> state. Uh the rest of it kind of on us. state. Uh the rest of it kind of on us.
• So, again, in our state parks.
• So, again, in our state parks.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August minutes, and heard a brief announcement from Senator Richardson about the Missing in America Project interring unclaimed veterans’ remains at the Western Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville. He read the names of several veterans being laid to rest with military honors, and the chair thanked the volunteers involved in the effort. The main presentation was an update on Kentucky’s urban search and rescue program from the Department of Military Affairs and Kentucky Emergency Management. Officials said the program is being built around two regional task force hubs, a helicopter aquatic rescue team, an incident support team, and a rescue aid fund for local search and rescue units. They reported that the $8.3 million appropriated for the program in the 2025 budget was fully executed, that $482,670 of the rescue aid fund went to 29 local teams, and that $493,592 has already been allocated in the current year to 36 teams. They also described warehouse and equipment purchases, staffing with full-time and part-time personnel, and a new training site on state property for collapsed-structure and multi-agency exercises. Officials said the program has already been used in recent disasters, including flood response and urban search and rescue operations in several parts of the state, and claimed the effort has impacted more than 1,500 citizens through rescues, evacuations, and related assistance. They said the helicopter aquatic rescue team is fully operational, the task force roster should be finalized by January, incident support should be online by April, and the full program should be deployable by June 30 or July 1, 2026. Members asked about statewide response times, K-9 search capabilities, and the long-term cost of the program, including concerns about reliance on federal matching funds. The presenters said K-9 assets will be part of the task force, that pre-positioning during forecasted storms can reduce response times significantly, and that they would provide more detailed budget information later.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can get filled at a regional level; if it can't, then it goes to the state, and then the state fills
• It can get filled at a regional level if it can't, then it goes to the state, and then the state fills
• And so so we We get regional input and then state level input.
• And I think you've heard from all of us in some ways just about the state of the state when it comes
• State of California. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened, established quorum, and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee then heard and advanced two appointments requiring testimony. Dr. Hernando Garzon, nominated as chief medical officer for the Emergency Medical Services Authority, discussed his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, EMS data modernization, local flexibility within statewide standards, ambulance offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and alternatives to emergency transport such as community paramedicine and telehealth. Members pressed him on strategic planning, rural and climate-related disaster response, ambulance rate reporting, and how EMSA can better protect vulnerable people during evacuations; his appointment was approved 4-0 and sent to the Senate floor. Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health, described her tribal background, prior public service, and focus on health equity, behavioral health, tribal consultation, data, and community-led programs. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, serving rural communities, balancing equity work amid federal DEI opposition, youth mental health, and preventing fraud or waste through transparency. Public commenters, including tribal, health, and community advocates, strongly supported her nomination. Her appointment was also approved 4-0 and forwarded to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, first I will open a work session on Senate Bill 494 relative to the state fire code and fire
• Um, duties of the state fire marshall.
• </c> just falls on back to your home state. just falls on back to your home state.
• </c> OPLC that ver virtually every state OPLC that ver virtually every state except<00:29:18.559><c>
• Uh so we're the state Residents. Uh so we're the state certifying<00:58:21.680><c> body.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And how the state can use programs like ConFire as a model statewide.
• It can get filled at a regional level; if it can't, then it goes to the state, and then the state fills
• And I think you've heard from all of us in some ways just about the state of the state when it comes
• So the title itself, we know that we are in alignment with both federal and state law.
• Federal and state law.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those service areas, which are used widely in many states and in most rural states, recognize an important
• My nephew is a United States federal ice agent.
• Madam Speaker, as I've stated already, gratitude.
• To our state employees, quasi-public entities, and every grantee and contractor for the state of Vermont
• We worked with our state employees, teachers, and state police to stabilize our public pension system

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This one stands to cost our state $1.2 billion. This one stands to cost our state $1.2 billion.
• That was a prominent theme in Governor Hobbs' State of the State address.
• It is a common sense pro-taxpayer bill that conforms Arizona's tax code with the federal tax code and
• That was a prominent theme in Governor Hobbs' state of the state address.
• It does not reduce the state income tax. So there's no cost to the state.

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, recognized the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several guest groups, including JAG students and students from Heila Ben High School. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider HB 2153, the annual tax conformity bill, which was described by supporters as aligning Arizona tax law with recent federal changes and providing relief through no tax on tips and overtime, a larger child tax credit, a new child care expense deduction, and a deduction for certain retirement income. Opponents argued the measure would primarily benefit wealthy individuals and corporations, reduce state revenue, and leave some seniors out because the retirement-income deduction is tied to retirement accounts. Members also discussed the Department of Revenue’s already-issued tax forms and the need for certainty for filers. After extended debate, the Committee of the Whole gave HB 2153 a do pass recommendation by a vote of 31-26, and the House adopted the report and sent the bill to engrossing. The House then took up the Senate mirror bill, SB 1106, substituted for HB 2153, and after floor explanations of vote, passed it 31-27 with 2 not voting. Supporters said the bill would help working families, seniors, and small businesses and prevent filing confusion, while opponents repeated concerns about cost, fairness, and impacts on public services. The bill was transmitted to the Senate. Following the tax vote, members made several announcements, including birthday wishes and a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and committee chairs announced upcoming cancellations. The House then recessed and reconvened for first reading and referral of a long list of new bills covering topics such as elections, health care, education, transportation, public safety, taxation, housing, and appropriations. The session ended with a motion to adjourn until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Disrupts the smuggling of narcotics, weapons, and humans into the United States.
• I think I heard a commitment to Senator Cotton about his home state priority.
• I am asking for a commitment for my home state priority.
• MISSEC, which is a component of DIA and located in my state of Huntsville, Alabama.
• aircraft capacity to meet that requirement. without reflow of combat-coded F-15Es.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Department of Defense, nominations, Matthew Lohmeyer, Justin Overbaugh, global security, military readiness, NATO, Russia, China, defense infrastructure

Summary: The meeting was primarily focused on discussing nominations for key positions within the Department of Defense, specifically for roles such as the Undersecretary of the Air Force and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Senators expressed urgent concerns about global security threats, the need for robust military readiness, and the emphasis on effective collaboration with NATO allies amidst rising tensions with adversaries such as Russia and China. Several senators highlighted the challenges facing military infrastructure and defense capabilities, suggesting a critical need for improvements and investment in these areas to ensure national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• our state of Minnesota.
• our state of Minnesota.
• Federal laws and regulations, state statutes, case law, local codes, and ordinances, and lease provisions
• They're just stated won't get the opportunity to get kind of an energy-efficient, you know, envelope
• They're just stated won't get the opportunity to get kind of an energy-efficient, you know, envelope

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> know budget and Finance in the state know budget and Finance in the state would<00:30:32.120><c>
• </c> Lum testifying on behalf of uh State Lum testifying on behalf of uh State Fire<00:34:21.560><c>
• </c><00:35:43.880><c> Fire</c> amendment it specifies the State Fire amendment it specifies the State
• </c> you uh we have the Hawaii State you uh we have the Hawaii State Department<00:36:13.760><c> of</
• our tax code.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , are the state legislators to that point of micromanaging the different programs in each of these states
• And what do other states do? Yes.
• And what do other states do? Yes.
• Just as you've stated, I think so.
• The reason why we excluded the state funding is because when Carla and I were talking about the state

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and then blue is state funding.
• And then that is a funding source that for state funds for other schools in the state.
• That, that was part of the state funding provided to the rest of the schools in the state.
• You know, the state budget of New Mexico is $12 billion so a third of their state budget.
• I can't remember if it's in the Family code or the education code, but there are, there are laws that

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• We're still seeing housing growth in the state.
• State fleet provides vehicles to every agency and institution in the state via Century Code 24.2-3-3.
• On the state fleet, any trends one way or another?
• As you look around other states, every state has some form of an internal service fund.
• What they collect in that varies state to state.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Keywords: 908, all