Transcript Highlights:

• We have a constitution, and it assures them a speedy trial, and if we can't do that, can't get them lawyers
• So, and it's kind of ironic, because there's two provisional... of our Constitution that make it mandatory
• An Oklahoma woman in her 70s who was sexually assaulted the very first year CannaCook opened its doors
• I am from Oklahoma.
• My attorney at the time, Gittner Drummond, who is now the AG of Oklahoma, asked for $50,000 to cover

Bills: HB170 , HB865 , HB748 , HJR112 , HB 1110 , HB1495 , HB786 , HB 1130 , HB170

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil liability, self-defense, force, deadly force, legal immunity, attorney's fees, criminal justice, firearms, liability, veterans, gun ownership, immunity, firearm hold agreement, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, parental rights, child upbringing

Transcript Highlights:

• I was born in the state of Oklahoma.
• I was born in Oklahoma, so I would have to request a birth certificate there.
• We hold Section 1, Article 4 of the Constitution to be sacrosanct.
• We hold Section 1, Article 4 of the Constitution to be sacrosanct.
• Well, but again, I mean, the Constitution, plain reading says time, place, and manner.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by a 117-1 vote. Members then spent a large portion of the morning introducing guests, including students, civic groups, fraternity and sorority members, county officials, and visitors from various districts. The Speaker also suspended business several times to sign enrolled bills, including Senate substitute for House Bill 261, House Bill 2641, Senate substitute for House Bill 2423, and House Bill 2934. The chamber then debated House Concurrent Resolution 48, which urges Congress to pass the SAVE Act requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Supporters argued it would protect election integrity and prevent non-citizens from voting, while opponents said it would create burdens, function like a poll tax, and disenfranchise eligible voters, especially women, rural residents, students, military members, and people who move or change names. After a motion for the previous question passed 93-42, the House adopted HCR 48 by a vote of 92-43. The House also passed House Concurrent Resolution 23, a federalism resolution affirming state control over elections, by a unanimous 137-0 vote after committee leaders said it had broad bipartisan support. The House then perfected and printed House Bill 2855, which adjusts workers’ compensation fund tax increments from 0.5% to 0.1% to better match receipts with expenditures; an amendment allowing replacement of attorneys in long-running permanent total cases was adopted first. Members also perfected and printed House Bill 1906, a short bill allowing township counties to authorize annual, semiannual, or quarterly payment of real and personal property taxes by ordinance. The session ended with announcements and a motion to recess until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Oklahoma seek recognition?
• Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Oklahoma, Mrs.
• The gentlewoman from Oklahoma, Mrs.
• The gentlewoman from Oklahoma is recognized. Mrs. Bice: Mr.
• CONSTITUTION CREATED A GOVERNMENT BILL, OF, AND FOR WE THE PEOPLE.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 31, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To tell a really wonderful story, one of the physicians on the Oklahoma Medical Board, because all of
• As I mentioned, Oklahoma just changed it; I believe Florida is soon to as well.
• States that have this advertising rule, and Oklahoma just changed it, and Florida is in the works for
• Oklahoma or Louisiana, or yes, correct.
• This bill addresses that by updating what constitutes continuing care and defines it as providing...

Bills: SB331 , SB883 , SB926 , SB1137 , SB1138 , SB1144 , SB1151 , SB1236 , SB1270 , SB1522 , SB1869 , SB2207 , SB2422

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent FreedomFactor.org as a lifetime member of this constitutional organization, and I stand before
• FreedomFactor.org as a lifetime member of this constitutional organization.
• I'm here to oppose AB 928 and also here to protect my constitutional rights, which reads: protects the
• Gregory Gutierrez, Oklahoma, Oklahoma. I oppose AB 928. Gregory Gutierrez, Oakland, California.
• It infringes on my civil and constitutional rights. Thank you. Good morning.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 30, 2025, for a regular order hearing on a large slate of bills. After opening remarks and quorum, the committee approved a consent calendar in two motions: one for bills eligible for the Assembly floor consent calendar and another for unanimous bills not eligible for floor consent. The committee also deemed the suspense calendar approved without further discussion. Several housing and shelter-related bills were presented. AB 1061 by Quirk-Silva would allow SB 9 duplex and lot-split provisions to apply in historic districts, with limits to protect individually listed historic sites and maintain street-facing appearances; California YIMBY supported the measure. AB 750 by Quirk-Silva would strengthen oversight of homeless shelters by requiring posted resident-rights information, standardized reporting, and penalties for noncompliance, including possible withholding of state funding. AB 712 by another member would increase penalties for public agencies that violate state housing law and bar indemnification demands against applicants when agencies break those laws; it was described as part of a fast-track housing package. The committee then took public comment, dominated by extensive opposition to AB 928. Dozens of individuals, many identifying with poultry, feed, gamefowl, agricultural, or related organizations, testified against the bill, saying it would harm their livelihoods, culture, religious practices, or constitutional rights and could kill birds. A few speakers also testified on other bills, including support for AB 1337 and AB 804 and opposition to AB 1337. After public comment concluded, the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution, the state constitution, and state law shall not be superseded by foreign laws or foreign
• Constitution, the state constitution, and state law shall not be superseded by foreign laws or foreign
• Oh, that's why we have a constitution.
• Constitution, the state constitution.
• Constitution or the rights contained within our state constitution.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Arizona Constitution, and Arizona law.
• Constitution, the Arizona Constitution, and the statutes enacted by this legislature.
• Constitution. And in Arizona, there is only one system of civil authority.
• Constitution, and in Arizona, there is only one system of civil authority.
• They came and they supported the Constitution of the United States.

Committee: Senate Senate Federalism Committee of Reference

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, I would note those areas of increased activity in like Texas and Oklahoma and Kansas.
• And as you can see, it's actually been going on long enough in Oklahoma and in parts of Texas to now
• This was, again, a lot of activity when Oklahoma— I started following this about 11 years ago.
• There was, again, a lot of activity when Oklahoma—I'm sorry, let me call an audible here.
• Just satisfying curiosity, what constitutes an incursion?"

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• Still goes against the Constitution. You have that from before, I think, the many compacts.
• We've got a flyer here that says they're constitutional. You say they're not. So what happens then?
• And we've seen similar bills passed in Texas, in Oklahoma, in Tennessee.
• So Oklahoma and Tennessee, the bill's been in place for a little bit longer.
• States like Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Georgia have already passed similar legislation.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development met with 13 members present and first went into executive session. It voted House Bill 3095 and House Bill 3249 do pass, both by 12-1 votes, and also adopted a House committee substitute for House Bill 2142 that rolled in House Bill 2058 before voting the combined measure do pass by 12-1. The transcript does not describe the substance of those bills in detail, but records the committee’s favorable action on each. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 3262, Representative Peters’ proposal to create an interstate massage compact. Supporters, including the sponsor, a massage business operator, a former state massage board regulator, and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, said the compact would improve workforce mobility, reduce duplicate licensing and background checks, and preserve state authority over standards and discipline. An opponent argued interstate compacts are unconstitutional, could supersede state law, and raise concerns about gifts and closed meetings. No vote was taken on HB 3262 during the hearing. The final hearing was on House Bill 3157, which would create a single statewide permit for mobile food vendors. The sponsor and supporters from the Institute for Justice and the food truck industry said the bill would reduce duplicative local permits and inspections, lower costs, and help food trucks operate across jurisdictions while keeping health and safety standards. Opponents, including Kansas City and Springfield-Greene County health officials, argued the bill would preempt local control, shift regulatory authority to the state, and create enforcement and fiscal concerns. Committee members raised questions about local inspection authority, fees, and a possible committee substitute, but no final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution. Similarly here, we have a lawsuit, Deer Farmers Minnesota v.
• Constitution. Similarly here, we have a lawsuit, Deer Farmers Minnesota v.
• This is constitutional violations up one side and down the other.
• In the Constitution, it says we have equal protection under the law.
• </c><01:30:51.360><c> violations</c><01:30:52.239><c> our</c> of constitutional violations our of constitutional

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm active duty at Fort Sil, Oklahoma.
• US Constitution article 2 executed.
• ><c> president</c><02:17:57.920><c> the</c> the Constitution gives the president the the Constitution
• ,</c><03:09:07.040><c> it's</c> Article one of the Constitution, it's Article one of the Constitution
• I know I speak for the entire state of Oklahoma when I say, Thunder up. champions, the Oklahoma City

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 5, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me come from a perspective of a lot of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, and manufacturing folks, and
• retail folks, and quite frankly folks that sell to retailers. that are in Oklahoma.
• Let me give you, for instance, I've got an Oklahoma company that several years ago spent millions of
• The Constitution gives Congress the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
• I'm going to ask you, how is it that we determine if foreign trade and economic practices constitute

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: tariffs, Trump administration, economy, public testimony, trade policy, market access, export controls

Summary: The meeting focused on various significant topics concerning the recent tariff policies and their wide-ranging implications on the American economy. Members expressed their concerns regarding the negative impact of increased tariffs as proposed by the Trump administration, with specific emphasis on how families might suffer from higher costs and market access issues. The discussion was lively, with members questioning the clarity of the tariff plan and raising concerns about its potential effects on small businesses and American exports.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're talking about the Missouri Constitution here. And can you just give me a little more?
• So Oklahoma is moving. Oklahoma is moving to an exchange this year. Indiana just passed a bill.
• And you said Oklahoma—I mean, Oklahoma's working on it. How about Arkansas? What have they...?
• So I mentioned, you know, Oklahoma is transitioning this year.
• So I mentioned, you know, Oklahoma is transitioning this year.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and took up House Bill 2330, reconsidering a prior due-pass vote and then voting the House Committee Substitute due pass by roll call. It then considered House Bill 2291, where an amendment meant to clarify municipal building-code and zoning authority was discussed at length and ultimately withdrawn after members raised concerns that it would undercut the bill’s purpose; the bill itself then received a due-pass recommendation. House Bill 2336, dealing with state property conveyances and title issues, also drew questions about unclear title and the status of several properties, but the committee adopted the House Committee Substitute and voted the bill do pass. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 3136, which would remove the state prohibition on creating a Missouri-based health insurance exchange; the sponsor and a witness argued it could save money, keep exchange fees in-state, and give Missouri more control, while several members objected that it would reverse the 2012 voter-approved prohibition and could entrench federal health-care policy. No action was taken on that bill in the hearing. The committee next heard House Bill 1833, which would let certain state employees opt out of the state health plan and receive a partial cash payout if they have other coverage. The sponsor argued it could be cost-neutral or save money and give employees more flexibility, while members and the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan raised concerns about fiscal impact, adverse selection, administrative burden, and whether the proposal turns a benefit into an entitlement. The witness for the plan said the fiscal note was based on about 4,112 active employees who already opt out, warned the stipend would be taxable and could create a new benefit that is hard to remove, and said proof of outside coverage would need to be maintained. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2506, which would require DESE to post QR-code placards at licensed child care facilities linking parents to existing inspection and complaint records; supporters said it would help parents make safer choices at no fiscal cost, while DESE explained the portal already exists and complaints are investigated quickly, and a witness described serious problems at one facility to illustrate why the information matters. Finally, the committee opened public hearing on House Bill 1758, a proposal to move Missouri to permanent daylight saving time once federal law allows it. The sponsor argued it would improve safety, boost economic activity, and avoid the inconvenience of changing clocks twice a year, while members raised concerns about darker mornings for schoolchildren and commuters and questioned whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The hearing was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on House Bill 3136, 1833, 2506, or 1758 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• For these items, that includes the meetings of the education committees to review what constitutes an
• As far as what constitutes an adequate education, we do have the working definition.
• As far as what constitutes an adequate education, we do have the working definition of educational adequacy
• For math, that ranged from 15% also in Nevada and Oklahoma to 31% in Montana, with the average at 22%
• And then fourth grade reading, the percentage scoring proficient or above ranged from 23% in Oklahoma

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy-related requirements. Staff reviewed the history of state curriculum and accreditation laws, the current standards for grades K-12, required high school units and graduation pathways, and recent changes such as career-ready pathways, embedded instruction requirements, and the distinction between courses required to be offered versus courses actually taken by students. Members asked for a chart comparing the 1997, 2003, 2015, 2017, and later law changes, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to the federal ESSA plan and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff summarized ESSA requirements, Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and recent data showing that 2025 proficiency rates remained well below the 80% goal, while English learner progress and graduation rates were also below long-term targets. The committee discussed school support and improvement, equitable access to educators, report cards, and the apparent lack of evidence that equity labs are currently being conducted. Members requested follow-up from the Department of Education on equity labs, report card data, and whether the ESSA plan can be changed. The presentation also covered state assessment results under the Arkansas Accountability Act, including ATLAS, DLM, ELPA 21, ACT, and NAEP data, along with teacher access measures and geographic shortage districts. Staff reported that Title I and high-poverty schools tend to have more emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff, and that shortage districts are concentrated in parts of the state. Members asked for additional information on test highs and lows, the number of assessments students take, dropout data, and whether higher teacher salaries have affected shortage areas. The committee also discussed district levels of support under the state accountability system, including the possibility of state intervention at the highest level of support.

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, I would note those areas of increased activity in like Texas and Oklahoma and Kansas.
• And as you can see, it's actually been going on long enough in Oklahoma and in parts of Texas to now
• As you can see by those sort of elevated brighter yellow colors near that gray swarm in Oklahoma, for
• But you'll also notice there are some areas in Texas and Oklahoma, again, where there have been some
• Just satisfying curiosity, what constitutes an incursion?

Summary: The committee met on May 26, 2026, and first approved the minutes from the May 22, 2025 meeting. The main topic was the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with testimony from Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy staff, LSU and Tulane geoscientists, and later LSU law professor Keith Hall. Witnesses said the cause of the swarm has not been definitively identified, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection or hydraulic fracturing remains a concern. They described 50 earthquakes reported by the USGS in Red River, Bienville, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Parishes, including a magnitude 4.9 event on March 5, 2026, and explained that Louisiana’s sparse seismic network limits detection and depth/location estimates. C&E said it inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the events, found no violations, now requires more frequent injection reporting, and is working with researchers and LSU on a possible state monitoring network and future policy changes. Committee members asked about injection depths, fault locations, whether the activity could be natural, and whether Louisiana should adopt stronger monitoring or a traffic-light regulatory system like other states. The witnesses said more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, but that denser monitoring can detect smaller quakes and help identify patterns. Professor Hall summarized responses in other states, including more frequent reporting, increased monitoring, injection reductions, moratoria, and traffic-light systems in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. Members also discussed whether operators should share more seismic and geologic data, and several said the state should avoid jumping to conclusions while still improving oversight. The committee then heard from William Berger, a Texas geoscientist, who described using AI and operator data to model wastewater injection and seismic risk, and said broader data sharing would improve forecasting and siting decisions. He and another witness emphasized that many earthquakes arise from clusters of wells rather than a single well, and that proprietary concerns limit voluntary disclosure. The committee also received a brief update from GOSEP and the Louisiana National Guard on the Barksdale Air Force Base drone incursions. GOSEP said it logged the incident in WebEOC and shared releasable information, while State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose. Officers said a task force has been formed, some personnel have received federal drone-mitigation training, and House Bill 940 is intended to mirror the task force MOU. Finally, Major General Thomas Friloux and Brigadier General Jason Maffus updated the committee on the merger of GOSEP into the Louisiana Military Department. They said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, brought back employees to in-person work, modernized the state’s common operating picture, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance through staffing and contract changes. They also noted the planned transfer of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, ongoing hurricane preparedness, and continued coordination with parish emergency managers. No votes were taken on the substantive topics, and the meeting ended with the committee moving through its agenda items and receiving informational testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• We enacted the Fed funds model in Oklahoma most recently.
• The work constitutes a license due to the OIG receiving feedback. from multiple governmental bodies inquiring
• This is a constitutional opinion by the Supreme Court. that you can't deny a Texan the right to petition
• Our colleagues and neighbors in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New York, thank you.
• would stipulate that. failure by the municipality to respond within the 90-day time frame would constitute

Bills: SB 1113 , SB 1117 , SB 1206 , SB 1460 , SB 1802 , SB 1906 , SB 1917 , SB 2340 , SB 2455 , SB 2680 , SB 2690 , SB 705 , SB 748

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: SB 1113, converter's license, converter license, motor vehicle dealer, auto dealer, vehicle conversion, converted vehicles, direct sales, retail sales, trailer, semitrailer, manufactured trailer, chassis, manufacturer's statement of origin, MSO, Occupations Code, Transportation Code, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, dealer licensing, general distinguishing number

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee was marked by discussions on several significant bills, with a keen emphasis on legislative updates and committee substitutes. Notably, Senator Blanco presented a new committee substitute for SB2610, which modifies the employee cap from 100 to 250 and extends the update timeline for cyber security programs for small businesses. This substitute was adopted unanimously, reflecting a collaborative agreement among the committee members. Additionally, there were discussions surrounding SB1856 as Senator Crayton provided insights into how stakeholder feedback influenced the bill's committee substitute. The committee ultimately voted in favor, pushing it towards the local and contested calendar, indicating the bill's progression through legislative channels.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, with that, I also want to point out that the Oklahoma Senate passed this this week, bipartisan, 100%
• So with that, I also want to point out that the Oklahoma Senate passed this this week, bipartisan, 100%
• Always appreciate a representative coming in and reaffirming what's in our Constitution.
• American people for a constitutional amendment that restores this power to the states.
• Constitutional legal challengers, I believe this law could have some...

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Elections first met in executive session and took up a committee substitute for H.J.R. 122, which combined H.J.R. 122 with related measures H.J.R. 104 and H.J.R. 149. Representative Banderman offered and the committee adopted an amendment limiting leadership terms in the resolution from three terms to two for the House speaker and from two terms to one for the Senate president. The committee then adopted the revised substitute and voted the combined resolution do pass by a 9-1 vote. In public hearing, the committee heard HB 1987, a technical fix to local filing deadlines for declarations of candidacy when the deadline falls on a holiday. Representative Hinman explained the bill was requested by city and school clerks to avoid requiring offices to open on holidays such as New Year’s Eve or Christmas Day. Testimony from city, municipal, and county clerk organizations was unanimously supportive, and no opposition was offered. The committee also heard HCR 23, which urges Congress to recognize state authority over election laws and campaign finance. Sponsor Representative Perkins and supporting witnesses argued the resolution is a federalism measure grounded in the Tenth Amendment and noted that similar resolutions have passed in 24 other states. Some members questioned whether the resolution could conflict with federal election policy or allow inconsistent state approaches, but the sponsor said the measure simply affirms state authority and does not mandate any specific policy. Finally, the committee heard HB 1802, which would allow poll challengers and watchers to be present during in-person absentee voting in first-class and charter counties, with procedures for advance notice. The sponsor said the bill was intended to create consistency after differing county practices and to address issues seen in St. Charles County during the 2024 election. The St. Charles County election director supported the bill as a clarification of existing law, while some members raised concerns about unequal treatment of counties and the potential for disruption. The hearing concluded without a vote on HB 1987, HCR 23, or HB 1802.

Transcript Highlights:

• One key element from the Constitution allows states to use gold and silver.
• As mentioned by the treasurer, Utah, but also Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and 20-some other states have
• As mentioned by the treasurer, Utah, but also Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and 20-some other states have
• I participated in the study, including the one in Utah, but also Oklahoma Senate and Texas and other
• In fact, under the Constitution, they were the only money.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee first took up SB 794, as amended by a late-filed strike-all, which would require a human being to make insurance claim denial decisions and prohibit artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for a denial. The sponsor said the bill was intended to preserve human oversight while allowing innovation in claims processing. Public testimony included support from the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate and the Florida Medical Association, along with one speaker urging additional protections for homeowners. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported SB 794 favorably with committee substitutes. Members then heard SB 134, which removes the $500 threshold on the sales tax exemption for bullion, making sales of gold, silver, and platinum bullion fully exempt and eliminating certain dealer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the change would reduce a regressive tax and help consumers preserve savings; the sponsor estimated a revenue impact of about $300,000. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all on SB 888, which directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to create a more consumer-friendly homeowners insurance website with premium comparison information, market data, rate filing access, and educational resources. The sponsor and Leader Boyd said the goal was to improve transparency and help consumers navigate a stabilizing market. SB 888 was reported favorably with committee substitutes. The final bill heard was SB 1578, covering mammograms and supplemental breast cancer screenings. The sponsor said it would expand coverage requirements in ACA plans and private insurance policies, including annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 50 and supplemental screening coverage, while noting Medicaid already provides these services. The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. After the bills, the committee held a lengthy panel discussion on gold and silver as legal tender and transactional money, with testimony from officials from Utah and Florida, industry representatives, and advocacy groups. Panelists discussed constitutional authority, consumer protections, depository oversight, taxation issues, and possible transactional platforms for precious metals. No further action was taken after the discussion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this constitutes...
• Oklahoma, we've done a lot of collaboration with them.
• Oklahoma, we've done a lot of collaboration with them. So we have collaborated with those.
• Oklahoma, we've done a lot of collaboration with them.
• Oklahoma did their consolidation effort six years—about ten, ten years ago, okay, a little longer.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met on June 5 and first adopted prior minutes and several committee reports. The executive committee report noted adoption of its minutes, staff updates on scheduled audits, approval of an annual financial audit for the City of Horseshoe Bend, and an update on the intern program. The Counties and Municipalities report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, compliance follow-up with towns including Denning, Gum Springs, Omer, Fargo, Jericho, and Haynes, and review of current and deferred reports; the committee filed most current reports but deferred several and referred some matters to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The Educational Institutions report said 103 education audits were reviewed, most with no findings, while several school districts had findings and one Booneville School District finding was referred to law enforcement. The State Agencies report included findings at the Department of Finance and Administration and a deferred Department of Health report, and the committee filed 13 reports. The committee then received lengthy presentations on the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report and the state single audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Legislative Audit issued unmodified opinions on the state financial statements, but identified two material weaknesses: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and improper methodology changes and documentation issues at the Division of Workforce Services affecting year-end estimates for unemployment-related accounts. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed. Auditors reported 33 findings overall, including 31 federal findings, $12.9 million in outstanding questioned costs, and qualified opinions for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Committee members questioned DHS, the broadband office, OST, DFA, Education, and Workforce Services about the findings, corrective actions, cyber protections, federal drawdowns, child care reporting, and accounting methodology changes. Several agencies described corrective steps. DHS said it had changed how it draws Summer EBT funds, addressed provider revalidation and incarceration-related Medicaid issues, and updated internal processes and staffing. The broadband office said the questioned costs reflected invoice documentation disputes rather than missing payments and expected Treasury review to resolve the issue. OST said it was expanding logging, endpoint detection, and enterprise monitoring, and described broader cybersecurity investments, training, and a roadmap. DFA and Workforce Services addressed the workers’ compensation and unemployment accounting issues, with Workforce Services saying it had updated its policy and submitted the methodology to DFA. After discussion, the committee voted to hold the two statewide audit reports over until the August meeting, with members asked to submit specific questions in advance so only needed agencies would return. The final item was a special report on the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority for January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The audit reviewed compliance with laws, board procedures, bidding, payroll, permits, inspections, and cash handling. It noted prior private audit findings on segregation of duties, that recent private audit reports had not been obtained for 2023 through 2025, and that the current administrator said prior office staff and bookkeeping contractors resigned when he was hired. The authority’s operations and revenue sources were described, and the report was presented for committee review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oklahoma is 24,000, and Texas is 24,000. And for Arkansas, it's just over 21,000.
• Oklahoma is 24,000, and Texas is 24,000. And for Arkansas is just over 21,000.
• You get penalized for seeking access to the courts under the Constitution?
• You get penalized for seeking access to the courts under the Constitution?
• So this is simply unconstitutional, and it was a due process constitutional suit in the making.

Bills: HB282 , HB293 , HB390 , HB456 , HB460 , HB561 , HB819 , HB1023 , HB1047 , HB1101

Committee: House Labor & Industrial

Keywords: employment discrimination, criminal history, rehabilitation, hiring process, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, workplace equality, labor rights, domestic abuse, unpaid leave, employee rights, workplace protection, mental health, survivor support, workers' compensation, employment benefits, claims process, fraud prevention, legal petition