Transcript Highlights:

• of years.
• The statements lack of clarity opens another loophole allowing decisions to be made without the direct
• Just want to come speak in support of the of the bill.
• of the fumes.
• post-secondary education and fast and other funds sources to be a component of their quiet financial

Transcript Highlights:

• So part of that is in this biennium and part of it in the coming biennium.
• It's kind of lipstick kind of thing. I won't go there, but so.
• Chairman, members of the committee, 25% of the... But, Mr.
• People aren't going to know all of these things of how it got here or there.
• If you give them a million now, a lot of things could change by then financially.

Bills: SB2015

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Summary: The committee met to review revised long sheets and section-by-section language for a human services/health budget bill, with much of the discussion focused on how to present block grant funding and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for behavioral health clinics and CCBHCs. Members debated whether to keep FTE counts in the budget at all, ultimately leaning toward removing or zeroing out the FTE references while keeping the dollar authority, and reducing the salaries-and-wages block grant by about $4.75 million. They also discussed public health federal authority, agreeing to remove about $60 million in unused federal spending authority tied to COVID-era funds, and clarified that if federal money later becomes available it could be requested through the Emergency Commission. A major topic was the provider inflation increase. The House version had 2% and 2%, while members debated alternatives and appeared to settle, at least for further work, on 2% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year, with staff asked to recalculate the fiscal impact. The committee also reviewed FMAP changes, noting a revised 2027 FMAP estimate and its effect on general fund and other funds, and discussed whether to adjust public health and other line items accordingly. Several members emphasized that many of these numbers are still tentative and will be refined before final action. The committee also touched on several policy items and capital-related provisions, including behavioral health services, Medicaid expansion, the moratorium on new ICF beds, and a proposed amendment for a medical homes/fourplex-related item that would show a $400,000 legislative investment with repayment from a developer. There was extended discussion of the All True hospital/facility proposal, with some members favoring leaving it in with a smaller initial commitment and others preferring to remove it and revisit later in conference committee. The meeting ended with staff asked to continue updating the bill language and members instructed to review remaining sections before the next meeting; no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of testimony, legislators will be taken out of turn.
• the people of the City of Fall River.
• For example, Sudbury's recall requires a statement of grounds to be provided.
• Sudbury's recall requires a statement of grounds to be provided.
• Our country's democratic process has been of interest to me my entire adult life.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The committee held a hearing on several late-file local bills, with testimony focused mainly on municipal governance and election-related home rule petitions. Representative Silver supported H.5556 for a Fall River polling place change, saying the locations were reviewed by the Secretary of State’s office and supported locally to improve accessibility, especially for voters with disabilities. Testimony also supported H.5539 for Danvers recall elections and S.3118/H.5542 concerning the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, where witnesses said a candidate was improperly left off the ballot due to an administrative error and should be allowed to fill the full three-year term. Most of the hearing centered on H.5521, Sudbury’s recall-election petition. Supporters argued the measure was lawfully adopted at a heavily attended special town meeting, reflected local self-government, and provided an accountability tool for elected officials. They emphasized that recall provisions are common in Massachusetts and said the bill’s safeguards, including signature thresholds and election procedures, were reasonable. Several Sudbury residents and former officials described the meeting as well-publicized and broadly participatory, and urged the committee to respect the town vote. Opponents, including the Sudbury League of Women Voters, former officials, and residents, argued the bill was rushed, lacked public review, and should go through a fuller charter process. They objected to the absence of stated grounds for recall, the low 10% signature threshold, the short three-month waiting period, and the simultaneous successor-election feature. One witness asked that the bill be sent for further study rather than approved as written. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed by inviting written testimony and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just found that kind of interesting.
• Any other interesting comments or non-interesting comments? I'll be the judge of them.
• Can you tell me if you know of any interest on that side? I realize that's a number of question.
• And so that was really kind of my interest, my first interest in this.
• And I make that statement as the leader of each and every one of you, because I take great offense when

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• In the interest of time, I would ask you to make them brief because we have some people in the crowd
• </c><00:16:30.440><c> of</c> couple more questions in interest of couple more questions in interest of
• </c><00:20:10.280><c> of</c> for the record uh in the interest of for the record uh in the interest of
• I just want to stop you here in the interest of time. Does anybody have any questions, Mr. Rainbow?
• c> please in the interest of of what I'm please in the interest of of what I'm doing doing doing here

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met for its first session and took up Senate Bill 69, as amended by a committee substitute. The substitute was adopted by motion and vote, and the chair noted that a fiscal note had been requested but not yet received, so the bill would proceed and the fiscal note would be trailed. The bill concerns equine dental care and related chiropractic services, creating a licensing and regulatory framework for equine dental providers and allied animal health practitioners. Senator Robin Webb, the bill sponsor, said the substitute made technical corrections requested by the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and the chiropractors association. She described the measure as a compromise intended to clarify scopes of practice, establish a credentialing/licensing board, and provide a legal pathway for people who have long provided equine dental services, especially in rural areas where veterinary access can be limited. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability, allow providers to obtain liability insurance, and preserve referrals to veterinarians for issues outside the defined scope. Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and Board of Veterinary Examiners representatives said the bill was developed through a working group, modeled in part on Texas, and would include continuing education, grievance procedures, and due process protections. Justin Tallup, an equine dental provider, testified in favor, saying the bill would not change day-to-day practice but would legalize and formalize it. He said the scope would be limited to floating and balancing molars and incisors and removing caps and wolf teeth, with anything beyond that referred to veterinarians. He also said certification requires formal training, case submissions, testing, and annual continuing education. Senator Deneen asked about sedation, and witnesses said sedatives would still be prescribed and dispensed by a veterinarian under a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship, with the owner administering them. Michelle Shane of the Board of Veterinary Examiners said the board supported the bill’s disciplinary framework and would defer to federal law on controlled substances. Dr. William Rainbow, a veterinarian, testified against the bill, arguing that equine dentistry is veterinary medicine and that the proposal would allow undertrained practitioners to work without sufficient standards, including a grandfathering provision. He said practitioners should have training comparable to licensed veterinary technicians and warned that the bill could leave horses vulnerable to poor care. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion of the meeting provided, but the chair indicated time was running short and that a vote would be needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, members of the committee. Nathan White, chief financial officer.
• </c> to give you sort of a a broad picture of to give you sort of a a broad picture of what<00:05:51.440
• </c> some of their duties is now outside of some of their duties is now outside of the<00:17:26.799><
• </c> of the closing of Laconia State School. of the closing of Laconia State School.
• </c> problem of disparity of plans and waste. problem of disparity of plans and waste.

Summary: The committee met after recess to hear a Department of Health and Human Services overview of its contract structure, with CFO Nathan White explaining that DHS currently has 969 active agreements spanning service contracts, grants, data-sharing agreements, use-of-premises agreements, and MOUs. He said contracts are budgeted across multiple class lines and accounting units, often braided with federal funds, which makes the system complex; he also noted that the department’s top spending list was limited to 18 items rather than 20 and included both individual contracts and grouped regional/provider contracts. White emphasized that many contracts support direct services to residents, while others support departmental operations such as software support and staffing. Commissioner Hardy said the listed contracts are essential to serving vulnerable populations and supporting required administrative infrastructure, and she stressed that the department tries to work with providers and families rather than impose changes on them. In response to questions about area agencies and developmental disability services, DHS officials said the agencies’ duties are spelled out in contract and statute, including family support services, billing-related functions, and services tied to the state’s community-based system; they said some billing duties have already been moved outside the contract. They also explained that the department rejected a previously discussed two-tier waiver concept after stakeholder feedback in October 2023 and instead shifted to rate-based work, including CIS assessments, to better align payment with individual need. Members also raised concerns about possible waste, sole-source contracting, and subcontracting. Hardy said she had not seen specific evidence of waste beyond a whistleblower call mentioned by a member, but acknowledged that inefficient execution can occur in government and said the department is trying to improve management. On procurement, she said sole-source contracts require her approval and that competitive procurement is the default when possible. White added that subcontracting is allowed only with written state permission under the standard P-37 terms, and subcontractors must meet the same obligations as the prime contractor. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course. Of course.
• Yeah, I know this is something that's been an issue in some areas of Dover, so it's interesting to see
• </c><02:01:56.280><c> piece</c><02:01:56.520><c> of</c> of meet in this piece of piece of of meet in
• We had reference and received the copy of the 2025 DOE statement that the program seems to be working
• the I guess the 2025 DOE copy of the I guess the 2025 DOE uh<02:09:12.000><c> statement</c><02:09:12.880

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Hiding data and suppressing evidence is not in the best interest of public health.
• </c><00:47:47.360><c> of</c><00:47:47.440><c> public</c> not in the best interest of public not in the
• best interest of public health. health. health.
• a year and stack it on a desk statements a year and stack it on a desk of<01:57:04.080><c> an</c><01
• Um, it would be administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of course luckily a vast majority of of course luckily a vast majority of people<00:13:57.680><c
• </c> meet Financial Obligations by June of meet Financial Obligations by June of 2025<00:24:51.000><c
• of the cost of phone calls.
• </c> of of 25 there was a a reduction uh of of of 25 there was a a reduction uh of cost<00:44:59.440>
• c> Financial</c> blamed our financial or future Financial blamed our financial or future Financial woes

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> members of the committee University of members of the committee University of Hoy<00:33:52.880><
• </c> monitoring of of these um Appropriations monitoring of of these um Appropriations to<01:05:27.279
• And if you think of that energy as a factor of the cost of energy today, it's about a 30 to 4 million
• </c><01:16:54.600><c> business</c> course of the history of the business course of the history of the
• that have tried to take advantage of this tax credit and then some of the numbers within some of the

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And he also lobbied for the interests and concerns of businesses at the Alabama State House.
• And yet you said you want the decision to be down here because of the incumbency and the financial burden
• the incumbency and the here because of the incumbency and the financial<01:14:37.679><c> burden</c><
• </c><01:48:49.840><c> of</c> that's my number one priority of of that's my number one priority of of
• </c><01:50:18.560><c> of</c> the on some of the largest scales of of the on some of the largest scales

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber received several House messages referring local bills to the Committee on Local Legislation, including measures affecting Lawrence, Clayurn, Limestone, Shelby, and Alabaster. The Senate also recognized guests in the gallery, including local leaders, law enforcement officials, and a Jackson County Junior Leadership group. During personal privilege remarks, Senator Figures offered a tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., highlighting his civil rights legacy, political influence, and impact on Black voter participation and representation; the Senate observed a moment of silence. Senator Smitherman also thanked her for the remarks. The Senate then adopted Senate Joint Resolution 47, mourning the death and celebrating the life of John J. Guthrie Jr., and Senate Joint Resolution 48, commending Tommy Jax for emergency actions to help a sick child. The Senate considered numerous confirmations from the Committee on Confirmations, all receiving favorable reports and being confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls, including Walter Bracie and Eric Bone to the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission, Morgan Garner and Susie Beal to the Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure, and Joe Brown, Brian Williams, James Spears, Charles Hedrickk, and Kathy Pierce to the Alabama Board of Polygraph Examiners. Committee reports also advanced several bills, including local legislation and county/municipal government measures. On the floor, the Senate adopted a special order calendar and passed or adopted several bills: SB 239 on child custody jurisdiction enforcement, SB 190 on a sales tax exemption for an ocular eye service company, SB 252 on Governor’s Mansion Authority employees and leave benefits, SB 170 on health savings account regulatory coordination, SB 210 on the chiropractic board, SB 242 on commercial driver’s licenses, and SB 70 on crimes and offenses. SB 247 on insurance was carried over at the sponsor’s request for further work, and SB 83 on guardianships and conservatorships was taken up with discussion of a committee amendment to clarify removal of proceedings from probate to circuit court and notice requirements; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are many provisions of interest to the city of Minneapolis in these bills, such as MSA funding
• of brevity I would like to just interest of brevity I would like to just say<01:04:57.920><c> that</
• The financial cost of ending service is staggering.
• The financial cost of ending decades.
• The financial cost of ending service<01:07:03.039><c> is</c><01:07:03.280><c> staggering.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we look out because of these statements have been made by Representative Gber, the community of
• And as we look out because of these statements have been made by Representative Gber, the community of
• And as we look out because of these statements have been made by Representative Gber, the community of
• And as we look out because of these statements have been made by Representative Gber, the community of
• ><c> of</c><00:52:03.040><c> those</c> He's provided the statements of those He's provided the statements

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on November 18, 2025, approved the October 14 minutes, and then took up five motions in ethics matters 24LEC3 and 24LEC6. Those motions included a renewed motion to dismiss and motion to quash by Representative Daniel Gberg, a renewed motion to compel/sanctions and continuance request by Mr. Jenkins, and competing motions in limine concerning evidence and redaction of deposition transcripts. Vice Chair Mike Schaw was appointed hearing officer for the motion practice, and the commission agreed to hear the motions one at a time in open session. Representative Chris Lily joined later by Zoom. Counsel for Representative Gberg argued the remaining allegations were minor, that the commission lacked key exculpatory materials such as an alleged LRC report, policies, procedures, and training materials, and that the record did not support the ethics charges. She also argued the case had been broadened by extraneous allegations and that the respondent had been unfairly prejudiced. Enforcement counsel responded that he had produced all materials in his possession, that any LRC materials were not in the commission’s custody, and that the commission’s probable-cause findings were based on sworn testimony and affidavits already in the record. He argued the motions to dismiss and for summary judgment should be denied because genuine issues of material fact remained and the commission had already found probable cause on three ethics violations. Commission members questioned both sides about the alleged LRC report and whether it was part of the commission’s record. The chair stated the commission had not relied on any LRC report and had not withheld anything, while another member emphasized that the proceeding concerned alleged violations of the ethics code, not LRC sexual-harassment policy. A commissioner also noted the unusual structure of the proceeding and questioned whether the complaints, taken as true, stated a basis for dismissal. The transcript ends during continued discussion of the standard for dismissal and summary judgment, with no final ruling on the motions captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as far as community of interest, I see that this particular map really does maintain the Capitol
• All of those communities of interest are being maintained. ...area or Acadiana area, all of those communities
• of interest are being maintained in this particular map that you're presenting, which is a 4-2 map.
• It has community of interest together, which I think is very important.
• Since a majority of Democrats are people of color, let's draw maps that recognize the voting power of

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 12, 2026, and focused primarily on Senate Bill 407, a congressional redistricting proposal, with Senate Bill 121 also scheduled for later. The chair explained the committee would first take up SB 407, consider amendments, then hear public testimony, and would not take up SB 116 or SB 130. Two amendment sets were adopted on SB 407: one technical set adjusting dates to align with the upcoming election cycle, and another updating the map in the bill. Committee members and the bill sponsor described the proposal as a 4-2 congressional map intended to comply with the Supreme Court’s CalA ruling, preserve traditional redistricting criteria, and avoid using race as the basis for district lines. Supporters of SB 407 argued the map was compact, contiguous, kept parishes and cities together, and created two opportunity districts without racial predominance. Several senators said the map better reflected Louisiana’s political and demographic realities and could withstand legal challenge under the Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment. Testimony in support also emphasized fairness, representation, and the idea that the state should not move to a 5-1 map. Some speakers, including former legislators and community advocates, said the state should maintain or preserve two districts where Black voters and Democratic voters could elect candidates of choice. Opponents of the broader redistricting effort criticized the process as rushed and confusing, especially because early voting had already begun and the Secretary of State was not present to answer questions. Some speakers said the legislature had not been properly involved in the election suspension process and raised concerns about whether votes already cast would count if maps changed. Others argued the proposed changes were an attempt to dilute political power and disenfranchise voters, particularly Black, poor, and queer communities. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned, Much of me is made of what I learned
• We demand the immediate end to any financial support, whether direct or indirect, of Hamas, the Iranian
• They would not, so they have to meet all of the criteria of concurrency or any of those types of things
• time, individuals accused of misconduct may remain in office, continue making financial decisions, and
• What that financial structure looks like when they are entering into some sort of agreement with a large

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...this sort of clarity, the movement of deer, transportation of deer.
• We have a question of Mr. McDonnell, our statement.
• And I found it very interesting whenever the state of Arkansas was here with Corey Gray, whenever I asked
• And I found it very interesting whenever the state of Arkansas was here with Corey Gray, whenever I asked
• through the full public comment period and all of that, again, just in the interest of transparency

Summary: The committee continued discussing recommendations for chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance and response in Louisiana’s wild and captive deer herds. Members and staff reviewed current surveillance results, noting that LDWF had met goals in 32 of 64 parishes and that voluntary hunter-harvest sampling was falling short in other areas. Several ideas were raised to improve sample collection without making it broadly mandatory, including incentives for hunters, taxidermists, and possibly processors; use of DMAP properties and mobile sampling units; and targeted sampling of older bucks and other higher-risk animals. Members also discussed whether to use parish-level or other geographic control areas, and whether to mirror aspects of Arkansas’s approach, including testing to reduce or remove restrictions when prevalence remains low. The committee also heard from LDWF and LDAF about captive herd surveillance and reporting. LDAF described its licensed deer facilities, a 2024 positive in Jeff Davis Parish that led to depopulation and quarantines, and follow-up testing that has remained negative at quarantined farms. Witnesses said the agencies currently share information informally and through USDA/NVSL channels, but there is no specific law or regulation requiring 24-hour notification between agencies. The Wildlife Federation and several members recommended mandatory enrollment in the USDA herd certification program, mandatory reporting of positives, and clearer coordination between LDWF and LDAF. Members also discussed the cost of testing, with LDWF saying USDA grants covered diagnostic testing for the last two deer seasons, while department self-generated funds covered earlier costs. A major portion of the meeting focused on how to respond when a positive wild deer is found. Some members favored immediate restrictions, while others argued for keeping existing season rules in place through the season and using the positive as a trigger for intensified sampling, with the goal of avoiding unnecessary penalties and encouraging hunters to submit samples. There was also discussion of whether baiting should be prohibited, allowed during hunting season, or phased based on testing results, with Arkansas’s statewide baiting allowance and county-based disease management zones used as a comparison. The chair emphasized that no final recommendation would be adopted at this meeting; instead, staff was directed to compile the discussion and written recommendations for consideration at the April meeting, when the committee expects to vote and the commission may need to act quickly through its notice-of-intent or emergency rule process before the next hunting season.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you please give us a little bit of your life story? "That on? That's it?"
• You have your oath and your statement of economic interest with the Secretary of State's office in compliance
• The next one we have is James Morris Richards of Ridgeland, Mississippi.
• I'm President CEO of KLLM Transport.
• You've done your oath and your statement of economic interest with the Secretary of State.

Committee: Joint Highways and Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:10:36.640><c> each</c> statement at the beginning of each statement at the beginning of each meeting
• I know the governor at that time, Governor Sununu, did a lot of statements, as did Dr.
• I know the governor at that time, Governor Sununu, did a lot of statements, as did Dr.
• And the freedom of movement one, I think that's really interesting.
• So, they should have a good grasp of it, but it would be interesting to know.

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy for New Hampshire held its first organizational meeting. The chair read the committee’s updated mission statement, which says the bipartisan committee will fact-find on the state’s COVID-19 response and its impact on the healthcare system, with focus areas including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID, the Patient Bill of Rights, and vaccination policies. The chair also announced committee staffing changes: Linda McGrath stepped down as vice chair and Representative Gerard was named vice chair; Representative DeRoy was named clerk. The chair emphasized the committee’s work is intended to be science-based and fact-finding, not anti-vaccine, and noted that the committee may issue follow-up reports and recommendations. Members discussed a broad list of topics for future hearings, including long COVID treatment, ongoing vaccination policies, reporting of COVID deaths, standards of care and provider discretion, COVID-related funding such as ESSER/CARES Act money, and communication of treatment developments during the pandemic. Representative Pollina argued the committee should examine specific treatments and outcomes, including remdesivir, oxygen/intubation practices, and ivermectin, and raised concerns about whether some treatments were harmful or suppressed. He also focused on pediatric vaccination policy, saying the committee should review New Hampshire’s recommendations for children and medical students, and questioned the state’s reliance on federal guidance versus independent review. The chair responded that shifting federal positions may justify an independent New Hampshire evaluation and asked him to gather more information and potential witnesses. In open discussion, members suggested additional witnesses and topics, including local funeral directors, nursing homes, and emergency medical services, as well as how nursing homes were affected by positive tests and admission restrictions. Another member suggested the committee consider what products it should produce, such as a final report, possible bill recommendations, and better documentation or footnotes tying findings to testimony and scientific sources. The chair said the committee’s deliverables could include reports, letters to department heads or legislative leaders, and other actions, and noted that the committee’s 2024 report and supporting documents are available on the House committee page. No votes or formal actions beyond the organizational appointments were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the state of work for the benefit of the state of Wyoming.
• And honestly, some of them didn't provide financials.
• It should be about corrective action, and the punitive nature of it is very interesting to me.”
• </c> hometown of my town of Casper. hometown of my town of Casper.
• The facts, exhibits, and statements received by the committee are all available for the members of the

Transcript Highlights:

• statement of the fact that guidance documents lack the force and effect of law.
• review of all of the rules that are currently in place.
• dilemma for us is that industry capture, that powerful interests in the body will use our oversight of
• rules, the executive branch laid down for the protection of Oklahomans because interests inside our
• Senate Bill 1455 is an extension of the sunset date on the Board of Governors of Architects, Landscape

Bills: SB1280 , SB1316 , SB1433 , SB1455 , SB1456 , SB1457 , SB1459 , SB1461 , SB1463 , SB1465 , SB1466 , SB1721 , HJR1088

Committee: House Administrative Rules

Summary: The committee first advanced Senate Bill 1721, which extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education and requires appointed members to represent a tribe or be involved in tribal education. It then passed Senate Bill 1433, a mirror bill requiring agencies to publicly post guidance documents and state that such documents do not have the force of law. Both bills were adopted without opposition and reported out favorably. The bulk of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 1316, which would create a rotating, eight-year review of administrative rules modeled on Idaho law. Members questioned whether the process would duplicate existing rule review, whether it would be used as a rubber stamp or to remove needed protections, and how AI tools might assist. The sponsor said the goal is to verify statutory authority, identify obsolete or duplicative rules, and use a limited AI system built from Oklahoma constitutional, statutory, and code materials only as a research aid, not a decision-maker. The committee then passed the bill unanimously. The committee also advanced a series of sunset-extension bills for various boards and agencies, including oil and gas tax apportionments, the Board of Governors of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers, the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, the Construction Industries Board, the Oklahoma Abstractors Board, OETA, the Polygraph Examiners Board, the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, and the Advisory Committee on Midwifery. Most passed unanimously, though the Construction Industries Board bill passed 11-1, OETA passed 7-5, and the midwifery bill passed 10-2. The committee also approved H.J.R. 1088, which ratifies education agency rules, by an 11-1 vote. At the end, the chair outlined the committee’s remaining workload and said several bundled rule resolutions and a few major rules would be coming soon, including a large health-agency bundle. Members were asked to return rule assignments quickly so resolutions could be prepared before the end of session. The meeting adjourned after the chair said the next meeting would likely be brief and focused on one or two resolutions.