Transcript Highlights:

• so the evidence may stay in that body in that cavity much longer than a, a patient that's up and mobile

Bills: HB47

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: HB 47, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem taxes, property tax, voter-approval tax rate, tax rate election, taxing unit, injunction, taxpayer rights, property owner, local government finance, tax refund, attorney's fees, court costs, voter-approved tax increase, tax reform, municipal taxes, county taxes, school district taxes, bond election

Transcript Highlights:

• So the evidence may stay in that body. in that cavity much longer than a patient that's up and mobile

Bills: HB47 , HB1552 , HB1686 , HB1953 , HB2151 , HB2355 , HB2582 , HB2697 , HB2895 , HB3073 , HB3418 , HB47

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: sexual assault, victim rights, forensic examination, medical care, trauma-informed care, crime victims compensation, evidence retention, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, digital services, reporting requirements, children's protection, sex offender registration, indecent assault, educator-student relationship, criminal justice, legislation, crime victims, compensation fund, information disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the department and both commissions did not require all employees and commissioners to complete
• conflict of interest requirements and not follow the recommended practices increases the risk that employees
• For example, 20 department employees we identified did not complete the required forms but were involved
• that they go backwards and see if there was any conflicts with racetracks or different things from employees
• that they go backwards and see if there was any conflicts with race tracks or different things from employees

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met as the House Commerce Committee of Reference to hear sunset reviews and a performance audit covering the Department of Gaming, the Racing Commission, the Boxing and MMA Commission, the Barbering and Cosmetology Board, and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. The Auditor General reported that the Department of Gaming and the two commissions generally met some statutory duties, but identified major issues: the department had not consistently reviewed independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, had disclosure and conflict-of-interest compliance gaps, lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes, and was late distributing some compact trust fund payments to tribes. The Racing Commission needed better public records procedures, and the Boxing and MMA Commission had licensing and fee-setting issues. The department and commissions said they agreed with the findings and were implementing recommendations, with the department noting it had already begun look-back reviews, updated guidance, and additional staffing. Members also discussed consumer protection, illegal gambling, prediction markets, and whether out-of-state enforcement actions should affect Arizona licenses; the department said it would evaluate such matters case by case and generally wait for final adjudication or final regulatory action before acting. The committee then voted to recommend continuation of the Department of Gaming for two years until July 1, 2028, the Racing Commission for six years until July 1, 2032, and the Boxing and MMA Commission for six years until July 1, 2032. The Department of Gaming motion passed 7-4, the Racing Commission motion passed 10-1, and the Boxing and MMA Commission motion passed unanimously. The committee next heard the Barbering and Cosmetology Board audit. The Auditor General said the board timely processed many applications and complaints and had adopted curriculum rules, but it failed to enforce disciplinary guidelines consistently, sometimes issuing different sanctions for similar violations without documenting why it deviated from policy. The audit also found problems with reciprocity education requirements, application review quality control, inspections, open meeting and public records compliance, conflict-of-interest processes, fee-setting, and statutory clarity on scope of practice and training requirements. The board said it agreed with the findings, had already updated disciplinary parameters and documentation policies, and was working on the remaining recommendations and possible legislation. The committee then voted to continue the board for six years until July 1, 2032, and the motion passed unanimously. At the end of the meeting, the committee began hearing the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority performance audit, but the transcript provided cuts off before that presentation was completed or any action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the department and both commissions did not require all employees and commissioners to complete
• conflict of interest requirements and not follow the recommended practices increases the risk that employees
• conflict of interest requirements and not follow the recommended practices increases the risk that employees
• For example, 20 department employees we identified did not complete the disclosure forms and were involved
• that they go backwards and see if there was any conflicts with racetracks or different things from employees

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rick Chesa with Public School Employees, representing the essential workforce that keeps our schools
• I'm here on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees, testifying today in opposition.
• for construction, or approving PFML benefits, everything would grind to a halt without our state employees
• Seamus Petrie with the Washington Public Employees Association.
• The governor's budget funds and approves three state employee contracts that cover some 5,000 state employees

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires that a charter school employee or an immediate family member of an employee may serve
• on the ABC board if that employee has no conflict of interest.
• 18:32.559><c> school</c> information uh to uh charter school information uh to uh charter school employees
• ><c> and</c><00:18:34.160><c> families</c><00:18:34.559><c> of</c><00:18:35.240><c> enrolled</c> employees
• and families of enrolled employees and families of enrolled students.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply gives small towns, many of which don't even have any full-time employees, time to do the job
• Brian Dolan: And 30 days for a city that has one full-time employee is not enough time.
• Like I said, we have one full-time employee right now, and we're at the will of the outside Brian Dolan
• This does not halt the development, but gives small cities who often have no or few employees more time
• Well, these new employees, they need affordable options, and we believe that 3919 Glenn Hammer: Is a

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Thousands of employees in Florida, they employ across the state.
• There's a place for employees with autism in the workforce in productive jobs, but a major stumbling
• Passing this legislation will provide all the employees of our state health plan, Passing this legislation
• will provide all the employees of our state health plan with the ability to get a definitive diagnosis
• His concern for the community extended to his employees.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and included several member introductions and recognitions, including awareness resolutions and visiting groups in the galleries. The chamber then moved to a special order calendar and took up a series of bills, with most receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Early measures included SB 88 on utility terrain vehicles, which would allow local governments to designate certain roads for UTV use under safety restrictions; it passed 32-5 after debate over safety concerns. SB 102 on exceptional student education would create a workforce credential and badge program for students with autism spectrum disorder or modified curricula, and passed 36-0 after discussion of workforce access and district costs. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults would allow alternative service of process through the same app used by scammers, and passed 37-0. SB 130 on compensation for victims of wrongful incarceration would extend filing deadlines and remove restrictive bars to compensation, and passed 38-0. SB 158 would eliminate cost sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams under the state employee health plan, and passed 38-0 after testimony about early detection and access to follow-up care. The most extensive debate came on SB 234, which would revise laws on resisting law enforcement and add a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter of a law enforcement officer. Supporters argued it was needed after the killing of Officer Jason Raynor and to clarify that violent resistance to officers is not justified; opponents raised concerns about removing “good faith” language, potential impacts on Fourth Amendment issues, racial profiling, and the severity of the mandatory sentence. An amendment to restore “in good faith” failed, and after further debate the sponsor temporarily postponed the bill. The Senate then passed SB 262 on technical trust-code changes by a 36-0 vote, and later recognized Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members in the gallery. Additional bills passed with broad support. SB 274 designated portions of Orlando roadways as Harris Rosen Way and Geraldine Thompson Way, honoring philanthropist Harris Rosen and the late Senator Geraldine Thompson; it passed 38-0 and drew a motion for co-sponsorship. SB 280 created an enforcement mechanism for candidate party-affiliation qualification requirements and passed 38-0. SB 296 repealed the statewide mandate for later middle and high school start times and shifted the issue to local districts after reporting requirements, passing 38-0. SB 356 designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida and passed after remarks about the Holocaust memorial and the need to confront antisemitism. Throughout the session, senators frequently framed their votes in terms of public safety, education, access to care, civil justice, and commemorating community leaders and historical events.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm uncomfortable with about this is that it allows movement among different types of employees,
• What I'm uncomfortable with about this is that it allows movement among different types of employees,
• What I'm uncomfortable with about this is that it allows movement among different types of employees,
• Are these situations where a government employee is claiming they weren't paid, or is it private?
• </c><01:52:43.679><c> and</c> they pass it off to the employee and they pass it off to the employee and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met to continue work on House Bill 2, with the chair saying the goal was to finish the bill as given by the governor, though additional amendments were expected. Members first discussed the bail section and agreed to hold it for later because a separate House bail bill was expected on Thursday and could have significant county cost impacts. They also generally accepted the proposed reorganization of positions between Fish and Game, DNCR, and the Department of Environmental Services, but noted the need to review effective dates and funding details, including a possible double appropriation of $275,000 for a scientist position already funded in HB 1. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on environmental review and native plant-related sections moving functions from DNCR to DES. Members discussed changing the rulemaking timeline from 180 days to 90 days, and clarifying that “begin” means the public hearing stage. They also reviewed how fee revenue would shift between agencies in HB 1 so the budget impact would be net zero. The committee indicated it would prepare amendments reflecting these changes and revisit them at a later vote. The longest discussion concerned the boathouse provisions. Members debated whether the new definitions and construction standards were appropriate in a budget bill, with one member arguing they should be in a separate bill, while others said the provisions were urgent because of a lawsuit and the lack of clear guardrails. Concerns included the February 20, 2025 effective date, which some thought might be retroactive, the detailed limits on what may be stored in a boathouse, and a fee increase that some felt could discourage homeowners from seeking permits. The committee also questioned whether the fee structure should be tiered for smaller projects and whether permit-by-notification projects should be exempted. No final votes were taken on these sections during the discussion; instead, members agreed to seek legal and policy answers and to return with amendments and public hearing input before voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:05:06.960><c> are</c> overseas offices uh those employees are overseas offices uh those employees
• So if me, as a business owner, can keep and retain my capital to pay for my employees or hire new employees
• We do that with just 16 employees. Next slide.
• </c><01:53:59.599><c> He</c> John Hullman's a federal employee.
• He John Hullman's a federal employee.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we blew the whistle on this, our representative employees lost access to the data.
• lost access to representative employees lost access to the<00:09:20.440><c> data.
• </c><00:12:15.720><c> collecting</c> shoppers, employees collecting shoppers, employees collecting biometrics
• And provides for important notice to employers and employees.
• </c> employers and employees. employers and employees.

Bills: HF3951 , HF4005 , HF962 , HF4585 , HF3870 , HF4542 , HF3893 , HF4293 , HF4075 , HF4057 , HF3809

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, biometric data, consent, data protection, civil penalties, privacy laws, HF4585, Minnesota, harassment restraining order, HRO, restraining order, temporary restraining order, petitioner notice, service of process, law enforcement notification, sheriff

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the only full-time employee with the board currently.
• only employee um full-time employee<00:32:07.679><c> with</c><00:32:07.799><c> the</c><00:32:07.880>
• <c> board</c><00:32:08.279><c> currently</c><00:32:09.240><c> I</c><00:32:09.399><c> was</c> employee
• with the board currently I was employee with the board currently I was um<00:32:10.159><c> we</c><00
• </c> cover expected growth and employee cover expected growth and employee compensation<00:53:08.760>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they delayed our implementation of the 2-year employee ID cards for...
• The 2-year employee ID cards for cannabis employees.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for House Bill 2335, sponsored by Representative Kelly, having to do with school employee
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 2335, sponsored by Representative Kelly, having to do with school employee
• Having to do with school employee training and how nonsensical it is, be due pass.

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Summary: The Legislative Rules Committee met in executive session and announced that it would not hear House Committee Substitute for HB 1941, HB 2279, and HB 1681 that morning, saying members wanted more time to review it and that a hearing would be scheduled in the near future. The committee also took up two bills not on the hearing notice: House Committee Substitute No. 2 for HB 2668 and House Committee Substitute No. 2 for HB 2780, both dealing with property tax issues. The committee advanced a series of bills on a variety of topics, including fire district surplus property (HB 1752), personal property assessments (HB 1759), voter roll maintenance (HB 1812), epinephrine delivery devices (HCS for HB 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194), disabled license plates and placards (HB 1827), school employee training (HCS for HB 2335), mortgage modifications (HB 2636), fuel-source-based regulations (HCS for HB 2774), masked intimidation (HB 2848), a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders (HCS for HB 3012, 2997, and 3058), motor vehicle assessments (HCS for HB 3035), and drug abuse (HCS for HB 313). Most of these measures received unanimous or near-unanimous do pass recommendations. There was limited discussion on HB 1752, where Vice Chair Mayhew raised a constitutional concern about allowing surplus fire district property to go to public service corporations; the sponsor explained that the bill did not further define that term, and the bill still received a 9-3 do pass recommendation. HB 2848 drew supportive comments from Ranking Member Bosley after he reviewed the bill, and HB 3035 was briefly corrected for a mistaken vote before receiving a do pass recommendation. The two property tax bills, HCS No. 2 for HB 2668 and HCS No. 2 for HB 2780, were explained by their sponsors as splitting earlier legislation into separate pieces: HB 2668 covered ballot language, tax impact disclosures, abatements, and election timing, while HB 2780 addressed the remaining property tax provisions, including subclass-based levy protections and school district debt service levy changes. HB 2668 passed 9-3, and HB 2780 passed 9-0 with three present. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Predictability benefits employees, municipalities, and insurers alike.
• injury or stroke suffered within 24 hours if they don't have a place for physical training with their employees
• that language so that we could ensure that there was equal protection for both classifications of employees

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up its only bill, House Bill 132, which would create workers’ compensation presumptions for police officers for certain conditions, including noise-induced hearing loss/tinnitus, PTSD, and heart injury or stroke occurring within 24 hours of responding to or returning from a call or emergency. The sponsor described the bill as a bipartisan effort developed with input from workers’ compensation officials, PERA, and the Albuquerque Police Department, aimed at easing the burden on officers to prove causation while still allowing employers to rebut claims. An amendment was adopted first, refining definitions and adding language that preserves an officer’s ability to prove causation even when the presumption does not apply, and tying the heart/stroke presumption to the existence of a physical training program and medical screening requirements. Supporters included representatives of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, the Workers’ Compensation Administration, New Mexico State Police, AFSCME/NMFL, and a workers’ compensation attorney. They argued the bill recognizes the cumulative physical and psychological toll of law enforcement, could improve treatment and retention, and would reduce disputes over causation while remaining balanced. One supporter asked the sponsor to consider changing the 20-year requirement tied to PTSD coverage so officers in smaller departments could access benefits earlier. Committee discussion focused on the amendment’s physical training and medical screening condition for the heart/stroke presumption, with questions about whether all departments have such programs and whether the language could limit coverage. Workers’ compensation staff testified that, from 2016 through 2025, there were 75 statewide claims potentially covered by the bill’s provisions before amendment, including about 20 hearing-loss claims, 11 heart-related claims, and about 44 mental-injury claims. A medical witness said research supports a correlation between law enforcement work and these conditions, though no New Mexico-specific study was available yet. After discussion, the committee voted to give House Bill 132, as amended, a do-pass recommendation, with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts and charter schools to pay 80% of the health insurance for all of their school employees
• A couple years ago, you guys did this for classified employees, and now you're doing it for the certified
• employees.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up several House bills, mostly related to funding for conservation, housing, education health insurance, and public projects. HB 184 as amended made technical fixes to the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund and Investment Fund to prevent trapped balances and improve distributions to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund; public testimony from conservation groups strongly supported it, and the committee voted due pass. HB 200 as amended created an incentive program for starter-home construction and homebuyer assistance; supporters said it would help low- and moderate-income buyers, address the shortage of starter homes, and support local builders, and the committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation because funding was already included in House Bill 2 before voting due pass. The committee then considered a substitute for HB 47, the school employee health insurance “80-20” bill. The substitute kept the 80% employer contribution but added statewide participation in NMSIA, removed waivers, added reference-based pricing, and expanded oversight to control costs and stabilize the risk pool. Supporters, including school employees, unions, and educator advocates, said it would improve recruitment and retention and reduce take-home health costs; the committee approved the substitute and moved do pass on the substitute while not passing the original bill. The committee also approved HB 63, authorizing NMFA Water Project Fund loans or grants for 113 water projects recommended by the Water Trust Board, and HB 64, which appropriated $13.3 million from the Public Project Revolving Fund for drinking water, local planning, and cultural affairs facilities. HB 48, a straight appropriation already included in the budget, was tabled. The meeting ended after those actions, with no opposition recorded on the final motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• conditional release, which means if the person is convicted of tampering with the judge or judicial employee
• other laws, many other remedies to take care of any judicial misconduct toward a judge or a judicial employee
• that they harass or follow or intimidate or violate the life of a judge or their family or a court employee

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that when I am trying to hire a new employee or recruit a new employee, the second thing they
• or recruit trying to hire a new employee or recruit a<02:48:14.319><c> new</c><02:48:14.479><c> employee
• , uh the second thing they a new employee, uh the second thing they ask<02:48:16.880><c> me</c><02:48
• </c><02:55:23.439><c> Uh,</c><02:55:24.399><c> thank</c> employee into your business?
• Uh, thank employee into your business?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to come to the table and employees to come to the table and really<00:03:01.400><c> work</c> really
• and employees and the general<00:04:19.359><c> public</c><00:04:20.280><c> about</c><00:04:21.199><c
• We have also greatly increased the availability of health care benefits to employees.
• I'm the executive director of the Service Employees International Union Minnesota State Council.
• I'm the executive director of the Service Employees International Union Minnesota State Council.

Bills: HF1419 , HF500

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Association of professional employees Association of professional employees otherwise<00:47:58.839
• across all agencies boards and employees across all agencies boards and commissions<00:48:07.520><c>
• Senate File 769 is not a benefit to Minnesota, its citizens, or the employees that help make our state
• Senate File 769 is not a benefit to Minnesota, its citizens, or the employees that help make our state
• that help make citizens or the employees that help make our<00:50:25.920><c> state</c><00:50:26.200>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all