Transcript Highlights:

• This work is not easy, but it is necessary and is making a lasting impact. I see you, we see you.
• It triggers Attorney General review, triggers the Financial Impact Estimating Conference to do their
• This bill impacts the ability for someone to send somebody else the prefilled petition form.
• There will be a fiscal impact.
• There is actually no fiscal impact in this bill.

Bills: HB 9 , HB 22 , HB 908 , HB 1392

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been able to get over some hurdles that I don't think rural school districts are going to be able
• These things have budget impacts all the way down to what a counselor needs.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Education

Transcript Highlights:

• know, Arizona courts are, excuse me, so our analysis is looking at how defamation is going to be impacted
• They tend to be in more rural areas that need that service, you know, need that reliability more than

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several Senate bills and one House bill. SB 1039 would allow attorneys prevailing in disciplinary matters to recover lost earnings and seek reputational harm damages from the State Bar; SB 1148 would require the Arizona Supreme Court to directly license attorneys rather than delegate that function; both received due pass recommendations. SB 1061, lowering the fentanyl enhanced-penalty threshold from 200 grams to 9 grams, also passed after opposition from the ACLU and defense counsel argued it would sweep in personal-use cases and increase incarceration, while supporters said it targets trafficking. SB 1068, which limits campus firearm restrictions for concealed-carry permit holders, passed over strong opposition from gun-safety advocates and university faculty, and SB 1069, removing suppressors from the definition of prohibited weapons, also passed despite concerns about public safety and prohibited possessors. The committee then approved SB 1099, which sets statutory elements for defamation claims based on whether the plaintiff is a private or public figure and whether the matter is of public or private concern. The ACLU opposed it, warning that codifying defamation law could chill speech and conflict with evolving First Amendment precedent; supporters said it largely codifies existing case law and adds an internet-related limitation period. SB 1271, barring municipalities from penalizing businesses for legitimate emergency calls unless there is a pattern of false or frivolous reports, passed unanimously after testimony that some cities were discouraging 911 calls for theft and other incidents. The committee also passed SB 1127, requiring mandatory reporters with direct knowledge of child abuse or neglect to report immediately and personally to DCS. Phoenix Children’s Hospital and DCS supported the bill but asked for clarification so medical emergencies would not be disrupted, and members discussed possible amendments. SB 1426, changing forcible detainer procedures by removing the written demand-to-vacate requirement and expediting claims, passed despite landlord-group concerns that it could affect holdover tenant cases. Finally, SB 1448, as amended, passed to expand aggravated assault protections to utility, telecommunications, video service, and related workers; supporters cited rising threats and assaults, while opponents argued existing assault laws already cover the conduct and the bill is overly broad.

Transcript Highlights:

• The active vendor ceiling was reduced from 475 to 400 to be more impactful to our selection process.
• discretion under subsection C that allows for going below the minimums, with consideration for small rural

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• But if they do put up the signs, the problem is that especially in our small rural communities, a lot
• I strongly believe that the only legislative change that would have a meaningful impact would be to eliminate

Bills: SB82 , SB1807 , SB2254 , HB 119 , HB 130 , HB581 , HJR98 , SB1988 , SB 18 , SB 34

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• reporting unlawful activity, and legal proceedings, ensuring that such practices are not unfairly impacted
• about how difficult the investigations are, so I think it's important and many of you represent very rural

Bills: SB20 , SB1621 , SB412 , SB441 , SB442

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• That assumption does not hold true across Maryland, particularly in rural, suburban, and mixed-income
• 00:25:21.200><c> in</c> true across Maryland, particularly in true across Maryland, particularly in rural
• , and mixed-income rural, suburban, and mixed-income districts. districts. districts.
• </c><01:28:03.480><c> area</c><01:28:03.719><c> at</c><01:28:03.800><c> the</c> deputized at the impact
• area at the deputized at the impact area at the Pentagon.<01:28:04.960><c> So,</c><01:28:05.440><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural conditions working inside also actively condition workers to expect and demand less from their
• The Los Angeles and Ventura wildfires... ...and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.
• The gravity of the devastation and moved swiftly to support impacted workers.
• This will support 1,000 impacted workers.
• These are the most impacted workers.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Summary: The committee heard several labor and employment bills, with most of the discussion focused on worker protections, collective bargaining, and reentry programs. AB 1424, by Assemblymember Rodriguez, would require climate resiliency measures in CDCR facilities and direct Cal/OSHA to propose extreme-temperature rules for correctional workplaces. Supporters, including NELP, WorkSafe, and formerly incarcerated workers, described dangerous heat conditions in prisons and argued incarcerated workers deserve the same health and safety protections as other workers. There was no opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations with one no vote. AB 1340, by Assemblymembers Wix and Berman, would give rideshare drivers the choice to unionize and collectively bargain. Supporters, including many drivers and labor organizations, said drivers face low pay, deactivations without due process, and lack basic protections; a UC Berkeley researcher cited data showing very low net earnings. Opponents from TechNet, Uber, Lyft, and business groups argued the bill conflicts with Proposition 22 and could raise costs and reduce service. After committee debate over legal authority and state-action immunity, the bill passed to Appropriations with bipartisan support. AB 288 would authorize PERB to act when the NLRB cannot timely resolve labor claims, in response to federal labor board dysfunction. Supporters said California must protect workers’ organizing rights if federal remedies are unavailable, while the Chamber of Commerce raised preemption and enforcement concerns. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 746, a prison cooperative program bill, would let incarcerated people form worker cooperatives and direct a share of earnings to a Green Reentry Cooperative Reserve; it passed to Public Safety with no opposition. AB 1104, on commercial solar projects, drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would clarify that private solar customers are not “awarding bodies” and would help reverse a steep drop in commercial solar applications, while opponents warned about over-the-fence power sales and unclear scope. The bill was held after committee members requested further clarification. AB 858, extending hospitality worker recall rights after declared emergencies, drew strong labor support and business opposition; the committee voted it out to Appropriations, but it remained on call after a no vote from one member.

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone that's already there, done, all good, they're not going to be impacted.
• the job. for hiring was impacting the job hires.
• and the budget impact, which is a goal of this committee.
• and the budget impact, which is a goal of this committee.
• What’s the impact to the response times for paid family leave on this item?

Transcript Highlights:

• They threaten our ability to provide the resources Colorado kids, families, seniors, and rural communities
• :08:14.160><c> and</c> Colorado kids, families, seniors, and Colorado kids, families, seniors, and rural
• </c><01:08:17.199><c> Colleagues,</c> rural communities depend on.
• Colleagues, rural communities depend on.
• </c> They came from mining camps, farming communities, frontier towns, and vast rural counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been fighting for hospitals, rural providers, and patients trying to afford care.
• :43.920><c> fighting</c><00:09:44.280><c> for</c><00:09:44.720><c> hospitals,</c><00:09:45.280><c> rural
• </c> been fighting for hospitals, rural been fighting for hospitals, rural providers,<00:09:46.080><c

Transcript Highlights:

• regionally because we could not hire individuals in that area, which means we were paying people in rural
• remember exactly how that happened, but that particular program was helping us recruit people in those rural
• So I think you're talking about a rural shift differential. Rural shift differential.

Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve prior minutes and then focused on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center, later clarified in discussion as the Warren facility. DHS officials described Moore’s background, said he died after a prolonged prone restraint followed by a delayed chemical restraint, and reported that 13 staff were terminated, the superintendent was replaced, a consultant was brought in, and the agency entered a settlement with the family for $725,000. Members pressed DHS on the cause of death, restraint policies, staff training, supervision, family notification, and why the family had not been kept informed; DHS said a family-notification procedure exists but that communications during litigation had been handled through counsel. The committee also heard that six staff had been criminally charged with manslaughter and neglect of a vulnerable person, and that the death certificate listed the manner of death as homicide with cause of death tied to physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. DHS officials gave broader context on the five human development centers, their licensing and accreditation, resident population, mortality review process, and training programs. They said the centers serve highly medically and behaviorally complex residents, that annual restraint training and CPI-based instruction are required, and that the mortality review committee and Office of Long-Term Care review deaths and make recommendations. Members repeatedly criticized the agency for not having complete information at the meeting and for what they saw as gaps in oversight, staffing, and chain-of-command clarity during emergencies. DHS responded that the Warren facility had not been meeting the same standards as the others, that the consultant’s root-cause analysis identified multiple failures, and that new crisis-team and chain-of-command procedures were being drafted. A second major topic was staffing and recruitment. Members discussed low pay, turnover, use of float and on-call staff, rural staffing shortages, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based services. DHS said CNAs at the centers start at about $39,000 a year, that a broader retention and recruitment plan is being drafted for all five centers, and that a separate rate study for PASS services will be implemented in January 2027 but does not cover CNA pay. The meeting ended with testimony from Moore’s mother, Angela Stevens, who said money could not replace her son and urged stronger training, background checks, and supervision so other residents would be protected. The committee asked DHS to keep members and Stevens updated on consultant reports, recruitment efforts, and follow-up on the family communication issue, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• regionally because we could not hire individuals in that area, which means we were paying people in rural
• remember exactly how that happened, but that particular program was helping us recruit people in those rural
• That particular program was helping us recruit people in those rural areas like Boonville and Warren
• So I think you're talking about shift, like a rural shift differential.

Transcript Highlights:

• through both Medicaid and health care, to inform better policymaking, whether it comes down to CON, rural
• through both Medicaid and health care to inform better policymaking, whether it comes down to CON, rural
• And then, out of the data, I do think there's a number of things on rural health care, on CON, on financial
• And then, out of the data, I do think there's a number of things on rural health care, on CON, on financial

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• who makes all of the decisions, and I think that poses some challenges for superintendents in our rural
• who makes all of the decisions, and I think that poses some challenges for superintendents in our rural
• who makes all of the decisions, and I think that poses some challenges for superintendents in our rural
• who makes all of the decisions, and I think that poses some challenges for superintendents in our rural

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large Minority Caucus Calendar and moved quickly through many bills, with staff often noting whether items were unanimous, party-line, or pulled from consent. Early items included HB 2130 on ADOA personnel financial systems, HB 2749 on felony sentence-completion designation, HCR 258 on Medicaid claim audits, and several agency or board continuation bills. Members also discussed HB 2745 on legislative subpoenas, HB 4027 naming Loop 202 the Charlie Kirk Highway, HB 2601 on Interstate 11 studies, and a number of education, health, labor, and public safety measures. Several bills were pulled from consent or flagged for later discussion, including HCR 258, HB 4027, HB 2375, HB 2601, HB 2408, HB 2444, HB 2923, HB 2182, HCR 2048, HB 2750, HB 2765, HB 2838, HB 4043, HB 2290, HB 2940, and others. Testimony and caucus debate focused on a range of policy concerns. Members objected to bills involving school strikes, weapons detection systems, public records fees for legislators, union activity, school safety felony penalties, and restrictions on school clubs. Education bills drew extended discussion, including HB 2423 on automatic advanced math placement, HB 2478 creating a student outcomes commission, HB 2579 for free school meals, HB 2992 on child sexual abuse prevention, HB 4041 on spending authority for low-reading-performing districts, and HB 4043 requiring CPR/AED training. Health and professional regulation bills also prompted debate, including HB 2408 on nursing board investigations and expungement, HB 2444 on pharmacist testing authority, HB 2697 on expired opioid antagonists, and HB 4010 establishing a genetic counselors board. Members raised concerns about fiscal impacts, stakeholder opposition, and whether some measures were unfunded mandates or needed more amendment work. The caucus also discussed immigration, labor, and public safety measures, including HB 2416 for DPS local border support, HB 2811 on obstructing governmental operations during lawful arrests, HB 2862 on unlawful masking penalties, HB 4070 on nonprofit incorporation restrictions tied to offenses, and HB 4117 creating a crime for disturbing religious services. Water, energy, and land-use bills were reviewed as well, such as HB 2099, HB 2263, HB 2330, HB 2341, HB 2492, HB 2757, HB 2782, HB 2912, HB 2918, and HCR 2020. The meeting ended with announcements, including an Affordability Award for Brian Garcia and a March 12 breakfast update on the Colorado River, before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the New Mexico School Board Association and a former school board member for 12 years in a local rural
• The bill also silences communities, especially rural and tribal ones.
• Rural and tribal and high-poverty districts already struggle with recruitment, turnover, and limited
• So if somebody is way out of line, I, you know, I represent small rural school districts.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 254, which would allow investor-owned electric utilities to include avoided greenhouse gas emissions in evaluating the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency resources. The sponsor explained an amendment making the emissions calculation optional for utilities, while requiring the Public Regulation Commission to consider it if a utility elects to use it. Utilities, energy efficiency advocates, and environmental groups supported the bill, saying it would help expand energy efficiency programs, lower bills, and better reflect emissions benefits. After brief questions about prior concerns, the committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill on a unanimous due pass vote. The committee then heard House Bill 185, which would change the process for suspending school board members so the Secretary of Education could suspend individual members rather than only an entire board. The sponsors and supporters argued the bill would improve accountability, protect good board members from being punished for others’ misconduct, and create a clearer process with notice, remedial action, and appeal rights. School superintendents and some current and former school board members supported the bill, but the New Mexico School Boards Association and several board members opposed it, saying it was vague, threatened local control, and gave too much power to an appointed official. After extensive debate, the committee voted 4-5 against the do pass motion, and the bill failed in committee. The committee next considered House Memorial 29, condemning the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. The memorial sponsor said it was intended to oppose the administration’s actions and affirm democratic norms. A supporter from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry backed the memorial on moral and legal grounds. Representative Block raised multiple factual objections, arguing the memorial mischaracterized Nicolás Maduro’s status and the events in Venezuela. The committee amended the memorial to add the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the New Mexico congressional delegation as recipients, then passed it on a 6-3 vote after debate and vote explanations. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 93, which would raise the state income tax standard deduction to 205% of the federal standard deduction. The sponsor said the bill was intended to reduce tax burdens for New Mexicans and noted that staff and the tax department had determined nonresidents would only receive a prorated benefit under existing rules, so no amendment was needed. With no public testimony and no opposition, the committee moved the bill forward on a do pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Derek Lewis, a resolution adjourning the House of Representatives in honor of Kentucky's rural
• 14.880><c> Kucky's</c> of Representatives in honor of Kucky's of Representatives in honor of Kucky's rural
• <00:33:16.000><c> electric</c><00:33:16.480><c> cooperative</c><00:33:17.200><c> utility</c> rural electric
• cooperative utility rural electric cooperative utility workers<00:33:18.240><c> who</c><00:33:18.559

Transcript Highlights:

• personally, UNM used to increase the number of PAs, especially—they are, to me, very, very helpful in the rural
• underserved populations, focusing on isolated communities and hard-to-fill positions throughout these rural
• So it basically prioritizes some of our rural communities throughout the state of New Mexico.
• approved for because they were approved based on, again, those vulnerable populations, some of our rural

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization and step-therapy measure, on a committee substitute that had already incorporated many stakeholder changes. The sponsor and agency witnesses described revisions to definitions of chronic health condition and serious mental illness, shorter prior-authorization periods, and limits on reporting requirements. Supporters, including a nurse practitioner and disability advocates, said the bill would reduce barriers to needed medications and urged broader protections for chronic and behavioral health conditions. Health insurance and pharmacy benefit management representatives remained opposed, arguing prior authorization is an important patient-safety tool and objecting to the bill’s limits on its use. Senator Hickey offered two amendments: one to conform electronic prior-authorization response times to existing law by changing seven days to three, and one to restore the prior-authorization period from 12 months to three years. The first amendment was accepted; the second passed on a 5-4 vote. The committee then approved the amended substitute 6-3. The committee next heard Senate Bill 111, which would expand the confidentiality of personal information held by the Motor Vehicle Division to include sex, gender identity, national origin, and immigration status. Tax and Revenue officials explained that the bill would not change what documents MVD collects, but would limit disclosure of sensitive information contained in scanned records unless a statutory exception applies. Members asked about what appears on licenses, what is stored in MVD’s system, and whether law enforcement access would change; officials said criminal law enforcement exceptions would remain in place and that the bill mainly affects public disclosure requests. The committee voted 8-1 to give the bill a do-pass recommendation. Senate Bill 218, funding a Los Alamos Emergency Operations Center, was presented as a regional disaster-response and training facility for northern New Mexico. Los Alamos County witnesses said the project would support emergency management training and coordination across the region and requested $5 million. Several senators questioned whether the county had explored bonding, intergovernmental agreements, or regional cost-sharing, and raised concerns about Los Alamos’s debt capacity and whether the project was truly regional. Supporters said the county has a long capital backlog and that the center would serve communities from Santa Fe north. The committee ultimately voted 9-1 to advance the bill. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 14, a major health professional loan-repayment proposal. Senator Hickey described it as an effort to recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals by increasing repayment amounts, prioritizing physicians and doctors of osteopathic medicine for 50% of the fund, and allowing service commitments with some flexibility, including part-time work. Supporters from medical, nursing, and behavioral health groups said the bill would help address workforce shortages and make New Mexico more competitive. Committee members asked about the inclusion of physician assistants, the 90-day start requirement, anti-donation concerns, tax treatment, tribal and IHS providers, and whether the 50% physician set-aside would leave enough for other professions. After discussion, the committee voted 10-0 to send the bill forward with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a former rural elected DA, and I can tell you, in a small agency, if anything happened, the whole
• It involved people from rural environments and urban environments.
• my background as a former Texas Ranger, one of the jobs the Rangers provide the state of Texas, in rural
• defense attorneys, people from the public, police, and law enforcement officers from urban areas, rural

Bills: SB 15

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 37, 38, and 39 are amendments to the budget, House Bill 6 of the 2024 session, dealing with the rural
• uh dealing Bill six of the 2024 session uh dealing with<00:24:25.240><c> the</c><00:24:25.320><c> rural
• ><00:24:25.600><c> infrastructure</c><00:24:26.200><c> fund</c><00:24:26.600><c> West</c> with the rural
• infrastructure fund West with the rural infrastructure fund West Kentucky<00:24:27.240><c> life</c><

Summary: The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee met on March 13, 2025, with a quorum present and took up several Senate bills. Senate Bill 244, relating to Department of Law operations, was presented as a cleanup bill and reported favorably with 18 yes votes and no opposition. Senate Bill 19, concerning moments of silence and reflection, was amended with PHS 1 to add a moral instruction component and related school-district provisions; members raised questions about the research cited, the logistics of student release time, and possible fiscal effects. The bill was reported favorably with 15 yes, 3 no, and 1 pass, and a title amendment was adopted. Senate Bill 63, dealing with street-legal special purpose vehicles, was amended to make local participation optional, clarify motorcycle-style insurance requirements, and address registration and inspection rules; after a committee amendment was rolled into the substitute, it was reported favorably with 18 yes and 1 pass. The committee also considered Senate Bill 179, which establishes a nuclear energy development grant program within the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. Testimony explained that the bill sets aside $10 million from an existing appropriation, including $2 million for workforce training at the University of Kentucky’s engineering school in Paducah. The bill was reported favorably with 19 yes votes and no opposition. Senate Bill 25, a housing measure allowing industrial revenue bonds for large multifamily housing, was substantially expanded through PHS 2 and a committee amendment to incorporate provisions from House Bill 9, House Bill 643, Senate Bill 85, and budget-related language; the committee reported it favorably with 16 yes votes and 3 passes, and adopted a title amendment. Finally, Senate Bill 6, which revises education reporting and funding provisions, was amended by PHS 1 to require reporting of fringe costs in K-12 spending and to modify SEEK funding for virtual schools and English as a Second Language add-ons. Members asked whether the changes affected other funding streams and how the SEEK formula would be applied, and the sponsor clarified that the virtual-school provision applies only to SEEK. The bill was reported favorably with 16 yes votes and 3 passes.