Transcript Highlights:

• Do you yield for a question, Senator? I yield.
• Do you yield for a question, Senator? I yield.
• Do you yield for a question, Senator? I yield.
• >> Will<01:33:59.280> yielding? >> Will yielding? >> Will yielding?
• I yield. support the bill as well. I yield.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 7 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Reverend Chip Stevens of First Baptist Church in Jackson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles, and received several guest introductions, including the president of Mississippi University for Women, the physician of the day, and the session’s pages. The main item of business was Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act. Senator Sparks explained that the bill would provide a $500 million infusion to the PERS accumulated employers account on July 1, 2026, followed by $50 million annually for 10 years, with backup funding from unobligated general funds if needed. He said the measure was intended to help address the system’s roughly $26 billion liability and to support both state employees and local government employers, noting that the state had already taken other steps to strengthen PERS. The bill was advanced to engrossed status, read for the third time, and placed on the calendar for final passage. Senator Norwood asked whether the funding would help local governments, and Senator Sparks said it would, because the liability is shared by all employers in the system and affects local balance sheets and bond ratings. Senator Bryan then spoke at length in opposition to the broader direction of retirement policy, criticizing the committee process, the fragmentation of retirement legislation, and what he described as incentives for privatization and unfair treatment of new hires. He said he would still vote for the bill because it sends money into the system, but argued that the state should focus retirement benefits on older retirees and avoid further benefit expansions. Senator Sparks responded that the bill was a necessary cash infusion to honor commitments to employees, stabilize the system, and avoid insolvency, and said more PERS legislation would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe they have that in their annual report.
• <00:32:28.480> I that in their um annual report. I that in their um annual report.
• um to that same extent in the annual um to that same extent in the annual audit. audit. audit.
• So I would defer used and the maximums.
• of their financials, um, their annual of their financials, um, their annual comprehensive<01:42:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And an annual audit is a part of accreditation.
• We need to provide this opportunity to the maximum number of people we can.
• Competition always yields strength. The fruit of competition is excellence.
• The annual tuition is San Juan Diego's 13,800.
• We represent about an annual membership of 1,400 special education leaders.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities. Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases. Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• The maximum award per academic year is the lesser of the program cost or a maximum of $3,000.
• The maximum amount that a family is permitted to carry over to a subsequent year was set at $8,500 to
• I'll yield and get back in queue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
• So for $36,000, a student could literally almost go through... and you saved the maximum amount, which
• And today's economy, a $1,000 annual limit is pretty unrealistic.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment. The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection. The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You might want to yield to— I would like to yield to you.
• I'll yield. Thank you. Thank you, Senator.
• We changed the $500 maximum transaction amount from 500 to 600, and then we also capped any max being

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:09 Discussion SB 157 02:43 Vote SB 157 09:04 Discussion SB 219 09:53 Vote SB 219 13:00, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• investments that prioritize safety and principal preservation before high returns, liquidity, and yield
• administration fee is $8, goes to the special plate administration fee, and then $17 goes toward the annual
• So this new lowering the cost would change the annual donation to $12, so this would not affect the state
• It delegates to the director to resubmit the waiver annually if not granted, and allows the director
• HB 2175 requires that the presumptive minimum and maximum sentences for the outlined offenses be increased

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills and resolutions, with members frequently asking to pull measures from consent and noting party-line or unanimous votes. Topics included medical and vaccination restrictions (HB 2248, HB 2086), state investment and conflict-of-interest rules for the treasurer (HB 2303), budget and reporting requirements (HB 2688, HB 2015), procurement limits involving China-linked companies (HB 2170, HB 2134), homelessness administration (HB 2533), traffic and transportation measures (HB 2109, HB 2574, HB 2210), school testing and education policy (HB 2032, HB 2033, HB 2075, HB 2266, HB 2395, HCR 2003), and several health-care bills involving lactation services, gender-transition care for minors, abortion-related restrictions, and hospital immigration-status reporting (HB 2072, HB 2085, HB 2364, HB 2689, HB 2796). Members also discussed water policy, including desalination, groundwater transport, and water-use limits (HB 2052, HB 2056, HB 2098, HB 2758, HB 2328), as well as food and agriculture measures such as SNAP restrictions, cultivated-cell food labeling and bans, and the Beef Council extension (HB 2396, HB 2762, HB 2791, HB 2155). Several members criticized bills as unconstitutional, costly, or harmful to affordability, while sponsors described them as clarifications, consumer protections, or administrative fixes. The caucus also considered a number of bills affecting labor, property, and consumer issues, including unemployment eligibility changes, mobile home park submetering fees, appraisal management company rules, digital goods seller requirements, property tax clarifications, and protections for minors in online content creation (HB 2690, HB 2459, HB 2501, HB 2010, HB 2120, HB 2192, HB 2261, HB 2279). Other measures addressed sexual extortion penalties, name-change procedures for sex offenders, and restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs and gender-transition procedures for minors (HB 2666, HB 2223, HB 2364, HB 2085). Members repeatedly raised concerns about federal preemption, constitutional issues, implementation costs, and unintended consequences, and several sponsors or members indicated they were working on amendments or stakeholder discussions. At the end of the meeting, the caucus also heard memorials and resolutions, including a proposal to limit voting centers and precinct voting, and memorials urging withdrawal from the United Nations and defunding the IMF (HCR 2016, HM 2001, HM 2004). The meeting concluded with caucus announcements, including an affordability-themed award recognizing Rep. Betty Villegas, a Black History Month sign-up request, and reminders about upcoming affordability and Latino Caucus events. No final floor votes were taken in the transcript, but multiple bills were pulled from consent or noted for opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• That would put it to nearly $4 billion annually in recurring appropriation for that research.
• the state and mitigate also state resources being deployed that are not necessarily delivering and yielding
• I recall the amount was up to $500 annually. And there was no criteria as far as income.
• Next week, I'm going to Kansas City as part of the American Academy of Family Physicians annual conference
• So they would all stay here for a maximum of, I don't know, three years, which is usually the term for

Transcript Highlights:

• offense is not detained in jail, pending trial for a cumulative period that is... longer than the maximum
• Cybercrime costs Texans billions of dollars annually, with fraud and identity theft affecting individuals
• includes policy recommendations, including the consent recommendations the task force made in 2022. annual
• voluntarily transfer to a... ...legislative leave pool up to eight hours of compensatory time or annual
• And with that, I will yield the rest of my time. Good evening. Thank you. My name is Dusty Boyd.

Bills: HB75, HB108

Keywords: building standards, youth camps, floodplains, safety regulations, environmental policies, drainage utilities, flood management, land use regulation, county authority, drainage fees, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Y'all typically get an annual audit, right? Yes, sir. Yeah, to keep your primacy.
• Would you mind yielding the chair? I got Ty Bofferting to come up, please.
• Would you mind yielding the chair? I got Ty Bofferting to come up, please.
• Schamerhorn, Chairman, I yield the dean of the delegation.
• But oral comments should be allowed at the most maximum opportunity. Thank you.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would think if they suspect some alert, maybe that would be okay, but at least annually, you know.
• No, I'm yielded to my colleague.
• No, I'm yielded to my colleague.
• No, I'm yielded to my colleague.
• No, I'm yielded to my colleague.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Arizona Department of Child Safety receives over 50,000 reports annually, with thousands of those
• Although there's a federal law that says beginning at age 14, you have to do an annual credit check,
• It has an annual cap, where it was previously at $200 million, and it moves it to $300 million.
• The bill requires DHS to annually publish a summary report and repeals the program on January 1, 2030
• So with that, I'm going to go ahead and yield there. Thank you, members. Thank you.

Bills: HB2014, HB2111, HB2156, HB2165, HB2202, HB2305, HB2321, HB2399, HB2403, HB2416, HB2418, HB2446, HB2601, HB2615, HB2620, HB2812, HB2939, HB2940, HB2955, HB2957, HB2960, HB2992, HB4026, HB4049

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety, traffic laws, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, veterans, state parks, admission fees, military exemption, recreation access

Transcript Highlights:

• It can yield affordable units without drawing upon other scarce forms of public subsidies, such as vouchers
• Since FY 24, pieces of this bill have been included in both of the annual budgets, which both add language
• housing might very likely continue indefinitely because, in 2023, the legislature allowed HDIP to annually
• Wheelchair users all needed the maximum number of extensions.
• Once again, thank you for the time to speak today, and I will yield the rest of my time for questions

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing opened a hybrid hearing focused on housing production bills, with Chairs Julian Cyr and Rich Haggerty emphasizing Massachusetts’ housing shortage and the need to produce more than 200,000 units over the next decade. The committee then heard testimony on a wide range of proposals, including social housing, starter homes and the “missing middle,” accessory dwelling units (ADUs), single-stair residential buildings, permanent affordability homeownership, and housing for people with disabilities. Several witnesses framed the bills as tools to expand supply, lower costs, and address racial and generational wealth gaps. Representative Connolly testified for H. 1478 on the Massachusetts Social Housing Program, describing publicly owned, mixed-income housing financed through a revolving loan fund. Senator Feeney testified for S. 989 on missing middle starter homes, arguing for zoning changes, incentives, and affordability tools to support smaller starter homes and duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Multiple witnesses, including housing advocates, real estate representatives, and local officials, supported the ADU trust fund bill and the single-stair study bill, saying they would reduce barriers, support homeowners, and enable more family-sized and infill housing. Some witnesses opposed bills they said would weaken ADU reforms or add new restrictions, while others urged broader deregulation to speed production. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1576/S. 1010, the Homes for Lasting Affordability bill, which would create a permanent affordability homeownership program for low- and moderate-income buyers and support small developments with long-term affordability restrictions. Testimony from community land trust leaders, legislators, and housing advocates emphasized that permanent affordability can preserve public investment, stabilize neighborhoods, and help families build wealth over generations. Senator Miranda and Representative Worrell tied the bill to closing the racial wealth gap and expanding access to homeownership for Black and Latino residents. The committee also heard testimony on S. 971, which would reform the Housing Development and Incentive Program to require more affordability in Gateway City projects. The committee additionally heard from Senator Kennedy and disability advocates on S. 1004, which would strengthen the Alternative Housing Voucher Program for people with disabilities by codifying project-based vouchers and aligning the program more closely with other voucher systems. Witnesses described long waitlists and the lack of accessible, affordable units as major barriers that can lead to homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization. No votes were taken during the hearing; the session was devoted to testimony and questions from committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• and I can answer any questions that you have for me as far as the bill itself, but I would like to yield
• So if we get a new drug that could be 10 times the price, we would get the maximum rebate in the most
• Well, Madam Chair, I'll yield to our speaker.
• We have heard estimates in the millions of dollars annually to some of our larger counties.
• Would Representative Ligori yield to a question? Would you yield to a question? Sure.

Bills: SB1052, SB1115, SB1118, SB1120, SB1121, SB1124, SB1171, SB1172, SB1174, SB1175, SB1214, SB1233, SB1235, SB1316, SB1345, SB1372, SB1399, SB1458, SB1494, SB1496, SB1564, SB1602, SB1621, SB1628, SB1630, SB1631, SB1668, SB1672, SB1814, SB1821

Keywords: assisted living, health care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physician orders, informed consent, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, radiation protection

Transcript Highlights:

• center of the page, that paragraph says proposed legislation will increase state expenditures by a maximum
• because of the effective date, so therefore the first year will only be half of the $64,000, but annually
• The statute requires them to do it when, yearly, annually? Correct.
• Most likely yearly and annually. Correct.
• Next motion is by Representative Yield to move House Bill 4 favorable. Object.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 105, which reinstates a sunset-expired TOPS Tech benefit for eligible veterans. Senator Kathy said the bill would use existing TOPS dollars, not new funding, and would help veterans stay in Louisiana and enter the workforce. After brief questions about eligibility and funding, Representative Marcelle moved the bill favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. House Resolution 3, by Representative Newell, asked the Louisiana Housing Corporation to study whether vacant state-owned property could be repurposed for housing and rental assistance for cost-burdened state employees. Members discussed the high fiscal note and whether the work could be absorbed in existing budgets. Fiscal staff said LHC had requested a full-time position and four part-time positions for the study, but the committee also talked about narrowing the study’s scope. Representative Marcelle moved the resolution favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then debated House Bill 189, which would extend supplemental pay to fire protection officers at the Lakefront Management Authority’s airport fire department. Representative Newell and airport representatives argued the firefighters perform specialized, hazardous ARFF duties and should receive the same supplemental pay as other qualifying public firefighters. Some members questioned whether the airport and its employees qualify under existing law and whether the supplement should be expanded further. After discussion, Representative Marcelle moved the bill favorably, but the motion failed on a roll call vote of 8 yeas to 10 nays. Later, Senate Bill 461, concerning Office of Group Benefits coverage for certain small employee groups, was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 623, creating a three-tier permitting system for vapor products, was amended to clarify direct-to-consumer shipment restrictions and then reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1222, creating a grocery initiative grants and financial support program through LED to address food deserts, drew extended debate over whether it would amount to government-run grocery stores; supporters framed it as an incentive and grant program for private grocers, while critics raised concerns about government involvement. After amendment, it was reported favorably as amended by a vote of 16 yeas to 2 nays. Finally, House Resolution 80, directing a comprehensive fiscal audit related to Board of Regents and university system spending on certain executive budget metrics, was amended into a substitute version. Members debated whether the resolution would require universities to do additional work and whether it belonged in Appropriations at all, especially since the fiscal note had been removed. The discussion also raised concerns about the listed schools and the resolution’s purpose in light of a federal civil rights investigation. The transcript ends while the committee is still discussing the resolution and related procedural motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The center officially opened in January 2022, and according to the FCIC 2024 annual report, the total
• I yield to Representative. She's yielded to you. Thank you, Chairman. Sorry for interrupting.
• The defendant pled to 20 years, the maximum punishment for all 4 victims in an effort to avoid going
• have been cases in which multiple individuals have been killed by a drunk driver who received the maximum

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have a couple more questions, but I'm going to yield right now. Okay, Madam Shirley. Yes.
• dedicated to K-12 public education, must be managed for their highest and best use to generate the maximum
• HB 2975 is about fairness, common sense stewardship, and delivering the maximum resources to our kids
• I think this is just—we want to get the maximum use out of the land and get the maximum dollars we can
• revenue.” “...what is in the best interest of the trust and generate the maximum revenue because that's

Bills: HB2150, HB2262, HB2267, HB2268, HB2351, HB2425, HB2426, HB2427, HB2755, HB2781, HB2913, HB2943, HB2956, HB2975, HB2985, HB4009

Keywords: state land department, mineral lease, renewals, indexed royalties, land use planning, auditor general, five-year plans, geospatial data, Arizona Geological Survey, resource analysis, geographic information systems, wildlife protection, public nuisance, renewable energy, wind farm, solar farm, residential property, public health, local regulations, state land

Transcript Highlights:

• I mentioned our 8 million annual visitors.
• had been built for one event a year, which is the Rose Bowl game, which is actually the one event annually
• While we anticipate 40,000 and we will prepare for the maximum, we can't... cameras that we're working
• While we anticipate 40 and we will prepare for the maximum, we can't. ...of guests.
• While we anticipate 40,000, and we will prepare for the maximum, we can't always anticipate the exact

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would Senator Hoffman yield to a question? Senator Hoffman, do you yield to a question?
• Senator Ortiz, yield to questions? I yield. Awesome. Thank you. Senator Ortiz, yield to questions.
• I yield.
• Okay, well, I haven't asked if he yields yet. So, Senator Hoffman, do you yield?
• I yield to one question. I would like... Okay, well, I haven't asked if he yields yet.

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the droughts, your yield would be a<00:36:26.320> third<00:36:26.560> of<00:36:26.720>
• We bring all of the conservation districts together to support this program annually.
• We bring all of the conservation districts together to support this program annually.
• <00:45:54.880> basis throughout the state on an annual basis throughout the state on an annual
• We do, as part of our statutory duty, make sure that the state or the districts have annual financial

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities, even equine, you have to be licensed through their agricultural department, and it's an annual
• the dog that was mauled and killed, um, they received—uh, she received a citation for it, but the maximum
• That was a maximum fine.
• That was a maximum fine.
• Not a budget buster in either direction. yielded $1 17,94wh yielded $1 17,94wh in<01:10:55.960> general

Keywords: 1191, senate, all