Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to item 10, Occupational Licensing Review. Senator Wallace, you are recognized.
• Chair, the Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met on Thursday and received reports of various
• occupational authorization entities in Group 1.
• We've already paid for the licenses.
• He knows occupational therapy.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4577, relating to driver's licenses.
• To issue, without fee, an emeritus physician's license to retired physicians who are currently licensed
• The license is valid for the life of the holder.
• who are currently licensed, have been licensed for at least 10 years, and are not under investigation
• The license is valid for the life of the holder.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, HB 2111 requires the Arizona driver's license exam to include at least five
• I also have to have my fingerprint clearance card updated in order to keep my license active, and so
• HB 2309 establishes a license for earned wage access providers in Arizona.
• It establishes this license through DIFI and is subject to certain requirements, including returning
• It establishes this license through DIFI and is subject to certain requirements, including returning

Summary: The committee worked through a long Minority Caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items on consent and several pulled for discussion. Early items included resolutions on Judea and Samaria, bullion depository bills, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget proposal, and a veterans services appropriation. Members also heard transportation-related bills on driver permits, citations, boat insurance, English proficiency for commercial drivers and motor carriers, photo enforcement, and a measure restricting incarceration for unpaid fines and fees. Several members raised concerns about constitutional issues, public safety, or whether bills were duplicative or targeted at specific groups. A large portion of the meeting focused on education and school governance bills. These included proposals on school district bond advisors, restrictions on school property leases and purchases, public meeting requirements, term limits and training for school board members, patriotic youth group access to students, computer science proficiency, and a bill requiring fingerprint clearance cards for traffic school instructors. Members repeatedly criticized what they described as inconsistent treatment of public schools versus ESA/private school programs, and several education bills were pulled from consent for further discussion. Other bills addressed child safety and family law, including DCS credit freezes, recorded child interviews, parents’ rights notices, mandatory reporting of threats by minors, sex offender residency and GPS monitoring, and a bill on guardianship rights during DCS investigations. The committee also considered a number of social services, health, and labor/consumer bills. These included SNAP work requirement and verification measures, a SNAP error-rate audit, dementia care telemonitoring funding, a Braille transcription appropriation, court fee limits, a physician assistant compact, pediatric licensure compact, and a kratom regulation bill. Members debated an earned wage access licensing bill at length, with opponents calling it predatory and akin to payday lending, while supporters argued it provided a regulated consumer option. Other measures covered cash acceptance by businesses, 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers, AI rules for state agencies, and a bill on public nuisance actions by the Attorney General. Several of these drew warnings about constitutional problems, preemption, or burdens on vulnerable populations. Energy, water, and tax policy also featured prominently. The committee heard bills on fuel formulations, gas tax relief, data centers and small modular nuclear reactors, utility reporting, and a Commerce Authority mandate to reduce fuel prices. Members criticized some proposals as favoring industry, preempting local control, or lacking a clear funding plan. The meeting ended after additional items on veterans, sample ballot mailing dates, and other miscellaneous measures, with multiple bills noted as pulled from consent or subject to later votes; no final roll-call results were detailed in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tom Kirkland, an independent licensed optician who owns and operates Tom Kirkland Opticians on 8th Street
• through the old-school art of opticianry, hands-on apprenticing, before taking his boards to become licensed
• Assembly of 2025 relating to the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund, claims limits, and license
• of Chapters 127 and 133 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025, which increased certain claim limits and licensed
• that citizen members appointed to the Auctioneers Board would not be financially affiliated with, licensed

Transcript Highlights:

• lay out House Bill 1691, which seeks to expand the list of conditions presumed to be caused by occupational
• brain, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, malignant melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma, as occupational
• Despite the comprehensive list, emergency service members continue to face denials for occupational diseases
• Research on Cancer, research suggests that other cancers may also result from emergency responders' occupational
• We've already secured $450,000 in the budget to make sure that licensed caregivers are compensated for

Bills: HB1654 , HB1691 , HB2545 , HB2652 , HB3799 , HB4144 , HB5008

Committee: House S/C on Workforce

Keywords: peace officers, firefighters, employment protection, worker's compensation, job security, maximum medical improvement, government employment, firefighter cancer benefits, emergency medical technicians, compensation claims, cancer exposures, firefighting hazards, workforce training, rural development, grant program, job-specific training, Texas Workforce Commission, child care, single-parent, subsidized

Transcript Highlights:

• To advertise and promote charitable bingo, referred to the Committee on Licensing and Administrative
• HB 4215 by Hunter relating to the regulation of delivery network companies, requiring an occupational
• permit and authorizing a fee, referred to the Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures.
• HB 4222 by Louderback relating to authorizing certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax, referred
• HB 4223 by Clary relating to unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement for sale

Transcript Highlights:

• If a licensed individual is doing something...
• I am a licensed court reporter in the state of California. I've been licensed for about 36 years.
• So just to put that on record, I do want to flag that occupational licensing also carries a significant
• So just to put that on record, I do want to flag that occupational licensing also carries a significant
• Hire a licensed contractor to pull the permit.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• And used as private living space by the dwelling's occupant. What does that mean? Okay. Thank you.
• If we put the designation on driver's licenses and real IDs, we are creating safety.
• physical or occupational therapist who had no financial relationship with the supplier.
• or licensed occupational therapist would only be using those products that don't create a lot of liability
• through a lot of occupational therapy.

Bills: SB273 , SB37 , SB100

Keywords: SB273, appropriations, general fund, hold harmless, local government finance, municipal revenue, county revenue, correctional facility, jail contract, private prison, detention facility, immigration detention, revenue bonds, clawback, child welfare, juvenile justice, protective services, school improvement, New MexiCare, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• strikes language related to certified massage techs because the board no longer issues that type of license
• , and currently licensed certified massage techs may maintain their licensure through timely renewal.
• It stated that 82% of all currently licensed... back. Thank you. And any? That would say it.
• It stated that 82% of all currently licensed.
• Their 2026 research report stated that 82% of all currently licensed massage therapists had other careers

Bills: SB295 , HB378

Committee: Senate Legislative Oversight & Sunset

Summary: The Senate Legislative Oversight Committee met in hybrid format, approved the minutes from its April 22 and May 13 meetings, and then heard two bills. HB 420 would modernize massage therapy licensure by allowing the Board of Massage and Bodywork to decide which coursework may be completed in a hybrid format and which must remain in person, while also removing outdated references to a license type the board no longer issues. The sponsor said the change would improve access for students who cannot easily travel or stop working, while preserving public protection through board rules. Public testimony on HB 420 was entirely supportive. Robert Overmiller spoke in favor, and Mackenzie Francis of Alpha School of Massage also supported the bill, citing workforce growth in massage therapy and arguing that hybrid education would expand access, especially for students entering the field later in life. No committee questions or objections were raised. The committee then discussed HB 378, which would continue the Council of Corrections’ partnership with the Criminal Justice Council and avoid the sunset of that arrangement in 2026. Members noted the bill stemmed from a prior Joint Legislative Oversight effort to provide the council with staff support and training. Robert Overmiller again testified in support, and there was no opposition or further public comment. The meeting concluded after discussion of the two bills, with no votes recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So welcome everyone to the first Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee for 2026.
• All right, and then again, any opening comments you'd like to make on the state of the licensing?
• All states in the United States license all levels of nursing.
• Their program length is about one year, and currently there are 14,000 actively licensed LPNs in the
• What you have before you is the occupational license for the soil classifiers.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, saying it regulates about 72,000 nurses across RN, LPN, advanced practice, medication assistant, and dialysis technician-related roles. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint volume, and the board’s finances. The board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but faces vacancy and distribution issues, receives about 2,200 complaints annually, and most serious complaints involve criminal backgrounds, fraud or misrepresentation, misappropriation, drug abuse, and criminal investigations. Officials also said they are looking at ways to improve efficiency in case handling, including better documentation and added help positions, and noted outreach efforts through nursing associations and the Arkansas Center for Nursing. For professional soil classifiers, Agriculture Department officials explained that the occupation was created in 1975 and now is administered by the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. They said the profession is small and specialized, with about 29 registered soil classifiers in Arkansas, and requires a four-year degree plus coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences. Members asked whether the current number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the licensing fund is used. Officials said the current number appears adequate, though demand could change with more nutrient management or related work, and that soil classifiers commonly assist with septic system design, perk testing, wetland determinations, and other soil-related projects. They also noted the program has a small reserve and may look at training, curriculum, testing, and administrative budget adjustments. Both reports were reviewed without objection, and no votes were taken. The next meeting was announced for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• replacement unit certificates environmental compatibility; HB 2429, short-term rentals vacation occupancy
• education public schools; HB 2720, prostitution assessment anti-human trafficking fund; HB 2772, licensed
• driver non-operating medical indica; HB 2784, school district tax levy; HB 2868, installation license
• HB 26 21 access special education public schools HB 27 222 vacation, rentals occupancy, HB 2621, access
• driver, non-operating, medical indica, HB 2784, school district tax levy, HB 2868, installation license

Transcript Highlights:

• chamber a group of dedicated health care professionals who serve communities all across Arizona: our licensed
• Auditor General, Arizona's naturopathic medical profession is well established, with over 2,300 licensed
• doctors... ...medical profession is well established, with over 2,300 licensed doctors, as well as medical
• SB 1670, municipalities, counties, occupations. SB 1659, homeowners association rulemaking.
• SB 1670, municipalities, counties, occupations, occupation license prohibition.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a licensed athletic trainer.
• I've been a licensed athletic trainer here in Missouri since 2006.
• They are licensed health care providers.
• And then here is the other license provider.
• This is the Occupational Therapy Bill for Disabled Placards and License Plates.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1622 deals with an occupational licensing compact, and I'm confident that most of the people
• A compact is an occupational licensing opportunity.
• A compact is an occupational licensing opportunity for states to participate with other states so that
• apply through the occupational licensing compact for them to consider my education and credentials and
• The Board of Medicine, which licenses physicians, also licenses physician assistants.

Bills: SB2401 , SB2402 , SB2403 , SB2404

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up second reading and final passage of several House bills related to the Rural Health Transformation Program and other matters. House Bill 1621, requiring the presidential fitness test in school physical education with exceptions and a delayed effective date, passed 43-3. House Bill 1623, appropriating federal rural health transformation grant funds and creating a related loan program and reporting structure, passed 46-0 after extensive debate about using the federal money for community health, infrastructure, and sustainability. House Bill 1622, joining the physician assistant licensure compact, also passed unanimously 46-0. House Bill 1625, authorizing the Ray Richards Golf Course land sale to support a Grand Forks transportation project and golf course improvements, passed 46-0. House Bill 1626, clarifying that the primary residence credit is applied after the early payment discount so taxpayers receive the full $1,600 benefit, passed 40-6.

Transcript Highlights:

• So welcome everyone to the first Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee for 2026.
• All right, and then again, any opening comments you'd like to make on the state of the licensing?
• All states in the United States license all levels of nursing.
• Their program length is about one year, and currently there are 14,000 actively licensed LPNs in the
• What you have before you is the occupational license for the soil classifiers.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, noting it regulates about 72,000 nurses and oversees RNs, LPNs, advanced practice nurses, medication assistants, and a new dialysis patient care technician registry. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint types, and the board’s finances; the board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but has vacancy issues in some areas, complaints commonly involve criminal backgrounds, fraud, misrepresentation, drug abuse, and misappropriation, and the average case length is 191 days though some cases remain open much longer while awaiting criminal adjudication. Officials also said they are working on efficiency improvements and have added help positions with Department of Health support. The report was accepted without objection. The committee then reviewed the soil classifier program, now housed under the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. Agriculture Department officials explained that soil classifiers are a small, specialized profession requiring a four-year degree with coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences, and that the state currently has 29 registered soil classifiers. Members asked whether that number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the program’s finances are used. Officials said the profession is mainly used for septic system design, wetland determinations, nutrient management, and other soil-related work, and that current staffing appears adequate. They also noted the program has about $20,000 in reserves, above the statutory three-year balance, and discussed possible uses such as training, curriculum upgrades, and expanded administrative funding. The report was also accepted without objection, and the meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• for a licensed massage therapist or a licensed chiropractor if the license is the subject of a pending
• This did come out of professional registration licensing. Great bill. It came out unanimous.
• for a licensed massage therapist or a licensed chiropractor if the license is the subject of a pending
• This bill also includes license plates and placards for persons with disabilities.
• This part adds occupational... ...before our spring break.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reduction for games and fish licenses reduction for games and fish licenses for<00:06:50.240><c>
• </c> veterans fishing and hunting licenses. veterans fishing and hunting licenses.
• The occupational therapy. Yeah, I think it's occupational therapist.
• The occupational therapy. Yeah, I think it's occupational therapist.
• The occupational therapy. Yeah, I think it's occupational therapist.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• psychiatry, APRNs holding a psychiatric mental health credential, licensed professional counselors,
• and licensed independent social workers.
• The compact is similar to other occupational licensing compacts that West Virginia has already enacted
• The compact is similar to other occupational licensing compact the West Virginia has already enacted.
• licensing compact, the licensed professional counselor compact, speech-language pathology, audiology

Committee: Senate Health and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• The standards under occupational health are very broad.
• Additionally, the Department of Licensing must suspend the person's driver's license for a minimum of
• For construction workers, reckless speeding is an occupational hazard.
• We should not accept reckless driving as an occupational hazard.
• their license to enforce it.

Committee: House Community Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The standards under occupational health are very broad.
• Additionally, the Department of Licensing must suspend the person's driver's license for a minimum of
• For construction workers, reckless speeding is an occupational hazard.
• We should not accept reckless driving as an occupational hazard.
• their license to enforce it.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on February 23, 2026, with a compressed schedule and limited testimony time. Members first heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, which would set eligibility standards for sheriffs, police chiefs, and marshals, require background checks for sheriff candidates through the Washington State Patrol, regulate volunteers and youth cadets, and create a vacancy in office if an elected law enforcement official is finally decertified or fails statutory eligibility requirements. Supporters, including Senator Lovick and several advocacy groups, said the bill promotes accountability and professionalism. Opponents, including the sheriffs of Walla Walla and Spokane counties, argued it imposes unfunded mandates, conflicts with voter sovereignty and recall procedures, and could create problems for rural counties and volunteer use. The committee later took executive action and reported the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation, 6-2 with one excused. In executive session, the committee also acted on Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, which expands law enforcement hiring eligibility to people legally authorized to work in the United States. A striking amendment clarified that agencies are not liable for employment discrimination claims if hiring is impracticable, allowed applicants who cannot yet possess weapons to apply if they can possess them when hired, and made technical changes. Representative Burnett raised concerns about background investigations, foreign-country vetting, oath of office, and firearm issues, but the committee adopted the striker and then reported the bill out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee also considered Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public except in specified circumstances and creates a civil cause of action. Amendments added an intent section, expanded exceptions for health and safety equipment under OSHA/WISHA, and proposed stronger prosecutorial language, though two amendments were rejected. The bill was then reported out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. Engrossed Senate Bill 5890 would expand reckless driving to include driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and 20 miles per hour over in active construction zones when workers are present; law enforcement, prosecutors, traffic safety officials, and construction industry representatives testified in support. Substitute Senate Bill 5936, a Uniform Law Commission proposal on human trafficking, would allow prosecution of businesses that knowingly engage in or profit from trafficking, strengthen victim confidentiality, and improve U and T visa certification procedures; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with one witness urging caution about unintended consequences for businesses that report trafficking. Finally, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6070 would expand missing-person response tools by allowing certain surveillance devices to be used for community caretaking to locate missing endangered persons, create Ebony and Purple Alerts, transfer the missing persons website to the State Patrol, and add a public records exemption. Testimony strongly supported the alert provisions, especially for people with disabilities, while one privacy advocate objected to the surveillance provisions as an overreach.