Transcript Highlights:

• to offer Texas solutions that address many issues: the danger and chaos on our southern border, education
• working at a chemical plant nearby, after my dad lost everything financially, I learned firsthand that education
• I know what it's like to struggle in pursuit of an education.
• They move here because of our state border policies, because of our education initiatives, because of

Summary: The Texas Senate convened for the opening of the 89th Legislature with an invocation, roll call, and certification of the newly elected senators by the Secretary of State. Senators-elect were then administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, formally seating the new members. Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott addressed the chamber, congratulating members and emphasizing priorities such as border security, education, energy, foster care, and school choice, while Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick highlighted the Senate’s bipartisan culture and the work ahead. The chamber then held its organizational business, including the election of Senator Brandon Creighton as President Pro Tempore. Senator Parker nominated Creighton and Senator Bettencourt seconded the nomination, both praising his background, legislative record, and leadership. The Senate voted by standing vote to elect Creighton, who was then escorted to the dais and sworn in. In his remarks, Creighton reflected on his family, his time as a Senate messenger, and his priorities for the session, including Texas sovereignty, economic opportunity, education, and conservative policy goals. The only formal legislative action taken was adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7, granting permission for the Legislature to adjourn for more than three days during the specified period. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 31 ayes and no nays. The Senate then adopted a motion to recess until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15, after a caucus meeting earlier that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• three, to draft or modify legislation as necessary to effectuate the goals of finding and funding education
• We also focus on education and capacity building, working with individual organizations, not only to
• What that meant is if you require a daily methadone dose, that means you have to go to group education
• And that is something that I'd like to educate myself on.” “...specifically.
• And that is something that I'd like to educate myself on and perhaps bring to the task force too.

Committee: House Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Summary: The task force meeting opened with a brief organizational update, including new leadership, roll call, and an explanation of the task force’s statutory duties: to study current and future drug and substance use in Missouri, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and report recommendations on prevention and treatment. The chair outlined the summer hearing plan, which would feature field experts, with future sessions expected to cover alternative therapies such as psilocybin and ibogaine and testimony from the Department of Mental Health. Members were encouraged to think about legislative ideas and policy recommendations for the upcoming session. The first major testimony came from Dr. Rachel Winograd, who described Missouri’s overdose crisis as evolving into a “fourth wave” marked by fentanyl mixed with animal tranquilizers such as xylazine and medetomidine, along with methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, but emphasized that the crisis remains severe. Her main recommendations were to focus on demand reduction rather than repeated supply crackdowns, expand evidence-based treatment—especially methadone and buprenorphine—broaden naloxone access, and improve practical supports like housing, transportation, and case management. She also said peer services are valuable but should not be used as a substitute for clinical care, and noted that Missouri Medicaid generally covers evidence-based treatment but reimbursement for peer recovery services remains a gap. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director at the Department of Health and Senior Services, reinforced the call for integrating substance use disorder care into whole-person health care. She highlighted the state naloxone standing order, which supports more than 11,000 Medicaid naloxone prescriptions annually, and urged five best practices: integrating SUD treatment into primary care, maternal health, general medical training, EMS initiation of buprenorphine after overdose, and expanded methadone access. She also argued for team-based reimbursement, stronger parity enforcement between behavioral health/SUD and physical health, and caution in regulating emerging substances so policy does not outrun the science. Dr. Doug Burgess of University Health in Kansas City echoed the integration theme, arguing that Missouri’s system is too fragmented and that patients are often stabilized and then left to coordinate their own next steps. He compared ideal SUD care to the coordinated response used for heart attacks, with seamless transitions from emergency care to inpatient treatment, rehab, and outpatient follow-up. He said treatment courts can be effective when they are well coordinated and informed by addiction science, and he stressed the importance of discharge planning, peer recovery coaches, information-sharing, and maintaining Medicaid coverage during justice involvement. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The ombuds office is often the place responsible for monitoring and educating foster youth about their
• But I do appreciate them with their contingent support as well. for monitoring and educating foster for
• monitoring and educating foster youth<00:02:07.680><c> about</c><00:02:07.920><c> their</c><00:02:08.160
• , through the education training voucher, I<00:17:20.959><c> often</c><00:17:21.199><c> learn</c><00:
• ,</c> autonomy in safety, family, education, autonomy in safety, family, education, finances,<00:19:59.600

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Medi-Cal program to prove that they meet 80 hours per month of employment, volunteering, or education
• Educate and train those who serve Medi-Cal members, provide our counties, our coverage ambassadors, and
• Additionally, we are committed to educating those who serve our Medi-Cal members.
• Last year, we reached over 1,000 community members through outreach and education during the winter.
• Doulas provide health education, advocacy, and emotional support before, during, and after childbirth

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have more time to discuss, to work, to educate, to collect data, to talk about, and collaborate on
• And this one, I know you all love this so much, but this is just for your education.
• Vice Chair Osteen and members of the committee, this memorandum provides a summary of the education,
• , workforce statistics, and dental education data.
• We can probably work on that in terms of education from the association.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review the history and current treatment of North Dakota health insurance mandates, with presentations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the Insurance Department. The discussion focused on how mandates apply differently to fully insured, self-funded, ACA, Medicaid, and PERS plans; how the state’s benchmark plan and federal essential health benefits affect coverage; and how the existing process requires cost-benefit analysis and, for certain measures, a PERS pilot period before broader application. Presenters also reviewed the long list of existing state mandates, including provider, beneficiary, and coverage requirements, and noted that many were enacted decades ago and have not been revisited despite changes in medical evidence and treatment options. Witnesses from the carriers argued that mandates should be reviewed periodically because some are outdated, can create unintended costs, and may not align with current medical guidance. Examples cited included PSA screening, off-label drug coverage, prior authorization rules, step therapy, and cost-sharing provisions for mental health and substance use treatment. They emphasized that carriers often cover services without a mandate when supported by clinical evidence, and that mandates can shift costs to employers and employees, especially in the fully insured small-group market. They also suggested possible policy improvements such as clearer mandate definitions, better transparency around cost-benefit analyses, a regular 10-year review of mandates, and more timely submission of proposals through the interim process. PERS and the Insurance Department highlighted a recurring tension over what counts as a mandate and when a measure triggers the state’s defrayal obligation under federal law. PERS described its interim committee process, the April 1 deadline for fiscal-impact proposals, and the limited pilot program used for certain measures, noting that only a few bills have gone through the full pilot process. The Insurance Department explained that it views new benefit mandates through the lens of the ACA benchmark plan and essential health benefits, distinguishing true new benefits, such as infertility coverage, from changes to existing benefits, such as telehealth or insulin cost-sharing caps. No votes were taken on policy changes; the meeting was informational, with members asking questions about costs, applicability, transparency, and whether a periodic mandate review should be established.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don’t like our education rate. They don’t like that they have to pay gross receipts tax.
• How am I going to get my kids educated?
• We could somehow educate or, you know, somehow find a way for these victims to know that they have six
• Then they find out when they're 30, 35, we could somehow educate or, you know, somehow find a way to
• Strong Together, Never Alone, Together for Brothers, The Haven, Families United for Education, Future

Bills: HB99 , HJR5 , HM39 , HB206 , HB213 , SB41 , SB153 , SB165 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up a lengthy informational presentation on the Patient Compensation Fund (PCF) and New Mexico medical malpractice insurance. Teresa Hassey, a plaintiffs’ attorney, described the PCF’s origin in the 1976 Medical Malpractice Act, its role as a state-backed excess coverage system, and her view that it was mismanaged when hospital participation expanded without individualized risk assessments. She argued that hospitals underpaid surcharges, that the fund was depleted by claims, and that the 2021 amendments and later legislative infusions were meant to shore up deficits and phase hospitals out. Superintendent of Insurance Alice Kane and LFC analyst Julia Rodriguez presented a different perspective, emphasizing recent general fund infusions, current surcharge collections, the use of actuarial reviews, and the PCF’s budget and settlement activity. Kane said the market is highly concentrated, New Mexico’s malpractice costs and defense expenses are high, and the fund still provides lower-cost coverage than the open market, while also noting ongoing issues with future medical claims, TPA transition, and investment management. Committee members questioned the presenters at length about why New Mexico malpractice premiums are so high, whether defense costs were being conflated with claim payouts, how the PCF works with primary coverage and excess coverage, and whether hospitals were properly assessed when they entered the fund. Several senators raised concerns about punitive damages, corporate practice of medicine, and whether the state’s legal environment is driving doctors away. Others challenged the data comparisons, noting differences between one-year figures and multi-year averages, and asked why New Mexico’s costs remain far above neighboring states. Kane and Hassey disagreed on the causes, with Kane pointing to high claims and defense costs over time and Hassey arguing that hospital participation and punitive-damage exposure distorted the market. The chair concluded the discussion by saying the committee had not exhausted the topic and that he still wanted a clear path to reducing doctors’ insurance costs. After a break, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 41. Senator Charlie introduced the bill, which would eliminate the statute of limitations for the most serious sexual crimes in New Mexico. He argued that trauma, coercion, fear, and delayed disclosure often prevent survivors from reporting promptly, and said the law should reflect that reality. The bill was presented as a response to survivor testimony heard in a prior hearing, and the sponsor framed it as part of a broader effort to modernize the justice system for sexual violence cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then my other question is two other things: educating the family members of people.
• Especially, I wrote down the education of family members. It's a village.
• Now the next question is an education question for me, and maybe it will help some of my colleagues as
• I mean with organizations like Future Focused Students Education and... ...the Instituto Del Puente.
• continue that nutritional education component.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the commission on post-secondary education that we're moving back, right?
• So the commission on post-secondary education is created in statute under Deeter, as well as being under
• Deeter has continued to provide support to the commission on post-secondary education, this last biennium
• It's a part of the program through their education. Thank you.
• Are there other companies and other organizations, either nonprofits, other educational, like either

Bills: AB6 , AB102 , AB131 , AB212 , AB213 , AB220 , AB259 , AB282 , AB376 , AB396 , AB479 , AB503 , AB570 , AB572 , AB574 , AB576 , AB593 , SB185 , SB207 , SB507 , AB6

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, FASD, prenatal alcohol exposure, children's health, developmental disability, early intervention, treatment assistance, Aging and Disability Services Division, Department of Health and Human Services, Autism Treatment Assistance Program, public health, parent education, evidence-based treatment, Nevada NRS 427A, disability services, behavioral health, emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district

Transcript Highlights:

• These programs educate and test repair technicians and certify those that meet the highest standards.
• These programs educate and test repair technicians and certify those that meet the highest standards.
• SB 1374 strengthens reporting and accountability measures related to educator arrests and misconduct
• plan, also known as the IEP, education plan, 504 plan, or English language learning plan.
• I know on the education and higher education appropriations committees, we have asked specific people

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Rules Committee took up a large agenda of bills, with many measures reported favorably after brief explanations, amendments, and testimony. Early bills included CS/SB 658 on lien waivers and releases, which was amended to preserve enforceability despite form differences and then passed; CS/CS/SB 736 on brownfields redevelopment, which drew support from business and redevelopment interests and passed; and CS/SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, which was amended to bar certain building or fire code provisions affecting fuel-source choices and then passed despite opposition from environmental advocates. The committee also advanced CS/CS/SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, where manufacturers, dealer representatives, and industry groups warned the bill could undermine dealer networks and existing repair programs, while supporters argued it would improve consumer access and help farmers and equipment owners. The bill still passed. Other measures reported favorably included CS/SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of property-damage crashes, CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign-country controlling interests in health care licensing, CS/SB 772 on school access to glucagon for diabetes emergencies, CS/SB 1400 on removal of nonconsensual altered sexual depictions, and CS/SB 1696 on transportation network company impersonation and transit funding. A major portion of the meeting focused on affordable housing. CS/SB 1730, a follow-up to the Live Local Act, made several changes to zoning, height, density, parking, moratorium, and enforcement provisions, with members raising concerns about parking reductions, attorney’s fees, local control, and impacts in the Keys and other sensitive areas. Supporters said the bill closes loopholes and improves workforce housing implementation, while some witnesses urged additional exemptions for areas of critical state concern. The bill was reported favorably after amendment. Later, the committee considered several bills from Senator Leak, including CS/SB 576 on service of process, CS/SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments, and CS/SB 1164 on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices. CS/SB 606 drew substantial debate over whether hotels and extended-stay properties should be able to remove nonpaying guests without treating them like residential tenants; the sponsor said the bill clarifies transient occupancy and removes mandatory arrest provisions, and it passed. CS/SB 1164, which allows email notice delivery by agreement, passed despite concerns from tenant advocates that the bill should include clearer consent and safeguards. The committee also approved CS/SB 1374 on school district reporting of educator arrests and misconduct, CS/SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation sales, and began hearing CS/SB 1690 on surrendered infants, which would authorize infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, with supportive testimony from proponents describing crisis situations and the need for anonymous surrender options.

Transcript Highlights:

• :48:19.079><c> like</c><00:48:19.520><c> Department</c><00:48:19.960><c> of</c><00:48:20.119><c> Education
• </c> entities like Department of Education entities like Department of Education for<00:48:20.839><c>
• like know from your guys' side working with the different schools and administration, and how we can educate
• and</c><00:54:47.240><c> how</c><00:54:47.359><c> we</c><00:54:47.480><c> can</c><00:54:47.760><c> educate
• </c> administration and how we can educate administration and how we can educate them<00:54:48.559><c

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sex trafficking is something that is a blight in my community, and the more we educate the community
• I'm thankful to be working on education.
• So the more education we have out there, I think, will help us to eliminate the scourge of trafficking

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held its final meeting of the 2026 session, with Chair Jeremy Cooney noting quorum and thanking staff and members. The committee considered a large agenda of transportation-related bills, including measures on school construction notice from NYC DOT, inspection station disclosures, electronic signatures for vehicle registration forms, sex trafficking awareness and prevention, passenger notification after sexual assault incidents involving transportation network companies, hazardous materials rail notifications, ATV seasonal use, highway dedications, disabled-person license plates, a DMV study of inspection stations and fees, lighting requirements for e-bikes and e-scooters, school speed zone cameras in New Rochelle, work zone safety instruction for new drivers, removal of registration stickers in favor of electronic certificates, complete streets considerations, hands-free device rules for bus/taxi/livery drivers, bans on virtual reality headsets while driving, early registration renewal for deployed service members, and road salt distribution requirements. Most bills were reported from committee by voice vote, often with bipartisan support. Several members offered brief comments supporting bills aimed at public safety, worker protection, distracted driving prevention, and trafficking awareness. Senator Gallivan opposed the bill eliminating registration stickers, citing concerns that the stickers help law enforcement quickly identify registered vehicles; that bill was referred to Finance. The committee also referred the road salt bill and the supplemental rail-worker protection bill to Finance, while some other measures were referred onward to Codes or Consumer Protection. The meeting closed after the supplemental rail-worker protection bill was added at the end of the agenda and reported with bipartisan support. Overall, the session emphasized transportation safety, worker protections, and administrative updates to vehicle and highway law.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're about to begin our Postsecondary Education Committee.
• Senate Bill 1725 modifies language relating to expressive activities on state institution of higher education
• Technology Center Career Tech Schools more directly under the State Board of Career and Technology Education

Bills: SB1477 , SB1480 , SB1593 , SB1633 , SB1670 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB1735 , SB1632

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Keywords: education, concurrent enrollment, students, age restrictions, academic access, apprenticeship, career education, youth programs, employment, technology centers, SB1593, OSU Tulsa, Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, Board of Trustees, higher education, university governance, A&M Board, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, presidential search, board rules

Summary: The Postsecondary Education Committee considered a series of higher education and career-tech bills, with members asking mostly clarifying questions about eligibility, implementation, and alignment with existing law. House Bill 1477, requested by the State Regents, would limit concurrent enrollment to students age 21 or under; it passed 6-0. Senate Bill 1593 updated language on the Oklahoma State University Board of Trustees to reflect current practice and passed 6-0. Senate Bill 1725 addressed expressive activities on public campuses by allowing security fees for students or student groups, but not based on the content of expression, and also directed free speech training through the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee; it passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1670, a State Chamber priority bill, aimed to strengthen startup ecosystems, venture capital, and industry-embedded research to help move university research into private-sector jobs, and it passed 9-0. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1726, which would establish a baseline training course for graduate student instructors at colleges and universities. Supporters said it would standardize instruction across institutions and help ensure a consistent level of preparation for graduate instructors teaching undergraduates; it passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1633 would align Oklahoma statute with federal law following a consent judgment regarding tuition eligibility for individuals not lawfully present in the United States; members discussed how “lawfully present” would apply to DACA recipients and others with federal immigration status, and the bill passed 6-3. Senate Bill 1735, a cleanup measure shifting certain oversight of technology center career tech schools more directly under the State Board of Career and Technology Education, passed 9-0. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 1480, a pilot program for paid apprenticeships for 16-year-old students within career tech settings, despite questions about why a pilot was needed when career techs were already prepared to do similar work; it passed 9-0. Finally, an amendment to Senate Bill 1632 changed “shall” to “may” and allowed the State Board of Regents to use workforce assessments such as WorkKeys to award some entry-level college credit for students who score highly, especially those returning to community college or seeking an associate degree; after discussion about the limits of the credit, the amended measure passed 9-0. The meeting concluded with thanks to members as the committee’s final meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• tension with longstanding First Amendment principles under the Supreme Court's decision in Board of Education
• Under the Supreme Court's decision in Board of Education v.
• 13-year-old eighth grader and a 17-year-old senior are worlds apart in maturity, judgment, and educational

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee took up Senate Bill 1448, with Senator Todd Lakey explaining that the measure makes technical revisions to Idaho’s obscenity-related library law in response to recent court decisions and language suggested by the Attorney General’s office. He said the bill does not change the underlying policy from the earlier law, but updates definitions such as “adolescent minor,” clarifies exceptions for things like breastfeeding, childbirth, medical treatment, and non-erotic contact, and aligns the statute more closely with the Miller test and current case law. Several library and public witnesses testified in opposition. They argued the bill would still chill access to constitutionally protected materials, create liability for libraries, and force subjective judgments by librarians and boards. Speakers from the Community Library, Idaho Library Association, Library Alliance of North Idaho, and individual residents also criticized the process and timing of the bill, saying it limited public scrutiny. One witness raised concern about language referencing homosexuality in the definition of sexual conduct, while another urged repeal of the law rather than further revisions. After Senator Lakey closed, Senator Foreman moved to send SB 1448 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, seconded by Senator Kaiser. Senator Ruchti said the bill’s history gave him pause but acknowledged the new language appeared to improve the statute. The committee approved the motion, with Senator Ruchti recorded as voting no, and sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• tension with longstanding First Amendment principles under the Supreme Court's decision in Board of Education
• Under the Supreme Court's decision in Board of Education v.
• 13-year-old eighth grader and a 17-year-old senior are worlds apart in maturity, judgment, and educational

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to her work in medical education, she is passionate about obesity care, emphasizing sustainable
• I am a child of farm workers that was denied my right to an education.
• I became educated to serve and protect the rights of all Arizona children.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through introductions of guests and several ceremonial recognitions. Guests included a local justice of the peace, the doctor of the day, McDonald’s representatives visiting for the All-American Games, and AFL-CIO members at the Capitol. Senators also read proclamations recognizing Lobo Week in support of the Mexican gray wolf and McDonald’s All-American Games Week, highlighting the economic and charitable impact of McDonald’s in Arizona and the importance of wolf recovery efforts. During floor business, Senator Gonzalez submitted a statement criticizing Senate rules as undemocratic and unconstitutional, particularly in relation to House Bill 2072 and broader chamber procedures. The Senate then took up a motion by Senator Mesnard to reconsider House Bill 2874, which had previously passed third reading. After a division vote, the motion to reconsider passed 16-12. House Bill 2874, relating to campaign contributions and expenses, was then brought back for third reading. Senator Gonzalez spoke against the emergency clause, arguing there was no emergency and objecting to the bill’s reconsideration process. The Senate voted to pass HB 2874 on reconsideration without the emergency clause and ordered it transmitted to the House. The chamber also noted that Senate Bills 1125 and 1415 had been transmitted to the governor, announced upcoming caucus and committee meetings, and adjourned until Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 5412, Future Ready Education
• time: Engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 5412, Future Ready Education
• House Bill 5453, to modify the school aid funding formula, with amendments from the Committee on Education

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first suspended Rule 54 to allow guests on the floor, then took up and adopted Senate Resolution 65. The resolution recognized West Virginia as a global hub for critical mineral processing and encouraged lawful private-sector dialogue and commercial engagement between West Virginia businesses and rare earth/critical mineral institutions abroad, beginning with institutions in Somalia. The sponsor emphasized that the measure was nonbinding and intended to open conversation about minerals, processing, and advanced materials, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote. The chamber then recessed briefly to receive and introduce a visiting delegation from Somalia, including the deputy prime minister, ministers of petroleum/mineral resources and commerce/industry, parliamentary leadership, and diplomatic representatives, along with other guests involved in the visit. After the recess, the Senate received several Finance Committee reports and advanced multiple House bills on first reading: HB 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia program; HB 4006 creating the West Virginia Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Act; HB 2009 creating the Portable Benefit Account Act; HB 5412, the Future Ready Education Act; HB 5453 modifying the school aid funding formula; and HB 5510 removing the acreage/location requirement for private wedding venues. Each bill was reported as amended by Finance and taken up immediately without objection. During remarks, a senator from Randolph spoke about the death of Riley Wingfield in a side-by-side accident and praised students and administrators at Buckhannon-Upshur High School and Tucker County High School for wearing orange and black in solidarity with grieving Elkins High School students. The remarks were ordered placed in the Journal appendix. The Senate then announced adjournment until the next day at 10 a.m., with the Rules Committee scheduled to meet at 9:45 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• In her more than two decades of service to public education, state government, behavioral health, and
• In her more than two decades of service to public education, state government, behavioral health, and
• University, majoring in psychology and minoring in cognitive science, and plans to continue her education

Bills: SB1323 , SB1863 , SB1932 , SB1950 , SB1956 , SB1970 , SB1599 , SB1312 , SB1776 , SB1858 , SB1985 , SB1302 , SB1809 , SB1401 , SB2053 , SB1503 , SB1553 , SB1427 , SB1642 , SB1421 , SB1837 , SB1566 , SB1567 , SB1794 , SB1484 , SB1557 , SB1564 , SB1591 , SB1395 , SB1456 , SB1562 , SB1613 , SB1983 , SB1550 , SB2065 , SB2152 , SB2159 , SB2172 , SB2110 , SB2111 , SB2114

Keywords: memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing, legal representation, corporate liability, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes, memorial, highway designation

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and pledges, and recognized several guests and Senate family members, including the psychologist and nurse of the day. Members then moved to the agenda, laying over items 1 and 4 before taking up several bills. Senate Bill 1395, a recommendation from the Incentive Evaluation Commission, would eliminate the tax credit portion of the investment and new jobs tax credit incentive and limit carry-forward of the investment portion to seven years; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1456, as amended, extended the sunset of the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, with the amendment changing the sunset date to 2031; it passed 48-0 and was also approved as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1562, requested by the Oklahoma Hospice and Palliative Care Association, was described as protecting terminally ill patients and families from aggressive hospice marketing practices; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1613, requested by the Oklahoma Liquefied Gas Association, was revised to remove language the governor had previously objected to regarding vehicle ownership and leasing outside OMES; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1983 directed the Department of Human Services to provide de-identified foster care data to resource family partners, including information on children without placement, demographic and geographic trends, areas of high need and low availability, placement disruptions, sibling separations, and distance from original homes. After a question from Senator Deevers about the scope of the data, the bill advanced and passed 48-0. The Senate then heard announcements about committee meeting times and adopted a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Charlie's Place, and the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education
• including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Charlie's Place, and the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education
• including Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Charlie's Place, and the National Advisory Council on nurse education

Bills: SB5223 , SB5928 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB6061 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB6137 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB5890 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5834 , SB5837 , SB5872 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB5925 , SB6019 , SB6148 , SB6190 , SB6237 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5992 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB5395 , SB6282 , SB5905 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB5609 , SB5827 , SB5838 , SB5845 , SB5862 , SB5880 , SB5901 , SB5922 , SB5943 , SB5971 , SB5975 , SB5981 , SB5982 , SB5984 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6034 , SB6035 , SB6070 , SB6097 , SB6110 , SB6246 , SB6248 , SB6278 , SJM8016 , SB5496 , SB6054 , SB5835 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6247 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB6194 , SB5909 , SB5868 , SB6026 , SB5974 , SB6044 , SB5906 , SB6081 , SB6239 , SB5923 , SB6323 , SB6210 , SB6045 , SB6106 , SB5346 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5968

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• And when I look at our education code and the four inches thick that it is now, many of those rules,
• all being well-meaning, have slowed down the progress in our education system.
• the many that I'll file after this bill, is to make sure that we're aligning our principles for educating

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and introductions recognizing the YMCA’s 175th anniversary, Youth and Government participants, and Dr. Thomas Clem as Doctor of the Day. Senators also noted the presence of guests from the YMCA and Lakeland Regional, and the chamber received a birthday acknowledgment for President Gates. The chamber then took up several bills on the special order calendar. Senate Bill 100 adopted the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 session’s enacted statute materials; Senate Bill 102 removed statutory provisions that had already been repealed or expired; and Senate Bill 104, the general reviser’s bill, deleted obsolete language and corrected cross-references and errors. Each of these bills passed 36-0. Senate Bill 320, relating to administrative efficiency in public schools, was explained as reducing district-level requirements, expanding teacher apprenticeship and certification flexibility, adjusting assessment and budgeting rules, and increasing district flexibility in VPK and facility planning; it also passed 36-0. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 7010, which authorizes Roth post-tax contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans, by a 36-0 vote. Senate Bill 1720 on public school personnel compensation was withdrawn from further consideration. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify the passed bills to the House and then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• over a dozen zoos, aquariums, and wildlife preserves that serve vital roles in our community. in education
• The San Antonio Zoo is a 501(c)(3) institution of education and conservation. to educate the public and

Keywords: 1184, house, all