Transcript Highlights:

• services.
• services.
• And so we paid for those services through fee for service pending that.
• And so we paid for those services through fee for service pending that.
• However, Division of Youth Services... ...services, not the other settings.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, I live this. I don't expect anybody to know it to the degree.
• They will be disrupted or delayed; future services compromised if this bill is not stopped.
• They provide critical services and guidance, especially in cases where there may be... ...services and
• I live in Twin Falls, Idaho.
• of services to Idaho residents and communities, including, yes.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It should equal a chance to live, not just survive.
• I think in terms of, you know, you live in a Rep.
• Public services more.
• Minimum wage is not supposed to be a living wage.
• So that's why we keep talking about affordable living.

Committee: House Labor & Industrial Relations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee met on April 9 and first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeal process. The bill, presented as a collaboration between the Attorney General’s office and trial lawyers, would require additional medical evidence submitted on appeal to be sent back to the medical director for review before court review continues. Members discussed the 30-day turnaround for the medical director and whether the process would delay injured workers’ cases. After testimony from injured workers’ representatives and support cards from several business and labor groups, the committee adopted the technical amendments and reported SB 162 favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage beginning at $12 per hour in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, the AFL-CIO, and a young witness from People’s Promise, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind costs of living, that many workers remain in poverty, and that the bill would help families, reduce reliance on public benefits, and improve economic stability. Opponents, including NFIB and small-business advocates, argued that the market should set wages, that the bill would raise labor costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or hiring, and potentially increase prices. After extended debate, the committee voted and HB 353 failed. The committee next considered Senate Bill 383 on the incumbent worker training program. Senator Bass and Louisiana Works officials said the bill would expand and make the existing program more flexible, increase available funding, shorten the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allow unused funds to roll over. Members focused on how the program would reach workers, how businesses and employees would learn about training opportunities, and how it would support workforce development in growing regions. Support came from business and economic development groups, and the committee reported SB 383 favorably with amendments. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 382, which would repeal the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, described as the Senate version of a bill the committee had already considered. The transcript cuts off during discussion of the prior vote on the similar House version, and no final action on SB 382 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the world we live in.
• Live free or die.
• Uh live free or die. inspector. Uh live free or die.
• </c> will have to live there. will have to live there.
• Um, if you live in a parking spot.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Services are going up.
• Services are going up.
• Services are going up. If we business. Services are going up.
• </c> services of which we provide gratus. services of which we provide gratus.
• </c> welfare services. That's page five. welfare services. That's page five.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:57.920><c> Um</c> unit for transitioning populations.
• Um unit for transitioning populations.
• </c><00:37:22.960><c> And</c> sometimes for their whole lives. And sometimes for their whole lives.
• They would just be living with each other. They have similar circumstances.
• </c><00:53:10.319><c> They</c><00:53:10.480><c> have</c> living with each other.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The working group on restrictive housing met with a quorum present, approved the August 21, 2025 minutes, and adopted a procedure to take public testimony on each agenda item with a two-minute limit per testifier, with some flexibility for follow-up questions. The main presentation came from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on restrictive housing policies and a recent outside assessment of mental health care practices at HSCF and OOTC. DCR said the assessment found strengths such as consistent medication administration and staff commitment, but also identified major problems including outdated workflows, staffing shortages, inadequate physical plant conditions, overuse of suicide/safety watch for personal safety issues, and a need for more individualized treatment plans. DCR described several corrective steps already underway: filling a long-vacant high-level mental health administrator position, adjusting evening medication passes, working with DOH on transfer and referral workflows, planning a new electronic medical records system and revised screening tools, and pursuing additional training for ACOs and mental health staff. For OOTC, DCR said the facility is overcrowded and decrepit, needs a better screening tool, and requires more mental health-specific training and staffing. For HCF, DCR said the layout limits confidential assessments and provider access, and that the proposed consolidated healthcare unit would add 43 beds, private exam rooms, and a de-escalation room. DCR also said the new unit could serve acute and chronic suicide/safety watch needs and possibly some inmates with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or significant cognitive impairment. The discussion then focused on Act 292, which DCR said is difficult to implement as written. DCR said the bill aligns with DOJ, NCCHC, and ACA guidance in defining restrictive housing, limiting duration, requiring reviews, identifying vulnerable populations, and using step-down units, but raised two major concerns: a requirement to refer vulnerable people to DOH for confinement, and a requirement for clinical assessments every 12 hours by a provider. Members responded that the law should be matched with funding and staffing, and asked what resources are needed. DCR said it submitted a request for 35 positions at a cost of about $8.6 million, and also said funding may be needed for community-based beds and contracted medical services. Members also asked about the current MOA/MOU between DOH and DCR, the working group membership, and the timeline for revisions. DCR said the group includes DCR, DOH, and governor’s office medical advisors, that a first draft is complete, and that the revised agreement should be in place by the end of the year. On staffing, DCR said ACO recruitment classes increased from five to eight, vacancy rates dropped from 34% to 24%, but OOTC still faces a projected $7.1 million shortfall and heavy overtime costs, forcing post closures and program reductions. The meeting ended with continued discussion of screening tools, including DCR’s explanation that current broad questions may over-identify people with substance-use-related symptoms as having serious mental illness, and that a more discrete tool is needed to better identify those with acute needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Justice should equal a chance to live, not just survive.
• Just should equal a chance to live, not just survive.
• Minimum wage is not supposed to be a living wage.
• So that's why we keep talking about affordable living.
• But understand, you can’t live off two-thirds of your salary.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeals process by allowing additional medical evidence submitted in court to be sent back to the medical director for review and a new opinion. The Attorney General’s office explained the bill, noting a 30-day deadline for the medical director to act before the case returns to court. The bill drew support from injured workers and several business and labor groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments and then reported the bill favorably without objection. House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage starting at $12 in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation, prompted extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, and the AFL-CIO, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind living costs, that many workers remain in poverty despite working, and that higher wages would help families and local economies. Opponents, including NFIB and several members, argued that the market is already setting wages above the federal minimum in many jobs, that a mandate would raise costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or jobs, and hurt small businesses. After discussion, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported Senate Bill 383 favorably with amendments. That bill expands the incumbent worker training program by increasing funding flexibility, shortening the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allowing unobligated funds to roll over. Members and the Louisiana Works secretary discussed workforce training, outreach, and how to connect workers to existing training programs and high-demand jobs. The committee also reported Senate Bill 382 favorably, which repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and began hearing House Bill 422, the “Behind-the-Counter Safety Act,” aimed at workplace violence protections for retail and food service workers, including signage, reporting, and enhanced penalties; the sponsor explained it was intended to address attacks on frontline workers and to give businesses a tool to warn against violence.

Transcript Highlights:

• We live in New England.
• We live in New Managing demand spikes.
• </c><01:18:29.760><c> disruption,</c> can lead to major service disruption, can lead to major service
• ,</c><03:53:44.000><c> about</c> to the for US Forest Service, about to the for US Forest Service, about
• </c> so the people can afford the transition so the people can afford the transition to<05:05:14.958>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also makes clear that HB 20 only constrains a platform's common carrier services.
• Texas.net was founded in 1994, was the first internet service provider in San Antonio, and one of the
• first 50 internet service providers in the United States.
• We also appreciate the language in the bill which clarifies that the chapter is not applicable to services
• naming names or counties, I know of a case where a particular county was sort of going through a transition

Bills: SB38 , SB287 , SB291 , SB292 , SB508 , SB618 , SB901 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB1626 , SB1719 , SB1999 , SB1333 , SB 38

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: evictions, property law, tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, justice court, court rules, SB 287, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, sexually oriented business, adult entertainment, strip club, nude entertainment, live nude performance, alcohol prohibition, alcohol consumption, possession of alcohol, criminal offense, Class A misdemeanor, state jail felony, third degree felony

Transcript Highlights:

• care about families or parents, and not because we don't care about dads being in their children's lives
• I know, as to you, Senator, the toll that that kind of service can take on a family, and so it does not
• There have been lots of transitions.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee considered a long agenda of education-related bills, with most measures receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Early actions included passage of SB 843, which allows certain rural schools with low average daily membership to hire teachers related to board members in the second degree, and SB 1733, which requires schools to report child sexual abuse allegations to law enforcement within 24 hours before conducting their own investigation. The committee also advanced SB 1476, a Commissioners of the Land Office cleanup bill that makes land exchange approvals permissive, updates terminology, and expands permanent school fund investment options to include private equity and private credit; members questioned CLO staff about appraisals, notices, ethics, and audits before voting it out 11-0. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 1237, the Teacher Bill of Rights, which would codify various teacher protections involving religious expression, discipline, planning time, workplace safety, and due process. Senators raised extensive questions about religious symbols, prayer, Bible use, classroom discipline, and whether some provisions were already in law; the author said the bill was intended to protect teachers and improve recruitment and retention. Despite concerns that some language was vague or duplicative, the bill passed 7-4. The committee also passed SB 1410 to codify the Ag in the Classroom program after deleting a section that would have increased a license plate fee, and SB 1894, which would remove the five-year cap on professional development hours for certain teacher training, though the title was struck for further work. Later, the committee approved SB 1272 to raise the income cap for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant, SB 1204 to provide three days of bereavement leave for education employees after the loss of a spouse or child, including miscarriage, and SB 1721 to extend the sunset of the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education. It also passed SB 1725 on higher-education expressive activity and free speech training, SB 1735 giving CareerTech sole authority over its accreditation, SB 1337 establishing paid paternity leave for education employees, SB 1339 codifying funding for the 2023 teacher pay raise for off-formula districts, SB 1461 extending the OETA sunset to 2031, and SB 1975 centralizing notice of AP testing locations. Several bills drew brief discussion about fiscal impact, local control, and retention benefits, and the committee adjourned after noting one agenda item had been laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud that my background is entirely in public service, and with this confirmation, I will continue
• that my background is entirely<00:02:48.760><c> in</c><00:02:48.920><c> public</c><00:02:49.240><c> service
• We appreciate your service and your education and the experience from very different parts of the legal
• tax which is servicing the current arena<00:36:35.400><c> right</c><00:36:35.680><c> now.
• </c> use, transportation, housing, transit use, transportation, housing, transit and<00:37:30.920><c>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wraparound services are provided through the Department of Human Services and in partnership with the
• Wraparound services integrate formal services and informal supports across systems to develop and implement
• Wraparound services integrate formal services and informal supports across systems to develop and implement
• Services to the students.
• And then the second... ...services in coordination with the Department of Human Services.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wraparound services are provided through the Department of Human Services and in partnership with the
• service planning and coordination process for children and Based team-oriented service planning and
• Wraparound services integrate formal services and informal supports across systems to develop and implement
• Rapparound services integrate formal services and informal supports across systems to develop and implement
• And then the second... ...services in coordination with the Department of Human Services.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its prior meeting and then took up House Bill 5537, a bill to repeal several obsolete or outdated code sections. Counsel explained that the bill would remove provisions related to professional development, a behavioral interventionist pilot program, county lists of facilities for child daycare, and high school graduation rates, with a proposed amendment adding another outdated education code section from 1923. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 5537 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass as amended. The committee then considered House Bill 4656, which would shift truancy policy toward chronic absenteeism and earlier intervention. Counsel said the committee substitute would replace punitive status-offense treatment with wraparound services, student support specialists, and a new child-in-need-of-supervision process, while also ending compulsory attendance at age 18 and removing criminal penalties for 18-year-olds. Members questioned how the new thresholds would work, including the role of attendance directors, prosecutors, judges, and the Department of Human Services, and whether the bill would change current diversion funding or court authority. Witnesses from Fayette County, Greenbrier County, and Taylor County largely opposed the bill or urged caution. The Fayette County attendance director said current truancy procedures, including school-based probation and court involvement, help secure family participation and services, and warned that removing the status offense would weaken enforcement. A Greenbrier County probation officer said diversion programs are effective and that court involvement often leads to needed services. A Taylor County juvenile prosecutor said status-offense jurisdiction gives courts meaningful leverage and flexibility, and asked that counties be allowed to keep existing approaches that work locally. After testimony, the committee voted to report HB 4656 to the full Senate without recommendation and with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Education, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As everybody here knows, I live in a very similar wildland-urban interface to your community.
• And I have a lot of friends that live in that area.
• I've always been concerned about the rush to build. ...friends that live in that area.
• And I have a lot of friends that live in that area.
• Once that's decided, the state agencies should live with those results.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I just wanted to make it clear that after that lively debate, we actually got to know each other.
• We can't stay in business, generate products, or provide good services without good employees.
• We don't live in a communist country where they can sue you for any reason and prosecute a civil claim
• “...company to require all of our physicians to go out and pay for this service if you’ve already done
• And when it reaches that point, I try to recommend to them immediately right there live time, boss man

Summary: The committee first voluntarily deferred House Bills 460 and 561, then took up House Bill 1101 on workers’ compensation. The sponsor said the bill would define maximum medical improvement, adjust fraud provisions, shorten temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit periods, and revise vocational rehabilitation rules; an amendment removed proposed age-based termination language for benefits. Business groups including LABI supported the bill as a way to reduce Louisiana’s comparatively high indemnity costs and align the state with regional norms, while injured-worker advocates and attorneys strongly opposed it, arguing it would cut benefits, shift medical and disability decisions away from treating physicians and judges, broaden fraud too far, and potentially push costs onto public programs. After debate, the committee voted to report HB 1101 with amendments. House Bill 282 was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 293, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Louisiana employment discrimination protections, drew generally supportive testimony from the sponsor and supporters, with some members raising questions about religious exemptions and federal law. The committee ultimately voted against reporting HB 293 favorably. House Bill 390, providing unpaid leave protections for domestic abuse survivors at larger employers, was presented as a tool for survivors, but the committee split 6-6 on a motion to report it favorably; the tie resulted in the bill being voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand workers’ compensation petition requirements and allow employers or payers broader access to file disputed claims and seek discovery. Supporters argued employers currently lack a practical way to obtain records and challenge claims without first cutting off benefits, while opponents said the bill would revive a rejected 2012 approach, increase litigation, and undermine the no-fault workers’ compensation bargain. The discussion centered on whether the bill would preserve benefits while allowing discovery or instead encourage more disputes and penalties. The transcript ends with testimony still underway on HB 456, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You are all here as public servants, and I thank you for your service.
• I just, we talk about affordable electricity in where I live, in the country, when you have livestock
• in my district and live in the entire state of Minnesota.
• </c> affordable electricity in where I live affordable electricity in where I live in<00:13:57.720><c
• actually live in my district<00:15:51.680><c> and</c><00:15:51.800><c> live</c><00:15:52.000><c> in<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this effort was to restoring services this effort was to restoring services for<00:18:04.320><c>
• </c> entire lives. entire lives.
• We maintained emergency services. We kept employees paid.
• </c><00:26:27.520><c> with</c> allowing us to restore services with allowing us to restore services with
• </c> continuity of emergency services continuity of emergency services traveling<00:32:31.440><c> throughout

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents avoid schools, doctors, and service providers.
• That means that found not to need the services.
• It is the public service, the same task.
• That’s 30,000 lives that potentially saved.
• I've seen the devastation and carnage from repeat offenders, destroying young lives, taking away lives

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lives saved, families protected. Lives saved, families protected.
• </c> ammunition off of a live firing range. ammunition off of a live firing range.
• How do we save lives?
• How do we save lives?
• How do we save lives?

Keywords: The live stream for the House Chambers was interrupted and this version was recovered from backups and should contain the complete Legislative Session. Convene 00:00:00 Senate Message 00:04:40 Calendar/2nd Readings 00:05:38 Orders of the Day 00:06:14 HB 312 00:06:42 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 01:11:07 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 01:13:24 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 01:14:30 ConC/Rules Report 01:19:42 Adjournment 01:21:18, 958, all

Summary: The House convened, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 89 members present, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the prior day’s journal and received notice that the Senate had passed SB 13, 22, 46, 51, and 90 and requested concurrence. On second reading, HB 134 (sexual assault nurse examiners), HB 168 with HCS 1 (voting under the influence), and HR 7 (recognizing guiding principles of elections in Kentucky) were reported. The House also recommitted HB 258 to the Transportation Committee and took up HB 312 for third reading and passage. HB 312, relating to concealed firearms and deadly weapons, drew the bulk of the debate. The sponsor argued the bill would allow law-abiding 18- to 20-year-olds to obtain a provisional concealed carry license, saying they are adults in other respects, the Second Amendment protects their right to bear arms, and Kentucky should align with other states. Supporters framed the measure as a constitutional rights issue and cited defensive gun use statistics, while one member argued the root problem is family upbringing rather than guns. Opponents said the bill would increase risks in schools and public spaces, pointed to concerns from school district police and SROs, and cited research linking younger age groups and loosened carry laws to higher firearm violence; they also argued the bill would make communities less safe and that no one’s rights would be taken away by voting no. The sponsor said no stakeholder had expressed opposition and clarified the bill would not change where firearms are permitted. The transcript provided does not include the final vote on HB 312.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is it simply limits facility fees on a narrow set of routine services.
• The response was both: if it is a preventive health care service, telehealth, or a vaccination service
• Treatment, youth diversion programs, and community-based transitional services reduce youth reoffending
• As a direct service provider, we know that diversion and prevention work.
• This is like a reset in their lives.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Keywords: 996, all