Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 233% increase in the number of requests 233% increase in the number of requests for<01:54:12.000
• </c><01:59:48.560><c> or</c> quote be appropriate or quote be appropriate or applicable<01:59:51.239>
• </c><02:31:39.200><c> being</c> prior to this uh legislation being prior to this uh legislation being
• </c><02:44:10.840><c> would</c> our communities this legislation would our communities this legislation
• </c><03:43:34.439><c> to</c> necessary piece of legislation to necessary piece of legislation to protect

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's requesting it. I've had several businesses... In rural Oklahoma. He's requesting it.
• Other states, such as California, have followed suit and introduced similar legislation.
• Members, House Bill 3944 is the staff request.
• And again, this was requested by staff, just a variety of things that they see.
• Your very diligent hard work and the collaborative work that we do here in appropriations.

Summary: The committee considered and advanced a series of bills, beginning with House Bill 3834, which creates a revolving fund at the Department of Health for ibogaine research. The author said the measure is limited to clinical trials, has support from several tribal nations, and would not have an immediate fiscal impact, though retirement-related costs were discussed as roughly $1 million based on prior estimates. HB 3834 passed 20-0. House Bill 3940, updating Oklahoma Military Department provisions, National Guard retirement benefits, and some Uniform Code of Military Justice language, also passed after questions about the same estimated retirement cost and the effect of changing the date for implementation; it passed 21-1. Members then approved House Bill 4346, with an amendment aimed at addressing fraud concerns in agricultural sales tax exemptions. The bill would extend reciprocity to holders of ag sales tax exemption cards from Texas and other surrounding states, allowing them to use those exemptions in Oklahoma border communities. Opponents argued the change would place too much burden on retailers to verify out-of-state cards and could increase liability, but supporters said it would help rural businesses. The bill passed 17-4. House Bill 2947, allowing clinical interns and accredited behavioral health graduate programs to bill Medicaid for supervised services, passed 21-0, and House Bill 3257, extending state benefits for 100% disabled veterans to those similarly disabled due to negligence at a VA hospital, also passed 21-0. The committee next passed House Bill 3264, which adds domestic abuse by strangulation to the list of 85% crimes. Supporters emphasized the seriousness of strangulation and its connection to later homicide risk, while questions focused on prison population growth and costs; the bill passed 21-0. House Bill 4326, dealing with Oklahoma Promise homeschool language and the definition of certified classroom personnel, was amended to remove unrelated T-SET restructuring language and then passed 19-2. House Bill 4421, “Leo’s Law,” which requires fentanyl testing in child welfare drug screens when fentanyl use is suspected, drew emotional testimony about a child’s death and had its fiscal estimate discussed as dropping from $125 million to about $16 million; it passed 22-0. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 3944, a State Finance Act cleanup and modernization measure, after questions about reporting dates and public finance oversight, and House Bill 3979, which raises financing caps under the Oklahoma Economic Development Finance Pool, after an amendment to add an effective date and emergency clause; both passed 21-0. House Bill 4118, updating the family caregiver tax credit and raising the maximum credit while keeping the annual cap unchanged, passed 20-1. The meeting ended with thanks to members and staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve as a legislative co-chair for ARNPs United. I am here in opposition to HB 2261.
• I think we all know that without legislative action, premiums will certainly continue...
• Regents a jaw-dropping 56% more than it requested.
• For the record, My-Linh Thai, I have the honor to represent the 41st Legislative District.
• Bringing this agency request, a piece of legislation, in front of you, I could not possibly say anything

Bills: HB2261 , HB2283 , HB2425 , HB2110 , HB2113 , HB2122 , HB2152

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: healthcare, transparency, patient communication, credentials, professional standards, medical loss ratio, insurance, health plans, cost management, nursing delegation, registered nurse, RN, home care aide, nursing assistant, certified nursing assistant, CNA, medical assistant, home health, hospice, community-based care

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve as a legislative co-chair for ARNPs United. I am here in opposition to HB 2261.
• I think we all know that without legislative action, premiums will certainly...
• Regents a jaw-dropping 56% more than it requested.
• For the record, Meel and Tai have the honor to represent the 41st Legislative District.
• Bringing this agency request, a piece of legislation, in front of you, I could not possibly say anything

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2261, which would require health care providers to wear badges showing name, credential, and relevant degrees, require similar disclosure in advertising, and restrict use of the title “physician surgeon” to certain physicians and osteopathic physicians. Supporters, including the Washington State Medical Association and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and informed consent. Opponents from nurse, naturopathic, and adult family home groups argued it was overly broad, burdensome, confusing, and could harm access to care or residential home settings; several also said existing disciplinary laws already address misrepresentation. No vote was taken on HB 2261 during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2283, which would raise the medical loss ratio for fully insured individual, small group, and large group health plans to 90 percent. Supporters, including small business, patient, and physician groups, said the bill would push more premium dollars toward patient care and lower costs or increase rebates. Insurers and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner warned it could destabilize the market, reduce flexibility for administrative services, and lead to carrier exits, though OIC said it was working on amendments. The bill was not voted on in the hearing. House Bill 2425, an agency-request bill on nurse delegation, would broaden what tasks registered nurses may delegate, remove some setting and training restrictions, expand emergency medication authority, and adjust liability and retaliation protections. The Board of Nursing, long-term care providers, and skilled nursing/assisted living representatives supported the bill as a modernization that could ease workforce shortages and improve care access, while the Washington State Association for Justice opposed the immunity provisions and raised patient safety concerns. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 2425. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. HB 2110, with an amendment clarifying ambulance staffing and RN scope, passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2113 passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2122, as amended to require hospitals to offer flu vaccines with several flexibility and critical-access-hospital exemptions, passed 15-3 with one excused. HB 2152, as amended to require certain facilities to allow medical cannabis use for qualifying terminal patients and to add related exemptions and protections, passed 17-1 with one excused. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The General Appropriations Act is a balanced budget. It accomplishes key statewide priorities.
• That's under legislation. You can look for it in many different ways.
• If they are interested in the IT Information Technology Appropriations That's 231.
• But once they're on the website, you go to legislation, you find House Bill 2.
• I'm going to talk about legislation which is a drop-down menu.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a lead budget analyst with the Legislative Budget Office.
• </c><00:40:55.640><c> budget</c> analyst with the legislative budget analyst with the legislative budget
• </c> a program evaluator with the legislative a program evaluator with the legislative budget<00:47:44.720
• But send your requests for that and all of the information and requirements.
• </c> uh Mr milberg um but send your requests uh Mr milberg um but send your requests for<01:41:28.280

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for bringing this legislation forward.
• We support, uh, legislation like this throughout the United States.
• Uh, if Texas were to pass this, it would be the 5th state to pass legislation like this.
• Members, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to present this legislation.
• We support the legislation, strong consumer bill.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> supervision changes as well as requested supervision changes as well as requested by<00:53:17.079
• For example, fifth-degree sales was omitted in the original legislation.
• </c> several oversights in the legislation several oversights in the legislation and<00:58:17.280><c>
• Just to be clear, the appropriation has been $6 million since 2017.
• Just to be clear, the appropriation has been $6 million since 2017.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Just at the appropriate time, I respectfully request an aye vote.
• Senator Cabaldon, for bringing this very important legislation forward.
• I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you so much.
• to the Appropriations Committee and file item number four, SB 271.
• File Item No. 7, SB 520, the motion is due pass to the Appropriations Committee.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several Senate measures focused on student access, workforce needs, and institutional stability. Senator Laird presented SJR 4, which urges the federal government to restore NIH funding cuts and protect California’s research universities; UC testified in support and there was no opposition. Senator Ashby presented SB 761, the CalFresh for Students Act, to connect Cal Grant applicants with potential CalFresh eligibility and expand qualifying programs; the bill drew broad support from higher education, student, anti-hunger, and county groups, with members sharing personal experiences with food insecurity and no opposition. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 520 to create a California Nurse Midwifery Education Fund for a new master’s-level nurse midwifery program, citing maternal health disparities and provider shortages, especially in rural and Central Valley communities. Supporters from the California Nurse Midwives Association and the Black Wellness and Prosperity Center emphasized workforce shortages and maternal mortality; one member raised concerns about the bill’s use of inclusive language, but the bill was otherwise well received. Cabaldon also presented SB 640, which would create a statewide direct admissions process to CSU for eligible high school seniors using existing data systems; supporters said it would reduce barriers, improve equity, and help declining-enrollment campuses, while members raised questions about special education students, rural access, dual enrollment, and measuring effectiveness. The committee voted SB 640 out on a 6-0 roll call. Cabaldon’s SB 744 would preserve California students’ access to enrollment and financial aid if a federally recognized accrediting agency loses approval, by treating affected institutions as accredited for state purposes; the bill drew no public testimony and advanced on a 4-2 roll call. Senator Cortese’s SB 494 would require classified school employees’ disciplinary appeals to be heard by an administrative law judge, matching protections already available to teachers and community college faculty; labor groups supported the bill, while school districts and administrators opposed it over cost, local control, and implementation concerns. The committee also heard SB 550, a revised pilot to allow San Jose State and a nonprofit, state-accredited law school to jointly develop a public law school pathway; supporters argued it would expand affordable legal education and public-interest careers, while UC and independent colleges opposed it as inconsistent with the Master Plan. Members debated access, jurisdiction, funding, and bar pass rates, and the bill advanced on a 4-2 roll call to the Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• "Hey, thank you legislation. Thank you "Hey, thank you legislation.
• Secondly, legislation.
• This legislation is simple.
• This legislation is simple.
• </c> legislation is a bad idea. legislation is a bad idea.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and heard several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, events at the Capitol, and recognitions, including Music Therapy Day, Black History Month activities, adoptable puppies, and a Colorado Agricultural Forum. Members also celebrated Representative Story’s birthday and recognized the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) for its long-running support of arts, culture, science access, and economic impact in Colorado. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 12, designating February 20, 2026, as Colorado FFA Day, by a vote of 64-1 with one excused. The chamber then moved to special orders for several bills. The first major bill considered was House Bill 1017, which would prohibit insurers from receiving criminal restitution unless they are direct victims. Sponsors argued the bill prioritizes human victims, prevents restitution from becoming an unpayable burden on low-income defendants, and clarifies the law in response to court concerns and stakeholder feedback. Opponents argued it would shift costs to taxpayers and policyholders and could increase civil litigation and insurance premiums. An amendment, L005, was adopted to clarify the bill’s scope, and the bill then passed as amended. The House also took up House Bill 114, concerning minimum lot size and local land-use rules. An amendment, L002, was offered to prohibit certain local lot frontage, setback, open-space, or coverage requirements that would effectively prevent construction of a single-family home on a 2,000-square-foot residential lot. Supporters framed the measure as protecting housing access, while opponents argued it would override local land-use decision-making and public hearing processes. The transcript ends during debate on a substitute motion related to the amendment, before final action on House Bill 114 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we had our first legislative audit for FY24.
• this as a pattern, and we're now stepping in as Legislative Audit.
• They have some findings, and they communicate with Legislative Audit as well.
• I guess I'm trying to figure out when is it legislative audit, I mean, when is it legislative audit to
• Is there additional accountability as a resource or the ability of legislators, whether legislative audit

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and approval of the January 8 minutes, then moved to review of education audit reports. The first report concerned Northwest Arkansas Community College, which had three findings, including repeat internal control deficiencies that caused financial statement misstatements and a tuition revenue loss tied to a new student information system. College officials said the issues were largely misclassification and process problems, not missing money, and described corrective steps such as monthly closing checklists, approval controls for journal entries, cross-training, and efforts to address staffing turnover and fill finance vacancies. Members asked about the tuition issue, whether students were notified or billed, and whether the software problem affected other institutions; audit staff said they were not aware of the same scenario elsewhere. The committee then filed the report as reviewed. The next report was Cedarville School District, which had one finding involving $794 in improper credit card charges by a resigned elementary teacher. The district was reimbursed, a police report was filed, and the matter was referred to the Professional Licensure Standards Board; members asked whether any further action or license-related consequences were known, but staff said they were not aware of additional action. The report was filed as reviewed. The final finding was for West Memphis School District, where auditors reported repeat capital asset issues, including failure to capitalize about $851,000 in construction costs for a baseball-softball complex and problems with inventory and asset inspection. The superintendent said the district had recently begun using Legislative Audit after prior private audits, and described new controls such as multi-level purchase approvals, separation of duties, tagging of equipment, and a cleanup of old inventory records. Members also discussed the relationship between private audits and Legislative Audit reviews, with staff explaining that private audit reports for public school districts still come before the committee and that the executive committee determines when Legislative Audit performs an audit. The committee filed the West Memphis report as reviewed and noted that 28 school districts had no findings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said annual funding for the former CFB comes from an insurance assessment, a legislative appropriation
• </c><00:05:18.000><c> appropriation</c> assessment a legislative appropriation assessment a legislative
• </c><00:09:43.519><c> the</c> heard concerns from legislators the heard concerns from legislators the
• </c><00:25:21.600><c> of</c> Greater Minnesota at the request of Greater Minnesota at the request of
• ><c> request</c><00:56:36.400><c> at</c><00:56:36.559><c> this</c> longstanding bonding request at this

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When an AI-generated public records request arrives at City Hall, our city clerk, Michelle, has 10 days
• The request arrives at City Hall, our city clerk, Michelle, has 10 days to respond, 10 days to locate
• Nick, a journalist from the back of a reporter, is asking his own Public Records Act request, and his
• request is... ...is asking his own Public Records Act request, and his request is pushed off and delayed
• But you are hitting on the work that we still have to do in the legislation, which is how will local

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not have it, but we will be requesting it and getting it to all the members.
• We do not have it, but we will be requesting it and getting it to all the members.
• We are going to be following up with you to request additional legislative recommendations...” “...that
• members of the select committee can begin to prepare for the next legislative year.
• And in addition, we continue to ask the Legislature to fund legislation...

Summary: The Select Committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to examine the scope of hate activity in California and hear from state agencies, commissions, and community organizations. The chair opened by framing hate as a persistent crisis affecting many protected groups, and Assembly Member Gonzalez briefly joined the committee. The first panel included the California Department of Justice and the California Commission on the State of Hate, both of which presented recent data and policy recommendations. The Department of Justice reported that in 2024 California saw 2,023 reported hate crime events, 2,568 hate crime offenses, and 2,491 victims, with anti-Black bias remaining the most common category, followed by anti-Jewish and anti-Latino bias. DOJ also said referrals for prosecution increased, and it described its hate-crimes guidance, rapid response protocol, and multilingual resources. The Commission on the State of Hate said hate is undercounted in law enforcement data and cited a survey suggesting about 2.6 million Californians experienced at least one hate act in a year, including more than half a million potentially criminal incidents. It recommended permanent data infrastructure, mandatory law enforcement training, and continued funding for community-based prevention and victim support. The committee then heard testimony from representatives of the NAACP, LULAC, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California, CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, CARE, Equality California, and the Racial Equity Commission. Witnesses described systemic racism, anti-immigrant enforcement, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Asian bias, and anti-LGBTQ+ hate, often linking these harms to political rhetoric, social media, and federal actions. They urged the Legislature to fund programs such as California vs. Hate, Stop the Hate, nonprofit security grants, language access, school and mental health supports, and legal assistance, while also protecting civil rights, due process, and free speech. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing, but members indicated they would request additional recommendations and continue the discussion in future hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's move now to legislative oversight.
• So let's move now to legislative oversight.
• So let's move now to legislative oversight.
• </c> in which the dollars that we appropriate in which the dollars that we appropriate are<00:48:50.280
• </c> um and the state or the legislative um and the state or the legislative auditor<01:04:46.680><c>

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the issues before this Legislative Ethics Board, Now, the issues before this Legislative Ethics
• , Would hope that everything that all legislators do always in their legislative positions is for the
• Representative Simmons, like all legislators, is expected to use her legislative position to benefit
• I mean, you can have a bright-line that prohibits legislators from taking any legislative action that
• That's what legislators do. Legislators do as a matter of course.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings held oral argument before the Legislative Ethics Board in the matter of Tara Simmons, docket 401-645, on a respondent-filed motion for summary judgment. Judge T.J. Martin identified the issues as whether Simmons violated the Ethics Act by using her legislative position for the benefit of others and by holding outside employment that conflicted with her official duties, under RCW 42.52.070 and RCW 42.52.020, and, if violations were found, what penalties or sanctions would be appropriate. The judge clarified that board staff had not filed its own summary judgment motion, only a response to Simmons’ motion. Attorney Doug McKinney argued that the complaint and board staff’s allegations were legally insufficient because they did not allege a personal benefit to Simmons, only benefits to her employer, EEC, or to others. He contended that the Ethics Act has historically required a benefit to the legislator herself, that employees do not automatically have a disqualifying interest in their employers, and that the board’s position would create a new bright-line rule and unfairly change the law as applied to Simmons. He also addressed allegations involving a contract provision, a campaign surplus donation to AEG, a subcontract dispute involving AEG and EEC, and text messages with Anthony Powers, arguing none showed a special privilege or conflict of interest for Simmons. Assistant Attorney General Julia Eisenhower, for board staff, argued the motion should be denied because the record sufficiently alleged violations of both statutes. She said Simmons’ involvement in securing funding for EEC, her employment duties involving stakeholder and legislator connections, her donation of campaign surplus funds to AEG to help secure a job for someone she knew, her role in the AEG-EEC subcontract dispute, and her text messages referencing her official capacity all supported the allegations. A board member asked whether the allegations were sufficient to show a special benefit, and Eisenhower responded that the facts were enough at the summary judgment stage. After rebuttal by McKinney, the ALJ closed the hearing and the board went into deliberations; no ruling was announced during the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• "Okay, if not, there was a request. Senator S... you had a request for the prosecutor?"
• On the last page of Judge Johnson’s, it says, respectfully request the appropriation of $2,890,000 to
• Yeah, on the last page of Judge Johnson’s, it says, respectfully request the appropriation of $2,890,000
• We were not requesting an appropriation for this bill.
• this</c> requesting an appropriation for this requesting an appropriation for this bill<01:29:47.040

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several fireworks-related bills. On HB 550, which would allow law enforcement to use drone recordings to establish probable cause for fireworks arrests in public areas and appropriate funds for drones, the Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the measure. The Public Defender and some public testifiers opposed it, arguing that a statute cannot mandate probable cause and that the bill raises constitutional concerns. A prosecutor later explained that the bill is intended to address Hawaiʻi case law, especially State v. Kit, which limits aerial surveillance over homes under the state constitution, and suggested that changing “shall” to “may” could reduce constitutional problems. Members also questioned whether current law already allows video evidence of fireworks violations and whether the bill was necessary. Testimony included both support and opposition from individuals and organizations, and no vote was taken during the hearing. The committees then heard HB 806, which would appropriate funds for the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct sting operations on Oʻahu to enforce fireworks laws. The department and police supported the bill, while the Libertarian Party of Hawaiʻi opposed it, arguing that fireworks are already illegal and that the measure adds unnecessary enforcement powers and constitutional risk. Committee members asked what “sting operation” means and whether the term should be defined more clearly; the department said it refers to police or criminal investigations involving deception and agreed a definition would help guide use of the funds. The department also said the funding would support training, storage, and other operational costs for undercover investigations. Finally, the committees heard HB 1483, a broader fireworks enforcement bill that would create an adjudication system for fireworks infractions, revise definitions and penalties, establish new offenses, and increase penalties when fireworks offenses cause injury or death. The Attorney General’s office strongly supported the bill, saying it would improve enforcement by clarifying definitions and allowing cases to be proven without particle testing or expert witnesses when fireworks leave no physical evidence. The Department of Law Enforcement also supported it. The Public Defender opposed the bill, focusing on the bill’s penalty enhancements for offenses that are rarely enforced and its concurrent trial provision, which it said raises problems because of the differences between civil and criminal proceedings. No final committee action or vote was reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• administrator of the healthcare authority, walked a dollar through dollar with me through the budget request
• else is good, as well as three members of staff here who are important: Bradley Downs, who is the legislative
• There was a big difference between the ask and the appropriations, but that appropriations was above
• And so that budget request was much more about stability and long thinking than it was as short term
• And so with the appropriations, which we appreciate, we will do that.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a former appropriator budget pages.
• It's actually the appropriation that you give us every two years.
• </c> rate requests by over a billion dollars. rate requests by over a billion dollars.
• </c> past that legislation a few years ago. past that legislation a few years ago.
• And so we<01:26:28.159><c> obtained</c><01:26:28.639><c> legislation</c> we obtained legislation we obtained

Bills: HF3298

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: underground storage tanks, petroleum, reimbursement program, environmental regulation, pollution control, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 216, appropriation; Colorado River litigation fund.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology and natural resources.
• HB 214, noncustodial money's appropriation. Transportation, technology.
• Similar legislation... ...real groundwater challenges rather than clarifying them.
• Senate Bill 1059, an act appropriating funding to the Department of Transportation.

Keywords: 1182, all