Transcript Highlights:

• 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117

Bills: SB568 , SCR5 , SB57 , SB1447 , SB27 , SB24 , SB 57 , SB 24 , SB 27

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• When the House passes its bill and it comes over, then we adopt that House file number.
• </c> exemption for low-income housing exemption for low-income housing tenants.<00:16:55.360><c> That's
• And on line 117 government aid formula.
• I bought a house in Minnesota.
• I chose to move my house in Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Utki, we're going to take up your bill, House File 129 here.
• Uh, House File 286. Um, we have two online testifiers.
• Uh, House File to go to Senator How. Uh, House File 286.
• Uh this uh House File uh 286 is Park.
• All right, any questions or comments from members of the committee on House File 286?

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, is there any in the state house.
• </c> indication where in the state house? indication where in the state house?
• </c> uh she was the prime sponsor of 117 uh she was the prime sponsor of 117 pieces<00:32:40.399><c>
• The visitor center, if house? Okay.
• </c> and the third floor at the state house. and the third floor at the state house.

Summary: The Legislative Administration Committee opened with Senate Bill 197, which would remove the Department of Health and Human Services commissioner’s supervisory role over the legislative facilities committee nurse and instead place the nurse under the Board of Nursing’s scope of practice. The sponsor’s aide and DHHS legislative director explained that the change updates outdated language last amended in 1995, aligns the statute with current practice, and was reviewed with legislative staff and nursing regulators, who were said to be comfortable with the proposal. Members asked why the change was needed and whether the commissioner had actually been supervising; the response was that the language no longer reflected how the position functioned. The chair said the bill might still be a simple consent item, but additional modifications were being discussed, so the hearing was closed with no vote taken at that time. The committee then heard Senate Bill 186, authorizing the Joint Legislative Historical Committee to accept and display a portrait of former Senator Jeb Bradley in the State House. The sponsor’s aide described Bradley’s legislative and congressional service and urged the committee to move the bill ought to pass. Members asked practical questions about whether the portrait was completed, its size, and where it would be hung. The witness said the portrait was not yet completed and that size and placement had not been determined, though the committee was told the historical committee would decide placement. A committee member noted that portrait sizes and locations are already being reviewed because of space concerns, and the hearing ended without a vote. A work session followed on the portrait bills, with the chair using them as a vehicle to discuss broader problems in the statutes governing portraits and the historical committee. He said the committee had gathered information from other states and suggested possible policy ideas such as portrait moratoriums, waiting periods after death, size limits, and clearer placement rules. Members discussed the need to update the RSAs and better define the historical committee’s authority. The committee did not take final action during the work session, but the discussion indicated that the portrait bills may be held while broader statutory revisions are considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• and receive the resolutions from the committee on rules house joint from the committee on rules house
• on yeah Des please read the resolution house joint resolution recognized in house joint resolution recognized
• in house joint resolution recognized in March 2025 as col rectal cancer March 2025 as col rectal cancer
• I think it's a good one is this a house I think it's a good one is this a house joint resolution or
• what branch a house or say what house what branch a house or say what house what branch a house or senate

Bills: SB 26 , SB 28 , SJR 36 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 28 , SB 28 , SR 131 , SR 168 , SR 174 , SR 175

Transcript Highlights:

• 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to House Finance. Today is Wednesday, March 4th. We're going to have a public hearing.
• Welcome to House Finance. Let's hear about your bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Welcome back to House Finance. Thank you, Madam Chair. Welcome back to House Finance.
• First, Section 117 effectively treats a retailer as a distributor for tax purposes.
• Good morning, Chair Berg and members of the House Finance Committee.

Summary: House Finance held public hearings on three Senate bills. SB 6129 would raise cigarette taxes, replace current nicotine/vapor product taxes with a 95% tax on nicotine products, and adjust revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account, the Foundational Public Health Services account, and a youth prevention account; staff and supporters said it would correct an unintended loss of public health funding and reduce youth nicotine use, while opponents argued it would be highly regressive, harm retailers and wholesalers, and push sales into illicit markets. SB 6231 would repeal the data center sales tax exemption for refurbishment and end replacement server equipment eligibility; the sponsor and staff said it would raise roughly $200 million and remove an obsolete preference, while labor, port, business, and data center representatives opposed it, citing lost jobs, reduced investment, and concerns about upsetting existing contracts and rural economic development. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for warehousing and reselling prescription drugs and create a lower preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; the sponsor said it would restore horizontal equity in the tax code and offset impacts on rural pharmacies, but pharmacy groups, wholesalers, retailers, and business organizations warned it would raise medication costs, worsen pharmacy closures, and be passed through to patients. The committee heard extensive public testimony on all three bills. Supporters of SB 6129 included public health, cancer, pediatric, and emergency medicine advocates who emphasized youth prevention, cessation funding, and long-term health savings; opponents included tobacco, vape, retail, and business groups who said the bill would increase black-market activity and burden small businesses. SB 6231 drew opposition from construction trades, ports, local governments, chambers, and data center interests, who argued the tax preference supports ongoing construction, permanent jobs, and local tax bases, while committee questions focused on whether the bill would affect existing refurbishment contracts. SB 6228 was opposed by pharmacy associations, independent pharmacists, wholesalers, grocery retailers, and AWB, who said the tax increase would be passed through and could accelerate pharmacy desert conditions; the sponsor and supporters framed the bill as a correction to an outdated preference and a way to protect critical access pharmacies. No votes were taken; each hearing was closed, and the chair announced amendment requests were due Thursday at 5 p.m. and amendments posted by Friday at 5 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I now move that House Joint Resolution 159 be voted do pass.
• I now move that House Joint Resolution 159 be voted do pass. Any discussion? Yes, gentlemen.
• I now move that House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution 159 be voted do pass.
• You have voted House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution 159 do pass.
• You have voted House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolution 159 do pass.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2383, Representative Simmons’s bill addressing theft of copper and other infrastructure-related property. After a brief executive session and no further discussion, the committee voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 17 ayes, 1 no, and 1 present. The committee then heard House Bill 2711, sponsored by Representative Deal, which would lower the assessed valuation of broadband communications equipment from 33.5% to 12% for new broadband equipment placed in service after August 28, 2026, with a proposed sunset period discussed as part of a substitute. Representative Deal and several industry witnesses, including AT&T, Verizon, Missouri Cable Association, Missouri Broadband Providers Association, Missouri Chamber, and electric co-ops, argued the measure would improve Missouri’s competitiveness, encourage private investment, and help expand broadband in rural and underserved areas. Opponents, including county assessors, argued the bill would reduce local tax revenue, create unequal treatment, and could become a precedent for other industries. Committee members questioned whether the bill would apply only to new builds or also to upgrades and existing infrastructure, and whether the tax relief would actually drive expansion into rural areas. The committee then began hearing House Bills 2402 and 2816, which deal with solar energy siting and taxation. The sponsors described the bills as setting local assessment rules for solar projects, establishing a per-megawatt valuation, requiring larger setbacks from homes, schools, and churches, and limiting the amount of tillable land that can be used for solar in a county, while also addressing Chapter 100 agreements and decommissioning concerns. Supporters, including Missouri Farm Bureau and county officials, said the bills would provide needed guardrails, local control, and more consistent taxation. Opponents and affected landowners said existing solar projects have caused glare, dust, noise, and property value concerns, while some developers said they wanted clearer statewide rules and consistency for future projects. The committee did not take final action on the solar bills before going into recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> We have the resolution. We have the resolution.
• There being 117 votes in the affirmative and 17 votes in the negative, House Bill 680 having received
• </c> house is still in session. house is still in session.
• </c> house, I'm sorry. house, I'm sorry.
• </c> Housing Certainty Act. Housing Certainty Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to House Finance. Today is Wednesday, March 4th. We're going to have a public hearing.
• Welcome to House Finance. Let's hear about your bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Welcome back to House Finance.
• Good morning, Chair Berg and members of the House Finance Committee.
• Good morning, Chairberg and members of the House Finance Committee.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The resolution is simple but important.
• , and permanent supportive housing.
• I bought the house as is.
• Oftentimes, a common issue that many in the housing space run into are challenges related to housing
• of housing we can build in the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 847 establishes the expanded DNA testing grant program within FDLE.
• Today, I'm asking for you to vote yes for House Bill 1283.
• Today, I am joined by the prime co-sponsor, Representative Plasencia, to present House Bill 139.
• I ask for your support on House Bill 139. Thank you. All right, thank you.
• I respectfully ask for your support on House Bill 139.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee considered a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, and related bills. Early measures included HB 1171, tolling the statute of limitations for failure to make mandatory child abuse reports, and HB 1403, expanding school safety provisions by allowing child care facilities in the guardian program and clarifying perimeter and door-security rules; both passed unanimously, with HB 1403 adopted as amended. The committee also approved HB 1099, giving law enforcement discretion in arrests involving elderly or medically vulnerable individuals in facilities; HB 1121, strengthening restrictions on misuse of unmanned aircraft systems; HB 1525, creating penalties for impersonating rideshare drivers and clarifying transportation-disadvantaged access; and PCS for HB 687, increasing penalties for repeat DUI/vehicular homicide offenses known as “Trenton’s Law.” Members then advanced HB 847 to create an FDLE grant program for expedited DNA testing, PCS for HB 757 to prohibit altered sexual depictions of identifiable persons and create a civil remedy, and HB 1415 to repeal an obsolete Broward County narcotics enforcement unit. The committee also heard and approved HB 1207, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion grants, creates a model diversion process, and establishes a behavioral healthcare data repository; testimony from the bill’s namesake’s mother and law enforcement emphasized the need for treatment over incarceration. HB 1351 updated sexual offender/predator registration rules, and HB 1479 created a public records exemption for domestic violence lethality assessment forms; both passed without opposition. Later, the committee approved PCS for HB 1283, making sex trafficking of children under 12 or mentally incapacitated persons a capital felony, despite constitutional concerns raised in debate; the bill passed 13-2. PCS for HB 781, addressing cyber intimidation by publication (doxing), also passed unanimously after supporters described it as a needed tool against online harassment. Finally, CSHB 139 authorized pawnbrokers to use digital transaction forms, and PCS for HB 107 created and enhanced penalties for fraudulent use of gift cards. Most bills were reported favorably, many unanimously, and several were amended before passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• to reach compliance with municipal accounting law, as required under Arkansas Code Annotated 14-59-117
• It is the responsibility of all federal awarding agencies to review and provide resolution for all audit
• coming to a central logging server; they just weren't being forwarded on to the analytics side of the house
• increased its per diem allowance from $150 to $200 per board meeting but did not adopt a formal resolution
• This was almost a complete changeover of guard from the board to the in-house bookkeeping at all levels

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The committee met to adopt prior minutes and reports from its executive and standing committees, including counties and municipalities, educational institutions, and state agencies. Those reports covered routine audit activity, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, and several state agency audit items. The committee also reviewed and adopted the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2025 and the related single audit report, both presented by Legislative Audit staff. The state financial report showed unmodified opinions on the state’s financial statements and described total assets of about $41.9 billion and liabilities of about $11.1 billion, along with retirement system assets of $39.9 billion and a net pension liability of $9 billion. Two material weaknesses were identified: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and a Division of Workforce Services methodology change for unemployment-related estimates that was not properly documented or approved. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed; it resulted in 33 findings, 14 with questioned costs totaling $16.6 million, and qualified opinions for the Summer EBT program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Members questioned agency officials in detail about the Summer EBT questioned costs, DHS unresolved findings, broadband grant documentation, cyber security controls, workers’ compensation liabilities, and child care funding and reporting. DHS explained that the Summer EBT issue involved drawing federal funds in advance rather than as benefits were redeemed, and said the process has been corrected. Broadband officials said the questioned $6.6 million reflected documentation-detail disagreements across many invoices rather than missing payments. OST officials described new logging, endpoint detection, and phishing-training efforts, and DFA and Education officials addressed specific audit findings and corrective actions. The committee ultimately moved to hold the two large statewide reports over until the August meeting for further review, with discussion continuing on whether to release some agency staff in the meantime.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we did have a couple of measures that passed the Senate but died in the House.
• Senate Bill 961, which is a bill I authored, and Senator Sparks's SB 921 both died in the House.
• SB 921 both died in the House.
• Went through House Appropriations Committee. So anyway, okay, thank you.
• I think you were, Senator Perry, were here in 2013 in the House. I was too.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Nice to see a full house here on a wonderful June Sunday afternoon.
• Budget resolution 56 says ALS United is getting $300,000.
• Under the Department of Health, Resolution number 1362, the governor proposed $117 million.
• Budget Resolution 1355.
• Resolution 1299 under Interdepartmental...

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, I'd like to recognize House colleagues who have joined us.
• Both the House and the Senate are in session today, so people will be coming in and out.
• I do want to take a second to thank House Clerk, House Counsel, and this committee for their... the deliberations
• clerk house council this committee for their House Counsel, this committee, for their hard work in working
• In regards to House Bill 5577, Town of Braintree, thank you.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh and House File 100 licensing.
• Uh, next bill on the agenda is<00:43:22.079><c> House</c><00:43:22.319><c> File</c> is House File is
• SV Beckl, House Fiscal.
• HF2443-DE1 are the House bill as HF2443-DE1 are the House bill as proposed<00:46:40.319><c> today.
• </c> license that is being created in house license that is being created in house file<00:48:43.200>

Bills: HF1646 , HF2443

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• Let the House please come to order.
• House Bill 655. &gt;&gt; Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 655.
• House Bill 1665. calendar. House Bill 1665.
• House Bill 1672.
• House Bill 1672.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1157, House Bill 1158, House Bill 1159, House Bill 1160, House Bill 1161, House Bill 1162, House
• Bill 1164, House Bill 1168, House Bill 1169, House Bill 1170, House Bill 1171, House Bill 1172, House
• House Bill 1154, House Bill 1157, House Bill 1158, House Bill 1159, House Bill 1160, House Bill 1161,
• House Bill 1162, House Bill 1164, House Bill 1168, House Bill 1169, House Bill 1170, House Bill 1171
• House House Bill 1151, House Bill 1155, House Bill 1156, House Bill 1163, House Bill 1165, House Bill

Transcript Highlights:

• I was just notified that we beat the house.
• House Bill 3016 having received 34 'aye' votes, is 0 'nay' votes.
• House Bill 2288 is our return-to-work bill for teachers.
• That concludes the explanation of House Bill 3315.
• House Bill 4266 is the omnibus house specialty license plate bill.

Bills: HB3327 , HB3711 , HB4104 , HJR1077 , HB3329 , HB4322 , HB4202 , HB4203 , HB4457 , HB3983 , HB3660 , HB3802 , HB2933 , HB2955 , HB2956 , HB3781 , HB3521 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3800 , HB3183 , HB4316 , HB4484 , HB3469 , HB3464 , HB3173 , HB3989 , HB3016 , HB2979 , HB2988 , HB2288 , HB3062 , HB3315 , HB3372 , HB3530 , HB3622 , HB3755 , HB4266

Keywords: State Board of Education, Oklahoma education board, board appointments, school governance, education reform, governor appointments, legislative appointments, speaker of the house, president pro tempore, senate confirmation, board vacancies, removal for cause, public education, state superintendent, school board training, board member qualifications, emergency clause, Oklahoma statutes 70 O.S. 3-101, school funding, transparency