Transcript Highlights:

• But I don't rise to debate the merits of the legislation.
• legislature is considering relaxing the requirements for the use of the state EOCs and teachers' evaluation
• legislature is considering relaxing the requirements for the use of the state EOCs and teachers evaluation
• Since students are not, state EOCs and teachers' evaluations since students are no longer being held
• education programs seeking approval from the Board of Nursing, including the adoption of standardized evaluation

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then moved into special order and returning messages. Early floor action included passage of HB 6503 (relief for Mandy Penny Lamon by Sarasota County), HB 1123 (sewer collection systems), HB 211 (farm products), and a joint resolution on ad valorem tax exemption for agricultural tangible personal property, all approved without opposition. Several other measures were temporarily postponed before the chamber recessed and later returned to messages from the House. The Senate then took up a series of House amendments and conference-style motions on major bills. SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response was amended and concurred in after debate over hurricane recovery, local government moratoriums, evacuation timing in the Keys, and property tax and redevelopment provisions; it passed 34-1. CS/HB 1609 on waste incineration and auxiliary containers was heavily debated over plastic and polystyrene preemption, local beach and park regulations, and landfill/incinerator provisions, then passed 26-10. CS/HB 1205 on citizen initiatives was amended to allow volunteers to carry up to 25 petitions without registration/training and passed 28-9. The Senate also refused to concur in a House amendment to SB 234 on offenses against law enforcement, and in SB 116 on veterans, seeking to restore funding for veteran suicide prevention. Later, the chamber approved or advanced several education and health-related bills. CS/HB 1255 on education was amended and passed, with changes to school readiness and other education provisions. CS/HB 875 on educator preparation passed after discussion of cognitive science, classroom management, teacher excellence programs, and the phaseout of the general knowledge test. CS/HB 1105, a large education package, passed after debate over charter school conversions, cell phone restrictions, and other school governance changes. In health care, CS/HB 1427 was introduced as a comprehensive package combining multiple health-related provisions, though the excerpt ends before final action on that bill. Throughout the day, the Senate also concurred or refused to concur in various House amendments on mental health, financial institutions, land development, brownfields, and out-of-network provider legislation, with votes generally recorded and several measures passing on divided but mostly favorable roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following: House Bill 1182 be referred
• After consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the following: House Bill 1040 be amended
• Committee on Judiciary, after consideration on the merits, recommends the following: Senate Bill 120
• <00:29:49.200> The consideration on the merits. The consideration on the merits.
• <00:29:58.399> The consideration on the merits. The consideration on the merits.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the March 4, 2026 journal, and received committee reports advancing several bills, including House Bills 1182, 1067, 1040, 101, and 1041, and Senate Bills 62, 113, and 120, along with a set of appointments to the Building Decarbonization Enterprise Board of Directors recommended for consent calendar confirmation. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole for second-reading consideration of bills on the consent calendar. House Bill 1020, concerning calorimetric field drug testing in drug possession cases, was adopted on the consent calendar and later reported out of Committee of the Whole as passed on second reading and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. Senate Bill 63, concerning non-emergency medical transportation services for Medicaid members, was laid over until March 9, and Senate Bill 40, concerning the affordable home ownership program, was laid over until March 6. Senate Bill 95, concerning measures to support victim survivors of certain crimes, was removed from the consent calendar, amended with L6 to clarify appellate procedure for the anti-SLAPP provision, and then passed on second reading. During debate, Senator Zamora Wilson raised concerns about language allowing individuals in the room with the victim and possible coaching or bias, while supporters said the amendment clarified the issue. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, sending SB 95 to third reading and keeping SB 40 and SB 63 on the calendar. The Senate also confirmed several governor’s appointments on the consent calendar, including members of the Colorado Aeronautical Board and the Colorado School of Mines board of trustees. Steven Fenberg’s appointment to the School of Mines board drew extended, mostly humorous floor discussion about his qualifications and punctuality, but it was ultimately confirmed 35-0. The meeting ended with announcements about upcoming committee hearings, a Colorado Optometric Association reception, and a Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance event, followed by recess until 11:00 a.m. that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gallagher, please stay to the merits of this resolution.
• Let's stay to the merits of the written resolution. It's a bit about party.
• Patterson, we're going to speak to the merits of the legislation.
• Please speak to the merits of the resolution.
• Please wrap up with the merits of the resolution. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, then completed the prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, journal motions, and a long series of procedural actions, including suspending rules to move bills and approve a large Appropriations Committee hearing list. Members also made several guest introductions, including Shannon Lee, district staff from Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez’s office, and later guests tied to agritourism and education recognitions. The floor debate centered heavily on AJR 31, a resolution urging Congress to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Supporters argued that recent Supreme Court decisions and redistricting efforts in other states were weakening Black and other minority representation and that California should take a clear stand for voting rights. Opponents argued the measure promoted racial division, conflicted with equal protection principles, and that districts should be drawn based on place or communities of interest rather than race. After a contentious debate with repeated parliamentary warnings over decorum, the Assembly suspended the rules to take up the resolution, added coauthors, and passed AJR 31 by a vote of 58-8. The Assembly then moved through a series of bills and resolutions, generally approving them with little or no opposition. These included AB 2341 clarifying emergency language translation rules for local agencies; AB 1816 extending court supervision for certain sex-offender rehabilitation programs; AB 2561 protecting consumer privacy settings on phones and digital devices; ACR 167 recognizing World Agritourism Day; ACR 190 recognizing California Day of the Teacher; AB 1581 improving identification of Native American students in public schools; AB 1586 requiring opioid overdose prevention training for school resource officers and safety planning; AB 1665 requiring mental health training for school coaches; AB 1693 streamlining retail tenant-improvement permitting; AB 1768 authorizing a local tax measure related to health funding; AB 1712 facilitating a water-system sale for Santa Fe Springs; AB 1792 addressing sexually exploitive AI imagery in health education; and AB 1822 prioritizing school projects that address extreme heat. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, several unanimously, and the resolution on agritourism and the teacher day were adopted by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether someone is capable of consenting to sexual intercourse must be evaluated in conjunction with
• Currently, Penal Code 1370.01 first requires the court to do an evaluation to see if the individual would
• part of our suggestions were to move the CARE eligibility portion up so that a person can be both evaluated
• I think there's merit in bringing forward arguments against the federal government.
• Let's stick to the merits of this bill, please, everybody.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• It truly fosters an environment for integral discussions and deep evaluation of not only other races
• It truly fosters an environment for integral discussions and deep evaluation of not only other races
• It truly fosters an environment for integral discussions and deep evaluation of not only other races
• We can go into the merits of indirect benefits, indirect costs, and all that, lots of studies, but the
• <01:38:00.719> of it over um we can go into the merits of it over um we can go into the merits

Bills: HF29, HF921, HF922, HF1048, HF1049

Keywords: railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, on the merits of including prevailing wage requirements, I'd like to begin by quoting state law
• <01:17:20.560> chair<01:17:20.840> on<01:17:20.960> the<01:17:21.080> merits
• <01:17:21.400> of projects uh Mr chair on the merits of projects uh Mr chair on the merits
• <01:21:06.400> get<01:21:06.760> a<01:21:07.000> fair<01:21:07.520> evaluation
• <01:21:08.360> and to do is to get a fair evaluation and to do is to get a fair evaluation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the assisted living place evaluate her, and they said they could return her to her residence,
• Uh we had the the assisted living<00:08:07.440> place<00:08:07.759> evaluate<00:08:08.599
• her<00:08:09.599> and<00:08:09.840> they<00:08:10.080> said living place evaluate
• her and they said living place evaluate her and they said they<00:08:10.479> could<00:08:10.720
• think we falsely attach it and probably become a little more critical of facilities than would be merited

Bills: HF2216, HF1978, HF2354, HF1963, HF1994, HF1995, HF1894

Keywords: assisted living, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, resident rights, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services, elderly, seniors, older adults, disability rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Local Government and Housing, after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends
• Committee on Health and Human Services, after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the
• Committee on Transportation and Energy, after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the
• Committee on Transportation and Energy, after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends the
• ,<00:35:36.760> the consideration on the merits, the consideration on the merits, the committee

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received a series of committee reports advancing several House bills and one Senate bill, including measures from Education, Local Government and Housing, Judiciary, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Energy, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Among the reported actions, Senate Bill 99 was postponed indefinitely, House Bill 1051 was referred to Appropriations, and multiple bills were sent to the Committee of the Whole, some with recommendations for the consent calendar. During floor action, the Senate adopted House Bill 1090 on second reading, concerning teacher licensing requirements, and later adopted House Bill 1232 on second reading after a Judiciary Committee amendment. HB 1232 prohibits certain monetary assessments against juveniles in the justice system; supporters said the bill is intended to stop juveniles from being charged restitution or similar fees that do not aid rehabilitation or public safety. The chamber also laid over Senate Bill 63, Senate Bill 134, and the balance of the calendar to later dates, and adopted the Committee of the Whole reports by 33-0 votes with two excused. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1021, which supports Colorado farmers markets by encouraging the Department of Agriculture to work with the Farmers Market Association and expand access, especially in rural communities. In personal privilege remarks, senators recognized Purple Day/Epilepsy Awareness Day and honored the Abeyta family and others affected by SUDEP, as well as Mile High United Way and its founder Francis Wisebart Jacobs. A message from the Governor announced approval of Senate Bill 1, and the President signed several bills and resolutions. The Senate then announced committee meetings and adjourned until Friday, March 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judges will still make the determination for each case based on the merits.
• case<01:12:13.120> based<01:12:13.360> on<01:12:13.520> the<01:12:13.679> merits
• <01:12:14.480> By<01:12:14.719> passing case based on the merits.
• By passing case based on the merits.
• and there also timelines in place merits and there also timelines in place as<01:24:43.600> well.

Bills: HF2233, HF1999, HF1995, HF1614, HF2781, HF1775, HF1316, HF2127, HF2521, HF689, HF2380, HF1273

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• We really appreciate the progress and look forward to re-evaluating our position. Thank you.
• We appreciate the progress and look forward to re-evaluating our position. Thank you.
• Yes, we are continuing just to evaluate that timeline. Thank you, Senator, for the question.
• Yes, we are continuing to evaluate that timeline with our manufacturers, recognizing that the EU has
• There's no merit to a pause of this duration.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, these are screening devices, though, so they don't really, they're not an evidential evaluation
• what their observations of impairment are, and there's some challenges with that because sometimes Evaluating
• In your answers, you mentioned that the board has successfully completed evaluating and selecting the
• And if we have a downturn in the economy, you know counties are. going to probably sit back and evaluate
• And so that's a fantastic system for us because we have a very efficient system whereby we can evaluate

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do think the proposal before you has a lot of merits.
• Evaluations cost money if you want them to. to be done well, so there are trade-offs there, but that
• CARB, as I think you are aware, is accelerating the evaluation of increased ethanol blending in gasoline
• And we've already seen from testimony from our farmers and the evaluation. that's been done, that this
• We're still evaluating whether those are needed. So we would come forward.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Appropriations, after consideration on the merits, recommends the following: Senate Bill
• After consideration of the merits, the committee recommends the following: House Bill 1150 be referred
• ,<00:27:15.840> committee consideration on the merits, committee consideration on the merits
• , After consideration of the merits, After consideration of the merits, committee<00:27:23.080>
• ,<00:30:16.360> the after consideration of the merits, the after consideration of the merits

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the February 17, 2026 journal, and received a series of committee reports. Senate Services reported several bills and resolutions as correctly printed or engrossed. The Appropriations Committee advanced Senate Bill 5 with amendments, and reported a large slate of House bills 1150 through 1179, most with favorable recommendations and many recommended for the consent calendar. The Finance Committee advanced Senate Bill 46 with amendments and reported several appointments for confirmation, including members of the Financial Services Board and the Advisory Committee to the Property Tax Administrator. The State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee postponed Senate Bill 33 indefinitely and sent Senate Bill 48 to Appropriations. The Senate also approved an appointment filling a vacancy on the Legislative Audit Committee, naming Senator William Lindstedt. On third reading, the chamber passed Senate Bill 11, concerning search warrant requirements for operators of certain electronic platforms, by a vote of 31-2 after no votes from Senators Basley and Zamora Wilson. Senate Bill 76, concerning the practice of certified public accountants, passed 33-0. The Senate then resolved into Committee of the Whole for second reading of Senate Bill 7, concerning medical marijuana use by terminally ill patients in health facilities, and Senate Bill 54, concerning a security deposit exemption for post-closing occupancy agreements; both were adopted, amended, and advanced to third reading. Later, the Committee of the Whole considered House Bill 1027, which would allow retiree executive directors of boards of cooperative services to keep retirement benefits and clarify BOCES funding eligibility; after brief discussion, it was adopted and advanced. The committee also laid over Senate Bill 84 until February 19 and Senate Bills 37, 31, 53, and 43 until February 23. During announcements, senators noted committee meetings and caucus gatherings, including Statutory Revision, Transportation and Energy, Judiciary, Capital Development, and Democratic and Republican caucuses. Senator Jaquez marked the start of Ramadan and invited members to observe with local Muslim communities. Senator Priestly used personal privilege to criticize the state’s AI policy and the relocation of Palantir, prompting a reminder that policy debate should occur in the proper forum. The Senate adjourned until Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other one is the merit scholarships.
• Do we need to tighten up a little bit more the criteria for that merit and be truly meritorious?
• <02:37:01.760> But<02:37:01.920> right that would merit a discussion.
• But right that would merit a discussion.
• who's evaluating that based off<02:55:58.160> the<02:55:58.399> childcare<02:55:58.880

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Local Government and Housing, after consideration on the merits, the committee recommends
• Technology after consideration<00:56:29.640> on<00:56:29.720> the<00:56:29.800> merits
• ,<00:56:30.040> the consideration on the merits, the consideration on the merits, the committee
• ,<00:56:49.800> the after consideration on the merits, the after consideration on the merits
• ,<01:34:31.240> the consideration on the merits, the consideration on the merits, the committee

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received several committee reports and appointment recommendations. Committees reported favorably on a number of bills and appointments, including local government, health and human services, transportation and energy, business/labor/technology, and judiciary items. The chamber also announced a change on the Senate Finance Committee, with Senator Adrian Benavidez appointed to replace Senator Julie Gonzales for the remainder of the session. A major floor item was House Bill 1136, creating the Pathways to Public Service Program in the Department of Personnel and Administration to identify coursework that could qualify students for entry-level state government jobs. Supporters said it would help attract young people to public service and fill state vacancies using existing resources; opponents argued it promoted government employment over private-sector careers and could expand government unnecessarily. After debate, the Senate adopted the bill on second reading, and the Committee of the Whole report later reflected that HB 1136 passed second reading and was ordered revised and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1023 recognizing Latino/Latina Advocacy Day after reading it at length and hearing remarks in support of civic engagement and Latino participation in policymaking. In addition, the chamber concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 74, which clarifies penalties and procedures related to excessive claims in public construction performance bond disputes; the bill then passed again on re-passage. Several other bills, including Senate Bill 63 and remaining calendar items, were laid over to later dates, and the Senate also considered and began processing consent-calendar gubernatorial appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• makes the lower priority large volume users apply for their own permits to be assessed on their own merit
• That contract, prior to DNR's evaluation and approval, is fiscally irresponsible.
• That contract, prior to DNR's evaluation and approval, is fiscally irresponsible.
• I think it needs more debate and to make sure that we find the merit of this bill.
• find the merit of this bill. find the merit of this bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The NCOA lists also include some people who are voters, and evaluating such changes carefully takes time
• The NCOA lists also include some people who are voters evaluating such changes carefully.
• The NCOA lists also include some people who are voters, and evaluating such changes carefully takes time
• As the merits of the bill have already been highlighted, I want to focus on today's party polarization
• As the merits of the bill have already been highlighted, I want to focus on today's party polarization

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , sex, and disability should not matter, and that persons should be chosen for employment based on merit
• It's very interesting how you say you want everything just to be merit-based and you want to be color
• It's easy to say we just want everything to be merit-based.
• Cole, and at the same time there's supposedly an emphasis on merit. I'll leave that there.
• Cole, and, and, and the same time there's supposedly an emphasis on merit. Mm.

Summary: Senate Democratic Caucus leaders held a press availability to criticize Senate Bill 689, the DEI bill they said had passed and would roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in Texas government. Chair Carol Alvarado opened by saying colleagues had raised serious concerns and that the bill would set the state back. Senator Royce West argued Democrats had offered a better approach, including a complaint-review process through the Texas Workforce Commission and real penalties for discrimination, but said the majority rejected meaningful enforcement and left only “hollow words.” Senator José Menéndez said claims of a purely merit-based, color-blind system ignore systemic discrimination and the need for offices that support equity and inclusion. He said the bill sends a message that Texas does not care about diversity or inclusion and noted that an amendment to create real consequences for discrimination was defeated. Senator Borris Miles warned that DEI had been demonized without evidence that public hiring was based only on DEI rather than qualifications, and said minority- and women-owned business programs and protections for disabled veterans businesses could be put at risk. Senator Nathan Johnson added that the Senate had just confirmed Justin Berry to the T. Cole position while emphasizing merit, which he called contextually inconsistent. He described the debate as “misdirected passion,” saying lawmakers should focus on more serious problems rather than efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in government offices. No votes or other formal actions were taken during the remarks, which ended with questions from reporters.

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we build, my experience is that we're not very systematic in approaching, evaluating outcomes
• Yeah, my final question: If we’re about protecting free speech, then why are you prohibiting evaluation
• Why are you prohibiting evaluation based on someone’s opinions and beliefs if we are protecting free
• And like most of the things that we discuss on this floor, there's merit on both sides of the argument
• I believe there's more merit for this than there is against it.

Bills: HB2268, HB3000, HB3043, HB3066, HB3078, HB3143, HB3144, HB3244, HB3298, HB3320, HB3467, HB3321, HB3329, HB3431, HB3464, HB3499, HB3500, HB3586, HB3590, HB3650, HB3671, HB3695, HB3700, HB3701, HB3764, HB3767, HB3834, HB3931, HB3934, HB3940, HB3944, HB3979, HB3985, HB4113, HB4294, HB4302, HB4317, HB4324, HB4359, HB4426, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4434, HJR1077, SR42, SR35, HJR1023, HB1225, HB1374, HB1381, HB1590, HB1675, HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, gallery introductions, and extended farewell remarks from Senator Jett, who reflected on his six years in the Legislature, his focus on representing constituents, protecting families, and holding government accountable. Several senators responded with personal tributes, praising his conviction, faith, family involvement, and willingness to ask difficult questions. No votes were taken during the farewell portion. The chamber then considered House Bill 2268, a PACE appropriation to support comprehensive care for low-income seniors and expand services in rural Oklahoma. The bill was amended to restore the title, advanced, and passed 34-9, then passed as an emergency measure 36-7. House Bill 3000, a cosmetology and barbering measure, made multiple changes including board reorganization, adding a human trafficking specialist and massage therapist, shifting some licensing functions to Service Oklahoma, and eliminating the massage therapy advisory board. It drew significant debate over process and policy, especially from senators concerned about late changes, lack of board input, and the human trafficking rationale; it passed 25-19 and then as an emergency 33-11. The Senate also passed House Bill 3043, allowing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs to hire prorated seasonal staff for veterans homes, 37-6; House Bill 3066, creating a revolving fund for federal workforce training money for behavioral health recruitment and retention, 38-6 and as an emergency; and House Bill 3078, allowing donation options on state payment forms for the ODVA revolving fund, 45-0 and as an emergency. Additional measures passed included House Bill 3143, extending the moratorium on new medical marijuana business licenses to 2028, 39-7; House Bill 3144, capping medical marijuana commercial grower licenses at 2,550 after amendment, 34-12; House Bill 3244 on identity theft, 46-0; House Bill 3298 on child interview procedures in court cases, 46-0 and as an emergency; House Bill 3320, replacing the traditional sunset process with more immediate legislative review of agencies, 33-13 and as an emergency; House Bill 3321, requiring county data collection and reporting related to court costs and financial obligations, 45-0 and as an emergency; House Bill 3329, a trailer bill adding a repealer and a sunset for the Board of Psychological Examiners, 33-10 and as an emergency; House Bill 3431, expanding restrictions on foreign entities owning or leasing land and critical minerals, 43-0; House Bill 3464, setting safety and training requirements for certain projects involving fire code compliance and decommissioning, 43-0 and as an emergency; and House Bill 3499, expanding special judges’ authority over vehicle title orders, which was presented and advanced as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Finance, after consideration on the merits, recommends the following: Senate Bill 117 be
• committee recommends the on the merits committee recommends the following.<00:22:35.360> Senate
• The consideration on<00:23:41.280> the<00:23:41.440> merits<00:23:41.760> the<00
• :23:41.840> committee<00:23:42.080> recommends on the merits the committee recommends on
• the merits the committee recommends the<00:23:42.480> following.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and approved the March 3, 2026 journal as corrected. Committee reports were then read, including finance recommendations to amend and advance Senate Bill 117 to Appropriations and House Bill 1115 to the Committee of the Whole with a consent-calendar recommendation, while Senate Bill 86 was postponed indefinitely. The State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee reported several appointments for placement on the consent calendar and confirmation, including members of the Board of Commissioners of Veterans Community Living Centers and the State Personnel Board. The chamber also received committee recommendations to advance Senate Bill 87 and House Bill 1068 with favorable recommendations. Senate Resolution 004, concerning recognition of October 26 as Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado, was introduced and laid over until Friday, March 6, 2026. The general order second reading calendar was also laid over until Thursday, March 5, 2026. Several members made announcements about upcoming committee hearings, including Education, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Judiciary, Joint Budget Committee, and Capital Development. The Senate welcomed visiting groups and honored First Tee Colorado and Faith Miller, Miss Southern Colorado, during personal privilege remarks. The body then adopted a motion to recess until 11:00 a.m. later that day.