Transcript Highlights:

• Marlow Oakes, the state treasurer of Utah. He is the 26th state treasurer.
• this is right for the state.
• So in 2011, Utah was the first state to pass a legal tender act, and that allowed the state to move on
• Now, most states do not tax gold and silver at the state level, but at the federal level, in 1974, the
• But the state wouldn't be paying gold. The state would be paying dollars to the platform.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee first took up SB 794, as amended by a late-filed strike-all, which would require a human being to make insurance claim denial decisions and prohibit artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for a denial. The sponsor said the bill was intended to preserve human oversight while allowing innovation in claims processing. Public testimony included support from the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate and the Florida Medical Association, along with one speaker urging additional protections for homeowners. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported SB 794 favorably with committee substitutes. Members then heard SB 134, which removes the $500 threshold on the sales tax exemption for bullion, making sales of gold, silver, and platinum bullion fully exempt and eliminating certain dealer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the change would reduce a regressive tax and help consumers preserve savings; the sponsor estimated a revenue impact of about $300,000. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all on SB 888, which directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to create a more consumer-friendly homeowners insurance website with premium comparison information, market data, rate filing access, and educational resources. The sponsor and Leader Boyd said the goal was to improve transparency and help consumers navigate a stabilizing market. SB 888 was reported favorably with committee substitutes. The final bill heard was SB 1578, covering mammograms and supplemental breast cancer screenings. The sponsor said it would expand coverage requirements in ACA plans and private insurance policies, including annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 50 and supplemental screening coverage, while noting Medicaid already provides these services. The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. After the bills, the committee held a lengthy panel discussion on gold and silver as legal tender and transactional money, with testimony from officials from Utah and Florida, industry representatives, and advocacy groups. Panelists discussed constitutional authority, consumer protections, depository oversight, taxation issues, and possible transactional platforms for precious metals. No further action was taken after the discussion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, House Bill 1090, the Department of Energy and Environment.
• House Bill 1090, the Department of Energy and Environment.
• So that's what the bill states.
• The paper stated Sunday before last... ...the paper stated Sunday before last there were 52,529 students
• And it is working for the state.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, leave requests, and routine business, including reading gubernatorial approval letters for several recently enacted acts. Members also recognized guests in the chamber. The body then took up a motion to send House Bill 1034 back to the Joint Budget Committee, which passed, with Representative Jean explaining the bill would be revised to remove pay raises and address cybersecurity and bank fees later. On the red and budget calendars, the House passed House Bill 1103 to increase the homestead property tax credit by $75, with supporters noting it would be the fourth straight annual increase and total $300 per household over four years. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bills 1007, 1022, 1036, and 1064, then passed Senate Bill 76, a $2 million appropriation for county extension office capital improvements. Several appropriation bills were then considered in batches and individually, with mixed results: House Bills 1005, 1051, 1089, 1090, 1093, and Senate Bills 8, 10, 16, 20, 23, 36, 43, 55, 58, 63, 67, and 30 passed; House Bills 1023, 1035, 1053, 1066, and Senate Bills 41 and 59 failed; Senate Bills 10 and 24 were initially passed over for later consideration. A major portion of the meeting focused on Amendment 1 to House Bill 1100, the RSA/one-time funding package. Representative Jean outlined increases for corrections, state police, LEARNS/freedom accounts, Medicaid, vehicle purchases, and other set-asides, plus a proposed $300 million economic development reserve for a confidential project with clawback provisions. The amendment drew extended debate: supporters argued it could bring major job creation and broader economic benefits, while opponents criticized the secrecy, size of the subsidy, and opportunity cost. The amendment ultimately passed 54-36-3. The House then adjourned until 1 p.m. the next day after announcements about upcoming budget and House Management meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, House Bill 1090, the Department of Energy and Environment.
• House Bill 1090, the Department of Energy and Environment.
• So that's what the bill states.
• The paper stated Sunday before last... ...accounts.
• And it is working for the state.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1090, the Department of Energy and Environment.
• So that's what the bill states.
• Most states are at 20. Most states are at 20. We could do something very similar there.
• And it is working for the state.
• investment they give back into the state.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, granted several leaves, and received gubernatorial approval notices for multiple fiscal-session measures. The chamber then referred House Bill 1034 back to the Joint Budget Committee so pay raises could be stripped out and cybersecurity/bank-fee funding handled later. House Bill 1103, increasing the homestead property tax credit by $75, passed 94-0. Members then considered several budget amendments and appropriations. Amendments to House Bills 1007, 1022, 1036, and 1064 were adopted, and Senate Bill 76, a $2 million appropriation for county extension office capital improvements, passed 87-7. A batch of appropriation bills passed, but several individual bills failed, including House Bills 1023, 1035, 1053, and 1066. House Bills 1089 and 1090, supplemental appropriations for pregnancy crisis centers and waste tire cleanup, both passed. House Bill 1093, a corrections reappropriation bill that excluded use of funds in Franklin County, also passed 94-0. The most extensive debate centered on House Bill 1100 Amendment 1, which set out the RSA and one-time funding package. Supporters described major allocations for corrections, state police, LEARNS Freedom Accounts, Medicaid, vehicle purchases, and a proposed $300 million economic-development site-preparation and road package tied to a confidential project. Opponents criticized the secrecy, size, and policy approach of the incentive, while supporters argued it could bring jobs and broader economic benefits. The amendment passed 54-36-3. The House also passed Senate Bills 8, 16, 30, 63, 67, and 73, while Senate Bills 41 and 59 failed, and Senate Bill 10 passed after being briefly set aside for clarification. The chamber adjourned to 1 p.m. the next day, with committee meetings announced for budget and house management.

Transcript Highlights:

• cities you can't ignore the state law.
• And if the state has to go in there, Senator, then text, say, text.
• cities you can't ignore the state law.
• And what I mean by that, yes, they're expected to follow state law.
• With no funding help from the state of Texas. That's correct.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation, and routine motions to excuse Senator King and dispense with the reading of the previous journal. Members then took up several ceremonial resolutions and recognitions, including honoring Duncanville High School’s boys basketball state championship, recognizing the city of Palestine, welcoming the Texas African American Lawyers Foundation and Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, acknowledging the Cibolo Chamber of Commerce, and designating Texas County Treasurer’s Day and Mesquite Day. A memorial resolution for Clyde Vance Dunham of Waco was adopted, with multiple senators speaking in tribute to his long legal career and community service; the Senate agreed to adjourn in his memory. The chamber then considered a series of bills, most of which were advanced on expedited motions. Senate Bill 1948, concerning fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities, passed after suspension of the rules and the three-day rule. Senate Bill 1394, updating weight and tire-load rules for ready-mix concrete trucks, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1814, creating an electronic database to provide information to certain veterans, also passed unanimously. Senate Bill 241, tightening enforcement of the public camping ban and authorizing state enforcement and reimbursement mechanisms, drew questions about impacts on unhoused people but ultimately passed. Senate Bill 1147, withdrawing Texas from the Interstate Mining Compact, passed unanimously. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 921 on Medicaid ex parte renewals after a narrower vote, and Senate Bill 609, requiring school districts and charter schools to comply with legally required policies, after rejecting an amendment by Senators Menendez and Perry that would have added a good-faith/resource-limitation safeguard for districts. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 660, requiring bollards or similar barriers near certain hospital emergency rooms, passed with rural exemptions and exceptions for existing protections. Senate Bill 2155, a cleanup bill returning veterinary board authority from TDLR to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, passed with amendments. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1209 on election dates and Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1396 prohibiting national sex education standards in public schools also passed. The Senate then received first-reading bills and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> other states and the United States other states and the United States behind<00:19:44.480><c> other
• Food is energy, so healthy soils give us the opportunity to create food systems and other forms of energy
• Food is energy, so healthy soils give us the opportunity to create food systems and other forms of energy
• </c> as the 2025 to 2026 Hawaii FFA State as the 2025 to 2026 Hawaii FFA State president<00:45:00.000
• </c> it's the schools the other state it's the schools the other state departments<00:49:29.920><c> or

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> all the states around us have. all the states around us have.
• </c> going to save the state a lot of money. going to save the state a lot of money.
• </c> bill for the state of Minnesota. bill for the state of Minnesota.
• </c> and it will cost the state more money. and it will cost the state more money.
• The amendment is coded<02:50:15.920><c> A11.</c> coded A11. coded A11.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• or state colleges.
• Or state colleges.
• Code.
• States Attorney or the United States District Court for the applicable district in this state has waived
• States Attorney or the United States District Court for the applicable district in this state has waived

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very hard right now, with a lot of state-to-state budget conditions being what they are and with
• And we use a variety of federal and state authorities to implement CalAIM.
• Now we’re down to eight in the state. Two of them are in my district.
• I believe there will be about 1,000 new census codes in there.
• And so I think we're also trying to really partner with other states.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first handled several routine items, approving three gubernatorial appointees not required to appear: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. It also approved referral of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith said his priorities would be protecting Medi-Cal access amid federal changes and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators questioned him extensively about rural and financially distressed hospitals, Medi-Cal reimbursement, eligibility redeterminations, work requirements, fraud controls, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and CalAIM’s evaluation. He said DHCS is working on expedited payments, hospital monitoring, county technical assistance, targeted audits, and community supports such as medically tailored meals. Public commenters from county, hospital, and care organizations supported his confirmation, and the committee voted 5-0 to send the appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Dr. Chris Thayer, nominated to lead the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, scientifically rigorous health assessments and risk communication to inform other agencies and policymakers. Senators focused on the agency’s use of models versus real-world data, CalEnviroScreen, Prop 65, PFAS, wildfire health impacts, and how OEHHA communicates risk to the public. Thayer said the office relies on a mix of data sources where direct evidence is limited, is updating CalEnviroScreen, and is working to reduce Prop 65 over-warning through guidance and outreach. The discussion did not reach a final vote on his appointment in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 1986, Adult Friends for Youth has devoted passion, energy, and resources to provide healthy alternatives
• can be under the jurisdiction of the city and county of Honolulu, and HPD can enforce the traffic code
• Honolulu and um HPD can um enforce the Honolulu and um HPD can um enforce the traffic<00:45:13.040><c> code
• those</c><00:45:14.359><c> roadways</c><00:45:15.359><c> and</c><00:45:15.599><c> also</c> traffic code
• on those roadways and also traffic code on those roadways and also so<00:45:16.240><c> that</c><00:45

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So Bridgewater State has a really great program.
• We're one of 16 in the state of Massachusetts.
• Again, we work with Bay State. They do their teaching hospitals.
• There is the Excel program through Bridgewater State.
• There is that Excel program through Bridgewater State.

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee met to discuss how registered apprenticeships could help address workforce shortages in disability services, human services, and other high-need fields. Co-chairs and staff introduced the session as a practical overview of apprenticeship pathways, with a focus on how employers, intermediaries, and training providers can work together to build programs. The discussion emphasized that apprenticeships can be used not only in the trades, but also in health care, early childhood education, medical interpreting, and other occupations facing recruitment and retention problems. Amara Ramon of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards explained the structure of registered apprenticeships in Massachusetts, including employer-led on-the-job training, related technical instruction, wage progression, credentialing, and state support through templates, compliance oversight, and grants. Melissa Sebeli described her role as an intermediary at the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, saying intermediaries help employers design, register, and manage programs, recruit apprentices, and keep programs compliant. She said the model offers employers a pipeline of workers, retention benefits, tax credits, and flexibility to tailor training to local needs. Lisa Morris described a new apprenticeship for medical interpreters, built from an existing training program and employer demand for experience, with a pre-apprenticeship, 2,000 hours of work-based learning, and related technical instruction tied to certification requirements. Members and attendees asked about where apprentices come from, how employers recruit, how wages are set, and whether state agencies or workforce boards can serve as intermediaries. Speakers said recruitment can come from career centers, youth programs, incumbent workers, community colleges, job fairs, ESL centers, and community-based organizations. They also discussed accommodations and modified curricula for people with intellectual, developmental, and neurodiverse disabilities, citing Bridgewater State’s Excel program as an example. No votes were taken; the meeting concluded with encouragement for organizations to contact the presenters or Division of Apprenticeship Standards to explore apprenticeship options and with notice that materials and the recording would be posted online.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:03:19.280><c> and</c> years of age in the United States, and years of age in the United States
• <00:05:17.960><c> University</c> State University State University pursuing<00:05:20.000><c> pursuing
• It's our first statewide um state that It's our first statewide um state that we<00:40:29.720><c> have
• </c> that we are competing across state that we are competing across state borders borders borders for
• </c> for our in our surrounding states for our in our surrounding states um<00:40:43.560><c> for</c><

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were bill funds state government.
• Uh our state some of these accounts.
• The amendment is coded A2.
• Across the state.
• We do have a Secretary of State.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of State of State funds<00:09:03.600><c> and</c><00:09:03.720><c> then</c><00:09:03.880><c> finally
• We're actively working with state agencies and the OA to reduce the risk of state funds being misused
• We're actively working with state agencies and the OA to reduce the risk of state funds being misused
• </c> number of internal Auditors across state number of internal Auditors across state government<00:
• :15.760><c> of</c> State agency employees are required to complete an annual code of ethical conduct

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you award state project funding, is the state the lead or is the local government the lead?
• The local government code fund has a higher match percentage of 20%, right?
• If it occurs on a state road outside of a construction project...
• So I really like the way that it's stated, the money.
• And so it's always because it's a shared road with county and state.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:41:59.119><c> We</c> state. So, a little context on this. We state.
• </c> state take away that ability. state take away that ability.
• </c> people fleeing the state. people fleeing the state.
• city code, our own building code our own city code, our own building code accordance<03:01:01.920><c
• This bill continues a state-run grant program that steers local energy decisions through Denver rather

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh State I'm up called State Shield.
• </c> state of New Hampshire. state of New Hampshire.
• . state. state.
• State.
• </c> licensed by the state. licensed by the state.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in the northwestern part of the state, the southeastern part of the state, everywhere with the metropolitan
• In our state that can be persons outside of our state.
• As it happens, the state of Colorado and the state of Kansas, for whatever reason, are also really good
• But here's the critical thing: the one critical difference between those six states and the state of
• Those state questions.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so would all of the people from the west states and the east states traveling through our states;
• </c> that other states are doing as well. that other states are doing as well.
• another state.
• Other states, Mr. Chairman, high risk. Other states, Mr.
• </c> a state. a state.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will invite Chris Marco, State Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program Coordinator from DEQ.
• SRFs are throughout the country, so each state has a clean water state revolving fund, as well as a safe
• Our Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs, their programs, our Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs
• chief of staff, Oregon State Treasury.
• The debt management division serves as staff to the state debt policy advisory commission, a state debt

Summary: The task force met to focus on funding systems and incentive structures for a proposed regional waste infrastructure effort, including how a future WIPA framework might support solid waste planning in the Willamette Valley. Staff and members heard presentations from DEQ on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, from Business Oregon on the Special Public Works Fund, and from Oregon State Treasury on state bonding capacity and the bond issuance process. Presenters explained how their programs are structured, how projects are scored or approved, what kinds of public entities and projects are eligible, and how interagency coordination and co-funding can work. DEQ emphasized that its revolving loan fund is driven by water-quality benefits and public-health criteria, while Business Oregon described a broader infrastructure loan program for public entities with no scoring system, and Treasury outlined the state’s debt-capacity process and the differences between general obligation and lottery bonds. Members used the presentations to discuss whether similar funding tools could support solid waste infrastructure, especially for transfer stations, regional hubs, and related facilities that may need to be built before Coffin Butte reaches the end of its lifespan. Several questions centered on whether public-private partnerships could qualify, whether equipment inside facilities could be financed, how repayment would work, and whether planning costs could be covered. DEQ and Business Oregon both said they could potentially collaborate on scoring or co-funding, but noted eligibility limits and the need for public ownership in many cases. Treasury said bond capacity is limited and competitive, especially for lottery bonds, and that project authorization generally runs on a two-year cycle, though unused authority can sometimes be reauthorized. In task force discussion, members debated whether the group should pursue a dedicated funding lane for the seven-county region rather than having local governments compete with other statewide needs. Some members stressed the importance of criteria to avoid stranded assets and to ensure funding is available when projects are ready, while others raised concerns about how cities and counties would generate revenue to repay debt during construction and early operations. The group also discussed flow control, system fees, and the need for regional collaboration among counties, cities, and haulers to create enough waste volume to support new infrastructure. Staff noted that pre-session filing materials for the legislature are due September 11, and the chair said the August meeting will focus on organizational structure and identifying partners. During public comment, Representative Kevin Mannix submitted written testimony supporting the WIPA concept and urging the task force to endorse it. Commissioner Bubba King of Yamhill County urged the task force to compare alternatives objectively and warned against adding bureaucracy before evaluating existing infrastructure and costs. Commissioners Kevin Cameron and Roger Nyquist of Marion and Linn counties described regional hub-and-spoke concepts, transfer stations, and intermodal options, emphasizing the need for planning, strategic siting, and collaboration with haulers and local governments.