Transcript Highlights:

• The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy.
• tourism arts and heritage cabinet. cabinet. cabinet.
• </c><00:04:49.280><c> Our</c> programs, amenities, and services.
• Our programs, amenities, and services.
• ,</c><00:23:33.360><c> and</c> golfers, support regional tourism, and golfers, support regional tourism

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy received an update from Kentucky State Parks and the Finance Cabinet on the status of major capital projects funded through recent legislative appropriations. Commissioner Mark Keelin, Deputy Commissioner Chris Perry, and Finance Cabinet/DECA representatives described progress on campground upgrades, utility and broadband improvements, building systems repairs, life-safety work, accommodations and hospitality renovations, pool and beach projects, playgrounds, golf course improvements, marina work, and wastewater upgrades across the state park system. They emphasized that Kentucky has 44 state parks and that the funding has supported completed work and projects still under construction or in design. The presentation highlighted funding tied to House Joint Resolution 76, House Joint Resolution 56, and House Bill 6. Parks reported roughly $72 million invested to date, with 66 projects completed and 17 under construction, including campground renovations at sites such as My Old Kentucky Home, Kin Lake, Carter Caves, Cumberland Falls, and others; broadband projects at several campgrounds; electrical grid resilience work at parks including Kentucky Dam Village and Kin Lake; and completed life-safety upgrades such as lock systems. Officials also noted pool and beach work, ADA improvements, lodge and guest room renovations, marina replacements, and wastewater plant upgrades. DECA said it currently manages 1,335 active capital projects statewide, including 149 for Parks, and credited additional project management capacity and regular coordination meetings for accelerating delivery. Committee members asked for a copy of the presentation and pressed the department for more detailed accounting of House Joint Resolution 56, including how much money remains, which projects are complete, and whether current appropriations are sufficient to finish the listed work. The department also requested a larger maintenance pool appropriation of $40 million for the next budget, arguing that routine and emergency maintenance needs across 44 parks exceed current resources and that preventative maintenance would reduce long-term costs. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• to promote either tourism or something within the state.
• Outdoor recreation and tourism is the number two industry in the state of Idaho.
• The more they market tourism industry, the more they grow the industry and bring people into the state
• sector growing. ...keeping that outdoor recreation and tourism sector growing.
• Then we're actually going to have less money available for tourism, bringing people in.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• I think everyone here knows that tourism is a major component of the Commonwealth's economy.
• This is not a broad subsidy program or a complicated grant process.
• Every consumer card does not have that program available.
• So as cross-state spending gets harder, travel and tourism feel that impact directly.
• So as cross-state spending gets harder, travel and tourism, feel that impact directly.

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Special Committee on Tourism will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
• The Special Committee on Tourism will now go into executive session.
• The next thing is increased tourism and event leverage.
• Turf wars are not allowed in the Tourism Committee. We put a stop to that.
• Turf wars are not allowed in the Tourism Committee. We put a stop to that.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• We see the tourism market.
• We lost more jobs in the tourism industries, so when tourism recovers, the jobs will recover. decrease
• </c> counties so this shows our tourism counties so this shows our tourism industry<00:28:57.440><c>
• 32:48.039><c> so</c> more jobs in the tourism Industries so more jobs in the tourism Industries so when
• <00:32:48.440><c> tourism</c> when tourism when tourism recover<00:32:50.559><c> the</c><00:32:51.039

Summary: The Committee on Finance held its first informational briefing for 2025, beginning with member introductions and then hearing an economic outlook presentation from Dr. Eugene Tian of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Dr. Tian said Hawaii’s economy was in relatively good shape in several areas, especially construction, which he described as at a historical high, with construction employment above 40,000 monthly and building permit values and contracting tax base both up sharply. He also noted real estate sales had rebounded in 2024, the labor market had stabilized with unemployment around 2.9%, and initial unemployment claims were below 2019 levels. At the same time, he highlighted challenges including inflation running above the national rate, a shrinking labor force, lower employment compared with 2023, and continued weakness in visitor spending and arrivals. He said future growth would likely come from health care, professional services, construction, tourism recovery, and diversified sectors such as renewable energy, aquaculture, creative industries, and technology. Dr. Tian also discussed Hawaii’s economic structure and recovery, saying the state remains more concentrated in a few industries than the U.S. overall, with government and hospitality making up larger shares of the economy. He said non-tourism sectors had recovered, but tourism-related jobs and output were still below pre-pandemic levels, with Maui and the visitor industry still affected by the wildfire and COVID-19 impacts. He projected tourism and non-agricultural wage and salary jobs would not fully recover until 2027, and said population trends remain a concern because of aging, the likelihood of deaths outpacing births in coming years, and reliance on in-migration. After his presentation, the chair said questions would be taken later and the committee took a short break. After the break, Dr. Carano of the Hawaii Executive Director’s office presented a second outlook, saying Hawaii’s economy in 2025 looked better than 2024 overall, though he emphasized substantial uncertainty tied to the incoming federal administration. He said possible changes to tariffs, tax policy, immigration, and federal spending could raise inflation and keep interest rates higher than previously expected, which would affect housing, consumer debt, the dollar, and Hawaii’s visitor industry. He noted that U.S. visitors account for roughly three-quarters of visitor spending in the state, making federal policy especially important. He also said deregulation could be a long-term positive but would not likely have much effect in 2025 or 2026. As an additional risk, he pointed to bird flu and its effect on livestock, poultry, and egg prices. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This school security piece was a three-year pilot program.
• This is year three of a five-year program for a CRNA program. Follow up. Thank you.
• We also have a great amount of tourism here.
• We also have a great amount of tourism here.
• We also have a great amount of tourism here.

Bills: HB3418 , HB3985 , HB3463 , HB3002 , HB4303 , HB3919 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3415 , HB2206 , HB3414 , HB3265 , HB3310 , HB3413 , HB4486 , HB1219 , SR39 , SB1177 , HB3298 , HB2696 , HB3941 , HB3970 , HB3264 , HB3321 , HB2650 , HB3497 , HB3980 , HB3981 , HB4421 , HB3177 , HB3322 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3845 , HB3742 , HB3622 , HB1250 , HB2710 , HB3831 , HB4408 , HB1002 , HB3008 , HB3086 , HB3595 , HB3678 , HB4107 , HB3695 , HB3315 , HB3590 , HB3006 , HB3151 , HB2959 , HB2398 , HB3026 , HB3467 , HB4268 , HB3372 , HB2210 , HB4359 , HB4427

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized the Doctor and Nurse of the Day, along with several visiting groups in the galleries, including the Goldsby Volunteer Fire Department and families honoring fallen firefighters Todd Pendleton and Brian Jenkins, the Sapulpa Elks Antlers, the Grove Chamber of Commerce, and northeastern Oklahoma cattlemen. The chamber adopted Senate Resolution 39, celebrating the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 70 and its economic importance to southern Oklahoma communities. The main item of business was the Joint Committee Report for Senate Bill 1177, the General Appropriation Bill for the State of Oklahoma. Senators questioned the budget’s overall size, the use of gross production tax revenues, the new sovereign/endowment trust fund, Medicaid and Health Care Authority funding, mental health appropriations, child care subsidy funding, school security, career tech, tourism, the Commissioners of the Land Office, textbook allocations, and several other agency lines. The chair explained that the budget included about $1.5 billion in cash and sweeps, a $250 million base appropriation for the Health Care Authority, $200 million for the endowment trust fund, $31 million for PREP projects, $25 million for the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund, and other agency-specific appropriations and supplements. Several members debated the report before adoption. Supporters argued the budget addressed agency needs and future savings, while opponents criticized it as a flat or spending-heavy budget that favored special projects and well-connected interests over core services such as child care, mental health, water infrastructure, and county needs. After debate, the Joint Committee Report for SB 1177 was adopted, and the Senate moved through the budget discussion with no recorded roll-call vote in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item D5 are grants from the Department of Arkansas Heritage and Tourism, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism
• This is for actuarial services for the Medicaid program.
• , which was formerly the Innovate Arkansas program.
• This is for qualified residential treatment programs.
• This is for qualified residential treatment programs.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles attended a graduate program at Oxford University in 1998.
• An act relating to establishing a tourism self-supported assessment program to fund statewide tourism
• Tourism is important across our state.
• This bill is carefully crafted to allow the Tourism Association to assess themselves.
• industry to help promote tourism throughout ...promoted forward by the tourism industry to help promote

Transcript Highlights:

• The statutory language governing the promotional fund, ensuring it reflects current tourism marketing
• Thank you, Chairwoman of Tourism, for bringing forth this bill to help us improve the conditions and
• Tourism Recreation Industry Conference to allow them to come in and help support that on the funding
• Who are we charging fees to in the tourism department? Could you reset that question?
• In the tourism department, can you reset that question?

Bills: SB2063 , SB1877 , SB1884 , SB2174 , SB1525 , SB1771 , SB1805 , SB1916 , SB1365 , SB1810

Committee: House General Government

Summary: The committee first laid over Senate Bill 263, then took up several other measures. Senate Bill 1877, which would create a centralized reporting system for reports through the Secretary of State, was discussed as similar to House Bill 3047 and was reported due pass by a 6-0 vote. Senate Bill 1884, concerning access for statewide educator associations and individual school employees, drew questions about union access, off-campus recruitment, right-to-work law, and possible conflicting language on fees and reimbursement; it was reported due pass 6-1. The committee then advanced tourism and public safety measures. Senate Bill 1365 would update promotional fund language and allow the Tourism and Recreation Department to make certain merchandise purchases outside the central purchasing process up to $75,000; it passed 6-2. Senate Bill 2174 would change the appointment and makeup of the State Fire Marshal Commission board and was reported due pass 8-0. Senate Bill 1525, as amended by a PCS, would let the Tourism and Recreation Department contract for support of its annual tourism conference and charge registration fees to recoup costs, with emergency language added; it passed 6-2. The committee also approved House Bill 1810, which would allow expert testimony in human trafficking cases and add trafficking victims to existing victim services, by an 8-0 vote. On workforce and agency administration, Senate Bill 1771 would expand the Workforce Commission’s authority to collect funding, expenditure, and performance data and to hire outside counsel; it passed 5-2. Senate Bill 1805 would bar certain group homes and post-adjudication treatment facilities from using contract staff, due to concerns about records access and staffing; it passed 6-1. Finally, Senate Bill 1960 would move the Oklahoma Receivership Office under the Oklahoma Insurance Department to modernize and reduce duplication, and it was reported due pass 7-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So does that, if I could continue, expand outside of the UAS program? Other programs also?
• No, the grant programs. So you presented a report regarding our grant program?
• The program was introduced and supported by more than 20 tourism industry association partners to provide
• The 2020-23-25 program awarded $25 million to 14 of the 81 applications to tourism infrastructure projects
• The 2020-23-25 program awarded $25 million to 14 of the 81 applications to tourism infrastructure projects

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would create unnecessary instability in those tourism promotion activities and could cause
• promotion, and cultural programs in Miami-Dade County.
• And I want to touch... ...for beaches, tourism promotion, and cultural programs in Miami-Dade County.
• Program.
• EDR wrote that the program does not recover any portion of the state's investment.

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee considered several tax-related measures. SB 674, allowing county property appraisers to budget for and pay hiring or retention bonuses with Department of Revenue approval, was supported by property appraisers and reported favorably. C.S. for SJR 318, as amended, would create a tangible personal property exemption for agricultural land used in agricultural production or agritourism; the amendment clarified the property’s location and allowed the Legislature to define conditions, and the resolution was reported favorably with support from Farm Bureau and the Florida Chamber. The committee also advanced C.S. for SB 1664, as amended, which requires locally approved discretionary taxes to be reauthorized by voters when they expire and sets rules for taxes tied to revenue bonds. Local government and tourism-related groups raised concerns about impacts on tourist development taxes, beach funding, transportation surtaxes, and long-term planning, while supporters argued voters should periodically reaffirm taxes; the bill was reported favorably. C.S. for SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, SB 1512, were both amended to sharply narrow a proposed long-term lease property tax exemption to one qualifying property and to single-family homes, mobile homes, and condominiums; counties and cities opposed the measures as tax shifts, but both were reported favorably. The committee then took up SPB 7034, the Senate tax package, which includes permanent sales tax exemptions for certain clothing and bullion, multiple tax holidays, a temporary motor vehicle fee reduction, a property tax study, corporate and insurance tax credit changes, a communications services tax freeze, and other tax provisions, with staff estimating $2.1 billion in total revenue reduction. Testimony included support for studying property taxes and strong opposition to the firearm and ammunition tax holiday from students and advocacy groups, who argued it was unsafe and inappropriate; others urged adding combined reporting or removing tourist development tax changes. After debate, the committee reported the package favorably and also approved a motion to submit it as a committee bill. The meeting ended after Senator Bernard recorded an affirmative vote on tab 5 and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you're not familiar, AZIP is Arizona's early intervention program.
• It allows lodging businesses to voluntarily self-assess and fund tourism marketing.
• There are opt-outs, and it's an opt-in program, and that is it. Any questions for the sponsor?
• It's an opt-in program, and that is it. Any questions for the sponsor?
• It allows lodging businesses to voluntary self-assessed and fund tourism marketing.

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules. Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements. No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you're not familiar, AZEIP is Arizona's early intervention program. This is my bill.
• So if you're not familiar, AZEIP is Arizona's early intervention program.
• It allows lodging businesses to voluntarily self-assess and fund tourism marketing.
• There are opt-outs, and it's an opt-in program, and that is it. Any questions for the sponsor?
• It allows lodging businesses to voluntary self-assessed and fund tourism marketing.

Summary: The meeting reviewed two caucus packets covering a wide range of bills, with most items described by staff and then passed over without questions. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for seniors and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, emergency shelter grants, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, and uranium contamination monitoring. Other measures addressed utility plant replacement, local government investment pools, task-order contract posting, ambulance reporting and certificate-of-necessity changes, short-term rental regulation, tuition waivers for dependents of disabled veterans, memorial authorization, manufactured home installer licensing, CPR/AED training in schools, national park fee exemptions for military members and veterans, and a tourism improvement area funded by lodging businesses. Several bills focused on child welfare and family law, including expanded kinship placement notification, a neglect definition change tied to poverty, evidence rules in custody and dependency matters, DCS investigations when a protective parent is involved, and parenting-time supervision requirements. Health-related bills included midwife practice changes, controlled substance monitoring program updates, interstate EMS licensure, prostate cancer screening coverage, sleep apnea coverage, and resident electronic monitoring in care facilities. Judiciary and property-related bills included enhanced trespass penalties, post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien excess proceeds procedures, and unlawful entry into residences occupied by vulnerable adults. A few members briefly explained or defended selected bills, including the child protection measures, the CPR training requirement, the ambulance reporting bill, the tourism improvement area bill, and the bill moving inter-facility transports away from police. The sponsor of HB 2950 emphasized it was a voluntary, opt-in lodging assessment with local approval and statutory guardrails. No roll-call votes were described in the transcript, and most bills were noted as being on consent or third-read consent calendars, with several removed from consent or not yet on a calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> that graduate from their MBA program, that graduate from their MBA program, their<00:46:26.480>
• But when other states are looking at these programs, whether that's an ETA program or whether that's,
• </c> you mentioned have very high tourism you mentioned have very high tourism dollars<01:03:22.000><
• So education and tourism. tourism. tourism.
• on tourism.

Committee: Joint Economic Development & Workforce Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• This concludes the findings for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
• Suzanne Grebmeier, Chief of Staff for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
• Jamie Fisher, CFO for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
• Is this a pen-and-pencil mistake or is this a computer program mistake? Oh, I'm sorry. My bad.
• Is this a pen and pencil mistake or is this a computer program mistake? Oh, I'm sorry. My bad.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-STATE AGENCIES

Summary: The committee met to consider audit reports and first adopted the minutes, then deferred the Health Department special report at the request of Representative Mary Bentley. Staff presented two reports with findings and six reports without findings, with the latter recommended to be filed. The first report discussed was the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism FY25 audit, which had two findings: an apparent unauthorized payroll direct deposit of nearly $2,400 involving impersonation of an employee, and a bank account that was temporarily uninsured and uncollateralized by about $105,000. Agency officials said the collateral issue has been corrected, and members questioned the adequacy of monthly checks, the lack of recovery or prosecution in the payroll incident, and whether stronger safeguards are needed. On motion, the committee deferred this report to a later meeting so the agency could return with additional answers. The committee then heard the Treasurer of State FY25 report, which found that liabilities were understated by nearly $335 million because year-end obligations tied to Act 1017 and county aid distributions were not properly recorded. Treasurer’s office staff said the issue was a timing/bookkeeping matter rather than a delay in transferring funds, and that the office concurred with the audit adjustment. After questions, the committee voted to accept the Treasurer of State report. The chair announced the next meeting would be September 10, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• cannot use the program.
• ACR 65, recognizing May 2025 as California Tourism Month.
• California Tourism Month.
• The Deaf and Disabled Communications Program and the Transportation Network Company Access for All Program
• Communications Program and the Transportation Network Company Access for All Program.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long Daily File with several guest introductions and floor speeches. Members recognized visiting student leaders, championship football teams from Tuolumne County, Alpha Kappa Alpha members at their Capitol day, and later a descendant of Wong Kim Ark. The chamber also adopted a procedural motion allowing certain members to host guests in the rear of the chamber. Among the major policy items, AB 578 on food delivery platform refund practices passed 47-2, AB 344 on successor beer manufacturer definitions passed 61-0, AB 454 to make California’s migratory bird protections permanent passed 55-12 on the urgency clause, AB 482 updating the Table Grape Commission passed 64-1, AB 1237 to support transit access for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders passed 56-15 on the urgency clause, AB 738 on wildfire rebuild solar exemptions passed 42-2, AB 1460 on 340B pharmacy access for clinics passed 41-5, AB 750 on homeless shelter oversight passed 49-1, AB 1061 on housing in historic districts passed 41-13, AB 1523 on expanding mandatory mediation thresholds passed 65-0, and AB 316 on AI-related civil liability passed 56-0. AB 761 authorizing the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to seek a sales tax ballot measure passed 47-12. The chamber also adopted several resolutions. AJR 3 urging protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid passed 53-2 after extensive debate that included criticism of federal cuts and counterarguments focused on state Medi-Cal policy and budget decisions. ACR 65 proclaiming California Tourism Month was adopted by voice vote after coauthors were added, and ACR 62 recognizing California Nonprofits Day was also adopted by voice vote with 65 coauthors. AJR 5 affirming birthright citizenship and opposing efforts to end it passed 58-1 after a lengthy, highly partisan debate centered on the 14th Amendment and the Wong Kim Ark precedent. The session also included passage of AB 571, a CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, which was presented as a long-running bipartisan effort to create a final resting place for Orange County veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Special Committee on Tourism will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
• The Special Committee on Tourism will now go into executive session.
• The next thing is increased tourism and event leverage.
• Turf wars are not allowed in the Tourism Committee. We put a stop to that.
• And thank you, Chairman Seitz, and the House Committee on Tourism.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met with 11 members present, established a quorum, and first went into executive session, where House Bill 2796 was voted do pass unanimously, 13-0. The committee then moved to public hearings. House Bill 2307, sponsored by Rep. Hayden, would designate the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico as the official military academy of the state. The sponsor and supporters said the academy is active, nationally recognized, and important to tourism, recruitment, and the local economy. The academy president testified that it brings an estimated $20 million to $22 million in economic impact and employs 122 people, and other supporters, including alumni and staff, described its educational value and statewide visibility. Members asked about the closure of other military academies and whether the bill would bring tourism and help recruitment. House Bill 3264, sponsored by Rep. Johnson, would make Kansas City the barbecue capital of Missouri. The sponsor highlighted Kansas City’s barbecue history, meatpacking roots, signature styles, and major restaurants and events. Members joked about Kansas City versus St. Louis barbecue and discussed possible promotion, but no opposition was offered. House Bill 3074, sponsored by Rep. Fountain Henderson, would designate April 30 as William Lacy Clay Sr. Day. The sponsor and NAACP testimony emphasized Clay’s civil rights leadership, long congressional service, and legacy of public service and education, with support also noting plans for community and school observances. House Bill 1960, sponsored by Rep. Peters, would designate the smooth chanterelle as Missouri’s official state mushroom. The sponsor and a long list of witnesses from the Missouri Mycological Society, educators, and children testified that the mushroom is native, edible, easy to identify, ecologically important, and tied to Missouri’s hardwood forests and outdoor education. Members asked about safety, look-alikes, and whether it was hallucinogenic; witnesses said it is not psychoactive and is generally safe when properly identified. The chair closed by praising the testimony and indicating support for advancing the bill, and the committee adjourned after concluding the hearing on HB 1960.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee will come to order.
• So these are not going to be your typical tourism ads.
• I don't know what the eligibility are for any programs that these entities might have.
• I don't know what the eligibility are for any programs that these entities might have.
• We have checked in with everybody who's ever had anything to do with the program.

Bills: SB1307 , SB1425 , SB1826 , SB1365 , SB1696

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Summary: The Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee heard a presentation from Tourism Director Amy Blackburn on the Oklahoma Tourism spring 2026 marketing campaign. She described the agency’s new advertising contractor, spending plans split between in-state and out-of-state markets, and campaign themes centered on Route 66, state parks, fishing, Western heritage, and spring travel. She said the campaign’s goal is to increase visitation, bookings, park revenue, and traffic to TravelOK.com, and noted the use of data tools to track marketing performance. The committee then considered several Senate bills. SB 1307, by Sen. Daniels, would remove language that could bar religious organizations from receiving neutral public benefits or grants; it passed 7-1 after questions about church-state concerns. SB 1425, also by Sen. Daniels, repealed an obsolete healthcare workforce assistance board/program and passed 9-0. SB 1826, by Sen. Reinhart, removed the sunset on the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act; members discussed reporting and oversight, and it passed 7-1. SB 1365, by Sen. Fricks, was amended to add an emergency clause and to raise from $25,000 to $75,000 the threshold for Tourism Department retail purchases exempt from the Central Purchasing Act, with testimony that it would help stock gift shops and support local vendors; it passed 8-0. SB 1696, by Sen. Coleman, created a Commerce Department grant program to help cities and counties recruit new residents through local incentives advertised on MakeMyMove.com; members raised concerns about sunsets, audits, and overlap with other incentives, and the bill passed 5-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• Business Program to help support small Business Program to help support small businesses<00:21:36.760
• ><c> Ku</c><00:22:22.360><c> Hana,</c> Throughout their programs like Ku Hana, Throughout their programs
• </c><00:22:45.360><c> Hawaii's</c> industries, which is tourism.
• Hawaii's industries, which is tourism.
• ,</c> regenerative tourism, regenerative tourism, where<00:22:56.679><c> culture</c><00:22:57.040><c>

Bills: HR39 , HCR43 , HR178 , HCR188 , SB3144 , SB3102 , SB2053 , SB3248 , SB2256 , SB3118 , SB2245 , SB2519 , SB3055 , SB2090 , SB2765 , SB2169 , SB3136 , SB2521 , SB2851 , SB3154 , SB3262 , SB2387 , SB3001 , SB2818 , SB2972 , SB2372 , SB2108 , SB888 , HR63 , HCR69

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> amount of money we put into the program amount of money we put into the program but<00:30:54.799
• And I think this program<00:47:46.480><c> for</c><00:47:46.880><c> $40,000</c> The program for $40,000
• And I think there's a a programs.
• </c> energy programs um for their properties. energy programs um for their properties.
• </c> district climate reliance grant program district climate reliance grant program and<01:13:26.800

Summary: The committee opened a work session on 17 retained bills and moved through several measures, often with motions to ought to pass or inexpedient to legislate. House Bill 54, allowing alternative treatment centers to operate for profit, was supported as a way to improve efficiency and potentially lower costs for medical cannabis users, and it was recommended OTP by a 9-0 vote. House Bill 97, an appropriation for wastewater infrastructure, drew mixed views: supporters said the Senate’s reduced funding still met the bill’s intent, while opponents argued the funding was inadequate for critical infrastructure needs; the committee voted 5-4 to ITL. House Bill 111, extending the Right to Know Ombudsman and exempting certain assistance from unauthorized practice of law, was recommended ITL 9-0. House Bill 197, concerning state payment of a portion of local retirement contributions, was discussed as a recurring issue; members noted an amendment could fund it starting in fiscal 2027, but the committee ultimately voted 5-4 to recommend the bill itself rather than ITL. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a harms-and-benefits report, was amended to narrow its scope to future privately owned landfills only; the amendment and the bill as amended both passed 9-0. House Bill 216, on workers’ compensation credit toward retirement service, was ITL’d 9-0 after the sponsor said the proposal was too open-ended and could affect unknown numbers of people.