Bills: HB3622

Keywords: HB3622, 2030 Census, Decennial Census, U.S. Decennial Census Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Commerce Department, census preparation, federal census, state treasury fund, revolving fund, continuing fund, deemed appropriated, technology upgrades, census outreach, redistricting, population count, Title 74, OMES, State Treasurer, budgeting

Transcript Highlights:

• When the state invests in the University of Minnesota, we put that money to work immediately.
• And we truly believe that the success of the university and the prosperity of the state are intertwined
• When the state invests in the University of Minnesota, we put that money to work immediately.
• When the state invests in the University of Minnesota, we put that money to work immediately.
• Uh, when the state invests in the University of Minnesota, we put that money to work immediately.

Bills: HF4266

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• based on what the taxes are in your domiciled state.”
• Forty-six states in our nation, including every other New England state, allow physicians to directly
• Used by many practices like mine in other states.
• Other states, including Maine, have already enacted similar reforms.
• Howard regarding how many manufactured homes are in the state.

Bills: S2732, S2738, S2739

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance, referrals, network providers, payment denial, insurance costs, manufactured homes, homeowners insurance, affordability, state regulations, insurance market, consumer protection, mobile homes, firefighting, water supply, cistern program, rural areas, urban interface, state funding

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on late-filed matters, with testimony focused mainly on two Senate bills: S. 2738, which would create a special commission to study rising insurance costs for manufactured and mobile home residents, and S. 2739, which would establish a program or fund to help communities install and maintain fire cisterns. Senator Kelly Duner and Representative Lisa Field, along with Taunton officials and residents, described sharp premium increases, limited insurer participation, confusing coverage practices, and the impact on seniors, veterans, and low-income homeowners in manufactured housing communities. Several speakers urged the commission to include residents directly and to produce recommendations for more affordable, transparent, and adequate coverage. Local officials from Taunton, Carver, and other communities echoed those concerns, saying many residents face few options, actual cash value policies, and premiums that can exceed $4,000 annually. On the fire cistern bill, fire chiefs from Hopkinton and East Hampton testified that many communities lack municipal water or hydrants and need year-round dedicated water sources to fight structure fires, brush fires, and newer hazards such as lithium-ion battery fires. They said cisterns improve response times, reduce damage, and can help with insurance ratings, but maintenance and funding are often inadequate. A representative of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported the concept of helping fire services but objected to funding the program through insurance policy assessments, arguing that such surcharges drive up premiums and should instead be paid from the general fund. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2732, a direct primary care bill filed by Senator Michael Moore. Physicians and medical association representatives said the bill would let direct primary care doctors make referrals for HMO patients and dispense medications directly from their offices. They argued this would reduce delays, improve continuity of care, lower prescription costs, and help patients with transportation or access barriers. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• accountable at the polls like every elected official in... polls like every elected official in this state
• passed, public records requests must be processed and responded to in a timely manner according to state
• I would be open to even having something at the state level if we went through you, similar to what we
• Fourth, and most importantly, Alabama is of course an energy choice state.
• Association 58 and 54 and every state, including Alabama.

Bills: HB407, SB306, SB320, SB321

Keywords: local redevelopment, tax payments, transient occupancy, state revenue, authority powers, transparency, discretionary accounts, government accountability, public access, online publication, liquefied petroleum gas, safety regulations, public gathering places, cylinder storage, proximity regulations, drycleaning, environmental remediation, pollution, hazardous waste, trust fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you speak to the State Department of Education or pre-K through 12 schools?
• And as it relates to Langston University, can you speak to Langston University and what might be happening
• The last agency under HHS sub-appropriations is U-HAT, the University Hospitals and Trust.
• So that piece is going to the University of Oklahoma specifically.
• There is land application going on in the state where they are using it for fertilizer.

Bills: SB1177

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriation bill. The chair and budget authors explained that the proposal was built to balance the budget using a mix of general revenue, cash sweeps, and other fund transfers, including money from unclaimed property, revenue stabilization, and other statutory funds. Members also discussed a proposed $35 million OWRB revolving loan fund tied to ARPA interest and a $200 million transfer from the Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund as part of a long-term savings strategy. A number of agency-specific items drew questions. Members reviewed the OPEB employer contribution reduction, rent coverage for state agencies, child care and Head Start funding, Department of Corrections revenue from ICE-related agreements, sheriff grant funding, and education funding, including about $99 million in additional formula funding, a $2,000 teacher pay raise, and reading-related appropriations such as Strong Readers and Just Right Reader. The committee also discussed mental health funding, including a $30 million consent decree line, a proposed privatization of CCBHC services with an estimated $10 million savings, and related reduction-in-force costs. Other topics included Attorney General transfers and litigation funding, higher education allocations, Langston University extension funding, historical society requests that were not funded, and a biosolids pilot program. During debate, supporters argued the bill fulfilled the constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget and highlighted increases for education, health care, and water infrastructure. Opponents criticized the use of one-time cash, tax cuts, and what they described as special-project spending, while raising concerns about transparency and underfunded services such as child care and transportation. After debate, the committee voted 18-5 to pass Senate Bill 1177.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University when it comes to funding, I believe, in the University of
• And then on Oklahoma State University, also, so you have Price at OU, and then you also have a dormitory
• And then for Oklahoma State University, we're going to have the agronomy building, same essential deal
• of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University when it comes to funding, I believe, in the University of
• And then for Oklahoma State University, we're going to have the agronomy building, same essential deal

Bills: SB1177

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget

Summary: The Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee took up Senate Bill 1177, the main budget bill, and first adopted the committee substitute as the working version. Chairman Caldwell presented the bill as the measure funding state government and answered a series of questions about major budget items, including CareerTech funding, child care, school security, teacher pay raises, the state plane purchase, Medicaid, mental health, veterans’ homes, and higher education projects. He said CareerTech received increased funding, child care funding was increased by roughly $12 million over last year, school security funding was continued at $50 million, and teacher pay raises were included through a mechanism that would raise the state minimum by $2,000. He also explained the $3 million state plane item as a restructuring of state aviation assets, and said the budget did not cut law enforcement funding tied to 287(g) agreements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members, House Bill 2207 appropriates $300,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027
• program and requires the department to submit a report on the program that includes the number of in-state
• and out-of-state students served by the program in the prior fiscal year by October 15, 2026, 2027,
• are transcribed in our prison Braille system account for about 75% of all Braille transcribed in the state
• at one rate for all materials for the year, usually under $5,000, so there is a huge savings to the state

Bills: HB2207

Keywords: braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of whom I recognized on Monday, but very grateful for all that you do for us and the people of Washington

Bills: HB2487

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the reasoning to go retroactive is so the state doesn't have to pay refunds?
• This is not closing a loophole, as has been stated.
• companies here in Washington State; there are three of them that remain headquartered here.
• I'm pro on this bill on behalf of the Patient Coalition of Washington.
• I'm deputy director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP.

Bills: HB2487

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, 904, all

Bills: SB392, HJR1086

Keywords: judicial rules, public safety, state agencies, permanent rules, legislative approval

Summary: The committee, chaired in part by Vice Chair Norwood, considered two measures. H.J.R. 1086 was presented as the first resolution of the year, approving administrative rules for judicial and public safety agencies submitted by the February 1 deadline. After brief discussion, the committee moved to vote and passed the resolution 13-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 392, which would extend the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission. Members noted the commission had expired on December 31 and that the issue had only recently come to their attention. The bill was moved for adoption, there was no further question or debate, and it also passed 13-0. After the votes, the chair thanked members for their work, noted that the education bundle had been completed and a draft was being prepared, and said rules for business and commerce had been sent out for review before the upcoming deadline week. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• countries or entities that do not have our best interests at heart or are adversarial to the United States
• I have been in discussions with OMES and with the state purchasing director.
• have some ideas on how to improve the bill, including perhaps modifying existing law regarding the state
• The state purchasing director has some discretion as to disallowing contracts.
• Five years, the company shall be ineligible to bid on a state contract for 60 months.

Bills: HB4193

Keywords: procurement, foreign adversaries, national security, state contracts, compliance, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We serve those, including those 29 tribes in Washington State.
• I'm Nora Sealander, representing Western Washington University.
• Connor Haggerty, with Washington State University, here today, signed in other.
• Those are a big deal for salmon recovery in the state of Washington.
• Those are a big deal for salmon recovery in the state of Washington.

Bills: SB6003

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, 904, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Jen Masterson said the budget uses about $396 million in new appropriations, leaving $5.4 million in bond capacity, and includes funding from the Common School Construction account, Climate Commitment Act accounts, and federal funds. She highlighted housing as the largest share of the proposal, along with urgent state facility repairs, K-12 school seismic and modernization grants, natural resource projects, and higher education preservation and minor works. Committee members asked about the timing of housing projects, and Masterson said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the year. Public testimony was heavily focused on housing. Supporters praised the Housing Trust Fund, especially the $73 million for affordable homeownership, $20 million for manufactured housing preservation, and related investments in land banking, workforce housing, right-to-counsel, and community projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, and the African diaspora cultural anchor village. Several speakers urged the legislature to increase housing funding beyond the governor’s proposal, while others emphasized the need to preserve manufactured home communities and support rural and flood-impacted households. One testifier criticized overall state tax levels, but the chair noted the capital budget is bond-funded rather than a direct tax increase. Testimony on K-12 and higher education generally supported the budget’s school modernization, seismic safety, lead remediation, and college preservation funding, though some districts and campuses asked for additional project funding. Rural districts described the small schools modernization program as essential because local bonding capacity is limited. In higher education, UW and WSU speakers said the budget did not fund certain decarbonization and renovation projects they wanted, while community and technical colleges, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, and Eastern Washington University supported the preservation and minor works investments. Natural resources testimony backed salmon recovery and community forest funding, with requests to expand those programs. Local government and utility groups opposed the proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance Account to the operating budget, warning it would weaken infrastructure lending and could jeopardize projects already underway. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting ended after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of my favorite professors at the University of Minnesota, Dr.
• Our second round of grants to states, state agencies, and non-profits exceeded 100 applicants who are
• funding projects throughout the state.
• This is a win for everyone, including the state and its taxpayers.
• Resources that were available to me in the state.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently in Texas, Texas has the highest rate of food insecurity in the United States.
• Making sure that those types of food are accessible to folks throughout the state.
• In Texas, we rank 6th in honey production in the United States.
• Bees are having a lot of trouble this year in the United States.
• The state of Texas does a great job with bees and habitat.

Bills: HB147

Keywords: government contracting, business program, discrimination, state procurement, equity, underutilized businesses

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met with a quorum present and heard several bills, all of which were left pending. HB 1113, by Rep. Cain, would update Texas hemp law to keep state rules aligned with federal changes, require timely rule amendments by the Department of Agriculture, and create hemp research permits for universities and nonprofits. Supporters from the Texas Hemp Coalition said it would improve research, licensing, testing, and enforcement while helping the industry stay compliant and competitive; the author said the bill was intended to reward good actors and deter bad ones. HB 1203, by Rep. Gonzalez, would create an Office of Food System Security and Resiliency within the Department of Agriculture to address food insecurity and coordinate local food access efforts. Gonzalez said the office would build on a prior Department of Agriculture study and help connect farmers, agencies, schools, and local governments; members asked about the fiscal note, consumer costs, and whether the office would overlap with existing programs. HB 1269, HB 1276, and HB 1277 focused on plant disease and pest prevention, including a grant program and studies to identify gaps and track outbreaks. Gonzalez emphasized the need for a more intentional state response, citing crop losses from pests and a recent cotton disease outbreak in his district. HB 1437 would create a pollinator task force to address threats to Texas honeybees and related pollination industries. A Texas Beekeepers Association witness described major recent colony losses, emerging threats such as mites and hornets, and the need to bring agencies and researchers together; Gonzalez noted prior work adding a bee specialist at AgriLife Extension. Finally, HB 147, by Chairman Guillen, would modernize cattle brand registration by moving it to an electronic system at the Texas Animal Health Commission while keeping county clerks involved. Supporters said it would improve efficiency, accuracy, and access for ranchers and law enforcement, while an opponent warned about possible electronic tracking implications and costs for small producers. The committee took no final votes and adjourned after leaving HB 147 pending as well.

Bills: SB 4, SJR 2

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Father, we come before you humbly asking for your hand of protection upon those in our state who are
• We ask for your hand of protection across our state for wisdom and discernment for our members of the
• Senate and the legislature, our state leaders, that we may be wise in how we legislate this session.
• Members, as you know, some parts of the state are still experiencing hazardous travel conditions from

Bills: SJR36, SB1, SJR36, SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then there's a court order stating as such.
• It says that the secretary of the state election board is authorized to publish the roster of the state
• Voters in another state.
• As you and I believe that this is what you stated, the bottom half of that indicates where it states,
• In fact, that's stated elsewhere.

Bills: SB1450, SB1458, SB1232, SB1238, SB1325, SB1209, SB1362, SB2072, SB1451, SB1540, SB1581, SB1535, SB1266, SB1927, SB1460, SB2084, SB2182

Keywords: criminal court costs, court fees, fines, assessments, waiver, ability to pay, indigent defendants, post-release relief, probation compliance, parole, deferred sentence, suspended sentence, restitution, child support, municipal court, district court, criminal justice reform, court debt, legal financial obligations, fee waiver

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that the Secretary of the State Election Board is authorized to publish the roster of the state
• in such notices with registered voters in another state.
• As you, and I believe that this is what you stated, the bottom half of that, where it states beginning
• In fact, that's stated elsewhere.
• We would be defining grooming, as 14 other states have done, very similar to the way the 14 other states

Bills: SB1450, SB1458, SB1232, SB1238, SB1325, SB1209, SB1362, SB2072, SB1451, SB1540, SB1581, SB1535, SB1266, SB1927, SB1460, SB2084, SB2182

Keywords: criminal court costs, court fees, fines, assessments, waiver, ability to pay, indigent defendants, post-release relief, probation compliance, parole, deferred sentence, suspended sentence, restitution, child support, municipal court, district court, criminal justice reform, court debt, legal financial obligations, fee waiver

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and considered a long series of bills, mostly on criminal justice, elections, civil procedure, and higher education liability. Early measures included SB 1450, allowing judges to waive certain fines and fees for people who have completed probation or incarceration, with an amendment requiring a request and a judicial order; SB 1458, repealing a statute that allowed disclosure of grand jury witnesses; SB 1232, increasing penalties for tower vandalism and copper theft; SB 1238, making domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor a felony on the first offense; and SB 1325, requiring GPS monitoring and victim-alert protections for certain domestic abuse defendants before release. All of those bills advanced, most on strong or unanimous votes, though SB 1458 and SB 1232 each had one nay. The committee also advanced SB 1209, which adjusted eviction-related civil procedure timelines by replacing “weekends” with Sundays and holidays in the filing-to-summons period, and SB 1362, which standardized early voting hours across the state’s consolidated election schedule, with Thursdays through Saturdays set at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesdays retained for general elections. Members asked about the effect on landlords, voters, rural counties, and staffing, and the authors said the changes were intended to improve consistency and give more time for payment or mediation. SB 2072, dealing with deed fraud and title theft, was amended to clarify that fee waivers apply to orders restoring title after a fraudulent conveyance, and then advanced unanimously. Later, the committee considered SB 1451, which adds a checkbox for prior voter registration, codifies cancellation of prior registrations, and requires an annual statistical report on registration notices; it advanced on a 6-2 vote after questions about whether the bill could burden voters. SB 1540 created a new felony offense for “grooming” a minor, prompting debate over whether existing indecent-proposal statutes already cover similar conduct; it advanced 7-1. SB 1581 extended the time for county grand jury initiative petitions from 45 to 90 days and added a protest period, and SB 1535 would adjust charity-enforcement procedures for the Attorney General; both advanced. The committee also advanced SB 1266, increasing penalties for violations of the anti-notario law, SB 1927, elevating unauthorized boarding or refusal to leave a school bus to a felony, SB 1460, strengthening penalties for repeat peeping Tom and clandestine recording offenses, and SB 2182, creating civil remedies for nonconsensual sharing of intimate images. SB 1618 was laid over, and the meeting adjourned with notice of another meeting the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to an oversight in Senate Bill 215, Texas State Texas State Technical College was not relieved from
• It also includes provisions for cybersecurity training for state employees and establishes a state jail
• Notices, and our own state, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, had over 2,350 unclaimed
• We believe in life in this state.
• House Bill 793 to State Affairs. House Bill 809 to State Affairs.

Bills: SB66, SB243, SB250, SB317, SB393, SB397, SB456, SB628, SB629, SB636, SB715, SB731, SB801, SB865, SB1012, SB1013, SB1015, SB1032, SB1141, SB1181, SB1224, SB1241, SB1242, SB1250, SB1266, SB1285, SB1376, SB1442, SB1449, SB1502, SB1524, SB1528, SB1551, SB1585, SB1640, SB1708, SB1844, SB1854, SB1863, SB1959, SB1965, SB2035, SB2082, SB2119, SB2138, SB2199, SB2200, SB2201, SB2245, SB2269, SB2284, SB2310, SB2357, SB2419, SB2422, SB2480, SB2514, SB2523, SB2529, SB2533, SB2541, SB2550, SB2568, SB2595, SB2605, SB2608, SB2615, SB2717, SB2721, SB2753, SB2778, SB2841, SB2846, SB2891, SB2925, SB2929, SB2933, SB3016, SB3029, SB3039, SB3044, SJR3, SJR18, SB5, SB326, SB494, SB530, SB767, SB769, SB783, SB914, SB963, SB1035, SB1197, SB1271, SB1415, SB1437, SB1619, SB1637, SB1786, SB1806, SB2312, SB29, SB1238, SB1967, SB1, SB260, SB1637, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SJR59, SCR12, SCR39, SCR48, SCR19, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB1502, SB507, SB1434, SB1376, SB1585, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1999, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB1524, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB517, SB1200, SB1845, SB1863, SB2681, SB2200, SB2199, SB2458, SB2201, SB801, SB2533, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB1013, SB2797, SB2119, SB2076, SB2876, SB2284, SB2929, SB2595, SB715, SB1640, SB2514, SB2753, SB1241, SB2538, SB1449, SB2529, SB2846, SB986, SB1181, SB1359, SB2550, SB2245, SB410, SB1234, SB456, SB1012, SB2926, SB2138, SB1242, SB2615, SB2310, SB1224, SB2972, SB2841, SB3016, SB1856, SB2035, SB1528, SB1141, SB1266, SB1373, SB2269, SB2480, SB672, SB2891, SB2422, SB1854, SB317, SB2539, SB2532, SB2925, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB2357, SB2721, SB243, SB1285, SB2568, SB1959, SB1442, SB1454, SB2520, SB2541, SB1708, SB1237, SB1844, SB1586, SB1551, SB3039, SB2819, SB66, SB629, SB1015, SB2342, SB2903, SB2933, SB1965, SB2477, SB3029, SB2605, SB2419, SB1957, SB375, SB250, SB777, SB628, SB2523, SB2367, SB2703, SB2608, SB2778, SB3044, SB2965, SB2521, SB865, SB1032, SB2165, SB2501, SB2675, SB2452, SB2835, HB1109, HB1392, HB22, HB2525, HB3093, SB872, SB1212, SB1278, SB1588, SB1602, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2177, SB2460, SB2785, SB2373, SB1660, SB614, SB867, SB1608, SB1525, SB905, SB640, SB2487, SB1698, SB383, SB705, SB748, SB1113, SB1117, SB1802, SB2340, SB2586, SB2680, SB2690, SB2994, SB2747, SB1950, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB3059, SB2782, SB2781, SB2637, SB2633, SB2337, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB946, SB945, SB2857, SB128, SB571, SB1263, SB3058, SB612, SB2221, SB2587, SB2044, SB2363, SB2713, HB517, HB912, HB1130, HB142, HB1689, HB2018

Keywords: disability, supported decision-making, legal assistance, confidentiality, access to justice, autonomy, civil rights, advocacy, migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards

Transcript Highlights:

• for the peace that we have today. ...thanks for the peace that we have today in this room, in this state
• I mean, is it just... is this city... ...is it just city, county, and state?
• I believe I'm looking... ...some requests to verify, but I believe this is state only, but it's an opt-in
• So, local can opt in, but it applies to state and... ...opt in, but it applies to state and...
• Higher Education in consideration with the State Department of Education.

Bills: HB226, HB24, HB309, HB315, HB272, HB24, HB226, HB309, HB315, HB272

Keywords: HB226, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax, property tax relief, widow, widower, unremarried spouse, surviving spouse, senior exemption, elderly, disabled, permanently and totally disabled, blind taxpayer, deed ownership, principal residence, school tax, county tax, municipal tax, Alabama Department of Revenue