Transcript Highlights:

• We have expanded pathways to include the arts, aviation, We have expanded pathways to include the arts
• , aviation, and new health care fields.
• Combined, if you level-fund maintenance with the governor's number, that will allow...
• If you level maintenance with the governor's number, that will allow us, using the supplemental amount
• While this is a larger request than our other lines, we still consider this to be a maintenance funding

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 budget for education and local aid. Opening remarks from Senator Pavel Payano, Representative Pat Duffy, and local leaders emphasized the importance of education funding for Lawrence and other Gateway Cities, with Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero highlighting the city’s high-need student population, Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, early college and career pathways, and the need for sustained support to close achievement gaps. The Education Secretariat testified in support of the budget, with Acting Secretary Amy Kershaw outlining investments in early literacy, universal pre-K, student mental health, school meals, high school redesign, higher education affordability, and early childhood systems. Commissioner Noi Ortega described higher education proposals including expanded free community college, continued free tuition at public four-year institutions, student success funding, early college and dual enrollment investments, and the Bright Act and Drive Act. Commissioner Pedro Martinez detailed K-12 proposals such as full Student Opportunity Act funding, increased Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, literacy initiatives, and a new Accelerating Achievement Initiative aimed at schools with the greatest needs. Commissioner Kershaw also described early education proposals including funding for C3, child care financial assistance, CPPI, workforce supports, and administrative funding restoration. Committee members questioned the administration about the pending local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to address health care and other cost drivers in school funding. Officials said the local contribution report is expected by the end of June and that a draft will be shared for public comment after data analysis is complete. Members also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities between districts and urged a broader review of the formula. In response, the commissioners said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but further work is needed, and they pointed to the new achievement initiative, literacy efforts, and early college expansion as ways to improve outcomes. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• market opportunities<00:47:46.720><c> like</c><00:47:46.960><c> sustainable</c><00:47:47.520><c> aviation
• </c> opportunities like sustainable aviation opportunities like sustainable aviation fuel.<00:47:48.960
• impeding Minnesota companies and farmers from expanding and attracting new industries like sustainable aviation
• impeding Minnesota companies and farmers from expanding and attracting new industries like sustainable aviation
• impeding Minnesota companies and farmers from expanding and attracting new industries like sustainable aviation

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, and Senior Aviation
• These were a heroic group of African American aviators who defied both gravity and systemic racism to
• And the area around us in northern Ohio—Ohio is known as the state of flight—and 58 of these brave aviators
• Institutions such as the Lucas County Public Library, National Museum of the Great Lakes, and Liberty Aviation
• colleague for leading this special order today about the importance of America leading in aerospace and aviation

Transcript Highlights:

• . $13.4 million for deferred maintenance of facilities. $5 million for Wallace State Community College
• Alabama A&M, $4 million for deferred maintenance and capital projects.
• Auburn University of Montgomery, $1.6 million for deferred maintenance.
• </c> million for uh deferred maintenance. million for uh deferred maintenance.
• We're also adding, uh, $9.3 million of that for deferred maintenance and research.

Bills: HB235 , HB236 , HB565 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB235 , HB236 , HB565 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, HB236, Baldwin County, Board of Equalization, per diem

Bills: HB1739 , HB1784 , HB1889 , HB2116 , HB2206 , HB3625 , HB2939 , HB3028 , HB3265 , HB3313 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3420 , HB3588 , HB3748 , HB3721 , HB3852 , HB4132 , HB4263 , HB4303 , HB4311 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB4434

Committee: House Government Oversight

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension

Transcript Highlights:

• Quality of life remains essential to readiness, alongside the aircraft maintenance upgrades.
• Aircraft maintenance also remains vital, as well as addressing the challenges with delivering parts in
• like biomass energy development areas like biomass energy development sustainable<03:13:10.960><c> Aviation
• /c><03:13:11.600><c> fuels</c><03:13:12.520><c> and</c><03:13:12.760><c> various</c> sustainable Aviation
• fuels and various sustainable Aviation fuels and various methods<03:13:13.800><c> for</c><03:13:14.239

Transcript Highlights:

• regarding projects such as the Lava Ridge wind project, where significant impacts to agriculture, aviation
• Aviation safety, wildlife habitat, and the aquifer have been identified.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Rotary wing aviation is defined to mean helicopters carrying human operators.
• Second, it requires that, to qualify for a grant, a local law enforcement aviation support unit must
• And finally, the bill provides reimbursement for search and rescue aviation support units and provides
• remaining funds to the Washington State Patrol aviation section.
• These aviation units respond to everything from a lost hiker.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, the International Civil Aviation
• Organization Interpol, the<00:33:14.040><c> International</c><00:33:14.600><c> Civil</c><00:33:14.920><c> Aviation
• </c> the International Civil Aviation the International Civil Aviation Organization,<00:33:16.200><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, in 2020 the Federal Aviation Administration mandated installation of automatic dependent surveillance
• broadcasts on general aviation aircraft operating in certain airspace.
• allows aircraft not only to communicate with ATC but also each other, creating a safety net for aviation
• alignment as a private pilot and wanted to point out that ADS-B has been an amazing technology for aviation

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1137, which would codify a long-standing DBPR rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct excise tax for broken or spoiled products. The sponsor said the rule had been nullified for lack of statutory authority, and industry representatives waved in support. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. Members then approved PCS for HB 797 on nonprofit corporations, described as a broad update to the nonprofit statute that tracks prior for-profit corporation changes and model act language. A technical amendment was adopted, and testimony from the Florida Nonprofit Alliance and a Bar business law section representative was supportive. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee also passed CS for HB 679 on trademark registration, which updates the state trademark system to align with federal classifications and create an online application; an amendment extending the implementation date was adopted before the bill passed. The committee next heard several bills related to licensing and regulation. CS for HB 1433 would create an optional high school financial literacy course focused on property and casualty insurance and allow graduates to satisfy pre-licensure requirements for an entry-level license; it passed with support from insurance and free-market groups. HB 929 clarified local permitting for tiki huts, including electrical and plumbing permits, decks, fasteners, and setbacks, and passed without opposition. HB 99 exempted certain underwriting managers handling limited reinsurance business from reinsurance intermediary manager licensing requirements and also passed. A major portion of the meeting focused on gambling enforcement in the strike-all for CS for CS HB 155, which would strengthen penalties for illegal gambling operations, expand oversight of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, clarify fantasy sports and internet sports wagering language, and allow destruction of seized slot machines. Supporters argued the bill would help shut down repeat illegal internet cafés and related criminal activity; one homeowner group opposed it. The committee adopted the strike-all and the bill passed, with several members speaking in favor and a few voting no. The committee also passed HB 1307 on unauthorized aliens after adopting a strike-all that clarified provisions affecting licensing, housing assistance, workers’ compensation, employment enforcement, and related financial services; the bill drew substantial opposition testimony about language barriers and immigrant families, but also support from proponents citing public safety and victim stories. Later, the committee approved DS for HB 387, which would restrict the use of ADS-B aviation data for automatic billing at airports while preserving landing fees and safety functions. It passed after supportive testimony from a private pilot. HB 865, as amended, would require professional management for community associations above a higher budget threshold, add timeshare-specific language, and impose additional licensing and insurance requirements for managers; supporters cited fraud and lack of enforcement in large associations, while one member opposed it as government overreach. The bill passed with one recorded no vote. Finally, the committee passed PCS for HB 885, a transportation facility designation bill naming several roads and bridges, and began debate on CS for HB 33, which would designate a portion of SR 895 near FIU as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and also codify a Donald Trump boulevard designation. That bill prompted sharp debate, with supporters praising Kirk’s influence and opponents objecting to honoring a non-Floridian and to his public statements; the transcript ends during that debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• additional documentation of citizenship to register or update voter information, expands voter list maintenance
• This bill authorizes the boards of historic black cemeteries to generate revenue for maintenance and
• It requires representatives from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to be a voting member on the board

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored retiring Senate staffer Susan Miller and recognized a veteran injured in combat. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to returning messages from the House and began taking up bills and amendments. The Senate concurred in House amendments and passed SB 118 on RV park assessments and SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, both by 38-0 votes. It then took up the elections bill, CS/CS/HB 991, which drew extensive debate. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity by tightening citizenship verification and ID rules; opponents argued it would burden eligible voters, especially students, seniors, disabled voters, and others without the newly required documents. The bill passed 27-12. The chamber also passed the education package SB 182 after adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, and approved SB 474 on military affairs, SB 425 on historic cemeteries, HB 929 on local regulation of chickees, and HB 35/SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation, all with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Senate then considered SB 902/ HB 733, the Department of Health package. Members adopted an amendment and amendment-to-amendment that preserved most Senate provisions while modifying or removing several House additions, including some early steps and medical marijuana-related changes, and the bill passed 37-0. The chamber also began work on HB 905, the foreign influence bill, with a strike-all amendment offered to expand restrictions on foreign influence, sister-city agreements, linkage institutes, and related activities, but the debate on that measure was still underway when the transcript ended. Several other returning messages and bills were temporarily postponed, and the Senate recessed briefly before resuming business.

Transcript Highlights:

• additional documentation of citizenship to register or update voter information, expands voter list maintenance
• This bill authorizes the boards of historic black cemeteries to generate revenue for maintenance and
• requirements if certain conditions are met, and it requires representatives from the Jacksonville Aviation

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, staff, visitors, and a military veteran. After routine announcements, the chamber took up several House-returned bills and special-order measures, with most motions to concur or refuse to concur adopted without objection. Early actions included unanimous concurrence in House amendments to SB 118 on RV park special assessments and SB 572 on ethics rules for public officers and employees, both passing 38-0. The Senate then debated and passed CS/CS/HB 991 on election integrity by a 27-12 vote after extensive opposition focused on voter registration documentation, student IDs, provisional ballots, and potential disenfranchisement; the sponsor defended the bill as a citizenship-verification and election-security measure. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 182, an education package combining several related provisions, by 37-0, and later approved SB 474 on military affairs by 39-0 after a technical amendment restoring certain retirement eligibility positions. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service, and refused to concur in the House strike-all amendment to SB 598 after the House had added composting language to the cremation definition. Several other messages were temporarily postponed. On the special-order calendar, the Senate passed CS/CS/HB 425 on historic cemeteries by 39-0, allowing historic Black cemetery boards to sell surplus property not used for burial to fund maintenance. It also passed HB 929 on chickee regulation by 39-0, limiting local restrictions on chickee construction and setting spacing, fire-safety, and permitting rules. SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation was substituted with identical CS/HB 35 and passed 39-0, expanding habitual offender treatment to repeated driving without a valid license. The chamber then returned to CS/CS/CS/SB 902, the Department of Health package, which was substituted with CS/HB 733 and amended to retain the Senate’s medical marijuana location limits, adjust NICU nutrition language, modify the dental student loan repayment program, and require a pediatric trauma center designation for certain specialty children’s hospitals; it passed 37-0. The Senate also moved CS/CS/CS/HB 905 on foreign influence to the special-order calendar and began debate on a strike-all amendment defining foreign terrorist organizations and foreign countries of concern, restricting gifts and business ties, tightening sister-city affiliations, and adding ethics training and reporting requirements, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• additional documentation of citizenship to register or update voter information, expands voter list maintenance
• This bill authorizes the boards of historic Black cemeteries to generate revenue for maintenance and
• requirements if certain conditions are met, and it requires representatives from the Jacksonville Aviation

Transcript Highlights:

• HB number 106 by King relating to the maintenance of certain improvements associated with oil and gas
• Municipal Sales and Use Tax for Street Maintenance for the Committee on Ways and Means, SB 1281 by Parker
• To aviation facilities located in economically disadvantaged counties for the Subcommittee on Transportation

Bills: HB14 , HJR31 , HB43 , HB18 , HB 106 , HB36 , HB26 , HB149 , HB 121 , HB206 , HB136 , HB3114 , HB2733 , HB1732 , HB3700 , HB467 , HB 1130 , HB1846 , HB1442 , HB 1147 , HB2176 , HB2701 , HB805 , HB2890 , HB 1154 , HB1644 , HB2118 , HB1718 , HB2488 , HB2596 , HB1971 , HB2468 , HB484 , HB2578 , HB3204 , HB 1041 , HB307 , HB685 , HB1710 , HB538 , HB2525 , HB3125 , HB2027 , HB2894 , HB3077 , HB3684 , HJR99 , HB1399 , HJR5 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HJR2 , HJR6 , HB1587 , HB14 , HJR31 , HB43 , HB18 , HB 106 , HB36 , HB26 , HB149 , HB 121 , HB206 , HB136 , HB3114 , HB2733 , HB1732 , HB3700 , HB467 , HB 1130 , HB1846 , HB1442 , HB 1147 , HB2176 , HB2701 , HB805 , HB2890 , HB 1154 , HB1644 , HB2118 , HB1718 , HB2488 , HB2596 , HB1971 , HB2468 , HB484 , HB2578 , HB3204 , HB 1041 , HB307 , HB685 , HB1710 , HB538 , HB2525 , HB3125 , HB2027 , HB2894 , HB3077 , HB3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• At its core, this is about using familiar aviation methods similar to sailplane towing to make space
• At its core, this is about using familiar aviation methods similar to sailplane towing to make space
• 40:38.240><c> familiar</c> core, this is about using familiar core, this is about using familiar aviation
• 40.480><c> similar</c><00:40:40.880><c> to</c><00:40:41.200><c> sail</c><00:40:41.520><c> plane</c> aviation
• methods similar to sail plane aviation methods similar to sail plane towing<00:40:42.560><c> to</c><

Summary: The joint hearing covered several bills focused on economic development, tourism, business climate, and related policy areas. On HB 1943, which would support a DBEDT office in Korea, DBEDT and the Retail Merchants of Hawaii testified in support, emphasizing Korea’s importance as a market for investment, trade, and tourism and the value of helping small and midsize Hawaii businesses access Asian markets. A later witness also tied the proposal to broader free-trade and APEC-related goals. The committees heard no opposition on that measure. The committees then heard HB 1612 and HB 1614, both supported by multiple organizations and agencies. Testimony for HB 1612 stressed Hawaii’s weak business climate and the need for policies that improve economic growth and competitiveness; the Hulamua Collaborative cited survey results showing only 19% of respondents viewed Hawaii as a good place to do business. HB 1614 also drew support, with HTC saying its focus is on economic growth. For HB 1968 and HB 1967, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the University of Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce, and Hulamua Collaborative largely stood on written testimony in support; the hearing notes reported nine supporters and one opponent on HB 1968, and seven supporters with one comment on HB 1967. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on HB 1589, a bill to create dementia training and recognition for businesses. Testifiers included a private citizen sharing a personal family story, the Alzheimer’s Association, and DBEDT. Supporters said the measure would help families affected by dementia, reduce stigma, and make businesses more dementia-friendly. DBEDT said the issue would be better handled by an agency with dementia expertise, while the Alzheimer’s Association said it could provide training at no cost and suggested amendments to shift implementation toward the Executive Office on Aging and to use the term “dementia business champion.” The final major topic was HB 1608, involving a space-related project and financing. Phoenix Space testified that the bill would help launch responsive space access operations at Hilo International Airport, create local jobs, and support partnerships with Hawaii institutions, while another supporter said the project could diversify the economy. A committee member raised a timing concern, noting bond cap capacity was already allocated through 2028, and the witness said they were willing to work on a solution. The hearing also included HB 1850 on capital gains taxation, where supporters argued the bill would make the tax system fairer by increasing taxes on investment income, while the Chamber of Commerce opposed it. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2716 establishes a clear process for inspection and basic maintenance requirements when a property
• HB 2716 establishes a clear process for inspection and basic maintenance requirements when a property
• He was a negligent property owner as far as maintenance.
• He was a negligent property owner as far as maintenance.
• So if they were to get the $100 million from the Federal Aviation Authority to build out their runway

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• training sites meet certain conditions; and to upgrade deficient HVAC units and perform ongoing maintenance
• Finally, the Gillette Amendment outlines that the legislature intends the HVAC maintenance appropriation
• Guard. $6.1 million for the lodging and kind program, and $9.3 million for the HVAC upgrading and maintenance
• But I think there's overall maintenance issues.
• But I think there's overall maintenance issues.

Bills: HB2006 , HB2165 , HB2245 , HB2348 , HB2806 , HB2901 , HB2902 , HCR2016

Committees: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections , House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Keywords: sample ballots, elections, primary election, general election, mailing deadline, ballot mailing, county election officials, board of supervisors, secretary of state, early voting list, election administration, voter information, postal service, USPS processing center, city elections, town elections, special district elections, Arizona election law, ballot proofing, party chair

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 661, Hurtado, aviation fuel revenue, due pass with author’s amendments to specify administrative costs
• SB 661, Hurtado, aviation fuel revenue, due pass with author’s amendments to specify administrative costs

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not just service members, engineers, and aviation professionals.
• We reflected a commitment shared by generations of military and civilian professionals, advancing aviation

Summary: The Assembly met with an initial quorum call, then proceeded through routine floor business, guest introductions, and several procedural motions. Members approved requests to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest seating, removed some bills from the consent calendar, and re-referred or withdrew several measures. The chamber also took up a number of second-reading and concurrence items later in the day. Two major bills drew floor debate. SB 762, a tax measure allowing eligible local governments to seek voter approval for transactions and use tax rates above the statutory cap, was presented as a response to local fiscal pressures and was described by supporters as giving voters local choice rather than imposing a tax increase. It passed with an urgency vote of 54-13 and was sent immediately to the Senate. AB 126, the education budget trailer bill, was presented as a major investment in TK-12 education, special education, community schools, and educator leave; one member supported many provisions but objected to policy changes affecting charter schools being included in a budget bill. The Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments on AB 126 by a vote of 56-1. The Assembly also concurred in AB 35, an urgency environmental protection bill intended to speed implementation of Proposition 4-funded projects by narrowing administrative delay; supporters said it would accelerate wildfire prevention, water, and other environmental projects. The measure passed unanimously, 66-0. The consent calendar was then adopted, including AB 2796 on criminal history information, which passed 67-0. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remarks honoring victims of a B-52 test flight crash at Edwards Air Force Base, former West Covina Mayor Lloyd Johnson, civil rights leader Harold Brown, educator and activist Kiyoko Nancy Oda, and Auburn Mayor John Mike Holmes, followed by announcements of summer recess and adjournment until August 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not just service members, engineers, and aviation professionals.
• They reflected a commitment shared by generations of military and civilian professionals, advancing aviation