Transcript Highlights:

• He asked what factors, other than trying to be conservative, would reduce the amount in fiscal 25 to
• My only comment is you got a high and a low, and we really, you know, to be conservative, I just take
• The speaker said, “You got a high and a low, and we really, you know, to be conservative, I just take
• I think it's still within reason, and it's still very conservative.
• I think we're better off on the conservative side. Yeah, yeah, I agree with that.

Summary: The committee met in a work session on revenue estimates and reviewed updated spreadsheet pages for several tax categories, using prior agreements and new testimony to refine FY 2025-2027 estimates. Early discussion covered insurance tax estimates, where members reviewed a letter from the insurance commissioner saying he was comfortable with the numbers provided; the committee accepted those estimates without opposition. Members also discussed utility property tax, with testimony about recent infrastructure buildout, tariffs, depreciation, and the difficulty of forecasting future growth. After debate over whether to use the average of high and low estimates or lean lower, the committee unanimously adopted the utility property tax numbers. The committee then turned to real estate transfer tax and communications tax. For real estate transfer tax, members cited county input, housing market conditions, interest rates, lumber costs, and uncertainty about future policy; they agreed to use the averages and adopted those estimates unanimously. For communications tax, members noted the decline in landline-based revenue and the shift to data services. After discussion of whether to use the low estimate or the average, the committee settled on the average with a small rounding-down adjustment when the figure ended in .5, and adopted the numbers unanimously. The chair also clarified that these estimates remain subject to change until the final resolution is adopted. The committee next accepted interest and dividends estimates as presented, with members noting the decline in that revenue source and the lack of additional information beyond the department’s analysis. Finally, the committee began discussing tobacco tax revenue, with members noting long-term declines in smoking, offsetting effects from out-of-state sales, and a suggestion to take a slightly conservative approach by reducing the average by 0.5. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, so no final vote on tobacco is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to—you know, it's not just because conservation doesn't mean it's a wetland.
• Members, my fiscal conservative friends...
• Representative Banks, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Banks, you're recognized to close. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• By fiscal policy, banking and insurance, and Senator Grutter. The motion is adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of one o'clock having arrived and passed, the House Resources and Conservation Committee will
• with you, but the remainder of the repeals would be the annual report to the governor, the Water Conservation
• Development Fund that has been inactive since 1995... ...the governor, the Water Conservation Development
• So when there is a transfer of property, the title company, the bank, or the other parties that are involved

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• That rate allowed a taxing entity that adopted a rate below the cutoff to... ...be able to bank the difference
• counties, where two percent or one percent of three and a half is not a whole lot, if you're able to bank
• It's a conservative approach to government.
• Actually, I have heard of counties abusing this and using the banking for three years and getting it

Bills: SB1277 , SB1531 , SB2452 , SB2520 , SB2521 , SB2529 , SB2538 , SB2539 , SB2541 , SB2873

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: municipal sales tax, street maintenance, local option tax, Tax Code Chapter 327, sales and use tax, street repair, sidewalk maintenance, water infrastructure, wastewater system, stormwater system, local election, ballot language, reauthorization, municipal finance, infrastructure funding, Texas municipalities, street and sidewalk tax, special district tax, public works, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• provides for expedited permitting as well for these local governments as we tend to have a credit bank
• Uh in one case with Soil and<00:19:38.080><c> Water</c><00:19:38.240><c> Conservation</c><00:19:38.800
• ><c> Districts</c> and Water Conservation Districts and Water Conservation Districts day-to-day<00:19
• a credit bank for them available<00:20:55.760><c> rather</c><00:20:56.040><c> than</c><00:20:56.200>
• Reinvest in Minnesota is a statutory program that we use to secure this conservation reserve, or CREP

Bills: HF3599 , HF3761 , HF3523 , HF3515 , HF573

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, bond issuance, Becker, sewer improvements, sanitation, Hibbing, state bonds, infrastructure funding, capital investment, safety improvements, mobility, U.S. Highway 12, bonds, transportation funding, trails, Prior Lake, bond funding, recreational improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• and Consumer Finance and Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as the Department of Banking and
• Bank Secrecy Act means the Bank Secrecy Act, 31 U.S.C.
• </c><00:39:40.480><c> and</c> means the Commissioner of Banking and means the Commissioner of Banking
• Um if you have a bank bill does.
• </c> how much you can deposit into a bank. how much you can deposit into a bank.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it also makes sure that people are able to access their bank account and potentially legal assistance
• hope that it will allow landlords to be made whole because we do know when folks have access to their bank
• But it also makes sure that people are able to access their bank account and potentially legal assistance
• groups, ...fellow hunters and one of the larger conservation groups, Delta Waterfowl.
• I worked with constituents, hunters, ODWC, and the National Waterfowl Conservation Group, Delta Waterfowl

Bills: SCR17 , SB2104 , SB2155 , SB1428 , SB1250 , SB1651 , SB1794 , SB444 , SB1061 , SB1327 , SB1425 , SB1455 , SB1458 , SB1460 , SB1480 , SB1530 , SB1543 , SB1555 , SB1593 , SB1209 , SB1730 , SB1733 , SB1769 , SB1805 , SB2069 , SB2095 , SB1503

Summary: The Senate began with several ceremonial recognitions, including citations for the Destiny Christian School girls volleyball team and football team for state championships, and for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, in connection with Delta Day at the Capitol and Women’s History Month. Members and guests were welcomed to speak briefly before the chamber returned to its agenda. The chamber then considered a series of bills. SB 444, dealing with hospice handling and disposal of controlled dangerous substances left after a patient’s death, passed 39-0. SB 1327, restoring the Tourism and Recreation Commission’s authority and adding general commission-member requirements, passed 27-12. SB 1061, a mortgage broker fee cleanup bill, passed 38-0. SB 1425, repealing an obsolete health care workforce board, passed 40-0. SB 1455, extending the sunset for the Board of Governors of the Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers, passed 28-11 and then also passed the emergency with 38-1. SB 1458, an Attorney General-request bill to align grand jury witness confidentiality statutes, failed 24-14. The Senate also passed SB 1460, which increases penalties for repeat peeping Tom and clandestine recording offenses and makes second or subsequent offenses sex offenses, by a vote of 38-3. SB 1480, creating a youth apprenticeship pilot program, passed 42-0 and then passed the emergency. SB 1530, updating the Oklahoma Research Development Rebate Program and encouraging private partnerships with higher education, passed 36-4. SB 1543, allowing multiple DUI charges within one year to be prosecuted as a single felony case and making related cleanup changes, passed 37-6 after extended debate about diversion, due process, and testing issues. SB 1555, aligning the state definition of intellectual disability with federal standards, passed 42-0, with a later correction noting the final vote as 42-1. SB 1593, updating outdated OSU-Tulsa trustee language, passed 43-0 and then passed the emergency. SB 1730, requiring law enforcement to copy OSBI on sexual offense reports, passed 37-6. SB 1209, which would have excluded Sundays and federal holidays from the eviction filing-to-hearing timeline, failed on a 21-21 tie after debate over landlord rights, service timing, and court delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Association of Conservation Districts.
• I'm the superintendent of the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District.
• I'm the superintendent of the Pekas Valley Artesian Conservancy District.
• We are not a soil and water conservation. ...of the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District.
• President of the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts.

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's a very conservative projection.
• If you look at natural resource conservation districts, we have it set up.
• There are natural resource conservation districts.
• If you look at natural resource conservation districts, we have it set up.
• There are natural resource conservation districts throughout the state, and they manage and watch conservation

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, journal approval, guest introductions, and recognition of doctors and other visitors. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a large number of bills on topics including public schools and curricula, transportation, health care, child welfare, municipal and county governance, homeowners’ associations, speech, and election-related matters. Several measures were retained on the calendar, while many others were advanced with committee or floor amendments. Among the more notable debates, senators discussed SB 1094, which would impose civil liability related to gender reassignment surgery on minors; supporters said it would compensate minors harmed by such procedures, while opponents argued it would discriminate against transgender youth, raise malpractice costs, and chill access to care. SB 1813, concerning the state hospital governing board and Maricopa County bed limits, drew concern about litigation and the need to expand capacity for people with serious mental illness, while supporters said the bill would remove a legal cap and allow more beds to be used. SB 1496 on Department of Child Safety procedures was amended to clarify representative payee requirements and received generally favorable comments, though some members raised concerns about child safety and DCS discretion. The Senate also advanced SCR 1004, a photo radar ballot referral, after an amendment requiring voter approval in jurisdictions that use photo radar; Senator Leach thanked the sponsor for the change. Other bills moved forward included measures on school firearm safety instruction, civics instruction, chiropractic claims, behavioral health prior authorization, psychiatric evaluations, DCS procedures, AHCCCS procurement contracting, county recorder and HOA-related issues, and legislative qualifications. The chamber adopted the Committee of the Whole reports and properly assigned the bills after each calendar was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> an industry standard for banking an industry standard for banking collection<00:02:58.560><c> methodology
• Um, in in techniques that a bank would.
• </c><00:37:15.920><c> what</c> into their business through banks what into their business through banks
• ,</c><02:05:23.520><c> you</c> through the steps to get to bank, you through the steps to get to bank
• </c> old bank building? old bank building? &gt;&gt; Yes,<03:23:32.399><c> sir.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Jeremiah Bishop, the state banking commissioner and the head of the Division of Banking.
• </c><00:58:01.839><c> If</c> banking commissioner. Are you Yes. If banking commissioner.
• Same thing with banking.
• Same thing with banking.
• Same thing with banking.

Bills: HB0075 , HB0128

Committee: Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Jesse Thompson, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
• I can't speak to—uh, pardon me—Jesse Thompson, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
• I'm sorry, Jesse Thompson, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
• Yeah, Jesse Thompson, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
• Jesse Thompson, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas: "The current price shock isn't..."

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• stand in line at a grocery store while adding up your groceries, while simultaneously checking your bank
• Collins, Commonwealth Conservation Commission. The Senator from First Suffolk, Mr. Collins.
• Amendment 335, Commonwealth Conservation Commission, was drafted to try to mitigate a problem that we
• Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner or designee.
• Mark, Massachusetts Climate Bank. The question comes on adoption of the amendment.

Summary: The Senate considered a broad environmental bond bill with amendments touching climate resilience, coastal infrastructure, housing, plastics, wildlife protection, and public health. Early in the debate, Senator Keenan withdrew an amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program, explaining that the program had been enacted without funding and that he hoped to secure money through the budget process instead. The Senate then adopted his amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packaging. The chamber also debated and rejected a Republican amendment to remove the paper bag fee; supporters argued the 10-cent charge would burden working families, while opponents said it was a necessary environmental measure. The amendment failed on a standing vote, 5-10. Several environmental and coastal amendments were adopted, including measures on ocean acidification and nutrient pollution, a statewide carbon sequestration goal that includes salt marshes and seagrasses, a study of banning polystyrene, restrictions on rodenticides with local control and emergency-use exceptions, and indoor air quality improvements. Senators also approved amendments to create a Massachusetts Climate Bank, establish a trust fund and on-site housing for the Manuel F. Corrella State Forest on Martha’s Vineyard, increase the Douglas State Forest entry fee from $1 to $2, and clarify procedures and oversight for housing priority projects. Some proposals were withdrawn, including a special commission on resilient urban coasts and a conservation commission proposal, while others were rejected, including a local-priority housing confirmation amendment and a warrantless-entry amendment that raised Fourth Amendment concerns. The Senate also adopted a series of coastal resilience and permitting amendments, including streamlined permitting for urban coastal projects, a pilot for nature-based solutions, dredging and sand placement in general permits, and a Salisbury Beach trust fund clarification. A New Bedford state pier redevelopment amendment and a harbor protection amendment were adopted, as were amendments related to public and private water utility reporting and equitable representation. The session concluded with notice that only two amendments remained before a roll call, followed by an adjournment in memory of James A. Jim Sheets, former Quincy mayor and educator.

Transcript Highlights:

• Collins, Commonwealth Conservation Commission. The Senator from First Suffolk, Mr. Collins.
• Conservation Commission. The Senator from First Suffolk, Mr. Collins.
• Amendment 335, Commonwealth Conservation Commission, was drafted to try to mitigate a problem that we
• Mark, Massachusetts Climate Bank. The question comes on adoption of the amendment.
• EEA to require regional water conservation measures during a declared drought, and it's important to

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> wouldn't provide those same conservation wouldn't provide those same conservation record<01:30:12.239
• </c><01:32:38.320><c> measures</c> ability to provide conservation measures ability to provide conservation
• </c><01:33:50.719><c> good</c> Belong To The Nature Conservancy good Belong To The Nature Conservancy
• </c> they said um propose conservation they said um propose conservation approaches<01:34:39.080><c>
• </c><01:35:43.960><c> commissions</c> Association of conservation commissions Association of conservation

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• It blocks a lower-impact food option that conserves land, water, and wildlife.
• It blocks a lower-impact food option that conserves land, water, and wildlife.
• Currently, many districts—most, in fact—hire an investment banking firm to assist them in assembling
• We took a look at all the bonds issued between 2015 and 2025 and the average investment banking fees,
• The average investment banking fees paid by school districts who did use a municipal advisor was $4.53

Transcript Highlights:

• There isn't private funding available for these through banks.
• It's super conservative and not risk-based in practice.
• It's super conservative and not risk-based in practice.
• All right, calling up our next panel, we have Darcy Nautamaker with Washington Conservation Action and
• My name is Darcy Nautamaker with Washington Conservation Action. Thanks for the opportunity today.

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Model Toxics Control Act (MOTCA) and related cleanup programs. Department of Ecology staff described how MOTCA and the hazardous substance tax fund cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and other environmental work across state agencies, but warned that forecasted revenues have fallen while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require spending reductions to stay solvent this biennium, and that further cuts may be needed if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup process and the scale of the problem, noting more sites are being discovered each year than are being cleaned up. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency said its dedicated petroleum-tax-funded accounts remain stable, and highlighted its newer financial assurance and heating oil loan/grant programs, while noting concerns about equity for small property owners facing large cleanup liens. Practitioners and stakeholders then offered differing views on how MOTCA should work. One cleanup attorney argued the program has become too slow, expensive, and process-heavy, and urged a more risk-based, collaborative approach with less reliance on conservative assumptions. Environmental and community advocates countered that MOTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, especially in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods that bear disproportionate toxic burdens; they urged stronger funding, tighter scrutiny of tax exemptions and budget diversions, and more accountability for stormwater spending. Port and city representatives emphasized that MOTCA grants are critical for large brownfield and waterfront cleanup projects that support redevelopment, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can stall projects and jeopardize existing commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation on wildfire mitigation plans, captive insurance, securitization, and the wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan PUD described extensive mitigation work including vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI cameras, weather stations, and partnerships on forest-health projects, and asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. Puget Sound Energy described similar investments across its service territory, including undergrounding, tree wire, sensors, cameras, weather stations, drones, and public safety power shutoffs, and said wildfire is its top risk. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner summarized a 2022 utility liability market study and a 2025 wildfire mitigation work group, recommending restored community resilience funding, clearer wildfire risk information for property owners, and a grant program based on recognized home-hardening standards. Committee members asked about insurance cancellations, neighborhood-level risk, and whether utilities’ or insurers’ maps are used; the commissioner’s office said insurers generally use their own data and that Washington’s FAIR Plan remains small compared with other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Banke, for your patience. And this will be great to brief us on the bill.
• Seeing none, welcome Senator Banke. Thank you, Mr.
• Thank you, Senator Banke. Any questions for the prime sponsor?
• Seeing none, welcome Senator Banke. Thank you, Mr.
• Thank you, Senator Banking. Any questions for the prime sponsor?

Summary: The committee held public hearings on six bills. SB 6081 would protect sex designation information and related records from public disclosure, limit sharing of such information by the Department of Licensing and Department of Health, and allow denial of records requests when disclosure could cause harm or disenfranchisement. The sponsor and many supporters, including transgender Washingtonians, privacy advocates, and allied organizations, said the bill would close a privacy gap and reduce doxing, harassment, and targeting; one witness opposed it on grounds of record accuracy, law enforcement, and concerns about sports and public safety. No vote was taken. SB 5902 would update voter notification and address-change procedures by allowing more flexible forms of voter registration updates, reducing mailed notices in some automatic registration situations, and expanding electronic communication options. The sponsor and county auditors said it would improve efficiency, reduce confusion, and save counties money; testimony was generally supportive. The hearing then moved to SB 6034, which would codify the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs as a cabinet-level agency and require ongoing training and reporting on government-to-government relations with tribes. The sponsor and tribal representatives supported the bill as a technical fix and a commitment to tribal sovereignty, and no action was taken. SB 6035 would require regular county and state meetings with tribes on election access and authorize an electronic ballot return portal for certain voters, including military, overseas, disabled, and some tribal voters. Supporters said it would improve access and collaboration, while the Secretary of State, Verified Voting, and others raised cybersecurity and secret-ballot concerns about the electronic portal; several witnesses also opposed that portion while supporting tribal outreach and drop boxes. SB 5892 would centralize requests for voter registration database records through the Secretary of State and make unauthorized disclosure of protected voter data a felony; supporters framed it as protecting voter privacy and resisting federal overreach, while opponents argued it would hinder voter-roll maintenance and transparency. Finally, SB 5973 would ban pay-per-signature compensation for initiative and referendum signature gathering and require 1,000 supporting signatures before a ballot title is issued; supporters said it would reduce fraud, misleading tactics, and ballot-title shopping, while opponents called it an added barrier to direct democracy. The committee heard extensive testimony on all bills, but the transcript does not show any votes or executive action taken during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The area along the banks of the river was heavily overgrown.
• And the function of a state park really is to provide conservation-based public outdoor recreational
• And the function of a state park really is to provide conservation-based public outdoor recreational
• Our bill requires conservation-based public outdoor recreational uses...
• And I also think that the program is voluntary for banks.

Summary: The Florida Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness for sexual assault survivors, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a memorial proclamation for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special-order bills, with senators also briefly discussing the session’s pace and thanking staff and colleagues for their work. The first major bill, on driving and boating offenses, was amended and passed 37-0. As amended, it increases penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide/vessel homicide offenses, and adds notice requirements and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. Senators also passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers 37-0, requiring Medicaid managed care plans to offer more after-hours and holiday access and ensuring more primary care appointment availability outside regular business hours. The Senate then passed a major condominium and cooperative associations bill, also 37-0, after extensive debate and multiple amendments. The measure extends deadlines for structural integrity reserve studies, adds flexibility for reserve funding and budgeting, tightens rules for managers and inspectors, limits certain requirements to buildings of three or more habitable stories, and extends the rescission period for condo purchases. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s sponsors for years of work responding to post-Surfside safety and affordability concerns. The longest and most contentious item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendment petition procedures. Sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse in the citizen initiative process by tightening circulator rules, requiring faster submission of signed petitions, adding voter notification, increasing penalties, and shifting costs to sponsors. Opponents argued it would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizens to qualify initiatives. The chamber adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the petition-circulator threshold, volunteer protections, submission timing, invalid-signature investigation thresholds, and notice/cure provisions, while debate continued over whether the overall package would protect election integrity or suppress citizen-led amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• They make their dens along the the banks of the acequias.
• So we've been able to put together a Youth Conservation Corps. We've hired seven to eight kids.
• Conservation District. It's at 2 o'clock on the fourth Thursday of every month.
• And it's at the Soil and Water Conservation District. I also wanted to...
• We've had some setbacks due to funding from the Soil and Water Conservation.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs