Transcript Highlights:

• They also have quite a bit in lobbying and quite a bit in fundraising expenses as well, which I won't
• bit</c><00:34:17.679><c> in</c> it they also have quite a bit in it they also have quite a bit in lobbying
• 18.560><c> a</c><00:34:18.639><c> bit</c><00:34:18.800><c> in</c><00:34:18.919><c> fundraising</c> lobbying
• and quite a bit in fundraising lobbying and quite a bit in fundraising expenses<00:34:20.200><c> as<

Bills: HF1704 , HF1722

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• , making sure that children are able to be fully integrated in their families, in school, other activities
• , making sure that children are able to be fully integrated in their families, in school, other activities
• </c><00:03:53.159><c> and</c><00:03:53.319><c> ultimately</c> school other activities and ultimately
• school other activities and ultimately to<00:03:54.000><c> improve</c><00:03:54.360><c> long-term</c>
• This slide just shows you some of the activities that we’ll be doing.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> photography, Bruce has been an active photography, Bruce has been an active member<00:07:13.759>
• Bruce is also an active member of years.
• He was active in We Believe We Vote and active in civics and government in Stevens County.
• . activities. activities.
• Inflation, which economic activity.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, they want to use hotel tax revenue to fund hunting, golf resorts, and... ...sporting activity
• Yes, 77 agreements for renewables versus other industrial or manufacturing activities.
• These events consistently draw tens of thousands of attendees, generating significant economic activity
• When the state is using taxpayer dollars to support an event hosted by a group that actively opposes
• I'll just say that the expansion of your convention activities here is just a sacrifice I'm going to

Bills: SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills, mostly related to economic development, tax incentives, and workforce programs. Senate Bill 1534 would direct a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission on health physics education and workforce needs; resource witnesses from the Workforce Commission and Coordinating Board testified, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1553 would authorize Kerr County to impose a hotel occupancy tax for tourism-related uses, and Senate Bills 1086 and 1087 would authorize similar county hotel taxes for Children’s County and Mason County; all three bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1754, which would prohibit county and local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power wholesale, with testimony sharply divided between landowners and policy groups opposing renewable subsidies and industry representatives and some senators arguing the bill would harm clean energy investment and local decision-making; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2322, which would exempt dispatchable electric generation facilities from the JEDI program’s compelling-factor test so they could qualify for school district tax incentives; testimony was mixed, and the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 1718, which would add the NRA annual meeting to the state’s major events reimbursement program. The bill’s sponsor and NRA representatives argued the event brings substantial tourism and economic activity, while opponents said it would use taxpayer funds to subsidize an organization that opposes gun safety measures; the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events reimbursement program, with the committee substitute exempting it from the usual competitive site-selection requirement because of timing; testimony from the event organizers and Arlington tourism officials was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program at the Texas Workforce Commission to support college-and-career readiness and technical assistance in rural communities; witnesses from Texas 2036, Collegiate Edgination, and a rural school district supported it, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 913 would repeal a special requirement that Alpine dedicate at least 50% of its hotel occupancy tax to advertising and promotion, and Senate Bill 1143 would require more coordination and reporting for youth workforce programs serving disconnected young Texans; both bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. At the end of the hearing, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re not necessarily going to go lobby in Washington for things to move out of D.C. and move to Oklahoma
• They are actively engaged.
• They are actively engaged.

Committee: House Legislative Evaluation and Development Committee (LEAD)

Summary: The LEAD Committee met with the Department of Commerce to review a high-level strategic plan for Oklahoma economic development. Commerce Director Bud presented a plan centered on the state’s competitive advantages: central location and logistics, low cost of doing business, energy availability, labor force, tax environment, and partnerships with tribes, local communities, universities, and workforce organizations. He said the agency must focus on industries where Oklahoma has a “right to win,” identifying aerospace and defense, energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, and cybersecurity as priority sectors, with other sectors such as transportation logistics, automotive, finance/shared services, federal offices, bioscience, and broader IT treated as secondary or longer-term opportunities. Members asked about workforce, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, incentives, research and development, housing, and how Commerce should stay focused on its core mission. Commerce said CareerTech remains a major asset, but the state needs better coordination among agencies, universities, and workforce partners. Officials also said entrepreneurship should be encouraged within target industries, infrastructure readiness should be mapped and aligned to industry needs, and incentives should be evaluated against total cost of operations rather than compared only on percentage terms. They noted that the Incentive Evaluation Commission is comparing Oklahoma’s incentives with other states and that closing deals begins early, with the right people and partners involved from the start. The discussion also emphasized the need for stronger statewide marketing, better use of regional development staff, more robust research/data capabilities, and a stronger international strategy. Legislators raised concerns about Commerce being tasked with programs outside its core mission, and Commerce said it must administer those programs unless the Legislature changes the law, though it would like to streamline and reallocate resources where possible. The meeting ended with broad support for the strategic direction, appreciation for Commerce’s work on recent projects, and adjournment without any formal vote or action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pastor Ryu and the congregation of KCPC are active in community engagement, focusing on promoting education
• There are nearly 100 Mason students here in Richmond today for Mason lobby day.
• D-Love is a statewide branch of the Democratic Party of Virginia dedicated to activating and empowering

Transcript Highlights:

• With a $25 million appropriation, we can leverage both public and private construction activity to drive
• With a $25 million appropriation, we can leverage both public and private construction activity to drive
• that I'm also on the board of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, who does not do lobbying

Summary: The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee met on February 3 and first took up House Bill 153, the Low Carbon Construction Material Rebate Act, with a committee substitute that added an Environmental Product Declaration program and shifted administration to the Environment Department. Sponsor Representative Dixon said the bill would create rebates for buyers of lower-carbon construction materials, support local manufacturers, and reduce industrial emissions. Support came from the New Mexico Home Builders Association, Sierra Club, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Some members questioned whether the bill would actually lower housing costs or instead create future price pressure once subsidies expire, and raised concerns about rulemaking and whether some materials would be incentivized even without state help. The committee voted 7-4 to do pass the committee substitute and do not pass the original bill. The committee then heard House Bill 154, which would broaden and decouple New Mexico’s advanced energy tax credit definitions from federal law and add fusion energy and related components as eligible advanced energy products. Representative Dixon said the change would give the state more flexibility to include emerging technologies while keeping the existing credit structure and cap intact. The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, a Santa Fe fusion company, a Los Lunas economic development official, and an online fusion company all testified in support, arguing the bill would provide certainty, attract investment, and help build a local supply chain. One member suggested future consideration of nuclear fission, while another questioned whether some renewable technologies were still appropriate, but the committee ultimately voted 9-2 to do pass HB 154. House Bill 184, a technical fix to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, was then presented by Representative Small. The amendment adopted by the committee delayed the three-year moving average for distributions by one year and extended the time to use funds from two years to three years, with the sponsor saying this would better reflect the fund’s growth and give projects more time to complete. Witnesses from Western Resource Advocates, conservation districts, and Conservation Voters New Mexico supported the measure, saying it would strengthen successful outdoor, watershed, and conservation programs. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill unanimously. Finally, the committee heard House Memorial 20, which would create a study group to examine barriers to renewable energy transmission and project development. The sponsor said the goal was to bring agencies, stakeholders, and possibly courts together to identify ways to speed up renewable infrastructure while preserving environmental review and public input. Sierra Club, Western Resource Advocates, Defenders of Wildlife, and the League of Women Voters supported the memorial, but several members said it should be broadened to include all energy infrastructure or more clearly address transmission, permitting, tribal, federal, and military coordination. In response to those concerns, the sponsor asked to roll the memorial for further discussion and possible revisions rather than advancing it that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Calatayud, go ahead. that is into advocacy or community activism, particularly in higher education
• when I was at UCF as a student, I got involved with student government and specifically student lobbying
• Within Pinellas Technical College, we have over 1,200 employer partners that are part of our active job

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's put the fax machine lobby out of their misery. The same goes for PDF submission, etc.
• Anomaly detection is a technology that allows you to quickly spot unusual activities by learning what
• Of lawmakers, bureaucrats, and media that actively support the status quo, which in essence is on the

Committee: Joint Joint Economic Committee

Keywords: artificial intelligence, waste reduction, fraud prevention, government efficiency, improper payments, data reliability, oversight

Summary: The meeting was chaired by Chairman Schweikert and involved a comprehensive discussion on how to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for reducing waste, fraud, and improper payments within federal programs. Key witnesses, including Mr. Andrew Canarsa from the Council of the Inspectors General, provided insights on the potential of AI in enhancing government efficiency. The committee emphasized the importance of reliable data and thorough examination of AI application to avoid unintended consequences while addressing the estimated $162 billion in improper payments reported by the federal government. Concerns were raised regarding the recent firing of inspectors general and the impacts that could have on oversight and accountability processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, there are over 30 states actively introducing and passing legislation that will create an
• Because it's not actually barring activity by private financial institutions.
• Hill Country Institute, a faith-based Christian nonprofit, and I volunteer with the Citizens Climate Lobby

Bills: SB 21 , SB21 , SB72 , SB140 , SB262 , SB370 , SB372 , SB495 , SB627 , SB703 , SB764 , SB842

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• IN GENERAL I STARTED ALMOST 3 DECADES AGO AND THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS WERE FULL AND PACKED WITH ACTIVITY
• SOME HAVE GONE TO TAKE PHOTO OPS IN THE LOBBY.
• WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE RULES DURING THEIR INCARCERATION AND ACTIVELY TRY TO BETTER THEMSELVES

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the stakes are so high with this conversion, we are actively in communication with our partners
• Importantly, all of the active homes that were part of those FFAs were successfully ported to either
• I mean, we are actively meeting and working to come up with those solutions.
• We've reduced our lobby hours in Solano, as an example. We're focusing solely on compliance.
• We've reduced our lobby hours in Solano, as an example.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:29.200><c> in</c> while Nema is knew um more actively in while Nema is knew um more actively
• This year, PRBA is active in 15 states working on portable battery EPR legislation that addresses the
• The part that gets me is when you go into, but not including, the cost for lobbying costs associated
• </c><01:15:43.639><c> costs</c><01:15:44.040><c> ass</c> the cost for lobbying costs ass the cost for
• lobbying costs ass associated<01:15:45.280><c> with</c><01:15:45.440><c> litigation</c><01:15:46.040

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and committee members, my name is Susan Myers, and I am an active massage therapist.
• I've had an active massage license since 1986.
• In fact, we lobbied very hard against this bill. We were adamantly against this bill.
• In fact, we lobbied very hard against this bill because, and I see my friend Carter back there, we were

Bills: SB246 , SB146 , SB300 , SB301 , SB309 , SM17

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: massage therapy, licensure, health and safety standards, continuing education, establishment licensing, civil rights, sovereign immunity, damages, public body, lawsuit limitations, legal notice, child welfare, computing infrastructure, data management, Department of Health, appropriation, foster care, Indian children, cultural competency, training services

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and committee members, my name is Susan Myers, and I am an active massage therapist.
• I've had an active massage license since 1986.
• In fact, we lobbied very hard against... We were adamantly against this bill.
• In fact, we lobbied very hard against this bill because, and I see my friend Carter back there, we were

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 246, which would require licensure and inspections for massage therapy establishments. The sponsor and Regulation and Licensing Department said the bill is intended to close a gap in oversight, improve sanitation and public safety, and help address human trafficking and prostitution concerns. Supporters from the massage therapy profession and industry groups said establishment licensing would create accountability and protect legitimate practitioners, while AMTA took a neutral position but supported the rulemaking process. Several senators raised concerns about privacy, home-based businesses, and whether mobile or traveling therapists would be affected; the department said the bill would apply to establishments, not individual therapists, and that home inspections would be governed by rules. The committee voted 8-0 to give SB 246 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 300, an appropriation for CYFD computer hardware and software to improve compatibility with the national child welfare management system. The sponsor said the goal was to reduce delays and improve data sharing, especially in child welfare and ICWA-related cases. Members asked about the current system and how the funding would help, and the sponsor said the bill was aimed at better interoperability. The committee voted 8-0 to send SB 300 forward with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 146, which would amend the New Mexico Civil Rights Act. The bill and committee substitute would align the legal standard more closely with federal deliberate indifference language, reduce damages caps, shorten the statute of limitations, require 90 days’ notice, and bar double recovery under both the Civil Rights Act and Tort Claims Act. Supporters, including county and city representatives, law enforcement, AFSCME, and risk management officials, argued the changes were needed to control rapidly rising claims costs and protect public budgets. Opponents from the ACLU, civil rights, poverty, immigrant, and LGBTQ advocacy groups said the bill would weaken accountability, reintroduce qualified immunity-like protections, and make it harder for people harmed by government actors to seek justice. After a failed motion to table and a 5-5 vote on the committee substitute, the bill remained in committee and did not advance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, you mentioned that you're active in 38 other states.
• I I believe active in 38 other states.
• </c> in which you are present and and active in which you are present and and active um<00:49:16.720>
• </c> activities at their district schools. activities at their district schools.
• </c> We're not a lobbying organization.

Summary: The committee opened hearings on SB 69, including a germane amendment on school board votes to accept or reject gifts and donations, and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Prime sponsor Rep. Glenn Cordelli said the literacy program was modeled on earlier HB 671, would be funded through gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements to the governor and legislature. Members questioned changes from the earlier bill, including the move away from center-based language, the lack of a dollar threshold for school board action on donations, anonymous gifts, and whether the amendment preserved enough evaluation data. Testimony on the donation provisions raised concerns about broad language, timing, and public-meeting requirements. Rep. Timothy Han and Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association both noted that school districts already have policies and asked how the bill would work for routine donations, anonymous gifts, and situations that might require non-public discussion under right-to-know law. Wilson cited examples such as field-trip scholarships, backpack drives, and sports uniforms, and said the association was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails. Rep. Han said school boards may need to discuss some gifts in non-public session and that the bill should better address those circumstances. On the early literacy amendment, Wilson and others questioned whether the program was sufficiently developed, whether it was appropriate to rely on a primarily online model for very young children, and how it would interact with special education services and IEPs. A representative from Waterford.org, Rob Riley, testified in support, saying the program would be supplementary, adaptive, and family-engagement based, and that Waterford could provide devices and internet access for families who need them. He said the program would work alongside school districts and IEP teams rather than replace existing services. No vote was taken during the hearing; the chair said the committee would later exec the bills and try to get reports in for the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we'll discuss some of those ways in which the state could take a more active role, as opposed
• pay billions of dollars after spending decades hiding the public harm its products caused while lobbying
• pay billions of dollars after spending decades hiding the public harm its products caused while lobbying
• What I can say, though, is that there is ongoing extensive oversight of our activities by the CPUC, by
• So there is active oversight and ongoing review in a public process that includes the CPUC before those

Summary: The hearing focused on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study and its recommendations for addressing California’s wildfire risk, utility liability, and the financing of catastrophic losses. Committee members and presenters discussed the history of the wildfire fund created after the 2018 fire crisis and PG&E bankruptcy, the role of the California Earthquake Authority as fund administrator, and the report’s three broad policy pathways: continuing mitigation investments, more equitably allocating catastrophe costs, and considering expanded state involvement in catastrophe financing. Presenters emphasized that the report was intended as a neutral, stakeholder-informed analysis rather than an advocacy document, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA, CPUC, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety each described their contributions and recommendations. CEA outlined options such as risk-tolerance standards for utilities, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, confidential near-miss reporting, liability reforms, and a fast-pay facility for survivors. CPUC stressed that wildfire mitigation and liability costs are a major driver of electricity affordability problems, and said the state should broaden how wildfire recovery and mitigation are funded beyond ratepayers alone. Energy Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan oversight and recommended stronger safety reporting and stronger safety weighting in utility executive compensation. The modeling portion of the report estimated that a more durable wildfire fund could require about $36 billion in capitalization, with lower initial capital needs if risk transfer or liability reforms are used, but potentially higher ongoing premium or assessment costs. The report also examined state-backed insurer or backstop models, post-event funding mechanisms, and targeted community wildfire mitigation, which could reduce overall funding needs. Members raised concerns about the cost burden on ratepayers, the financial stability of utilities, the fairness of asking communities outside high-risk areas to pay, the role of local governments and home hardening, and whether broader climate-related liability or insurance reforms should be considered. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further committee hearings and stakeholder discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 682, Anne Arundel County alcoholic beverages golf course license and sports activity venue
• , and duties of the purpose, activities, and duties of the commission,<00:58:49.760><c> requires</c><
• So, we have a film production activity tax credit, and this makes a few revisions to that program.
• </c> now is film production is an active now is film production is an active industry,<01:09:47.359><
• It is their student lobby day, and they are here to talk to you about clean, affordable energy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, worked pretty actively during the summer and did make some specific recommendations.
• </c><00:18:10.480><c> during</c> Uh uh worked uh pretty actively during Uh uh worked uh pretty actively
• Uh, in committee, uh, the casino<00:33:05.840><c> lobby</c><00:33:06.159><c> agreed</c><00:33:06.480>
• agreed to the local option casino lobby agreed to the local option concept<00:33:07.919><c> and</c><
• </c><01:35:14.159><c> going</c> don't have any business activity going don't have any business activity

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• this piece of legislation is it's the court's responsibility not to delegate that, but to take an active
• That means the nine-gram includes the filler and active ingredients used to dilute fentanyl.
• That means the nine-gram includes the filler in an active ingredients used to dilute fentanyl.
• You know, there's been a lot of crime activity that has been reported, like rape and threats and all
• This type of judicial debate shows that courts are already actively redefining the law, which suggests

Bills: SB1039 , SB1061 , SB1068 , SB1069 , SB1099 , SB1127 , SB1148 , SB1271 , SB1426 , SB1448

Committees: House Judiciary , House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Keywords: attorney discipline, legal costs, reputation damage, state bar, court costs, fentanyl, drug offenses, narcotic drugs, criminal penalties, Arizona Revised Statutes, educational institutions, public order, disruption, concealed weapons, safety regulations, firearms, muffling devices, weapon regulations, Arizona law, public safety