Transcript Highlights:

• HB 523 by Harrison relating to the authority of the legislator, courts, and the governor and other state
• military service credit in the Employees Retirement System of Texas, referred to the Committee on Pensions
• HR 36 by Bella Coop proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislators set the lower limit
• Metcalf proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislators to set a lower limit on the
• HJR 54 by the Speaker proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing legislative action at any time

Summary: The House met for first reading and referral of a large number of bills and joint resolutions, with no substantive debate on the measures themselves. The filings covered a broad range of topics, including agency rulemaking and regulatory deference, occupational licensing reciprocity, business entities, eviction procedures, higher education, public education, health care, elections and voting procedures, criminal justice, property tax and appraisal issues, transportation, agriculture, energy, and local government authority. Several proposals also addressed constitutional amendments on matters such as Medicaid expansion, property tax limits, quorum and special-session rules, voting citizenship proof, parental rights, reproductive autonomy, and state funding allocations. Many of the measures focused on education, public health, and election administration. Examples included bills on financial literacy in schools, school nurses and librarians, student meal debt policies, suicide prevention notices, menstrual products, and community-based learning programs, as well as election-related bills on voter registration, disability access, ballot corrections, political advertising, and voting equipment or procedures. Other notable bills dealt with housing and property issues, including evictions, homestead tax exemptions, and land ownership, along with criminal justice measures involving sentencing, juror challenges, trafficking-related nondisclosure, and firearm reporting or transfer restrictions. The House also referred a set of resolutions to the Local and Consent Calendars Committee. At the end of the proceedings, Mr. Bell moved that the House adjourn until 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in memory of James Edward Cook of Eustace, Texas. There was no objection, and the House adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> additional legislative approval. additional legislative approval.
• . pension. pension.
• </c> And the buying power of their pension And the buying power of their pension has<02:43:16.720><c>
• </c> liquidate it without legislative liquidate it without legislative authorization. authorization.
• </c> whether or not we have legislative whether or not we have legislative approval<04:36:37.680><c>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I'm glad there'll be a record of my opposition to this hateful legislation. Thank you.
• This legislation is clear. Let's remove the sunset and protect our children. Thank you, Mr.
• Again and again and again and again, we are literally enshrining, codifying into legislation, into law
• Again and again and again and again, we are literally enshrining, codifying into legislation, into law
• fund. ...and she was concerned about receiving notices about her blind pension fund.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by a 119-0 vote. Members then used personal privilege remarks to recognize a 40th wedding anniversary, honor Sherry Anderson for her service to the House, and observe Black History Month with a tribute to former Senator Yvonne Starks-Wilson. The chamber also welcomed several guest groups, including representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, the Festus girls cross-country team, the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce Leadership Conference, and advocates connected to the blind pension fund. The main floor debate centered on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2033, 1608, 1672, and 1854, which would remove the sunset from the SAFE Act and continue restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. Supporters argued the bill protects children, citing concerns about puberty blockers, hormones, surgery, and evolving medical guidance; opponents said it targets transgender youth, interferes with family and medical decisions, and misstates the science. After extended debate, the previous question was adopted 102-45, and the combined bill package passed 102-40. House Bill 1847, creating the Dental Licensure Compact, also passed 138-10 after questions about reciprocity, data sharing, and state sovereignty. The House then passed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1866, which bars peace officer licensure for applicants whose certification was revoked or suspended and for non-citizens, by a 101-36 vote after debate over citizenship, military service, and law enforcement standards. House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1908 and 2337 passed 147-0; the sponsor described it as protecting women and children in abusive situations and addressing legal responsibility in marriage. House Bill 1961, allowing temporary dietitian licenses and a compact for interstate practice, passed 137-8. House Bill 2180, changing Department of Revenue and blind pension notice delivery methods and allowing electronic notices, passed 146-0 and was described as both a service improvement and a cost saver. House Bill 2591, updating speech-language pathologist licensure to allow out-of-state training and practice in Missouri, passed 144-0. The House then announced upcoming committee meetings, a Scouting America Eagle Scout recognition, an America 250 celebration event, and a Labor Caucus meeting before adjourning until Monday, February 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:45:58.560><c> plans</c> what makes pension plans what makes pension plans work<01:46:01.040><
• </c><01:46:30.119><c> application</c> working on our pension application working on our pension application
• </c> significantly higher amounts of pension significantly higher amounts of pension benefits going<02
• are</c> legislation our pension benefits are legislation our pension benefits are determined<02:02:50.239
• We’ve shown that NHRS provides a modest pension amount.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• force</c> This bill is a result of the AI task force, and Representative Josh Bray has mirrored legislation
• We presented to the Public Pension Oversight Board a few weeks ago. It was very well received.
• The legislation simply permits the city to set a different base incentive amount for appointed officials
• The legislation simply permits the city to set a different base incentive amount for appointed officials
• The legislation simply permits the city to set a different base incentive amount for appointed officials

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:12 SB 4 (Sen. Mays Bledsoe): 01:34 SB 58 (Sen. Webb): 04:53 SB 117 (Sen. Madon): 07:40 SB 121 (Sen. Wheeler): 10:52 SB 237 (Sen. Howell): 13:09 SB 71 (Sen. Boswell): 18:54 SB 174 (Sen. Nunn): 38:18 SB 176 (Sen. Nunn): 40:54 SB 183 (Sen. Nunn): 42:31 Adjournment: 49:51, 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sen. Bledsoe, which would create a risk-based AI governance framework for state government and address AI-generated misinformation in campaigns and elections. The sponsor said the bill came from the AI task force and is intended to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible use of AI while distinguishing between internal and external systems. The committee took a roll call vote and reported the bill out 7-0. The committee then heard Senate Bill 58, sponsored by Sen. Webb, which would allow Kentucky Retirement System benefits to be designated to a Special Needs Trust for a beneficiary. Webb said the bill would help families of special-needs children preserve benefits for supplemental needs such as adaptive equipment, technology, and medical or dental care not covered by government programs. He said retirement systems had provided no-impact letters, and the bill passed 7-0. Members also approved Senate Bill 117, which would let cities adjust incentive payments for training by appointed and elected city officials and remove the statutory minimum from ordinance requirements, and Senate Bill 121, which would authorize county judges to contract with rescue groups to deal with wild horse herds in rural areas. SB 117 passed 10-0 and SB 121 passed 10-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 71, as amended by a committee substitute, dealing with local library board appointments. Sen. Boswell said the bill was a compromise but that he preferred removing KDLA from the process entirely; library representatives opposed the committee substitute and said they wanted KDLA out of the selection process. Several senators expressed conditional support but said they wanted further changes, and the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill out after a roll call vote with 10 yeas and 1 pass, with members noting they expected further floor amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Janice Somali, legislative advocate with AFSCME California. We're proud co-sponsors of AB 2499.
• widely held through pensions, 401(k)s, and other savings vehicles across the state.
• At the end of the day, it also makes California... ...who rely on those pension funds.
• And so I know that there might be growing pains in implementing the legislation from last year.
• Since then, dozens of legislative offices have reached out asking when constituents can apply.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• The first is the fifth and final year of their pension software upgrade for $2 million.
• Add $227,300 for enhancement one for a pension software upgrade.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services.
• You also see the addition of legislative technology in the list of programs there.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee began with recognition of two outgoing pages, who described their experiences working at the Capitol and their plans for college and law school. The committee then received a general fund budget update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who explained the green sheet, noted that the governor’s enhancement requests are effectively larger because of prior cuts, and highlighted policy bills tied to budget reductions, including House Bill 622 for IDLA and Senate Bill 1312 for Medicaid. Senator Wintrow asked about how agencies already filled out on the budget sheet could still be adjusted, and LaHosette said an agency would need to be added to the agenda before a motion could be made. The committee then acted on several budgets. It approved a $17,800 reimbursement to the Military Division for hazardous materials costs, but rejected a larger Military Division enhancement package after debate over restoring the State Education Assistance Program for guardsmen and concerns about budget process and ending balances. The committee approved Percy’s $2.6 million dedicated-funds request for pension software, continuity planning, and replacement items. It also approved the Division of Veterans Services budget, including new equipment, replacement items, federal IT hardware, and reappropriation authority for veterans’ home construction and renovation funds. A proposed intent language item for the Division of Veterans Services, directing the legislature to add $36,200 ongoing in fiscal year 2028 for cemetery maintenance, failed after members said it could not bind a future legislature and that the intent was only to signal future attention. The committee then approved the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired enhancement request and accepted language directing the agency to prioritize site restoration services. It also approved a small Vocational Rehabilitation lease increase for the Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and later approved the State Tax Commission’s $765,300 supplemental for federal tax conformity implementation, along with a larger enhancement package for property tax education, GenTax automation, personnel, replacement items, seasonal employees, and OITS hardware. The committee accepted language restricting one Tax Commission item to fast tax collection vendor payments and requiring any unused amount to revert to the general fund. Finally, the committee adopted technical corrections to previously approved maintenance bill language for the Legislature and the State Board of Education, including fixes to transfer authority and year references. The chair announced that the committee would hear budget presentations for the Department of Water Resources and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission on Monday, with no votes scheduled, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This tasks a working group with recommending new legislative and regulatory changes needed to address
• liabilities that are a hindrance for future budgets of the Commonwealth, most notably the unfunded pension
• conference report proposes to use $599 million from excess capital gains to pay down the unfunded pension
• the conference committee report include the aforementioned excess capital gains for the unfunded pension
• the conference community report include the aforementioned excess capital gains for the unfunded pension

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• permission of the primary sponsor, I would move to be added as a co-sponsor to several pieces of legislation
• Senate Bill 70, an act relating to the Public Pension Oversight Board. Senator Hickden.
• Bill 70, an act relating to<00:21:57.120><c> the</c><00:21:57.280><c> public</c><00:21:57.600><c> pension
• </c> to the public pension oversight board. to the public pension oversight board.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:57:37.280><c> I</c> not our top goal here as legislators, I not our top goal here as legislators
• </c> a little bit about legislative a little bit about legislative priorities.<01:17:57.199><c> First
• I, for clarification, Kentucky already exempts pensions, either government or private, or state pensions
• I, for clarification, Kentucky already exempts pensions, either government or private, or state pensions
• I know, Lance, you're very familiar with that. state pensions uh for anyone making state pensions uh

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August minutes, and heard a brief announcement from Senator Richardson about the Missing in America Project interring unclaimed veterans’ remains at the Western Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville. He read the names of several veterans being laid to rest with military honors, and the chair thanked the volunteers involved in the effort. The main presentation was an update on Kentucky’s urban search and rescue program from the Department of Military Affairs and Kentucky Emergency Management. Officials said the program is being built around two regional task force hubs, a helicopter aquatic rescue team, an incident support team, and a rescue aid fund for local search and rescue units. They reported that the $8.3 million appropriated for the program in the 2025 budget was fully executed, that $482,670 of the rescue aid fund went to 29 local teams, and that $493,592 has already been allocated in the current year to 36 teams. They also described warehouse and equipment purchases, staffing with full-time and part-time personnel, and a new training site on state property for collapsed-structure and multi-agency exercises. Officials said the program has already been used in recent disasters, including flood response and urban search and rescue operations in several parts of the state, and claimed the effort has impacted more than 1,500 citizens through rescues, evacuations, and related assistance. They said the helicopter aquatic rescue team is fully operational, the task force roster should be finalized by January, incident support should be online by April, and the full program should be deployable by June 30 or July 1, 2026. Members asked about statewide response times, K-9 search capabilities, and the long-term cost of the program, including concerns about reliance on federal matching funds. The presenters said K-9 assets will be part of the task force, that pre-positioning during forecasted storms can reduce response times significantly, and that they would provide more detailed budget information later.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I pray for each of these individual legislators and for them collectively as a legislative body
• in the And for them collectively as a legislative body in the final days of this legislative session
• Madam Speaker, I think you were making another legislator really...
• Also rising in support of this legislation.
• Also rising in support of this legislation.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2140 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2343 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2495 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2636 , HB2192 , HB2262 , HB2298 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2442 , HB2593 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2095 , HB2157 , HB2225 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1634 , HB1707 , HB2361 , HB2389 , HB2410 , HB2468 , HB2521 , HB2619 , HB2720 , HB1295 , HB1591 , HB2092 , HB2168 , HB2176 , HB2248 , HB2255 , HB2281 , HB2438 , HB2590 , HB2610 , HB2650 , HB2685 , HB1526 , HB1960 , HB2236 , HB2364 , HB2416 , HB1073

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior day’s minutes, received a Senate message that Senate Bill 5489 had passed the Senate, and then took up several House bills on second and third reading. The main debate centered on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2442, which would give local governments more flexibility to use certain local tax tools for public health clinics, housing, veterans’ assistance, and related purposes. Members offered and voted on multiple amendments, including proposals to require voter approval for tax increases and to strip out or narrow several tax authorizations; some amendments were adopted, including technical and limiting changes, while others were rejected. The bill ultimately passed the House 53-44. The House then passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1295, a literacy bill aimed at expanding evidence-based reading instruction and teacher training. Members described it as a long-overdue effort to improve reading outcomes, with supporters citing low grade-level reading proficiency and the need for scientifically based methods; a technical grammar amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 96-1. The chamber also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2636, creating a steering committee and JLARC review process to examine school district regulations and unfunded mandates, with broad support and no opposition in the final vote. Other measures passed included Substitute House Bill 2650, making administrative changes to local tax notification and effective-date procedures, and Second Substitute House Bill 2590, which exempts limited equity cooperatives from certain common-interest-community requirements to support affordable housing. House Bill 2610 also passed, allowing nonprofit housing providers to use property for interim community purposes without losing tax benefits, and Substitute House Bill 2343 passed unanimously to require publicly operated facilities to follow the same water-quality discharge rules as private facilities, prompted by concerns about nitrate contamination linked to a state game farm in Centralia. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating AI companion chatbots; amendments added public disclosure of crisis referrals, but a proposal to remove the private right of action failed. The bill passed 69-28 after supporters emphasized child safety and opponents raised concerns about litigation and privacy. The House then adjourned to caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a horrible piece of legislation and we should be voting no on this.
• Now, Madam Speaker, it is hard for me as a legislator that lives three hours away to be away from my
• A $4 billion raid of law enforcement officers' and firefighters' pension?
• Good budgets don't raid pensions, Mr. Speaker, and an unconstitutional... Don't raid pensions, Mr.
• One other element that's important to note with this piece of legislation.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm inviting every legislator to join me in this foundational principle.
• So clearly we've touched a nerve with this legislation because it does in fact do something. Dr.
• I don't think it's controversial that we, as legislators in the state of Oklahoma, when we're prioritizing
• He's apparently a glutton for punishment and loves to watch and stay engaged in the legislative process

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, voter registration, voter eligibility, felony disenfranchisement, restoration of voting rights, formerly incarcerated, reentry, parole, probation, supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, the legislation makes clear children who are American citizens...
• So again, the legislation makes clear children who are American citizens continue to be eligible.
• I'm going to be brief in my advocacy points for this piece of legislation.
• Speaker for carrying this legislation. Thank you for your debate. And I thank Mr.
• Speaker for carrying this legislation. Thank you for your debate. Mr.

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, voter registration, voter eligibility, felony disenfranchisement, restoration of voting rights, formerly incarcerated, reentry, parole, probation, supervision

Summary: The House convened with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including the Duncan Girls Golf Team, the Doctor of the Day, and the Nurse of the Day. Members also made personal announcements and committee meeting reminders before moving to legislation. The main floor action centered on House Bill 4422, which would require applicants for SNAP and TANF to be U.S. citizens and use the SAVE system to verify immigration status. Supporters argued it would protect taxpayer dollars, enforce the law, and reduce improper benefits use; opponents said it would deter eligible families, especially children in mixed-status households, from seeking aid and would not address DHS error rates or budget problems. After extended debate, the House passed HB 4422 by roll call vote, 18-0. The House then considered House Bill 4423, a similar measure applying the same citizenship-verification concept to Medicaid through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Debate repeated many of the same arguments about fiscal responsibility, eligibility, children’s access to benefits, and immigration enforcement. HB 4423 also passed by roll call vote, 18-0. The chamber then moved to announcements and adjourned until Monday, March 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one, debt issuance based on legislative authorization.
• And I'll also brag that El Paso's firemen and police pension fund.
• The Chair calls James Kessler, Analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. 233 Thank you.
• State Preservation Board, and I'm with the Legislative Budget Board.
• However, I am eligible for retirement and I intend to retire after the legislative session.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:37.840><c> been</c> been eligible had this legislation been been eligible had this legislation
• </c><00:26:14.600><c> work</c> their um work from their pension work their um work from their pension
• </c><00:55:16.079><c> the</c><00:55:16.200><c> doj</c> recommended legislation the doj recommended legislation
• </c><01:48:20.920><c> you'll</c> zoning statutes um so legislation you'll zoning statutes um so legislation
• </c> involves recommending leg legislation involves recommending leg legislation yeah<04:24:39.279><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 216, which Representative Carol Maguire described as a fix to a workers’ compensation/retirement “glitch.” The bill would remove the current limit that only one year of workers’ compensation time can be credited as retirement service time. Maguire argued the limit is arbitrary and affects only a very small number of grievously injured workers, while committee members asked about the fiscal impact, available data, and whether the change could affect workers’ compensation rates or incentives. Mark Kavar of the New Hampshire Retirement System said Labor could not provide data on how many people exceed a year on weekly indemnity benefits, so the fiscal note used a conservative estimate that could be scaled down; he also explained that workers’ comp is not earnable compensation, which is why service credit stops after a year, and noted that many long-term cases move into disability retirement or lump-sum settlements. The committee closed the hearing, entered executive session, and voted ought to pass on HB 216 by a 13-0 roll call, sending it to consent and noting it would also go to Finance. The committee then acted on House Bill 85, adopting Amendment 0037 and then voting ought to pass as amended by another 13-0 roll call. The bill was described as allowing second-year respiratory therapy students to work under supervision using the skills they have already learned, with support from the Hospital Association and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 267, the animal chiropractors bill. Members said the bill had been approved previously but was vetoed because of a defect; the problem has now been corrected, and the bill is intended to reduce delays caused by requiring veterinary referrals before chiropractors can treat animals. The committee voted ought to pass 13-0 and placed the bill on consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is moving through states, and we all know that good legislation takes time.
• The legislative body is supposed to pass good legislation that represents the will of the constituents
• The legislative body is supposed to pass good legislation that represents the will of the constituents
• The legislative body is supposed to pass good legislation that represents the will of the constituents
• As legislators, you are not removed from the consequences of this bill.

Bills: SB1047 , SB1365 , SB1474 , SB1618 , SB1620

Committee: Senate Military Affairs and Border Security

Keywords: National Guard, active duty, combat, Arizona, declaration of war, state law, military service, property tax, exemptions, veterans, disabilities, widows and widowers, Arizona Revised Statutes, immigration enforcement, local law enforcement, federal cooperation, law enforcement training, public safety, military affairs, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move we go to that order of business: introduction of legislation.
• . ...offices looking to meet their representatives and legislators.
• biennium equally between two regular legislative sessions, not to exceed 4, Legislative biennium equally
• session and the permanent legislative committees and the legislative department.
• And with that, I would... ...and the permanent legislative committees and the legislative department.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation helps law enforcement with staffing and saves taxpayer money.
• ><c> enforcement</c> This legislation helps law enforcement This legislation helps law enforcement with
• A member then asked about non-hazardous duty pay and whether the issue was pay or pension.
• </c><00:48:52.840><c> system</c> But whether you're in the pension system But whether you're in the pension
• legislation? legislation?

Bills: HB339

Committee: Joint Local Government

Keywords: Civil Air Patrol, CAP, emergency leave, job protection, employment discrimination, leave of absence, volunteer service, emergency response, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, state employee leave, military leave, public employees, local government employers, reinstatement rights, seniority protection, unpaid leave, Meeting Start 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:14 Discussion of Local Law Enforcement Issues 00:03:08 Discussion of Civil Air Patrol Employment Protections 00:50:46 Adjournment 01:06:07, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we first started this process of talking about property tax reform, we talked about the Blind Pension
• when the Department of Social Services came up and we got to the line items that included the Blind Pension
• And right now, the Blind Pension Fund, it's stipulated that they can get a half of a percent to three
• And if you do, that eliminates you from being able to receive this pension.
• billions of dollars into that pot, and I would contend that the 3,000 people who are drawing this pension

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform met to hear public testimony on House Bill 3342 and House Bill 3354. HB 3342, sponsored by Rep. Matteson, would prevent tax levies adopted before January 1, 1975 from being applied to personal property tax, with the sponsor arguing that personal property taxation on motor vehicles and similar property was not part of earlier voter-approved levies. Members questioned how the bill would work in practice, whether it should instead remove vehicles from assessment entirely, and what property classes would be affected. The sponsor said he was focused on class four personal property, especially motor vehicles, but was open to refining the language. No one testified in support, opposition, or for information, and no vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 3354, sponsored by Chair Taylor, which would reduce the Blind Pension Fund levy from 3 cents to 0.0275. Taylor said the fund’s participant numbers are declining while reserves have grown, that the department agreed the lower rate would still be sufficient, and that he wanted to keep the fund lean while preserving a cushion. Members asked about how the levy is calculated, whether it fluctuates with assessments, and whether excess funds could be transferred to public education as contemplated by the constitution. There was also discussion about the bill’s decimal wording and a possible drafting amendment to clarify the rate. No witnesses testified in favor, opposition, or informationally, and the hearing on HB 3354 was concluded without a committee vote.