Transcript Highlights:

• THE BILL ALSO SUGGESTS A NEED FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY BUT OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS ALREADY ACCOUNTABLE
• I HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
• COULD YOU THINK SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE.
• SOME PEOPLE HERE TALKED ABOUT PRIOR COURT CASES.
• IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is pro-accountability.
• It is pro-accountability. pro-accountability. pro-accountability. and<00:21:09.679><c> ensures</c><00
• And in the court case U.S. v.
• And in the court case U.S. v.
• </c> still alive and well in juvenile court. still alive and well in juvenile court.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard testimony on two immigration-enforcement bills: HB 1886 HD1 and HB 2540 HD1. HB 1886 would limit state and federal collaboration in immigration enforcement, require visible identification and restrictions on facial coverings for law enforcement officers, and create offenses for improper masking, lack of identification, and unauthorized civil immigration interrogation, arrest, or detention. HB 2540 would also limit state and federal collaboration, require law enforcement agencies to adopt and publicly post written civil immigration enforcement policies, prohibit stops or arrests based solely on immigration status, and restrict state and county participation in civil immigration enforcement in certain places. Most testimony supported both measures. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and several private individuals said the bills would increase transparency, accountability, and community trust, and would help protect constitutional rights and reduce fear among immigrants and other community members. Several testifiers emphasized Hawaii’s history and the need to keep local law enforcement separate from federal immigration enforcement, while others said the bills would help people feel safer going to court, school, work, or public protests. A retired police officer also supported visible identification and uniform standards for officers, including federal agents operating in Hawaii. A few testifiers opposed the use of masked or unidentified officers and argued that local police should not be diverted from ordinary public safety duties to immigration enforcement. One ACLU witness noted that the federal government has increasingly used local and state agencies to expand immigration enforcement, and said the task-force provisions in the bills are important to prevent blurred lines between agencies. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the meeting provided, but it recorded very large numbers of supportive testimonies for both bills, with only a small number in opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• for court interpreters.
• for court interpreters.
• As for the motor vehicle account funded departments, As for the motor vehicle account funded departments
• account before you in the May Revision.
• The Supreme Court just gutted the Voting Rights Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next case I want to mention briefly is a 1989 US Supreme Court case... ...is a 1989 US Supreme Court
• Okay, that has happened in courts around the country. I don't want... courts around the country.
• Various cases have gone up through the US Supreme Court where the court has gone through their analysis
• So if an alleged victim and the court...
• instead of increasing accountability.

Bills: SB156 , SB134 , SB108 , SB47 , SB88 , SB89 , SB106 , SB18 , SB9 , HB38 , HB54

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:13.840><c> in</c> prosecuted in an individual Court in prosecuted in an individual Court in
• Looking at line 10, the court still has, um, how would the court exercise this discretion?
• </c> not all of a sudden flood the courts not all of a sudden flood the courts with<00:46:06.680><c>
• This is just asking for us to be able to get into court. question the court will have to question the
• </c><01:13:01.600><c> to</c> to be able to get back into court to to be able to get back into court to

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• accountability accountability where<00:08:20.680><c> they</c><00:08:20.840><c> matter</c><00:08:21.080
• </c> reporting and accountability. reporting and accountability.
• /c><00:23:32.800><c> funds</c><00:23:33.160><c> as</c> accounts or other trust funds as accounts or other
• </c> it was my understanding was that a court it was my understanding was that a court would<00:34:31.520
• </c> Um for a case manager and a senior court Um for a case manager and a senior court operations<00:

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a one-to-one accounting.
• It is not at the level which provides Secretary: that level of accounting, a dollar for dollar accounting
• If the legislature's held accountable by the courts, PED's now being held accountable Senator Trujillo
• : By the courts, school boards need to be held accountable.
• And if the courts are mandating it on us...

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court.
• Court. Court.
• </c> accountability across key sectors. accountability across key sectors.
• </c> those court orders. those court orders.
• </c> rights to disobey a court order. rights to disobey a court order.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court.
• Uh the US Supreme<01:06:48.000><c> Court</c> Supreme Court Supreme Court has has has clearly<01:06:51.839
• Let the courts decide. Okay. people sue. Let the courts decide. Okay.
• </c> in federal court. in federal court.
• </c> accountable and bad cops accountable accountable and bad cops accountable when<04:08:54.319><c>

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It addresses the problem if the Louisiana Supreme Court reverses that lower court decision.
• States expedited handling at every level, both the District Court and the Louisiana Supreme Court on
• One is in state courts, and the second one is in federal courts. Of post-conviction review.
• One is in state courts and the second one is in federal courts.
• So this just puts a deadline in place to file in state court once that occurs in federal court.

Bills: HB63 , HB91 , HB98 , HB108 , HB131 , HB151 , HB161 , HB294 , HB305 , HB310 , HB320 , HB336 , HB622 , HB789 , HB1040

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: HB63, Louisiana bail, bail bond, surety, failure to appear, FTA, bench warrant, NCIC, National Crime Information Center, criminal procedure, Article 331, defendant registry, surrender of defendant, rule to show cause, law enforcement records, pretrial release, bond forfeiture, disclosure, criminal records, witness protection

Transcript Highlights:

• And House Bill 1 alone accounts for $44.9 billion, representing 86% of the total budget.
• We utilize those dollars to account for the 750 additional waivers.
• Conservation Incentive Program Account. I see no questions.
• That set updates the references in the preamble to new accounting standards. Mr.
• , Court of Appeals, District Courts, Juvenile and Family Courts, and other courts.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 13, 2026, and considered the main budget bills for fiscal year 2026-27. Members heard a broad overview of House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill, including the governor’s proposed budget, major funding items for education, workforce, corrections, health, and economic development, and a plan to use surplus funds to pay down LASERS’ unfunded liability. The committee discussed a 29-page amendment set that shifted savings from retirement and other areas into one-time expenditures, including FEMA Katrina debt, LSU, firefighter pay raises, crime victim reparations, rehabilitation services, and additional school choice support. Questions focused on the MFP per-pupil adjustment, the crime victim reparations shortfall, LSU funding, waiver slots, and whether the bill remained at a standstill overall. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 1 favorably as amended, making it Special Order No. 1 for April 16. The committee then took up House Bill 312, the supplemental appropriations bill, which also redirected the full $144.3 million surplus payment to LASERS and used savings from MFP, Medicaid forecast changes, and other reductions to fund statewide initiatives. Those included LED, corrections, DOTD road projects, public safety, IT modernization, school safety, firefighting equipment, community and technical college workforce programs, and DCFS shortfalls. Members raised questions about mental health funding and the retirement payment strategy; the amendments were adopted and HB 312 was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 4. House Bill 313, the funds bill, was amended to make additional deposits into the State Emergency and Response Fund, Voting Technology Fund, oil and gas regulatory funds, geological storage, reading enrichment, Imagination Library, and conservation accounts; it was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 5. House Bill 314, the revenue sharing distribution bill, received amendments inserting fiscal year 2027 distribution numbers and was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 7. The committee also advanced House Bill 383, the ancillary expenses bill, which covers self-generated, dedicated, and federal funds for agencies such as Group Benefits, Risk Management, Prison Enterprises, and Technology Services; a technical amendment updated accounting-standard references, and the bill was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 6. House Bill 983, the judiciary budget, was amended with a technical date correction and reported favorably as amended; members discussed funding for judges, staff pay, FINS, and whether pending legislation affecting Orleans Parish judges would later change the budget. House Bill 1126, the legislative branch budget, was reported favorably without amendment after brief questions about the Law Institute increase, and HCR 3, the hospital stabilization formula resolution tied to Medicaid hospital reimbursements, was reported favorably and set as Special Order No. 8. The committee also made HB 983 Special Order No. 9 and HB 1126 Special Order No. 10 for April 16, authorized technical corrections on adopted amendments, and adjourned after the chair thanked members and staff for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those are foundational to accountability. Government accountability.
• And those are foundational to accountability. Government accountability starts with transparency.
• LaBriola's court case, what the court case seems to hinge on... LaBriola's court case.
• What the court case seems to hinge on was the court reached its holding that the state's compulsion of
• Clayton County, the United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, held that discrimination

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and voted on a series of bills covering child abuse reporting, firearms products liability, crime victim records, guardianship eligibility, historic monuments, animal welfare, juvenile justice, and restrictions on sex reassignment care for minors. HB 373, on the statute of limitations for violations involving required child abuse reports, passed unanimously. HB 1551, as amended, clarified that a firearm is not defective merely because it lacks optional safety features and preserved design-defect claims and nonretroactivity; after substantial testimony and debate, it passed 13-5. CS/HB 1113, expanding public-records protections for crime victims and briefly exempting law enforcement victims, passed unanimously. CS/HB 737, allowing courts more discretion in appointing guardians with prior felony convictions and adding a narrow exception for certain older convictions, also passed unanimously as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court. And of course, Dr.
• So that's why we look to the courts.
• in federal court from Judge Mark Walker, Was challenged in federal court from Judge Mark Walker.
• That's from federal court, Judge Walker. And then, um, That's from federal court, Judge Walker.
• The review of a court.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions before taking up a special order calendar of bills. Early measures included a claims bill for relief to L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which passed 34-0 after substitution from the House version, and a claims bill for the estate of Mark Legata, which passed 35-0 after the amount was reduced in the substitute. The chamber then approved CS for CS for SB 42 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, requiring investigators to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse; the sponsor described it as a fix for cases where medical evidence is overlooked, and it passed 34-0. A bill on autism education for teachers was also substituted with the House version, amended to replace the Senate language, and passed 35-0 after supportive remarks from members. The Senate next passed a land-use bill, SB 218, adjusting hurricane-related development restrictions so they continue in storm-damaged counties but expire in unaffected counties in 2026, with debate focused on local control and recovery needs; it passed 36-0. The chamber then approved several other measures with little or no opposition: a probate bill modernizing curators of estates (36-0), a Blue Ribbon Projects bill creating a framework for large planned developments with conservation set-asides, which drew extensive debate over local control, growth management, and the bill’s breadth before being temporarily postponed, a state lotteries update (36-0), a diploma requirements bill allowing Special Olympics participation to substitute for PE and clarifying marching band credit (36-0), and a naturopathic medicine licensure/regulation bill that reestablishes a licensing framework and board, which passed 33-3. The Justice Administrative Commission bill was amended to broaden membership to include a judge or senior judge and passed 37-0. The Senate also passed a public records exemption for certain local administrators and their families (31-5), a clinical laboratory personnel bill easing staffing requirements by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards (37-0), a dry needling bill clarifying occupational therapists may perform the practice (37-0), a financial disclosures bill revising gift/honoraria reporting and restoring a percentage-based reporting option via amendment (36-0), and a child welfare bill expanding when parental drug abuse can be treated as harm or neglect and allowing earlier court intervention and services (37-0). Later, the chamber took up a bill on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would prevent enforcement of foreign or religious law over the Constitution, create a due-process process for domestic terrorist designations, and bar public funds from supporting terrorism. Senators raised questions about the lack of a time limit on conduct used for designation and whether conviction is required; an amendment was then offered to remove specific references to Sharia law and the bill’s findings, with the sponsor of the amendment arguing the language stigmatized Muslim constituents and singled out Islam. The transcript cuts off during that amendment debate, so no final action on the bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• That can be decided by the courts.
• be followed in all such courts.
• </c> administration of the courts. administration of the courts.
• </c> ultimately rests with the Supreme Court. ultimately rests with the Supreme Court.
• </c> to operate as a court. to operate as a court.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the court were to evaluate...
• It could even clog up the courts.
• It says explicitly that no court in this state, not a trial court, not a court of appeals, not even the
• I trust our courts to determine.
• So why would we block people's ability to have their day in court and settle that in a Texas court?

Bills: SB 8 , HB7 , HB15 , HB265 , HCR13 , SB8 , HB7 , HB15 , HB265 , HCR13

Transcript Highlights:

• Court in Pima County.
• Court in Pima County.
• to the adult criminal court.
• court judge.
• Judge Reeves is now in family court. Previously, he was the head of juvenile court.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions recognizing judges, medical and mining guests, students, and Girl Scout Troop 6354. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of bills, with most measures receiving committee amendments and do-pass recommendations. Bills discussed included SB 1272 on the Douglas port of entry, SB 1327 on Arizona Board of Regents restrictions involving foreign countries, SB 1400 on public safety employee information, SB 1519 on off-highway vehicles, SB 1627 on unmanned aircraft, SB 1630 on AHCCCS home and community-based services and mental illness, SB 1720 on parenting time, SB 1763 on school district finances, SB 1826 on rural wayfinding signs, and SB 1827 on vertiports/advanced air mobility. Several bills drew floor amendments and brief explanations, including changes to off-highway vehicle use, drone restrictions near schools, parenting-time standards, and school finance reporting. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1272, SB 1327, SB 1400, SB 1519, SB 1627, SB 1630, SB 1720, SB 1763, and SB 1826. SB 1827 initially failed on a 15-15 vote. Members also debated SB 1111 on automatic license plate readers during a later Committee of the Whole session; supporters said it added guardrails such as warrant requirements, training, logging, and felony penalties for misuse, while opponents argued it still enabled broad surveillance and contained loopholes. The chamber adopted the Committee of the Whole report and then proceeded to third reading votes on the earlier bills. In the later session, the Senate considered SB 1111, SB 1214 on stem-cell/regenerative therapy, SB 1683 on foreign ownership/advisory limits for real property, SB 1686 on a memorial designation, and SB 1745 on local excise tax rate limits. SB 1214’s sponsor said the bill created a framework for regenerative medicine and medical tourism, while opponents said the policy was too significant for floor amendment and should be developed through stakeholder meetings. SB 1683 and SB 1745 were amended and advanced, and SB 1686 passed without amendment. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, and the Senate then took up a motion to alter the report on SB 1111 to include the Hoffman amendment and exclude the Payne amendment, with debate centered on whether the bill was a necessary surveillance safeguard or an unconstitutional mass-surveillance measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:03.840><c> verification</c> But it requires new account verification But it requires new account
• 12:29.920><c> parents</c> store accountability act puts parents store accountability act puts parents
• to the Supreme Court.
• If this funds this to the Supreme Court.
• </c> That is also true as the federal court That is also true as the federal court in<00:19:44.720><c

Bills: HB69 , HB114 , HB161 , HB69 , HB114 , HB161

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: firearms, possession, Class 1 municipalities, criminal penalties, federal law, stolen firearms, prohibited persons, HB114, Alabama Sunset Law, sunset bill, Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, dental board, dental licensing, dentist regulation, professional licensing, occupational licensing, healthcare regulation, licensure board, state agency continuation, agency sunset review

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> account</c><03:15:10.040><c> and</c><03:15:10.200><c> then</c> account closing the account and then
• and the Supreme Court.
• court.
• court.
• court.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This does not remove accountability.
• I mean, if you have a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals, you don't have a district court judge
• So you bring the removal action in the Supreme Court.
• 100 percent, we worry about accountability—but I don't see how this is a better accountability mechanism
• And the problem is you go to district court...

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Accountability and finance.
• I understand that that very good transparency and accountability provision for transparency and accountability
• This is just providing an extrajudicial outside of the court procedure because the court procedure already
• That's why prior court court cases don't matter. This is a brand new thing for these boundaries.
• Chair Hooper, held in a separate account, but the account is controlled by still by the executive branch

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions and recognitions, then moved to messages from the House and special order business. The chamber first took up House amendments to Senate Bill 628 on transportation facility designations, CS for CS for HB 1389 on affordable housing/Live Local, and CS for CS for HB 1451 on utility services. Senators asked about the naming of roadways, the Live Local changes for religious institution property and the removal of accessory dwelling unit language, and utility surcharge phase-out and reporting dates. All three measures were concurred in and passed, with votes of 31-4 on SB 628, 35-0 on HB 1389, and 30-6 on HB 1451. The Senate then considered the education package, substituting CS for CS for HB 1279 for CS for CS for SB 7038. An amendment combining provisions from several education bills was adopted, and the bill passed 36-1. The chamber also took up CS for CS for SB 484 on data centers, where the House amendment removed the Senate’s NDA prohibition, kept a 12-month limit on public-records confidentiality, added a PSC tariff filing deadline, and required an OPAGA study. Senators debated transparency, local notice, and ratepayer protections; supporters emphasized that data center energy and infrastructure costs could not be shifted to other ratepayers. The House amendment was concurred in and the bill passed 31-6. After a recess, the Senate returned to the land use and development regulations bill, substituting CS for CS for CS for HB 399 for SB 208. A proposed amendment to remove language affecting a Miami Beach Fontainebleau Hotel water park project failed, while other amendments were adopted, including a sunset provision and changes related to compost-processing facilities. The chamber then adopted an amendment preserving Miami-Dade’s urban development boundary supermajority requirement and related protections, with support framed around water, flood risk, farmland, and the Everglades. Finally, the Senate began debate on a broader amendment by Senator Martin creating a process for rural boundary property owners to seek removal or compensation without litigation; the discussion focused on property rights, county liability, and whether the proposal would affect Orange and Seminole counties, but the transcript ends before final action on that amendment.