Transcript Highlights:

• He mentored generations, generations of veterans and others, including me.
• He was drawn to all causes that promoted justice and fairness, with an emphasis on veterans' advocacy
• It was a super delegate, the California Democratic Party, and he was very active in Vietnam Veterans
• He mentored generations, generations of veterans and others, including me.
• With an emphasis on veterans advocacy.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled routine announcements and motions, including a request by Senator Arreguín to remove SB 239 from the inactive file for second reading. The chamber then took up SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, a resolution concerning immigration rates, which was debated briefly and placed on call before later amendments were adopted by a 29-10 vote. The Senate next considered SR 70 by Senator Pérez, commemorating the third anniversary of the Monterey Park tragedy. Senator Pérez and Senator Rubio spoke about the 11 lives lost, the injuries, the heroism of Brandon Tsay, and the need to remember the victims and support the community. The resolution passed unanimously, 39-0, after which Senator Pérez introduced Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang on the floor. The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment memories honoring Mary Gutierrez Hunter, labor activist Bob Mulholland, former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand, and Vietnamese American community leader Vu von Locke. Senators described each person’s public service, organizing work, and lasting impact on labor, veterans, local government, refugee resettlement, and community institutions. The Senate also announced the Appropriations Committee would meet shortly after adjournment and noted the next floor session would be held Monday, January 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a super delegate, the California Democratic Party, and he was very active in Vietnam Veterans
• He mentored generations, generations of veterans and others, including me.
• He was drawn to all causes that promoted justice and fairness with an emphasis on veterans advocacy.
• He mentored generations, generations of veterans and others, including me.
• With an emphasis on veterans advocacy.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled routine procedural matters, including deeming various messages and committee reports read. Senator Arreguín requested removal of SB 239 from the inactive file for second reading. The chamber then took up SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, which was presented as amended and placed on call before later receiving the amendments by a 29-10 vote. The main floor action was on SR 70 by Senator Pérez, commemorating the third anniversary of the Monterey Park mass shooting and honoring the 11 victims. Pérez and Senator Rubio spoke at length about the tragedy, the victims, the community response, and the heroism of Brandon Tsay, who disarmed the shooter. The resolution passed unanimously, 39-0. After adoption, Senator Pérez introduced Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang as a guest on the floor. The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Senators honored labor leader Mary Gutierrez Hunter, veteran and political activist Bob Mulholland, former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand, and Vietnamese American community leader Vu Von Locke, with remarks highlighting their public service, organizing work, and community impact. The Senate also announced that Appropriations would meet after session, and the desk was declared clear before recessing until the next floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the Minneapolis Veterans Home Building, $45.172 million for the Veterans Home at Hastings, and then
• City of Ottertail Veterans Memorial, $100,000.
• </c> Uh for the Martin County Veterans Uh for the Martin County Veterans Office,<00:14:53.600><c> 300,000
• ><c> Memorial,</c> City of Ottertail Veterans Memorial, City of Ottertail Veterans Memorial, 100,000.
• </c> appropriation for the Hastings Veterans appropriation for the Hastings Veterans Home.

Summary: The committee took up a large bonding bill and reviewed the final spreadsheet of capital investments. Chairs and members repeatedly thanked staff, House and Senate negotiators, and the Governor’s team for a collaborative process. The bill was described as a statewide package rather than a partisan one, with major funding for higher education asset preservation, DNR projects, public safety, transportation, the Met Council, veterans facilities, corrections, DEED/local projects, and a large water infrastructure section. House Fiscal staff and Senate fiscal staff walked through the bill line by line. Highlights included University of Minnesota and Minnesota State asset preservation, education and language immersion school funding, DNR trail and flood mitigation projects, public safety facilities, local road and bridge grants, Met Council parks and I/I grants, veterans home and armory funding, corrections projects including the Faribault vocational expansion, and many local economic development and public facility projects across Greater Minnesota and the metro. The bill also included Public Facilities Authority water and wastewater grants, housing rehabilitation funding, historical society grants, a Minnesota Zoo operating transfer, airport appropriations, and several cancellations of prior appropriations to help finance the package. Members generally praised the bill and the bipartisan work behind it. Some Republicans emphasized the one-time license fee reduction and affordability, while also saying DEED’s business development infrastructure funding was too low. Senator Nelson highlighted long-awaited transportation projects such as Highway 14 and township roads. Senator Dibble supported the transportation investments but criticized the bill for having no transit funding, calling that a major omission. No vote was recorded in the excerpt, but the discussion centered on final review and support for moving the bonding bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services, appropriating additional monies to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2027.
• The Division of Veterans Services assists...
• The Division of Veterans Services assists veterans and their families by operating the state's four veterans
• place for veterans.
• Home and renovate the Lewiston Veterans Home.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 81 by Assembly Member Ta and others, an act relating to veterans.
• a study on mental health among women veterans.
• Tragically, women veterans also experience a high rate of suicide.
• Additionally, women veterans utilize veterans' benefits at a lower rate than men.
• Women veterans are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the state.

Summary: The Assembly convened with a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long daily file of bills. Early procedural motions included a failed attempt to suspend the rules for AB 1219, followed by consideration of numerous measures on housing, veterans, education, elections, energy, wildfire prevention, public safety, and consumer affordability. Several bills drew bipartisan support and passed overwhelmingly, including AB 878 on safety accommodations for survivors of violence, AB 948 on school district facility maintenance, AB 81 and AB 88 on veterans’ mental health and student aid, AB 640 on school board fiscal training, AB 660 on housing permit timelines, AB 1048 on workers’ compensation billing disputes, AB 1119 on dual credentialing, AB 1172 on inhalable anti-seizure medication access, AB 1227 on wildfire prevention, AB 1285 and AB 696 on lithium-ion battery safety, AB 1417 on offshore wind transparency, AB 1530 on disaster recovery assistance, and AB 353 on affordable home internet. Some measures drew opposition or more divided votes, including AB 704 on sealing certain misdemeanor records, AB 1249 on early voting access, AB 1280 on thermal energy incentives, AB 1448 on offshore oil protections, AB 380 on price gouging, AB 402 on Cal Grant increases, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification, and AB 1084 on expedited gender-change and name-change court orders. The Assembly also granted reconsideration on AB 435, a child passenger safety bill, and passed it after debate on the five-step safety-seat standard. The floor debate featured recurring themes of affordability, housing, wildfire preparedness, election access, veterans’ services, and public safety. Supporters of the election bill AB 1249 argued it would simply add a Saturday early-voting option in non-VCA counties, while opponents raised concerns about verification and county staffing. AB 30, authorizing E15 gasoline in California, was presented as an urgency measure to lower fuel costs and passed unanimously on the urgency and the bill. AB 1466 on groundwater disputes was also taken up, with the author arguing it would reduce frivolous litigation and better represent all water users; the vote was 42 ayes and 17 noes. After completing the file, the Assembly recessed for lunch, later returned, and continued with additional file items, with many measures passing on strong bipartisan votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Veterans Advocacy Act of 2025. Veterans Advocacy Act of 2025.
• </c> health care for Disabled Veterans Act. health care for Disabled Veterans Act.
• </c> transformed the landscape of veteran transformed the landscape of veteran services<00:37:24.560>
• ><c> organizations</c> numerous veteran service organizations numerous veteran service organizations
• </c> abandon even more veterans like Mr. abandon even more veterans like Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gentlemen from Veteran Colquitt. Of special guests. Introduction of special guests.
• House Bill 1869 has to do with the repair of damaged headstones for veterans.
• The Veterans Commission currently has a fund for that, but it's only for those grave sites in a veterans
• The Veterans Commission would need an employee to be able to vet those applications.
• This bill came through your committee on Veterans and Armed Forces.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by a 104-0 vote. Members then spent a large portion of the session offering personal remarks and introducing guests, including the family of Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, school groups, a Boy Scout troop, a Highway Patrol commander, and community figures such as Corey Johnson and boxer Devin Alexander. There was also a moment of silence for a member’s mentor and a personal privilege statement recognizing Autism Month and the work of teachers and therapists serving autistic children. The main floor debate centered on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2481, which would tighten Missouri rules for SNAP and related public benefits by requiring proof of citizenship or lawful presence, using the federal SAVE system throughout eligibility checks, and directing the Department of Social Services to seek a waiver to steer SNAP purchases toward healthier foods. Supporters framed the bill as a matter of accountability, taxpayer stewardship, fraud prevention, and improved nutrition, while opponents argued it was unnecessary because federal law already limits eligibility, could add administrative costs, and could harm children, families in food deserts, and pregnant women who rely on programs such as Show Me Healthy Babies. An amendment offered by the gentleman from Johnson to extend the bill to MoHealthNet was adopted, and after extended debate the House invoked the previous question 91-46, then adopted and perfected the bill as amended. The House also advanced House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1869, which creates a process and fund to repair damaged veterans’ headstones in public and private cemeteries, with support from members who emphasized honoring veterans and preserving gravesites; the bill was adopted and perfected without opposition. House Bill 2927 was also moved forward; it would require settlement demands tied to extra-contractual or bad-faith insurance claims to be written, held open for 90 days, and reference the relevant statute. Supporters said it gives insurers reasonable time to evaluate large claims, while opponents said it could delay compensation for injured Missourians; it too was adopted and perfected. The House then began consideration of additional bills, including House Bills 2387 and 2480, as the session continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Is the veteran cemetery a state agency in the same way?
• <00:28:30.720><c> cemetery</c> veteran cemetery veteran cemetery that<00:28:33.679><c> was</c><00:28:
• But they it was it was veteran cemetery.
• </c> have the language for the veteran have the language for the veteran cemetery<00:28:53.919><c> in
• New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boswin<02:44:20.319

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Army veteran Wilfero Rivera.
• </c> veteran Wilfero Rivera. veteran Wilfero Rivera.
• </c> that we have to support every veteran that we have to support every veteran who<00:14:18.000><c>
• A Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, he was an advocate for veterans and for rural communities, and a man
• They researched Korean War veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• Veterans. Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Veterans Affairs.
• Veterans. Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Veterans Affairs.
• Veterans. Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Veterans Affairs.
• Kim Justice, representing Veterans Affairs.
• Kim Justice, representing Veterans Affairs.

Transcript Highlights:

• handgun license issued by another state for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans
• active and retired judicial officers for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans
• active and retired judicial officers for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans
• active and retired judicial officers for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans
• SB 1563 by Menendez relates to county jailer training for interacting with veterans and the criminal

Bills: HJR99 , HB1399 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HCR35 , SB14 , HB 12 , HB1522 , HB422 , HB675 , HB204 , HB748 , HB912 , HJR99 , HB1399 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HCR35 , HCR123 , HCR124 , HR57 , HR87 , HR111 , HR228 , HR230 , HR322 , HR624 , HR625 , HR626 , HR627 , HR628 , HR630 , HR631 , HR634 , HR635 , HR636 , HR637 , HR638 , HR639 , HR640 , HR645 , HR646 , HR648 , HR649 , HR651 , HR652 , HR653 , HR654 , HR664 , HR665 , HR668 , HR675 , HR676 , HR678 , HR679 , HR680 , HR683 , HR686 , HR688 , HR689 , HR694 , HR695 , HR697 , HR698 , HR699 , HR472 , HR622 , HR632 , HR633 , HR643 , HR655 , HR657 , HR660 , HR661 , HR662 , HR663 , HR667 , HR670 , HR674 , HR681 , HR682 , HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the eighth meeting of the 2026 session of the House Standing Committee on Veterans, Military
• It's estimated that 40% of all combat veterans are afflicted by one or more of these conditions.
• They cause severe functional impairment leading to a high rate of death and suicide, with veterans being
• </c> veterans, and depression. veterans, and depression.
• </c><00:06:30.760><c> are</c><00:06:30.880><c> afflicted</c> 40% of all combat veterans are afflicted

Committee: House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• homeowners association proxies, 2614 homeowners association payment, 2620 appropriation homeless veterans
• Yes, members, I put a flyer on everybody's desk: coffee and donuts with the Veterans Caucus...
• I put a flyer on everybody's desk: coffee and donuts with the Veterans Caucus tomorrow morning at 8:30
• Representative Blackman and I have appointed a Veterans Community Advisory Board.
• working with us during interim to help come up with ideas for legislation that are supportive to veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• adaptation and it would be capped, and therefore that there could be a sales tax liability to the veteran
• , I've reviewed a lot of these in the past, is it that there is a lot of underutilization of the veterans
• And so, in addition to Representative Paulette's comment, there is this other issue on veterans' benefits
• in general or veterans' preferences where they just don't seem to be utilized, and we think part of
• Farsight, for pointing out the historical background on veterans' preferences.

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on October 22, 2025. Members approved the September 22, 2025 meeting minutes unanimously and reviewed a draft 2026 meeting schedule, tentatively setting meetings for May 6, August 4, September 15, and October 20, 2026, without taking a formal vote. The commission then worked through its commissioner comments on tax preference reviews, with Commissioner Forsyth recusing himself from the natural gas for transportation and energy sales to silicon smelters items. The discussion focused on reconciling endorse/endorse with comment/does not endorse positions into final recommendations. The commission adopted comments for the liquefied natural gas preference, the natural gas for transportation preference, the energy sales to silicon smelters preference, several low-income housing and veterans-related preferences, and other reviewed tax preferences. Several comments emphasized reporting burdens, the need for clearer legislative guidance, and in the veterans’ item, the possibility that low use may reflect limited visibility of the preference. Staff also clarified the reporting requirements for the natural gas transportation preference and the rationale for continuing the LNG preference while asking the legislature to consider a Department of Revenue workgroup report. All commissioner comment packages were ultimately adopted by roll call votes, with the relevant recusals noted. No members of the public testified in person. The chair invited written testimony by email or mail and thanked staff and members for their work. The next commission meeting was announced for May 6, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, my father, John Carson, was a veteran of the Korean War conflict.
• </c><00:27:00.960><c> get</c><00:27:01.200><c> their</c> that our veterans get their that our veterans
• </c> Colorado's veterans and their families. Colorado's veterans and their families.
• </c> 100 Colorado veterans 100 Colorado veterans and<00:28:20.840><c> retirees</c><00:28:21.600><c> through
• Affairs</c><02:21:16.400><c> Committee</c> Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Veterans and Military

Transcript Highlights:

• Her husband is a veteran, and she has cancer.
• and she has Her husband is a veteran and she has cancer. cancer. cancer.
• ,</c> Minnesota's commitment to veterans, Minnesota's commitment to veterans, seniors.<01:09:41.279><
• off of food seniors, and veterans off of food support. support. support.
• I very much hope that we... have that are veterans, seniors, have that are veterans, seniors, homeless

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• were indigent veterans were interred in and which ones weren't.
• </c> Executive Director, Wyoming Veterans Executive Director, Wyoming Veterans Commission.
• </c><01:25:42.920><c> were</c> what veterans were what veterans were indigent<01:25:45.200><c> veterans
• </c> Veterans Commission directly, Mr. Veterans Commission directly, Mr. Sheppard? Sheppard?
• And there are veterans that carry baggage with them from combat.

Bills: SF0095 , SF0107 , SF0112

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So I have some veterans. I'm a veteran myself. Thank you for your service. Thank you. My pleasure.
• So I have some veterans. I'm a veteran myself. Thank you for your service. Thank you.
• So I have some veterans. I'm a veteran myself. So I have quite a service. Thank you. My pleasure.
• We claim to be pro-veteran. We claim to be pro-people.
• This industry is made up mostly of veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• This isn't fair for veterans like me.
• House Bill 32 violates due process and harms disabled veterans.
• We know the cost of neglect for veterans. We know that 22 veterans a day take their own lives.
• That's the reality—22 veterans take their own lives each day.
• Veterans answered the call when our nation needed us.

Bills: HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill allows those veterans stemming from service.
• I'm also a Marine Corps veteran.
• , I could attest that he'd probably be more inclined to go to a counselor that is a veteran and maybe
• One, 100% support our veterans. I 100% support veterans. My husband’s a veteran.
• Because as I indicated earlier, 100% my husband is likely to choose a veteran to seek assistance from

Committee: House Business