Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment to Section 2. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• by section.
• And the journal shows it has been read the third time at length, section by section, and placed before
• The third time at length, section by section, and placed before the Senate for final approval.
• Section 48-21-06, Section 3 says parents cannot waive the requirement.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate was called to order, a quorum was established, and the body proceeded through routine business including prayer, the pledge, journal approval, committee reports, House messages, and first and second readings of numerous bills. Several measures were advanced or referred to committees, and the Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider a series of House bills. Amendments were adopted on bills including House Bills 629, 678, 522, 810, 684, 561, and 860, with each returned to the Senate floor as amended without recommendation. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1294, which establishes statewide newborn hearing screening provisions, on a 22-13 vote after supporters cited early intervention benefits, support from audiologists and deaf/hard-of-hearing advocates, and no fiscal impact. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1353 on twin homes and duplexes, and Senate Bill 1354 on accessory dwelling units, both after extended debate over housing affordability, property rights, local control, infrastructure, parking, and whether the bills would help Idaho families or primarily benefit investors. Both measures were approved and sent to the House. The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1389, providing liability protection for owners who allow their property to be used as a polling place, and passed Senate Bill 1391, a technical fix preserving surveyors’ lawful access for boundary and right-of-way work. It also passed House Bill 727, revising Idaho’s video voyeurism/extortion laws to address AI-generated sexual extortion and increase penalties for crimes involving minors. The chamber then began debate on House Bill 542, the “Stop the Harms from Addictive Social Media Act,” with supporters arguing it would protect children from addictive platform design and opponents raising concerns about parental authority, legacy accounts, surveillance, and enforceability; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there amendments to Section 1?
• Are there amendments to Section 1?
• The amendment to Section 2 is similar to Section 1.
• Are there amendments to Section 1?
• Are there amendments to Section 1?

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal. It then received messages from the governor and Senate, committee reports, and a series of first-reading referrals. Among the new bills introduced were House Bill 841, the Idaho Prior Authorization Reform Act for health insurance; House Bill 842 on budget-limit provisions; House Bill 843 revising the homestead exemption; House Bill 844 on enhanced short-term health plans; House Bill 845 on Medicaid presumptive eligibility by hospitals; and House Bill 846 on student enrollment counseling. Several Senate measures were also referred, including Senate Bill 1305 on water district budgets and Senate Bill 1271 on rat abatement. The House also sent House Joint Memorial 18 to printing and advanced multiple committee-reported bills to second reading or general orders. In Committee of the Whole, members amended and advanced House Bill 717 on motor vehicles, Senate Bill 1227 establishing a framework for AI use in K-12 education, House Bill 668 on child custody interference, and House Bill 750 on programmable money. The AI bill was amended to ensure AI would not replace human teachers, add legislative participation in framework development, and reference parental rights. The custody-interference bill was amended to restore language about taking a child out of state for more than 24 hours. The programmable-money bill was amended to clarify what the term does not include. The committee reported those four bills back without recommendation as amended, while House Bills 530, 627, 598, and 747 were held for further consideration. On third reading, House Bill 659, which would require law enforcement agencies to seek 287(g) agreements with ICE and explain if they cannot participate, drew extensive debate over immigration enforcement, costs, staffing, and whether it would be an unfunded mandate. Supporters said it would improve cooperation with federal authorities and respond to public concern; opponents argued it could burden local agencies and create future obligations. The House passed the bill 41-27. The chamber also passed House Bill 674 on discontinuing telephone service after FCC approval, House Bill 566 repealing unused parks and recreation code, House Bill 568 repealing obsolete Department of Lands provisions, House Bill 574 removing redundant fish and game fine language, and Senate Bills 1244 and 1265 as code-cleanup measures. Several bills were held on the calendar, including House Bills 648, 702, and others. The most extended debate came on Senate Bill 1331, a 2026 budget rescission bill that would impose across-the-board holdbacks, with exceptions for K-12, corrections, state police, and Medicaid. Supporters framed it as a necessary structurally balanced budget and fiscal discipline measure, while opponents argued it was too blunt, not transparent enough, and would harm vulnerable populations and agency services. Members also debated whether the cuts were truly across-the-board or whether JFAC was already restoring priorities through supplemental and enhancement work. The transcript ends during that debate, before a final vote on Senate Bill 1331 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• 4 to 27 and section 32.
• In section 9, we have some new language that amends section 325G.24.
• </c> section five. section five.
• </c> section 325G.24. section 325G.24.
• </c> several new sections of language. several new sections of language.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next sections of the bill section.
• Then section six is a section added by the other body.
• Section six, um, this is our VHIP section.
• ><c> section</c><01:54:22.000><c> is</c><01:54:22.080><c> section</c> section uh my last section is section
• section uh my last section is section eight,<01:54:22.880><c> which</c><01:54:23.080><c> are</c><01:

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the last section. Section 5.
• Read the last section. Section 4.
• Read the last section. Section 2.
• Read the last section. Section 3.
• Read the last section. Section 2.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and took up a series of motions to discharge identical Assembly bills to the Third Reading Calendar, along with committee reports and amendments. The chamber also received an introduction from Senator Gonzalez honoring Maria Raine and her advocacy for guardrails on AI chatbots after the death of her son, and later adopted a Rules Committee report sending several General Business Law bills directly to Third Reading. The resolution calendar was adopted with some exceptions, and the Senate recognized several previously adopted resolutions honoring individuals and observances, including Barnabas McHenry, Arthur Jones Jr., Floyd Todd Peterson III, the Lexington School for the Deaf, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Apraxia Awareness Month, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Prevention Week, Physician Anesthesiologists Week, and Golf Day in New York. The Senate then considered and passed numerous bills, many on consumer protection and public policy topics. Measures included bills on General Business Law, Public Health Law, Correction Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Executive Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Public Officers Law, Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, Public Housing Law, Education Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills were laid aside, including a Public Health Law bill by Senator Fernandez and a Public Service Law bill by Senator Parker. The chamber also passed a concurrent constitutional resolution by Senator Stec proposing an amendment to Article 14. During floor debate, senators explained votes on several measures. Senator Ramos spoke in support of paid sick leave for domestic workers, describing the bill as a long-overdue labor protection for a workforce historically excluded from such rights. Senator Fernandez described her bill as the Manufacturer Disclosure and Transparency Act, aimed at requiring notice and public disclosure of certain pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements to improve transparency and competition in prescription drug pricing. Senator Ryan and Senator Martins supported a bill restricting hidden algorithmic price manipulation online, and Senator May supported a bill limiting excessive rental car fuel charges as part of a broader consumer protection package. The Senate also passed a memorial highway bill naming a portion of Route 19 in LeRoy for Lieutenant Gary A. Scott, with Senator Borrello explaining the veteran’s service and sacrifice.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is sections 3, four, and five as well as the newly added section 31 in the amendment.
• 1 2 6 7 and nine as well as the uh newly added section in the amendment section 19.
• <00:04:30.479><c> the</c> the uh newly added section in the the uh newly added section in the amendment
• <00:04:31.040><c> section</c> amendment section amendment section 19.<00:04:34.320><c> Uh</c><00:04:34.639
• </c><00:07:31.840><c> Section</c> Section 15 is also from the governor's fraud package.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law. Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions. Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are deleting that section.
• House Bill 707 is<00:49:02.559><c> section</c> is section is section 224.<00:49:04.559><c> Uh,</c><00
• 396</c><00:57:38.319><c> through</c> section, bless you, section 396 through section, bless you, section
• </c> that's sections 396 to 403. that's sections 396 to 403.
• That's section 465.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:35.040><c> 10,</c> actually on page 70, section 10, actually on page 70, section 10, uh,<00
• And section five suitable employment.
• of the bill to the transfer section.
• to a newly created appropriation section to a newly created transfer<00:18:48.320><c> section</c><00
• </c><00:19:40.960><c> On</c> the bill to the transfer section. On the bill to the transfer section.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On R6, on the House side, section one, this section will be imposing a limit on the Minnesota Housing
• </c><00:02:12.400><c> one,</c> on R6 on the house side section one, on R6 on the house side section one
• ,</c> On the program money transfer section, section 6, section 22, R9, both bodies require the agency
• </c> 16A section 28. 16A section 28.
• modify a section of law Section 30 would modify a section of law that<00:16:08.960><c> prohibits</c>

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee on the housing omnibus bill began with member introductions and a staff walk-through comparing House and Senate provisions. House Research staff reviewed major policy differences affecting Minnesota Housing Finance Agency operations, including limits on how much the agency may retain from state appropriations for administrative costs, new reporting requirements, restrictions on transfers between appropriated accounts, and House-only language requiring annual expenditure of investment income from state appropriations. Senate provisions were also summarized, including tighter rules on when appropriations may be placed into Housing Development Fund bookkeeping accounts, updated operating-cost reporting, and Senate-only changes to how investment earnings may be used. Staff also described shared and differing provisions on program-money transfers, a lived-experience earnings exemption, and a long list of Senate-only policy changes, including manufactured home park tenant protections, low-income housing tax credit and bond-related changes, a task force on housing taxes and fees, and repealers affecting Housing Development Fund authority and certain older programs. Fiscal staff then reviewed the budget impacts. The House side included one-time appropriations for workforce housing development, family homeless prevention and assistance, a Minnesota Nice Home Share pilot, and homebuyer education, along with debt service for $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds and transfers/cancellations that produced a net zero general fund impact across the budget window. The Senate side noted a fiscal note for the housing taxes and fees task force and a smaller housing infrastructure bond authorization, with corresponding debt service costs and a total Senate budget-window impact of about $1 million in general fund debt service. After the staff presentations, the committee moved to public testimony. Commissioner Jennifer Ho of Minnesota Housing said the bill’s housing infrastructure bonds and continued support for family homeless prevention were important, and she supported the lived-experience earnings exemption, while noting concerns about the interest-earnings provisions. Testifiers from Greater Minnesota groups praised the workforce housing investments and Senate updates to the state housing tax credit and infrastructure grant program, though they suggested changes to the geographic distribution language. HOME Line urged funding for statewide tenant hotline services, citing rising demand and asking for $1 million if additional money becomes available. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers supported the bill’s investments and emphasized the need to pair housing development with supportive services. Housing First Minnesota praised housing infrastructure bonds and other investments but criticized the omission of the Minnesota Starter Homes Act. The Minnesota Multi Housing Association began testimony opposing certain rent-control-related provisions in the House bill. No votes or final actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• 12 this begins a series of section 12 this begins a series of sections<01:07:49.839><c> from</c><01:
• </c> 1240 then on uh top of page 11 section 1240 then on uh top of page 11 section nine<01:08:52.759>
• Sections 24 and 25 are on page 14, section 26 is on page 15, and section 27 is on page 16.
• 24 and 25 on administration uh sections 24 and 25 on page page page 14<01:10:36.880><c> section</c><
• </c><01:10:47.800><c> 17</c> sections later but um on Section 17 sections later but um on Section 17

Bills: HF627, HF474, HF361, HF1837

Keywords: HF627, fiscal note, fiscal notes, Minnesota Legislature, state government, committee procedure, ranking minority member, minority party, standing committee, Ways and Means, Finance Committee, legislative process, budget analysis, fiscal impact, Minnesota Statutes 3.98, committee chair, legislative transparency, HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice

Transcript Highlights:

• On the second page of that memorandum, Sections 4 and 5, and Sections 28 and 29, being found on pages
• It is for clarification purposes. collected uh page four section three collected uh page four section
• </c> second page of that memorandum sections second page of that memorandum sections four<00:35:42.960
• Are you referencing sections 11 through 14, tourism development, section one?
• one okay tourism development section one okay section section section one<00:53:15.400><c> and</c><00

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:12 SB 28 Discussion 00:01:33 SB 28 Vote 00:04:05 SJR 26 Discussion 00:05:32 SJR 26 Vote 00:07:10 HB 741 Discussion 00:08:30 HB 741 Vote 00:14:00 HB 544 Discussion 00:15:40 HB 544 Vote 00:28:15 HB 775 Discussion 00:31:20 HB 775 Vote 00:56:00 HJR 33 Discussion 01:00:25 HJR 33 Vote 01:01:40, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on March 11, 2025, with a quorum present and first adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 28. The bill would create a framework for using $5 million previously set aside for agricultural economic development through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, including loan and grant programs. Members asked about changes in the substitute, and the sponsor explained that it revised the board composition to include members with more experience in finance, lending, and economic development. SB 28 was approved 20-0 and reported favorably. The committee then approved Senate Joint Resolution 26, which directs the Department for Medicaid Services to provide the Legislative Research Commission a report on pharmacist pay parity and the cost of allowing independent pharmacists and pharmacies to be reimbursed by Medicaid for services within their scope of practice. The sponsor and Kentucky Pharmacists Association representative described it as a request for information rather than a policy change. The resolution passed 20-0 and was reported favorably. House Bill 741, relating to public water and wastewater systems, was next. The sponsor said the substitute incorporated Kentucky Infrastructure Authority recommendations, clarified best management practices, and allowed storm water inflow and groundwater infiltration reduction projects to be scored more fairly alongside water projects. Members discussed how the bill narrows eligibility to systems most in need and refines the scoring process for the program created last session. HB 741 passed 20-0, was reported favorably, and received a title amendment. The committee also considered House Bill 544, a branch budget bill amendment creating a new SAFE fund for the most recent Eastern Kentucky flood disaster, indexed to the relevant presidential disaster declaration. The bill would allow state money and other funds to support local governments, utilities, school districts, and other eligible recipients for recovery costs, planning, and short-term liquidity, with reimbursement provisions if FEMA or other sources later pay. Members discussed the amount of available funding, the use of prior SAFE fund balances, and the emergency clause. HB 544 passed 20-0, was reported favorably, and a title amendment was adopted. The committee then began House Bill 775, relating to development areas, and adopted PHS 2 and a committee amendment; the sponsor started explaining the bill’s provisions on development areas, tax increment financing, brewers’ electronic filing, distilled spirits property tax language, income tax reduction conditions, tourism development incentives, and other tax-related sections, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to do a really quick walkthrough of the sections of each section of the bill, and then Diana
• ><c> a</c><00:08:09.520><c> bank's</c> Section three um clarifies a bank's Section three um clarifies
• </c> working on that um that section as well. working on that um that section as well.
• Section 10, I know, is one of the sections with an amendment related to this.
• </c> those two sections. So, yeah. those two sections. So, yeah.

Bills: HF3676, HF2959, HF3233

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 11, section 22 to start.
• Is that not a correct connection to Section 2 in Section 22? Mr.
• What section is that? The two and two. Mr. 34. What section is that? Mr.
• If you eliminate Section 4, then fall back to Section 3?
• If you eliminate Section 4, then fall back to Section 3?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met with all members present to review the medical services portion of the HHS budget. Sarah Aker, Executive Director of Medical Services, walked the committee through several budget items, including HCBS cost-to-continue adjustments, the DD bed assessment, expansion of value-based purchasing, targeted rate increases for home health and QSP services, and the cross-disability waiver. Members generally supported the targeted increases for home health and QSP, and Aker explained that the cross-disability waiver funding would support startup work, service design, and infrastructure ahead of a planned July 1, 2028 implementation. The committee spent significant time on rate-setting and provider payment issues. Members discussed ambulance rate rebasing, with several senators expressing concern that the proposed increase was too high relative to peer states; the committee ultimately moved toward reducing that item to $1 million rather than zero so it could be revisited in conference committee. They also discussed a House-added critical access hospital networking grant and similarly leaned toward reducing it to $1 million. Aker explained the department’s value-based purchasing plans, including use of a vendor selected through RFP, and clarified how the department’s existing Medicaid managed care and hospital value-based programs work. A major portion of the meeting focused on long-term care and basic care payments, including a House-added extension of the $5 per day basic care add-on and a proposed shift in nursing facility incentive grants toward a withhold-based model. Senator Mathern indicated he would bring an amendment to delay or modify the withhold change, and Aker said the department would prefer language that directly addresses whether a withhold may be implemented. Members also discussed 1915(i) services, FMAP changes, the Medicaid legacy system modernization carryover, and a House-added legislative intent section on medical assistance. The committee adjourned for the morning with plans to return later to continue Human Services budget work and revisit unresolved items in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 2.
• Section 2.
• Section 3.
• Section 7. A new section of Chapter 30. by the department. Section 7.
• Section 923. Section 8.

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered an invocation, and handled several announcements and courtesy motions, including excusing some members and relaxing the dress code. The chamber then adopted committee reports on several bills, including Senate Bill 50, Senate Bill 30, and Senate Bill 43. It then moved to third reading of Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 17, the “Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act.” SB 17 was read at length and explained by Senator O’Malley and co-sponsor Senator Bergman as a gun crime prevention measure aimed at dealer security, employee training, recordkeeping, reporting requirements, inspections, and a ban on future dealer sales or transfers of certain firearms and accessories, including high-capacity magazines, .50-caliber rifles and cartridges, gas-operated semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines, and machine guns. Supporters argued the bill targets the retail-to-criminal pipeline, improves accountability, and would help reduce gun trafficking and violence. Opponents argued it infringes on constitutional rights, would not stop criminals from obtaining guns, and would burden law-abiding citizens and dealers. The chamber then debated Floor Amendment No. 1 by Senator Brantley, which would have struck Section 7, the portion banning certain weapons and devices. Supporters of the amendment said Section 7 was the most constitutionally vulnerable part of the bill and would likely be litigated, while opponents said the section was central to the bill’s purpose and consistent with Second Amendment case law. The amendment failed on a roll call vote, 15-22. A second amendment by Senator Block, which would have exempted certain under-21 employees from the bill’s age restriction if they were military members, veterans, or had completed hunter safety or 4-H programs, was then taken up and debated, with supporters emphasizing military training and youth firearms education as evidence of responsibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 16, extending the sunset for crossbow hunting. Section 17, repealing the shotgun zone.
• Section 17, repealing the hunting. Section 17, repealing the shotgun<00:02:16.160><c> zone.
• :20.720><c> youth</c> Section 18, authorize authorizing youth Section 18, authorize authorizing youth
• Sections 35 through 39 decisions.
• </c> continue working on the policy section. continue working on the policy section.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2041, enacting Section 8-201 relating to child neglect.
• House Bill 2611, an act amending sections 8-530 and related child welfare statutes.
• House Bill 4043, amending section 15-1207, relating to public schools.
• Senate Bill 1448, amending Section 13-124, as amended by Laws 2025, Chapter 172, Section 2, relating
• House Bill 2874 and act in section 169.28, 169.34, 169.37.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first substantive change is in Section 1.
• Section 5 references what sections of Century Code a PBM manager must comply with.
• Section 11 pulls the sections of code from...
• Section 11 pulls the sections of code from sections 12.1-31.2, Chapter 12.1-31.2, and other parts of
• Section 17 repeals the sections of code, which were moved into this new chapter, with one exception.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the last section. Section 2, this act shall take effect immediately. Call the roll.
• Read the last section.
• Read the last section. Section 2, this act shall take effect immediately. Call the roll.
• Read the last section. Section 2, this act shall take effect immediately. Call the roll.
• Read the last section. Section 2, this act shall take effect immediately. Call the roll.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s journal, and then recognized several guest groups, including the Shenendehowa High School girls varsity cross country team and tennis champion Jolie Chichak, as well as the Downsville Central School Student Council. Senator Tedisco introduced the Shenendehowa athletes, highlighting their state and federation championships and strong academic records, and Senator Oberacker introduced the Downsville students. The chamber extended courtesies to the guests. The Senate then moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills and resolutions. Among the measures approved were a bill designating Overdose Awareness Day, a real property tax bill, a public authorities bill, several education-related bills, a private housing finance bill, a workers’ compensation bill, and a labor law bill. Some items were laid aside before later being taken up, including the cannabis bill and the environmental conservation bill. Votes were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, with a few recorded negatives on certain bills. The most extensive debate centered on Calendar 261, Senator May’s environmental conservation bill concerning renewable energy installations and transmission on state reforestation lands. Senator Walczyk and others questioned whether the bill would allow solar, wind, battery storage, tree cutting, herbicide use, and reduced environmental review, while supporters argued the bill was mainly about transmission corridors, climate goals, and preserving flexibility for DEC oversight and mitigation. After debate, the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar and passed 42-13. The Senate also passed Calendar 353, Senator Ramos’s labor law bill addressing class action wage recovery and statutory damages. Supporters said it would clarify the law so workers can recover full wages in class actions, while opponents warned it could encourage litigation against small businesses over technical payroll errors. The bill passed 47-8. The Senate then completed the calendar and adjourned until March 4, 2026, with intervening days as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 398 do pass. Section 399 do pass. Section 72 do pass. Section 77 do pass.
• Section 80 do pass. Section 81 do pass. Section 85 do pass. Section 91 do pass. Section 96 do pass.
• Section 98 do pass. Section 101 do pass. Section 102 do pass. Section 103 do pass.
• Section 151 do pass. Section 157 do pass. Section 160 do pass. Section 205 do pass.
• Section 206 do pass. Section 211 do pass. Section 220 do pass. Section 270 do pass.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sections of the bill. Thank you. sections of the bill. Thank you.
• </c><00:42:47.520><c> Section</c> walk through the the sections.
• Section walk through the the sections.
• Section three adds a reference to the deposits from section two.
• section reference to the deposits from section two. two. two.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all