Transcript Highlights:

• Riders three and five revise estimated balances and receipts of imaging and storage fees and TexShare
• That is a strict requirement of being in receipt of those grants. Senator Kolkhorst: Good.
• They produce receipts in name. and we have a compliance team that does compliance to all the grantees
• So then they provide the services, they produce receipts in names of who they’re helping, and they are
• So the audit team, what they're reviewing all the receipts that came in, number one, before they even

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next item on the agenda is an originating concurrent resolution to study the reasons for the decline
• The agenda is an originating concurrent resolution to study the reasons for the decline in the eastern
• Next item on the agenda is an originating concurrent resolution studying the economic feasibility of
• On the agenda is the originating concurrent resolution studying the economic feasibility of requiring

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee met, established a quorum, and first approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee then considered and adopted an originating concurrent resolution to study the decline of the eastern gray fox population in West Virginia and to have a joint committee report findings to the Legislature in 2027. It also adopted a second originating concurrent resolution to study the economic feasibility of requiring an upland game bird stamp for hunters, with the same 2027 reporting deadline. Both resolutions were reported to the full Senate with recommendations that they be adopted. The committee next took up engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4176, which amends the law governing the senior citizen lifetime hunting, fishing, and trapping license (class XS). Counsel explained that current law allows class XS license holders to participate in special youth deer season, and the bill would remove that privilege. A senator asked for clarification about whether the bill expanded youth or special-needs hunting opportunities, and counsel confirmed it did not; it only eliminates the XS holder’s participation in youth deer season. After discussion, the Vice Chair moved the committee substitute, and the committee voted to report House Bill 4176 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. The meeting then moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Concurrence Calendar number 36, the clerk will read the bill and the Senate amendment.
• Concurrent calendar number All right.
• Concurrence Committee calendar regarding Senate Bill 233.
• Concurrence calendar 41, the clerk will read the bill and the Senate amendments.
• 56.720> the Concurrence calendar number 42, the Concurrence calendar number 42, the clerk<01:32

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, quorum call, and a brief visit from Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, who thanked delegates for their work on the budget and legislation. The chamber then handled several conference committee and Senate messages, including House Bill 153 on residential rental apartment air conditioning requirements. The conference report changed the bill from four to 10 units, removed preemption language, and required existing units with air conditioning to keep it; the report was adopted and the bill passed on third reading with 90 affirmative votes. The House also took up a number of Senate bills on third reading. Among those passed were measures on digital asset and blockchain task force establishment, franchise registration and disclosure law changes, professional licensing portability for foreign service members and spouses, medical cannabis protections for fire and rescue employees, workers’ compensation presumptions for Carroll County correctional deputies, speed monitoring systems approval timing, veterans cemeteries interment, motorcycle safety awareness in driver testing, IT investment fund uses, child care credential funding, school bus fire safety standards, local stop-sign monitoring pilot programs, stalking penalties, divorce records under the Public Information Act, local boards of elections qualifications, local sourcing database creation, and mutual insurance holding company conversions. Most passed overwhelmingly, though several drew notable dissent, including Senate Bills 10, 223, 439, 467, 757, 775, and 877. Members used vote-change time to shift positions on several bills, and the floor leader and committee chairs answered questions on the record. On Senate Bill 10, delegates discussed the bill’s “shot clock” for State Highway Administration responses to local speed camera requests; the chair later clarified that if State Highway does not act within 120 days, approval is deemed granted. On Senate Bill 775, the Judiciary chair explained that the bill requires destruction of firearms in gun buyback programs and serial-number checks to identify stolen or evidentiary firearms, with some firearms potentially returned if stolen. The House also adopted a favorable committee report on Senate Bill 949, which the floor leader said mirrors House Bill 1069 and would allow Maryland to count state-level ballots if federal action prevents counting federal ballots. The chamber also handled an amendment and conference committee process on Senate Bill 141 concerning election misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes, with the House and Senate appointing conferees after each declined to recede. Several bills were passed by large margins, including Senate Bills 46, 68, 85, 314, 371, 426, 480, 512, 654, 808, 968, and 982, while a few had narrower margins such as Senate Bills 443 and 757. No final adjournment or sine die action occurred in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have prior concurrence. Questions or concerns?
• We do have prior concurrence. Questions or concerns?
• We do have prior concurrence. Questions or concerns?
• We do have prior concurrence.
• amendments we do have prior concurrence amendments we do have prior concurrence um<00:26:44.720>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary decision-making meeting on February 21, 2025, considered a long list of previously heard measures and generally recommended passage, often with amendments that delayed effective dates to July 1, 2050 or made technical clarifications. Among the measures acted on were bills relating to property, hotels, service disruptions, transportation, consumer protection, license plates, condominium disputes and fines, election fraud intimidation, vehicle inspection fines, restaurant reservation services, insurance claim checks, foreclosed home sales, labor relations court authority, public housing authority powers, community outreach boards, arson penalties, driving without a valid license, pet animals in vehicles, important agricultural lands, public records retention, transit-oriented development review, sex offender-related licensing actions, National Guard assault penalties, federal recognition timing, medical cannabis caregivers, cease-and-desist orders, and critical infrastructure information sharing. Several measures drew specific discussion or reservations. SB 1030 on election fraud intimidation was amended after consultation with the Attorney General to focus on unconcealed carry and add definitions. SB 5 on legislative vacancies was recommended to pass unamended, but the committee noted constitutional concerns and requested an Attorney General opinion. SB 95 on inspection fines was amended to set a $400 fine amount, though one member objected and the recommendation failed in at least one committee. SB 102 on third-party restaurant reservation services was amended to clarify who may sue and to allow contracted reservation services to distribute reservations on a restaurant’s behalf. SP 1022 on leaving pets in vehicles was amended to remove duplicative language because existing animal cruelty law already covered the conduct. SP 1451 on critical infrastructure information sharing was amended to tighten confidentiality language from “would reveal” to “could reveal” vulnerabilities. Most measures were adopted by the committees with little or no opposition, though several members noted reservations or objections on particular bills, including transportation, consumer protection, and inspection-fine measures. One bill, SB 1255 on records retention for government-function contractors, was deferred to a later meeting on February 26, 2025. Overall, the committees advanced most measures with amendments and recorded the recommendations for transmission to the next committee or chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill ought to pass in concurrence the bill ought to pass in concurrence with<00:02:36.480>
• The question is, shall the bill pass in concurrence with proposal of amendment?
• The question is, shall the bill pass in concurrence with proposal of amendment?
• The bill has passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment.
• bill passed the Senate in concurrence bill passed the Senate in concurrence with<00:51:17.720>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate Bill 323, suspending the rules to consider it immediately. The bill was described as a broad agricultural measure with committee amendments and fiscal implications, and it was reported favorably by the Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee, Ways and Means, and Appropriations. Members outlined sections dealing with milk market corrections, farm-to-school language, repeal of the obsolete pest control compact, pesticide applicator licensing changes, seed law updates, the Vermont Agricultural Credit Program, hemp regulation, and CAFO-related provisions. The Agriculture committee reported the bill out 7-0-1, and the effective date was described as July 1, 2026, except for the hemp provisions, which would take effect upon passage. Much of the discussion focused on the hemp sections. Supporters said the bill updates Vermont law to reflect federal changes and shifts hemp oversight from the Agency of Agriculture to the Cannabis Control Board. The hemp provisions would create registration and licensing requirements for hemp producers, processors, and certain hemp products; set fees; authorize testing, inspections, stop-sale orders, and administrative penalties; and allow rulemaking on product standards, labeling, insurance, additives, and age restrictions. Speakers said the changes were intended to help Vermont’s hemp industry maintain access to banking, insurance, and interstate commerce while improving consumer safety and regulatory clarity. Other agricultural provisions were also explained in detail. The bill would clarify milk producer hearing rights, update farm-to-school grant/contract language, remove outdated pest-control compact language, and adjust pesticide applicator exam and fee rules, including removing the limit on retakes and eliminating certain government applicator fees. It would also modernize seed labeling and definitions, transfer the Vermont Agricultural Credit Program into a new statutory structure under VEDA, and make conforming cross-reference changes in tax and cannabis fund statutes. The final sections would add a CAFO permit working group and require consultant training for state agencies on CAFO inspections, with those provisions contingent on future funding. Ways and Means noted the bill’s fee changes could affect state revenues, including an estimated hemp-related impact of roughly $10,000 to $90,000, though the exact effect was uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that the Senate concurrent Assembly amendment 927 to Senate Bill 226.
• I would move, Madam President pro tempore, to adopt Assembly Concurrent Resolution 4.
• I would move to adopt Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8. You've heard the motion.
• Normally, you don't have a ability to shut down a discussion on a Senate concurrent resolution.
• I would move to adopt Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 9. Any further remarks? Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• learning and dual and concurrent learning and dual and concurrent enrollment.<00:02:27.360> And
• You're all aware of funding for dual and concurrent enrollment.
• as it relates to dual and concurrent as it relates to dual and concurrent enrollment,<00:02:50.680
• We run into a couple of concurrent.
• concurrent enrollment across the state. concurrent enrollment across the state.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee heard from Superintendent Megan Degenfelder on several interim topics centered on student-centered learning. She highlighted work-based learning and dual/concurrent enrollment, saying the state is updating accountability measures and should examine whether these programs are helping students progress, avoid duplicative costs, and reduce the need for remedial college coursework. She also discussed broader life-skills education, including financial literacy and soft skills, and said districts vary widely in what they offer. On gifted and talented programs, she noted that districts are statutorily required to provide them but the state does not have a clear picture of how consistently they are implemented, and she suggested the committee may want to study that area further. Members asked follow-up questions about whether dual enrollment should be evaluated only by time-to-degree, and Degenfelder said the analysis should also consider additional credentials and remedial coursework. Senator Schuler and others raised the idea of making financial literacy or other life-skills content more common, though Degenfelder said she did not favor a statewide mandate and instead preferred incentives and district-level implementation. The committee also discussed artificial intelligence in schools as an information-sharing topic, with Degenfelder saying the department is beginning a landscape analysis with districts and teachers. She then reviewed NAEP results, noting Wyoming performs strongly in fourth grade but drops sharply by eighth grade, and said the state wants to understand where students are falling off. Members also raised concerns about international comparisons and the need to improve literacy and math outcomes. The committee then moved to member-submitted topics. Representative Strock proposed reviewing the governance structure of state education, arguing that the current split among the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and other boards creates inefficiency and confusion, especially for licensure and programs like CTE. Senator Scott noted that turnover in the superintendent’s office could be a practical issue in any restructuring, and Strock responded that administrative staff could handle day-to-day operations. Representative Williams then introduced a discussion of common core standards and literacy, arguing that standards may be too broad and not specific enough, especially in early grades, and that Wyoming should emphasize phonics, basic reading, math, and civics more directly. Representative Guggenmos agreed that narrowing early-grade focus to math and literacy could improve outcomes. Finally, Representative Williams raised virtual education, saying it is growing quickly and the committee should study funding, accountability, and student support more closely; the chair opened that topic for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• projects, comes from the Senate with the endorsement that it has been passed to be engrossed in concurrence
• The message comes from the Senate with the endorsement that it has been passed to be engrossed in concurrence
• Question comes on concurrence. All those in favor say aye, opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• Report of Committee, the Committee on Rules and the Committees on Rules of the Two Branches acting concurrently

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a message from the Governor recommending legislation on energy affordability, independence, and innovation, which was referred to the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. The House also recognized several guest groups, including visitors from the Celiac Disease Foundation and a sixth-grade class from Holy Name School in West Roxbury. The Committee on Rules reported a series of congratulatory and commemorative resolutions, including observances for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month and ALS awareness, a commemoration of Wakefield’s Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monuments, recognition of veterans’ efforts regarding Agent Orange awareness, and congratulations to an Eagle Scout. The House suspended the rules and adopted these resolutions. The House then considered Senate amendments to House Bill 4010/House 4100, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The House did not concur in the Senate’s amendment and instead ordered a committee of conference, appointing Representatives Michalowitz, Ferranti, and Smola. The House also concurred in the referral of a retirement-credit petition and suspended Joint Rule 12 for several other petitions, including measures on arts education, a psychedelics treatment pilot program, toxic-free medical devices, and retirement credit service. House 4100 was later taken up for final passage, its emergency preamble was adopted, and the bill was passed to be enacted. The House adopted an order to adjourn to Monday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would also require kiosks to print physical receipts for heavy transactions to assist law enforcement
• visible notices warning of fraudulent activities by these machines, and the printing out of the receipts
• The receipts help law enforcement track the funds because it will show the address that the funds were
• kiosk operators as money transmitters, register kiosk locations across the Commonwealth, ensure receipts
• going to go to them and just ask you to be as quick as possible, and remind you that we're also in receipt

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several financial services bills, with the main focus on cryptocurrency kiosk regulation, financial literacy, and earned wage access. Legislators and witnesses described widespread crypto-related scams targeting older adults, often involving impersonation, urgency, spoofed phone numbers, and rapid transfers through kiosks that are difficult to trace or recover. Supporters of the kiosk bills said Massachusetts needs licensing, registration, transaction limits, warning notices, receipts, refund protections, and other safeguards; some also urged a “pause” or hold on transactions to give victims time to reconsider and allow law enforcement to intervene. The Attorney General’s office, AARP, local law enforcement, and several prosecutors and sheriffs backed the consumer-protection approach, while Bitcoin Depot supported a narrower regulatory framework but opposed low fee caps and strict daily limits, arguing they would function like a ban and reduce legitimate use. Witnesses from Waltham police, Middlesex and Essex County law enforcement, and the AG’s office said crypto scams are growing quickly, losses are often unrecoverable once funds move, and current tools are limited. They described cases involving elderly victims losing thousands of dollars, and said warnings alone are not enough because scammers keep victims on the phone and guide them through the process. Some witnesses said a temporary hold or refund mechanism has worked in at least one case, while others emphasized that transaction limits and visible disclosures could reduce harm even if they do not stop fraud entirely. The AG’s office also said it would submit written opposition to separate earned wage advance legislation, while DailyPay testified in support of that bill, saying earned wage access helps workers bridge short-term gaps without debt or credit reporting. The committee also heard support for mandatory financial literacy education from Representative Jim Hawkins, who said high school students need instruction on credit, debt, and inflation before they enter adulthood. In addition, the committee took testimony on litigation financing bills from insurance industry representatives, who argued for disclosure and regulation of predatory litigation lending and warned about foreign interference and reduced plaintiff recoveries. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; members asked questions throughout, and the chair noted the need to move testimony along because of time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• also mention two others: one is our low Medicaid reimbursement rates, and the other is the gross receipts
• We have the full gross receipts tax, which is 8% in a lot of places around New Mexico.
• And as somebody pointed out to me, it's not just the gross receipts tax.
• The legislature in the last session tried to take a big chunk out of the gross receipts tax on medical
• Much of your report talks about gross receipts tax and the increasing number of residents.

Transcript Highlights:

• attention to the math there: if we're going to take in five, five and a half, $5.25 trillion in tax Receipts
• Last year, for every dollar we took in in tax receipts, we Spent $1.43.
• Our tax receipts are only going to be about five. And a half, if we're lucky.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Such personnel must annually acknowledge receipt of training.
• Such personnel must annually acknowledge receipt of training.
• The bill requires each school district to develop a Annually acknowledge receipt of training.

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and advanced a series of education-related bills, beginning with SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, which would require age-appropriate disability history and awareness instruction across grade bands. The committee adopted a delete-all amendment, heard emotional testimony from Melissa Hartzell about her son Evan’s experience with disability and inclusion, and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1296, creating a pilot study on school cellphone bans; SB 1590, creating a task force to review educator preparation, certification, and professional learning; SB 1702, a broad education bill with provisions on private school facilities, marching band credit, school readiness reimbursements, and charter school monitoring tools; SB 1150, exempting school social workers from certain certification testing requirements; SB 1708, revising School of Hope rules and adding a Miami-Dade co-location framework; SB 822, updating charter school governance and operations; SB 444, requiring annual human trafficking awareness training for school personnel; and SB 742, expanding workforce development and money-back guarantee programs. Most of these bills were amended before being reported favorably by committee vote. The committee also considered and reported favorably SB 8, a claims bill providing a $1.2 million settlement for Marcus Button and his family arising from a 2006 Pasco County school bus crash that caused severe lifelong injuries. Senator Gaetz opposed claims bills in general, arguing the sovereign immunity cap should be raised so such cases can be resolved locally. Several bills drew questions and debate over implementation details, including concerns about charter school dress and hair policies under SB 822, the scope of human trafficking training under SB 444, and the zoning implications of private school facility provisions in SB 1702. Sponsor responses generally emphasized that the bills were intended to clarify existing policy or improve student safety, access, or educational outcomes. The committee also took up confirmation appointments. It recommended confirmation of the slate of appointees on Tabs 12 and 14 through 21 by voice vote, and separately recommended confirmation of Daniel Fogunoli to the State Board of Education after debate in which Senator Davis and Senator Osgood opposed the appointment. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes, including Senator Burgess’s affirmative vote on SB 1150, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Winter Haven collects approximately $250,000 in annual revenue associated with the business tax receipt
• There's a new business, the business tax receipt program, an oversight on their side because of a change
• questions I would have is: if that business is no longer in existence that paid for a business tax receipt

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 13, 2025, for its first meeting of the session, with member and staff introductions followed by consideration of several tax-related bills. The committee first heard HJR 163 and its implementing bill HB 165, which would extend the homestead property tax exemption for quadriplegics to surviving spouses, similar to the treatment for surviving spouses of certain disabled veterans. Sponsor Rep. Tant and constituent J.R. Harding described the financial and caregiving burdens faced by spouses of quadriplegics. The committee heard supportive testimony from the Florida Association of Property Appraisers and members voted both measures favorably without opposition. The committee then considered HB 785 on heated tobacco products. Rep. Tramont said the bill would create a new tax/regulatory category for the product, and an amendment clarifying the definition was adopted. The James Madison Institute offered a resource on the issue, the Florida Retail Federation waived in support, and Ranking Member Eskamani said she had concerns about the excise tax treatment and would vote no. The bill passed 16-1. Next, HB 321, a property tax exemption clarification for homes for the aged, was presented by Rep. Smith as a technical “glitch bill” to align state law with IRS tax code and ease development of low-income senior housing. It drew supportive testimony and passed unanimously. The final bill, HB 503 by Rep. Botana, would cap local government revenue from local business taxes and require refunds if collections exceed the cap, with carve-outs for fiscally constrained areas. Local government and economic development groups, including the Florida League of Cities, the City of Winter Haven, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and the Florida Association of Counties, opposed the bill, arguing it would limit funding for public safety, inspections, economic development, and other services and create administrative refund problems. Several members supported the bill as a tax-cutting measure, while others warned of impacts on local services and revenue flexibility. The committee reported HB 503 favorably on a 14-5 vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• back to us, provide that information from their insurance company or agent, show the proof of their receipts
• So we ask homeowners to submit either one of two things: either a paid invoice as their receipt so that
• So if they submit a receipt and it's 15, we know it's 10 and 5.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services on the My Safe Florida Home program, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot, and the Florida PALM financial system replacement project. For My Safe Florida Home, Stephen Fielder explained the wind-mitigation grant program, including its inspection-first process, two-to-one matching grants for most homeowners, low-income exemptions from the match, and eligible improvements such as roofs, clips/straps, water barriers, and opening protection. He reported roughly 109,000 initial inspections, nearly 59,000 grants approved, 31,000 final inspections, 25,000 reimbursements, and about $240 million paid out through the end of 2024. Members asked about premium savings, contractor pricing, fraud, owner-builder eligibility, reimbursement timing, and whether the program should have a dedicated funding source; Fielder said the program is currently closed, more than 40,000 people have signed up for updates, and the office has seen some price-gouging and impersonation issues but no major fraud trend. The committee also discussed the new prioritization rules that took effect July 1, 2024, which direct grant awards by age and income. Fielder said the program used a survey of existing applicants to implement the new priority groups and that the first group was over age 60 and low-income. Members raised questions about how premium reductions are measured, whether insurance company changes or rising insured values affect the data, and whether the program can track long-term outcomes after reimbursement. Fielder said the office reports raw premium changes based on declarations pages, knows the insurer for participants, and has validated results with multiple insurers, but does not track homeowners after they leave the program or enforce continued insurance coverage. For the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot, Fielder said the program is modeled on the home program but uses association-level applications, a maximum grant of $175,000 per association, and a similar two-to-one match. He said the application window opened briefly in November and was closed quickly because available funding could be exhausted and the department is prohibited from creating a waiting list. He identified several needed statutory changes, including better distinguishing condos from single-family homes, adjusting roof requirements for flat concrete roofs, and revisiting the unanimous unit-owner vote requirement, which he said has been a major obstacle. Chair Lopez noted the pilot is intended to be a learning process and thanked DFS staff for identifying implementation issues. The final presentation covered Florida PALM, the state’s effort to replace the 40-year-old FLAIR accounting system with a PeopleSoft-based financial management system. Fielder and PALM Director Jimmy Cox said the project began in 2014, the state contracted with Accenture in 2018, cash management went live in 2021, and the project was paused in 2022 for legislative review and remediation. They said the system is expected to go live in 2026, possibly in July rather than January, and that the project has spent about $225 million to date, with a current-year budget of about $60.9 million and a projected next-year request of about $64 million. Members asked about cybersecurity, cloud hosting, project scope, and whether the system is unique to Florida; staff said the system is not Florida-specific, access is credentialed through agency identity management, and the cloud host location is confidential. After the presentations, Chair Lopez assigned members to work with specific agencies on budget review meetings, asked them to discuss agency structure, priorities, staffing, waste reduction, and other budget issues, and set a deadline to report findings in the first week of regular session. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• HCR 307 is a House concurrent resolution honoring Representative Kevin "Coach" Christie of Hartford for
• of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Kevin Coach Christie. 307 is a House concurrent
• resolution 307 is a House concurrent resolution honoring<00:01:36.000> Representative<00:01:36.920
• The bill passed the Senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment that is printed in today's calendar
• bill passed the Senate in concurrence bill passed the Senate in concurrence with<00:13:48.800>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read HCR 307 honoring Representative Kevin “Coach” Christie of Hartford for his civic leadership, long career in education and public service, work on equity and human rights, and his vocal performances. Several members offered remarks praising Christie’s service and announcing that he would not seek another term, while expressing appreciation for his contributions and wishing him well amid recent health challenges. During announcements, members recognized a visiting guest, shared caucus notices, and one member spoke about the connection between military appreciation month and mental health awareness month, citing high suicide rates among service members and urging attention to veterans’ mental health. The House then moved to the day’s orders and took up two bills related to mental health. On H. 817, concerning mental health literacy and peer-to-peer supports in schools, the House suspended rules to consider the Senate’s proposal of amendment. A member from Winooski explained that the Senate strike-all amendment directed the Department of Mental Health and the Agency of Education to inventory related work, recommend integration of peer-to-peer youth mental health programming and school/after-school literacy efforts, and consider grant support beginning in July 2028, with funding recommendations to be included in the FY28 budget. The House concurred in the Senate amendment. The House then suspended rules to take up H. 816, relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services, and adopted the Committee of Conference report. Supporters said the conference changes addressed concerns from mental health clinicians about digital therapeutics, clarified where clinical guidance is needed, aligned definitions, allowed research and development to continue through universities such as Dartmouth, and added the Board of Medical Providers and the Office of Professional Regulation to the AI Advisory Council. The House adopted the report and then recessed until 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and whereas the petition purports to condition a member's receipt
• of additional regular compensation on legislative compliance with the number of... ...a member's receipt

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate began with ceremonial items, including the Pledge of Allegiance and a welcome to Tri-County High School’s championship football and boys’ cross-country teams. The chamber then adopted a resolution commending the town of Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for recognizing the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. Several local bills were taken up and passed to be enacted, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting the senior property tax deferral income threshold in Wellesley, amending the Hopedinton charter regarding library trustee appointment powers, and later engrossing bills affecting the Cotuit Fire District, the Salem licensing board, and validating Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and, on committee recommendation, advanced two Cotuit Fire District bills to third reading and engrossment. A major portion of the session focused on two Senate orders seeking advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on pending initiative petitions. One order concerned a public records initiative that would extend public records law to the General Court and the Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends initiative that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney spoke in support of both orders, saying they were meant to inform the committee’s work and were not votes on the merits of the ballot questions. Both orders were adopted without objection. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft and amendment pending, and adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026. The session concluded with an order to adjourn to Monday at 11 a.m., which was adopted, and the Senate adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism notified us in April 2024 of the loss of receipts
• , the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism notified us in April 24 of the loss of receipts

Summary: The committee met with prayer and approved the January minutes, then heard a series of Arkansas Legislative Audit reports. Reports with findings were presented for the Department of Human Services, Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Department of Corrections, and Department of Veterans Affairs, along with a special report on law enforcement racial profiling policy compliance. Several reports without findings were also filed without objection. For DHS, auditors reported apparent thefts involving false benefit claims in disaster nutrition assistance and Medicaid, a nearly $610,000 altered warrant cashed by a California auto body shop, and multiple asset-control issues, including missing equipment, inventory discrepancies, and improper sales tax paid on exempt vehicle purchases. Members questioned DHS about the warrant fraud and whether other agencies or California officials had been notified. For Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, auditors cited missing museum receipts and problems with change funds at Daisy State Park and War Memorial Stadium; department officials said they are considering cashless payment options and provided an update on the museum loss investigation. For Corrections, auditors reported unauthorized personal fuel-card purchases totaling about $4,500 and a delayed disaster recovery test for critical IT systems. Department officials said staffing has been increased for fuel-card oversight and that a full production disaster recovery test is scheduled soon. For Veterans Affairs, auditors found improper pay for employees who were not working, duplicate vendor payment, and numerous overtime approvals that were not properly authorized; the department said it has tightened overtime approval procedures. The special report said only 203 of 383 law enforcement agencies had responded regarding racial profiling policies, and the Attorney General had notified the remaining agencies that they were not in compliance. The committee requested a list of nonresponding agencies and adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for March 12.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism notified us in April 2004 of the loss of receipts
• November of '25, his office had requested additional information for Parks and Tourism and is waiting receipt

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes and then heard audit reports from Mr. Bullington. Four reports without findings were filed without objection. The Department of Human Services FY24 report contained three findings: suspected fraud involving disaster food assistance and Medicaid benefits by employees, a delayed notification of a forged and cashed state warrant for nearly $610,000, and several fixed-asset and sales-tax errors. DHS officials said they had referred the benefit fraud cases to prosecutors, recovered some restitution, and would change internal procedures so accounts payable staff report such incidents directly to the chief fiscal officer. Committee members questioned the missing assets, the warrant delay, and the tax issue, and the report was deferred to the next meeting so DHS could return with written policy changes. The Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism FY24 report had two findings: the loss of nearly $3,500 in museum receipts, believed to be theft at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and issues with change funds at Daisy State Park and War Memorial Stadium. Agency officials said they had implemented new controls, including a point-of-sale and reservation system for museum rentals and more frequent reconciliation of change funds. Members asked about the criminal case, the statute of limitations, bond board reimbursement, and whether the employee’s final paycheck could be withheld. Mr. Bullington later reported that the prosecutor’s office said the Parks and Tourism investigation remained open and that additional information had been requested from the agency. The committee then deferred that report as well, and adjourned after setting the next meeting for February 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• with certain income. introduced by Senator Wirth, an act relating to taxation, providing a gross receipts
• tax deduction for taxpayers that did not claim a gross receipts tax credit, deduction, or exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill failed to pass yesterday by a vote of 45 yeas, 39 nays, on concurrence, and under the rules
• Members, the first thing we've taken up this morning is Senate concurrent resolutions, so if you're carrying
• There's this Senate concurrent resolution would name the Peggy Martin Rose.
• This Senate concurrent resolution would name the Peggy Martin Rose.
• Concurrent resolutions returned from the Senate with amendments. HCR 32 by ...

Bills: HB410, HR310, HR314, HR316, HR317, HR321, HR275, HR276, HR279, HR282, HR286, HR289, HR292, HR295, HR302, HR319, HR307, HR273, SCR59, SCR61, SCR62, SCR68, SCR69, SCR70, SCR54, SCR55, SCR64, SCR75, HCR32, HB776, HB42, HB119, HB159, HB302, HB1017, HB1028, SB217, SB283, HB953, SB208, HR74, HB998, HB901, HR20, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB646, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, SB97, SB123, SB237, HB36, HB74, HB75, HB258, HB259, HB414, HB459, HB784, HB848, HB956, HB1095, HB1220, HB1252, SB469, SB479

Keywords: recording, privacy, notification, direct conversation, law enforcement, first responder, penalties, oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, the pledge, and a national anthem performance, then moved through several personal privileges and recognitions. Members welcomed a student cancer survivor and entrepreneur, Bella of Brave Bella Bead Company, and also recognized a new legislative assistant, a page leaving for college, and a resolution honoring National Mississippi River Day. The chamber also received conference committee reports and enrollment reports, and returned some previously failed measures to the calendar, including H.R. 119 and H.B. 410. The main floor action centered on a series of Senate concurrent resolutions, most of which were adopted overwhelmingly. These included SCR 59 on re-evaluating flood maps and insurance rates tied to the Comite River Diversion Canal, SCR 61 urging higher reimbursement for behavioral health crisis centers, SCR 62 calling for review of school-zone safety and speed limits, SCR 68 creating a blockchain and digital innovation task force, SCR 69 encouraging continued research to reduce sugarcane burning, SCR 70 supporting the Major Richard Star Act for medically retired combat-wounded veterans, SCR 54 supporting the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act, SCR 55 designating the Peggy Martin Rose as the official state rose, SCR 64 creating a construction manager-at-risk task force, SCR 75 studying a Louisiana maneuvers museum and trail, and SCR 80 creating a task force on the minimum foundation program and long-term teacher pay funding. Most passed with little or no opposition, with SCR 84 on earthquake seismic activity in several parishes amended to adjust task force membership before final adoption. The House also heard a personal privilege statement honoring the late Ponder P.C. Clinton Jr., a noted Black farmer, cattleman, and community leader in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood, and expressed condolences to his family. Later, members received a hurricane-season reminder from Rep. Jay Galle about disaster response procedures and the need to work through parish emergency offices. The transcript ends as the House moves into additional concurrent resolutions returned from the Senate with amendments.