Transcript Highlights:

• First, we have Allie Anderson and then Morgan Chavez.
• And Morgan, go ahead and unmute. Morgan, unmute and go ahead. Are you able to hear me? Yes, we are.
• It's not just going to Bernalillo County, Santa Fe County, and then to the other larger places.
• So even folks in, say, like Vado or Mesquite in Doña Ana County...
• And same for Bernalillo County and Santa Fe County. Thank you, Representative. I wonder if...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County has a resolution. County has a resolution.
• distinction here in Anna Rundle County. distinction here in Anna Rundle County.
• County Fair budget taxation. County Fair budget taxation.
• Prince George's County delegation. Prince George's County delegation.
• County. McGomery County delegation. County. McGomery County delegation.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate opened with an invocation by Reverend Dorene Robinson of Weman Memorial AM Church in Baltimore, followed by a quorum call showing 41 members present. The chamber then spent much of the session recognizing guests and visitors, including members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Morgan State Choir, the Winston Churchill High School varsity golf team, the Elijah Cummings Youth Program, students from several schools, faith leaders, and other community guests. Several senators also introduced personal guests and offered birthday recognitions, including Mrs. Eliza May Robinson and the Secretary of the Senate. On the legislative side, Senate Bill 988 on judicial facilities, stops, detention, and arrest limitation rules was introduced and referred to the Rules Committee. Bond initiatives were also read and referred to the Capital Budget Subcommittee. The chamber took up Senate Bill 108 on wetlands enforcement, but the minority leader said members still had questions, and the bill was special ordered until Friday without objection. The Senate also adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring the Winston Churchill High School varsity golf team for winning the 2025 4A/3A Maryland State Golf Championship, including recognition of senior captain Zoe Kusak’s individual title. Another resolution congratulated Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, North Atlantic Region, for its advocacy and community service. The session ended after committee schedule announcements and a motion to adjourn until the next day, with the Senate agreeing to adjourn until Thursday, February 26 at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Matthew Henson Middle School to win the county title.
• , House Bill 843, Washington County, House Bill 843, Washington County, notice<00:10:54.840> of
• County. County. Thank<00:30:13.080> you,<00:30:13.200> Madam<00:30:13.600> Speaker.
• Basil Morgan, who is an Dr.
• Morgan is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 27, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a prayer, quorum call, and recognition of two House resolutions honoring student achievements. One resolution congratulated the Henry E. Lackey High School boys basketball team for winning the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference title and the Maryland State Championship; the other recognized Charles County spelling bee champion Ethan Ntanga, who will represent Maryland at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The chamber also received Governor Moore’s Supplemental Budget Number Two for fiscal 2027, which was referred to Appropriations. On third reading, the House passed House Bill 843, relating to Washington County tax sale notice changes, by 125-0, and House Bill 888, relating to eligibility for a Washington County property tax credit for disabled veterans, by 124-1. The House then took up Senate Bill 5, as amended, concerning special elections to fill legislative vacancies and related constitutional questions. Members debated whether the bill’s amendments violated the single-subject rule and whether it advanced voter control or, conversely, represented a partisan power grab and a threat to minority representation. Several members explained green or red votes on those grounds. Senate Bill 5 passed the House 93-33. The House and Senate then exchanged messages on the fiscal 2027 budget bills, Senate Bill 282 and Senate Bill 284, after each chamber declined to recede from its amendments and agreed to conference committees. The House appointed conferees for both measures. The session concluded with committee and personal announcements, including upcoming committee meetings, a Jewish Caucus and Women’s Caucus lunch event, a disabilities art show reception, recognition of the doctor of the day, and a motion to recess until Monday, March 30 at 8:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Morgan, and then we'll go to Ms. Rolf.
• My name is John Morgan.
• Morgan, were you able to do the math? Yes, sorry for the delay. John Morgan with Cal Fire.
• The eight Southern California counties. Not the counties that are in the current pilot.
• And that's something that we've learned, especially working with Lake County and Shasta County through

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation held an oversight hearing on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation strategies. The chair opened by stressing that California has reached a tipping point, with repeated community-scale wildfire losses, rising insurance costs, and growing utility wildfire mitigation expenses. The hearing was organized around four panels: what home hardening and defensible space are, community risk reduction and coordination, evaluation of current defensible space programs and proposed investments, and the future of home hardening and the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The first panel featured IBHS, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and local wildfire mitigation advocates. IBHS described wildfire spread through embers, flames, and radiant heat, emphasizing that structure separation, removing combustible materials within the first five feet of a home, and combining multiple mitigation measures significantly reduce loss. It highlighted its Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standards, including an “essential” and “enhanced” level, and said California is ahead of other states but still needs scalable, standardized, and sustainably funded mitigation. The LAO outlined key policy questions for the Legislature, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, measurement of success, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. The chair and panelists discussed estimated costs, including roughly $15,000 for a basic retrofit and about $50,000 for more extensive ignition-resistant construction, and whether state funding should focus on the most cost-effective initial measures. The second panel focused on scaling adoption through local coordination, education, financing, and community-based programs. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption problem and said the state should not try to pay for every home, but instead target high-leverage interventions across the “customer journey,” including education, financing, trusted certification, and neighborhood network effects. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council described free home assessments, small retrofit grants, Firewise community support, and the importance of neighborhood-level action, local capacity, and cultural change. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described its locally funded model, grant program, public education efforts, and an Ember Ready program that helps residents navigate home hardening and Zone Zero compliance. The chair repeatedly emphasized the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, stronger incentives, better insurance discounts, and more use of local, utility, federal, and private funding sources. The third and fourth panels addressed Cal Fire’s defensible space inspection program, the proposed defensible space financial assistance program, and broader state investments. Cal Fire said homes lacking compliant defensible space are far more likely to be damaged or destroyed and requested ongoing funding and staffing to stabilize inspections statewide; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as GGRF or a reinstated SRA fee. Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal explained that Zone Zero sets a minimum standard, local governments cannot go below it, and grant prioritization will favor jurisdictions that submit inspections. Cal Fire also said the new defensible space financial assistance program would focus on ember-resistant zone-zero work and, in the Southern California counties covered by the legislation, would assist about 3,125 homes at an estimated $8,000 per home. In the final panel, the State Fire Marshal described California’s layered strategy of parcel-level home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, along with technical support, financial assistance, and incentives such as insurance discounts and builder marketing. The overall theme was that California must move from isolated efforts to a coordinated, science-based, and scalable statewide approach to reduce wildfire losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• County agencies like their health and human services agencies and their county attorney's offices are
• My name is Morgan McDowell.
• My name is Morgan McDowell.
• My name is Morgan McDowell.
• My name is Morgan McDowell.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the last 18 years now, I've been an investment banker, first at Morgan Stanley, now Wells Fargo.
• And I joined Morgan Stanley as an investment banker in 2008 as the financial crisis was hitting.
• And uh I joined Morgan Stanley Katrina.
• And uh I joined Morgan Stanley as<00:16:40.920> an<00:16:40.960> investment<00:16:41.360
• /c><00:18:50.640> health<00:18:50.840> departments,<00:18:51.920> you in the county

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 24 March, 2026; 11:15 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered nominees to the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering: Tom Elkins, Todd Freeman, and Aaron Washington. Each described their background in the hair industry and expressed support for making licensing and regulation more workable while still protecting health and safety. Members discussed the need for a balance between oversight and burden, with the chair emphasizing that inspectors should educate rather than intimidate. The committee then voted to advise and consent on the nominees, and the motion carried. The committee next took up the reappointment of Jim Perry to the State Board of Health. Perry described his background in state and federal policy, finance, and health-related work, and said his board service had highlighted operational problems in state government, including personnel and procurement bottlenecks, staffing shortages, succession challenges, and the need for better, more consistent data to guide the state health plan and certificate-of-need decisions. He suggested continued budget support for policy and planning staff, more frequent updates to the health plan, and a review of whether prior procurement and personnel reforms went too far. Members asked about his statement of economic interest and discussed the broader need for better health care information and administration. The committee voted to advise and consent on Perry’s reappointment. It then handled a block of nominations to the Board of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists, voting to take them up and to advise and consent. Finally, the committee addressed the nomination of Dr. Anthony to the State Board of Health, noting that the seat had become vacant due to a recent death and voting to return the nomination to the governor as a procedural matter. The meeting concluded with a motion to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• gentle lady from Charles County. gentle lady from Charles County.
• of Prince George's County. of Prince George's County.
• <00:25:09.320> And County. Thank you, Madam Speaker. And County.
• Number one, Morgan Castro, aunt, Calvert County, District 29C, Patuxent High School. Paula Sarcus.
• Number one, Morgan Castro,<00:26:42.320> aunt,<00:26:43.360> Calvert<00:26:44.160> County

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 9, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, established a quorum, and approved the previous day’s journal. The main formal action was the reading and adoption of a House resolution honoring the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for their World War II service, with remarks emphasizing their role in clearing a massive mail backlog, supporting troop morale, and breaking barriers for African American women in the military. The resolution was read in full and presented on March 9, 2026. The chamber then handled introductory legislation and Senate messages on consent calendars. House Bills 1632 through 1642 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives 62 through 65 were referred to Appropriations. Senate Bill 439 was introduced in the House and referred to Economic Matters, and Senate Bill 69 was introduced and referred to Government, Labor, and Elections. No objections or recorded votes were noted on these referrals. The remainder of the meeting consisted largely of caucus and guest announcements. Members announced upcoming caucus meetings, a high school shadow day, an Iftar dinner hosted by the Muslim and Women’s Caucuses, a Women’s Caucus election with in-person and remote voting times, and other constituent and guest recognitions, including District nights and visits from AFSCME Maryland Council 3, the Junior League of Annapolis, foster youth participants, and student pages. The House then adjourned on motion of the Majority Leader until Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill addressed the protective order process by allowing applicants to keep their county of residence
• The Chair calls Ronald Morgan, Jr. that is subject to the Office of Court Administration. Mr.
• Chairman, members, Ronald Morgan.
• Morgan, thank you for being here. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Chair calls Judge Guy Herman.
• If it's difficult to do that in the county. The training is available free of charge.

Bills: HB368, HB3311, HB1734, HB2495, HB2716, HB793, HB3376, HB2524, HB3421, HB3446, HB3181

Keywords: electronic devices, family violence, criminal prosecution, protective orders, tracking, harassment, family allowance, decedent's estate, surviving spouse, minor children, inheritance, child support, maintenance, HB 1734, Family Code, Section 155.207, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, SAPCR, continuing exclusive jurisdiction, jurisdiction transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• > emergency and county firefighters, emergency and county firefighters, emergency medical<00:04
• This requires state and county firefighters exempt from commercial driver's license to be subject to
• This requires a state and county<00:05:24.200> firefighters<00:05:24.840> exempt<00:05:
• 25.160> from county firefighters exempt from county firefighters exempt from commercial<00:05:
• Next up is SB 2835 relating to liquor and counters in counties of fewer than 200,000 residents. add a

Bills: SB888, SB2479, SB2489, SB2519, SB2521, SB2527, SB2575, SB2591, SB2611, SB2665, SB2667, SB2695, SB2697, SB2713, SB2730, SB2751, SB2765, SB2795, SB2797, SB2806, SB2812, SB2818, SB2835, SB2849, SB2851, SB2896, SB2922, SB2970, SB2972, SB2973

Keywords: SB888, Hawaii, consumer protection, smart home security, smart household security device, home security camera, video doorbell, Ring, Nest, connected devices, internet of things, IoT, privacy, data privacy, law enforcement access, police requests, search warrant, judicial warrant, subpoena, emergency disclosure

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in decision-making only session and took up a long list of Senate bills, mostly advancing them with either no amendments or committee amendments. Early measures included SB 888, which bars smart household security device operators from sharing user data with law enforcement without consent or a warrant, and SB 2479, which allows certain defendants to seek reduced sentences based on family violence, dating violence, or child abuse history; both were adopted, with SB 2479 amended for technical and procedural changes. The committee also adopted SB 2489 on invasive species provisions in Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity leases, SB 2519 on Law Enforcement Standards Board deadlines, SB 2521 and SB 2527 on CDL-related exemptions and training/policies for emergency personnel, and SB 2575 on firearm-related mandatory minimum penalties, which was amended to clarify scope and set a far-future effective date. Several transportation and public safety bills were also approved. SB 2591 created a Waikiki refuse-collection pilot program; SB 2611 expanded criminal trespass rules for school premises to weekends and holidays, though one member raised concerns about use of school property as a park; SB 2665 required driver-license renewal applicants with recent citations to complete a road-safety course, later narrowed to moving violations only; SB 2667 restricted towing vehicles from far-left lanes; SB 2695 clarified crosswalk duties; SB 2697 prohibited driving on shoulders except in limited cases; and SB 2812 required driver testing on dangers posed by larger vehicles, with court-ordered timing for re-examination. Most of these measures passed unanimously or with one or more members recording no votes or reservations, but they were still adopted. The committee also advanced SB 2713 on restricting certain pesticide use near elderly care facilities, SB 2730 on warrantless arrest and detention factors for petty misdemeanors and violations, SB 2765 on condominium foreclosure rental income, SB 2795 on flag display rights in housing associations with health and safety carve-outs, SB 2797 on gift card fraud, SB 2806 on real estate listing restrictions, SB 2818 on boating and ocean recreation penalties, SB 2835 on liquor licensing and education funding, SB 2849 on public meeting notice requirements, SB 2851 on a deafness designation for vehicle registration, SB 2896 lowering the commercial driving age to 18, SB 2922 on cooperative association definitions, SB 2970 on state contracting conflicts involving relatives, SB 2972 on temporary Oahu spearing restrictions for certain fish, and SB 2973 on banning jug-line fishing. A few bills drew objections over breadth or penalties, especially the boating and fishing measures, but the committee still adopted the recommendations. SB 2751 on workers’ compensation prescription drug rules was deferred indefinitely, and the meeting ended with the chair noting upcoming joint and committee meetings for the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to run a bill later on this session that I'm running that will enable counties to maybe come
• together and have county facilities located regionally, similar to the state of Tennessee does.
• Right now, one of the biggest problems that OIDs faces is if you have an inmate that is a Comanche County
• inmate and they're being held in Mogee County,... ...an inmate that is a Comanche County inmate and
• they're being held in Mogee County, they may have to spend the entirety of the day just driving to meet

Bills: HB4421, HB4426, HB4432, HB4329, HB3551, HB3763, HB1411, HB2730, HB3465, HB3649, HB3650, HB3674, HB3941, HB3970, HB3979, HB3980, HB3981, SB1074

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Bills: HB4421, HB4426, HB4432, HB4329, HB3551, HB3763, HB1411, HB2730, HB3465, HB3649, HB3650, HB3674, HB3941, HB3970, HB3979, HB3980, HB3981, SB1074

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me just say for the record, I got a case right now in Shelby County that I'll be in court with in
• Let me just say for the record, I got a case right now in Shelby County that I'll be in court with in
• I've dealt with a property case down in Dallas County, and the problem was simply it was so old that
• 20.000> and<00:52:20.240> the<00:52:20.480> problem<00:52:20.720> was County
• and the and the problem was County and the and the problem was simply<00:52:21.280> it<00:52:

Bills: SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, HB132, HB37, HB13, HB54, HB126, HB7, SB30, HB188, HB189, HB26, HB264, HB288, HB248, HB249, HB227, HB228

Keywords: Lieutenant Governor, vacancy, governor appointment, Alabama Constitution, state government, media monitoring, government contracts, state agencies, local agencies, media regulations, transparency, dental insurance, medical loss ratio, premium regulation, insurance commissioner, rebate, consumer protection, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery

Transcript Highlights:

• that has a circle that actually had an outage, that's Gillespie County.
• I live in that county, and I'm probably just a little bit below that lower line.
• Morgan Whetstone, sir.
• She calls uh Morgan Whetstone, Laura Miller, Deborah Simmons, and Jim Crosby.
• OK, Morgan Whetstone, we shall you as Morgan Whetstone.

Bills: HB 45, HB 755, HB 1232, HB 1555, HB 2460, HB 2702, HB 2973, HB 3120, HB 3225, HB 3314, HB 3356, HB 3371, HB 3634, HB 3638, HB 4247, HB 4283, HB 4290, HB 4302, HB 4503, HB 4511, HB 4565, HB 4581, HB 4627, HB 4632, HB 4660, HB 4668, HB 4960, HB 5042

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• counties, much like I have.
• I'm a resident of Llano County, which is a rural county, and I'm acutely aware of the urgent need for
• Why is it obvious that the County Commissioner's Court of Cameron County does a less efficient job of
• I'm sure Cameron County does, and I know that there's obviously a lot of people in Cameron County who
• So I just wanted to note that for the record, that the County Executive for Cameron County, Paranoia.

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• has a circle that actually had an outage is Gillespie County.
• I live in that county, and I'm probably just a little bit below that lower line.
• Elizabeth Eskridge, Allison Hoke, Isabelle Lange, Morgan Whetstone.
• Morgan Whetstone? Yes, sir.
• Counties do not have money to spend on waste.

Bills: HB45, HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money

Transcript Highlights:

• The San Joaquin County that I represent, we have seen a 200% increase in human trafficking.
• Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, and Mule Days at the Tri-County Fairgrounds.
• Thank you to the member of Orange County and to everyone for supporting our small businesses.
• Lori Morgan, who joined us today on the floor. Dr.
• Morgan a big round of applause. Welcome to the Assembly, Dr. Morgan.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a long Daily File with several major policy bills and multiple commemorative resolutions. The most debated measure was AB 379 on human trafficking and child exploitation. The bill was presented as a stronger, more comprehensive version that increases penalties for adults soliciting minors, adds a loitering offense tied to purchasing commercial sex, raises fines for businesses that facilitate trafficking, creates a Survivor Support Fund, and establishes grants for victim services and vertical prosecution. Several members spoke in support, while Assemblymember Sharp-Collins raised concerns that the loitering provision could be vague and disproportionately enforced against Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ people. The bill passed after debate, with the clerk reporting 72 noes and the measure still passing. The Assembly also passed AB 1415, which expands the Office of Health Care Affordability’s authority to review more health systems, private equity and hedge fund acquisitions, and managed service organizations in order to better track cost drivers and medical debt. Other policy bills approved included AB 711 on coordinating court reporters for motion hearings, AB 1142 on horse event entry fees, AB 309 on preserving access to sterile syringes for HIV and hepatitis prevention, AB 358 on allowing victims to consent to searches of hidden surveillance devices like AirTags and spy cameras, AB 592 on outdoor dining for restaurants, AB 1341 on clarifying contractor licensing violations, AB 752 on easing child care center siting, AB 1166 on extending debt-settlement rules to commercial financing, AB 806 on mobile home resident cooling rights, AB 972 on explicit sex discrimination protections in higher education, AB 416 on emergency room 5150 authority, AB 632 on expedited collection of penalties for serious local code violations, AB 672 on PERB notification and intervention rights, AB 876 on CRNA scope of practice, and AB 760 on temporary mobile home housing after disasters. Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though AB 672 drew sharp opposition from Assemblymember DeMaio over concerns about PERB and state bureaucracy. The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing May observances and public service groups. These included ACR 63 designating May as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month, ACR 69 for California Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Month, ACR 76 for California Small Business Month, ACR 77 for Drowning Awareness and Prevention Month, HR 36 for Lung Cancer Action Week, HR 39 for National Public Works Week, and HR 41 for National Hospital Week. Members used the resolutions to highlight local institutions, public health, and community services, and each was adopted after co-author rolls and voice votes. The session ended after the Assembly completed the day’s file and moved through a series of routine procedural motions and adjournment-related business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Counties can coordinate and share a court reporter in smaller counties where they don't necessarily need
• Now we have Ronald Morgan, who did register as a resource on this. Mr.
• Morgan? Thank you for being here. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks, Dean.
• still has some wonderful rural areas, but by and large, it is a wonderful suburban county.
• It is treated with the suburban counties and not the rural counties.

Bills: SB1538, SB2883, HB1734, HB2340, HB2350, HB3376

Keywords: digital court reporting, court reporting, court reporter, electronic recording, audio recording, video recording, transcription, verbatim record, judicial administration, Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial System, courts, depositions, grand jury, referee, court commissioner, court technology, courtroom technology, access to justice, accuracy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair recognizes Representative Morgan Close.
• Austin, San Antonio, Webb County? Guadalupe County.
• How's everything in Wilson County? It's good.
• The Chair calls Morgan. No, the Chair calls Steve. Olsen? No, no, no, no. Turquoise Morgan Hodges.
• I'm currently on the board for Hidalgo County, Texas Farm Bureau, as well as the Hidalgo County Irrigation

Bills: HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479, HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, veterinarian, veterinary medicine, veterinary telemedicine, telehealth, telemedicine, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, VCPR, animal health, livestock, pets, remote care, electronic means, telephone consultation, controlled substances, prescription drugs

Summary: The second bill, House Bill 3469, was introduced to address pest control regulations concerning nuisance birds. Representative Campos explained how the bill proposes non-lethal methods to deter these birds, such as the use of laser lights and sounds, which avoids conflict with both state and federal regulations. The committee heard impassioned testimonies from members of the public who shared firsthand experiences regarding the adverse effects of these birds on property and public health. The meeting concluded with both bills being left pending, reflecting a desire for further deliberation among the committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know Tanisha Husbub, our clerk from Harris County, is here.
• Representative Curry, you're from McClendon County. Is that correct? McClendon County. Yes, sir.
• Dunham law firm there in McClendon County?
• I don't know if he's in McClendon County right now or not. OK. You know who Jim Dunham is? county.
• , HR 801 by Morgan, HR 802 by Moody, HR H.R. 803 by Schaffner, H.R. 804 by Schaffner.

Bills: HJR5, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB1330, HB2110, HB2143, HCR64, HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, Madam Chair, next we have Jerry Ann Morgan. Ms.
• So, Morgan? Okay. State your name for the record. happens.
• So, Morgan? Okay. State your name for the record. Wonderful.
• The bill requires a county with a population of more than 125,000 persons, and allows all other counties
• The bill requires a county with a population of more than 125,000 persons, or allows all other counties

Bills: HB2072, HB2251, HB2279, HB2308, HB2323, HB2342, HB2400, HB2408, HB2456, HB2660, HB2697, HB2868, HB2873, HB2877, HB2910, HB2946, HB2955, HB2991, HB4001, HB4010

Keywords: Cesar Chavez, public holiday, state law, holiday repeal, Arizona Revised Statutes, midwifery, medication administration, healthcare, patient safety, advisory committee, licensed midwives, river trips, liability, outfitter, Grand Canyon, negligence, risk management, contractual waiver, dental practice, business registration

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2308, which would prohibit dental insurers and their holding companies from owning dental practices or other businesses regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and payer control over provider care, while Delta Dental of Arizona opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create regulatory burdens. After discussion about private equity ownership in dentistry and whether nonprofit insurers should be exempted, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2308 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, restricts youth-targeted marketing, and increases penalties for selling to minors or manufacturing/distributing without a license. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, and industry representatives, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency, curb illegal products, and strengthen youth access enforcement. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued the bill should instead create a full tobacco retail licensing system and include broader nicotine definitions, while also warning that enforcement resources would be insufficient. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 6-1. House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The bill allows a person or organization that files a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before it qualifies for the ballot, with retroactive application to withdrawals filed beginning January 1, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality rules, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and board oversight of nursing education programs. The sponsor said the bill responds to long-standing audit findings and aims to improve fairness and timeliness, while nursing board officials opposed provisions affecting education oversight and warned about patient safety, costs, and liability. Nurses and other supporters described delayed investigations and the need for expungement relief. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote. Additional bills heard included House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures and related installations; it passed 7-0 after supporters described a family hardship case and committee members criticized HOA overreach. House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, also passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor, attorneys, and a consumer describing repeated repair failures on a leased vehicle. The committee also began hearing House Bill 4010, which would establish a Board of Genetic Counselors under the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners and set licensure and disciplinary rules, but the transcript ends before any final action on that bill.