Transcript Highlights:

• There's also a chart if we bonds.
• All can sell a 10-year bond cheaper than the United States at a lower interest rate.
• <05:20:05.200> cheaper that can sell a 10-year bond cheaper that can sell a 10-year bond cheaper
• , they Social Security redeems its bonds, they Social Security redeems its bonds, we<05:22:22.798
• Do you really think the bond markets aren't going to go, "Hey, they're doubling U.S. debt.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the protest bond is um blank<00:23:10.880> the<00:23:11.120> cap<00:23:11.720> so
• But if I can bond fund it and do something big, I'd like to put that amendment into the bill.
• But if I can bond fund it and do something big, I'd like to put that amendment into the bill.
• Because when you float bonds, you need certainty.
• competing for General obligation bonds competing for General obligation bonds for<01:08:49.480><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• folks in here and then, of course, the final thing we usually do on these even-numbered years is a bonding
• We're one of 13 states that are AAA bond rated.
• Do you support looking to bonding money for things like county infrastructure, the tech build-outs, or
• <00:10:31.960> money Do you support looking to bonding money Do you support looking to bonding
• One of the reasons Minnesota has had such stable budgets and been triple-A bond rated is our revenue

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm anticipating that the judge would only allow people to do this who are on bond.
• If someone can't make bond and they're in custody until their sentencing date, I can't imagine the judge
• If someone is on bond and their bond is exonerated whenever they're sentenced, their bond no longer ceases
• Would the judge be able to set either a different bond or extend the bond to ensure that they show up

Bills: SB1636, SB1584, SB1730, SB1255, SB1627, SB137, SB2062, SB1470, SB1284

Keywords: cold case, unsolved homicide, violent crime, case file review, law enforcement, police records, victim family, immediate family member, designated person, forensic testing, witness reinterview, investigative leads, cold case unit, unsolved murder, public safety, Title 21, Oklahoma statutes, sexual assault, evidence kits, DNA testing

Transcript Highlights:

• I was also wondering if there is a possibility of bonding or a bonding request for this project. fully
• Representative Hussain: Yes, they'll be asking for bonding next year.
• Or should this be more of a bonding project or maybe in tandem?
• However, I don't think these can be bonded.
• I can ask, but we don't believe that trees can be bonded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Permission for one final follow-up related to bonding. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• or for bond obligations that they may have.
• Whether they be municipalities or counties, to fall out from their bond obligations.
• You know, of bonds.
• We do know that it's going to have an impact on our bonds.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes by lowering assessment caps on non-homestead property, expanding homestead exemptions over time, and allowing local governments to increase exemptions further. The sponsor argued the measure would provide broad property tax relief while requiring revenues to be directed to core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resource projects, with a trust fund intended to help local governments transition. Senators raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal score, the effect on counties, cities, school districts, and special districts, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. Several amendments were debated. Senator Polsky’s amendment to explicitly authorize user fees and non-ad valorem assessments to offset lost property tax revenue failed. Senator Avila’s amendment broadening permissible uses of ad valorem revenue to include county constitutional officers and other expenditures approved by local governing bodies was adopted after debate over whether the bill would otherwise underfund essential functions. Senator Smith’s sunset amendment, which would have made the constitutional changes expire after five years, failed. Senator Smith’s amendment to allow tourism development tax revenue to support public safety and education also failed. Senator Graal’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund language was adopted, with supporters arguing the Constitution should not promise an unfunded account. Additional late-file amendments were considered. Senator Berman’s proposal to change the ballot title to more neutrally describe the measure as affecting property taxes and local community service reductions failed. Senator Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal was adopted, preserving school taxes. Senator Smith’s amendment narrowing the non-homestead assessment cap reduction to small businesses only failed. The committee then returned to the bill as amended and continued questioning the sponsor about eligibility, fiscal impacts, and whether the proposal could lead to local governments offsetting lost revenue through special assessments or other charges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, next House Bill 1164 relating to highway revenue bonds, which restores the revenue bond authorization
• But with financing districts, with TIF, they all have to be underwritten, right, for the bonds.
• the highway revenue bond authorization for DOT.
• Moving on to House Bill 1164 relating to highway revenue bonds, which restores the highway revenue bond
• which restores the Highway revenue bonds which restores the revenue<01:13:37.480> Bond<01:13:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several transportation and arts-related measures. HB 307 on special member plates drew written support from Protect Ohana, and HB 531 on a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center specialty plate received strong support from the Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society, both emphasizing cancer research, patient care, outreach, and public awareness. HB 706 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1231 would expand red light photo enforcement; both drew support from transportation and safety advocates, while the Judiciary raised concerns about citation volume, staffing, manual processing, and the need for consultation and a phased rollout. The committee also discussed HB 54, which increases penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses; the Attorney General’s office supported the enforcement rationale and fingerprinting language, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it adds harsh penalties and jail time despite broader efforts to reduce excessive punishment. For the camera-enforcement bills, the Department of Transportation said the red-light and speed-camera programs would be expanded gradually, with existing intersections converted first and additional locations added over time, and noted that the system would require about $2 million and significant automation for the Judiciary. The Judiciary repeatedly asked for more time, public input on camera locations, and effective dates that would allow staffing and system changes. On HB 1166, which funds the automated speed enforcement program, DOT proposed technical amendments to make the citations non-moving violations and to align the statute with the red-light program; the Judiciary again said it had no position on the policy but needed time and consultation to absorb the workload. HB 235, a North Shore red-light imaging bill, drew similar Judiciary concerns and support from a testifier who said enforcement would improve compliance and reduce crashes. The committee also heard HB 1159 on commercial harbor evacuations, with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supporting the bill as a way to give harbor masters enforceable authority to order vessels out during emergencies. The discussion focused on whether the measure would affect all commercial harbor users, including smaller fishing vessels, and whether it would conflict with Coast Guard authority; the bill’s proponents said it would let the state enforce orders already issued by the captain of the port and protect cargo lanes during crises. Finally, HB 17 on the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was described by HCDA as a housekeeping and structural bill that would update its purposes, allow it to assist other agencies, and replace multiple county boards with a single program reporting to the 17-member board. DHHL supported the bill because of potential transit and infrastructure benefits for Kapolei and nearby homestead developments, and committee members discussed future financing tools such as improvement districts, TIF, and other mechanisms to fund infrastructure early in the development process.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the bonds and friendships built during these opportunities are beyond explanation.
• That group has bonded and provided support to each other.
• That group has bonded and provided support to each other.
• That group has bonded and provided support to each other.
• people in that group that he had bonded people in that group that he had bonded with<00:47:55.839

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's roughly what we think of as sort of the equilibrium on the 10-year bond rate.
• That is the calculated amount of principal and interest on all bonds issued and outstanding, all bonds
• authorized and unissued, and all bonds being proposed in the executive budget.
• c> presentation with a bond sitting around presentation with a bond sitting around 10%<01:59:04.520><
• We do not issue bonds based upon the projects that you do; we issue bonds based upon how the state spends

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held its first informational briefing for 2025, beginning with member introductions and then hearing an economic outlook presentation from Dr. Eugene Tian of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Dr. Tian said Hawaii’s economy was in relatively good shape in several areas, especially construction, which he described as at a historical high, with construction employment above 40,000 monthly and building permit values and contracting tax base both up sharply. He also noted real estate sales had rebounded in 2024, the labor market had stabilized with unemployment around 2.9%, and initial unemployment claims were below 2019 levels. At the same time, he highlighted challenges including inflation running above the national rate, a shrinking labor force, lower employment compared with 2023, and continued weakness in visitor spending and arrivals. He said future growth would likely come from health care, professional services, construction, tourism recovery, and diversified sectors such as renewable energy, aquaculture, creative industries, and technology. Dr. Tian also discussed Hawaii’s economic structure and recovery, saying the state remains more concentrated in a few industries than the U.S. overall, with government and hospitality making up larger shares of the economy. He said non-tourism sectors had recovered, but tourism-related jobs and output were still below pre-pandemic levels, with Maui and the visitor industry still affected by the wildfire and COVID-19 impacts. He projected tourism and non-agricultural wage and salary jobs would not fully recover until 2027, and said population trends remain a concern because of aging, the likelihood of deaths outpacing births in coming years, and reliance on in-migration. After his presentation, the chair said questions would be taken later and the committee took a short break. After the break, Dr. Carano of the Hawaii Executive Director’s office presented a second outlook, saying Hawaii’s economy in 2025 looked better than 2024 overall, though he emphasized substantial uncertainty tied to the incoming federal administration. He said possible changes to tariffs, tax policy, immigration, and federal spending could raise inflation and keep interest rates higher than previously expected, which would affect housing, consumer debt, the dollar, and Hawaii’s visitor industry. He noted that U.S. visitors account for roughly three-quarters of visitor spending in the state, making federal policy especially important. He also said deregulation could be a long-term positive but would not likely have much effect in 2025 or 2026. As an additional risk, he pointed to bird flu and its effect on livestock, poultry, and egg prices. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 229, Chair, Appropriations Committee, Maryland Transportation Authority Revenue Bond Limit
• <00:13:05.800> Limit<00:13:06.360> Increase, Authority Revenue Bond Limit Increase,
• Authority Revenue Bond Limit Increase, Favorable.
• <00:13:29.880> This existing bond issuance requirement.
• This existing bond issuance requirement.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Father Mark Bilek of Westminster, introduced by the Senator from the 42nd District and praised by members for his community service and Lenten message of reconciliation. The prayer was journalized. The chamber then recognized several guests, including interns, family members, a shadowing student, and the doctor of the day, Dr. Ann Benfield, before moving to floor business. A scheduling note indicated a light floor agenda, with committee work later in the day and a longer floor session expected the next day. The Senate considered several second-reading committee reports and moved multiple bills to third reading, generally without objection. These included House Bill 229, increasing Maryland Transportation Authority bond capacity from $4 billion to $5 billion; House Bill 266, allowing resource-sharing revenues to support state communications infrastructure, with an amendment conforming it to Senate Bill 85; House Bill 472, extending and adjusting the theatrical production tax credit; House Bill 607, setting constitutional officers’ salaries; House Bill 810, creating a study on blockchain-based lease recordation verification with an amendment adding the Maryland Blockchain Association; House Bill 1095, granting a Calvert County property tax credit for former tobacco barns; House Bill 1142, creating a task force on county and municipal revenue structures; and House Bill 1165, addressing apprenticeship program accountability and completion. The Senate also advanced Senate Bill 956, authorizing the Maryland Transportation Authority to waive portions of video tolls or civil penalties on delinquent accounts, with a sponsor amendment. Members briefly joked about April Fools’ Day during the proceedings, but the chamber continued to adopt reports and amendments without recorded opposition. At the end of the session, leaders announced committee schedules for the afternoon and the next day, including Finance, Triple E, Budget and Taxation, and Judicial Proceedings meetings. The Senate then held a quorum call, confirmed 45 members present, and adjourned until Thursday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> House Bill 143, an act relating to fiduciary bonds. >> Representative Elliott. >> Gentleman from
• <00:06:36.560> Representative<00:06:37.120> Elliott, fiduciary bonds.
• Representative Elliott, fiduciary bonds.
• > fiduciary remove the requirement that a fiduciary remove the requirement that a fiduciary bond
• be signed by the fiduciary in the bond be signed by the fiduciary in the presence<00:07:01.120> of

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:04 Orders of the Day 06:01 HB 143 06:11 HB 164 08:07 HB 314 11:07 HB 398 21:17 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 29:02 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 34:01 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 35:40 ConC/Rules Report 40:15 Floor Amendments 41:15 Adjournment 41:26, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call showing 95 members present. The chamber approved the prior journal, received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 20 and 68 and requested concurrence, and then moved to floor action on several bills. House Bill 143, relating to fiduciary bonds, was explained as removing the requirement that a fiduciary sign a bond in the presence of a court clerk or notary public; it passed 94-0. House Bill 164, relating to hearing aid coverage and related services, was described as increasing the coverage cap from $1,400 to $2,500, updating the definition of hearing aid, and adding network adequacy requirements; it passed 93-0 with one abstention. The House then considered House Bill 314, relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declared an emergency. Supporters said the bill was intended to address long-standing concerns about KentuckyWired management and oversight. A committee substitute and floor amendment were adopted, and the bill was explained as moving KCNA into the Finance and Administration Cabinet, transferring its functions to the Commonwealth Office of Technology, abolishing the separate executive director position, and reconstituting the board with new members and appointments. The bill passed 80-13. House Bill 398, relating to decommissioning costs for electric generating units, was presented as allowing terminal net salvage to be included in rates so utilities can recover end-of-life plant costs over time rather than through larger future spikes; after questions about PSC authority and safeguards, it passed 78-15. After the orders of the day concluded, members made announcements about upcoming committee meetings and a birthday recognition. House Resolution 7, recognizing guiding principles for elections in Kentucky, was reported as having passed unanimously in committee and was adopted without objection. The House also received the report of the Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee, which referred several bills and resolutions to standing committees and posted House Bills 194 and 393 for the next regular orders. The chamber then adjourned until 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's got a dedicated percentage of the severance tax bonds, similar to the Water Trust Board and the
• Again, it's that. of severance tax bonds. So, you know, it won't be that high forever.
• if we tell the State Board of Finance that we're going to be changing the use of the severance tax bonds
• Behavioral health care received $2.5 million of bond proceeds in 2004-2005, around that time period.
• This amounts to up to $357.8 million, which comes from a high amount of severance tax bond proceeds.

Transcript Highlights:

• They chose, rather than going out and having bond issues all the time, to dedicate a big chunk of that
• sales tax to paying off all those bonds and not borrowing anymore.
• Other than the bonds that we did for road.
• You get additional money for debt service, so if you have a voters-approved bond, state law allows you
• to collect taxes to pay off those bonds.

Bills: SB9, SB 9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit, school assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 145, also a governor bill, um, was aimed at providing the state Transportation commission with bonding
• years, the new revenue to support the debt service on those bonds.
• non-recurring general fund, zero impact to the state's STB capacity, zero impact to the state's geo bond
• capacity, and zero impact to the state's sponge bond capacity.
• We can pass the bond, people choose to buy those bonds.

Transcript Highlights:

• This debt can be issued in forms of bonds or loans and is often held by foreign and U.S. investors.
• These bonds or loans are often held by foreign and U.S. investors, banks, and private creditors.
• This debt can be issued in forms of bonds or loans and is often held by foreign and U.S. investors. forms
• Both investors in and issuers of sovereign debt want a stable legal regime for these bonds.
• Otherwise, bonds are more volatile and issuers have difficulty borrowing cheaply.

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays. The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process. Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• And our other member has to be experienced in finance because of the bond aspect and the loans.
• Well, I mentioned that we have bonds, so what we do... is we we issue bonds and these are not general
• revenue bonds, these are backed by... the mortgages.
• So the veterans get loans that qualify for our program, and we use the bonds to purchase those loans.
• It's just like being back in the service again, everybody's, you know, there's just that instant bond

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the purpose of this is really conforming to the time period of the debt service on all the bonds
• of revenue uh which would be approved by the council would at least line up for the duration of the bond
• the duration of the bond repayments. the duration of the bond repayments.
• <01:13:48.239> earlier the ability to pay off the bonds earlier the ability to pay off the
• uh are repaid uh due the uh city bonds uh are repaid uh due to<01:16:25.520> some<01:16:25.679

Bills: HR1, HF387

Keywords: January 6 insurrection, pardon, law enforcement, violent crimes, public safety, justice system, political accountability, Blaine, local sales tax, special tax, restaurant tax, lodging tax, admissions tax, amusement tax, hotel tax, redevelopment, capital improvements, municipal finance, bonding authority, tourism tax

Transcript Highlights:

• or have bonding authorization.
• here but in many instances as I see it before these local entities go for a property tax increase bond
• or have bonding authorization not they want to do a bond or have bonding authorization and they understand
• I think it's $2 per surety bond. We get some funds there, too. But those have been stable.
• I think it's $2 per surety bond. We get some funds there, too. But those have been stable.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• bond multiple times.
• then a bond for phase three.
• bond multiple times.
• then a bond for phase three.
• then a bond for phase three.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill seeks to add jury bonds to the list of items that may still be filed in person.
• A question was raised about how clerks were suggesting that a jury bond be paid, and the response was
• Because jury bonds can sometimes be thousands of dollars, those fees can add up.
• Senator Luneau said he was trying to protect whoever is filing the bond.
• He noted the time-sensitive nature of the jury bond.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary A Committee met on May 5, 2026, with five members present and adopted the April 28 minutes. The committee then heard and favorably reported several measures, including HCR 31, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to study replacing or clarifying the term “foreign” in state law; HB 263, allowing the 14th JDC magistrate judge to handle certain specialty court felony matters; HB 299, clarifying paper filing rules for jury bonds and related payment issues; HB 535, simplifying hospital-based acknowledgments of paternity by removing the two-witness requirement while keeping notarization; HB 571, codifying the 19th JDC’s complex litigation section program; and HB 538, increasing the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court fee cap from $15 to $75 to help offset court costs. The committee also reported HB 215, raising the small succession affidavit threshold from $125,000 to $200,000, and HB 226, adding a 10.1 conference requirement before requests for admissions are deemed admitted, with discussion about discovery fairness and default judgment exceptions. The committee also took up HB 324, which makes judicial stipend increases permanent and adds a 2.7% salary increase for judges effective July 1, 2027; an amendment restoring the second year of the COLA was adopted, and the bill was reported with amendments. HB 1043, raising the jurisdictional amount in Jefferson Parish first and second parish courts, was amended to increase the amount from $35,000 to $50,000 and then reported with amendments. HCR 6, directing the Law Institute to study forced heirship and disinherison issues, was amended to add reporting language and related Civil Code references and then reported with amendments. HB 1006, changing summary judgment deadlines to give opponents more time to respond, was amended and reported by a 3-2 vote after roll call. Two more substantive bills drew extended debate. HB 1239 would strengthen the presumption that parents share physical custody equally unless a court finds that arrangement infeasible or not in the child’s best interest; supporters framed it as a parental-rights measure, while an attorney in opposition warned it would increase litigation, reduce stability for children, and be used as leverage in child support disputes. Despite the opposition, the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 190, as amended, would create a duty of reasonable care for certain software/app providers toward minors and require expert testimony, while excluding manufacturers; supporters said it was aimed at protecting children from harmful platform design, but opponents argued the proposal was unnecessary because existing tort law already covers negligence and warned it could create new causes of action and uncertainty over whether software is a “product.” The committee heard testimony from the Louisiana State Law Institute, the sponsor, and outside witnesses, but the transcript ends before final action on HB 190 is shown.