Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I'll just say, yeah, we do have existing federal laws that address this.
• So they don't have to worry about receiving a ballot in their email.
• How would you address that? Mr.
• So we’re usually able to address these situations.
• Address rural New Mexico concerns.

Bills: SB264 , SB261

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee heard two election-related bills. SB 264, sponsored by Sen. Duhigg and others and presented by the Secretary of State, would add definitions and new offenses to New Mexico election law to prohibit interference with elections, including the presence of troops or armed persons at polling places or ballot drop boxes, attempts to impose election rules contrary to state law, and intentional obstruction of access to polling places. It also would create civil enforcement options, strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language, and include emergency voting procedures for voters displaced by natural disasters. Supporters, including Common Cause, the Center for Civic Policy, and the League of Women Voters, said the bill protects voters from intimidation and outside interference. Several county clerks and rural legislators raised concerns about late changes, lack of consultation, rural logistics, and possible litigation. The committee adopted the Rules Committee substitute and advanced SB 264 on a 5-3 roll call vote. SB 261, presented as a companion election measure, would remove the existing exception that allowed law enforcement to carry firearms at polling places, but the sponsor offered an amendment to allow armed law enforcement to respond when called by the presiding judge, county clerk, or Secretary of State. Supporters said firearms do not belong in or around polling places because they can intimidate voters and poll workers, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary because existing law already covers law enforcement response and that the amendment created confusion. After a recess caused by members leaving the room, the committee returned, adopted the Rules Committee substitute including the amendment, and advanced SB 261 by unanimous voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• our needs. ...citizens that have placed you here to help and address our needs.
• If either were true, there are already existing remedies for sponsors to address those issues.
• I want to also address what the bill doesn't do and the contentions of the opposition.
• And I want to address just one quick thing that was brought up in supporting testimony.
• This is creating a clear inequity that must be addressed.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement met for its first hearing of the session, adopted committee rules, and heard several labor-related bills. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including limits on testimony and expectations for orderly conduct. Members then took up measures affecting public employee bargaining, contracting, confidentiality, school employee benefits, pay stub information, and state correctional health staffing. AB 672 would require public employers to notify PERB when filing court actions involving statutes PERB administers and allow PERB to intervene; it drew support from SEIU, AFSCME, school employees, labor groups, and no opposition, and was passed out of committee. AB 283 would move IHSS bargaining from the county to the state level; providers and recipients testified about low wages, long delays in bargaining, and care access concerns, while counties and public authorities raised cost, scope, and implementation issues. The bill passed 7-0 after members discussed family care worker concerns and the author said he would continue working on the issue. AB 339 would require local governments to give unions 120 days’ notice before contracting out bargaining-unit work. Labor supporters said the bill would make existing meet-and-confer rights meaningful and protect jobs, while counties, cities, special districts, chambers of commerce, and staffing groups argued it would burden local agencies and interfere with existing MMBA procedures. The committee also heard AB 340, which would make communications between employees and union representatives confidential for PERB purposes; supporters said it codified existing case law, while school administrators, special districts, counties, and business groups warned it could hinder investigations. AB 378 would extend the classified school employees summer assistance program to JPA employees, and AB 374 would require more detailed pay stubs for classified school employees; both had labor support and some education-sector opposition over implementation and cost concerns, and both advanced. AB 393 would require cost analyses before contracting out physician work at CDCR and the Department of State Hospitals; supporters argued the state was overpaying contractors amid high vacancy rates, and the bill also advanced. At the end of the hearing, the committee recorded final votes showing AB 283, AB 340, AB 374, AB 378, AB 393, and AB 672 all passing out of committee, while AB 339 remained on hold with a 4-0 vote and some members not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, yes, I can send you an email later with that. I don't have it in front of me.
• This is something we need to address. So I vote aye. Vice Chairman Way: Aye.
• I get a notice in the mail or email or what have you, right?
• Things that everyday Arizonans want to address.
• The other point I'll address that Mr.

Bills: SB1206 , SB1254 , SB1290 , SB1421 , SB1432 , SB1515 , SB1563 , SB1641 , SB1649 , SB1670 , SB1671 , SB1747

Committees: House Commerce , House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Keywords: storm damage, catastrophic storm, hail damage, wind damage, roof repair, roof replacement, post-storm repairs, insurance claim, property and casualty insurance, adjuster, public adjuster, contractor licensing, homeowner protections, deductible waiver, insurance fraud prevention, storm chaser, residential construction contract, workers' compensation, joint check, claim solicitation

Transcript Highlights:

• She sent an email late yesterday saying she's in the hospital, doing well.
• sure I will let the committee know, and we could probably have a quick discussion, or I just send an email
• I</c><01:22:00.880><c> just</c><01:22:01.040><c> send</c><01:22:01.199><c> an</c><01:22:01.440><c> email
• c> everybody</c><01:22:35.040><c> know</c><01:22:35.199><c> what</c> Representative Thomas sent an email
• Representative Thomas sent an email this morning to me saying that the Senate is going to be removing

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill addresses these kinds of problems for consumers by ensuring that they receive more detail
• We found a new insurer, and shortly after, they told us that we needed to address granular loss on our
• amended... ...the bill further to address the following.
• Added language to address insurer concerns that restitution be connected to direct financial loss.
• I'm committed to addressing these gaps while protecting policyholders from increasing costs.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several insurance-related bills, with SB 1301 by Senator Allen and SB 876 by Senator Padilla receiving the most discussion. SB 1301 would reform residential property insurance non-renewals by requiring clearer written explanations, giving policyholders a chance to fix identified issues, and limiting non-renewals based on unreasonable grounds. The bill was supported by consumer advocates, fire survivors, local officials, and several organizations, while insurers said they had worked extensively with the author and were moving to neutral, though they still raised implementation and proprietary-information concerns. The committee voted to pass SB 1301 as amended to Appropriations, with the roll left open briefly before the bill was declared out. SB 876 would overhaul wildfire and disaster claims handling by requiring updated replacement-cost estimates, stronger extended replacement-cost and building-code coverage options, faster status updates when adjusters change, and other consumer protections. Supporters included the Department of Insurance, United Policyholders, consumer groups, and local representatives, who argued the bill addresses underinsurance, delays, and inconsistent claims handling exposed by recent wildfires. Several industry groups said recent amendments resolved major concerns and moved them to neutral, while the California Fair Plan remained respectfully opposed pending further review. The committee approved SB 876 as amended to Judiciary, again leaving the roll open briefly before finalizing the vote. The committee also took up a consent item, SB 536 by Senator Archuleta, which was approved unanimously to Appropriations. Other bills listed at the start of the hearing, SB 555 and SB 795, were pulled at the request of the authors and were not heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> more broad and I think it it addresses more broad and I think it it addresses uh<01:33:11.920><c
• </c> transportation bill when we addressed transportation bill when we addressed the<01:33:27.440><c>
• 02:30:11.840><c> about</c> address your specific question about address your specific question about
• </c> address from HR. address from HR.
• </c> personal information, name and address personal information, name and address to<02:53:26.399><c

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for allowing us to address some concerns here at Spirit Lake.
• I don't know if you have anything else you would want me to address.
• health regarding how we address it civilly as well as criminally.
• And so that may be something that we have to address, too.
• on that, and then I can email you what we hear back from him.

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• We started a MIH or community paramedic program back in around 2017, 2018, initially to address the hotspotter
• problems, free. initially to address the hotspotter problems, frequent flyers, if you will, folks that
• So we want to, you know, address that.
• So is there a way we can address that? I know there... Is there a way we can address that?
• I got several emails on that and I agreed with several emails, I mean, several of the numbers, but it

Summary: The Committee on Local Government first took up Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which concerns community paramedic/mobile integrated health services and related jurisdictional issues. Supporters, including ambulance and EMS leaders from Caldwell County and Cox Health, said the bill would help expand community paramedicine in rural and regional areas, improve patient care, reduce unnecessary emergency room use, and lower Medicaid costs. One witness described a successful program that cut Medicaid charges dramatically, while another said the bill would help ambulance districts merge and operate more efficiently. An opponent representing the Missouri State Council of Firefighters said the group supported the underlying bill but was concerned about the Senate-added jurisdictional language affecting community paramedic services and wanted those issues resolved. The committee heard testimony but took no vote before closing testimony on the bill. The committee then heard House Bill 3496, sponsored by Rep. Rodger Reedy, which would update county official salary schedules and assessed valuation ranges that have not been revised in decades. Reedy and the Missouri Association of Counties said the bill is intended to modernize minimum salary schedules while preserving local control through county salary commissions, with a growth factor designed to account for changing assessed valuations over time. Committee members asked about how the bill interacts with other salary legislation and whether counties could use alternative training or salary arrangements approved by their associations. Supporters said the proposal was developed through a multi-year task force process involving county officials and related associations. The Missouri Association of Counties and Warren County officials testified in favor, saying the bill reflects a broad consensus and better matches current county finances. No one testified in opposition to House Bill 3496, and the chair closed the public hearing and adjourned the meeting after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative received a little bit of consternation emails, shall we say, on this.
• complexities, ...fast-track one's way to the level of preparedness for addressing the range of medical
• I'd like to see that addressed as well.
• I got a lot of the emails.
• I want to address a couple of concerns that came up about extractions.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced three bills. HB 21 would create a new licensed profession of dental therapy under the Department of Health and Board of Dentistry, allowing trained dental therapists to provide a limited scope of care under a supervising Florida-licensed dentist through a collaborative management agreement. Sponsor Rep. Cheney argued the bill would help address severe dental shortages and improve access in underserved areas; opponents from the Florida Dental Association and oral surgery groups warned that the bill would allow irreversible procedures by less-educated providers and could compromise patient safety. Supporters, including dentists, hygienists, and community health center leaders, said dental therapists would expand access and free dentists to handle more complex care. An amendment was adopted to require proof of local anesthesia training, adverse-incident reporting, and updated background screening language. The bill was reported favorably as amended by a 14-1 vote. The committee then considered HB 27, which creates the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact to allow licensed social workers to practice across member states, including through telehealth, and to help military families and address workforce shortages. Supporters from the National Association of Social Workers and other advocates said the compact would improve mobility, reduce administrative burdens, and expand access to mental health services, especially in underserved and rural areas. A technical amendment restoring model language and setting an effective date of July 1, 2025 was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as amended on a 15-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 29, the public-records companion to the social work compact, which creates exemptions needed for compact compliance and allows the compact commission or its committees to meet in closed session when discussing information exempt under law. After a technical amendment authorizing closed meetings for exempt matters was adopted, the bill was reported favorably as amended on a 15-0 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm glad we're taking action to address it.
• I believe that I've addressed most, if all," She continued: "...the concerns that he had.
• We all know that veterans' homelessness is an issue we need to address as a state.
• We all know that veterans' homelessness is an issue we need to address as a state.
• Would anyone like to address any of the measures on the consent agenda separately?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:02.079><c> our</c> hope would um address our hope would um address our foresightedness<01:
• Chairman: We have an email address you can submit them to.
• I can give you the email address now, and I can also email it to you so you all have it.
• Chairman continued: I can give you the email address now, and I can also email it to you so you all have
• Yes, please email that. Yes, I will email that out to all of you as soon as I get back. Perfect.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I'll just say, yeah, we do have existing federal laws that address this.
• So they don't have to worry about receiving a ballot in their email.
• How would you address that? Mr.
• So we’re usually able to address these situations.
• Based on the clerks' comments at their meeting yesterday, it does seem to address their concerns.

Bills: SB264 , SB261 , SB264 , SB261

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms

Transcript Highlights:

• So this subcommittee here will collect data and analyze initiatives that address the workforce crisis
• Do you mind, for all of you who have these ideas, starting an email introduction, just including me,
• Okay, so try to get, and I'll copy you, M&A, on the emails to the three.
• We have a couple emails to fire up until we meet again. Motion to adjourn. Second. All right.

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved the prior November minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, which covers community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injury. The presenters said 102 of 132 members responded, and reported that overall vacancy rates improved for the third straight year, falling from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, with declines across all program types. However, they emphasized that nearly 4,000 positions remain unfilled, licensed practical nurse and clinician vacancies remain especially high, and almost 1,800 people are still waiting for day services. ADDP also highlighted a new survey question on health insurance costs, reporting that nearly 90% of respondents saw premium increases averaging 11%, which providers said limits their ability to offer competitive wages and benefits. Members and commissioners discussed the significance of the data, the need to balance survey length with useful trend information, and the impact of immigration and workforce availability on provider staffing. ADDP said it plans to repeat the survey in the fall and continue monitoring these pressures. The subcommittee then elected Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian as co-chairs by voice vote. Members discussed possible speakers for the next meeting, including state and out-of-state workforce experts, JVS, Josh Cutler or his office, Juan Vega, Human Services Research Institute, and NASDDDS, with an emphasis on training, turnover, apprenticeships, and broader workforce supports. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• necessarily have an address?
• Um, do you have email addresses for many voters or no? >> Miss Freeman?
• addresses</c><01:04:27.280><c> for</c><01:04:28.240><c> many</c> do you have email addresses for many
• do you have email addresses for many voters<01:04:28.960><c> or</c><01:04:29.200><c> no,</c> voters
• addresses for many voters.

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• And it would also not only result in what appears to be the intention of the author, which is to address
• While we understand that this proposal is highlighted to address just one aspect of the ongoing fraud
• to address just one aspect<00:08:18.319><c> of</c><00:08:18.560><c> the</c><00:08:18.720><c> ongoing
• And so if they think somebody was negligent because they forgot to read an email or they didn't pick
• or they didn't pick up a voicemail email or they didn't pick up a voicemail and<00:16:22.880><c> that

Transcript Highlights:

• In the meantime, we want to make sure not to forget some of these items, so addressing them now.
• So, if that hasn't been passed out, maybe we should email it to all conferees so we're all on the same
• So, if that hasn't been passed out, maybe we should email it to all conferees so we're all on the same
• So, if that hasn't been passed out, maybe we should email it to all conferees so we're all on the same
• Maybe we should email it to all conferees so we're all on the same page.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:28.040><c> two</c><00:02:28.239><c> small</c> And just to address two small changes in the
• address, and a phone number that apparently is not answered that often, according to people that I've
• He said the bill is trying to address an issue that was only recognized more completely after it was
• Also, because this is a very serious issue, we do need to address it, but I just obviously want to address
• Also, because this is a very serious issue, we do need to address it, but I just obviously want to address

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1, which would create a Kentucky Film Office and a Kentucky Film Leadership Council to promote film production in the state. Sponsors said the bill is intended to expand Kentucky’s use of film tax incentives, improve marketing and infrastructure, and attract productions that could generate jobs, tourism, and broader economic development. They noted a committee substitute made two changes: adding a salary cap for the film office executive director and correcting a date. Members asked about whether the office should instead be housed in the Economic Development Cabinet, how Kentucky’s refundable credit compares with Georgia’s transferable credits, the bill’s obscenity language, the size of the current incentive cap, and whether there should be reporting on the program’s results. Supporters cited a University of Louisville study estimating about $200 million in industry revenue in 2022 and argued the state is not fully using existing credits; an outside witness, Andrew McNeel, opposed the bill, calling the incentives subsidies, warning that Georgia’s uncapped program could lead to pressure to raise Kentucky’s cap, and arguing the bill could subsidize films with little lasting local benefit. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and passed Senate Bill 1 as amended by House Committee Substitute 1 with an expression of opinion that it should pass. Several members explained their votes, including concerns about transparency, local hiring, and the need for further review. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 76, which would raise the threshold for a retainage/escrow requirement in certain real estate improvement contracts from $500,000 to $2 million. The sponsor said the change is meant to reflect construction cost inflation since the statute was enacted in 1990. The transcript indicates a motion and second were made, but the discussion was cut off before any final action on the bill is shown. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 162, a simplified bill on unemployment insurance fraud. The sponsor said it would require suspected fraud to be referred to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement authorities, including the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, county or Commonwealth’s attorneys, and, where applicable, the U.S. Department of Justice, to create a clearer process and accountability. The transcript ends during the presentation, before any vote or committee action on SB 162 is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just a street address that we're taking off. California and Texas both have this.
• When they have problems, it does not get addressed.
• So I made it my personal business to start sending emails and start calling. So I...
• But I think these issues are real issues that need to be addressed.
• There were 192 emails, individual people within the tribes that were emailed.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a recorded quorum, and approval of the prior journal. Members then introduced several guest groups in the gallery, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, a student shadowing Sen. Gonzalez, Gilbert EduPrize students, InterWest Energy Alliance representatives, and Kingman city leaders. The chamber adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the Senate also approved a motion to request House consent to adjourn after Wednesday, March 11, until Monday, March 16. A large number of bills were introduced on first reading, and standing committee reports were ordered entered without being read aloud. The Senate then took up numerous third-reading measures. Bills passed included SB 1654 (elections funding), SB 1711 (school safety/age-appropriate information), SB 1743 (campaign contribution address privacy), SB 1747 (assistive technology content), SB 1212 (health insurance reimbursement rules), SB 1284 (moving violations), SB 1336 (State Land Department-related changes), SB 1365 (property tax exemptions/veterans park discounts), SB 1655 (juror summoning/poll worker recruitment), SB 1662 (probation), SB 1803 (veterans’ services), SB 1818 (vehicle statutes), SB 1494 and SB 1497 (school insurance-related changes), SB 1503 (pension benefit plans), SB 1584 (Department of Corrections staffing), SB 1632 (Department of Economic Security), SB 1723 (bail), SB 1206 (insurance claims on reconsideration), and SB 1827 (aviation appropriations on reconsideration). SB 1134 on political signs initially failed, but the Senate later reconsidered and passed it. SB 1544 (probation) and SB 1585 (sex offender monitoring funding) failed. Several votes were close, and members offered explanations for both support and opposition on issues such as election administration, campaign privacy, health care incentives, veterans’ claims assistance, and criminal justice policy. The chamber then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for a long series of bills, adopting committee and floor amendments and recommending do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672. Testimony in committee focused on topics including high school training standards, veterans’ state park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS reimbursement and workforce issues, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug access. Later, the Committee of the Whole also considered SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, and SB 1611. SB 1173 drew debate over whether additional fingerprint/background checks were needed for AHCCCS providers; SB 1234 and SB 1295 addressed juvenile court representation and inmate medical release; and SB 1611, on the American Indian Health Program, prompted extensive discussion about fraud in the program, tribal consultation, and whether the program should be moved out of AHCCCS. The committee adopted amendments and advanced these bills with do pass recommendations, while members on SB 1611 emphasized both the need for reform and concerns about consultation with Arizona tribes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a community paramedic program back in around 2017, 2018, initially to address the hotspotter
• So we want to, you know, address that. But yesterday I brought up...
• So we want to, you know, address that.
• So is there a way we can address that? I know there was a task force.
• I got several emails on that, and I agreed with several emails, I mean, several of the numbers.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on Senate Bill 975, which dealt with ambulance district mergers and community paramedic/mobile integrated health services. Supporters said the merger provisions would help rural districts combine resources, reduce costs, and improve patient care, while community paramedic programs have been effective in reducing emergency room use and supporting early hospital discharges. An EMS chief described situations where neighboring services cooperated and one where a service refused access to community paramedic care, arguing the bill should address those jurisdictional barriers. Opposition from the Missouri State Council of Firefighters focused on concerns about the Senate-added jurisdictional language, saying they did not oppose the underlying bill but wanted the jurisdictional issues resolved so services could continue in rural areas. No vote was taken, and testimony on SB 975 was closed. The committee then took up House Bill 3496, which updates county official salary schedules and assessed valuation ranges. Representative Reedy said the bill is intended to modernize salary minimums that have not been changed in about 45 years while preserving local control through county salary commissions, which can set pay below the maximum based on what each county can afford. Missouri Association of Counties staff testified in support, explaining that a task force spent about two years developing the proposal and that the updated schedule and growth factor were designed to reflect current county economics and avoid abrupt salary jumps. Committee members asked about alternative training options, coordination with other salary legislation, and whether the bill could create public misunderstandings about pay increases. A county commissioner also testified in support. The hearing closed without any vote or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll get save-the-date emails about these as well.
• Again, you'll get emails with those dates as well, but those are our currently planned next meetings.
• "You'll probably receive additional email.
• Please do not reply all to the emails that you get."
• "Going forward, please do not reply all to the emails that you get from staff.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability