Transcript Highlights:

• Some states have this. Some states don't.
• We're the first city in the state to ban these devices.
• And it wasn't stated. So, There's also the buyer beware. There's also that, and it wasn't stated.
• We've been working very closely with the regulator in this state and in other states because we think
• One thing that's not on there is a Washington State Space Commission that would give the state a long-term

Summary: The committee first heard a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks from the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillon. DFI described crypto kiosks as licensed money transmission terminals that allow cash purchases of virtual currency, and said the main concern is fraud: scammers often pressure victims, especially older adults, to deposit cash into kiosks and send it to wallets controlled by organized crime. DFI cited a sharp increase in kiosk volume, nationwide fraud complaints and losses, and said Washington currently has licensing and disclosure rules but lacks transaction and fee limits. The department said it is seeking stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and removing existing ones after local scam reports, and members asked about how the machines work, whether the fraud is in the hardware or the transaction, and whether stronger warnings or screening could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs, based on a report by Mariana Amaram and testimony from DFI and industry representatives. The report found that CHISAs provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but that consumers often struggle to understand the products and settlement calculations. The report said the market has grown quickly in Washington, that costs can be hard to predict, and that early uncapped contracts could produce very high settlement amounts, especially during periods of rising home prices. DFI said it views these products as mortgage loans and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures, while industry witnesses said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based and asked for tailored regulation. Members discussed the need for better consumer education, clearer payoff schedules, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages or a separate category. The final panel focused on Washington’s space economy, with presentations from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major in-state investments in satellite manufacturing, launch systems, and workforce training, including Amazon Leo’s Redmond and Kirkland facilities, Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters, and Stoke Space’s Kent manufacturing and Moses Lake test site. Space Northwest presented data showing the sector’s growing economic footprint, high-wage jobs, and regional clusters in Kent and Redmond, and urged more workforce programs, incentives, infrastructure support, and a state space commission. The companies emphasized local hiring, apprenticeship and certification programs, and the role of Washington’s aerospace supply chain in supporting the broader space industry. No votes were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Confirmation 75, appointing Steve Smith to the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy, receives
• Currently, Alabama does not have a matching state law.
• Currently, Alabama does not have a matching state law.
• state Alabama does not have a matching state law.<00:59:52.000><c> Therefore,</c><00:59:52.480><c> state
• So, it is very important that we maintain this source of revenue because for the state of Alabama, it

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then approved the prior journal and allowed bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The chamber received multiple committee reports, including favorable reports on several finance and taxation bills, confirmations, local bills, and a series of resolutions. The Senate also confirmed several appointments to higher education and university boards, including Nicholas J. Balden, Jennifer Wit, Ronnie Stalworth, and Rex Reynolds, using long or previous roll calls as applicable. The Senate adopted a special order calendar that set up floor consideration of several bills, including measures on physician assistants, seafood/aquaculture, motor vehicles, campaign practices, property insurance and energy reduction, child custody, and school bus drivers. During debate on the special order calendar, Senator Smitherman raised concern that no bills on the calendar were sponsored by minority members, noting a prior understanding that minority-sponsored bills should be represented; Senator Wagner responded that the calendar was prepared based on legislation rather than sponsor party, and the exchange ended with an agreement to continue moving forward. The Senate then adopted the special order calendar and began taking up the listed bills. On the special order calendar, the Senate advanced House Bill 156 on physician assistant compacts, House Bill 277 on seafood/aquaculture tastings, and House Bill 42 on motor vehicles, with supporters describing each as consumer-friendly or supportive of industry. The chamber also considered local legislation, including bills for Madison, Tallapoosa, and Shelby counties; House Bill 337 for Madison County was amended and carried over, while House Bills 490, 491, and 493 passed after roll-call votes. Throughout the meeting, the Senate also adopted several commendatory and memorial resolutions, including measures honoring individuals, recognizing organizations and events, and naming a highway, with most adopted by voice vote and no recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know how important agriculture and farming is to this state, and 10 other states have already passed
• of Alabama who is actually licensed.
• , and those states have legislators.
• Why would we put that authority... Why would we put that authority over this self-insured plan?
• Um, I don't know where that authority... Um, I don't know where that authority leads.

Bills: HB441

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• From hospitals, but two other states, there’s only two states that have addressed it.
• Representative Faulner, as far as my thought process would be to make the bill in the state of Alabama
• And those states have hospitals that... Hospitals and those states have legislators.
• Why would we put that authority Why would we put that authority over this self-insured plan?
• I don't know where that authority I don't know where that authority leads.

Bills: HB445 , HB477 , SB274 , HB441

Committee: House Health

Keywords: hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, THC, delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, consumable hemp products, psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, ABC Board, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, retail hemp sales, wholesale hemp distribution, hemp tax, excise tax, age verification, underage sales, product testing, certificate of analysis

Transcript Highlights:

• Wednesday night, the Alabama Retired State Employees Association will hold a reception at the Alabama
• on the occasion of its 150th anniversary of service to the state of Alabama.
• In the state of Alabama, 85% of veterans.
• In a year, in the state of Alabama, 85% of the veterans who took their life did so by gunfire.
• of doing that in the state of Alabama.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be making a difference in Alabama.
• of Alabama for needed projects.
• Over time, hopefully we can do this, but we know that Alabama is a recipient state; we rely on federal
• The Alabama Digital Expansion Authority approved the AIM program to utilize the available program.
• And again, these are not areas that I represent, but we all represent the state of Alabama.

Transcript Highlights:

• One in three rampant in the state.
• , and state construction projects.
• </c> Development, uh, Authority in support. Development, uh, Authority in support.
• </c><01:33:01.280><c> the</c> the State of Hawaii to authorize the the State of Hawaii to authorize the
• </c> unless otherwise stated. unless otherwise stated.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Alabama.
• We passed a law several years ago that said you cannot transport feral swine alive in the state of Alabama
• Then Conduent State and Local Solutions… Conduent State and Local Solutions from 1/25 to 6/30/25, $9
• Then we go back to Conduent State and Local Solutions from 10/25 to 9/30/26 for… Conduent State and Local
• of Alabama.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill issues a state surcharge on solid waste disposal, like 34 other states, including Texas, Oklahoma
• State line.
• And so we have five egg dealers in the state, and the rest is out of state. So 93% is out of state.
• She is from Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority.
• We have no recycling area in our state for this.

Bills: SB47 , SB110 , SB122 , SB143 , SB168

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• bills here, and then we go over to the Senate for the Corps meetings for the Veterinarian Board and State
• Eligible and the monies that is used as federal funds, it's not the state general funds.
• So they're capable under the statute of taking state funds with no appropriation?
• This is existing funding that the state gets every year.
• Well, I have no problem with the state of affairs that benefits only Pima County.

Bills: HB2029 , HB2030 , HB2096

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: water conservation, grants, infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainability, grant fund, Arizona water law, A.R.S. 49-1332, water efficiency, water reuse, education programs, public outreach, rainwater harvesting, gray water, graywater, drought-resistant landscaping, xeriscaping, turf removal, groundwater recharge, aquifer health

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair now lays out Senate Bill 1335 and recognizes its author, Dean Zaffirini, to explain the measure
• The chair recognizes its author, the Dean of the Senate, to explain the measure.
• And recognizes its author, Senator Perry, to explain the measure. Thank you, Mr.
• This bill has been filed, stating that the state has to pay it.
• It makes clear that the parties representing the state can pay that, so it costs local.

Bills: SB302 , SB1335 , SB1734 , SB1760 , SB1975 , SB2127

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Summary: The committee heard several probate, family law, judicial, property, and contract-related bills. Senate Bill 1335, relating to decedents’ estates, would remove outdated references to a clerk’s certificate, allow courts to remove personal representatives on their own motion with notice by qualified delivery method, and add independent administrators to provisions that referenced only independent executors; an estate-planning attorney testified in support, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1760, concerning guardianship transfer fees and procedures, was described as setting a $45 filing fee for transferred guardianship cases and clarifying completion and dismissal procedures; it received no testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 2127 would shorten the eligibility period for retired judges to serve as visiting judges from eight years to six, restrict practice in their assigned region for two years, and require conflict-related certification; it also was left pending without testimony. Senate Bill 302 would shift the cost of a traveling probate judge to the requesting estate or parties rather than the county; one witness registered in favor, no one testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then considered a committee substitute for Senate Bill 252, which would clarify the parental presumption in conservatorship cases, require non-parents seeking relief against a parent to file an affidavit showing significant impairment to the child if relief is denied, require courts to state specific findings when overcoming the presumption, confirm the clear-and-convincing standard, and clarify that agreed prior orders do not defeat the presumption. The substitute was explained as consensus language from a work group, public testimony was reopened, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1734, on deed fraud, would create a streamlined ex parte process for property owners to have fraudulent deeds declared void, modeled on the fraudulent lien statute; county clerk and title association representatives testified that it would provide a low-cost self-help remedy for a growing problem, and the bill was left pending subject to the chair. Senate Bill 1975 would prevent Texas contractors from being forced to litigate disputes in foreign jurisdictions and require disputes to be handled in the county where the project is located; it was presented as a repeat of a previously vetoed bill and was left pending. Finally, the committee took up a substitute for Senate Bill 1940, concerning transfer-on-death style beneficiary designations for manufactured homes. The substitute would allow one or more beneficiaries instead of only one, transfer the interest to surviving designated beneficiaries who survive by 120 hours, extend the application period for transfer to 365 days, void the designation if not timely filed, and require mailing by certified or registered mail with return receipt requested. The substitute was adopted without objection. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We as a state really do prioritize.
• Every state now has contract law enforcement.
• The city, the big cities, max it out by what the state allows to raise your property tax, yeah. state
• In Harris County and of course around the state as well.
• You know, the state, you know, the state constitution creates the counties, but they have almost no..

Bills: HB336 , HB554 , HB849 , HB 1033 , HB1338 , HB 1246

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriff, constable, contracts, county governance, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales, seasonal fireworks sales, Fourth of July, Independence Day

Transcript Highlights:

• can do in the state. ...bachelor level SLPAs can do in the state of Alabama.
• of Alabama.
• We had other steps to go beyond the state of Alabama to get this approved. Is that the answer? Yes.
• Other states have done this successfully, and Alabama can too. So let's get this right.
• We need to ban these products in the state of Alabama, like other states are doing.

Bills: HB441 , HB445 , HB477 , HB441 , HB445

Committee: House Health

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, THC, delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, consumable hemp products, psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, ABC Board, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, retail hemp sales, wholesale hemp distribution, hemp tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to that, I had been on the Alabama State Board of Education, and we had quite a wide responsibility
• We would describe it state of Alabama.
• We are simply helping people to understand the law of the state of Alabama and then doing everything
• It gets to the return on investment for every dollar the state of Alabama through Helping Families put
• c> helping</c> the state of Alabama through helping the state of Alabama through helping families<00:

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on October 8, 2025, approved the minutes from the August 29 meeting, and then focused its agenda on truancy and chronic absenteeism. Chad Butler, director of pupil personnel for Meade County and president of the Kentucky Department of Pupil Personnel directors, said chronic absenteeism remains a major problem statewide, citing recent Kentucky rates around 28% to 30% and noting that schools are trying to identify best practices to get students back in class. He said causes appear to include post-COVID social-emotional distress and confusion about when students should stay home, and he described a local effort to use a Healthy Kids Clinic model to keep some students in school when possible. In response to questions, he said chronic absenteeism has only been tracked seriously in the last two to three years and that House Bill 611 appears to have increased the number of youth entering the court system for habitual truancy; AOC said it would provide county-by-county data and outcomes later in the meeting. The council then heard from John Tyson of Alabama, a former Mobile district attorney, who described the Helping Families Initiative as a school-community partnership designed to address truancy and related behavior issues without arrest. Tyson said Alabama defines chronic absence as missing 10% of the school year and emphasized that the program is preventive rather than punitive, using warning letters, family engagement, assessments, individualized intervention plans, and referrals to community services. He said the program has operated since 2003, now includes 20 district attorneys and 44 school systems, and served more than 95,000 students, 73,000 families, and 162,000 parents in the most recent year. Tyson reported that in Mobile County the program was associated with a 3.15% attendance improvement in 2023-24 and a 4% reduction in the issue in 2024-25, along with a 50% reduction in truancy and 58% reduction in chronic absenteeism, and he said the program produced a large return on investment. Tyson also stressed that student absenteeism wastes tax dollars and that better attendance improves educational outcomes and community safety. He described the program’s use of a case-management database, real-time data tracking, and more than 1,000 referral agencies, and said the model is intended to be replicated statewide. He closed with examples of students whose attendance and family circumstances required coordinated support rather than punishment, including a teen mother and a disruptive child, to illustrate his view that schools, courts, and social services should work together to address underlying needs and keep children in school.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bless the state of Alabama, our farmers, teachers, students, and families.
• On page 38, House Bill 125 by Representative Wilcox regarding the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical
• We are honored to recognize, on behalf of the Alabama State Senate, one of our oldest historic monuments
• in the state of Alabama, and we commend the work of Re-entry Alabama and its stakeholders, partners,
• Senate Joint Resolution Number 40 commending Taiwan for its relations with the US and the state of Alabama

Bills: SJR 12 , SJR 37 , SB 7 , SB 8 , SB 16 , SB 27 , SB 108 , SB 125 , SB 207 , SB 251 , SB 318 , SB 371 , SB 379 , SB 396 , SB 406 , SB 472 , SB 503 , SB 533 , SB 578 , SB 599 , SB 608 , SB 617 , SB 621 , SB 689 , SB 707 , SB 763 , SB 836 , SB 854 , SB 856 , SB 857 , SB 875 , SB 878 , SB 906 , SB 922 , SB 942 , SB 965 , SB 985 , SB 988 , SB 1021 , SB 1059 , SB 1084 , SB 1098 , SB 1185 , SB 1188 , SB 1202 , SB 1207 , SB 1307 , SB 1321 , SB 1330 , SB 1366 , SB 1388 , SB 1396 , SB 1453 , SB 1484 , SB 1497 , SB 1498 , SB 1535 , SB 1563 , SB 1596 , SB 1610 , SB 1619 , SB 1737 , SB 1738 , SB 1741 , SB 1816 , SB 1822 , SB 1841 , SB 1939 , SB 2188 , SJR 36 , SJR 12 , SJR 37 , SJR 81 , SJR 50 , SCR 22 , SCR 12 , SCR 39 , SB 875 , SB 318 , SB 707 , SB 765 , SB 62 , SB 666 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 847 , SB 1248 , SB 504 , SB 857 , SB 305 , SB 296 , SB 284 , SB 1497 , SB 1498 , SB 241 , SB 304 , SB 621 , SB 1023 , SB 371 , SB 204 , SB 609 , SB 670 , SB 850 , SB 854 , SB 413 , SB 1346 , SB 1033 , SB 1220 , SB 1073 , SB 810 , SB 1539 , SB 447 , SB 406 , SB 985 , SB 965 , SB 1119 , SB 1505 , SB 1215 , SB 1302 , SB 856 , SB 583 , SB 673 , SB 681 , SB 1172 , SB 608 , SB 955 , SB 957 , SB 1021 , SB 1120 , SB 251 , SB 541 , SB 1737 , SB 266 , SB 1415 , SB 125 , SB 599 , SB 1330 , SB 53 , SB 1352 , SB 785 , SB 472 , SB 1450 , SB 1502 , SB 1566 , SB 414 , SB 1062 , SB 578 , SB 711 , SB 746 , SB 942 , SB 1404 , SB 1448 , SB 1738 , SB 108 , SB 8 , SB 507 , SB 533 , SB 689 , SB 1026 , SB 1349 , SB 1355 , SB 1433 , SB 1434 , SB 1596 , SB 1403 , SB 763 , SB 667 , SB 1059 , SB 617 , SB 1567 , SB 503 , SB 16 , SB 310 , SB 311 , SB 396 , SB 505 , SB 1209 , SB 1210 , SB 1470 , SB 264 , SB 1029 , SB 1185 , SB 1358 , SB 1364 , SB 1569 , SB 1376 , SB 1228 , SB 519 , SB 878 , SB 1350 , SB 462 , SB 1535 , SB 827 , SB 1585 , SB 207 , SB 1207 , SB 1619 , SB 1396 , SB 920 , SB 1484 , SB 1273 , SB 1741 , SB 7 , SB 927 , SB 1227 , SB 1229 , SB 1353 , SB 1366 , SB 1464 , SB 1709 , SB 1729 , SB 1733 , SB 1744 , SB 1772 , SB 1816 , SB 1841 , SB 2188 , SB 1147 , SB 879 , SB 1008 , SB 1536 , SB 2016 , SB 1453 , SB 1173 , SB 1163 , SB 996 , SB 27 , SB 568 , SB 1370 , SB 1321 , SB 1101 , SB 906 , SB 860 , SB 1563 , SB 993 , SB 693 , SB 1610 , SB 1537 , SB 836 , SB 1332 , SB 1307 , SB 963 , SB 493 , SB 922 , SB 984 , SB 1084 , SB 619 , SB 1098 , SB 1122 , SB 455 , SB 522 , SB 1057 , SB 1239 , SB 1254 , SB 1255 , SB 1259 , SB 1341 , SB 1664 , SB 1877 , SB 464 , SB 1277 , SB 32 , SB 732 , SB 660 , SB 731 , SB 921 , SB 268 , SB 1822 , SB 1188 , SB 1939 , SB 1589 , SB 397 , SB 1388 , SB 2230 , SB 1058 , SB 1036 , SB 1267 , SB 2112 , SB 1930 , SB 532 , SB 1035 , SB 2155 , SB 508 , SB 29 , SB 292 , SB 291 , SB 901 , SB 1333 , SB 1436 , SB 1494 , SB 964 , SB 779 , SB 1378 , SB 2312 , SB 1719 , SB 1386 , SB 287 , SB 2143 , SB 1245 , SB 261 , SB 1247 , SB 1948 , SB 2406 , SB 2407 , SB 1882 , SB 1197 , SB 1814 , SB 618 , SB 38 , SJR 37 , SB 108 , SB 207 , SB 251 , SB 472 , SB 503 , SB 599 , SB 621 , SB 856 , SB 1021 , SB 1185 , SB 1207 , SB 1330 , SB 1497 , SB 1535 , SB 1619 , SB 8 , SB 16 , SB 371 , SB 396 , SB 533 , SB 965 , SR 338 , SR 350 , SB 2076 , SB 1498 , SB 8 , SB 16 , SB 318 , SB 371 , SB 396 , SB 533 , SB 707 , SB 875 , SB 965 , SB 2076

Transcript Highlights:

• Vaping is a big problem in the state of Alabama. ...a big problem in the state of Alabama.
• If you knowingly bring someone who is illegal into the state of Alabama, it provides the penalties for
• It got brought up that we don't have an immigration court in the state of Alabama.
• There will definitely be lawsuits and costs to the state of Alabama.
• I mean, that's what it is—it's trafficking people in and out of the state of Alabama.

Bills: SB210 , SB292 , HB360 , HB233 , HB66 , HB356 , HB164 , HB238 , HB209 , SB223 , HB307 , SB210 , SB292 , HB360 , HB233 , HB66 , HB356 , HB164 , HB238 , HB209 , SB223 , HB307

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we want to call it across the state, these small distillers across the state, and working with
• Uh, this is about growing tourism in the state of Alabama, but it's also about growing our small business
• It's certainly been popular in the state of Tennessee and other states.
• state and working distillers across the state and working with<00:11:14.560><c> them</c><00:11:14.880
• </c><00:11:36.880><c> of</c> about growing tourism in the state of about growing tourism in the state

Bills: SB265 , HB593

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: data processing centers, tax abatements, economic development, construction related taxes, energy infrastructure, small craft distilleries, wineries, alcoholic beverages, licensing, craft beverage industry

Transcript Highlights:

• of the state fire marshal, to provide for rulemaking and regulatory authority, to provide for duties
• I know in speaking to my friends from Alabama, they were always complimentary of us for having that state
• How did Alabama achieve...? Yeah, Alabama does not have a statewide building code.
• And one thing that we do in Louisiana that's not done at the state level in Alabama is we require all
• State your name. I'm sorry, can you state your name? My name is Morgan Stevens.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee met on April 7, 2026, and first handled several fire marshal-related bills. HB 917, a licensing and regulatory cleanup for life safety and property protection work, was amended with technical changes and reported favorably. HB 565 clarified that the State Fire Marshal, rather than local authorities, would handle fire safety inspections for early learning and child daycare centers; members adopted an amendment limiting the standards to state or federal codes and addressing ventilation and suppression requirements for small facilities, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. The committee then took up HB 937, which would shift amusement ride setup inspections back to the State Fire Marshal, require licensing and insurance for rides and inspectors, and repeal provisions related to inflatable amusement devices. The author and fire marshal cited a serious festival ride accident in Pointe Coupee Parish as the impetus, and members discussed inspection timing, insurance costs, and whether background checks or public inspection certificates should be required. After technical and agreed-upon amendments, the bill was reported favorably. HB 799, a boiler inspection consolidation bill, was presented as a cleanup measure that would centralize boiler regulation under the fire marshal and rely on licensed inspectors meeting national standards. Stakeholders from industry and the fire marshal’s office described it as an efficiency and safety measure, and the committee adopted a substantive amendment on shutdown procedures and licensing details before reporting the bill favorably. HB 461, which would have allowed parishes and municipalities to adopt fortified roof standards, drew extensive testimony both for and against; supporters argued it could improve resilience and lower insurance costs, while opponents warned it would undermine Louisiana’s uniform building code, add cost, and create inconsistency. The author ultimately moved to voluntarily defer the bill. Finally, the committee began HB 977, a bill on minors’ use of applications that would require age verification, parental consent, and app store/developer safeguards. An amendment clarified definitions, consent rules, data-sharing limits, and a good-faith compliance defense. Members raised concerns about the 45-day cure period, the lack of a private right of action, and whether app stores would become gatekeepers, but the bill remained pending at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:36.080><c> that</c> have a district law in Alabama that have a district law in Alabama that
• All of them 14 states nationwide.
• </c> Lenar Meritage are in Alabama already. Lenar Meritage are in Alabama already.
• Hunt explained with their authority and Hunt explained with their authority and their<00:13:59.519><c
• </c> state maybe in Florida, not here. state maybe in Florida, not here.

Committee: House Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Transcript Highlights:

• of the State Fire Marshal, to provide for rulemaking and regulatory authority, to provide for duties
• I know in speaking to my friends from Alabama, they were always complimentary of us for having that state
• And one thing that we do in Louisiana that's not done at the state level in Alabama is we require all
• State your name. I'm sorry, can you state your name? My name is Morgan Stevens.
• I just want to be on record stating that, and once again I will work with the author in the meantime

Bills: HB461 , HB467 , HB522 , HB565 , HB673 , HB799 , HB917 , HB937 , HB956 , HB977

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: building codes, construction standards, state uniform construction code, local option, municipal ordinance, parish ordinance, resilient construction, FORTIFIED Home, IBHS, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, hurricane resistance, storm resilience, roof replacement, residential construction, certificate of occupancy, code enforcement, building resilience, home hardening, wind mitigation, residential roof