Transcript Highlights:

• You do not have to be academically strong to be gifted. In fact, a lot of gifted kids...
• very gifted, one that is gifted, and one that struggles.
• But we have to remember that gifted is not always academic gifted.
• started a gifted program.
• started a gifted program.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• SENATOR DICEGLIE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PRESENT SB 1198 ON FRAUDULENT USE OF GIFT CARDS.
• WE CAN DO THAT. >> FRAUDULENT USE OF GIFT CARDS.
• GIFT CARD MANUFACTURERS RETAILERS AND CONSUMERS HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN GIFT CARD FRAUD WITH
• SO, THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT INSERT ONLINE 36 TO ALTER OR TAMPER WITH A GIFT CARD OR ITS PACKAGING
• APPEARANCE CARDS? I HAVE A COUPLE OF APPEARANCE CARDS.

Transcript Highlights:

• Green cards are for support, red cards are in opposition, and white cards are for informational purposes
• We will now move on to some green cards, more green cards.
• Next, we have white cards. There are no red cards. Next, we have white cards.
• Was that a white card or a red card? That was a white card. The one we just talked to? Okay.
• Do we have any cards? We're just checking for cards. No cards? We're just checking for cards.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 399 by Senator Bass, which would create the Louisiana Higher Education Research Security Council to review and potentially block certain gifts, contracts, academic partnerships, and research partnerships involving foreign adversary sources. Bass said the bill is intended to protect university research, intellectual property, and students from foreign influence, and would also require public disclosure of certain foreign-linked arrangements and a plan to eliminate foreign-adversary-linked software. Supporters from State Armor argued Louisiana universities have been vulnerable to Chinese Communist Party influence and intellectual property theft. Representatives from Tulane University and Lenovo raised concerns that the bill could create duplicative review, delay research, raise costs, and sweep in legitimate private or multinational entities; a proposed amendment to exempt entities operating under a CFIUS national security agreement failed 4-8. After debate, the committee moved SB 399 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 310 by Senator Cloud, presented by Representative Carlson, which would require public school and college health centers to display information about pregnancy resources available in Louisiana. Supporters from Louisiana Right to Life said the bill would help connect pregnant students with existing state and private assistance programs, while the ACLU submitted a red card in opposition without speaking. The bill was moved favorably without objection. The committee also advanced House Resolution 171 by Representative Turner, which calls for a study of the workforce-oriented TOPS Tech and M.J. Foster programs, with business and workforce groups supporting the study as a way to measure outcomes and return on investment; it was moved favorably. Next, the committee took up House Bill 1084 by Representative Turner, a tuition autonomy bill for public post-secondary institutions. An amendment was adopted to add a conceptual framework for tuition-setting considerations, but the bill would still remove the existing 10% over two years cap and allow institutions to set tuition more freely. Turner argued universities need more flexibility because state funding has declined and campuses face deferred maintenance and operating pressures. Several members, especially Representative Carlson, warned that higher tuition could reduce access and that the bill did not address broader structural problems in higher education. Despite those concerns, HB 1084 was moved favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 351 by Senator Jackson Andrews, which would let families apply for child care assistance through CCAP once pregnancy is known, rather than waiting until after birth, to help move them up the waiting list. An amendment was adopted to have BESE, rather than the department, handle rulemaking and to allow the House and Senate education committees to approve the implementation process. The bill was then discussed as a way to help parents return to work sooner, and the hearing continued with questions from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I know what it was for a different gift card program.
• Okay, you really want to talk about gift cards. I'm trying to talk about this.
• To give gift cards to Harris County residents instead of cash or a check.
• and create the gift cards.
• And when it comes to handing people or giving, gifting people gift cards, there's definitely an administrative

Bills: SB434 , SB844 , SB898 , SB1177 , SB1214 , SB1454 , SB1920 , SB1927 , SB1935 , SB1965 , SB2010 , SB2046 , SB2068 , SB2073 , SB2183 , SB2260 , SB3034 , SB907

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• cards, does this cover the gift cards?
• Because, you know, when the gift card is gone... ...does this cover the gift cards?
• So if the bank is getting a hit to purchase a bunch of gift cards, if there's a future hit, sometimes
• But again, with the gift cards, they are hard to trace.
• In the case of the gift cards, this isn't really going to be effective for that.

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and first took up SB 398, which would create a statewide public health awareness campaign through the Department of Elder Affairs on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Senator Burgess said the campaign would focus on early detection, brain health, risk reduction, clinical trial access, and community resources. The committee heard supportive testimony from a caregiver, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and others, with members discussing the need for culturally responsive outreach and continued funding. SB 398 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 106, which would strengthen Florida’s exploitation injunction law for vulnerable adults by allowing service of an unascertainable exploiter through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp. Senator Martin explained the bill as a way to close a loophole that lets scammers evade traditional service, and witnesses from the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section supported it, describing how the bill could stop ongoing thefts more quickly while preserving due process. Members asked about gift card scams, clerk workload, and the definition of an unascertainable respondent. SB 106 was reported favorably. The Department of Children and Families then presented an update on the Adoption Benefits for Qualifying Adoptive Employees Program, describing its expansion over time and the current one-time lump-sum benefit structure for eligible adoptive parents. The presentation covered eligibility rules, open enrollment, funding history, and the program’s impact on adoption placements, with members asking why tax collectors were included but other constitutional offices were not, and whether foster relatives could qualify. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7012, a committee bill addressing child welfare workforce shortages, treatment foster care for high-acuity children, and improved data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill would direct DCF to recruit former public safety workers for CPI and case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and require more detailed, analyzable data and capacity studies. The bill drew support from child welfare advocates, with some members urging DCF to return with a more developed framework; it was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start with this one, 1007, Fraudulent Use of Gift Cards. You are recognized, sir.
• Gift card fraud can occur through various means, including altering barcodes, manipulating physical cards
• Gift card fraud can occur through various means, including altering barcodes, manipulating physical cards
• First, it establishes clear definitions for gift cards and related terms.
• cards. ...and third, it outlines criminal penalties, making gift card fraud either a first-degree misdemeanor

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up a long agenda of 20 bills, beginning with CS/HB 1173 on the Florida Trust Code, which clarified that the Florida Attorney General is the only public official with standing to enforce charitable trusts administered in Florida; it was amended and reported favorably. The committee also unanimously or near-unanimously approved several claims and relief bills, including HB 6507 for Marcus Button, HB 6523 for Darlene Engerville and J.R., HB 6525 for Eric and Jennifer Miles, HB 6529 for J.N., and HB 6519 for the estate of Beniel Hambier, all involving settlements or compensation for injuries or wrongful death. Other measures reported favorably included CS/HB 213 on commercial squatters, CS/HB 1447 on trespass at large-scale ticketed events, CS/HB 515 updating the Uniform Commercial Code for virtual currency and related technologies, CS/HB 1007 on gift card fraud, CS/HB 1049 on protection of court officials, CS/HB 1219 on non-compete and garden leave agreements, CS/HB 399 on stolen valor in the ethics code, CS/HB 57 on xylazine regulation, HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, and CS/HB 265 on enforcing terrorism-related judgments against frozen assets. Most of these bills had support from industry, law enforcement, or affected parties and passed with little or no opposition. The most contested measure was CS/HB 1517, which would expand Florida’s wrongful death statute to include parents of unborn children as survivors. Supporters argued it would allow families to recover damages when negligence causes the loss of a pregnancy, while opponents—including the ACLU of Florida, Planned Parenthood affiliates, reproductive rights advocates, and some committee members—warned it could be used to advance fetal personhood, chill medical care, and empower abusive partners or others to sue over abortion-related conduct. The sponsor said the bill remained within the wrongful death framework and included protections for mothers and lawful medical providers, but the committee still reported it favorably on a 14-6 vote. CS/HB 903, a corrections bill addressing inmate litigation, sentencing, execution methods, tracking devices, health services, and offender review appointments, also drew debate over a proposed tolling amendment and due process concerns; the amendment failed and the bill passed 16-5. CS/HB 57 on xylazine likewise saw debate over whether penalties should target users or traffickers, but the committee rejected a narrowing amendment and passed the bill 20-1. Several bills were amended in committee, often with technical or clarifying changes, including CS/HB 1219, HB 1351 on sexual offender and predator registration, and HB 901. Public testimony was generally supportive on the non-controversial bills, especially from law enforcement, business groups, and affected claimants. At the end of the meeting, Rep. Gottlieb offered a personal correction, acknowledging he had wrongly criticized FOP in a prior meeting after learning the organization had, in fact, contacted him. The committee then adjourned after completing the full agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• It'd be nice to have some gift cards.
• And what level of gift card are you talking about? Oh, like an Amazon gift card or $25–$50. What?
• And they have to report it through the school, but I'm just trying to say that gift cards are sometimes
• It'd be nice to have some gift cards.
• And what level of gift card are you talking about? Oh, like an Amazon gift card or 25-50. What?

Committee: House Oklahoma Education Commission

Summary: The commission met with a quorum and introduced Brett Farley, who was discussed as a possible partner to help strengthen the nonprofit side of the commission’s work. Members also welcomed a new participant, Naomi Janes of Owasso Public Schools, who described her role in instructional technology and AI integration. The group spent much of the meeting on planning for the upcoming AI symposium, including venue logistics, room and meal costs, audio-visual expenses, fundraising progress, keynote and vendor participation, and ideas for breakout sessions and after-hours demonstrations. Members discussed keeping attendee contact information private unless permission is obtained, and they also considered future regional meetings and year-round follow-up to sustain momentum beyond the symposium. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislation and grant strategy. Michael provided an update on House Bill 1782, saying floor amendments had been filed and that the bill now includes authority for agencies to pursue gifts and donations, an expanded advisory council, broader research purposes, and a fund structure that can support multi-year projects without fiscal-year pressure. He also reviewed Senate Bill 1734, which would require parental disclosure, allow opt-outs, and require reporting on data minimization and privacy compliance for AI tools used in schools. Members discussed how the commission could help schools, families, and the public understand AI policy and how the new law might shape future recommendations. The group also reviewed several grant efforts. Anna reported on the NSF TechABLE/AI HubZone proposal, a three-year, $1 million-per-year opportunity with a June 15 letter-of-intent deadline and July 15 full proposal deadline, and noted plans to include staff positions to support the project. She also updated the group on a rural health care transformation proposal of roughly $700,000 and asked for follow-up on its status. In addition, Anna outlined a broader K-20 pipeline concept centered on a shared learner record and microcredential system that would connect K-12, CareerTech, higher education, libraries, and workforce systems, with tools such as Career Coach and Skill of Eye to link credentials to jobs. Members generally supported the idea, noting benefits for transcript portability, special populations, teacher certification, and workforce alignment. The commission agreed to meet again on June 14 at 1:00 p.m., and the meeting adjourned after a brief announcement of an informal AI book club for the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• Using prepaid gift cards with minimal age verification.
• is simply too dangerous to allow these particular items to be bought by gift card.
• For an online retailer, you could not use a gift card to purchase those currently...
• I could think of other things that probably should be banned with a gift card as well.
• For an online retailer, you could not use a gift card to purchase those currently...

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Green cards are for support, red cards are in opposition, and white cards are for informational purposes
• We will now move on to some green cards, more green cards.
• Next, we have white cards. There are no red cards. Next, we have white cards.
• I'm just curious, was that a white card or a red card? That was a white card.
• Do we have any cards? We're just checking for cards. No cards? We're just checking for cards.

Bills: HR171 , HCR49 , HB632 , HB1084 , SB310 , SB351 , SB399

Committee: House Education

Keywords: HR171, House Resolution 171, M.J. Foster Promise Program, TOPS-Tech, TOPS Tech Award, Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, LCATCS, financial aid, scholarship, workforce development, career training, technical education, vocational education, postsecondary credential, associate degree, industry-based credential, high-demand jobs, high-wage occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• cards, and various electronic devices.
• cards, and various electronic devices.
• cards, and various electronic devices.
• cards, and various electronic devices.
• cards, and various electronic devices.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee approved the February 13 minutes and then heard several committee reports. The executive committee report noted that audit and special reports were scheduled for presentation, one requested report remained outstanding, and staff was asked to review selected Benton County circuit court case transfers. The committee also received and adopted reports from the counties and municipalities committee, the education committee, and the state agencies committee. Those reports covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, education audit reports, and state agency findings such as duplicate vendor payments, collateral issues, record-keeping problems, and vehicle log deficiencies. In each case, the committee voted to file or adopt the reports, with some reports deferred for follow-up or for officials to appear at a later meeting. A major portion of the meeting focused on the City of Pine Bluff’s 2024 financial audit. Auditors said the city received a clean opinion overall, but management letter findings identified serious issues in the mayor’s office, Parks and Recreation, and the finance department. The Parks and Recreation finding involved $179,629 in manual receipts that could not be traced to city deposits, missing receipts from several facilities, $48,415 in unallowable purchases, $13,000 in questionable purchases, altered invoices, unapproved vendors, and missing equipment; those matters were referred to the prosecuting attorney, attorney general, Governmental Bonding Board, and Arkansas State Police. The finance finding cited weak cash-receipting and bank-reconciliation procedures and late or missing deposits. City officials, including the mayor, finance director, and parks director, testified that the problems predated the current administration and said they had taken corrective steps. They described hiring a forensic audit firm, creating or updating standard operating procedures, improving receipting and deposit processes, adding procurement oversight, and moving Parks and Recreation to electronic or system-based receipting. Committee members questioned the officials about oversight, nonprofit relationships, and whether theft or system failures were to blame. After discussion, the committee voted to file the Pine Bluff report. The next meeting was announced for June 4-5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this cover the gift cards?
• Because, you know, when the gift card is gone, they and it's given through this contact on Facebook or
• So if the bank is getting a hit to purchase a bunch of gift cards, right, that there's a future hit,
• But again, with the gift cards they are hard to are. They are hard to trace.
• So I I know it with the gift card once it leaves.

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh also um gift cards, like a Visa gift card, uh, trying to cloak donors and going out and buying
• a whole bunch of Visa gift cards or MasterCard, whatever. four-digit code on the credit card.
• </c> And uh also um gift cards, like a Visa And uh also um gift cards, like a Visa gift<00:08:42.000>
• and gift card, uh trying to cloak donors and going<00:08:45.360><c> out</c><00:08:45.440><c> and</c>
• </c> Visa gift cards or MasterCard, whatever. Visa gift cards or MasterCard, whatever.

Bills: HB163 , HB344 , HB163 , HB344 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, property improvement, private financing, energy efficiency, capital expenditure, local government, volunteer fire departments, federally insured financial institutions, fund management

Transcript Highlights:

• on the gift card is the person who will be held responsible.
• This will this just makes gift cards.
• :10.719><c> card</c><02:02:10.880><c> is</c> was putting money on the gift card is was putting money
• Um so then what happens is a gift card.
• </c> person, you know, receives this gift person, you know, receives this gift card,<02:04:32.000><c>

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Gift cards.
• </c><01:02:29.040><c> It</c> can be transferred into gift cards.
• It can be transferred into gift cards.
• But beyond dollars via these gift cards.
• Is there an opportunity for gift card.

Committee: Joint State Government

Transcript Highlights:

• It also includes packaging to the offense of defrauding, altering, or tampering a gift card or a gift
• It's got gift card tampering, gift card scam, and this bill simply is trying to protect not only the
• And I'm not a card expert, so I don't buy $500 gift cards from retailers for the most part, but most
• And if someone gets a card, right, and it's a visa gift card, right?
• It doesn't say this is a $50 or $100 gift card.

Bills: SB1778 , SB1570 , SB134 , SB1966 , SB1636 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB259 , SB504 , SB592 , SB2030 , SB1572 , SB843 , SB1242 , SB1255 , SB1262 , SB1264 , SB1286 , SB1581 , SB1290 , SB1316 , SB1319 , SB1369 , SB1379 , SB1381 , SB1400 , SB1427 , SB1436 , SB1461 , SB1496 , SB1509 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB904 , SB1592 , SB1645 , SB1684 , SB1767 , SB1772 , SB1813 , SB1894 , SB1928 , SB1946 , SB1980 , SB2040 , SB2060 , SB2061

Summary: The Senate first handled several gallery introductions recognizing visiting groups, including Muskogee Day, domestic violence advocates, Wagner High School leadership students, the Bixby Chamber and football team, and the Heartland Home Educators co-op. The chamber also adopted a motion to suspend debate rules for the remainder of the day so third-reading bills could be debated under shortened time limits. Senate Bill 134, which shortens the waiting period for Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System retirees to return to public employment from one year to six months, drew questions about “double dipping,” actuarial impact, and workforce shortages. The author said the bill was requested by the Association of County Commissioners to help counties retain experienced workers, noted an actuarial estimate that the system would drop from 107% to 105% funded, and explained there were no special safeguards beyond existing limits. The bill advanced and then passed 47-0. Senate Bill 196, a measure naming multiple bridges, highways, and interchanges for veterans, law enforcement officers, and other honorees, was presented as a personal bill by the author, including a bridge named for his grandfather. After brief questions, it advanced and passed 47-0. Senate Bill 1636, which allows immediate family members or similar individuals to request OSBI review of cold homicide cases after a local law enforcement case-file review, also advanced after questions about eligibility, timing, and workload; supporters said it would give families a path to seek answers in long-unsolved cases. It passed 47-0. The chamber then considered Senate Bill 1725, which addresses expressive activity on higher-education campuses by allowing content-neutral security fees, limiting discipline to narrowly defined harassment, and requiring free speech training for first-year students. Debate centered on campus free speech, university accountability, and whether the bill would add costs or sufficient enforcement; it passed 40-17 and was advanced as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1726, a companion bill requiring training for graduate assistants who teach, emphasizing classroom management, academic integrity, and viewpoint neutrality, passed 41-7 and was also advanced as an emergency measure. Finally, Senate Bill 259, a long-debated water bill requiring metering or approved measuring devices for groundwater use, drew extensive discussion over costs, property rights, regional differences, and regulation of irrigators; the bill was advanced to final passage after a 34-8 vote, with debate continuing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• too dangerous to allow these particular items to be bought by gift card.
• And they're doing it using gift cards. Okay, thank you. Okay, that was a different product.
• So then the online community would just deny the use with a gift card? Is that how it works?
• For an online retailer, you could not use a gift card to purchase those currently...
• I could think of other things that probably should be banned with a gift card as well. But...

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely focused on transparency, public health, labor enforcement, health privacy, high-speed rail oversight, and antitrust policy. AB 1544, by Assemblymember Crowell, would strengthen transparency and access to courthouses; the author said it was aimed at protecting press and public access, and the bill was pulled pending quorum. AB 1604, by Assemblymember Stephanie, would ban BPA and other bisphenols in thermal receipt paper by 2027-2028; supporters from Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Californians Against Waste, and a broad coalition argued receipts are a major source of toxic exposure and recycling contamination, while the author said she would continue working with opposition. AB 1859, by Assemblymember Jackson, would let Joint Labor Management Committees visit public works sites to help identify wage and safety violations; labor groups supported it as a low-cost enforcement tool amid a large wage-theft backlog, while contractors and local government groups opposed it as creating private enforcement, liability, and safety concerns. The committee later took up AB 1930, by Assemblymember Burr and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and Equality California, which would require notice to the Attorney General before certain entities respond to subpoenas or inquiries involving legally protected reproductive or gender-affirming care; supporters framed it as a patient privacy and anti-intimidation measure, while opponents said it would shield providers from scrutiny and interfere with lawful investigations. The bill was approved on a 6-2 vote and placed on call. The consent calendar, including several unrelated bills, was also approved. The committee also heard AB 1584, by Assemblymember Jackson, which would create an Office of Civil Rights within the California Air Resources Board to provide training, language access, and compliance oversight. Supporters said CARB needs a stronger legal framework and dedicated office to enforce civil rights commitments, while an opponent argued CARB already has a civil rights office and should expand existing structures instead of creating a new one. The bill was moved to Appropriations after a roll call vote. AB 1608, by Assemblymember Wilson, would expand the powers and staffing tools of the High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General, including public reporting requirements and authority over classifications and purchasing; supporters said stronger independent oversight is needed for the costly project, while opponents criticized the project itself and raised concerns about confidentiality and who should receive reports. The bill was also passed to Appropriations after extended discussion. Finally, AB 1776, by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, would revise California antitrust law to address single-firm conduct under the Cartwright Act. Supporters, including small business and labor advocates, argued dominant firms can harm competition and that the bill would protect small businesses and workers; opponents from business, biotech, retail, housing, and other sectors warned it would create legal uncertainty, expand litigation, and chill investment. The transcript ended during that bill’s testimony and debate, before a final vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what he is falling uh guilt a scam to is gift cards, where they instruct him to purchase gift cards
• So it would not address the specific issue of gift cards. Thank you. All right.
• guilt a scam to is uh gift cards where guilt a scam to is uh gift cards where they<00:28:05.120><c> instruct
• </c><00:28:06.720><c> cards</c> they instruct him to purchase gift cards they instruct him to purchase
• </c> address uh the specific issue of gift address uh the specific issue of gift cards.<00:29:09.919>

Committee: House Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• I have so signed. to identification cards. I'm about to to identification cards.
• Senate, give you a gift if that's okay.
• Dick, we have a gift for you as well.
• Marty, uh, we have a gift for you as well. Marty, uh, we have a gift for you as well.
• It's in my I have a gift for you.

Transcript Highlights:

• If anyone wishes is to testify, please complete a paper witness card located on the table at the back
• Lastly, members, the Office of the Governor makes accept any gifts, grants, or donations to help facilitate
• As of the latest TEA data, there are More than 450,000 identified gifted and talented students across
• of professional development and gifted education.
• Organizations like the texas association for the gifted and talented and many district gifted and talented

Bills: SB2053 , SCR19 , SCR23 , SCR29

Committee: Senate Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• CS FOR SB 1198 ON FRAUDULENT USE OF GIFT CARDS BY SENATOR DICEGLIE.
• SENATE BILL 1198 CREATES STATUTE 817.09 RELATED TO THE USE OF GIFT CARDS TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND
• PENALTIES FOR FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES INVOLVING GIFT CARDS.
• WE KNOW IT IS ALREADY A CRIME TO ENGAGE IN A SCHEME TO DEFRAUD OR TO STEAL SOMEONE'S GIFT CARD, BUT THIS