Transcript Highlights:

• In the state of New Mexico, we have a lot of full-service grocery stores.
• Typically speaking, supermarkets do receive the vast majority of SNAP benefits—large grocery stores,
• small grocery stores, and so on.
• When grocery stores donate perfectly good, edible food to food banks—which happens all the time—less
• It's hard for me to drive two plus hours one way to go to the grocery store.

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Extreme measures, and when you do shut down the entire section where no grocery store, no liquor store
• It's not like a liquor store or a grocery store.
• It's not like a liquor store or a grocery store.
• But grocery stores I am familiar with, and I don't sing, I don't hang around for two Store.
• When I go to the grocery store, I don't go to Walmart, but when I go to the grocery store, when I go

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 3037, which would allow certain Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account tax credits, beginning in 2028, to be carried back to the immediately prior tax year. Representative Allen said the bill was a technical timing change that would not alter the credit amount, cap, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards. Supporters, including the American Federation for Children and a representative of the scholarship organization, said the change would help donors better match contributions to their actual tax liability and could increase participation. One member raised concern about the fiscal impact on education funding, noting the Department of Revenue’s estimate of reduced revenue, while the sponsor said the delayed start date was intended to give the state time to plan. The committee then heard House Bill 2830, which would increase the recorder fee that funds the Missouri Housing Trust Fund from $3 to $9 per real estate document. Representative Collins said the increase would strengthen funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homeless prevention. Supporters from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, and Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers testified that the fund is under-resourced, with many requests going unmet and some housing programs unable to support new construction or rehabilitation projects. They described local housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more capital funding, arguing the fee increase would help meet demand without using general revenue. No opposition testimony was presented. Finally, the committee took up House Bills 1778 and 2760, both aimed at protecting religious exercise during emergencies. The sponsors said the bills were prompted by COVID-era restrictions on churches and would prevent government orders from limiting worship services, while still allowing compliance with building and fire codes and excluding violence or harm. Members debated whether the bills would create a special exemption for houses of worship and whether they could interfere with public health responses to future outbreaks. A Baptist minister testified in opposition, arguing that religious gatherings should not receive special treatment and that restrictions should apply consistently to all mass gatherings. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is just grocery, the small grocery sack.
• Plastic bags are recyclable, and our members actively partner with grocery and retail stores to collect
• So if you're shopping at a grocery store, it's not uncommon to bring your carryout bags with you or your
• We have 16 grocery stores operating in Snohomish and King counties and have 120,000 active members.
• And our two main businesses, the pharmacy and the grocery store, do not have plastic bags.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills, beginning with SB 5965 on retail bags. Staff explained that the bill would prohibit single-use plastic and reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper bag pass-through charge from 8 cents to 20 cents, exempt certain assistance-program customers from bag charges, and add manufacturer/distributor penalties. The sponsor and supporters, including environmental groups, Seattle Public Utilities, Tacoma, county solid waste representatives, and health advocates, argued the current law has led to thicker plastic bags and more plastic pollution, microplastics, and recycling contamination. Opponents from hospitality, grocery, retail, paper, and plastic bag industries said the bill would raise costs, create checkout confusion, burden food delivery and takeout operations, and amount to a de facto ban on paper bags as well; several urged waiting for more data on the current 12-cent fee. The hearing ended with a reported 1,240 non-testifiers on SB 5965, with 541 pro, 695 con, and 4 other. The committee then heard SB 6030 on plastic bags. Staff said the bill would allow film plastic and paper carryout bags if they meet recycled-content standards, keep the paper bag fee at 8 cents, reduce the plastic bag fee from 12 cents to 8 cents, and remove the minimum thickness standards for reusable film plastic bags while retaining recycled-content requirements and the SNAP exemption. No public testimony was taken on the bill, and the chair noted 208 non-testifiers, with 192 pro, 11 con, and 5 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 5975 on lead in cookware. Staff described it as a third-round update to the state’s cookware lead law, narrowing covered cookware, delaying the 10 ppm lead standard to 2030, and allowing compliance through FDA or European testing methods. Supporters, including some industry representatives, said the current law is unclear and difficult to enforce, that a workable test is still being developed, and that the bill would provide certainty and avoid unintended coverage of safe products. Opponents from Ecology, Health, environmental groups, and consumer advocates argued the bill would weaken Washington’s existing protections, create broad exemptions, and allow high-lead cookware to remain on the market; they also criticized shifting from total-content testing to leach testing. The hearing closed with 609 non-testifiers on SB 5975, with 54 pro and 552 con.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have time to run from store to store when I'm in an emergency state.
• I don't have time to run from store to store when I'm in an emergency state.
• I don't have time to run from store to store when I'm in an emergency state.
• In addition, the financial burden of this bill will fall on DHS and grocery stores.
• SNAP restrictions will require grocery stores to make costly upgrades to their point-of-sale systems,

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard testimony on three bills. SB 6212, sponsored by Sen. Nobles, would create a Department of Commerce pilot program providing monthly cash benefits to families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, with a control group and a final report to the Legislature on whether to expand the program statewide. Supporters said the pilot could reduce child poverty, improve family stability, and provide evidence on the effects of direct cash assistance; the sponsor acknowledged the bill would be expensive and said funding would need to be worked out. No vote was taken. SB 6186, sponsored by Sen. Warnick, would direct DSHS to seek a federal waiver to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to buy candy and sweetened beverages, with annual reapplication if needed. The bill’s preliminary fiscal note was described as significant, and the sponsor said she was open to amendments, including possibly limiting the proposal to Sun Bucks. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed from anti-hunger advocates, public health experts, economists, SNAP educators, and individuals with lived experience, who argued the restrictions would be costly, hard to administer, stigmatizing, and unlikely to improve nutrition; one supporter said the measure would promote healthier choices and reduce long-term health costs. No action was taken. SB 6707, also by Sen. Warnick, would have WSIPP study DCYF’s screening tools and risk assessment processes for child welfare referrals and their effects on outcomes such as services, removals, re-referrals, and fatalities. DCYF said it supports evaluating its risk assessment tool but is already working with Chapin Hall on a similar redesign and pilot of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale, and asked how the bill would avoid duplicating that work. Sen. Warnick said the bill was intended to examine child welfare outcomes more broadly. The committee heard testimony but took no vote, and the chair announced amendments for Wednesday’s executive session are due by noon the next day before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• stores.
• Incentive to grocery stores.
• What this would do is expand what we're doing in farmers markets to our grocery stores.
• I grew up in food insecurity, and I can tell you shopping in the middle of the grocery store, though
• grocery store, though it's middle of the grocery store, though it's reasonably<00:06:57.680><c> priced

Summary: House File 1534, authored by Representative Keeler, was heard and amended with the A1 amendment, which was adopted without objection. The bill would move the Healthy Eating Here at Home/Market Bucks program from the Department of Humanities to the Department of Health and expand the nutrition incentive program from farmers markets to grocery stores, with the goal of helping SNAP recipients afford fresh fruits and vegetables year-round and leveraging federal matching funds. Representative Keeler said the proposal would better align food insecurity work with health outcomes and support both local consumers and local grocers. The Minnesota Grocers Association testified in support, describing the bill as an expansion of a successful program that would help low-income shoppers and provide added support to retailers, especially small businesses facing rising costs. A testifier, Tamara Walter, also supported the bill as a SNAP recipient and Market Bucks user, saying the program helps her family afford healthier food and that winter access to fresh produce is especially important because of diabetes and celiac disease in her household. There was no public testimony in opposition and no member discussion. The committee then laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• keep a new grocery store from moving in.
• You know, not everyone can drive miles to another store, and moving a grocery store across town is not
• When a community loses its grocery store, it doesn't just lose a place to shop.
• in a shopping center, as long as that grocery store has its doors open.
• I could buy something online or I could go to the grocery store.

Summary: The committee heard several immigration-, health-, food access-, and tribal-rights-related bills. AB 1725 would require disclosure of oil wells near homes and sensitive sites and stronger methane monitoring; supporters described health and safety harms in communities near wells, while apartment, realtor, building, and chamber representatives opposed or sought amendments, arguing the bill should better target the responsible industry and fit existing disclosure processes. AB 1650 would require privately rented or leased vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly identifiable and equipped with safety lighting; supporters, including immigrant-rights advocates and local officials, said unmarked vehicles create fear and confusion during ICE operations, while the chamber sought clarification and noted exemptions for ordinary undercover law enforcement. AB 1857 would prohibit grocery restrictive covenants that keep new supermarkets from opening after a store closes, with supporters framing it as a food-access and anti-hunger measure; grocers and retailers raised concerns but said amendments addressed many issues, and the committee moved the bill forward as amended to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with all members present voting aye except one absent member and the bill placed on call. The committee also heard AB 1876, which would codify federal health-care nondiscrimination protections in state law. Supporters from Equality California, Disability Rights California, Planned Parenthood, and other health groups said it would preserve coverage protections for LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and other protected classes amid federal rollbacks; opponents argued it would entrench gender-affirming-care standards and criticized the underlying medical framework. The bill passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with most members voting aye and one no vote, and was placed on call. AB 1908 would allow public entities to use judgment obligation bonds to finance self-funded victim compensation funds; Los Angeles County said the bill would fill a financing gap for faster compensation, and the committee advanced it on a recorded vote and placed it on call. AB 1881, the California Indian Freedom Act of 2026, would protect California tribes’ access to sacred sites and traditional practices on state public lands and require meaningful consultation; it drew extensive support from tribal leaders and Native organizations, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and business groups were opposed unless amended, largely seeking clarification and narrowing. The bill was amended to focus on state public lands and passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, then placed on call. Later, AB 2465 would bar businesses that profit from private detention facilities or contract with immigration-enforcement agencies from receiving state grants, loans, or tax credits and create an immigrant resilience fund. Supporters said the state should not subsidize businesses tied to immigration raids and detention; opponents, including the chamber, bankers, and contractors, raised vagueness and scope concerns, especially over what contracts would be covered. Members said they supported the concept but wanted the bill tightened, and it passed to Revenue and Taxation on a recorded vote with one no vote and was placed on call. The committee then heard AB 2662, which would create a formal state process to monitor and report on federal immigration enforcement actions and their impacts; supporters from legal aid and health centers said raids have chilled access to work, schools, clinics, and naturalization, and the bill was presented as a modest accountability measure. The transcript cuts off before any vote on AB 2662. The committee also approved a consent calendar of several bills and resolutions, sending some to Appropriations and others to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• , who've lost their hardware stores, who've lost their hardware stores, who've lost their smaller grocery
• stores, have lost all of smaller grocery stores, have lost all of smaller grocery stores, have lost
• We had seven grocery 50s. We had seven grocery 50s. We had seven grocery stores.
• Well, I grew up my daddy had a grocery store and I I worked in it from grocery store and I I worked in
• That drug that grocery store in college. That drug that grocery store in college.

Bills: SCR 13 , SCR 24 , SB 1 , SB 12 , SB 15 , SB 17 , SB 24 , SB 57 , SB 65 , SB 213 , SB 371 , SB 372 , SB 378 , SB 379 , SB 388 , SB 400 , SB 402 , SB 427 , SB 495 , SB 499 , SB 502 , SB 509 , SB 535 , SB 583 , SB 610 , SB 621 , SB 650 , SB 706 , SB 740 , SB 840 , SB 854 , SB 856 , SB 875 , SB 893 , SB 918 , SB 925 , SB 974 , SB 995 , SB 1006 , SB 1018 , SB 1025 , SB 1061 , SB 1073 , SB 1106 , SB 1121 , SB 1194 , SB 1252 , SB 1253 , SB 1268 , SB 1300 , SB 1343 , SB 1362 , SB 1447 , SJR 36 , SJR 12 , SJR 57 , SCR 25 , SCR 22 , SCR 12 , SCR 24 , SCR 8 , SB 565 , SB 372 , SB 765 , SB 62 , SB 666 , SB 707 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 847 , SB 1248 , SB 740 , SB 14 , SB 1006 , SB 504 , SB 925 , SB 1121 , SB 995 , SB 857 , SB 305 , SB 296 , SB 284 , SB 815 , SB 1379 , SB 1300 , SB 1497 , SB 1499 , SB 1498 , SB 1061 , SB 65 , SB 241 , SB 304 , SB 402 , SB 499 , SB 621 , SB 974 , SB 1023 , SB 1024 , SB 1025 , SB 1106 , SB 686 , SB 112 , SB 371 , SB 204 , SB 400 , SB 609 , SB 1447 , SB 670 , SB 502 , SB 427 , SB 850 , SB 854 , SB 413 , SB 1555 , SB 1362 , SB 1346 , SB 1033 , SB 1220 , SB 1073 , SB 810 , SB 987 , SB 1539 , SB 893 , SB 447 , SB 875 , SB 406 , SB 509 , SB 985 , SB 965 , SB 1119 , SB 1505 , SB 24 , SB 57 , SB 1194 , SB 1253 , SB 1215 , SB 1532 , SB 1268 , SB 1302 , SB 856 , SB 650 , SB 583 , SB 673 , SB 840 , SB 213 , SB 681 , SB 1172 , SB 1252 , SB 378 , SB 610 , SB 918 , SB 1343 , SB 608 , SB 487 , SB 955 , SB 957 , SB 988 , SB 990 , SB 1019 , SB 1021 , SB 1120 , SB 251 , SB 958 , SB 535 , SB 761 , SB 1 , SB 541 , SB 315 , SB 379 , SB 1018 , SB 1737 , SB 266 , SB 1415 , SB 57 , SB 499 , SB 974 , SB 1025 , SB 1061 , SB 1268 , SR 302 , SR 303 , SR 304 , SR 305 , SB 30 , SB 1333 , SB 1666 , SB 30 , SB 1333 , SB 1666

Transcript Highlights:

• They were intended to be reusable, so people would take them back to the grocery store or the retailer
• We have over 500,000 visitors that come to San Juan County, and Island Market grocery store and Ray's
• We have over 500,000 visitors that come to San Juan County, and Island Market grocery store and Ray's
• We have over 500,000 visitors that come to San Juan County and Island Market grocery store and raised
• We are the largest food co-op in the United States, and we operate 16 full-service grocery stores in

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several waste and recycling bills. House Bill 2212 would require microfiber filters on commercial and industrial washing machines, with Ecology authorized to consider residential machine rules later if cost thresholds are met. Supporters, including the sponsor, students, environmental advocates, and scientists, said washing machines are a major source of microplastics and that filtration is a practical way to reduce pollution before it reaches waterways and human bodies. Opponents, including appliance manufacturers, laundromat operators, business groups, and Ecology staff, raised concerns about technical feasibility, worker safety, cost, and the lack of third-party certification for commercial systems. Ecology said the science is emerging and the proposal would create new agency work and costs. No vote was taken. House Bill 2233 would tighten the state’s carry-out bag laws by banning reusable film plastic bags, raising the paper bag pass-through charge to 20 cents, and extending certain requirements to manufacturers, distributors, and third-party sales platforms, while preserving protections for food assistance cardholders. Supporters argued the current thicker-bag approach has not reduced plastic waste, that plastic bags contribute to litter and microplastics, and that a stronger ban would better protect waterways and wildlife. Opponents from grocery, retail, hospitality, paper, and business groups argued the bill would raise consumer costs, create checkout and food-safety problems, and add operational complexity; some also said the state should wait to see the effects of the recent fee increase. Several local government and environmental witnesses supported the bill. No final action was taken. House Bill 1420 would establish an extended producer responsibility program for textiles and apparel, requiring producers to form a producer responsibility organization to manage collection, reuse, repair, recycling, and related infrastructure. The sponsor described the bill as a response to textile waste, overconsumption, and landfill impacts, and said the proposal had been refined through extensive stakeholder work. Supporters from environmental groups, local governments, Ecology, counties, Goodwill, and circular-economy organizations said textiles are a growing waste stream and that producer responsibility could improve collection, reduce dumping, and support repair and reuse. Opponents from business, retail, hospitality, apparel, and medical-device groups raised concerns about complexity, consumer and compliance costs, governance, supply-chain reporting, and possible unintended coverage of uniforms or medical products. The hearing also included a State Board of Health health impact review noting likely increased awareness and collection but limited evidence on large-scale reuse and recycling outcomes. No vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's just say a community decides that they want a grocery store.
• So they form a tax district, and they build a grocery store to provide food for that community.
• They build a grocery store to provide food for that community.
• So that... ...grocery store cannot survive.
• We're talking about rural taxpayer-funded hospitals, just like it would a grocery store.

Bills: SB5223 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024 , SB5223 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5941 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare, financial burden, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• My concern is more about the smaller business aspect, from restaurants to grocery stores.
• Grocery stores have prices change all the time. I think it'd be a nightmare.
• We're a Louisiana-based grocery business, and most of our stores...
• We're a Louisiana-based grocery business, and most of our stores service low-income communities.
• I know restaurants and grocery stores, you're the perfect example of it.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee took up several House measures. HCR 66, as amended, asked Louisiana Economic Development and the Governor’s Office of Rural Development to study rural parish assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities, and it was moved forward without objection. HB 387, a clarification to allow the fire marshal’s office to review architectural and engineering plans equally, also passed favorably without objection. HB 1223, which would have LED promote Louisiana’s clinical trial capacity and adjust internal review board processes, was amended and moved favorably. HB 950, aimed at helping older adults recognize and avoid fraud through materials and resources from the Office of Elderly Affairs, was reported favorably. HB 975, a routine measure to recreate the Public Service Commission, was also reported favorably. HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, was amended and moved favorably. HB 1222, described as a Grocery Initiative Act to let LED identify ways to address food deserts and food insecurity, was introduced near the end of the meeting. The most extensive debate centered on HB 617, a consumer transparency bill requiring mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing. The author said the bill was intended to curb hidden fees and help consumers compare prices, with examples such as hotel resort fees and automatic restaurant service charges. Supporters argued it would improve transparency, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups said the bill was too broad, vague about terms like “total price,” unclear on enforcement and penalties, and could create compliance burdens and litigation risk, especially for small businesses. Housing advocates opposed the bill’s housing carve-out, arguing it could weaken renters’ ability to bring unfair-practice claims. Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard lengthy testimony on HB 797, which would create a Bayou Gold certification for certain transactional gold vendors that meet state-defined standards such as segregation, insurance, and nearby storage. The sponsor said the goal was to give consumers confidence and encourage vendors to keep gold closer to Louisiana, while critics argued the program would amount to a state endorsement of private companies, create misleading consumer impressions, and expose the state to confusion or liability. The bill drew opposition from the Sound Money Defense League and others, but the committee ultimately reported HB 797 favorably, with the understanding it still had to go to Finance. HB 1228, a hearing-aid cleanup bill updating definitions, contracts, testing periods, and licensing rules, was also moved favorably without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not sure how many grocery stores Navajo has, but families have to travel... ...grocery stores.
• And on there, we only have 13 grocery stores.
• stores, 13 grocery stores, on the reservation.
• On the Tohono O'odham Reservation, I've always known of one Bashas' store, grocery store, in Sells.
• I believe they go to Ajo to buy their groceries. But not very many grocery stores.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some areas allow grocery stores to have abilities to get resources to maintain their places.
• Several years ago, the Lafitte area lost a grocery store due to the hurricane.
• We locally don't have the funding or we don't have the economic strength for a grocery store operator
• So it’s going into grocery stores and it’s going into retail aisles, and they’re using these digital
• So it's going into grocery stores and it's going into retail aisles, and they're using these digital

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on Wednesday, April 22, with a quorum present and heard several bills. HB 1195, relating to the Louisiana State Athletic Commission, was amended with technical changes and a fee-related amendment tied to student athlete agents, then reported favorably. Members asked about criminal penalties and whether the bill would affect prison athletic events; the author said he would follow up on those questions. HB 798, the Broadband and Cable Price Notice Act, was amended to clarify definitions, federal compliance, notice requirements, and severability, then reported favorably after extensive debate over whether providers already give adequate notice, whether a separate notice is necessary, and whether the bill would be preempted by federal law. Charter Communications testified in opposition, saying the bill was duplicative and would add costs, while the author argued it was needed to ensure clear, conspicuous notice of price increases and cancellation rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, or you know, oftentimes people will say shop the outside of the grocery store, you know, shop the
• Probably way more choices in a grocery store than European countries have.
• Um, there's been a lot of talk about wanting to shop on the outside of a grocery store today.
• This as filed would encompass the majority of the interior of a grocery store. OK um.
• You are my Grocery store of choice.

Bills: HB25 , HB38 , HB997 , HB 1119 , HB25 , HB38

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Keywords: HB 25, Texas nutrition, nutrition education, healthy living, public health, school physical activity, recess, physical education, nutrition and wellness course, health curriculum, State Board of Education, Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, food additives, chronic disease, metabolic health, culinary medicine, functional medicine, dietary guidelines

Transcript Highlights:

• My concern is more about the smaller business aspect, from restaurants to grocery stores.
• Grocery stores have prices change all the time. I think it'd be a nightmare.
• We're a Louisiana-based grocery business, and most of our stores...
• We're a Louisiana-based grocery business, and most of our stores service low-income communities.
• I know restaurants and grocery stores, you're the perfect example of it.

Bills: HCR66 , HB387 , HB617 , HB797 , HB950 , HB975 , HB1186 , HB1222 , HB1223 , HB1228 , HB1256

Committee: Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on April 20, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a series of bills and resolutions. It first advanced H. CR 66, which directs Louisiana Economic Development, working with the Governor’s Office of Rural Development, to study rural parish economic assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities. The committee also moved HB 387, a clarification allowing the fire marshal to review architectural and engineering plans equally, and HB 1223, which seeks to promote clinical trials in Louisiana by having LED market the state’s research capacity and by adjusting internal review board procedures. HB 1228, a cleanup bill for hearing aid dealers that updates definitions, contracts, testing periods, licensing, and related requirements, was also reported favorably, as was HB 950, which would create an elderly consumer perception program through the Office of Elderly Affairs to help seniors recognize scams and fraud. The committee spent the most time on HB 617, a broad “hidden fees” consumer transparency bill. The author and supporters said it would require mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing so consumers can make informed choices, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups argued the bill was vague, overly broad, and likely to create compliance burdens and litigation risk. Housing advocates objected to the bill’s housing exemption, warning it could weaken renters’ ability to bring claims over undisclosed fees. After extensive debate over variable pricing, sales taxes, enforcement, and the scope of the bill, Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard HB 797, which would create a “Bayou Gold” certification program for certain gold vendors and transactional gold products. The sponsor said the program would encourage vendors to keep gold insured, segregated, and closer to Louisiana consumers, with the Treasury administering the certification through participant fees. Several senators and an outside witness raised concerns that the state seal could be mistaken for an endorsement, could create liability or consumer confusion, and would favor a narrow set of vendors. Despite opposition, the committee reported HB 797 favorably, with members noting it still had to go to Finance. Later, the committee advanced HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, add disciplinary authority, and impose a small permit fee to support the program, and HB 1222, which would let LED develop a grocery initiative to address food deserts and food insecurity. The meeting concluded with the committee hearing HB 1256 on abandoned digital assets, which would require dormant digital assets to be held in original form for three years so owners can reclaim them.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not like a liquor store or a grocery store.
• And that's why a grocery store would be in a different category than a mass gathering.
• The whole Walmart conversation: when I went to the grocery store during COVID, during a pandemic, there
• When I go to the grocery store, I don't go to Walmart, but when I go to the grocery store, when I go
• When I go to the grocery store, I don't go to Walmart, but when I go to the grocery store, when I go

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:

• We were talking last week about going to the grocery store.
• As a state, we only have somewhere between 250 to 300 full-service grocery stores in our entire state
• It doesn't help local grocery stores, it doesn't help local economies.
• So the food banks do have a formal relationship with all the grocery store retailers across our service
• Half of your food is coming from either private industry, grocery stores, and then USDA.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, your grocery stores, your independent grocery stores, generally have sales tax audits that
• Right now, your grocery stores, your independent grocery stores, generally have sales tax audits that
• Right now, your grocery stores, your independent grocery stores, generally have sales tax audits that
• </c><00:15:56.520><c> all</c> the grocery stores from uh bodega all the grocery stores from uh bodega
• </c> what that might look like in grocery what that might look like in grocery stores.<00:40:09.320><

Transcript Highlights:

• stores.
• stores.
• It empowers the ...to grocery stores. That's all this legislation does.
• It empowers the Louisiana Department of Economic Development to provide incentives to grocery stores,
• How's it different than that policy, what he's trying to do with the grocery stores there?

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , HB75 , HB1222 , SB121 , SB312 , SB348 , SB485 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR54 , HCR79 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR104 , HCR32 , HB944 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB410 , HB750 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB208 , SB217 , SB283 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , SB408 , SB469 , HB74 , HB119 , HB368 , HB414 , HB552 , HB732 , HB776 , HB848 , HB870 , HB953 , HB956 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB78 , SB149 , SB274 , SB300 , SB341 , SB382 , SB441 , SB449 , HB134 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB468 , HB784 , HB1117

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received a prayer and pledge, adopted the journal, and heard messages from the House reporting final passage of several Senate bills and concurrence in SCR 86 and 87. The chamber also observed personal privileges honoring the lives of Edith K. Kirkpatrick and Susan Ann Traylor Bidick, with family members present and a moment of silence held for Bidick. The House later refused concurrence on Senate amendments to HB 42 and HB 159. The Senate then took up a series of resolutions, most of which were adopted without objection. These included studies on energy infrastructure and modernization (SR 174, amended to add an alternative energy industry representative and a consumer advocate), breast pump Medicaid reimbursement (SR 175), digital student IDs (SR 176), lethality assessment protocols in domestic violence cases (SR 177), problem gambling prevention (SR 178), community water system grading (SR 179), condolences for Sharon Courtney (SR 180), and expansion of the Louisiana Tumor Registry (SR 181). The chamber also adopted SCR 85 honoring the Sam Houston High School Broncos baseball team after a recorded vote of 36 yeas and 8 nays. On bills returned from the House, HB 1222 on grocery initiative grants failed on final passage by a vote of 18 yeas and 19 nays. SB 312 had House amendments rejected, SB 348 and SB 485 had House amendments concurred in, and SB 121 on congressional redistricting was the subject of extensive debate over racial gerrymandering, district configuration, and expected litigation before the Senate concurred in the House amendments by 28 yeas and 10 nays. The Senate also concurred in several House concurrent resolutions, including studies or reports on flooded corn and migratory waterfowl, deer hunting with dogs in Kisatchie National Forest, support for a Senator Kennedy letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service, boating safety reporting, and subsurface data review. Finally, HB 944 creating a Women’s Health Consortium within the Department of Health was amended to address funding concerns and convert it into a more task-force-like structure, then passed 37-0 with nine coauthors. The Senate then recessed until 1:30 p.m. to continue work, including conference committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the grocery store folks, they have But the grocery store folks, they have But the grocery store folks
• stores and inspections on grocery stores and inspections on grocery stores and restaurants right now
• This is the grocery stores licenses. This is the grocery stores licenses.
• store as far as it's not a grocery store as far as it's not a grocery store as far as it's not cooked
• And that's well as the grocery stores. And that's well as the grocery stores.

Bills: HJR4 , HJR6 , HB195 , HB 13 , HB143 , HB135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have time to run from store to store when I'm in an emergency state.
• I don't have time to run from store to store when I'm in an emergency state.
• and convenience stores, wholesalers, and suppliers.
• In addition, the financial burden of this bill will fall on DHS and grocery stores.
• SNAP restrictions will require grocery stores to make costly upgrades to their point-of-sale systems,

Bills: SB6007 , SB6186 , SB6212

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: assessment practices, public policy, children, youth, families, evaluation, outcomes, SNAP, nutrition, public health, food access, unhealthy foods, benefit program, assistance, pilot program, state support, public welfare