Video & Transcript Research : 'ballot tabulation'

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - House Government #1

Transcript Highlights:
  • What this ballot measure does, it says, look, since then, we continue to move forward.
  • It's going to the ballot, and we are going to let Arizonans in this state decide how they feel about
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The Special Committee on Government heard and advanced three measures. First, HCR 2044, a constitutional amendment to expand Arizona’s prohibition on preferential treatment and discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public education, public spending, and hiring, drew support from the Speaker, Goldwater Institute, and other advocates who argued it would close loopholes and reaffirm merit-based treatment. Opponents argued it would chill speech, training, and discussion of race and identity in public institutions. The committee approved the resolution on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2671, as amended, which narrows mandatory transfer to adult court for juveniles by limiting chronic felony offender treatment to higher-level felonies and preserving judicial/prosecutorial discretion for lower-level repeat offenses. The sponsor and juvenile defense testimony said the bill would keep low-level youth offenders in juvenile court where rehabilitative services are available and reduce recidivism, while still holding them accountable. The Blackman amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 7-0. Finally, HB 2676 was heard to reduce the age for restoring firearm possession rights for certain juvenile offenders from 30 to 25 and to broaden restoration eligibility for other juvenile felony convictions. Supporters said it would align firearm-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction timelines and help rehabilitated individuals move forward without unnecessary barriers. The committee approved HB 2676 unanimously, 7-0.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on County & Regional Government Mar 10th, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Above or order the question of dissolution to be placed on the ballot during the general election at
  • House Bill 467 permits the county judges to place a dissolution election on the ballot and if approved
Bills: HB318, HB198
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session Mar 10th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • HB 1218, by Hinojosa, relating to the postage for early voting ballots voted by mail.
  • of a voter registrar and volunteer deputy registrar to distribute and receive applications for a ballot
Summary: The House met to read a large slate of newly filed bills and resolutions and refer them to committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including health care and insurance, public education, elections, criminal justice, public safety, taxes, transportation, agriculture, environmental regulation, higher education, housing, and local government. Several proposals focused on abortion and reproductive health, firearms, voter registration and ballot access, school curriculum and accountability, property tax and homestead issues, and state contracting and agency oversight. A number of constitutional amendments were also filed, including proposals on initiative and referendum, veto override authority, vaccination refusal, parental rights in education, gun rights, Medicaid expansion, and various tax exemptions. No substantive debate, testimony, or votes occurred during this portion of the meeting; the clerk simply read the bills and resolutions and announced their committee referrals. The list included both general legislation and joint resolutions, with many items sent to standing committees and several to subcommittees. The House then adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Mar 20th, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • candidates packs as well as ballot candidates packs as well as ballot referendums within the state of
  • also closes a loophole of law and it also closes a loophole of foreign nationals contributing to ballot
  • foreign nationals contributing to ballot foreign nationals contributing to ballot referendums or constitution
  • Well, there's been occurrences uh that again through ballot occurrences uh that again through ballot
  • occurrences uh that again through ballot referendums, it's been unknowingly.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
NJ

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

Senate Budget and Appropriations Jun 4th, 2026

Senate Budget and Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Postal Service postmarks and their effect on mail-in ballots, directs the Secretary of State to evaluate
  • the adequacy of mail-in ballot dropbox placement and usage, and appropriates $100,000.
  • The Secretary of State is to evaluate the adequacy of mail-in ballot dropbox placement and usage, and
Keywords: 1146, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/03/2026 - House Education

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • both passed out last session but were vetoed by the governor, which is why they have returned as ballot
  • both passed out last session but were vetoed by the governor, which is why they have returned as ballot
  • The legislature should exercise restraint with the number of referrals we're sending to the ballot.
Keywords: 1182, all
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 029 Feb 12th, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Childhood was formed in conflict with the express will of the people, which he said was reflected in 2020 ballot
  • The ayes have it, and the committee will rise and report. ballot measure EE that taxed tobacco in ballot
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the February 10, 2026 journal, and received committee reports on several appointments and bills. The Finance Committee recommended confirmation of four appointments to the Advisory Committee on Governmental Accounting. It also reported Senate Bill 42 with amendments and favorable recommendation to Appropriations, while the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee recommended postponing Senate Bill 30 indefinitely. The chamber then took up a personal-privilege segment recognizing physician associates and honoring Susan G. Komen and breast cancer awareness. Senators Michaelson Jenet and Frizell spoke about the importance of breast cancer research and treatment, and Frizell shared a personal reflection on her own cancer journey. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 10, celebrating Lunar New Year 2026 and Colorado’s Asian-American communities, by a vote of 32-0. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 64, concerning the Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program, by a vote of 30-2, and Senate Bill 52, concerning coal transition communities and hiring preferences, by a vote of 29-3. Senate Bill 13, concerning cohabitation as a means to commit bigamy, also passed on third reading by a vote of 27-5. In Committee of the Whole, Senate Bill 19, which would combine early childhood councils and local coordinating organizations and add accountability requirements, was amended and advanced on second reading; the committee report was then adopted 33-0, and the bill was ordered engrossed for third reading. The Senate later recessed until 11:30 a.m.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Appropriations Jan 14th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • If you think about the cycle for property taxes, presuming something goes on the ballot in November,
  • If you think about the cycle for property taxes, presuming something goes on the ballot in November,
  • So you don't have any specifics about what the Governor is requesting to go on the ballot in November
Summary: The Appropriations Committee first took up SB 7010, which would authorize Roth contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans. Senator Mayfield explained that current law only allows pre-tax contributions, and the bill would let the Department of Financial Services and local governments offer post-tax Roth options. The bill had one support appearance card, no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended “Floridians First” budget, totaling $117.4 billion and $53.2 billion in general revenue. The presentation highlighted reserves, debt paydown, tax relief, and proposed reductions and efficiencies, along with major spending areas in education, health care, public safety, corrections, transportation, and economic development. Key proposals included higher K-12 funding, teacher salary increases, funding for Everglades and water quality projects, emergency preparedness, corrections staffing and facility funding, cybersecurity, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserves, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and spending, the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility and federal reimbursement, the Second Amendment sales tax holiday, animal abuse hotline funding, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and teacher pay. A major portion of the discussion focused on the Department of Health’s planned changes to the ADAP HIV medication program, with senators and a public witness expressing concern about access to life-saving medications and possible misuse or redirection of funds. The committee did not take further action on the budget presentation, and the meeting ended after additional comments supporting the budget and the corrections funding, with SB 7010 already approved.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Aug 18th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I've seen young women casting their ballot, older women voting for the first time, and generations of
  • Each ballot, whether cast in person, by mail, or dropped into a secure box, carries the weight of those
  • Their fight was not only for the ballot, it was for dignity, equality, and a voice in shaping the future
Summary: The Assembly met on June 4, 2025, after a quorum call and opening prayer led by Assembly Member Ramos, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and routine procedural actions. Members handled several motions on bill referrals and file management, including disputes over SB 280 and ACA 8. The Speaker’s rulings were repeatedly appealed and sustained, and the body ultimately approved re-referral and notice waivers related to ACA 8 and SB 280, along with related committee hearing notices and shortened file notice requirements. Several bills were also removed from consent, moved to inactive file, or withdrawn from committee as nonfiscal measures. The chamber then held a Native American Day ceremony centered on ACR 102 by Assembly Member Ramos, recognizing California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference. Multiple caucus leaders and members spoke in support, emphasizing California’s Native history, past state harms, and recent legislative efforts affecting tribal communities. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 71 coauthors were added. The ceremony also honored Native leaders and students, including Judge Abby Abinanti, Councilwoman Catalina Chacon, Rosemary Salgado, Chairman Frederick Massetti, and Clovis Unified students who defended their right to wear regalia at graduation. Later, the Assembly took up concurrence votes on several Senate-amended bills, all of which passed unanimously: AB 829 on Parkinson’s disease, AB 463 on emergency medical services, AB 493 on mortgage escrow interest, and AB 1387 on behavioral health coordination for justice-involved individuals. The body also adopted ACR 100 honoring India’s Independence Day and H.R. 44 recognizing homeless service providers, both by voice vote after substantial support from members and coauthors. Guest introductions highlighted the music industry, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and visiting officials from Pakistan. The session concluded with adjournments in memory of Joel Nilsen and Grace Akiko Kojima, followed by announcements of upcoming session dates and adjournment under the call of the Speaker.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • the problem by having a bunch of private individuals write a bond measure initiative, put it on the ballot
  • the problem by having a bunch of private individuals write a bond measure initiative, put it on the ballot
  • Which, as Assembly Member Bennett referenced, this kind of got started with the ballot initiative.
Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on transportation agency budget proposals and did not take any votes. The first major discussion focused on the Motor Vehicle Account shortfall and a proposed one-time $166 million transfer from the Air Pollution Control Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to offset California Air Resources Board mobile source costs. Department of Finance and the LAO described the account’s long-running structural deficit, driven largely by employee compensation growth and REAL ID-related workload, while members criticized the use of Proposition 4, GGRF, and other one-time or redirected funds as backfills and urged a longer-term solution that addresses both revenues and expenditures. The committee then heard Caltrans’ request for $25 million in General Fund support to create a Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program. Caltrans said the program would build on the prior Clean California effort by funding local litter and graffiti cleanup, community engagement, and workforce pathways for vulnerable populations. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that local litter abatement is not a core state responsibility and that one-time funding is unlikely to solve persistent local cleanup needs. Several members echoed those concerns, while public commenters split between support for the cleanup/employment model and calls to instead restore funding to the Active Transportation Program and transit operations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requested that California administratively recognize Tahoe’s federally designated population figure for state formula-based transportation funding, which would raise the population count used in formulas from 40,000 to 145,000. The agency said the change would not request new money but would better align state formulas with federal law and support a shared regional funding framework; members appeared generally supportive, though they noted the need to phase in the change to reduce impacts on other regions. The final presentation was on High-Speed Rail. The LAO reviewed the authority’s project update report, noting that it did not fully meet statutory requirements and that key details are still pending in a supplemental report expected later in the summer. The LAO said the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment still shows an estimated roughly $7 billion funding gap, with no specific plan to close it, and highlighted risks from federal review, inflation, and uncertain GGRF revenues. High-Speed Rail Authority staff said they are conducting a bottom-up review of scope, schedule, ridership, and costs, expect to provide updated information by late summer, and are exploring public-private partnerships and other financing strategies. Members stressed that no further funding commitments should be made until the updated analysis is available.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session - part 2 Mar 17th, 2025

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • You're giving all of Minnesota a choice when they go to the ballots to vote if they want this or not.
  • With 14 people and did not have that on the ballot for people to make a choice.
  • This bill would propose a constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot allowing Minnesotans, not politicians
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs Mar 17th, 2025

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • In fact, when it was ballot initiative 6, it got almost 84%.
  • I got more votes in Texas than Donald Trump on the ballot. That's pretty wild.
  • So I'd ask you to join those 84% of voters who were asked on their primary ballot in 2024 if they supported
Bills: HB39, HB227
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/25/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 1055, arrestees; unlawful public safety law enforcement watermark paper ballot.
  • SB 1168, ballots categories. SB 1189, campaign spending. SB 1210, private post-secondary education.
  • One sends an initiative to the ballot to require us to sine die by April 30th.
  • SB 1057, watermark paper ballots, fraud countermeasures paper ballots.
  • SB 1168, ballot category count. SB 1189, campaign spending, personal security.
Keywords: 1182, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Tue Mar 31, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Under Hawaii law, HRS 11-154, it requires ballots to be sealed and securely controlled.
  • Under Hawaii law, HRS 11-154, it requires ballots to be sealed and securely controlled.
  • He got a ballot.
  • So, if a dog can get a ballot, and we've had testimony that dead people get ballots, and people who no
  • longer live in residences get ballots, then we have a problem.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee began with resolutions HCR 93 and HR 85, which ask the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, in collaboration with the Department of the Attorney General, to form a working group and report on ways to strengthen protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s office said it could support the effort as legal counsel to the commission but preferred not to be an active working-group member, and suggested the Legislative Reference Bureau could instead conduct a nationwide study for stakeholders. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the resolutions but urged broader scope to include prevention and intervention, expanded stakeholder membership, keeping the Attorney General involved, and adjusting the report deadline. Testimony in support also came from the Emoa Alliance, which emphasized the prevalence and harms of image-based abuse and the need for stronger protections. Members asked questions about current criminal and civil remedies, reporting barriers, and whether the commission could administer the effort without the Attorney General; no votes were taken on the resolutions during the excerpted discussion. The committee then heard HCR 113 and HR 106, supporting the Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group’s request for more resources and a timeline extension to fiscal year 2026-2027. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified in support, saying Native Hawaiian culture, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions are increasingly being commercialized and exploited without adequate protection, and that the working group needs more time, resources, and community consultation to complete its work. The committee noted six supporters and no opposition or comments. The hearing also covered HCR 193 and HR 183, which would establish a court security and Department of Law Enforcement capacity working group to address staffing shortages and the use of private security at state courts. The Judiciary supported the intent, asked that the working group supplement rather than replace its budget request, and proposed allowing the chair to add members with relevant experience. In response to questions, Judiciary said it has requested $3.25 million for armed private security, which it said would cover about 18 contracted individuals, though with significant company overhead. The committee then moved through several bills: SB 2667, which restricts certain commercial vehicles and trailers from the far-left lane on multi-lane roads, received support from the Department of Transportation; SB 2851, which allows deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation for law enforcement access, drew testimony in support; SB 2521, which updates emergency vehicle rules and exempts EMS personnel from CDL requirements, received testimony from Honolulu Emergency Services; and SB 2466, which would make the Chief Elections Officer terminable only for cause, drew support from the League of Women Voters and opposition from Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, who argued the change could reduce accountability and create election disruptions if litigation over termination occurs.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jun 3rd, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill would place a bond on the June 2026 ballot to raise $10 billion for affordable housing that
  • of California to have the opportunity to decide that they want to support this with a bond on the ballot
  • Let's pass this housing bond, get it on the ballot, and allow the voters to have a say.
  • Why would we deprive them the opportunity to put a bond like this on the ballot?
  • I stand as a proud joint author of AB 736, which would put a $10 billion bond on the June 2026 ballot
Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and first dealt with a procedural dispute over four amendments to AB 1240. The Speaker ruled the amendments out of order as not germane, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on a 49-16 vote. Members then added co-authors to several consent-calendar resolutions, including measures on the National Conference of State Legislators, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Men’s Mental Health Month, before adopting the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions, including a welcome for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and took up a motion to bring AB 41 up out of file, which failed 19-48. The bulk of the meeting was floor action on a long series of bills and resolutions, many of which passed with broad bipartisan support. Measures approved included ACR 40 supporting immigrant students and FAFSA privacy; AB 917 on permanent status for certain school employees; AB 985 on anesthesia access; AB 7 and AB 42 on higher education and student services; AB 245 providing property tax relief for wildfire victims; AB 255 allowing funding for drug-free recovery housing; AB 279 updating K-12 library standards; AB 289 creating a pilot for automated speed enforcement in highway construction zones; AB 291 on an educator apprentice program; AB 327 addressing swatting; AB 340 on confidential union communications; AB 341 creating an oral health technical assistance center for people with disabilities; AB 356 on San Diego health care infrastructure; AB 410 on bot disclosure; AB 476 on copper theft enforcement; AB 477 on educator pay targets; AB 485 on stolen wages and business licensing; AB 487, the insurance committee’s technical omnibus bill; AB 573 on tobacco retail license fees; AB 598 on school mapping technology; AB 635 on mobile home law enforcement referrals; AB 651 on remote participation for incarcerated parents in dependency hearings; AB 654 on homelessness hotline assistance in Los Angeles County; AB 662 creating a South County higher education task force; AB 667 on language access in professional licensing; AB 669 limiting early denial of addiction treatment; AB 670 on naturally occurring affordable housing; AB 695 on online continuation of community college for deported students; AB 723 on disclosure for digitally altered real estate images; AB 727 placing Trevor Project information on student IDs; and AB 736, a $10 billion affordable housing bond for the June 2026 ballot, which passed on a 61-11 urgency vote after extensive debate. Debate on AB 736 was the most extensive of the day, with supporters arguing the bond would help address California’s housing crisis and give voters a chance to weigh in, while opponents criticized the state’s bond debt and past spending results. The Assembly then recessed for caucus meetings and later returned to continue the daily file, where additional measures were taken up, including AB 798 adding diapers and wipes to the emergency food bank reserve program, which passed 56-0, and AB 821 on career technical education, which was presented as bipartisan-supported as the transcript continued.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (04/23/2025)

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • That would be something we hope to put on the ballot. It's very simple.
  • a modest change from 70 to 75 would be in the best public interest, and we hope to put it on the ballot
  • to<00:02:37.920> put<00:02:38.000> in<00:02:38.239> the<00:02:38.319> ballot
  • <00:02:38.800> It's<00:02:39.120> very hope to put in the ballot.
  • It's very hope to put in the ballot.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Municipal Apr 29th, 2026

Municipal

Transcript Highlights:
  • Okay, and this would be on the ballot when? I would hope this fall. Okay.
  • actually voted to have term limits, but the council itself voted that they wanted to put it on the ballot
  • You're superseding their authority, so they could put that on the ballot themselves for the whole parish
  • those police jurors and tell them exactly what they want for them to come out here and put it on the ballot
Summary: The committee met on April 29 and considered a series of local and special bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, development districts, and term limits. Early action included a motion to apply a three-minute rule. House Bill 483, concerning the Fulberg/Marini Security and Improvement District in Orleans Parish, was voluntarily deferred after discussion and no support cards. House Bill 484, which revised the New Orleans Regional Business Park board by reducing membership from 12 to 11 and giving the mayor four direct appointments with removal authority, was adopted as a substitute and reported favorably. Senate Bill 78, dealing with the Shreveport Downtown Development District, was amended to correct a legislative district reference and then reported favorably. The committee also heard announcements that several previously deferred bills would not be heard that day. Several Shreveport-related blight bills were advanced. House Bill 1051, authorizing demolition of certain dilapidated properties in Shreveport, was amended to allow the city to rely on findings from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and then reported favorably. House Bill 1080, addressing condemned commercial property in Shreveport, was also reported favorably, though the author said he would continue consulting with the city attorney before floor consideration. House Bill 66 for Alexandria expanded the city’s administrative adjudication authority to cover a broader range of ordinance violations, including building, zoning, vegetation, nuisance, sewer, drainage, licensing, and permit matters; it was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief candidate to reside within the village, also passed favorably. House Bill 793, a contentious bill concerning recorded subdivision plats and prescription, drew extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, a former appellate judge, and the McCormick family. Supporters said the bill closes a loophole exposed by recent court rulings that could let noncompliant plats become enforceable after five years without actual notice to local governments, while opponents argued the current substitute still creates uncertainty and could burden property owners; the author said the bill was prospective only and would also go to the Law Institute. Despite the debate, the committee moved the substitute favorably. Senate Bill 148, allowing municipalities to pay a modest per diem to planning and zoning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably with support from Lake Charles. The committee rejected House Bill 208, which would have let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members. The bill’s author argued the people should decide, but the St. Helena Police Jury opposed it and committee members emphasized local control; the final vote was 3 yeas to 10 nays. House Bill 1215, concerning the disposition of historical statues and monuments, was amended to bar the Office of State Parks from placing transferred monuments back in the parish from which they were removed, and then was reported favorably. House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization ordinances during a governor-declared emergency, was amended to limit such ordinances to the emergency period, tie increases to the consumer price index, and cap them at 365 days; discussion continued on whether the measure duplicated existing price-gouging laws and whether a broader study would be preferable.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Minnesota House passes HF2563, the Legacy finance bill 4/25/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 2008, when this was on the ballot, I voted against it because if clean water was so important to Minnesota
  • In 2008, when this was on the ballot,<00:32:15.120> I<00:32:15.200> voted<00:32:15.519>
  • against<00:32:15.679> it<00:32:15.840> because<00:32:16.799> if ballot,
  • I voted against it because if ballot, I voted against it because if clean<00:32:17.360> water<
Keywords: 1183, house
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Apr 16th, 2025 at 12:30 pm

North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • public school district, or park district for the question to appear on the primary or general election ballot
  • Finally, the contents of the ballot are clarified on page 10.
  • district debt limit election, the requirements of a municipal bond election, and the contents of a ballot
  • President, Senate Bill 2230 will require that any statewide constitutional measure appearing on a ballot
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge, a quorum call, and approval of journal corrections. It then handled several House messages, appointing conference committees on Senate Bills 2004 and 2006 and House Bills 1018, 1019, and 1363, and re-referring House Bill 1216 to Appropriations. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bill 1601, which would have expanded special assistant attorney general authority for certain offices, but the bill failed on final passage after strong opposition centered on preserving the Attorney General’s control and avoiding a solution in search of a problem. A major portion of the day focused on education funding. House Bill 1369 was amended to raise per-pupil aid from 2% and 2% to 3% and 3% and to increase the school construction loan transfer from $75 million to $100 million; supporters said this would help local schools and military base projects, while opponents raised questions about special education placement language and state coordination. The bill passed 44-3. House Bill 1013, the DPI budget, was also amended extensively to adjust staffing, funding sources, grants, meal assistance, teacher training, and other education programs; it passed 45-2. House Bill 2234, dealing with Choice Ready grants, was amended to shift funding away from general funds and toward federal or other sources, but then failed on final passage after the sponsor urged a red vote. The Senate also approved House Bill 1482, restricting bond and indebtedness elections for counties, cities, school districts, and park districts to primary or general election days, and House Bill 1332, creating a value-added agriculture facility incentive program with an emergency clause. House Bill 1010, the Insurance Department budget, passed unanimously after amendments reflecting the merger of the Securities Department into Insurance and adding staff and fee changes, while House Bill 1011, the separate Securities Department budget, failed because its funding was already included in HB 1010. House Bill 1584, a major pharmacy benefit manager reform bill, passed with an enforcement fund and new licensing/enforcement structure despite debate over ERISA and market transparency. In other action, the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed Senate Bills 2226, 2230, 2069, 2082, 2387, 2385, and 2186, with SB 2186 on parenting time interference and a child custody task force passing 27-20 after debate over whether the issue should be left to the courts. Senate Bill 2234, on Choice Ready grants, and Senate Bill 2243, on driver’s license points and traffic penalties, both failed after concurrence motions were adopted but final passage votes were overwhelmingly negative. The chamber also advanced Senate Bill 2291 to conference committee consideration near the end of the transcript.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

SENATE CONVENES Apr 29th, 2026

Arkansas All Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Please cast up the ballot.
  • Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot.
Keywords: 1204, all