Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is introduced to enact a Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, which has been enacted by five
• The bill is introduced an act as a respiratory care interstate compact which has been enacted.
• The bill is introduced to enact the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, which has been enacted by five

Summary: The committee met, approved the March 5, 2026 minutes, and then took up several health- and human-services-related bills. House Bill 5086, concerning peer support programs for covered caregivers, was explained as creating training and testimonial privilege protections; the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that boards may still require participation in a board-designated professional health program, and then reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. House Bill 5004, an educational bill on PANS and PANDAS, was supported by the sponsor, who described his family’s experience and the importance of earlier diagnosis; it was reported to the Senate without amendment. House Bill 5327, which would require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS services program, also received supportive testimony from the sponsor and members, but the transcript reflects the bill being reported as House Bill 537; it was moved forward without amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 5096, which would remove personal care and intellectual/developmental disability waiver services from certificate-of-need review. The sponsor argued the change would reduce regulatory burden and expand access, while a county aging-program director testified that certificate-of-need revenues help fund senior meals and services and that eliminating the requirement would reduce important support for aging providers. After a division vote, the motion to report the bill failed 3-9. House Bill 4695, allowing PEIA patients to switch to an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without new prior authorization if it costs no more than the original treatment, was explained as carrying an estimated $13 million annual cost to PEIA and was reported to the Senate. The committee also advanced House Bill 5582, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, after discussion of a committee amendment removing a new-background-check-at-initial-licensure provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported. Another House Bill 5582, concerning the TANF drug screening program, was described as removing the sunset date and allowing oral fluid testing in addition to urine samples; it too was reported. Finally, House Bill 5466 renamed the batterer intervention program as an abuse intervention program and allowed live synchronous virtual delivery with an in-person option; the sponsor said the change would expand access statewide, and the bill was reported to the Senate. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative authority to provide for state use of authorized payment stable coins, and to provide for interstate
• They are interstate and inter-county.
• They are interstate and inter-county.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to licensure, enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, providing for the appointment
• providing for the appointment of New Mexico Compact Commissioners, requiring the public posting of interstate
• minutes, enacting new sections of the Medical Practice Act, providing for a contingent repeal of the Interstate

Transcript Highlights:

• relating to school psychologist relating to school psychologist relating to school psychologist Interstate
• lens or compact thank you Mr Interstate lens or compact thank you Mr Interstate lens or compact thank
• license or compact by Interstate license or compact by Interstate license or compact by adopting article
• practice throughout party Interstate practice throughout party Interstate practice throughout party
• if even though it's an interstate if even though it's an interstate compact that we're doing we want

Transcript Highlights:

• So coming in on the interstate in the mornings, we've got four lanes.
• my uncle in the Seattle area and then down in Portland, where we have a five-lane freeway and an interstate

Committee: House Transportation and Defense

Transcript Highlights:

• As you recall, House Bill 1711 was Representative Veets's bill regarding the Uniform Interstate Deposition
• The Uniform Interstate Deposition and Discovery Act. Is there any discussion?

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where it voted House Bill 1711 do pass with no opposition. HB 1711 concerns the Uniform Interstate Deposition and Discovery Act. The committee then took up HB 1713 on limited liability companies, adopted a House Committee amendment and then a House Committee substitute that incorporated Secretary of State language on series LLCs and certificates of good standing, and voted the substitute do pass 10-0. The committee next considered a combined judgeships measure. It adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute that merged language from several bills, including provisions for additional judges or associate judges in Jefferson, St. Charles, Franklin, Miller, and Clay counties, and voted the substitute for HB 2968, 2427, and 3086 do pass 10-0. It also adopted an amendment and substitute for HB 3072, a workers’ compensation bill, and voted that substitute do pass 9-0. In public hearing, Representatives Smith and Dolan presented HB 2574 and HB 2163 together, both aimed at expanding limited driving privileges for people in treatment programs. They explained the bills would allow limited driving privileges through adult drug/treatment courts and, in one version, let offenders petition the sentencing court after completing a 120-day treatment program. Members discussed public safety concerns, ignition interlock devices, and insurance requirements, and one member noted personal experience with a drunk-driving fatality while supporting the goal of helping people maintain employment. Eric Jennings testified in support for the Judicial Conference of Missouri, saying the change would extend an existing tool from DWI courts to adult treatment courts with the same safeguards. No opposition or informational witnesses appeared, and the hearing was closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes a lot of sense, especially if we're going to go 80 miles per hour on our interstate systems,
• All right, and then it also adds our signs on the interstate and in a couple of spots, which is a safety

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to consider House Bill 1298 and related amendments dealing with traffic enforcement, speeding fines, and point assessments. Senator Rummel explained an amendment that would simplify speeding fines to a flat $5 per mile over the limit, address variable speed limit signs, and remove local authority to double speeding fines, while also incorporating the previously approved point changes from House Bill 2243. Those point changes would increase penalties for several serious traffic offenses, including distracted driving, failure to maintain control, improper passing, wrong-side driving, following too closely, driving on a closed road, failure to yield, running a red light, child restraint violations, and move-over violations. Committee members discussed how the bill combines multiple traffic-related changes into one measure, including the increase from 75 to 80 mph on certain highways and the addition of variable speed limit signage. Members noted that the points provisions were the same as those previously approved by the Senate, while the House had made changes that could be worked out later in conference committee. There was also discussion about whether the bill could be divided on the floor, with members concluding that only some sections could be separated and that the package would be difficult to split cleanly. The committee adopted Amendment 25.0496.0.0103 to House Bill 1298 by a 4-2 vote. It then gave the bill a do pass recommendation as amended, also by a 4-2 vote. Senator Rommel was selected to carry the bill, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• To keep the incidence of disease contained to the smallest footprint possible and to prevent transmission
• ask you, does it make sense to put animals in a situation that will maximize the chance of the transmissible

Summary: The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission/task force met on April 17, 2026, with a quorum present. Members adopted the agenda and prior minutes, then received an update on the chronic wasting disease (CWD) index case in Washington Parish. Staff explained that a hunter-submitted deer tested positive in January 2026, the case was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and an emergency declaration was issued March 11 to extend the CWD control area into portions of Washington and surrounding parishes. The update also reviewed baiting restrictions in enhanced mitigation and buffer zones, the 180-day duration of the emergency declaration, and the department’s website tools for locating affected areas. The commission then agreed to table its own CWD task force recommendations while Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 was being considered during the legislative session. Senator Womack summarized SCR 24 as a “reset” of CWD policy. He said it would set a 1.5% apparent prevalence trigger, require at least 300 samples, shorten the management zone from 25 miles to 15 miles, and allow baiting/supplemental feeding from the opening of deer season through March 31 unless the trigger is met. He said the resolution would also help address feral hog issues and restore more normal hunting and economic conditions. Commission and staff members clarified that the resolution would not affect deer pens or livestock under the Department of Agriculture, and that if sampling goals are not met, feed bans would apply the following year. Several stakeholders testified on the economic and management impacts. Louisiana Farm Bureau representatives supported the effort to find a workable solution but asked for clarity on how the resolution would be implemented, especially whether emergency declarations would immediately impose new restrictions. They emphasized the need to avoid discouraging deer sampling and to consider impacts on feed suppliers, landowners, and hunting leases. A written statement from Vic Blanchard of the Louisiana Landowners Association opposed SCR 24 and HCR 4, arguing that easing restrictions would worsen CWD spread and undermine wildlife management. Other speakers said the resolution should preserve economic planning for feed businesses and allow the commission to continue monitoring disease prevalence. After public comment, the commission voted to table its recommendations and then adjourned without taking a vote on SCR 24 itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• To keep the incidence of disease contained to the smallest footprint possible and to prevent transmission
• ask you, does it make sense to put animals in a situation that will maximize the chance of the transmissible

Summary: The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission met on April 17, 2026, with a quorum present, adopted the agenda and prior minutes, and then focused primarily on chronic wasting disease (CWD) management in light of a new positive deer detection in Washington Parish. Staff explained that the March 11 declaration of emergency expanded the CWD control area into portions of Washington and surrounding parishes, including parts of Morehouse, Union, Lincoln, and Jackson, and that the emergency rule remains in effect for 180 days unless rescinded earlier. The commission also discussed the task force’s report and recommendations, but the chair indicated those recommendations would be tabled pending legislative action on Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 (SCR 24)."} 0}

Transcript Highlights:

• So, that would include pipeline transmission, electricity, water.
• Pipeline transmission, electricity, water at 22.85%.

Bills: SB2102 , SB1940 , SB1625 , SB1442 , SB1623 , SB1242 , SB1949 , SB1592 , SB1913 , SB592 , SB992 , SB1241 , SB259 , SB1928 , SB1426 , SB1531 , SB1561 , SB1122

Keywords: credit card fees, merchant discounts, payment card network, interchange fees, transparency in fees, Oklahoma law, payment card, rebate, merchant, tax compliance, health insurance, mandate, impact analysis, insurance department, public health, access to healthcare, SB1442, alcoholic beverage control, ABLE Commission, liquor license fees

Transcript Highlights:

• dealing with wind and solar, and some, like us, are dealing with things like Grain Belt and a lot of transmission
• dealing with wind and solar, and some, like us, are dealing with things like Grain Belt and a lot of transmission

Summary: The House Utilities Committee resumed hearing on House Bills 2402 and 2816, which address utility-scale solar development. The chair asked witnesses to keep comments to informational purposes, and testimony focused on setbacks, taxation, land conversion caps, county authority, decommissioning, and impacts on neighboring landowners and rural communities. Several witnesses said they supported solar in limited settings such as rooftops or industrial sites, but opposed or wanted changes to the bills’ treatment of agricultural land, especially the proposed 4% cap on cropland conversion and the 500-foot setback from homes. Testimony from landowners and farm groups emphasized concerns about property rights, viewshed impacts, fire risk, drainage and floodplain issues, and the loss of agricultural tax base and local economic activity. They argued the proposed $2,500 per megawatt tax was too low and suggested higher rates, with some recommending $6,000 per megawatt or more, along with decommissioning requirements and stronger county-level protections. A Renew Missouri representative supported much of the bill but preferred a smaller setback and raised constitutional concerns about changing solar land from agricultural to commercial assessment. Other witnesses, including a county commissioner, described local regulations already in place in some counties and asked for clearer statewide standards. Industry and utility representatives said the legislation was generally workable but needed further discussion on setbacks and property tax treatment. Clean Grid Alliance and related witnesses argued that tax comparisons with other states should account for total tax burden, not just nameplate taxes, and said higher taxes would raise electricity costs for consumers. Ameren Missouri said it was acceptable with most provisions, but cautioned against overly aggressive real-property assessments and noted its current and planned solar buildout. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee adjourned after taking testimony on both bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're changing the dynamics and the workflow of narcotics across the interstate system and throughout
• Many of those drugs leave the state via Interstate 40 and Interstate 10 and feed the rest of the country
• What we see is, if we get, say, an average seizure that we encounter along Interstate 40 in Navajo County
• And as the sheriff talked about, because of the interstates that run through our state, we are unfortunately

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, beginning with HCR 2059, a resolution reaffirming support for county sheriffs and recognizing their constitutional authority in their jurisdictions. Supporters said it was a tribute to sheriffs’ work, especially in rural areas, while some members objected to language describing sheriffs as having “supreme constitutional authority,” calling it overly broad or tied to fringe legal theories. The resolution received a due-pass recommendation on an 8-3 vote. Members then considered HB 2811, which expands obstructing governmental operations to cover interference with a lawful arrest when violence or force is used. The sponsor said the bill closes a gap and should make such conduct a felony, while an opposing attorney argued existing statutes already cover much of the conduct and that the bill was duplicative and confusing. Despite concerns about the drafting and interaction of subsections, the bill received a do-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 4129, a proposed DPS-run mental health and wellness program for law enforcement funded with $15 million; the sponsor described it as confidential counseling and support for officers, but several members said it duplicated existing services and was too costly, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the bill before a vote. The committee next took up HB 2270, which would expand protections for county seals and office insignia to include logos and other identifiers, and give sheriffs exclusive rights over posse names and dissolution. Sheriffs and county representatives said the bill was needed to prevent misuse of official names and to avoid litigation after disputes over posse identities; some members raised First Amendment and vagueness concerns about broad language such as “could imply” affiliation. The bill passed 12-1. HB 2416, a $20 million appropriation for border-related law enforcement support, drew strong support from sheriffs and county law enforcement groups who said the funds help with drug interdiction and border-related crime, and strong opposition from speakers who argued the money should go to schools, housing, health care, and other needs; it passed 7-5. Finally, the committee heard HB 4018, a strike-everything amendment clarifying sheriffs’ authority over volunteer posses and reserve organizations. MCSO and county officials said it was meant to clarify existing authority and protect public safety operations, while an opponent warned it could expand posse use into immigration enforcement and increase militarization. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a do-pass recommendation. HB 2253, barring retaliation against employees who testify in law enforcement disciplinary appeal proceedings, also passed after a chairman’s amendment removed one voiding provision. The transcript ends as the committee begins hearing HB 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund funded by forfeited digital assets and redirected investment deposits.

Transcript Highlights:

• government specialties include urban search and rescue teams, TIFMAS teams that facilitate fire interstate
• You know, the interstate system, is there a centralized...
• hour operation, it's best that that real-time data is going through those satellite and automatic transmissions
• LCRA is a river authority that also has a wholesale power business, a transmission business, as well

Committee: House Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select

Transcript Highlights:

• local government specialties include Urban Search and Rescue Teams, TIFMAS teams that operate under Interstate
• In the interstate system, is there a centralized decision maker for closures, or is it dependent upon
• It's best that that real-time data is going through those satellite and automatic transmissions and sent
• LCRA is a river authority that also has a wholesale power business, a transmission business, and community

Transcript Highlights:

• with a traffic selflessly assisting with a traffic hazard<01:04:56.480><c> on</c><01:04:56.720><c> Interstate
• </c> hazard on Interstate 90. hazard on Interstate 90.
• Grazing permits, resource development projects, transmission rights-of-way, all of those leases and permits
• approach and endanger grazing permits in North Dakota when there's a much easier way to do this. transmission
• rights of way, all of those transmission rights of way, all of those leases<05:59:17.920><c> and</c>

Bills: HB4553 , HJR105 , HJR106 , HJR104 , HR539 , HR672

Keywords: energy, water development, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, flood control, infrastructure, Bureau of Land Management, North Dakota, resource management plan, congression disapproval, public lands policy, HJR106, H.J.Res. 106, Congressional Review Act, CRA, BLM, Central Yukon, Alaska, public lands, land management

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:22:04.880><c> either</c> of districts um that are either of districts um that are either interstate
• </c> interstate con contracts or interstate interstate con contracts or interstate school<00:22:07.840
• </c> the town but it's an interstate compact. the town but it's an interstate compact.
• Um those are<00:22:26.400><c> the</c><00:22:26.559><c> interstate</c><00:22:26.960><c> compacts,</c><
• 00:22:27.440><c> but</c><00:22:27.679><c> we</c><00:22:27.919><c> also</c> are the interstate compacts

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• dealing with faithless presidential electors is also fully compliant with the National Popular Vote Interstate
• Compact, in which your state is already a member, ...National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, in which

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The Committee on Election Laws held a hearing with three bills on the agenda, though the transcript focuses primarily on House Bill 5086, a measure to reform the handling of presidential electors. Testimony from Public Citizen, the Uniform Law Commission, and Protect Democracy supported the bill, describing it as a way to prevent “faithless electors,” require a pledge of faithfulness, replace any elector who violates that pledge, and ensure Massachusetts meets updated federal Electoral College deadlines. Witnesses also emphasized concerns about political coercion and threats against public officials, and several noted that similar laws have been adopted in many other states. Committee members raised questions about how the bill would interact with Massachusetts’ participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Witnesses responded that the bill is intended to be fully compatible with the compact, but suggested a minor amendment to make that clearer and avoid any mistaken reading that the bill weakens or rejects the compact. They also explained that the bill would not change how Massachusetts currently appoints electors under the compact framework, but would protect those electors from pressure or coercion. After questions concluded, the chair noted that testimony had also been heard from Representative Breguire, the Governor’s office on the other two bills, and Representative Hogan. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you recall, House Bill 1711 was Representative Veit's bill regarding the Uniform Interstate Deposition
• The Interstate Deposition and Discovery Act. Is there any discussion?

Committees: House Judiciary , House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Howard County is located at the crossroads of interstate. 20 and the Porsche to Plains designated interstate

Transcript Highlights:

• granting a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of any electric transmission

Summary: The Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee met, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the March 9 and March 11 meetings. The committee then took up an engrossed committee substitute for House Bill 4012, which as explained by counsel would limit the Public Service Commission’s ability to approve rate increases and certain utility-related approvals unless the costs to ratepayers are shown to be proportionate to the benefits, with written justification required for approved increases. The bill also addressed PSC approval of certain electric transmission lines and related service commitments. The committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment that removed most of the House bill’s provisions and inserted the contents of engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 669, which had previously passed the Senate, while retaining only the portion related to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission lines. After the amendment was adopted, the committee voted to report House Bill 4012, as amended, to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee also adopted a title amendment and then adjourned. No opposition votes were recorded on the motions described in the meeting.