Video & Transcript : 'governor authority' :

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OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 13th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 13th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Will there be questions of the author? Will there be debate? Seeing no debate, the vote.
  • Senate Bill 209, which Representative Pae and I carried forward, and it was signed into law by the governor
Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered the invocation and pledges, and recognized the doctor, psychologist, and nurse of the day. The chamber then hosted several honorary introductions and citations, including congratulations to the Murray State College shotgun team for winning back-to-back national championships and to the Coedah High School varsity wrestling team for a record-setting 5A season and state title. Both groups were formally presented citations and received Senate applause. The Senate also considered Senate Resolution 30, which reaffirmed Oklahoma’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, supported stronger economic and diplomatic ties, and celebrated the anniversaries of the Taiwan Relations Act and the Oklahoma-Taiwan relationship. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after brief remarks from Senator Peterson and a representative from Taiwan’s office in Houston, who thanked the Senate and spoke about Taiwan’s trade relationship, economic growth, and international challenges. The meeting included introductions from several student pages, who described their schools, sponsoring senators, and future plans. Announcements were made for committee meetings, including Revenue and Taxation, Health and Human Services, and Appropriations and Budget, along with a reminder about Diabetes Awareness Day. The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday, April 14th at 9:30 a.m.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Feb 10th, 2026 at 11:16 am

New Mexico House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Respectfully yours, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor. House executive message number 78.
  • Respectfully yours, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor. Service and declaring an emergency.
  • Respectfully yours, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor. The message will be entered.
  • going through authorization by the legislature until December 2029.
  • broad Governor can access certain reserve funds during an emergency with broad authority once an emergency
Bills: HB111 , HB103 , HB109 , HB128 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB49 , HB60 , HB108 , HB120 , HB124 , HB145 , HB154 , HB158 , HB164 , HB180 , HB291 , HJR6 , HJR7 , HR1 , HJM1 , HM13 , HM47
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Feb 10th, 2026

New Mexico House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Respectfully yours, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor. The message will be entered.
  • to award funds without going through authorization by the legislature until December 2029.
  • And he was a governor of the state of California. He understood the immigrant community.
  • I think this bill is authored in the spirit of Ronald Reagan.
  • broad... ...governor can access certain reserve funds during an emergency with broad authority once
Bills: HB111 , HB103 , HB109 , HB128 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB49 , HB60 , HB108 , HB120 , HB124 , HB145 , HB154 , HB158 , HB164 , HB180 , HB291 , HJR6 , HJR7 , HR1 , HJM1 , HM13 , HM47
Summary: The House opened with a series of ceremonial recognitions, including Bernalillo County Day, Pecos Elementary, Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands University, the New Mexico International School, and the Sun Country golf organizations. Members and guests offered brief remarks praising county staff, educators, university programs, and local public service, and several caucus and committee announcements were made. The House also received a gubernatorial message authorizing consideration of House Bill 303, which was then removed from Rules, ordered printed, and referred to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. The chamber then adopted a long slate of committee reports, moving multiple bills and memorials forward, including House Bills 294, 298, 38, 127, 151, 165, 47, 63, 64, 184, 200, 309, 311, 329, 310, and memorials 20 and 51. Most reports were adopted without objection, and several measures were advanced with committee substitutes or amended versions. The House then proceeded to third reading on selected bills. On final passage, House Bill 128 passed 61-1. The bill updates presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for full-time firefighters with occupational cancers and other illnesses, and debate focused on the exclusion of volunteer firefighters, the evidentiary burden for exposure claims, and whether the bill should be expanded later. House Bill 109, dealing with the Water Project Fund and allowing the New Mexico Finance Authority to award funds without legislative authorization through December 2029, passed 61-0. House Bill 158, requiring accountability and evaluation plans for agencies receiving growth funds, passed 63-0. House Bill 49, increasing the penalty for serious violent felons who possess firearms or destructive devices to a second-degree felony, was debated extensively over sentencing discretion and the distinction between serious violent and nonviolent felons; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Mar 5th, 2025

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The governor is supporting this bill this year, so it includes both employees of those two entities.
  • He was also Co-Chair of the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority and the Alabama Rural Broadband Oversight
  • I've had an opportunity to serve with him on the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority, and he has done
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Mar 5th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The following message from the Governor. The Secretary will read the message.
  • To be members of the Guadalupe Bronco River Authority Board of Directors Stephen B.
  • Respectfully submitted, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas.
  • And Governor, I want to thank you for bringing this to light.
  • Thank you, Governor.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 17th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They get an authorizer that is outside of the school district, so someone else holds that authorizing
  • Yes, if they are authorized to operate in that district, whether the school board authorized them or
  • Be questions to the authors.
  • Questions to the author.
  • Will there be questions to the author? See no.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 17th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They get an authorizer that is outside of the school district, so someone else holds that authorizing
  • Yes, if they are authorized to operate in that district, whether the school board authorized them or
  • That concludes explanations to the bill with the question to the author. Questions to the author.
  • Questions to the author?
  • Questions to the author?
Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized several guests, doctors, nurses, pages, student shadows, and visitors in the gallery. Members also adopted a motion to request the House’s consent for the Senate to adjourn for more than three days, with Senator Hicks opposing the motion because of the number of bills still available for consideration. The motion passed. The chamber then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1627, a cleanup measure to eliminate duplicate criminal code sections and clarify the law for legal research, passed 45-0 and was advanced as an emergency. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation on oil and gas means of production, drew extensive questioning and debate over possible revenue impacts, county assessors, schools, and economically at-risk wells; it passed 37-9. Senate Bill 366, which gives charter schools a first right of refusal to buy or lease public school buildings sold or leased by districts, also generated debate over local control and lack of resale guardrails, and passed 40-6 as an emergency. Later, Senate Bill 1193 to remove general fund carryover caps for school districts passed 46-0 as an emergency after supporters argued it would reduce “use it or lose it” spending and allow more local flexibility, while opponents questioned fiscal effects and accountability. Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act requiring agencies to publicly disclose guidance documents in a searchable database, passed 37-7 after concerns about attorney-client privilege, administrative burden, and whether guidance could function like law. Senate Bill 1450, expanding relief from fines, fees, and court costs for certain people in the criminal justice system, was advanced and passed unanimously; Senate Bill 1481, increasing minimum recess time for K-5 students from 20 to 40 minutes, was advanced as an emergency measure; Senate Bill 1810, allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases, passed 45-0; Senate Bill 1812, requiring school districts to make benchmark testing information available to parents, passed 46-0 as an emergency; Senate Bill 1921, increasing OSBI background-check fees, passed 39-7; and Senate Bill 1948, updating fireworks laws and limiting county restrictions on private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, was taken up with significant safety and local-control questioning.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Feb 4th, 2026 at 12:30 pm

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Very truly yours, Jay Inslee, Governor. Senator Chapman. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm...
  • Very truly yours, Jay Inslee, Governor. Senator Cleveland. Thank you, Mr. President.
  • Suzanne earned her Associate of Arts from Centralia College in 2000, and she attended Western Governors
  • Very truly yours, James Lee, Governor. Senator Wilson. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
  • The bill authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments that
Summary: The Senate convened with ceremonial opening activities, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new introductions, including SB 6346, to the appropriate committees. It also confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to college and board positions: Glenn F. Ellis to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, Suzanne Donaldson to the Clark College Board of Trustees, and Jesse E. Johnson to the Highline College Board of Trustees, each by large bipartisan margins. The chamber then considered and passed a series of bills, often after suspending the rules to move them directly to final passage. These included SB 6014 on pregnancy-related accommodations; SB 5863 on preservation and inspection of Lakeland Village historical records; SB 5874 on correcting unemployment insurance employer reporting procedures for small businesses; SB 5972 expanding interest arbitration for certain correctional employees; SB 5286 formalizing reimbursement for local public safety services provided to state hospitals; SB 5877 making a technical correction related to certified anesthesiologist assistants; SB 5904 restricting nursing titles to licensed human persons; SB 5915 updating the health technology assessment program; SB 5919 creating voluntary wildfire-prevention incentives for agriculture; SB 5938 adjusting foreclosure prevention fees and exemptions; SB 5957 expanding the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee; SB 6102 aligning the ambulance transport quality assurance fee with federal rules; and SB 6103 advancing a rural hospital conversion intended to help East Adams Hospital remain open. The most debated measures were SB 5825, which authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, and SB 6002, which regulates automated license plate reader systems and driver privacy. On SB 5825, two Jeff Wilson amendments seeking to limit administrative use of donated funds and cap contributions were both rejected, but the bill ultimately passed 33-16. On SB 6002, an amendment to broaden authorized uses of ALPRs was rejected, a striking amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 48-9 after extensive floor debate focused on privacy, surveillance, law enforcement utility, and the need for clear rules. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though SB 5972 and SB 5203 drew some dissent over impacts on smaller counties and land-use concerns tied to wildlife connectivity planning.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Feb 4th, 2026

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Very truly yours, Jay Inslee, Governor. Senator Chapman. Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Chapman.
  • Very truly yours, Jay Inslee, Governor. Senator Cleveland. Thank you, Mr. President.
  • Very truly yours, James Lee, Governor. Senator Claire Wilson. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
  • This bill gives the Washington State Leadership Board the clear statutory authority it needs to provide
  • This bill gives the Washington State Leadership Board the clear statutory authority it needs to provide
Summary: The Senate convened with opening ceremonies, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new bill introductions to the designated committees, including sending SB 6118 and SB 6292 to Ways and Means. The chamber then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to college boards: Glenn F. Ellis to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, Suzanne Donaldson to the Clark College Board of Trustees, and Jesse E. Johnson to the Highline College Board of Trustees, all by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The Senate then considered and passed several bills. SB 6014, a technical cleanup to pregnancy and postpartum accommodation laws, passed 41-8 after supporters said it clarified privacy protections and removed barriers for workers. SB 5863, dealing with preservation and inspection of state historical records tied to Lakeland Village, passed 49-0. SB 5825, authorizing the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, passed 33-16 after two proposed amendments to limit administrative costs and cap contributions were rejected. SB 5874, allowing employers to correct certain unemployment insurance reporting errors, passed 49-0, and SB 5286, setting a statutory reimbursement cap for local police and fire services provided to state hospitals, passed 49-0 after an amendment set a $750,000 per-biennium maximum per facility. The Senate also passed SB 5904, requiring nursing titles to be used only by licensed human persons, and SB 5915, updating the health technology assessment process used for coverage decisions, both unanimously. SB 5919, creating voluntary wildfire-prevention incentives for agricultural producers and fire districts, also passed 49-0. SB 5938, making adjustments to foreclosure prevention fees and exemptions, passed 49-0. SB 5957, expanding the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Program and its advisory committee, was taken up near the end of the transcript, with supporters emphasizing youth safety and trafficking prevention; the roll call was underway when the transcript ended. A major policy debate centered on SB 6002, which regulates automated license plate reader systems and driver privacy protections. After a proposed amendment to expand authorized uses was rejected, the bill’s striker was adopted. Supporters described the measure as a bipartisan privacy-and-public-safety balance that limits misuse and unauthorized sharing of ALPR data while preserving law enforcement utility; opponents argued it still needed more work or broader privacy protections. The engrossed second substitute passed 48-9. Another significant debate involved SB 5972, expanding interest arbitration for correctional employees in local city and county governments; supporters cited consistency and labor stability, while opponents warned of burdens on smaller counties. That bill passed 34-15. SB 5203, creating a wildlife connectivity planning and funding framework, passed 31-18 after supporters argued it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve grant competitiveness, while critics said it was too prescriptive and could affect rural land use and agriculture.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill authorizes civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.
  • And so you're authorizing the use of force? It's already in there.
  • And I hope it's acceptable to the author. The chair recognizes Mr.
  • Little sends up an amendment that is acceptable to the author.
  • It likewise authorizes quorum forcing by the remaining members.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 23rd, 2026

Administration of Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • And HB 994, the author has requested that that matter be voluntarily deferred.
  • They would still be under the authority of the Department of Corrections.
  • I'm not sure if it's for the author or you. Thank you so much.
  • The courts certainly have authority.
  • The author has requested that HB 1109 be voluntarily deferred.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - House Judiciary

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • That ruled that counties cannot shift costs to pretrial defendants, as there is no statutory authority
  • this, it prohibits the court from relying on religious sectarian law as controlling or persuasive authority
  • So if it is Anglo, then the courts would allow the religion to have persuasive authority? Mr.
  • This form of verbiage was the easiest to put into the bill, so it wasn't the intention of the author
  • It wasn't the intention of the author of the bill. Can you speak to that, please? Yes, Mr.
Committee: House Judiciary
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Fri Mar 20, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a Oahu resident, author, and established background actor in Hawaii's film and digital media industry
  • However, we do want to make sure that if there is a grant program and this tax credit cap authority,
  • However, we do want to make sure that if there is a grant program and this tax credit cap authority,
  • Well, I didn't author the measure, but I would say that probably this is to have a structure in which
  • We have recently been questioned on our authority to issue these licenses, and asked for this technical
Summary: The committee opened by reviewing hearing procedures and then took up SB 2580, which concerns Hawaii’s film production tax credit and related incentives. Testimony was strongly supportive overall, with witnesses saying the measure would help attract productions, extend the sunset date, include streaming platforms, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness. Several supporters asked for cleanup language on grant administration, tax credit management, local-hire uplifts, and limits on third-party audit requirements for smaller productions. The state film office said the bill was generally strong but suggested clarifying language and noted that DBEDT and DOTAX already provide oversight of the current credit. No vote was taken in the transcript, but the bill drew broad support with a few comments and one opposition noted later in the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2578 SD1, a measure to create a film commission and related grant structure. Testifiers said the proposal would formalize industry input, improve accountability, and help the state compete globally, but they also raised concerns about how a new grant program would interact with the existing tax credit system. The film office said the grant program and tax credit should be separated operationally, that the advisory structure should include industry voices and possibly union representation, and that county film commissioner language may need technical adjustment. A testifier also suggested a Hawaii film museum and related tourism opportunities. The measure was described as having 42 supporters, one opposition, and five comments, with no final action shown. The committee next considered SB 2259, a dementia training measure. Supporters, including the bill’s drafter and the Alzheimer’s Association, described personal caregiving experiences and said free dementia training could help workers and families. Suggested amendments focused on clarifying the relationship between EOA and DBED and allowing retraining every two years because of workforce turnover. DBED said the bill is worthwhile but is not really an economic development initiative, and it should align with existing dementia programs and be easy for businesses to use, preferably online. The committee then moved to SB 3084 SD1, which HTDC said would expand its R&D matching program beyond SBIR to other federal research grants because of uncertainty at the federal level; the transcript ends as testimony begins, with no vote or final action recorded.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Health and Human Services REVISED Mar 2nd, 2026 at 02:00 pm

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • If the individual is deceased, it says the authority, which means the healthcare authority because that's
  • Then who is the authority recouping those funds from?
  • author.
  • Do pass by the author, seconded by Senator Hicks. Will there be questions of the author?
  • With our move to pass, passed by the author, seconded by the chair, will there be questions of the author
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Health and Human Services REVISED Mar 2nd, 2026

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • If the individual is deceased, it says the authority, which means the Health Care Authority, because
  • been laid over by the author.
  • To the author or to Andrea? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  • Do pass by the author, second by Senator Hicks. Will there be questions of the author?
  • Do pass by the author, second by the chair. Will there be questions of the author?
Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee met to consider a series of Senate bills, beginning with SB 2014, which would allow ivermectin to be sold over the counter with FDA approval. After questions about whether a prescription would still be required and how FDA guidance would affect the law, the bill passed 9-3. SB 1805, as amended, barred detention and youth facilities from using temporary agencies or contracting organizations for staffing; the author said the change was intended to address transparency and records issues in a related lawsuit. That bill passed 12-0. SB 2044, also amended, clarified chiropractic-related language regarding serum and multiple vitamins; members discussed whether the bill changed scope of practice, and it passed 10-2. The committee then approved SB 1836, which requires a board-approved mental health screener during routine annual primary care visits. The author said it was meant to normalize mental health screening and noted an updated fiscal impact estimate of $284,000 to $560,000; some members raised concerns about mandates and cost, but the bill passed 8-4. SB 1380 would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify Medicaid eligibility against death records and conduct monthly death-record checks for enrollees; after questions about current practice, costs, and recoupment from deceased enrollees, the author requested title be stricken, and the bill passed 10-2. SB 2179, dealing with not-guilty-by-reason-of-mental-illness cases, adds staff accompaniment for therapeutic visits, requires structured violence-risk assessments before discharge or conditional release, and adds drug screening when substance-use monitoring is ordered; Department of Mental Health staff testified about treatment planning and monitoring, and the bill passed 11-1. Later, the committee passed SB 1436, which requires families to be informed of their right to certification after fetal death or miscarriage, and SB 1558, which clarifies that older youth in OJA custody may be placed in Level E group homes. SB 933, the “Right to Try for Individualized Treatment Act,” passed 11-0 and would allow certain terminally ill patients to seek individualized investigational treatments after informed consent. SB 1651, an Oklahoma Medical Board cleanup bill covering several licensed professions, also passed 11-0. Finally, SB 1328 modernizes parental access to minor medical records with safeguards for abuse situations, and SB 1572 removes the DHS and OJA directors from the OCCY board; both passed 11-0. The committee adjourned after noting a possible interim meeting for a Tier 1 nomination.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Feb 28th, 2026

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Last line: Bob Ferguson, Governor. Senator Furch. Bob Ferguson, Governor.
  • Sincerely, Bob Ferguson, Governor.
  • And so this amendment would just limit it so that only those existing authorities or the authorities
  • housing authorities do.
  • The Washington State Cooperative law authorizes housing authorities to get tools from the state and to
Summary: The Senate opened with ceremonial items, then moved through gubernatorial appointments and a series of floor votes. It confirmed Acacia E. Ingram to the Evergreen State College Board of Trustees, Ashland J. Tibbet and David S. Frockt to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, and Christine Rolfes to the Olympic College Board of Trustees. Members spoke in support of the appointees’ public service and ties to higher education. The chamber also heard a personal privilege statement honoring a Colfax basketball coach who died of pancreatic cancer, followed by a caucus break. The Senate then considered several bills, passing measures on derelict vessels (SHB 2199), radiologic technologist supervision (HB 2113), nitrous oxide retail sales (ESHB 2532), ambulance transport fund alignment (HB 2531), EMT recertification (HB 2540), affordable housing on religious property (2SHB 1859), factory-built housing standards (SHB 2151), social housing public development authorities (EHB 1687), the Washington Voting Rights Act and voter suppression claims (ESSHB 1750), privacy and data protection reporting and AI use (HB 2606), military family school stability (ESHB 2534), coal-fired utility treatment (HB 2367), and school access to albuterol (SHB 2360). Most passed on strong bipartisan roll calls, though the voting-rights bill and coal-utility bill drew the most debate and partisan division. Several bills were amended on the floor. The Senate adopted changes to the nitrous oxide bill, the factory-built housing bill, the social housing bill, the albuterol bill, and the 3D-printer/firearm-manufacturing bill (ESHB 2320), while rejecting some proposed amendments on the voting-rights and 3D-printer bills. Debate centered on whether the voting-rights bill set too low a threshold for lawsuits and whether the coal-utility bill gave improper treatment to coal generation; supporters framed both as needed protections or transition measures, while opponents warned about litigation and policy overreach. The chamber also discussed tribal consultation in energy siting (SHB 2496), ultimately passing it after a close vote, and later returned to the 3D-printer bill, which advanced after amendments narrowed exemptions for gunsmiths and dealers and clarified the bill’s focus on digital files used to manufacture firearms.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business and Insurance 2ND REVISED Feb 19th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Business and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • For yells for questions, will be questions of the author on the bill.
  • Would there be questions of the author on the amendment.
  • Second from the chair, will there be questions of the author on the bill.
  • Currently, they do not have that authority. Mr.
  • Will there be big questions of the author on the bill?
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business and Insurance 2ND REVISED Feb 19th, 2026

Business and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Will there be questions of the author on the bill?
  • Will the questions of the author on the bill?
  • Will there be questions of the author on the bill?
  • Currently, they do not have that authority. Mr.
  • Currently, they do not have that authority. Mr.
Summary: The Senate Business and Insurance Committee met and first laid over Senate Bills 1969 and 1624 without hearing them. It then considered SB 1953, a health insurance transparency bill requiring third-party administrators to provide employers information on what was spent on employee health benefits; an amendment deleting the word “welfare” was adopted, and the bill passed 7-1. SB 1277, which codifies a three-week work-search requirement for unemployment benefits, passed 8-0. SB 1287, amended to change “may” to “shall,” would bar the Oklahoma Abstractors Board from licensing applicants not legally authorized to work in the U.S.; after questions about the need for the bill and the alleged loophole, it passed 7-2. The committee also passed SB 1061, a cleanup measure on mortgage broker licensing and renewal fees, and SB 1916, which would move the Oklahoma Receivership Office under the Insurance Department and streamline receivership operations. SB 1589, as amended to reference Indian Gaming Regulatory Act authorization, would increase penalties for illegal sweepstakes/gambling operations and expand enforcement against entities profiting from illegal gambling; it passed unanimously. SB 2178, a compromise special-event license bill requiring liability insurance coverage, also passed unanimously. Two major insurance reform bills were debated at length and failed. SB 1444 would shift homeowners insurance rate regulation from a use-and-file system to prior filing with authority for the Insurance Commissioner to declare rates excessive; after testimony from a homeowner about a large premium increase and extensive debate over regulation and market effects, it failed 4-5. SB 1438 would require reporting of underwriting gains and profits, cap average profits at 5% over three years, and require rebates or premium credits if profits exceeded that level; supporters argued it would protect consumers, while opponents warned of market disruption and reduced competition. It failed 2-7. The committee then passed SB 1501, clarifying medical marijuana grow reclamation bond requirements, SB 1873, correcting a drafting error in a prior bill and delaying its effective date, and SB 1364, requiring an affidavit of encumbrances before transferring a medical marijuana business license.