Transcript Highlights:

• Ward, excused, Mr.
• <00:23:08.840><c> excused</c><00:23:09.840><c> Mr</c> Ward excused Mr Ward excused Mr Woodson<00:23:11.760
• </c> any further comments on the proposed any further comments on the proposed floor<04:01:47.120><c>
• Ward, excused, Mr. Woodson, no, Mr.
• <04:09:52.600><c> floor</c> proposed floor proposed floor Amendment<04:09:55.520><c> representative</

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Ward
• Stephanie Nguyen, Ta, Ta, Ta, Solache, Soria, Stephanie Nguyen, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Valencia, Wallis, Ward

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chavo, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stephanie, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallace, Ward
• Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stephanie Nguyen, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallace, Ward

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer and pledge, and then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several bills to different committees and permission for committees to notice bills pending re-referral. A motion by Assemblymember Castillo to suspend the rules and take up AB 2670 immediately failed on a 18-39 vote. Assemblymember DeMaio then moved to re-refer AB 2624 back to the Privacy Committee, arguing the bill had been misrepresented in committee; the Majority Leader’s substitute motion to move to the Daily File was accepted 44-19, and the chamber proceeded to regular business. On the Daily File, the Assembly adopted ACR 120 on Positive Parenting Awareness Month after Senate amendments were concurred in 56-0. It also adopted ACR 150 declaring California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, with broad support and 62 coauthors added. Several policy bills then passed, including AB 2233 on autism treatment access and missed appointments (57-0), AB 1601 creating a pathway for a Sonoma County retiree COLA review (50-3), and AB 1801 expanding notice and transparency requirements for private detention facility approvals (45-16). The chamber also adopted H.R. 103 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, with 60 coauthors added. Members also gave guest introductions recognizing the Greek Evzones, the Whitney High School girls cross country team, and dispatch and public safety telecommunicator guests. Additional resolutions on the consent calendar, including ACR 130, ACR 172, and H.R. 104, were added to by coauthors and then adopted along with the remaining consent calendar items, which passed 62-0. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee and floor schedules and adjourned until Monday, April 20 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the right is an item that belonged to Freddy Ward of Geneva County, who was in Vietnam in '69.
• Freddy Ward of Geneva County, who was in Vietnam in '69 and '70.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another way that I choose to view it is, I don’t like the word ward of the state when I choose to view
• it is I don’t like the word ward of the state when they use it for kids or burden to the state, but
• This, what it looks like it would be, is right underneath the Real ID, or it's proposed to be.
• I think we need to rectify this, and this will help offset the decreases we're proposing in my bill and

Bills: HB372 , HB582 , HB593 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB762 , HB781 , HB845 , HB882

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Keywords: roundabouts, public education, traffic safety, motor vehicles, driver education, reinstatement fees, vehicle liability, insurance coverage, grace period, lapse of coverage, local fees, transaction fees, funding, government authority, driver's license, state identification card, citizenship verification, eagle symbol, Department of Public Safety, homelessness

Summary: The House Transportation Committee heard an update from Office of Motor Vehicles leadership, who said the agency had achieved efficiencies, was operating in the black, had improved employee morale and staffing, and expected to begin testing the driver’s license portion of its modernization project in September. Members then took up several OMV-related bills. HB 781, creating a fleet vehicle registration program, was amended to delay implementation until January 1, 2028 or until the OMV registration system is updated, and was reported with amendments. HB 712, which waives OMV fees for driver’s licenses and state IDs for homeless persons who meet eligibility requirements, drew support from homelessness advocates and some members who said it would remove a barrier to work, safety, and housing; concerns were raised about verification and workload, but the bill was amended to require the department to waive fees and to require proof of homeless status, then reported by a recorded vote. HB 372, requiring OMV public education on roundabouts, was discussed as a safety and awareness measure, but the author agreed to voluntarily defer it in favor of pursuing a resolution or other approach. The committee also advanced HB 746 on oversized trucking permits after amendments clarified a one-year moratorium on new local permit requirements while preserving existing permits, and HB 732, which would allow the OMV commissioner to waive or reduce certain fees in humanitarian cases such as hospice, was reported favorably. HB 722, providing for automatic reinstatement of driver’s licenses after payment of fees and fines except for DUI-related suspensions, was amended and reported with amendments. HB 593, increasing the maximum local service fee for certain OMV field offices, prompted debate over costs to motorists and local control; an amendment exempted Shreveport, and the bill was reported with amendments by a 9-5 vote. HB 613, adding an eagle image to indicate U.S. citizenship on licenses and IDs, was amended and reported with a recorded 8-5 vote after members questioned its practical effect and recognition outside Louisiana. The committee also heard HB 582 and HB 762 on insurance lapse fees and debt recovery, with HB 582 reported favorably after the author agreed to work with another member on a similar bill, while HB 762 was discussed as a way to avoid adding a 15% Office of Debt Recovery fee to OMV-related debts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another way that I choose to view it is, I don't like the word ward of the state when I choose to view
• it as I don't like the word ward of the state when they use it for kids or burden to the state, but
• This, what it looks like it would be, is right underneath the Real ID, or it's proposed to be.
• I think we need to rectify this, and this will help offset the decreases we're proposing in my bill and

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 23 with a quorum and received an update from OMV leadership. Director Brian Adams and Commissioner Keith Neal said the agency has improved morale, staffing, and efficiencies, is operating in the black, and expects to begin testing the driver’s license portion of its modernization project in September. They also said the agency is working on customer service and technology upgrades. The committee then considered several OMV-related bills. HB 781, creating a fleet vehicle registration program, was amended to delay implementation until the OMV system is ready and was reported with amendments. HB 712, which waives OMV fees for driver’s licenses and state IDs for eligible homeless persons, drew extensive testimony for and against; supporters said it would remove a barrier to employment, housing, and identification, while opponents raised concerns about eligibility, fraud, and policy scope. The committee adopted amendments clarifying the waiver and verification requirements, and the bill passed on a roll call vote. HB 372, requiring OMV education on roundabouts, was discussed but voluntarily deferred in favor of a House concurrent resolution approach. HB 746, dealing with oversized trucking permits, was amended to preserve existing permits while imposing a one-year moratorium on new local permit requirements and was reported with amendments. HB 732, allowing temporary waiver of certain OMV-related debts for people in special circumstances such as hospice, was amended and reported favorably. HB 722, providing automatic reinstatement of driver’s licenses after payment of fees and fines except for DUI-related suspensions, was amended and reported with amendments. HB 593, raising the maximum service fee for certain OMV field offices, was amended to exclude Shreveport and reported 9-5. HB 613, adding a citizenship indicator to Louisiana driver’s licenses and IDs, was heavily debated over its purpose and implications but was reported 8-5. Finally, HB 582, reducing reinstatement fees for insurance lapses, was reported favorably, and HB 762, which would block referral of certain OMV debts to the Office of Debt Recovery, was taken up with testimony emphasizing the burden of added collection fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is nothing; it doesn't go to... ...this extent that Texas is proposing in terms of liability
• Amendment by Ward. Johnson.
• Before a local government may purchase a new system, they will be required to submit the proposed purchase
• Miss Ward-Johnson in opposition.

Bills: HB25 , HB48 , HB149 , HB254 , HB26 , HB192 , HCR3 , HCR4 , HCR5 , HCR6 , HCR8 , HCR14 , HCR16 , HR1 , HR2 , HR3 , HR4 , HR6 , HR7 , HR8 , HR9 , HR12 , HR11 , HR13 , HR14 , HR15 , HR16 , HR20 , HR22 , HR23 , HR24 , HR25 , HR26 , HR27 , HR28 , HR29 , HR30 , HR31 , HR32 , HR33 , HR45 , HR48 , HR49 , HR51 , HR52 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HR65 , HR66 , HR70 , HR71 , HR72 , HR74 , HCR2 , HCR7 , HR10 , HR21 , HR35 , HR36 , HR37 , HR38 , HR39 , HR40 , HR42 , HR43 , HR44 , HR46 , HR47 , HR50 , HR53 , HR54 , HR67 , HR69 , HR75 , HCR 5 , HCR 6 , HCR 8 , HCR 14 , HCR 16 , HR 1 , HR 3 , HR 4 , HR 6 , HR 7 , HR 8 , HR 9 , HR 12 , HR 11 , HR 13 , HR 14 , HR 15 , HR 16 , HR 20 , HR 22 , HR 23 , HR 24 , HR 25 , HR 26 , HR 27 , HR 28 , HR 29 , HR 30 , HR 31 , HR 32 , HR 33 , HR 45 , HR 48 , HR 49 , HR 51 , HR 52 , HR 55 , HR 56 , HR 57 , HR 59 , HR 60 , HR 61 , HR 62 , HR 63 , HR 64 , HR 65 , HR 66 , HR 70 , HR 71 , HR 72 , HR 74 , HCR 7 , HR 10 , HR 21 , HR 35 , HR 36 , HR 37 , HR 38 , HR 39 , HR 40 , HR 42 , HR 43 , HR 44 , HR 46 , HR 47 , HR 50 , HR 53 , HR 54 , HR 67 , HR 69 , HB 25 , HB 48 , HB 149 , HB 254 , HB 26 , HB 192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the six New Mexicans in my transplant ward, only one of us made it home in time.
• believe the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, based on the FIR and the bill, is New Mexico's largest proposed
• And this proposal... which includes a tax on Medicaid-dependent providers to fund a paid family and medical
• applicant's spouse or domestic partner as a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• and xenophobia and wanting to make sure that the resources of California are properly implemented to ward
• and xenophobia and wanting to make sure that the resources of California are properly implemented to ward
• Seeing cuts to Medicaid and proposed legislation will only disproportionately affect our demographics

Summary: The Select Committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to examine the scope of hate activity in California and hear from state agencies, commissions, and community organizations. The chair opened by framing hate as a persistent crisis affecting many protected groups, and Assembly Member Gonzalez briefly joined the committee. The first panel included the California Department of Justice and the California Commission on the State of Hate, both of which presented recent data and policy recommendations. The Department of Justice reported that in 2024 California saw 2,023 reported hate crime events, 2,568 hate crime offenses, and 2,491 victims, with anti-Black bias remaining the most common category, followed by anti-Jewish and anti-Latino bias. DOJ also said referrals for prosecution increased, and it described its hate-crimes guidance, rapid response protocol, and multilingual resources. The Commission on the State of Hate said hate is undercounted in law enforcement data and cited a survey suggesting about 2.6 million Californians experienced at least one hate act in a year, including more than half a million potentially criminal incidents. It recommended permanent data infrastructure, mandatory law enforcement training, and continued funding for community-based prevention and victim support. The committee then heard testimony from representatives of the NAACP, LULAC, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California, CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, CARE, Equality California, and the Racial Equity Commission. Witnesses described systemic racism, anti-immigrant enforcement, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Asian bias, and anti-LGBTQ+ hate, often linking these harms to political rhetoric, social media, and federal actions. They urged the Legislature to fund programs such as California vs. Hate, Stop the Hate, nonprofit security grants, language access, school and mental health supports, and legal assistance, while also protecting civil rights, due process, and free speech. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing, but members indicated they would request additional recommendations and continue the discussion in future hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• You look at the Ward Bird case, which is what brought us in this series of bills.
• And I think... could you um remind me of what year Ward Bird was? 2010.
• Ward Bird wasn't just on his property.
• Ward Bird wasn't just on larger issue. Ward Bird wasn't just on his<00:49:32.160><c> property.
• Um and definition in this proposal here.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed budget that we are about to appropriate, the $11.1 billion, $2.8 billion from the general
• health care for people. who truly need it in a situation where we've had hospital closures, maternity ward

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Ward. Senator Woods. You do have a quorum, Mr. President. Thank you.
• And what we're proposing to do is to... Oversight Act.
• And if this project was proposed in Albuquerque, the same result.
• microgrid, what is the proposed energy usage on the Project Jupiter?
• What is the proposed energy usage on the Project Jupiter plan? Mr.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum on Valentine’s Day and spent much of the opening portion on ceremonial remarks, guest introductions, and announcements tied to Early Childhood Day, the New Mexico State Bar’s anniversary, and other Valentine’s-themed recognitions. Senators also approved several unanimous-consent requests excusing members from the chamber. The body then received House messages announcing passage of House Joint Resolution 6, House Bill 166, House Bill 295 as amended, House Joint Memorials 2 and 3, and House Joint Resolution 5 as amended. Committee reports were adopted on several measures, including Senate Memorial 27, Senate Memorial 21, House bills 10, 12, 34, and 63, Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 261, Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 151, and Senate Memorials 3 and 16, which were reported as duly enrolled and signed in open session. The Senate also introduced and referred House Bill 166 to Judiciary, House Bill 295 to Finance, House Joint Resolution 6 and House Joint Memorials 2 and 3 to Rules. The main floor action was final passage of Senate Bill 306, which updates New Mexico’s private post-secondary authorization framework to align with federal accreditation terminology and standards; it passed 42-0 after brief questions about tribal colleges and online institutions. The Senate then debated Senate Conservation Committee substitute for Senate Bill 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, which would require large microgrids over 20 megawatts to meet renewable-energy standards, file annual energy and water reports with the PRC, and address utility cost-shifting concerns. Supporters said it would add oversight and protect air, water, and consumers, while opponents argued it would create uncertainty, discourage major economic development, and undercut a recent policy change allowing microgrids. The debate was ongoing in the excerpt, with no final vote shown for SB 235.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we'll try and pull these together and see if Senator Ward can join us. Okay.
• I represent Grafton 15, which is Ward 3 of the city of Lebanon.
• So, uh, Robert Moses, I live in Lebanon, New Hampshire, Ward 3.
• You know, and I hope all of you have seen, because I did have a proposed concurrent resolution that was

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stephanie Nguyen, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward
• This bill was amended in the Senate to reflect the California State University policy proposal for Native
• Assembly Member Ward, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Thank you, Assembly Member Ward. Assembly Member Papan, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a busy floor session with several procedural motions and bill actions. Members suspended rules to allow speeches and guests, withdrew AB 362 from Appropriations to the second reading file, and voted 41-13 to suspend the rules for that motion. The body also took up a number of items on the daily and third reading files, with several measures passed, retained, or moved to inactive file. The main policy focus was ACR 70, designating September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Assembly Member Pellerin presented the resolution with a personal account of losing her husband to suicide and urged greater use of 988, secure firearm storage, and open conversations about mental health. Many members from both parties and caucuses spoke in support, sharing personal experiences with suicide and emphasizing stigma reduction, access to care, and the importance of checking in on others. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, Senate amendments were concurred in, and suicide awareness pins were distributed to members. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 977 on Native American human remains, with unanimous support and a 68-0 vote, and to AB 1510, the Assembly PERS Committee bill, which passed 66-1. Members then adopted H.R. 65, recognizing October as Filipino American History Month, after extensive remarks celebrating Filipino American history, labor organizing, public service, and community contributions; 63 co-authors were added without objection before the voice vote. Later, the chamber passed SB 81, protecting access to health care facilities from immigration enforcement, and SB 98, requiring schools and campuses to notify communities when immigration enforcement is present; both were framed as part of a broader package to protect immigrant communities and passed on urgency votes. The session concluded with debate on SJR 9, a resolution condemning mass immigration raids and defending civil liberties, which drew sharply divided remarks from supporters and opponents, with no final action shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Ward-Johnson? Here. Representative Davis? Here. Great.
• There's a concept that I've seen in in some proposed legislation that would actually facilitate that.
• I don't have that number with me representative Ward-Johnson but we can get back with you.
• Representative Ward-Johnson.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alvarado, Bedford, Ward-Bowman. 27 ayes, no nays. The bill is finally passed. Thank you.
• Communications will present how much property tax was supposed to be collected last year versus what's proposed
• questions because the way I read the bill, it says the president shall mail notice of the budget and proposed

Bills: SB 2 , SB 3 , SB 10 , SB 16 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , SB 19 , SB 54 , HB23 , HB17 , HB16 , SB19 , SB53 , SB54 , HB16 , HB17 , HB23 , HB27 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB2 , SB3 , SB10 , SB16 , SB5

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallace, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zuber, Mr. Speaker.
• When that originally was proposed, it was said it would be a $4 billion.
• The proposal to take away reproductive care was personal. I am a mother.
• Proposing to walk it back. Will have the opposite impact.
• Again, look at what was proposed previous. A lot of things were penciled out and we pushed back.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also fully support the inclusion of the proposed committee amendments pertaining to emancipated youth
• Assembly Member Ward. Thank you, Madam Chair, members. I'll be brief.
• So I want to thank the author for her work on this bill and for accepting our amendments, our proposed
• Amendments, our proposed amendments, and for keeping this policy moving forward.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ward, you are up next. You're presenting AB 2525.
• The alternatives that we are proposing will be as intensive and no more restrictive and provide an important
• AB 2139 is a district bill that proposes a targeted amendment to the Surplus Land Act, creating a practical
• This proposal represents a significant opportunity for economic development, regional identity, and community

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Judiciary Committee on 1194, which came through this committee, I have learned that from a sheriff in Ward
• then committee, our Senator Castaneda has worked on, for several days now, on an amendment being proposed
• to... ...several days now on an amendment being proposed to 1613, and that's the bill on autonomous
• Any other discussion on the proposed amendments? Okay, do you want to move those amendments then?

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard House Bill 1582, a study bill on false accusations and false reports of a crime. The sponsor argued the issue is broad but important, citing concerns about weaponized accusations in custody, civil, and political disputes and saying the study should gather statistics on how often these offenses are charged and prosecuted. Testimony in support came from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the North Dakota Association for Justice, both describing cases where false domestic-violence allegations or false reports caused arrests, jail time, and court burdens, while noting the difficulty of finding statistics or examples of prosecutions. Members questioned the bill’s scope, and the committee amended it to narrow the study to North Dakota Century Code Chapter 12.1 before giving it a do pass recommendation by roll call vote. The committee then took up House Bill 1613, which addresses autonomous vehicles, robots, and law enforcement use of technology. The sponsor explained the amendment was intended to create definitions for autonomous, remote, lethal, and less-than-lethal systems, while preserving current law enforcement tools such as body cameras, license plate readers, and other cameras, and requiring warrants or use-of-force policies in certain situations. Testimony and discussion focused on ensuring humans remain involved in decisions to deploy weapons, limiting autonomous use of lethal force, and clarifying how drones and other devices could be used for surveillance or emergency response. After discussion of concerns from law enforcement, technology, and other stakeholders, the committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended by roll call vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1499, which would make home addresses and telephone numbers of federal judges, magistrate judges, and U.S. Supreme Court justices confidential under state open-records law. The sponsor and the Attorney General’s office said the bill would extend protections already given to state judges and other justice-system employees, noting increased threats to judges and explaining that federal law does not fully protect these records in state files. With no opposition offered, the committee gave the bill a do pass recommendation and then adjourned after noting it had completed action on all 122 bills before it, with only two conference committees remaining.