Transcript Highlights:

• One final question, Chairman.
• According to what I'm reading...
• I had time to read the public comments.
• But then I read the rules, but it doesn't say that.
• We want our reading levels up.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a long agenda of agency rules, with most items approved without objection after brief presentations and no public comment. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s electronic odometer disclosure rule, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and RV parks, lead-based paint, counseling board revisions, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental examiners, nursing, pharmacy, medical board, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these changes were described as updates to match recent acts, federal standards, compact participation, fee adjustments, or cleanup/clarification, and the committee repeatedly approved them without objection. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing’s broad set of rule changes implementing multiple 2025 acts. Those changes included creating a dialysis patient care technician registry, updating contact information requirements, expanding APRN authority to delegate certain tasks, clarifying death certificate and pronouncement authority, allowing substitution of therapeutically equivalent medications, permitting purchase of compounded products, and updating certified medication assistant rules and training standards. Members asked detailed questions about the meaning of therapeutically equivalent substitutions, delegation limits, compounded products, and how often medication lists would be updated; the board said it would review rules annually and use future rulemaking as needed. The committee also approved new nursing rules for declaratory orders and the new dialysis registry. The Department of Education’s rules drew the most discussion, especially the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify eligible expenses, and streamline approvals. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting certain technology purchases and requiring extra justification over $1,000, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about oversight, appeal timelines, sports equipment, provider credentialing, and whether the rules were too restrictive; department officials said the rules were meant to protect taxpayer funds while preserving flexibility, and they noted the program had received extensive public comment. The committee also approved Education rules for scholarships, residency classification, teacher programs, accelerated learning, and graduate medical education, as well as Labor and Licensing rules on wage and hour standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, moving on to the Okay.
• And finally, have done it without you.
• And finally for the highway systems.
• some adjustments and let me just read some adjustments and let me just read through<01:05:13.359
• <01:05:30.000> the you what we did and then I'll read the you what we did and then I'll read

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I did my reading.
• Tony, you get the final word on this panel.
• If I can, I want to read you the act.
• So I'm reading the unedited 162.0022.
• Oh, I was reading it late.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:25.680> diagnosed at the age of 28 I was finally diagnosed at the age of 28 I was finally
• We do have concerns in terms of—we can read it, you know, if you want to just read it, you know, if you
• We do have concerns in terms of—we can read it, you know, if you want to just read it, you know, if you
• do any final do any final questions<02:30:46.160> saying<02:30:46.479> none<02:30:
• So my final question would be, am I wrong to read the language of this statute as saying that any new

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just reading the language, and to me it seems somewhat ambiguous.
• Finally, the bill defines prior report.
• We did read the amendments.
• "Yeah, based on my reading of the bill. Representative Fink." "Yeah, Mr.
• Yeah, based on my reading of the bill. Representative Fink. Yeah, Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then finally, the individual at the bottom of that page is Nurissa Duramus.
• And then finally, the individual at the bottom of that page is Nurissa Duramus.
• We have the numeracy acts, a lot of focus on math and reading.
• We have the numeracy acts, a lot of focus on math and reading.
• We're seeing on math and reading.

Bills: HB187, HB98, HB360, HB394, HB398, HB388, HB187, HB98, HB360, HB394, HB398, HB388

Keywords: school safety, emergency response, training, public safety, Alyssa's Law, law enforcement, scholarship, tuition assistance, dependent education, Alabama, blackout license plate, HB360, Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, sales tax holiday, firearms, guns, ammunition, bullets, primers, gun accessories

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:31.840> and<00:01:32.040> language um this makes reading and language um this
• makes reading and language related<00:01:32.840> tasks<00:01:33.280> harder<00:01:33.960
• through difficulties learning to read through difficulties learning to read processing<00:04:50.120
• anybody in the CP is when they finally anybody in the CP is when they finally get<00:37:50.640><
• And our final bill is Senate File 1246, by Senator McKuen, that will be joining us via Zoom.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, Secretary, read and receive the resolution from the Committee on Rules.
• Without any other questions, I move final passage using the previous roll.
• Hello, let me read this amendment. Please read the amendment.
• President, with that, I'd like to move for final passage.
• That I'd like to move for final passage using previous roll without objection.

Bills: SJR 5, SJR 36, SJR 5, SJR 5, SR 105, SR 121, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28

Keywords: bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• it in its Senate Resolution 297 and read it in its entirety.
• Uh, could you have the clerk read Senate Citation Number Two, please? Mr. Clerk, you want it read?
• Move for final passage. Matter before the body is adoption.
• Move for final passage. you are now. Move for final passage.
• President, I move for final passage of Senate Bill 37.

Keywords: In an effort to stave off issues that may occur with long format live streams, we have split this stream into two parts., 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee director will read the title: An act to amend the Retirement and Social Security Law in
• And what's the final one again? Seven ayes, zero nays, zero abstentions. Thank you.
• The eighth and final bill on the agenda is Senate Bill 9909, by myself, Robert Jackson.
• The committee director will read to type.
• director, will read the title.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions met on May 5, 2026, with a quorum present and eight bills on the agenda. The committee considered measures on a temporary task force on the Variable Supplements Fund (S1181), cost-of-living adjustments for certain retirees (S3414A), an optional 25-year retirement plan for Suffolk County fire marshals (S5754B), a heart disease presumption for certain NYC Police Department traffic enforcement agents (S8147B), a Civil Service Commission study of state agency job vacancies (S8209), employment of persons with autism spectrum disorder (S8640), an optional 25-year retirement plan for certain New York Power Authority employees (S9068A), and the effective date of a reclassification for accidental disability retirement benefits (S9909).

Transcript Highlights:

• That will be read.
• I'd like to ask the reader to read the certificate. Seeing no objection, the reader will read.
• The reader will read. Mr.
• The reader will read. Mr.
• The reader to read.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• voters across the district need to read voters across the district need to read and<00:56:14.160
• in law um and finally in law um and finally um um um the<01:01:40.480> I<01:01:40.559>
• I'm wondering perhaps if counsel could read what that would look like.
• <01:15:10.840> by as as read by as as read by Council<01:15:12.760> okay<01:15:13.400
• Final comments, Senator Martin? Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All in favor of the final amendment, say yay. Awesome. Any opposed? No nays.
• We are finally coming for a landing. Is there public testimony?
• Representative Lopez, you are recognized to close on your final amendment.
• We are finally coming for a landing. Is there a public testimony?
• This big wonker, we are finally coming for a landing.

Summary: The committee first temporarily postponed HB 381, then heard and passed HB 1015 by Rep. Hunschofsky, which expands flood disclosure requirements to long-term rental tenants in addition to homebuyers and clarifies that renters’ insurance does not include flood coverage. An amendment changed rental disclosure language to “dwelling unit,” and the bill received support from the American Flood Coalition, Audubon Florida, and the Florida Association of Realtors. Rep. Robinson praised the bill’s added protections, and the measure passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. The committee then considered HB 247 by Rep. Connerly, an affordable housing bill requiring local governments to adopt ordinances allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family residential areas without added parking requirements, while limiting ADUs in planned unit developments and master-planned communities. Two amendments were adopted: one removed mezzanine financing language and another added certain newer manufactured homes to the ADU definition. Testimony was generally supportive, including from AARP, Florida Realtors, Americans for Prosperity, the Florida Chamber, and the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, but several members raised concerns about parking, infrastructure, historic neighborhoods, and short-term rentals. The bill passed favorably, though Ranking Member Cross voted no. Next, the committee took up HB 913 by Rep. Lopez, a broad condominium reform package addressing governance, financial transparency, reserves, insurance, voting, recalls, structural safety, and related issues. Three amendments were adopted: requiring seven years of posted meeting minutes online, allowing reserve contributions to be paused if a building is deemed uninhabitable, and clarifying that certain 2024 condo-law amendments do not apply retroactively to pending matters. Support came from AARP, the Florida Land Title Association, the Florida Bar’s Real Property section, Association Reserves, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Marriott, and others, while speakers urged continued work on reserve-account clarity and caution on hotel-condo provisions. Members praised Rep. Lopez’s work, and the bill passed unanimously. Finally, the committee heard HB 579 by Rep. Overdorf on development permits and orders, which would require clearer application requirements, hold local governments to existing review timeframes, provide fee refunds when deadlines are missed, and prevent local governments from arbitrarily limiting quasi-judicial hearings. Members asked about incomplete applications, substantive changes that restart timelines, and whether the bill should address additional land-use changes; the sponsor said he was open to continued discussion but believed the bill’s definitions were broad enough. Public testimony supported the bill, and after debate from Rep. Hunschofsky and Rep. Cross noting some remaining concerns, the bill passed favorably. The chair then reminded members to engage sponsors early on future bills and moved to rise from committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was 2018 before I even received a draft permit, and then 2020 before that finally became final.
• And three, uh, finally, deny the permit.
• final part is a technical application. final part is a technical application.
• 2020 before that finally became final. 2020 before that finally became final.
• And this could be read as an issued.

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:24 SB 52 discussion: 01:28 SB 52 voting: 25:08, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met with a quorum and adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 52. The sponsors, Senators Rawlings and Elkins, explained that the substitute narrowed the bill to state public agencies, exempted cities and counties, extended the basic decision deadline from 30 to 60 days, added an additional extension for safety, health, and public welfare concerns, removed an earlier jury-trial provision, and exempted Kentucky State Police exams. They said the bill is intended to require clear permit criteria, timely agency decisions, and meaningful appeal rights for permits tied to constitutionally protected activity, without eliminating existing licensing or permitting requirements. Senators supporting the bill described long agency delays and uncertainty in permitting as costly for contractors, schools, landfill projects, and energy development. Senator Elkins gave a detailed example of a landfill permit process that took years, and other members said agencies should be held to timelines or at least provide reasons for delay. Senator Boswell and Senator Clemens raised concerns that the safety/health/welfare extension could remain subjective and that hard deadlines might pressure agencies and risk public safety. Senator Thomas also said he supported the goal but was voting no because he wanted a safer middle ground. Audrey Ernsburger of the Kentucky Resources Council testified in a neutral-to-cautious position, saying the group agreed that complete applications should be reviewed in a timely and predictable way, but objected to the default-approval mechanism and some burden-shifting provisions in the original language. She warned that deadlines could begin before an application is complete, that deficiencies might not toll the clock, that automatic approval could create public-health risks in some licensing contexts, and that KRS Chapter 13B already governs administrative hearings and judicial review. She said KRC would prefer a statutory process without a hard deadline. After discussion, the committee voted 9-2 to report Senate Bill 52 favorably, as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• budget and finance director and finally budget and finance director and finally Ted<00:35:01.560
• We finally have guidance from the Executive Office on Early Learning.
• <00:46:05.200> have guidance thanks chair uh we finally have guidance thanks chair uh we finally
• Learning there have comments and finally Learning there have comments and finally we<00:46:11.480
• and okay thank you so much and finally and okay thank you so much and finally Kirby<00:46:51.359

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing. During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we can't do that through just asking or reading about what they do.
• The state does score relatively low on math and reading exams.
• specialists, and bilingual reading specialists.
• Reading skills, alignment, and consistency.
• And then my final question is a full cycle kind of question.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All I want to do is read... ...recognized. All I want you to do is read the third stanza.
• Okay, read it. Don't debate me. Read it.
• Okay, Clerk, would you call the final bill please? Okay, all right, so that final vote is...
• Okay, all right, so that final vote is...
• Okay, and the final bill, SB257 by Senator Chestine.

Bills: SB211, HB96, SB215, SB257, SB13, SB13

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment, postsecondary education, apprenticeship programs, high school students, educational commitments, education intervention, State Superintendent, local boards, provisional release, subpoena authority, compliance, educational operation control, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• The measures that the gentleman just read, that the Chair just read, actually reduce revenue.
• The bill is ordered to a third reading.
• The bill is ordered to a third reading.
• Therefore, as we finally wrap up and prepare to cast our final votes, I think that we can all walk away
• I was reading through the pages of the final budget document just a few minutes ago, though, and I was

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate met on the FY27 budget and began with several ceremonial introductions and brief amendment withdrawals. Senator Collins withdrew amendments related to restoring DCF social worker funding and educator pay. The chamber then ruled a package of tax-related amendments offered by Senator Tarr out of order on constitutional grounds, finding they would create money-bill provisions that must originate in the House; the Senate upheld that ruling by a vote of 35-4. Senator Tarr later offered amendments on a gas tax suspension and related tax relief themes, but those were not adopted. The Senate considered and rejected several other amendments, including proposals on commemorating Commonwealth history, naming a bridge, repeat offenders, and no-cost calls. One amendment by Senator Fattman to extend domestic violence leave protections to contract employees was adopted unanimously, with 39 votes in favor and none opposed. The chamber also adopted an amendment creating a special commission to study the adequacy, reliability, and distribution of unrestricted general government aid (UGA), after extended debate about inequities in municipal aid and local budget pressures. Members from across the chamber supported the commission, while some emphasized that adequacy of funding, not just redistribution, remains a concern. The Senate then took up Chapter 90, passing the municipal roads and bridges bill to be engrossed. It also adopted a community programming amendment and a Senate Ways and Means amendment, then adopted the Ways and Means budget amendment as amended and ordered the underlying FY27 appropriations bill to a third reading. After lengthy closing remarks from the Ways and Means chair, minority leader, and the Senate President praising the budget process and highlighting investments in local aid, education, public safety, and other priorities, the Senate voted 40-0 to pass the FY27 budget bill to be engrossed. The chamber then adopted an order to reconvene the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Trooper Kevin Thomas Traynor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 392 is now before you on third reading and final passage. Will there be debates?
• Senate Bill 985 is now before you on third reading and final passage. Will there be debates?
• I declare the bill to be Member Senate Bill 1265 is now before you on third reading and final passage
• Remember, Senate Bill 1283 is now before you on third reading and final passage.
• Senate Bill 1441 is now before you on third reading and final passage. Will there be debates?

Bills: SB843, SB1733, SB1476, SB1237, SB1410, SB1894, SB1272, SB1204, SB1721, SB1725, SB1735, SB1337, SB1339, SB1461, SB1975, SB1450, SB1458, SB1232, SB1238, SB1325, SB1209, SB1362, SB2072, SB1451, SB1540, SB1581, SB1535, SB1266, SB1927, SB1460, SB2084, SB2182, SB392, SB985, SB1265, SB1283, SB1441, SB1307, SB1425, SB1826, SB1365, SB1696, SB1870, SB1722, SB1639, SB715, SB716, SB182, SB609, SB169, SB134, SB1611, SB432, SB1407, SB2039, SB1356, SB1288, SB2019, SB1705, SB1878, SB2118

Keywords: school boards, educational governance, conflict of interest, employee relations, Oklahoma statutes, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, land office, land exchange, investment, education funding, real estate management, Teachers' Bill of Rights, education, teachers' rights

Transcript Highlights:

• defer the rest of the presentation to Representative Her, and then when she's done I'll have some final
• I will share remaining comments and thank yous for third reading.
• The clerk will give the bill its third reading. Third reading. Senate File 2216.
• Uh, finally, I want to thank our staff as well.
• Uh finally, I guess maybe they're even.

Keywords: 1183, house