Transcript Highlights:

• Approximately $270 million in bond funds was authorized to construct the central laboratory expansion
• :18:30.880> in Authorized approximately 270 million in Authorized approximately 270 million in
• the<00:18:32.480> central bond funds to construct the central bond funds to construct
• Authorized maintenance pool capital projects and authorized other projects total about $8.5 million.
• historical society authorizes additional historical society authorizes additional funding<00:27:

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:40 HB 500 Discussion 00:01:50 HB 500 Vote 00:38:40 HB 504 Discussion 00:41:45 HB 504 Vote 00:47:00, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met to consider House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, and House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget bill. The chair explained that the committee substitute for HB 500 was a starting point in the budget process and that a committee amendment was needed to correct a numbers discrepancy. The amendment to PHS1 was adopted, and the committee then adopted HB 500 as amended, with one no vote and several passes; the bill was reported favorably. The committee also voted to roll the committee amendment into PHS1 so it would be considered as a single unified version. The chair gave a broad overview of HB 500, describing funding for statewide costs, a 2% salary increase in each fiscal year for executive branch employees and elected officials, and broad percentage cuts of 4% in FY27 and 3% in FY28 with many exemptions. He highlighted funding changes for education, Medicaid, health insurance for state and school employees, public safety, corrections, health and family services, postsecondary education, fire programs, tourism and parks, and several capital projects. He also noted language changes or removals that were intended to clean up the bill rather than eliminate programs, and said some items were held steady or fully funded based on current estimates. Members asked about SEEK transportation funding, the budget reserve trust fund, and why Medicaid benefits were funded below the governor’s request. The chair said the reserve included general fund and Department of Insurance restricted funds as a safeguard, with some of that money available if Medicaid costs exceed expectations. He said Medicaid benefits were held flat at FY26 levels because eligibility and utilization have declined, but the committee added reporting requirements and oversight to monitor trends. A member expressed appreciation for the SEEK increase and KEPH stability, while another voted no on HB 500 because they were still reviewing the document and believed some items were missing. The chair then said the committee would move on to HB 504, but no action on that bill is included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• requests that we've discussed in this committee prior, which is our RFA bonding authority as well as
• committee um and then our bonding committee um and then our bonding requests<00:17:52.400> that
• <00:17:56.240> our<00:17:56.320> East bonding authority as well as our East bonding
• <00:23:52.720> Chair chief author by Chair Hansen. Chair chief author by Chair Hansen.
• The exemption under existing authority.

Bills: HF858, HF2577, HF2576

Keywords: bioincentive payments, agriculture, job creation, environmental compliance, financial reporting, waste handling, sewage sludge, PFAS regulation, environment, record retention, fertilizer disposal, pesticide disposal, environmental impact, safety regulations, burning prohibition, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Chief Administrative Officer of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.
• To my left is Portia Riley, the Communications Director for the Medical Marijuana Authority.
• Everyone who gives a comment will receive a response in writing from the authority on their comment.
• Because I'm 80 years old, I'm Google authorized, representing contractornews.com.
• Now, I brought copies of that email and also my bond for you to have for your records.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Port Authority. The St.
• Paul Port Authority. The St.
• Paul Public Housing Authority.
• Paul Public Housing Authority.
• Paul Public Housing Authority.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . or setting a bond, we are often seeing disinformation perpetuated as to whether or not choice to set
• that bond.
• done, the state was... was not ready and did not present a proof-evident hearing to trigger the no bond
• Last week, the judge had actually set a million-dollar bond.
• I was part of a group that . . . insisted that the for-profit bail bond industry stop getting people

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May we remember that every governing authority has been placed here by you.
• We've got<00:10:40.800> some<00:10:41.040> Senate<00:10:41.360> bond<00:10:41.600
• got some Senate bond initiatives. got some Senate bond initiatives.
• <00:10:43.279> will<00:10:43.360> read<00:10:43.519> the<00:10:43.600> bond
• Clerk will read the bond Calendar 25.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with a quorum present. The session opened with an invocation by Chaplain David Stadler, followed by journalization of his remarks and several introductions recognizing guests in the chamber, including dentists, an intern, a former legislative staffer, and representatives from the University System of Maryland and other groups. Senators also noted upcoming committee meetings and a Legislative Black Caucus photo the next day. The main floor action centered on a resolution honoring Maryland Career and Technical Student Organizations for Career and Technical Student Organization Week. The sponsor described the role of CTSOs in serving more than 12,000 students statewide and in building leadership, professional, and career skills. The resolution was read in full and adopted unanimously, with the Senate expressing congratulations and appreciation for the organizations’ work with young people. The Senate then took up layover items and calendar bills. Senate Bill 56, concerning Maryland Longitudinal Data Center external data sharing for multi-state reporting, was special ordered for one day after members raised privacy-related questions. Senate Bill 99, the Open Meetings Act/Local Board of Education Transparency Act measure, was also special ordered for one day after discussion of its committee amendment. The chamber also received administrative corrections from the Governor and referred them to the Executive Nominations Committee, and the majority leader later moved adjournment until February 19 at 10:00 a.m., which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year we lost bar authority for the first time in over 15 years, and this bar authority is very specific
• back for the remainder of FY 26 authority, but also for FY 27 authority.
• Again, our bar authority is very limited.
• and additional Bar 27 Authority.
• a part of the state's bonding.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rest of the co-authors on for this bill. rest of the co-authors on for this bill.
• This early parent-caregiver-infant bond and the healthy growth this relationship supports is exactly
• I have a question for the author just about how this bill will work.
• Or you had a birth of a child and you want a amount of time to bond with that child.
• , child development benefits and bonding, child development benefits and bonding, which<00:56:25.000

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1714 FN is an act authorizing the state to issue bonds to fund public school expenses, and the prime
• <00:15:58.560> currently<00:15:59.040> authorized<00:15:59.600> but fund bonds
• currently authorized but fund bonds currently authorized but unissued. unissued. unissued.
• future and we need bonds, we can do it. future and we need bonds, we can do it.
• We may not need as much of a bond. bond. bond.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CS for HB 849 authorizes the department to adopt rules to implement the Florida Medal of Valor and the
• It gives the Medical Examiners Commission authority to appoint the district medical examiners and establishes
• remanded to custody following conviction and remain in custody. without the possibility of release on bond
• one-off situation, which you know what happens, but we're presuming that all offenders who are out on bond
• He was able to bond out, given a bond, and came back again. This happened about 10 or 15 times.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hard part is we kind of went away from a bonding system because we put all the bonds.
• You know, it's a bond with no teeth.
• There's not a camera when the guy bonds out. But folks are getting out the next day.
• I think it's true that judges can set bonds on flight risk.
• I see this as just flexing the legislative authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:53:03.599> where city uh civilian review authority where city uh civilian review authority
• Do you don’t think the bond market is going to say, ‘Hey, I’m not buying a 30-year U.S. bond’?
• Do you don't think the bond these.
• bond market control of the government. bond market control of the government.
• You wait till the first day we have a failed bond or just a stressed bond auction, and you watch

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Supreme Court affirmed that the legislature is permitted to grant governing authorities the authority
• They are persuasive authority. They are not controlling authority.
• This amendment will ensure that the public is aware of why a bond is being issued, how the bond will
• Senator Creighton said the Faculty Senate’s current authority, and its authority after the bill passes
• A few questions of the author. Do you yield? I... A few questions of the author? Do you yield?

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of H.B. 500, and a gubernatorial nomination for the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including SR 409 recognizing Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, SR 402 honoring the discovery of the woolly devil plant at Big Bend National Park, and recognitions for Operation Christmas RGV and Wilson County Day. The Senate also heard an announcement that the Committee on Senate Nominations action report had been placed on members’ desks. The body then took up and passed several bills. SB 2365 was passed to prohibit personal wireless communication devices by public school students during instructional time, with exceptions for health, special education, and safety needs. SB 1869 was passed to reaffirm the DSHS commissioner’s authority over controlled-substance schedule changes without rulemaking or judicial review. SB 1124 was passed to revise criminal discovery procedures in response to the Heath decision, with supporters saying it preserves exculpatory evidence protections while limiting suppression of inculpatory evidence when the defense already knew of it. SB 1758 was passed to create a Grayson County pilot study and temporary permitting hold concerning a cement kiln/quarry near a semiconductor wafer facility, and SB 2078 was passed to regulate composting in certain counties, after a clarifying amendment. The Senate also passed SB 33, barring governmental entities from transactions that support abortion assistance or out-of-state abortion procurement; SB 34, expanding wildfire preparedness measures, studies, equipment databases, and rural fire department funding; SB 1208, increasing the penalty for interference with public duties from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony; SB 1030, removing the maintenance, repair, and overhaul tax for general aviation; SB 505, creating processes to address election irregularities; SB 2411, updating the Business Organizations Code and changing filing-method requirements; and SB 1333, addressing unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, or conveyance of real property. Most measures advanced on voice vote or recorded roll call after motions to suspend the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule, with several members raising questions or objections, especially on the criminal justice, abortion, and public duties bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can bond that and we can come up with about $75 million.
• Can you help me understand what the benefit is to issuing a bond? Thank you, Chair. Mr.
• And then are there revenue bonds that don't currently exist?
• Like why create a whole new flood recovery bond?
• The issuance of flood recovery bonds, revenue bonds. And wasn't that put in in an emergency?

Transcript Highlights:

• authority to transfer between categories.
• Chairman, I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I guess the question is whether we bond or not bond,
• On page 1539, health care authority. Yeah, Mr.
• The Health Care Authority reported.
• That is the job of the Health Care Authority.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go next to the Public School Facilities Authority.
• I'm the new executive director for the Public School Facilities Authority.
• New Mexico Finance Authority in the Opportunity Enterprise Fund.
• Next is line number four to Mortgage Finance Authority.
• Finance Authority, to the Housing Trust Fund.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next I'd like to highlight our regulatory authority over insurance. companies, and I'd like to start
• A surplus lines agent must make a diligent to obtain the insurance from an insurer authorized to write
• public securities or bonds.
• thunderstorms experienced this spring may trigger the statute of limitations. requirement to issue bonds
• absence of rating increases, we do not expect policyholder premiums to be sufficient to repay the bonds

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, sir, I'm authoring that bill again.
• If you vote for school bonds.
• or have bonding authorization and they understand exactly what they're voting for. correct?
• Moving to item 2, UB Authority.
• : Moving to Item 2, UB authority.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is an act to amend Title 42 relative to comprehensive weight management services, to provide for authority
• Are we giving taxing authority to this district?
• No, this is related to collecting taxes, not giving any taxing authority.

Bills: SCR12, HB221, HB509, HCR58, SB78, SB25, SB80, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB228, SB250, SB414, SB433, SB479, SB513, SCR9, SCR58, SB65, SB215, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR32, HB17, HB41, HB73, HB223, HB244, HB759, HB906, HB966, HB1006, HB1009, HB1086, HB1107, HB1112, HB1215, HB1242, SB217, SB283, SB469, HB36, HB42, HB74, HB119, HB159, HB259, HB302, HB414, HB459, HB776, HB848, HB956, HB1017, HB1028, HB1095, SB208, SB312, SB382, SB389, HB210, HB258, HB359, HB368, HB468, HB552, HB732, HB784, HB870, HB953, HB1117, HB1236

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Transcript Highlights:

• is an act to amend Title 42 relative to comprehensive weight management services, to provide for authority
• It's an act to amend Title 42 relative to comprehensive weight management services to provide for authority
• Are we giving taxing authority to this district?
• No, this is related to collecting taxes, not giving any taxing authority.

Bills: SCR12, HB221, HB509, HCR58, SB78, SB25, SB80, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB228, SB250, SB414, SB433, SB479, SB513, SCR9, SCR58, SB65, SB215, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR32, HB17, HB41, HB73, HB223, HB244, HB759, HB906, HB966, HB1006, HB1009, HB1086, HB1107, HB1112, HB1215, HB1242, SB217, SB283, SB469, HB36, HB42, HB74, HB119, HB159, HB259, HB302, HB414, HB459, HB776, HB848, HB956, HB1017, HB1028, HB1095, SB208, SB312, SB382, SB389, HB210, HB258, HB359, HB368, HB468, HB552, HB732, HB784, HB870, HB953, HB1117, HB1236

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Summary: The Senate met with 29 members present, heard a prayer and national anthem presentation, and approved the journal without objection. The chamber then received multiple messages from the House on conference committee reports and concurrence actions, and took up a long calendar of Senate resolutions and House/Senate bills returned from the House with amendments. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including commendations and requests for reports or studies, while others were left over or returned to the calendar. The Senate concurred in or adopted amendments on a series of bills covering registrar compensation (SB 25), broadband administration and reimbursement (SB 80), school safety master key boxes (SB 132), dental coverage for cancer treatment (SB 155), paid parental leave for educators (SB 157), election supervisor compensation days (SB 202), water utility service line replacement funding (SB 228), weight management services through the Office of Group Benefits (SB 250), medical debt protection (SB 414), Medicaid coverage of weight-loss medication (SB 443), and design-build authority for vertiport facilities (SB 513). It also adopted a House concurrent resolution urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge (HCR 32). One bill, SB 479 on removal of certain judges, had its amendments rejected and was sent to conference. The chamber then considered conference committee reports on several measures. Reports were adopted on SB 312 (labor organization dues and fees), SB 208 (veterans services and VA-related restrictions), SB 382 (workers’ compensation advisory council and reimbursement schedule timing), SB 389 (agent and athlete registration and fee review), and multiple House bills including HB 359 (party primary qualifying rules), HB 368 (New Orleans historic preservation lien procedures), HB 468 (wholesale residential real estate definitions), HB 552 (DWI-related responsive verdict language), HB 732 (motor vehicle fines/fees and hybrids), HB 870 and HB 1236 (pharmacy benefit manager and insurance provisions), and HB 1117 (prescription period issues). HB 210 on retroactivity was also adopted after debate. Several conference reports were temporarily passed over or returned to the calendar, including HB 953, and the Senate adjourned to reconvene the next morning for final work.