Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:05.600><c> um</c><00:30:05.760><c> by</c> transaction as a traditional sale. um by transaction
• So the counties would still be very much involved in these transactions. Mr.
• We don't believe it was ever the intent for counties to absorb these transaction fees.
• Um the bill is not transaction fees.
• </c> for counties to absorb these transaction for counties to absorb these transaction fees.<00:48:52.000

Bills: SF0058 , SF0061 , SF0095 , SF0107

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> nomination. I yield. nomination. I yield.
• ><00:43:17.040><c> Ruth</c> &gt;&gt; Senate nomination number four, Ruth &gt;&gt; Senate nomination number
• and debit card transactions.
• and debit card credit card transactions and debit card transactions.<01:08:46.040><c> Uh</c><01:08:46.160
• Uh most uh every vendor transactions.

Transcript Highlights:

• nomination.
• I declare the nomination to have passed. The nomination will proceed to the full Senate.
• this nomination.
• Back to executive nominations.
• Nomination, thank you, members.

Bills: HB4322 , HB4202 , HB4203 , HB4457 , HB3983 , HB3660 , HB3802 , HB2933 , HB2955 , HB2956 , HB3781 , HB3521 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3800

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer, funeral director in charge, dual licensure, mortuary science, Oklahoma Funeral Board, funeral establishment, commercial embalming establishment, crematory, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, apprenticeship, licensing requirements, professional regulation, undertaker, mortician, burial services, death care industry, workers' compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• Faulconer's nomination. nomination. I now recognize Ranking Member Wyden for his remarks.
• So I oppose this nomination. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
• Faulkner's nomination as deputy. Treasury Secretary.
• Congratulations to you and your family on your nomination.
• Congratulations on your nomination.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Michael Falkender, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, IRS, taxpayer privacy, nomination process, committee hearing

Summary: The committee convened to discuss critical issues surrounding the nomination of Michael Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. This meeting included a series of remarks from committee members who expressed divergent views on Falkender's qualifications and the implications of his appointment. Senator Wyden voiced strong opposition, arguing that Falkender represents harmful policies expected to be perpetuated under the current administration, especially concerning taxpayer privacy and IRS tactics. Meanwhile, other members defended Falkender, noting his extensive experience, including a commitment to transparency in government operations if confirmed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they are to adopt, amend, and repeal such rules and regulations as are necessary for the transaction
• number 17 allows Department of State staff to assist registrars or voters with certification of nominating
• petitions when needed. ...staff to assist registrars or voters with certification of nominating petitions
• Item number 24 is a technical clarification regarding nominating petitions for presidential electors.
• Item number 24 is a technical clarification regarding nominating petitions for presidential electors.

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the March 11, 2025 meeting. Chair Nancy Landry explained that the board was reviewing proposed technical and administrative changes for the Department of State’s 2026 elections omnibus bill, which would later go to the House and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees for public hearing. No public comment cards were submitted, and the board reiterated that comments could also be emailed to the acting secretary. First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd presented items 1 through 39, with item 7 removed before consideration and item 37 later removed after board discussion. The proposals covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including registrar salary payment timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, clarifying party affiliation for voters who select “unaffiliated,” technical updates for voter registration transfers and precinct changes, protections for pre-registrants’ personal information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee ballot procedures, nomination petition certification, notice requirements when a candidate dies, watcher deadlines, over-voting, ballot curing, nursing home voting timing, procurement authority for voting equipment, and deadlines for contesting constitutional amendments and election irregularities. Several items were explained as cleanup or consistency changes to align the election code with current practice and prior omnibus revisions. Board members asked multiple clarifying questions, especially about the meaning of “unaffiliated,” the timing language for pre-registrants, what counts as actual notice of a candidate’s death, and whether proposed rules would follow the APA. The most substantive disagreement involved item 37, which would have allowed the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official; after discussion, the board agreed to remove that item from the omnibus recommendations. Members also discussed item 38, which would create a cause of action and deadline for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, which clarifies that election contests cannot be filed before election day. The board then approved the remaining provisions—items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 and 39—and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• President Yes, a transaction would be reviewed.
• We don't want healthcare to be made worse by these transactions. Senator Brannon: So, Mr.
• It doesn't mean that if there is a change period, that means the transaction is blocked.
• Now that billion dollar project would have a nominal value if it was not associated with RETA.
• It would have a nominal value for assessment purposes. Of a billion dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• And therefore, I cannot support you for this nomination. Further in debate.
• I cannot support you for this nomination. Further in debate. Yes. Senator Garcia. Thank you, Chair.
• Today I will support Secretary Hatch's nomination with 10 months left in the term, because you serve
• And I will support your nomination today because I believe in your commitment.
• And in that sense, I will support your nomination. Terrence, please call the roll.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The committee first considered the confirmation of Dr. John Lattell to the Florida Board of Medicine. In questioning, senators focused heavily on his views on abortion, vaccines, ivermectin, hormonal birth control, and the role of CDC/FDA guidance in board discipline cases. Dr. Lattell said the board should apply Florida statutes, described himself as strongly pro-life and skeptical of some federal health guidance, and said he would be sympathetic when judging fellow physicians because of his own experience in practice. Supporters praised his medical background, military service, and family medicine experience, while opponents argued his stated views could affect his ability to fairly discipline other doctors. The committee voted 5-2 to recommend confirmation, with Senators Polsky and Rouson voting no. The committee then took up the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Hatch outlined her background at DCF and APD and described department priorities including streamlining services, improving child welfare and behavioral health systems, expanding peer support, and reducing SNAP error rates. Members asked detailed questions about Hope Florida, the number and role of Hope Navigators, agency responsiveness on bill analyses, and accountability for community-based care contractors. Hatch said Hope Florida is a partnership-based navigation effort aimed at self-sufficiency, that 143 Hope Navigators are in place, and that the department is working to improve transparency and oversight through contracts, audits, and a proposed funding model. Senators also pressed Hatch on the Hope Florida Foundation’s compliance history and on forensic audits of community-based care agencies, especially Northwest Florida Health Network. Hatch said the foundation is now in compliance and under audit, and that the contractor had completed corrective actions and was operating within current accountability limits. She said DCF had not yet conducted new forensic audits under her tenure but was preparing another round and was considering using contracted-services dollars to support that work. The discussion ended with continued questioning on oversight, staffing, and whether the agency could provide more formal bill analyses going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• This reduces opportunities for delays or abuse in annuity transactions.
• old money transactions or not?
• That's what the Transactional Gold Bill was designed to address, which was heard yesterday.
• They typically also have nominal benefits; it's not something nominal from a monetary standpoint, but
• not nominal in the potential of that individual buying that insurance product.

Bills: HB 106 , HB144 , HB145 , HB252 , HB1732 , HB2221 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2963 , HB3016 , HB3689 , HB3960 , HB4386 , HB4490 , HB4751 , HB5247 , HJR175 , HB2213 , HB106 , HB144 , HB145 , HB252

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• LD 27, and I appreciate the opportunity to present HB 2123, which is the state gold bullion and transactional
• This is transactional gold.
• And buying the transactional gold, which is in this bill, and having this, it makes that available to
• Hi, my name is Laurie Bolton, and I am with the Transactional Gold and Silver Project.
• That is when inflation expectations outpace nominal yields.

Committee: House House Regulatory Oversight Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Oversight heard two bills related to Arizona bullion and gold-backed transactions. HB 2123 would establish an Arizona bullion depository under the State Treasurer, allow third-party administration and electronic payment systems, require insurance for deposits, and recognize gold and silver as legal tender. Representative Lisa Fink presented the bill as a way to provide an optional, inflation-resistant payment method and to make gold and silver more accessible to ordinary Arizonans; a witness from the Transactional Gold and Silver Project described the depository as a fully allocated, insured warehouse system tied to a debit card and said the model had been used in other states. The committee voted 4-0 with one present to give HB 2123 a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered HB 2140, which would allow state and local governments to use the Arizona bullion depository, permit the State Treasurer to place up to 10% of state monies in bullion there, and require rulemaking by the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Representative Fink again argued that holding some bullion could diversify state assets and reduce counterparty risk, citing Utah’s treasurer and broader central bank gold accumulation. A member asked about the bill’s rulemaking language and the sponsor said she was open to discussing changes with the State Treasurer. With no public testimony, the committee voted 4-0 with one present to recommend HB 2140 do pass, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The association may charge a fee not to exceed $275 for preparation of the certificate and a nominal
• The association may charge a fee not to exceed $275 for preparation of the certificate and a nominal
• So this bill deals with a very common transaction for folks who live in common interest communities,
• And typically in real estate transactions, time is measured in business days, not days.
• So that's kind of the flow of time that exists within the transaction. Thank you.

Bills: SB6015 , SB6069 , SB6096 , SB6200 , SB6201 , SB6214 , SB6237 , SGA9280 , SGA9281

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: residential building, construction permits, housing development, planning efficiency, state regulations, affordable housing, homelessness, homeless shelter, emergency shelter, emergency housing, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, low-income housing, very low-income, extremely low-income, housing crisis, land use, zoning, local preemption

Transcript Highlights:

• All of those transactions go before the Higher Education Department's capital committee before they come
• I want to be very clear that looking over your extensive resume, you are being nominated because of what
• very much for giving me this opportunity to offer this support, and I very much support her re-nomination
• Another one deals with a constitutional amendment that would create nominating committees for regents
• I understand the goal is to ensure that regents who are nominated meet minimum qualifications.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• The association may charge a fee not to exceed $275 for preparation of the certificate and a nominal
• The association may charge a fee not to exceed $275 for preparation of the certificate and a nominal
• So this bill deals with a very common transaction for folks who live in common interest communities,
• And typically in real estate transactions, time is measured in business days, not days.
• So that's kind of the flow of time that exists within the transaction. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee met on cutoff day and first considered two gubernatorial appointments to the Housing Finance Commission. Aaron T. McGrath and Ann T. Malone each testified about their housing finance and affordable housing backgrounds, their prior commission or sector experience, and their interest in improving housing affordability and equity. Senators asked brief questions and offered supportive comments, and both appointments were heard without objection. The committee then heard and later acted on a series of housing-related bills. ESHB 1500 would expand resale certificate requirements for common interest communities by adding reserve studies, audits, and governing documents, limiting certain fees, allowing rush service fees, and creating enforcement rights; testimony was split between Realtors, who supported the consumer-protection goals but sought clarifications and more time for rescission, and HOA/management representatives, who warned against limiting third-party processing tools and sought more flexibility. EHB 1501 would require associations to answer certified written inquiries from owners within 30 days, subject to reasonable association rules; the sponsor framed it as a basic right to a response, while HOA representatives supported the intent but asked for clearer limits and coordination with existing law. EHB 1345 would allow detached ADUs outside urban growth areas under detailed guardrails; builders, Realtors, counties, and housing advocates supported it as a rural housing tool, and the committee heard that it had been the product of years of negotiation. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It approved a metering requirement for water use in SB 5470 on detached ADUs outside UGAs, narrowed SB 5729 to permit-review provisions, adopted a substitute for SB 6015 on permit-ready factory-built housing plans, and moved forward SB 6069 on transitional, supportive, and emergency housing with zoning and local process changes. It also advanced SB 1686 on deferred utility connection fees, SB 6200 on portable cooling devices for renters and mobile home occupants after rejecting an amendment to remove window units, SB 6201 creating tax exemptions for social housing agencies, SB 6214 establishing land bank authorities, and SB 6237 requiring flood-risk disclosures in rental housing. The committee then returned to public testimony on ESHB 1500, EHB 1501, and EHB 1345, hearing additional support and concerns, and adjourned after thanking staff for their work on cutoff day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the money is not nominal anymore. It's how substantial and we are worried.
• If you put them all together in one account and its nominal interest, we will let it go.
• Although there are currently transactions involving digital assets occurring Florida.
• The laws being applied to such transactions were designed for traditional assets.
• And thus there is legal doubt involving the transaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate is ready to transact. The Senate is ready to transact business. Mr.
• And with that, I proudly make the motion to nominate the gentleman from Coleman as... ...nominate the

Bills: SB 2 , SJR 36 , SB 2 , SR 19 , SR 27 , SR 30 , SR 32 , SCR 11

Transcript Highlights:

• Nominations. A.
• Nominations are now in order.
• Nominations are now in order.
• Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, nominations are closed.
• His service was not transactional.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the procedure that has been in place since that time, the Governor nominates appellate and Supreme
• The Governor nominates appellate and Supreme Court justices, subject to confirmation by the Commission
• voters in a transportation district can exercise their right to propose and pass a transportation, transactions
• authority to allow residents of local transportation districts to propose and pass transportation, transaction
• So this bill clarifies that existing law empowers the voters in districts to propose transactions and

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 16, 2025, and heard five measures focused on election administration, voter participation, judicial retention elections, charitable solicitation by officials, and local transportation tax initiatives. The chair noted the committee’s rules for limited witness testimony and accepted written testimony through the legislative portal. Several authors presented their bills in person or through a committee member due to scheduling conflicts. SB 3 by Senator Cervantes would tighten and clarify the ballot signature-cure process, including requiring standardized forms from election officials and adding a reminder on vote-by-mail envelopes about signature matching. Supporters said the bill would reduce rejected ballots and make the process more reliable; there was no opposition. The committee voted do pass as amended and re-refer to Appropriations. SB 316 by Senator Reyes, presented by Assembly Member Pellerin, would expand high school voter registration and pre-registration outreach to students, with testimony from students, education groups, disability advocates, and civic organizations in support. One member opposed on the grounds that it could be an unfunded mandate for schools. The bill passed 4-1. ACA 8 by Assembly Member Pellerin would change appellate and Supreme Court judicial retention elections so justices would appear on the ballot only if voters file a petition requesting it. Supporters, including the Secretary of State, the League of Women Voters, and the California Judges Association, said it would reduce ballot length, voter fatigue, and costs while preserving accountability. One member raised concern about the future petition threshold and the possibility it could be set too high, and voted no. The measure passed 4-2. SB 760 by Senator Allen would narrow behested payment reporting requirements for public appeals to charities, especially in disaster response, while preserving disclosure where officials, family members, or staff have conflicts of interest. Good-government groups supported the bill as a balance between transparency and encouraging charitable appeals; it passed unanimously on the recorded vote. SB 512 by Senator Perez would clarify that voters in transportation districts may use citizen initiatives to propose transportation sales taxes where the district already has taxing authority. Supporters argued it aligns Elections Code with Proposition 218 and recent case law, while opponents from business and real estate groups objected to the measure’s implications for tax approval rules. The committee approved the bill 5-2. After calling absent members, the committee cleared the calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, all the transactions on a Bitcoin network are auditable.
• And to bundle the transactions. Every 10 minutes, those transactions are bundled into a block.
• The miner that solves the puzzle adds those transactions to all historical transactions before it.
• Every transaction is verified and locked.
• This is nominal pricing for houses in the United States.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6137 keeps sports wagering firmly within the regulated tribal marketplace, where transactions
• are monitored, firmly within the regulated tribal marketplace where transactions are monitored, suspicious
• And the advisory group will participate in nominating the additional members.
• approve the assessment, then anybody in that category with that criteria would then be subject to the nominal
• moving truck in the parking lot, worried about the potential theft and safety simply because the transaction

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. Staff explained that the bill would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges, but would continue to prohibit bets on the performance of individual college athletes. Tribal representatives from the Jamestown S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Kalispel tribes testified in support, saying the bill would keep wagering within the regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal casinos participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets and emphasized student-athlete safety, while WSU also argued the bill would expand exposure to harassment and online abuse. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program. Staff said the bill would fund grants for wildfire-hardening homes to IBHS standards, authorize pilot projects, and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify homes that meet the standards. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuder and Senator Marcus Riccelli supported the bill, arguing that wildfire losses and non-renewals are increasing and that upfront mitigation is cheaper than recovery. Local officials and advocates from Medical Lake, Washington Realtors, and climate and wildfire groups also supported the measure. Insurance industry representatives supported the mitigation goals but objected to the bill’s requirement that insurers provide coverage based on IBHS designation and to using the commissioner’s regulatory account as a funding source, saying underwriting still needs to consider broader risk factors. No action was taken. The committee next held a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Brewers Guild, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives said the state’s tourism program is underfunded and that an industry-led assessment could provide a stable, competitive funding source. They said the model would be governed by a ratepayer oversight board, subject to ratification, and could generate significant visitor spending and tax revenue over time. Some testimony raised concerns about the scope of eligible businesses and the bill’s references to other industries, but supporters said friendly amendments would refine those details. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements, which would allow electronic agreements, clarify acceptance by continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal for nonpayment or nonmonetary defaults. Self-storage operators supported the bill as a modernization measure that would improve safety and consistency, and no vote was taken on any of the bills heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• The nominating petitions, if you submit a nominating petition in these closed primary elections, for
• example, does the language in the bill change all nominating petitions or just nominating petitions in
• The same law for all nominating petitions?
• But you're not changing the requirements for the nominating petition? No, sir.
• on the nominating petition?

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The Committee on House and Governmental Affairs met on March 18 and first adopted the minutes from its February 21 meeting. The committee then took up HB 250, which would have narrowed financial disclosure requirements for appointed, unpaid board and commission members by exempting immediate family information. Supporters said the bill would reduce burdens and help recruit volunteers, while opponents argued it would weaken ethics enforcement and create opportunities for undisclosed conflicts of interest. After debate and a roll call, the committee deadlocked and HB 250 failed to advance on a 6-6 vote with one abstention. The committee next considered HB 576, which transfers ownership and maintenance responsibility for the Old Governor’s Mansion to the Department of State and codifies its current operational role. Secretary of State Nancy Landry and mansion staff testified in support, describing expanded programming, increased visitors, and the need to align the statute with current practice. The committee adopted technical amendments and then reported HB 576 favorably without objection. The committee also heard HB 117, which recreates the Department of State and its statutory entities through July 1, 2033, and reported it favorably without objection. The major remaining item was HB 842, the annual omnibus elections bill, which makes numerous technical and substantive changes to election law, including voter assistance for people with disabilities, absentee ballot and petition procedures, inactive voter updates, and election contest deadlines. Several members and public witnesses raised concerns about disability documentation, absentee ballot curing, witness requirements, constitutional amendment challenge deadlines, and the scope of authority given to the Secretary of State, while others said the bill clarified existing practice and improved election administration. After adopting amendments and rejecting a motion to defer, the committee reported HB 842 favorably by an 8-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibition on leasing or subleasing state lands to a corporation or association not qualified to transact
• Chair, there's an amendment. ...or association not qualified to transact business in Arizona. Mr.
• Lastly, the amendment reinserts the prohibition on a corporation or association not qualified to transact
• electors to cast Electoral College votes for an appropriate successor candidate who was properly nominated
• It requires electors to cast Electoral College votes for a successor candidate that is properly nominated

Committee: Senate Senate Federalism Committee of Reference