Transcript Highlights:

• I'm testifying against House Bill 186.
• I'm testifying against House Bill 186.
• I call on for or against House Bill 186.
• House Bill 3225 comes to us from Representative Alders, a new member of the House from Tyler, whom I
• If there is anyone else who has registered to testify for or against House Bill 229, I'm sorry, House

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:14.840><c> I'm</c> organized organized retail crime.
• I'm organized organized retail crime.
• . organization. organization.
• . organization. organization.
• organization? organization? &gt;&gt; Precisely<00:32:41.240><c> correct.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 2274 or House Bill 1078.
• House Bill 2394 revises...
• House Bill 2394 revises the program's purpose, including to say the primary focus is on organized or
• House Bill 2361, and jump down, reopen the public hearing on House Bill 236.”
• House Bill 2542. ...public hearing on House Bill 2629 and reopen the public hearing on House Bill 2542

Bills: HB2361 , HB2542 , HB2629 , HB2394 , HB2274 , HB1078 , HB2294

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: small loans, consumer protection, financial regulation, lending limits, credit access, animal testing, alternatives, ethical research, animal welfare, scientific methods, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 2274 or House Bill 1078.
• House Bill 2394 revises...
• House Bill 2394 revises the program's purpose, including to say the primary focus is on organized or
• House Bill 2394.
• House Bill 2542.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2542 would require drug developers to use validated non-animal testing methods when available, unless federal regulators request animal testing. The sponsor said the bill builds on prior Washington action on cosmetics testing and is intended to move toward more humane and modern science. Supporters, including students, animal welfare advocates, and biotech-related witnesses, argued that animal tests often fail to predict human outcomes and that alternatives are more accurate. A biotech industry representative said animal testing is still necessary for some research and warned the bill could deter local innovation, but said the industry was open to amendments. The sponsor said she was open to discussing changes to the enforcement mechanism. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 2629 would address theft and vandalism of critical communications infrastructure, including copper and fiber lines. The bill would ban cash payments for nonferrous metal transactions, require electronic or stored-value payment methods, impose civil penalties for stolen copper used in telecommunications cable, and create a new Class C felony for destruction of critical communications infrastructure. The sponsor and industry witnesses described repeated outages affecting 911, hospitals, schools, and first responders, and said Washington has a high rate of these incidents. Recycling industry representatives supported the bill after negotiations, but a prosecutor and some others said the bill should focus more on law enforcement tools such as searchable transaction databases and holding periods rather than new penalties. No final action was taken in the hearing. House Bill 2394 would expand the Insurance Commissioner’s insurance fraud program and create a Class B felony for insurance fraud, including fraudulent billing, misrepresentation of repair costs, and misuse of coding systems. The bill also broadens who can be considered a victim for restitution and gives the commissioner additional investigative tools, while the substitute removed a reporting duty for certified public accountants. The sponsor and the Insurance Commissioner’s office said the measure responds to more sophisticated, technology-driven fraud schemes that harm both insurers and consumers. Insurance industry and fraud bureau witnesses supported the bill as a consumer protection measure. No vote was taken. House Bill 2361 would raise the maximum principal amount for small loans from $700 to $1,200, with annual inflation adjustments, while keeping the existing 30% of monthly income cap and other safeguards. The sponsor said the change would better reflect emergency costs and help borrowers avoid illegal lenders. DFI raised implementation questions about inflation adjustments and publication requirements, and opponents from AARP, SEIU 775, poverty advocates, and consumer attorneys argued the bill would increase debt traps and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. MoneyTree supported the bill, saying the current cap is outdated and that the product remains a flat-fee, regulated credit option with existing consumer protections. The hearing also included testimony on House Bill 2294, which would prohibit negative use restrictions on real property that block grocery stores or pharmacies; staff described a proposed amendment adding notice and changing enforcement, and the committee then moved the bill out with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certainly, you could never close out books for a company or... ...an organization the way this is.
• So my question is, something's not working that you pick up the phone to these organizations who are.
• So my question is, something's not working that you pick up the phone to these organizations who are.
• How about our House counterparts?
• Have we—any concurrent kind of discussions and idea exchanges with the House? If I may, Mr.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes. Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process. President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It helps me stay organized, so I don't fumble with paperwork.
• That concludes the public hearing on House Bill 2323.
• And we will open up the public hearing on House Bill 2096.
• on House Bill 2134.
• And that will conclude the public hearing on House Bill 2134.

Bills: HB2096 , HB2134 , HB2323

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: confidential identification, investigators, attorney general, security, law enforcement, transportation planning, greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled, regional planning organizations, environmental policy, blue envelope program, healthcare, patient privacy, state laws, medical records

Transcript Highlights:

• and the owner did not expressly consent to the person being in the house.
• I feel sorry for somebody breaks into my house and does that.
• Yeah, if they're breaking into the house, there's no excuse for that.
• Good morning, Natalie Spivak with Housing California in strong support.
• Natalie Spivak with Housing California in strong support.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• On top of that, if you were to look up my house, because you can look up all of our houses...
• Even things like you can't buy organic milk or organic eggs, even on WIC.
• On for or against House Bill 5243.
• House Bill 3589.
• The chair lays out House Bill.

Bills: HB2510 , HB3589 , HB4611 , HB4655 , HB4665 , HB4666 , HB4670 , HB4700 , HB4730 , HB4798 , HB4838 , HB5136 , HB5243 , HB5302 , HB5539

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• But first things first, I'll kick it to Miss Clark and Miss Mack to talk about the House Research Department
• Myself, I'm with House Fiscal.
• Members, I’m Elizabeth Clark Vist from House Research.
• It licenses health maintenance organizations and regulates their fully insured health plans.
• The department regulates county-based purchasing organizations, which, as Ms.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a housing desert.
• organization, which is the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers, or TAAHP.
• On behalf of the housing authorities across the state of Texas under our member organization Texas NAHRO
• and rental housing.
• Chairman: House lays out House Bill 323.

Bills: HB21 , HB211 , HB223 , HB323 , HB524 , HB530 , HB636 , HB762 , HB21 , HB211 , HB223

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anyone else who wishes to testify on House File 729?
• So there's one organization that is for the four-year programs, and there's another organization that's
• So there's one organization that is for the four-year programs, and there's another organization that's
• So there's one organization that is for the four-year programs, and there's another organization that's
• Any further questions for House File 729?

Transcript Highlights:

• Our last bill up for consideration today is House File 3585.
• Housing policy is attendance policy.
• </c><00:18:14.960><c> insecurity,</c> shaped by housing insecurity, shaped by housing insecurity, transportation
• Every strongly supports House File 3585.
• ><c> coordinates</c><00:28:25.679><c> the</c> head organization that coordinates the head organization

Summary: The committee heard House File 3585, as amended, which would create an interagency council on student attendance and re-refer the bill to education finance. Representative Keeler moved the bill and an A1 amendment that corrected the council’s placement from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Department of Education; the amendment was adopted. Keeler and Representative Bakeberg described the bill as the product of several years of bipartisan work on chronic absenteeism and truancy, emphasizing that attendance problems involve multiple systems and require ongoing coordination rather than a single-agency response. Testimony was strongly supportive. Matt Shaver of Allies cited statewide chronic absenteeism data and argued that schools cannot solve the problem alone because root causes such as housing, transportation, health, and economic instability lie outside school control. Assistant Commissioner Angela Mansfield of MDE said the task force and pilot districts showed coordination gaps and supported the council, while also noting MDE’s Compass staff would need permanent funding to carry out the work. Ashley High Totower of Hennepin County’s BEET program said attendance is a public health, child welfare, transportation, housing, and economic issue, and Kenneth Avon of the Minneapolis Foundation said absenteeism is an ecological problem requiring cross-sector coordination. Student witnesses also supported the bill but urged stronger youth representation. Henry Brick of Catalyst for Systems Change said students understand the causes of absenteeism best and proposed expanding student seats on the council from one to five. Ava Northrup of the Minnesota Youth Council said youth voices should be more than symbolic and suggested two youth representatives, one from the metro and one from greater Minnesota, plus additional youth task forces or panels. In member discussion, Representative Lawrence questioned whether the council duplicated existing MDE work, asked who would coordinate the group, and raised the lack of a sunset; Keeler and Bakeberg said the Department of Education would coordinate and that a sunset could be considered later. Other members asked about fiscal impact, and the chair said a fiscal note had been requested and the bill would move on to education finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Organizing Senator from the capital city. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Mr.
• </c><00:03:50.159><c> in</c> from the four career organizations in from the four career organizations
• ,</c> And through these four organizations, And through these four organizations, five<00:04:31.680><
• So, thank you, organizations possess. So, thank you, Mr.<00:04:44.720><c> President.</c> Mr.
• in recognition of Career and Technical Student Organization Week.

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:

• I was just notified that we beat the House.
• A nonprofit organization can. Well, additional questions on the bill. A nonprofit organization can.
• House Bill 4266 is the omnibus House specialty license plate bill.
• That concludes the explanation of House Bill 4266.
• House Bill 4266 is the omnibus House specialty license plate bill.

Bills: HB3327 , HB3711 , HB4104 , HJR1077 , HB3329 , HB4322 , HB4202 , HB4203 , HB4457 , HB3983 , HB3660 , HB3802 , HB2933 , HB2955 , HB2956 , HB3781 , HB3521 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3800 , HB3183 , HB4316 , HB4484 , HB3469 , HB3464 , HB3173 , HB3989 , HB3016 , HB2979 , HB2988 , HB2288 , HB3062 , HB3315 , HB3372 , HB3530 , HB3622 , HB3755 , HB4266

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and recognized several guests and groups, including the nurse of the day, Donna Reynolds; the Tuttle High School wrestling team; auctioneer and ringman honorees; the Bristow Chamber of Commerce; Deer Creek cross country; Guthrie High School AP U.S. government students; and family members of Senator Reinhardt. The chamber also held a live auction demonstration on the floor, with Brandon Mendoza and Logan Snyder participating, and the winning bid was announced as $675. The Senate later recognized Millwood High School boys basketball and Isaiah Wilkes, the Gatorade Oklahoma Boys Basketball Player of the Year. The body then considered and passed several House bills. HB 3016 created a two-year pilot vision screening program for kindergarten through third grade to identify convergence insufficiency disorders; it passed 34-10 and was declared an emergency. HB 2979 authorized the Department of Transportation to establish school zones on portions of state highways at local request and passed 41-0. HB 2288, a teacher return-to-work bill removing the earnings cap and allowing return after six months, passed 45-0 as an emergency. HB 2988 expanded the definition of harmful woody species and broadened the Terry Peach Water Restoration Act statewide; it passed 43-1. HB 362, defining retired municipal judges for firearm-carry authority, passed 40-4. HB 3315 directed the state regents to study whether some graduate programs could be 90 credit hours and report to the governor; it passed 38-6 as an emergency. Additional bills passed included HB 3372, creating a $5 million revolving loan fund for charter school capital expenditures, after extended debate over public funds being used for improvements to privately owned facilities; it passed 39-6. HB 3530 required ABLE Commission records to be provided within 10 days when requested and passed 44-0. HB 3622 created a U.S. decennial census revolving fund in the Department of Commerce and passed 32-11. HB 3755 established a financial mechanism for juvenile detention centers to provide medication to youth in their care and passed 43-0. HB 4266, the omnibus specialty license plate bill, passed 25-19 after questions about out-of-state university plates. The Senate then made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, birthdays, and schedule changes, and adjourned until Monday, April 27 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:23.280><c> 415,</c><00:23:24.400><c> House</c> House Bill 289, House Bill 415, House House
• House Bill 176, House Bill 20th, 2026.
• House Bill 176, House Bill 178,<00:24:02.799><c> House</c><00:24:03.039><c> Bill</c><00:24:03.520><c>
• 184, House Bill 265, 178, House Bill 184, House Bill 265, House<00:24:06.720><c> Bill</c><00:24:06.960
• 280, and House Joint House Bill 280, and House Joint Resolution<00:24:09.200><c> 24.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee will come to order.
• That means we're regulated on both sides by health care organizations and several oversight groups, as
• That means we're regulated on both sides by health care organizations and several oversight groups, as
• The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day operation of our organization.
• </c><00:57:22.960><c> as</c> fixing with those three organizations as fixing with those three organizations

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The next House Bill for our consideration is House Bill 96. I'm so excited.
• House House Bill 145, removing triple House House Bill 145, removing triple taxation<01:09:06.719><c>
• </c> number one to House Bill 16. number one to House Bill 16.
• </c> private organizations. private organizations.
• organizations? organizations?

Transcript Highlights:

• You've adopted House Amendment 2 to House Bill... House Bill 207 as amended.
• House can be substitute for House bill 2944.
• House can be substitute for House plus 2230.
• 2060, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2230 and 2978, House Bill 1623, House Committee Substitute
• for House Bill 2292, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2372, House Bill 3000, House Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• a danger to the children he is housed with.
• Name, organization, and position, please. Good morning.
• At that time, I didn't have stable housing, so I didn't At that time, I didn't have stable housing, so
• It does impede your ability to find a house.
• Name, organization, and position, please.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of public safety bills, with several measures pulled off calendar and one consent calendar adopted. AB 2419 by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva would extend body-worn cameras to Los Angeles County juvenile probation officers. Supporters said cameras would improve accountability, youth and officer safety, and public trust; opponents argued the bill would not solve deeper problems in juvenile halls and raised concerns about officer discretion, privacy, and labor issues. The bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote. AB 1902 by Assembly Member Pellerin, co-sponsored by Santa Cruz County, would revise the juvenile detention extension hearing process in response to the Madison Middleton case. Supporters, including the victim’s mother and county officials, said the bill would clarify jurisdiction, allow continuances, permit hearsay at the probable cause stage, extend the maximum detention period, and better protect the public and victims from repeated trauma. Opponents from public defender, youth justice, and civil liberties groups argued the bill expands civil commitment, reduces review frequency, and could lead to inappropriate adult placement. The committee approved the bill to Appropriations, with some members noting remaining concerns. AB 2052 by Assembly Member Stephanie would allow continuity in prosecution for elder and dependent adult abuse cases, including a limited continuance so the same prosecutor can stay with a case. Supporters said older victims and those with dementia or other impairments benefit from a single point of contact and less repeated trauma; opponents said the bill could undermine speedy-trial rights and was broader than necessary. The bill passed to Judiciary. AB 1588, also by Assembly Member Stephanie, would strengthen sideshow and street takeover enforcement by adding motorcycles and dirt bikes to the law and increasing penalties. Supporters framed it as a public safety and accountability measure, while opponents warned it would expand punishment, surveillance, and fines without addressing root causes; the bill was sent to Transportation on a roll call vote. AB 1753, another Stephanie bill, would tighten firearm relinquishment and protective-order enforcement, expand remote hearing access, and align firearm prohibitions across protective order categories; it passed to Judiciary. The committee also heard AB 1739 by Assembly Member Ward, which would criminalize clergy sexual exploitation when clergy provide therapeutic services, with survivors and advocates testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• , university housing, and nonprofit housing.
• or nonprofit housing.
• of housing.
• public housing and subsidized rental housing projects combined.
• to build more housing the solution is to build more housing support solution is not to build more housing

Bills: H5008

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: rent control, housing stability, tenants rights, affordability crisis, consumer protection

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-21, House Bill 508, an act to protect tenants by limiting rent increases. The chair explained the ballot process under Article 48 and outlined the hearing structure. The first witness, a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies researcher, described Massachusetts’ worsening rental affordability, explained how rent regulation policies are typically designed, and reviewed research suggesting rent regulation can slow rent growth and improve tenant stability, while also noting concerns about reduced supply, quality, and implementation details. She compared the proposal to other state and local rent-stabilization laws and said the measure would cap increases at the lower of CPI or 5%, exempt certain housing types, and apply to new tenants as well as current tenants because it would not allow vacancy decontrol. Supporters of the petition argued that rent stabilization is needed to address displacement and immediate affordability pressures while broader housing production continues. The proponent from Homes for All Massachusetts said the policy is a grassroots response to corporate rent hikes and cited examples of tenants facing steep increases. A tenant from Arlington described a long dispute after a building was purchased by an investment firm and rents were raised sharply, saying the experience showed how rent increases can function as eviction. A union leader said high rents are forcing workers out of the communities they serve, and two experts testified that rent stabilization can reduce displacement and provide broad, immediate benefits. Committee members asked about the proposal’s exemptions, the 10-year new-construction carveout, vacancy decontrol, and whether the policy could discourage development; supporters said the bill targets large landlords, preserves room for small owners, and should be viewed as a complement to new housing production. Opponents, including small property owners, a chamber of commerce representative, a union official, and a landlord, argued the measure would hurt small landlords, reduce investment, and slow housing production. They said operating costs such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance rise faster than the proposed cap, and warned that capping rents would lower property values and tax revenues. Several opponents emphasized that many housing providers are not large corporations but local “mom-and-pop” owners, and one said the proposal would discourage pension funds and other investors from financing new projects. Committee members pressed opponents on what alternatives they would support for affordability, and opponents pointed to increased housing production and other housing policies instead of rent control. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.