Transcript Highlights:

• learning and early learners.
• I just want to say a few words about the early years and conversations about work.
• I just want to say a few words about the early years and conversations about work.
• We know we've done a lot of work in early education and creating that foundation.
• math education, early literacy education, and get them to the table.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection. The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, it applies only to voluntary termination.
• And this reference adds when somebody suspends, essentially steps away voluntarily, is not terminated
• The second provision, which is the subdivision 11 Senate section 22, is when they are terminated from
• </c> applies only to voluntary termination. applies only to voluntary termination.
• ,</c><00:02:28.239><c> but</c> voluntarily, is not terminated, but voluntarily, is not terminated, but

Transcript Highlights:

• Kentucky Early Intervention System. The Senate removed language for a one-time feasibility study.
• Early childhood development scholarship program: the Senate restored the line item identifying the general
• Early<00:51:32.920><c> childhood</c> Early childhood Early childhood development<00:51:34.800><c> scholarship
• </c><00:58:25.600><c> The</c> data terminals that are in cruisers.
• The data terminals that are in cruisers.

Summary: The Free Conference Committee on the 2026 General Assembly budget met to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 500. Leaders opened by thanking the other chamber’s work, asking members to turn microphones on and off to avoid feedback, and stressing the need to clearly note decision points so both chambers record the same actions. Staff then walked through the bill page by page, explaining that the committee was comparing only House and Senate differences, not the governor’s proposed budget. The discussion covered a wide range of appropriations and language items, including next generation non-911 services, school safety reporting tools, restored funding for brain injury, epilepsy, veteran service, homeless veterans, and rocket docket programs, debt service changes, rural infrastructure, disaster aid caps, Attorney General and Medicaid fraud funding, agriculture and county fair grants, auditor and pension-related appropriations, school facilities and SEEK funding, and numerous education programs. Members also discussed charter-related funding such as Star Academy, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, school resource officers, school-based mental health providers, AP/IB exams, Governor’s Scholars and Entrepreneurs, and several pilot or initiative programs in economic development, energy, and labor. Several items were described as technical corrections or restorations of language and funding, while others reflected differences in amounts or how funds would be distributed. There were several questions and comments from members about wording such as “implement and carry out,” the absence of the governor’s budget from the comparison document, and whether SEEK funding should be tied to teacher raises. The chair and other members emphasized that the committee’s role was to reconcile the two chambers’ budgets, not to adopt the governor’s proposal. Members also raised concerns about opioid settlement funds and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library match rate, with one senator urging restoration of the House language. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the meeting primarily consisted of explanation, questions, and discussion of proposed budget differences.

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker continues that, in their personal experience, this has been the case since early 2021, and
• The speaker says the change has been happening since early 2021, and that the presentations and decisions
• <00:28:06.720><c> to</c> activity anymore, so we're going to activity anymore, so we're going to terminate
• </c><00:28:08.320><c> I</c><00:28:08.559><c> don't</c><00:28:08.640><c> think</c> terminate the agreement
• I don't think terminate the agreement.

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and approval of the prior minutes, including a requested correction to Thomas Han’s statement about a Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters subcommittee studying the timber yield tax and current use forest land tax assessment formula. The correction was adopted, and the minutes were then approved as amended. The main agenda item was a hearing of landowners on forest taxation and carbon credits. Several scheduled speakers canceled, so the committee received a letter from Ross Karen, a Coos County landowner and forester, who opposed carbon credit sales because of “leakage” and argued that diverse local markets and productive forests are better than carbon sales. Aean Kelly of White Mountain Lumber and the Randolph Town Forest also testified, saying many Coos County landowners and forest managers have declined carbon credit offers because they do not fit New Hampshire’s working-forest tradition. He argued that carbon agreements should be treated on a level playing field with traditional harvesting and that, if they are to be encouraged, they should face a fiscal adjustment comparable to the timber tax. Kelly also gave a detailed history of the timber tax, explaining that it was created in 1948 to replace uneven local property taxation on standing timber, discourage clearcutting, and stabilize the tax base while preserving working forests. He said the tax was intended to be collected when timber is harvested, not to stop logging, and that a later commission found the 10% rate roughly matched the revenue towns lost. In response to questions, he said pre-1948 assessments varied widely by town and tax collector, and that carbon projects today are already being valued by sophisticated models, so he believes carbon should be included in the assessment system. He also said short-term carbon agreements may simply monetize existing forest value, while 100-year agreements raise enforceability concerns. No votes or other formal actions were taken beyond approving the amended minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• are concerned about is the way the bill is written, as it could have the opposite effect and lead to early
• that the firming requirements that are in the bill, as written, could actually lead them to retire early
• the bill, and I think you had said that you weren't sure, or perhaps they had raised some concerns early
• And can you just tell us briefly, as a result of being terminated in this manner, how that's impacted
• And so the way these leases tend to work is once the turbine quits operating, then the lease terminates

Bills: HB45 , HB755 , HB 1232 , HB1555 , HB2460 , HB2702 , HB2973 , HB3120 , HB3225 , HB3314 , HB3356 , HB3371 , HB3634 , HB3638 , HB4247 , HB4283 , HB4290 , HB4302 , HB4503 , HB4511 , HB4565 , HB4581 , HB4627 , HB4632 , HB4660 , HB4668 , HB4960 , HB5042 , HB45

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to see more provisional ballots when we get to election day and early voting.
• Regarding the connection application process, the amendment reduces the termination period from 90 days
• The bill updates the Early Steps program by aligning Neonatal intensive care services.
• The bill updates the Early Steps program by aligning dispute resolution and transition procedures with
• It terminates existing sister city agreements as of July 1, 2026, if they are with foreign countries

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, staff, visitors, and a military veteran. After routine announcements, the chamber took up several House-returned bills and special-order measures, with most motions to concur or refuse to concur adopted without objection. Early actions included unanimous concurrence in House amendments to SB 118 on RV park special assessments and SB 572 on ethics rules for public officers and employees, both passing 38-0. The Senate then debated and passed CS/CS/HB 991 on election integrity by a 27-12 vote after extensive opposition focused on voter registration documentation, student IDs, provisional ballots, and potential disenfranchisement; the sponsor defended the bill as a citizenship-verification and election-security measure. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 182, an education package combining several related provisions, by 37-0, and later approved SB 474 on military affairs by 39-0 after a technical amendment restoring certain retirement eligibility positions. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service, and refused to concur in the House strike-all amendment to SB 598 after the House had added composting language to the cremation definition. Several other messages were temporarily postponed. On the special-order calendar, the Senate passed CS/CS/HB 425 on historic cemeteries by 39-0, allowing historic Black cemetery boards to sell surplus property not used for burial to fund maintenance. It also passed HB 929 on chickee regulation by 39-0, limiting local restrictions on chickee construction and setting spacing, fire-safety, and permitting rules. SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation was substituted with identical CS/HB 35 and passed 39-0, expanding habitual offender treatment to repeated driving without a valid license. The chamber then returned to CS/CS/CS/SB 902, the Department of Health package, which was substituted with CS/HB 733 and amended to retain the Senate’s medical marijuana location limits, adjust NICU nutrition language, modify the dental student loan repayment program, and require a pediatric trauma center designation for certain specialty children’s hospitals; it passed 37-0. The Senate also moved CS/CS/CS/HB 905 on foreign influence to the special-order calendar and began debate on a strike-all amendment defining foreign terrorist organizations and foreign countries of concern, restricting gifts and business ties, tightening sister-city affiliations, and adding ethics training and reporting requirements, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So even though that termination statement has been filed, it's still part of the record.
• The bill is creating a process for the Department of Licensing to actually take steps to terminate, which
• statement when if a secured party to file a termination statement when if they were unauthorized and
• It really is creating an accountable mechanism to allow the department to terminate and authorize UCC
• It really is creating an accountable mechanism to allow the department to terminate and authorize UCC

Bills: HB2548 , HB2453 , HB2640 , HB2095 , HB2386 , HB2239

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change, nonprofit conversion, for-profit conversion, health care acquisition, asset sale, Washington RCW, health care competition, price transparency, market oversight, premerger notification, antitrust revolving fund

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to see more provisional ballots when we get to election day and early voting.
• Regarding the connection application process, the amendment reduces the termination period from 90 days
• The bill updates the Early Steps program by aligning dispute resolution and transition procedures with
• The bill updates the early steps program by aligning dispute resolution and transition procedures with
• It terminates existing sister city agreements as of July 1, 2026, if they are with foreign countries

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored a retiring Senate staffer and a wounded veteran, then moved into returning House messages and special order bills. Several measures were taken up and either concurred in or sent back to the House, with multiple unanimous or near-unanimous votes on noncontroversial bills. Among the bills addressed were SB 118 on recreational vehicle park assessments, SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, and HB 991 on election integrity. SB 118 and SB 572 were amended to reflect House changes and passed 38-0. HB 991 drew extensive debate over voter registration and identification requirements, with opponents arguing it would burden students, seniors, disabled voters, and others, while supporters said it would strengthen election security and streamline verification; it passed 27-12. The chamber also approved bills on historic cemeteries, chickee regulation, habitual traffic offender designation, military affairs, and a Department of Health package. The Department of Health bill (SB 902/HB 733) was the subject of detailed amendment work, including changes to medical marijuana rules, NICU educational materials, Early Steps, dental loan repayment, and pediatric trauma center designation. The Senate adopted an amendment to the amendment and then passed the bill 37-0. Other measures included a funeral services bill, which the Senate refused to concur in because the House strike-all would redefine cremation to include composting, and a veterans-related bill that was temporarily postponed. The Senate also recessed briefly, then returned to continue the calendar and additional recognitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other bill would have terminated and restated LEOFF 1.
• However, the termination and restatement of LEOFF 1 bill was enacted.
• However, the termination and restatement of LEOFF 1 bill was enacted.
• The study mandate was included in the LEOFF 1 termination bill, and the direction is for the SCPP to
• Again, that mandate was provided in the LEOFF 1 termination bill, and this That mandate was provided

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the containerized cargo, the McDuffy coal terminal, and the Pinto Island terminal.
• It's a relatively new terminal in the United States.
• The McDuffy coal terminal, as I... ...the McDuffy coal terminal.
• The terminal railroad has nine railroads that operate in and through our gateway.
• Regarding the steel terminal I mentioned, we're just doing some standard crane repairs and purchasing

Bills: HB1 , HB247 , HB1

Committee: House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• We terminated them as far as they could be applied against the corporate franchise tax, which is huge
• office had with leadership and with any members that asked us was that we were going to start having early
• Do I want to fund early childhood education? Do I want to fund more health care opportunities?
• all the bills pass, yeah, this is the number, but how do you do it one bill at a time in this very early
• So we are here to get our processing fee approved for our online transactions and our payment terminal

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met on March 10, 2026, for a series of informational presentations rather than bill hearings. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the state’s tax structure, the 2024 third special session tax reform package, and the Revenue Estimating Conference process. They explained the move to a 3% flat individual income tax, a 5.5% flat corporate income tax, the higher standard deduction and retirement-income exclusion, the repeal of several deductions and credits, the repeal of the corporate franchise tax, and the expansion of the sales tax base to certain digital goods. Staff also walked through tax exemption data, showing the size of exemptions relative to collections, and discussed forecasted revenue gaps in the out years, including the effect of the scheduled sales tax rate reduction and the return of transportation-related revenues to their prior dedication. Members asked about declining mineral revenues, digital sales tax collections, corporate collections, and the impact of tax credits and exemptions. Division of Administration and Legislative Fiscal Office staff said lower oil and gas prices, long-term production declines, and the timing of corporate payments were major factors in revenue trends, and that it will take at least another year or two of tax returns to fully understand the reform’s effects. They emphasized that corporate collections are still below the $600 million threshold that affects the state general fund and Revenue Stabilization Fund, though the forecast remains $900 million. The committee also discussed surplus and excess revenues, the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending, and how current-year and prior-year balances are allocated under the constitution. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the relationship between Ways and Means and Appropriations. Chairman McFarland stressed that new fiscal-note bills can force cuts elsewhere if revenue is not available, and urged members to coordinate early with fiscal staff before advancing costly legislation. Members also asked how pending constitutional amendments on teacher pay and inventory tax might affect the budget; staff said the teacher stipend proposal is not currently funded in the executive budget and that the inventory tax proposal would mainly affect local governments and any reimbursements from the Revenue Stabilization Fund if approved. The committee then heard from Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bouchoux, who reported strong results from recent reforms, including $92 billion in capital investment, 37,000 new jobs, a record year of announcements, a top-10 corporate tax climate ranking, and a pipeline of 189 active projects representing nearly 42,000 potential jobs and $280 billion in potential investment. Members praised LED’s work and discussed the need to pair economic development with workforce training, infrastructure, and predictable tax policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a little bit of an early indication of systemic issues.
• Being LGBT early 2000s was not a thing.
• Being LGBT in the early 2000s was not a thing.
• These programs are essential for prevention, early intervention, stabilization, and helping people long
• ensure that continuity of community support services, these programs are essential for prevention, early

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on Kaiser Permanente’s behavioral health care system, focusing on Department of Managed Health Care enforcement actions, Kaiser’s corrective action work plan, and testimony from patients, advocates, and union representatives. DMHC officials reviewed a long history of complaints, surveys, fines, and settlements involving Kaiser’s access to behavioral health services, including deficiencies found in 2012 and 2016, a 2022 non-routine survey, and a 2023 settlement that imposed a $50 million penalty and required $150 million in community investments over five years. DMHC said it continues to monitor Kaiser through quarterly meetings, complaint review, follow-up surveys, and a reimbursement process for members who could not obtain timely in-network care. Committee members pressed DMHC on what “timely access” and continuity of care mean in practice, how virtual care and group therapy fit into the standards, and what triggers a non-routine survey. DMHC said initial behavioral health appointments generally should not take more than two weeks, urgent care should be within days, and follow-up care within 10 days, with out-of-network care required when plans cannot meet standards. Officials also said Kaiser’s initial corrective action work plan lacked detail, but the revised plan was accepted and will be tracked through quarterly reporting and possible additional enforcement if Kaiser fails to comply. The second panel featured testimony from a Kaiser enrollee, a behavioral health policy expert, a Kaiser therapist, and the NUHW president. The enrollee described serious delays and inadequate treatment for his daughter after a suicide attempt, while the therapist and union leader said Kaiser’s behavioral health system is understaffed, relies too heavily on short appointments, group therapy, and webinars, and treats behavioral health as less important than medical-surgical care. They argued Kaiser’s one-appointment-at-a-time scheduling rule and limited treatment time violate parity requirements and harm continuity of care. Several members criticized Kaiser for not appearing at the hearing and said the testimony underscored the need for stronger oversight, clearer metrics, and faster remedies for patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• This individual was also terminated and referred to the Plasky County Prosecutor's Office.
• This individual was also terminated and referred the case to the Plasky County Prosecutor's Office.
• An employee was terminated, and as of our report date, no criminal charges had been brought against a
• Did you say, were the funds recovered from the employee that was terminated?
• Following the investigation, the four individuals' employment was terminated.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-STATE AGENCIES

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and approved the January minutes, then heard a series of audit reports with findings. The Department of Human Services report described theft and fraud involving false benefit claims, including about $8,000 in Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, about $5,800 in Medicaid benefits, and an altered state warrant for nearly $610,000 that was cashed by an auto body shop in California; it also noted asset-control problems and an error in sales tax paid on exempt vehicle purchases. Members asked whether the fraudulent business had been flagged or notified to other agencies, and DHS said the matter had been referred to law enforcement but no broader notification to California officials was known. The Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism report cited missing museum receipts of nearly $3,500 and issues with change funds at Daisy State Park and War Memorial Stadium, including a missing $100 drawer fund and an $80 overage; officials said they were considering cashless operations at War Memorial Stadium and provided an update that the museum theft investigation was still ongoing, with misdemeanor time limits expired but felony investigation still possible. The Department of Corrections report found unauthorized fuel-card purchases totaling about $4,500 and a delayed disaster-recovery test for offender management software; Corrections said staffing had been increased for fuel-card oversight and that a full production disaster-recovery test was now scheduled after DIS upgrades were completed. The Department of Veterans Affairs report found four Fayetteville Veterans Home employees were paid for hours not worked, with additional unapproved overtime totaling more than $6,600, a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $1,000 that was refunded, and many overtime instances lacking proper approval; the department said it had tightened overtime approval policies statewide. The committee also received a special report on law enforcement agencies’ compliance with Arkansas’s racial profiling policy requirement. Legislative Audit said it had received responses from 203 of 383 agencies and forwarded updated policies to the Attorney General, while identifying 180 agencies that had not responded and were deemed out of compliance. Members asked what happens if agencies still fail to respond and requested a list of nonresponding agencies; staff said their role is limited to collecting and forwarding policies, and the committee agreed to receive the list. All reports were filed or reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting date and a possible room change due to building work.

Transcript Highlights:

• that or petition to terminate their names off the registry.
• that or petition to um terminate that or petition to terminate<01:50:07.119><c> their</c><01:50:07.280
• ><c> names</c><01:50:07.560><c> off</c><01:50:07.760><c> the</c><01:50:07.960><c> registry</c> terminate
• their names off the registry terminate their names off the registry so<01:50:09.119><c> our</c><01:50
• childhood dancing foror a early childhood dancing foror a traditional<02:35:50.680><c> Mexican</c><02

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs met on February 19, 2025, and first heard House Bill 150, which would prohibit lending a firearm to someone who does not have a firearm permit or a registered firearm. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, though HPD said enforcing any time limit on a loaned firearm would be difficult. Several members of the public opposed the measure, arguing it would interfere with lawful lending for hunting, competitions, training, military-related use, and family situations, and could create unintended criminal liability. One supporter said the bill would strengthen gun safety and encourage more responsible ownership. No vote was taken during the testimony portion described. The committee then heard House Bill 186, which would make harassment by stalking a class C felony. The Office of the Public Defender requested deferral, arguing the bill would remove a misdemeanor option that can help deter escalation and could be unnecessarily severe and burdensome. Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying stalking can be a precursor to more serious violence. The Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney raised concerns about how the new felony would fit within the existing grading scheme, noting that aggravated harassment by stalking and first-degree terroristic threatening are already class C felonies. April Bautista testified in strong support, describing her own experience with domestic violence and stalking and urging passage of the bill. Committee members discussed whether other penalty structures might be possible, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard House Bill 991, which would delete the term “agent of the contractor” from criminal history record check provisions to comply with FBI requirements. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center supported the bill with comments, explaining that the FBI had found the term too broad for fingerprint-based background checks tied to access to federal tax information. In addition, House Bill 995 was introduced, changing deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting; the Department of the Attorney General supported it, saying the revised deadlines would allow a more complete report, and HPD was also heard on the measure. The transcript ends before any votes or final committee actions on these bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• What this does is eliminates Title 41 protection, which ultimately means they become accountable, Terminates
• And what we've seen in the community, especially when alerts are sent out very early in the morning,
• stipulates that if a hearing officer, administrative law judge, or appeals board determines that a termination
• of a law enforcement officer by an employer... ...judge or appeals board determines that a termination
• and reasonable expert and attorney fees incurred by the officer in any action arising from the termination

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Public Safety Committee first considered SB 1071, which would repeal statutory protections for the Arizona Rangers. The sponsor argued the change was needed for accountability and transparency, while Rangers and several supporters said the organization provides substantial volunteer service and that the bill would undermine their work. Sheriffs from Yavapai and Navajo counties supported the bill, citing lack of access to background and training records and saying they could not fully trust or use the Rangers without clearer standards. The committee adopted a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote, with members noting they expected further amendment work. The committee then heard SB 1315 on interoperable communications for schools and law enforcement, followed by SB 1317 on reentry planning grants for counties. SB 1315 was supported by school safety officials and law enforcement representatives who described the need for common communication platforms during emergencies; concerns were raised about cost and information security, but the bill passed unanimously. SB 1317 would appropriate opioid settlement funds for county reentry programs; sheriffs and the Arizona Sheriffs Association supported it, citing reduced recidivism and improved jail outcomes, and it also passed unanimously. Members next took up SB 1416 and SB 1740, both related to missing and endangered children and the Turquoise Alert system. SB 1416, as amended, would strengthen reporting, photo-sharing, training, and public notification requirements for missing children cases; advocates, family members, and law enforcement all supported the compromise language, and it passed 7-0. SB 1740 would require training on the Turquoise Alert system and was discussed alongside concerns about statewide versus geographically targeted alerts; the sponsor said an amendment was being worked on, and the bill also received a do pass recommendation. Later, the committee considered SB 1493, which would require employers to pay fees and costs when a law enforcement officer wins a termination appeal and the employer refuses reinstatement. Police and sheriffs’ representatives supported the measure as a fairness issue, while chiefs’ representatives opposed it; the bill passed as amended on a 5-2 vote. The committee also passed SB 1537, renaming the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Public Safety De-escalation and Life Safety Fund, and SB 1542, which would conditionally authorize MDMA-based PTSD treatment for first responders and create related research and reimbursement provisions, after testimony about its potential therapeutic value.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> conditions or terminal illnesses. conditions or terminal illnesses.
• We're not talking about other early release programs.
• We're not talking about other early release programs.
• We're not talking about other early release programs.
• </c> We're not talking about other early We're not talking about other early release<00:49:30.400><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• .was what happens in the situation where the parental rights of the biological parents had been terminated
• It said the entry of a judgment of adoption terminates all relationships between the judgment of adoption
• So New Jersey took the position of, okay, if you had terminated those parental rights and there was an
• adoption, then the bond between the siblings was terminated just as they terminated the biological parents
• They wouldn't, I'm not terminating those by the termination of parental rights.

Committees: House Judiciary , House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and first heard House Bill 2086, which would make Missouri’s elimination-of-bias continuing legal education hour optional rather than mandatory for attorneys. Sponsor Rep. Ben Keathley argued the requirement is relatively new, can be politically driven, and takes away flexibility from lawyers who need CLE hours more relevant to their practice. Several members strongly opposed the bill, saying implicit-bias and cultural-competency training is important for the legal profession, helps attorneys better serve diverse clients, and should remain required. Testimony in favor emphasized attorney autonomy, while opposition from the NAACP and others stressed that such training addresses real-world issues in law practice. No vote was taken; the public hearing was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2164, sponsored by Rep. David Dolan, which clarifies Missouri wrongful-death law so that a claim may proceed even if a deceased person’s biological parent had parental rights terminated. Dolan said the bill was prompted by a judge’s question and research into other states’ approaches, and he sought to make Missouri law more certain in cases involving adoption and terminated parental rights. Members expressed support, noting similar treatment in other states. There was no opposition testimony, and the hearing concluded without a vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2167, also sponsored by Rep. Dolan, which cleans up statutory language to refer to the female Attorney General and would allow the Attorney General’s office to commission its own investigators rather than relying on commissions from county sheriffs. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office said the change would reduce bureaucratic hurdles, avoid conflicts of interest, and preserve POST-certified standards for investigators who already assist in complex statewide cases. Some members and an opponent raised concerns about giving the office arrest authority and about potential political misuse of that power. The Attorney General’s office said it does not typically make arrests but that the authority could help protect investigators in the field. The hearing ended with no vote, and the committee adjourned for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• 4037, individual income tax; HB 4038, public schools first day; HB 4041, K-3 education; HB 4042, termination
• It cuts off the early voting seven days with mail imbalance. That's it. That's it.
• Early voting, seven days with mail imbalance. That's it. That's it.
• the things that I really appreciate here, though, is this bill makes it so that we're not sending early
• I'm fine if we're going to send out these early ballots, but we have to make sure they're actually going

Transcript Highlights:

• The department has 1,650 authorized FTEs, and as of early January, when the report that you all have
• But then we also had terminations from our end because if they weren't returning phone calls or serving
• As I said last time I was here, the citizens program is still in its early stages.
• I mean, it's a relatively early program.
• I think it's too early, frankly. We just need to see.

Transcript Highlights:

• During its early years.
• Kidney Month, a dedicated time to raise public awareness about kidney health, the significance of early
• Recognizing Kidney Month encourages awareness, early detection and policies to improve care and research
• HB 3590 by Kerwin relating to the conduct of early voting by certain political subdivisions in front
• HB 3691 by Ward Johnson relating to the electronic submission of an application for an early voting ballot