Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm looking forward to working with you on whatever we can do to help your efforts.
• Be able to support your efforts and help you to continue to grow.
• It’s not issues that are related, conservative versus liberal.
• Let's spend our money and our efforts having our government... ...do that.
• First, it strengthens water conservation by establishing clear milestones and...

Summary: The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognitions, including the doctor of the day and a lighthearted “Cannoli Day” introduction. The chamber then held an extended farewell celebration for Senator Joe Gruters, with numerous senators, colleagues, and family members praising his loyalty, political skill, family focus, and service in the Legislature and Republican Party. Gruters was presented with a commemorative gift recognizing his work on a 2019 public-safety and immigration bill that prohibited sanctuary cities and required local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Senate adopted a motion to spread Gruters’s remarks upon the journal and then recessed briefly. After recess, the Senate returned to regular business and took up third-reading bills. Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 354, relating to blue ribbon projects, was temporarily postponed. The chamber then considered Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1758, relating to public assistance, with Senator Gates explaining that it contained five reforms to the public assistance system discussed earlier in session. During debate on SB 1758, Senator Berman opposed the bill, saying he could not support it in its current form because he believed the Medicaid-related provisions would create a coverage cliff after the one-year transition period and could leave people without care while increasing costs to hospitals and taxpayers. He also said SNAP error reduction should be a priority, but argued the state should focus on fixing administrative errors and fraud rather than imposing a work requirement whose costs and effects were uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Think when you did do those reclamations, that was in coordination with the Conservation Commission,
• Well, Conservation was responsible for the abandoned mine land, so that would have Been pre-1977 sites
• Process, we're really optimistic about our fundraising efforts. We're going to continue.
• Looking for opportunities with the Conservation Commission to expand, potentially expand those dams,

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pursue the virtues of charity, justice, mercy, and solidarity as citizens, and that through your efforts
• respectful to everybody, even if, if he disagreed with you, he'd come up to this row over here, real conservative
• Well, I used to be conservative. Anyway, and, and he, he goes, how you doing? How you doing?
• economic contributions, TNLA advocates for smart policies that support business growth, water conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• and and others regarding conservation and and others regarding conservation and natural resources on
• and have a One-Stop consolidate efforts and have a One-Stop consolidate efforts and have a One-Stop
• I'm who are going to make an effort I'm who are going to make an effort I'm going be right with the
• to implement what we to make an effort to implement what we to make an effort to implement what we are
• and and others regarding conservation and and others regarding conservation and natural resources BR

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That takes an incredible collaborative effort.
• So really thankful for their efforts. So we picked up over 5... Really thankful for their efforts.
• So it's a conservative approach.
• It was a really remarkable effort, and we are very proud of what we accomplished there.
• Is it a coordinated effort between DOT or Highway Patrol or Kerner?

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met to continue its review of hurricane impacts and state response. The committee first heard from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which described its four core functions—preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation—and highlighted its 24/7 State Watch Office, regional training efforts, and disaster assistance work. Deputy Executive Director Keith Pruitt detailed the state’s 2024 storm response, including Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, citing large-scale mission support, flood-control deployments, meal and water distribution, power restoration, debris removal, and billions in disaster funding and mitigation dollars. He also discussed debris management challenges and recommended that local governments update and exercise debris plans and maintain contingency contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• while they're in the care or conserving while they're in the care or conserving fund<01:01:05.760
• :07.280> them fund conserving funds to help them fund conserving funds to help them transition
• This bill is an effort for the Safety.
• <02:49:23.600> I I would call the conservation buckets.
• I I would call the conservation buckets.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Dr. Pearl Huggin, and approved dispensing with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including Dr. Huggin’s family, the doctor of the day, first-year medical students from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and representatives from Mississippi hospitals and law enforcement. The chamber then moved to the calendar and took up multiple bills. Senate Bill 2911, concerning alternative return-to-work provisions for state retirees, was explained as shortening the required separation period from 90 days to 30 days and allowing retirees to return in certain positions at up to 80% of the salary for the job they are performing, with the employer paying both sides of retirement contributions. Supporters said it would help fill vacancies in education, public safety, corrections, and local government and could save money compared with contract labor; questions focused on work expectations, insurance, and how the bill would apply to teachers, bus drivers, and other retirees. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed on the afternoon roll call. Senate Bill 2272, which would exempt certain agriculture and forestry items from the 1.5% sales tax, was explained as reducing the tax to 0% for qualifying commercial farmers and loggers and expanding covered items to include equipment and fencing supplies. A question clarified that the exemption applies to commercial operations, not individuals raising animals for personal use. The bill passed on the afternoon roll call. Senate Bill 2909, which lowers the years needed for unreduced retirement under tier five from 35 to 30, was also taken up; after adoption of the committee substitute, the bill was laid on the table subject to call of the chair because of a pending amendment. The Senate also tabled a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2588 (the Shield Act codification) and heard Senate Bill 2260, which creates a government efficiency task force to study ways to streamline agency licensing and service delivery; that bill was explained as a preliminary study commission intended to recommend consolidation and a more one-stop approach to state services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, we are celebrating Black Conservation Week by recognizing the progress, work.
• who are leading California in meeting the moment in reaching our nation's leading environmental conservation
• Here in Sacramento, Jade Stephens is President of the 40 Acre Conservation League, the nation's only
• Channing Hawkins is the founder of Bracey Hawkins Law, serving as General Counsel to 40 Acre Conservation
• And despite the significant efforts by both the federal and state governments to at some point acknowledge

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Conservative governance and a thriving economy have created a strong fiscal outlook for the state budget
• about states that are high tax, high regulatory, and that have some of the highest COVID mitigation efforts
• So, you know, this seems to be a fairly conservative investment from the standpoint of, by my calculations
• Is lower than many others and is a conservative, prudent amount to invest in illiquid assets.
• If you're invested in illiquid assets and let's choose a more conservative number and say 9%, you'd be

Bills: HB 104, HB2054, HB3459, HB3745, HB4486, HB4488, HB4601, HB104

Keywords: Texas Future Fund, investment review board, economic stabilization, innovative technology, national defense, HB 2054, Texas volunteer fire department assistance fund, Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, volunteer fire departments, wildfire mitigation, wildland fire, rural fire protection, insurer assessment, insurance premium tax, state appropriations, firefighting grants, emergency services, high-risk wildfire areas, Texas Comptroller, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Conservation. >> Good afternoon, Chairman Roberts, members of the committee.
• Juliana Dean for the Department of Conservation. We have three amendments before you today.
• increase capacity by putting out the RFP again and getting more vendors... ...more vendors in this effort
• And again, in an effort to increase capacity. >> Every time this has come up, that comment gets made

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I invite all of Oklahoma to pray Lord, we desire that our efforts be focused and effective.
• We do not desire to simply participate because the prize requires our full adherence and effort.

Bills: HB2979, HB3790, HB3142, HB3463, HB4143, HJR1086, SB392, HB3087, HB3037, HB3581, HB4058, HB2959, HB4227, HB2997, HB4125, HB1453, HB3521, HB3691, HB2015, HB2940, HB1016, HB3267, HB3695, HB3697, HB3045, HB3662, HB3453, HB3053, HB3301, HB3495, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3845, HB4198, HB4425, HB2970, HB3338, HB3443, HB3783, HB3800, HB3818, HB1242, HB1752, HB2961, HB2967, HB2973, HB2988, HB3031, HB3240, HB3047, HB3052, HB3066, HB3086, HB3175, HB3177, HB3178, HB3429, HB3548, HB3638, HB3404, HB3704, HB1590, HB3759, HB3831, HB3904, HB4092, HB1979, HB1983, HB1250, HB2952, HB3671, HB3920, HB4118, HB3944, HB3969, HB3973, HB3975, HB3976, HB3978, HB3983, HB3984, HB3942, HB4203, HB2588, HB3024, HB3383, HB3279, HB3919, HB3883, HB4193, HB3431, HB3435, HB4352, HB4484, HB1245, HB3172, HB3306, HB4294, HB3880, HB2929, HB3128, HB2956, HB3015, HB3114, HB3567, HB3749, HB4229, HB4237, HB4253, HJR1046, HJR1084, HB3411

Keywords: HB2979, Talyn Bain Act, school zone, school safety, speed limit, 45 mph, state highway, Department of Transportation, ODOT, flashing beacons, traffic enforcement, speeding violation, public school, private school, K-12, drop-off, pick-up, highway safety, municipal maintenance, county commissioners

Transcript Highlights:

• would simply state it would eliminate that conservation program and insert division.
• program uh wildland fire conservation program uh wildland fire module<00:26:13.200> and<00:26
• and insert conservation program and insert division.<00:26:19.760> So<00:26:19.919> it's
• effort between state forestry, OSLI,<00:58:50.160> and<00:58:50.880> department<00:58:
• Members, you're voting on House Bill 133, Conservation Districts, Contracting, and Supervisors.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also a conservative.
• Republicans and conservatives believe that parents should be the advocates for their children, and we
• that you guys need to hear to make the decision as to whether we're going to be a state leading the effort
• As to whether we're going to be a state leading the effort to be pro-child, to be pro-parent, or we're
• , wildlife management and identification, hunting ethics, and conservation.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met to hear several education-related measures. It reported favorably, without objection, on House Bill 1215, which would transfer certain removed historical statues and monuments to the Office of State Parks, prohibit re-erection in the parish where they were removed, and require interpretive signage. The committee also advanced House Bill 682, which creates a school guardian program for honorably discharged veterans employed or contracted by local school systems or charter schools; testimony emphasized that guardians would be unarmed, trained, and used for mentoring and school safety. House Bill 1079, giving enrollment preferences in charter schools to children in early childhood programs, military families, foster children, and children in custody disputes, was also reported favorably, as was House Concurrent Resolution 81, directing the Department of Education to study options for districts facing declining enrollment. The committee then took up House Bill 1084, which would allow public postsecondary institutions to raise tuition and mandatory fees by up to 15 percent annually, with higher increases requiring Board of Supervisors approval. The bill drew extended debate over affordability, TOPS, student retention, and whether universities should have more autonomy to set prices. Members raised concerns about fee burdens on families and whether the state should first study the issue; supporters argued the bill would increase transparency and let institutions respond to funding needs and market conditions. Senator Mazzell offered an amendment lowering the cap from 15 percent to 10 percent, and the committee adopted the amendment before reporting the bill favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 342, which would shift the burden of proof in special education due process hearings from parents to local education agencies. The author and parents testified that the current system places an unfair burden on families of children with disabilities, who often lack access to records and legal resources, and that schools already control the documentation and should have to show compliance with IEP obligations. Jefferson Parish school officials opposed the bill, arguing it would increase legal costs, require more staff and attorney time, and potentially lead to more hearings; they also questioned the fiscal note. The Legislative Fiscal Office said the fiscal impact was indeterminable, and the committee continued hearing testimony from parents and school representatives as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• jobs, and we get people conservation jobs, and we get people back<00:17:35.000> on<00:17:35.120
• Moniz has been very engaged in the recent Act 90 deliberations and our efforts to get those deals on
• His efforts were even doubled. He wants to see all his other fellow ranchers and agriculturists.
• The recent Act 90 deliberations and our efforts to get those deals on our lands over to the Department
• His efforts were even doubled. He wants to see all his other fellow ranchers and agriculturists.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard gubernatorial nominations for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. For GM 615, Matthew Liam was nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, CGAPS, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in strong support, citing his landscape industry leadership, pesticide training background, and prior service. Members asked about his experience in Australia and his approach to restricted-use pesticides; he said he avoided using restricted-use pesticides in his landscaping business but applied related safety and recordkeeping practices. Testimony was unanimous in support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 616, N. Young was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Support testimony from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council highlighted his experience with Lanai agriculture, Sensei, the Food Basket, Pacific Gateway Center, Kamehameha Schools, and institutional purchasing. In response to questions, he discussed balancing public and private funding, the need for adequate capitalization of agricultural projects, and using financial tools to help farmers and accelerate agricultural income streams. He also said the board should focus on making agricultural land productive and strengthening food security. The nomination drew strong support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 617, Jason Moniz was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council supported him, emphasizing his decades of veterinary and animal disease control experience, ranching background, and knowledge of biosecurity, leases, and livestock issues. Moniz said his priorities would be preserving agricultural land and water resources, improving biosecurity, supporting farmers and ranchers, and increasing food production in Hawaii. He also said he would be willing to speak up for agriculture and not let the department be sidelined. The nomination received 29 written and oral supports, with no opposition or comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you a conservative or are you not? That's the question. I am.
• I appreciate what Alabama is effort.
• It outlines a coordinated effort to fight the base.
• As coordinated effort to fight the base.
• He's one of our most conservative. No, I don't want him to lose.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• loss mitigations at mitigation efforts loss mitigations at mitigation efforts do<01:34:09.200>
• and conservancy districts.
• <02:36:03.120> and<02:36:03.200> cons-<02:36:03.880> conservancy conservation and
• cons- conservancy conservation and cons- conservancy districts. districts. districts.
• Which the money can pass through the irrigation and conservation and water districts.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from March 9, 2026, and made several announcements about committee meetings and visiting student groups. Members also moved out of order to consider Senate Joint Resolution 11, which designates a portion of U.S. Highway 34 in memory of Sergeant John Jack Thurman. Supportive remarks highlighted Thurman’s Marine Corps service at Iwo Jima and his later work in Colorado. The resolution passed unanimously, 61-0, with four excused. The chamber then took up third-reading bills. House Bill 1213, continuing the Biomass Utilization Grant Program, and House Bill 1185, continuing the Cold Case Task Force and updating its sunset review, both passed 61-0. Senate Bill 7, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health facilities, drew supportive remarks about patient choice and district support and passed 49-12 with four excused. House Bill 1137, concerning requirements for campaign consultants, prompted extended debate. Supporters argued it would address conflicts of interest and protect candidates from unethical consulting practices, while opponents said the issue should be handled by contract rather than law and warned against further regulation. The bill failed on third reading, 26-35, with four excused. The House then moved to Senate Bill 1 on housing policy; the transcript cuts off during debate, with concerns raised about housing shortages, vacancies, and the risk of a housing bubble.

Transcript Highlights:

• Newsom focuses his policy efforts on addressing the social determinants of health and strengthening the
• as a civil servant in the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation
• career as a civil servant in the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservancy
• He is here as part of the government, Conservancy and Nuclear Safety.
• Thank you so much for that effort.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and then spent much of the opening portion of the session recognizing administrative assistants and other guests in the gallery, including a doctor of the day and a visiting robotics team. Members repeatedly thanked their staff for keeping offices and the chamber running, and one member also welcomed civic leaders from Buckeye and a foreign delegation connected to a circular economy forum. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole on a series of Senate bills. SB 1060, concerning voting eligibility for certain overseas-born children of service members, drew opposition from one member who argued it would disenfranchise military families; the bill still received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1093, described by opponents as an anti-protest bill, also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1162 and SB 1270 were both advanced as amended after committee and floor/subfloor amendments, and SB 1814, dealing with substance use disorder-related issues, was amended with a friendly change and advanced with comments about the need for broader study and bipartisan work on fraud, waste, and abuse in that area. The House then entered an additional Committee of the Whole for SB 1345 and SB 1401. SB 1345 was amended to focus on licensure timing and DHS collaboration, then advanced. SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, was amended after debate over affordability standards and public benefit; supporters said it would speed permitting and reduce housing costs, while critics wanted stronger affordability requirements. The bill was ultimately advanced as amended. The House also took up third reading on SB 1041, a health care institutions bill, where members explained yes votes by citing a recent abuse case in assisted living and arguing the measure would help protect vulnerable adults. The transcript ends during vote explanations on SB 1041.

Transcript Highlights:

• like to go, but we do have Rob Davis with Emirates and then Rachel Stuckey with the Minnesota Conservative
• With that, we have Rachel Stuckey from the Minnesota Conservative Energy Forum.
• committee members, my name is Rachel Stuckey, and I'm the Executive Director of the Minnesota Conservative
• It could really undermine the state's efforts to reach its 2040 goals.
• There were efforts from the beginning about what that might look like and the things that needed to be

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset

Transcript Highlights:

• Will you countenance efforts to fire or discipline US attorneys?
• under Farah to pursue lobbying efforts. efforts in her first day in office, I also found discouraging
• You know, books I'm sure will be written about this, but the the coordinated effort.
• I mean, I think, again, it's all part of this coordinated effort from Lawfare.
• It's like an effort to erase something that really happened. That was July, or January 6th.

Keywords: nominations, Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Todd Blanch, Gail Slater, confirmation hearing

Summary: The meeting focused on the nominations of Todd Blanch and Gail Slater for the positions of Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, respectively. The committee considered the qualifications of both nominees, with opening statements provided by the nominees themselves. There was an evident emphasis on the rigorous vetting process that nominees undergo before their selection, highlighting the importance of the roles within the Department of Justice. Members of the committee engaged in a structured question-and-answer session to further evaluate the nominees' capabilities and fit for the positions they were nominated for, with each member allotted seven minutes to pose questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's certainly because of your efforts, sir.
• The bill also ensures protection of our conservation easements and has added wildlife corridors into
• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 546, a bill to be entitled an act relating to conservation lands
• public notice requirements for meetings to review the sale or exchange of conservation land.
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 441, a bill to be entitled an act relating to conservation lands.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm looking forward to working with you on whatever we can do to help your efforts.
• And you've been an incredible statesman for whatever we can do to help your efforts.
• Be able to support your efforts and help you to continue to grow.
• It’s not issues that are related, conservative versus liberal.
• Let's spend our money and our efforts having our government... ...do that.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then devoted most of the first part of the meeting to a farewell-style recognition of Senator Joe Gruters. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising his loyalty, political instincts, family involvement, and work as a legislator and as incoming Republican National Committee chair. Gruters responded with remarks about his background, including overcoming a childhood speech impediment, his service in the Legislature, and major policy efforts he highlighted such as alimony reform and the undergrounding of utilities. A ceremonial gift was presented to him recognizing his work on a 2019 public-safety/immigration bill, and the Senate adopted a motion to spread his remarks upon the journal before recessing briefly. After the recess, the Senate returned to regular business. No committee reports, governor’s messages, House messages, or reconsideration matters were reported. The chamber then moved to third reading and temporarily postponed CS/CS/CS/SB 354, relating to blue ribbon projects. The next bill, CS/CS/SB 1758, relating to public assistance, was taken up, and Senator Gaetz explained that it contained five reforms to the public assistance system previously discussed by the Senate. Debate was about to continue when the transcript ended.