Transcript Highlights:

• It's a $2 million request.
• So we've included that in our budget request.
• We have not requested additional funding for that.
• Plus, as you'll see in our request, we have some other requests that are related to that that are not
• is not our requests.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to page 7, under agency request.
• Moving to agency requests.
• Moving down to agency requests under item number one.
• Under agency requests on page 37.
• Moving on to agency requests, item number two, flood control.

Bills: SB 1

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

Transcript Highlights:

• First one, C1, is a request from the Department of Transportation.
• These are appropriation and/or fund transfer requests.
• These are cash fund appropriation requests.
• But, Chair, those are all the requests. All right, thank you.
• This is pay plan appropriation and performance fund requests.

Summary: The committee considered several appropriation and transfer requests, beginning with a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing to cover administrative costs for its enterprise licensing platform, funded by license and application fees. It then reviewed two large Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation for the final quarter of the fiscal year, and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support the Arkansas BEAD broadband grant program, including an extra help position and grants to internet service providers. The broadband item drew extensive questions about awardees, contract amendments, accountability, build-out timelines, backup plans if providers default, the definition of broadband serviceable locations, and the cost per location. The State Broadband Director said no providers had requested amendments, the program would use milestone-based disbursements and a four-year build-out period, and the first tranche would serve 51,566 homes and businesses with $126.1 million in grants. Both Section B and Section C items were approved. In Section D, the committee approved a $458,000 transfer within the Department of Correction from the female work release program to the Tucker Unit water treatment plant, a $25 million transfer within the Department of Education to cover declining enrollment, teacher incentive, school recognition, and Easter Seals funding, and a $229,000 transfer for the Department of Shared Administrative Services to support two project management office positions. The education transfer prompted questions about how declining enrollment funding is calculated, how many districts receive it, and how long districts can continue to receive it; agency staff said 152 districts were on the preliminary list and the formula is based on the prior two-year average ADM compared with the previous year. The committee also gave favorable advice on a proposed $4.7 million loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization tools; agency officials said the loan would be repaid through cost recovery rates over five years and would replace an existing loan that is ending, with expected savings from consolidating applications but no precise savings estimate yet. The committee then reviewed cash fund and federal grant requests, including $200,000 for wage and hour claimant payments, $15 million for unclaimed property claims, $8,000 for a heritage program grant, and $1.1 million for a College and Career Coaches grant to expand services in rural districts. It also reviewed pay plan and budget manual items without objection. The most extensive report discussion focused on the Medicaid trust fund, where DHS and DFA officials said the balance has been declining and that the state may need to add capital back into the fund. Senators and representatives asked about the current balance, the projected year-end level, the role of the $100 million set-aside, the impact of outstanding Medicaid rules from the prior session, and whether future federal funding could help reduce long-term Medicaid costs. Officials said they are still working through more than 10 outstanding rules with CMS and do not yet have a final price tag for those changes. The meeting ended after the reports were reviewed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to be re-requested to explain the strike all.
• Now request passage by the use of ready.
• We should be requested. Anyone object?
• Immediate release has been requested. Immediate release has been requested.
• Immediate release has been requested. Immediate release has been requested.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 2 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received the invocation and pledge, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The body also heard introductions of guests, including DeSoto County Superintendent Cory Uselton and Dr. Becky Roberts, an OBGYN from Hattiesburg and clinical faculty at William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine, along with seven medical students. On the calendar, Senate Bill 68, House Bill 1758, the Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for Success Act, was taken up. Senator Blackwell explained that the bill would place survivor benefits for foster youth into a special account for their direct needs rather than sending the money into CPS’s general operating budget. The Senate adopted the strike-all amendment, then passed the bill by the use of the morning roll call, and immediate release was granted. During announcements, senators noted upcoming committee meetings, including Judiciary B, Insurance, Marine Resources and Ports, Energy, Government Structure, AET, Appropriations, and Judiciary A. Senator Chassaniol announced a legislative reception on March 4 with an Elvis impersonator, and several senators offered adjourning memories for deceased constituents and family members, including Shirley May, Tripp Jones, George Watson II, Jakolby and Jordan Long, and Representative Earl Banks’ mother. Senator Brumfield also reported that Senator Warren Barnett was recovering at home. The Senate then moved into recess until later in the day or the next morning, as specified in the motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee, so this amendment was requested by the Board of Finance.
• Specific requests.
• So do those equipment requests that come in, they also need to be listed on the ICIP?
• and an ICIP request.
• So you all did include money in the feed bill to improve the legislative request system.

Bills: SB190, HB247, HB8

Keywords: cancer treatment, revenue bonds, Gila Regional Medical Center, Nor-Lea General Hospital, healthcare funding, capital outlay, capital projects, appropriations, reversion, encumbrance, reauthorization, reappropriation, general fund, capital development and reserve fund, tribal infrastructure project fund, Department of Finance and Administration, DFA, state board of finance, severance tax bonds, tax-exempt bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a marked decrease from the original request.
• Request? You're recognized. Representative Beatty, for what purpose? Request? You're recognized.
• Request. If we could pull out SB 2 and SB 14 for separate vote.
• Request. You're recognized. Can we pull out Senate Bill 72?
• Request. You're recognized. Senate Bill 68, please take out of the batch.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, and approved leave requests and the previous day’s journal. The chamber received a governor’s communication listing several fiscal-session measures that had been signed into law, and members recognized a number of guests, including law enforcement officers, medical staff, and several championship athletic teams and Special Olympics participant Justin Tate. Representative Dolly Henley also made a personal explanation regarding her request to vote no on House Bill 1098, apologizing for any confusion. On the red and yellow calendars, the House passed Senate Bill 1, the Arkansas Senate appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027, by a large margin and then considered a series of appropriation and reappropriation bills in batches. Amendment 1 to House Bill 1034, concerning the Treasury Office of State Appropriation and a 10% salary increase for the Secretary of State, was rejected. Several bills passed, including House Bill 1020, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1098, Senate Bills 2, 14, 26, 68, 69, 72, and 74, along with multiple batched general appropriation and reappropriation measures. House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed on final passage. Members also discussed the scope of certain appropriations, including questions about whether funds allowed disproportionate staff raises and whether a workforce-services reappropriation would centralize services in Little Rock; the sponsor said the bills did not do those things. After completing the calendar, Representative Meeks moved to adjourn until 3:00 p.m. Monday, and the motion carried. The House announced that House Management would meet 15 minutes after adjournment on Monday and that the deadline for submitting resolutions was that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recommendation is to move as is, but in the committee report members, we are going to request the chair
• I'll be on to SCR 114 SD1, requesting the Department of Education's Internal Audit Office to conduct
• Members, SCR 28 SD1 requesting<00:07:56.120> the<00:07:56.200> Department<00:07:56.600>
• of<00:07:56.680> Defense<00:07:57.080> to requesting the Department of Defense
• Next, I'm working on SCR 74 requesting Next, I'm working on SCR 74 requesting the<00:08:17.640><

Bills: SCR173, SCR78, SCR114, SCR162, SCR48, SCR160, SCR87, SCR28, SCR74, SCR20, SCR32, SCR55, SCR69

Keywords: ticket scalping, task force, consumer protection, event accessibility, local economy, menstrual health, menstrual cycle, period education, period poverty, menstrual products, menstrual dignity, health education, sexual health curriculum, DOE, Department of Education, public schools, school health, reproductive health, puberty education, hygiene education

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe one has been requested, and maybe John Walls wants to address it.
• I believe one has been requested, and maybe John Walls wants to address it.
• <00:25:36.120> and believe one has been requested and believe one has been requested and wor
• State Fire Marshal Dan Cer to start on the supplemental budget request. All right, thank you.
• I would just say that the bonding side, there really are two fundamental requests.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the March 22, 2024 minutes and then took up House File 3761, the Safety Through Support Act, with a motion to lay the bill over. Representative Lee Finke said the bill is intended to improve re-entry outcomes and public safety by expanding prison visitation, including mentoring and access for mental health and medical professionals, and by creating a task force to support rehabilitation and re-entry. Testifiers in support included Holly Bot, who described how family visits helped her through incarceration and later into successful re-entry and business ownership, and Zeke Caliguri, who argued that consistent visitation and community connection are essential to humanity, rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism. Elliot Bhai of NAMI Minnesota also supported the bill, framing visitation as a form of needed mental health support in prisons. Members raised several concerns and suggestions. Representative Hudson questioned the bill’s strip-search limitation language, asking what would count as a credible, documented security concern, and also worried the task force could create discriminatory access or favor certain viewpoints. Representative Finke said she did not view a conviction as making someone permanently a security risk and said the task force was meant to ensure meaningful visitation for everyone, not to enable discrimination. Representative Hollins and Representative N. supported the bill’s overall goals while suggesting language could be tightened and noting that maintaining outside ties helps people return as productive members of society. Representative Witte asked about the Department of Corrections commissioner’s presence, and the chair said questions for him could wait for a later bill. Representative Mu asked about the fiscal note and the research behind the bill. Staff said a fiscal note had been requested but not yet signed off by the LBO, which was one reason the bill was being laid over. Finke said she could share the visitation study and noted that the bill responds to research linking visitation to lower recidivism; she also said remote visitation data shows value but can be costly. After closing remarks emphasizing that visitation is “medicine” and that most incarcerated people will return to the community, the chair renewed the motion and laid over House File 3761. The committee then moved on to House File 4959, with a motion to re-refer it to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• in our operating budget request.
• At its core, the request before you is At its core, the request before you is about<00:01:07.520>
• budget request. budget request.
• Thank you, state capital request.
• c> to<00:14:51.760> renovate We are requesting funds to renovate We are requesting funds to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Shamarhorn requested days leave for Representative Beckles.
• Representative Butler requests a vote change. Hey, Jody, how do you like that one?
• Representative Mack requests to change his vote from yea on House Bill 617.
• Representative Mack requests to change his vote from yea to nay on House Bill 617.
• Representative Kerner requests to change his vote on House Bill 617 from nay to yea.

Bills: HR244, HR245, HR246, HR247, HR248, HR249, HR250, HR251, HCR101, HCR102, HR223, HR224, HR225, HR226, HR227, HR229, HR230, HR231, HR232, HR234, HR235, HR236, HR237, HR238, HR239, HR240, HR241, HR242, HR243, HCR94, HCR95, HCR96, HCR97, HCR98, HCR99, HCR100, SCR31, SCR33, SCR35, SCR37, SCR56, SCR57, SB171, SB251, SB252, SB353, SB367, SB433, SB461, HR170, HR191, HR206, HR207, HR208, HR217, HCR11, HCR53, HCR60, HCR66, HCR68, HB66, HB153, HB165, HB326, HB387, HB454, HB455, HB484, HB513, HB603, HB660, HB719, HB762, HB766, HB793, HB802, HB816, HB833, HB940, HB947, HB950, HB975, HB1028, HB1039, HB1051, HB1053, HB1080, HB1201, HB1215, HB1228, HB1251, HB1252, SCR2, SB26, SB28, SB29, SB30, SB41, SB44, SB64, SB84, SB87, SB93, SB98, SB107, SB118, SB142, SB192, SB195, SB199, SB219, SB222, SB234, SB241, SB255, SB275, SB277, SB292, SB294, SB306, SB314, SB482, SB233, SB326, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, HCR72, HR37, HCR64, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, SCR11, SCR22, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB258, HB633, HB801, HB89, HB341, HB451, HB456, HB579, HB595, HB621, HB818, HB841, HB1064, HB1101, HB1191, SB47, SB82, SB106, SB206, SB210, SB248, SB305, SB376, SB397, SB441, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB173, SB180, SB182, SB260, SB412, SB418, SB424, SB442, SB460, SB476, SB1, SB23, SB32, SB42, SB43, SB46, SB51, SB110, SB113, SB150, SB154, SB161, SB218, SB220, SB221, SB253, SB289, SB310, SB351, SB399, SB404, SB502, HCR32, HB955, HB284, HB617, HB730, HB926, HB1125, HB1194, HB1203, HB798, HB998, HB1084, HB1223, HB646, HB824, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB59, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB911, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1234, HB1240, SB89, SB68, SB149

Keywords: disclosure, local law, public notice, legislative transparency, Artists at the Capitol Day, art education, Louisiana Art Education Association, recognition, community engagement, House Resolution 247, HR247, Laura Lewis, birthday commendation, 104th birthday, centenarian, longevity, St. James Parish, Louisiana House of Representatives, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, ceremonial resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• Once we receive a locate request, excuse me, we then call 811.
• To respond to locate requests is very important.
• However, holiday and weekend requests could take longer.
• It handles the most locate requests of anyone in the nation.
• Uh, Scott talked about some of the location request figures.

Bills: HB206

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• I also request one more President.
• Request a Thank you, Mr. President.
• requested on his behalf.<00:43:59.800> On<00:44:00.000> request<00:44:01.240> of
• On request of Senator Robert behalf.
• A division has been requested. requested. requested.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , this is from ACLU data data requests, this is from ACLU data data requests, one one one police<
• All right, roll call's been requested. All right, roll call's been requested.
• So if what the request of that data is.
• <00:19:16.880> on uh wide-ranging investigatory request on uh wide-ranging investigatory request
• Um I like I I I from these requests.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 4205, as amended, was heard and then re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. Representative Tabke said the bill is intended to protect Minnesotans’ private data tied to license plate reader systems by requiring warrants for out-of-state access, limiting dissemination of privately collected data, and adding reporting and oversight. He said the amendment was substantive and was adopted before the bill was discussed. Tabke also said he was open to changes, including revisiting the audit requirement, and noted the bill should still allow law enforcement to use license plate data for investigations. John Beeler of the ACLU of Minnesota testified in support, arguing that automatic license plate reader use has expanded far beyond what the 2015 statute contemplated and that third-party vendors have complicated data practices and accountability. He said the bill would modernize the law, require public disclosure of data-sharing relationships, and ensure private vendors are subject to data obligations. Jeff Potts of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association opposed the bill as written, saying LPR technology has been important in investigations, including a recent child abduction case, but that the annual audit requirement would be too costly for small agencies and could make the technology unaffordable. He said the association was open to further discussions on guardrails but opposed the bill in its current form. Members raised questions about what data is actually returned by a license plate query versus an LPR hit, with Representative Duran arguing the bill conflated limited registration information with broader private data. Representative Feist supported the bill, saying the public should not trust Flock and that the issue is the cumulative tracking of people’s movements, not just isolated data points. Representative Hudson said the bill raised valid questions but might unintentionally hinder investigations, and he requested a roll call. The committee ultimately adopted the A1 amendment and moved the bill forward on a roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to request Nikisha Robinson and Janelle Callahan to come.
• There's four positions that we're requesting.
• I respectfully request your support for the $50 million budget request for the California Arts Council
• I respectfully request your support for the $50 million budget request for the California Arts Council
• We're here to also support that request.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the request of the authors, please move.
• I respectfully request your aye vote on SB 418. I respectfully request your aye vote on SB 418.
• At the request, excuse me, I request unanimous consent to suspend Joint Rule 62(a), the file notice requirement
• We respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• I respectfully request an aye vote. Omnibus bill.

Summary: The Assembly convened, initially lacked a quorum, then returned to session with prayer, pledge, and a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk following news of his shooting. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules, moving several bills to the inactive file, re-referring bills to committees, and authorizing committee meetings. The chamber also observed adjournments in memory for several individuals, including Ermilo Don Rodas, John Burton, Nina Chomsky, and Barbara “Bobby” Samperey. On the floor file, members considered and passed a long list of Senate bills, largely on bipartisan or unanimous votes. Topics included consumer protection and transparency for self-storage contracts (SB 709), adoption jurisdiction (SB 450), privacy and name/image protections (SB 683), an audit of the February 2025 bar exam (SB 47), data broker transparency (SB 361), used-car buyer protections (SB 76), state parks land acquisition streamlining (SB 630), cemetery work group deadlines (SB 777), financial enforcement authority (SB 825), utility outage reporting and reliability planning (SB 292), vital records confidentiality (SB 313), health care coverage and hormone therapy access (SB 418), workplace outreach (SB 578), Holocaust and genocide education (SB 472), county jail treatment for misdemeanor incompetency cases (SB 820), and AI companion chatbot safeguards for minors and self-harm risks (SB 243). Most measures passed with little or no opposition, though SB 578 drew sharp debate over the workplace outreach program and its funding. The Assembly also took up concurrence items and approved numerous Assembly bills with Senate amendments. These included transparency in legislative nondisclosure agreements (AB 1370), affordable faculty/staff housing provisions at community colleges (AB 648), tribal youth foster care reforms (AB 1378), EV charger payment regulations (AB 1423), technical Political Reform Act changes (AB 1511), diacritical marks on vital records (AB 64), reproductive health protections with urgency (AB 260), union and collective bargaining protections (AB 288), bench trial statement-of-decision streamlining (AB 515), agricultural land stewardship (AB 524), geothermal exploratory project rules (AB 527), Medi-Cal field medicine changes (AB 543), tobacco-related provisions (AB 573), social media platform rules (AB 656), state parks transaction reporting (AB 679), professional licensing changes (AB 742), and child care staffing and assistant teacher pathways with urgency (AB 753). Votes were generally strong, with several measures passing unanimously or near-unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Requesting unanimous consent that we return to the third order of business. Is there objection?
• We request unanimous consent to explain the amendment and move having it read. Sir, objection.
• We request unanimous consent to explain the amendment in lieu of having it read. Sir, objection.
• Requesting unanimous consent that the bill be taken up for immediate consideration, read a first time
• I request unanimous consent that the bill be referred to the Committee on Rules. Sir, objection.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He had one request, which I felt was a reasonable request that was incorporated into the amendment about
• Um he had one request commissioner.
• Uh change<00:53:32.480> request. change request. change request.
• Is that your request?
• funds they request. I'll second that. funds they request. I'll second that.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a broad request.
• requested as part of the adoption of SB 905.
• It's a challenging request on the part of the legislature.
• We wanted to add that to the extent that this request...
• We have discussed this request in the past.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Responses to requests for information varied from timely to only after many requests to never.
• data request area.
• without request and approval. without request and approval.
• Um Did you request a roll >> All right. Um Did you request a roll call? call? call?
• Uh no, I request a roll call. Uh no, I request a roll call.

Bills: HF4277, HF3819, HF3489, HF4408, HF3901, HF4316

Keywords: child care, child care center, day care, licensed child care, video security cameras, surveillance, security cameras, maltreatment, child abuse, child safety, public and shared areas, camera mandate, child care assistance program, CCAP, Great Start Compensation Support, early learning scholarships, licensed provider, Minnesota Statutes 142B.68, Harvey's Law, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• We further request $11.9 million for capital improvements.
• a base and we respectfully request the additions in our requests that are very focused.
• a base and we respectfully request the additions in our requests that are very focused.
• a base and we respectfully request the additions in our requests that are very focused.
• a base and we respectfully request the additions in our requests that are very focused.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 400, the Judiciary’s biennium budget, and HB 727, a proposal to create a women’s court pilot program. On HB 400, Judiciary officials said the request includes operating funds of about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. Testifiers from the legal services community, including the Legal Clinic, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Bar Association, supported the budget and emphasized the need for civil legal services and immigration-related legal help. Judge Kim also highlighted Big Island needs, including courthouse design funding and an additional district court judge. HB 727 drew extensive testimony in support from Judiciary officials, treatment court staff, legal and behavioral health organizations, prosecutors, and individuals with lived experience in drug court. Supporters said women in the justice system often face trauma, abuse, addiction, and mental health challenges that are not adequately addressed in existing programs, and argued that a women’s court could improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. Judiciary witnesses explained that the proposed program would be a specialty court within the drug court framework, initially focused on the Kona division of the Third Circuit, with possible future expansion to Hilo. A probation officer and a former drug court participant described the benefits of treatment court and the need for women-specific services, including spiritual counseling options. After testimony, the committee recessed briefly for lack of quorum and later returned to vote. HB 400 was passed with amendments, including added amounts in the committee report for civil legal services and immigration-related legal services, and a revised defective date. HB 727 was also passed with amendments, including changes to the purpose section to make the First Circuit women’s court permanent, create a three-year Third Circuit Kona women’s court pilot, and remove the broader expansion language for the time being. The committee adopted both measures by vote, with Senator Chang excused.