Transcript Highlights:

• With the consent of the House, the Rules Committee is relieved of the following bills, and the bills
• Seeing none, the question for the House is final passage of Senate Bill 5988.
• Substitute Senate Bill 6034, as amended by the House.
• The House is at ease. The House will be in order. Sixth order of business, second reading of bills.
• Good bill. Vote yes. The question before the House is final passage of Substitute Senate Bill 6189.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB5831 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Summary: The House received a Senate message that Substitute House Bill 1570 had passed the Senate, then moved several bills from Rules to the second reading calendar, including Substitute Senate Bill 5242 on anaphylaxis medications in schools and Senate Bill 6132 on Inland Port District debt. The chamber then took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 5988 on Department of Health accreditation fee authority for opioid treatment programs. Amendment 2336 to cap the fee at $17,000 was debated at length but rejected, and a separate amendment to add safe-injection-site language was ruled out of scope. Senate Bill 5988 then passed 62-34. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on enhanced municipal permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects drew multiple amendments focused on Sound Transit’s authority. Amendments to require written consent from abutting property owners, to add flood-zone and seismic/critical-area protections, and to address public-records issues were either rejected or ruled beyond scope, though the local government committee amendment was adopted. The bill passed 56-38. The House also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5886 on digital personality rights and Senate Bill 6136 on transparency in workers’ compensation rate-setting, both with strong bipartisan support. Later, the House passed a series of additional bills: Substitute Senate Bill 6034 codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs; Gross Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization reform, with remarks emphasizing limits on AI in health care decisions; Substitute Senate Bill 6248 creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act; Substitute Senate Bill 5720 establishing uniform consumer debt default judgment procedures; Senate Bill 5995 on port modernization funding and labor considerations; Senate Bill 6103 affecting rural hospitals; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 creating a work group on e-motorcycles; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5156 allowing smaller elevators to support accessible, more affordable housing; Substitute Senate Bill 6269 updating motor fuel definitions to include hydrogen; Substitute Senate Bill 6189 giving Thurston County more time to pursue an aquatics public facilities district; and Senate Bill 6134 requiring unemployment applicants to acknowledge repayment obligations if retroactive union pay is received. Most of these bills passed with large margins, and the House adjourned after completing final passage votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:01.200><c> House</c> which the Neighborhood House House which the Neighborhood House House
• </c><00:37:21.840><c> bill,</c><00:37:22.560><c> does</c> are carried in the housing bill, does are carried
• in the housing bill, does this<00:37:23.040><c> language</c><00:37:23.480><c> then</c><00:37:23.640>
• H.R. 1 lowered the threshold of tax-exempt bonds needed for local multifamily housing projects to qualify
• I have a question on bill language in Article 1, so I don't know if any other members have questions

Bills: HF4736 , HF4737 , HF3806 , HF3352 , HF4840 , HF3748

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: emergency shelter, grant program, homelessness, capital investment, Minnesota Statutes, appropriation bonds, public funding, housing, infrastructure bonds, funding, appropriation, Minnesota constitutional amendment, public debt, state bonds, general obligation bonds, information technology, IT infrastructure, software licenses, technology modernization, capital improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, members, we are going to start our agenda by taking up Tab 1, which is Senate Bill 774 on 911 public
• for 9-1-1 public safety telecommunicators.
• 1 dispatcher.
• This bill recognizes that 9-1-1 dispatchers are exposed to traumatic events throughout the headset and
• The most effective thing to do was to play the 9-1-1 call to set the scene for the jury: '9-1-1, what's

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first took up SB 774, which would extend workers’ compensation coverage for mental or nervous injuries, without a physical injury, to 911 public safety telecommunicators. The sponsor and several dispatchers, a behavioral health clinician, and communications directors testified in support, describing repeated exposure to traumatic calls, chronic understaffing, and the cumulative mental health impact of the job. Members from both sides praised telecommunicators and emphasized their role as first responders. The bill was reported favorably, with Senator McLean later recorded as voting yes on the measure. The committee then considered SPB 7028, a retirement bill setting Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2026, without changing the 3% employee contribution rate. The proposal also allowed certain elected officers to receive a DROP payout under specified conditions and provided a 1.5% alternative cost-of-living adjustment for eligible special risk retirees. Representatives from firefighters, law enforcement, police chiefs, sheriffs, and fire chiefs supported the bill as a recruitment and retention tool. The committee voted to submit SPB 7028 as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee heard SPB 7024 and SPB 7026, both Governmental Oversight and Accountability proposals to consolidate and update public records/public meeting exemptions. SPB 7024 would repeal the current cybersecurity information exemption and create a consolidated agency-wide exemption for cybersecurity, information, and operational technology information. SPB 7026 would similarly consolidate agency-held trade secret exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. Neither bill drew testimony or debate, and both were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably by unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rows 1 and 86 is where almost half of your budget lives in House Bill 2.
• So you all passed House Bill 63.
• House Bill 2 only included $1 million for that Hold Harmless.
• Bill 64 and House Bill 63, that that is part of that.
• education bills and bills that come over from the House.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill produces housing. Thank you.
• This bill produces housing. Thank you.
• This bill produces housing. Thank you.
• The underlying scarcity of housing is our largest problem, but 2-1-1 is overwhelmed in Los Angeles and
• Today's bill, the Social Housing Act, will produce and preserve affordable housing that's much badly

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1157, the Affordable Rent Act, which would lower California’s annual rent cap, remove the single-family home exemption, and eliminate the sunset on existing tenant protections. The author and supporters argued that renters are facing severe affordability pressures, especially in single-family rentals, and that stronger statewide rent stabilization is needed to prevent displacement and homelessness. Opponents, including apartment, building, and property-owner groups, said the bill would discourage housing production, harm small landlords, and override a deal they said was intended to be temporary while the state focused on building more housing. Public testimony on AB 1157 was extensive, with many renters, tenant advocates, labor groups, and community organizations speaking in support, while many landlords, business groups, and property-owner representatives spoke in opposition. Committee members were split: some praised the bill as a necessary response to the rent crisis, while others warned it could reduce investment and worsen the housing shortage. The committee ultimately voted 7-5 to pass AB 1157 to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The committee then approved the consent calendar, including AB 413, AB 1152, and AB 1275, on a 9-0 vote. It also heard ACA 3, which would require the University of California to make available a limited number of down payment loans for eligible long-term support staff who are first-time homebuyers. Supporters said the measure would help lower-wage UC workers afford homeownership and improve retention, while UC and other opponents argued the proposal was duplicative of existing state programs, unnecessary, and potentially harmful to UC finances. The discussion focused on financing mechanics and the relationship to CalHFA, but no final vote on ACA 3 was included in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925 is the Senate companion bill to House Bill 2161, which this committee
• The Senate bill is substantially similar to the substitute House bill as it passed out of committee,
• And finally, the Senate bill does not include the provision that was in the substitute House bill.
• bill to House Bill 2332, which this committee heard earlier this session.
• At 1%, a $1,000 bill will just accrue $0.83 per month.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on civil investigative demands for the Attorney General (ESSB 5925), automated license plate readers (ESSB 6002/6702), medical debt interest limits (ESSB 5993), default judgments in consumer debt cases (SSB 5720), adult guardianship technical changes (ESSB 5837), and Court of Appeals bailiff authority (SB 6011). Sponsors and agency staff generally framed the bills as targeted tools or clarifications, while opponents raised concerns about privacy, due process, overreach, and unintended consequences. The AG’s office supported 5925 as a way to investigate civil rights, wage theft, and related laws more efficiently; opponents argued it gave too much pre-suit power and lacked sufficient judicial safeguards. The Court of Appeals bailiff bill was presented as a near-identical extension of authority already given to Supreme Court bailiffs, with no major controversy beyond questions about training. The ALPR bill drew the sharpest policy split. Supporters, including the prime sponsor and civil rights advocates, argued Washington lacks meaningful regulation of license plate readers and needs limits on retention, sharing, and vendor access to protect privacy and prevent misuse. Law enforcement, cities, and some parking-related users said the bill was necessary but too restrictive or technically flawed, warning it could effectively shut down the technology or prevent use in serious cases; they asked for broader crime coverage, clearer definitions, and longer retention. Privacy and civil liberties groups supported regulation but urged stronger protections, especially shorter retention periods and tighter limits on third-party access. On medical debt, the sponsor and supporters argued that capping interest at 1% would reduce financial harm to patients, especially those facing serious illness, and would still allow administrative costs to be covered. They cited bankruptcy risk, chronic illness, and the burden on families, while noting the bill was narrowed from an earlier version and made prospective. Hospitals, collectors, dentists, and physician groups opposed the bill, saying it would not solve broader affordability problems, could reduce repayment incentives, and might push providers toward cash-only models or credit cards, especially harming small and rural practices. The committee also heard support for the consumer debt default judgment bill as a negotiated compromise that improves notice and preserves existing debt-buyer protections, and for the guardianship bill as a technical cleanup of adult guardianship and supported decision-making provisions. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing excerpts provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, Senate Bill 1081, Senate Draft 1, I vote yes.
• If not, Senate Bill 2, Senate Draft 1, I vote yes.
• If not, Senate Bill 2, Senate Draft 1, I vote yes.
• If not, Senate Bill 2, Senate Draft 1, I vote yes.
• Senate Bill 239, Senate Draft 1, I vote yes.

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing. During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget as presented, House Bill 1 and House Bill 2, and the way revenue numbers from Ways and Means
• into House Bill 1.
• into House Bill 1.
• So the net result is these two lines in House Bill 1 will be $1 million less, right?
• house bill one will these two lines in house bill one will be<01:28:42.679><c> $1</c><01:28:43.159><c

Summary: The Finance Committee met to review Division One of a very large budget package, with the chair explaining that the budget was being analyzed in three divisions over multiple days. Members first discussed procedure, including when amendments and line-item votes would be taken, and agreed to proceed with the division’s presentation before questions. Representative Maguire then outlined the division’s approach as a series of tradeoffs to close a large budget gap, emphasizing cuts, some revenue changes, and a focus on overall spending levels as well as individual reductions. The presentation covered a wide range of agencies and policy areas. Major proposed changes included cuts or eliminations to several boards and commissions viewed as costly or duplicative, such as the Housing Appeals Board, Board of Tax and Land Appeals, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Aging, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Personnel Appeals Board, with some functions consolidated into other boards. The division also proposed back-of-the-budget cuts to the Information Technology Department, Judicial Branch, Justice Department, Retirement System, Corrections, and Environmental Services, along with fee increases in several areas. Other notable items included ending marketing for Paid Family Leave, reducing job advertising and tourism promotion, defunding the Arts Council, moving liquor enforcement functions out of the Liquor Commission, and shifting some funds such as the College Savings Commission money to Division Two. Several members questioned specific cuts, especially the elimination of the Council on Aging, the reduction in regional planning commission grants, and the large cut to tourism advertising. Maguire defended the choices as necessary budget tradeoffs, arguing that some programs duplicated work done elsewhere, that regional planning grants were not among the most essential items, and that tourism promotion was a form of spending he viewed skeptically. He also explained that the public defender’s budget was partially restored after a credible claim of a governor’s budget error, and that the committee would continue refining corrections-related cuts because the House was only halfway through the budget process and further changes could still occur in the Senate and conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move that the House concur with Senate Amendment 1 to House Committee substitute House Bill
• The lady from Cass County has moved that the House concur in Senate Amendment No. 1 for House Bill 1839
• in Section 1 of House Bill 2596.
• differences in Section 1 for Senate Substitute for House Bill 2596, as amended.
• Committee Substitute House Committee Substitute House Bill 2596, as amended, on Section 1.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 123-0. Members then used points of personal privilege to recognize National Police Week, honor fallen officers, and offer extended tributes to departing colleagues and a departing representative, followed by numerous introductions of special guests, interns, students, and visiting groups from schools and universities. The chamber then received Senate messages and committee reports before taking up House Bill 1839, 2921, and 3015 together. The sponsor described the measure as a technical correction to online age-verification language related to pornography, and members noted the bill had already passed the House and Senate overwhelmingly. The House concurred in Senate Amendment 1 by a vote of 104-30, then adopted the conference/TAFP motion and finally passed the package 112-25. Members next considered House Bill 2596 in conference committee. The sponsor explained the bill as a small-business health plan measure that also included a negotiated amendment expanding private insurance coverage for contraception from a six-month to a 12-month supply, while removing Senate-added blood pressure cuff language and adding a severability clause. After debate about the process and policy, the House adopted the conference report 120-26 and then third-read and passed the bill 119-27. The final major item was Senate Bill 905, creating the Missouri Ranger training program to allow school districts, if they choose, to place specially trained personnel with narrow law-enforcement powers in schools. Debate focused heavily on school safety, local control, funding, training, and whether armed personnel in schools would help or harm students. Supporters argued it would provide an optional, low-cost safety tool, especially for districts without school resource officers; opponents argued it would escalate fear, resemble a prison environment, and fail to address mental health and other root causes. The House moved the previous question, adopted the amendment, and continued debate on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We now have House Bill H508, an act relating to approval of the amendments to the charter of the city
• </c> question is, shall the bill pass? question is, shall the bill pass?
• </c> Finance will meet at 1:30. Finance will meet at 1:30.
• </c> Appropriations will also meet at 1:30. Appropriations will also meet at 1:30.
• </c> at 1:30. at 1:30.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, Senate or House Bill 1620, 1622. Got it.
• Notice was emailed to bill sponsors on January 13, 2026, regarding House Bill 1170 and House Bill 1599
• House Bill 1146, which we called the Defined Benefit Plan Cleanup Bill.
• of House Bill 1274 and House Bill 1419, which renamed the plan the public safety plan.
• to join the plan due to the enactment of House Bill 1146.

Committee: Joint Administrative Rules Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there questions of staff on this bill? Seeing none, let's move to House Bill 2593.
• Seeing none, let's move then to House Bill 2551. then to House Bill 2551.
• Let's move then to the next bill, House Bill 2594. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• that Substitute House Bill 2593 be reported.
• Bill 2594, and that Substitute House Bill 2594 be reported.

Summary: The House Education Committee first briefed several bills and amendments before going into caucus, then returned for executive action. House Bill 1295, on comprehensive literacy programs, was amended to require aligned literacy curricula and reporting, with one proposed substitute withdrawn and several amendments debated; the committee rejected amendments that would have added implementation deadlines and reporting, adopted an amendment requiring a 2032 OSPI report on literacy outcomes, and advanced the bill with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2262, which adds cursive signature instruction to mandatory high school civics and requires election-related reporting on signature mismatches, was amended to recognize culturally specific signatures, include historical context about marginalized communities, remove a graduation-credit condition, and drop State Board monitoring language; the committee rejected a null-and-void amendment and advanced the bill. House Bill 2551, allowing certain school districts to sell real property with superintendent authorization, was debated as a fiscal flexibility measure and passed out of committee on a 10-4 vote. The committee also considered House Bill 2593 on school district fund balances and monthly financial reporting. A proposed substitute shifted the bill away from mandatory minimum fund balances toward formal financial monitoring for districts below required levels, technical assistance from OSPI, and possible withholding of apportionment payments for reporting failures; an amendment removed the withholding provision, and the substitute bill was then advanced with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2594, establishing state-based protections for homeless students and aligning state requirements with McKinney-Vento, received a technical amendment to avoid duplicative provisions and was reported out unanimously. House Bill 2636, creating a Public Education Performance Operations and Funding Review Commission, was substantially revised into a Public Education Review Advisory Council that would work with JLARC to review education policy requirements and funding; a null-and-void amendment failed, and the committee advanced the substitute bill unanimously. Throughout the meeting, sponsors and members emphasized literacy improvement, student access, district fiscal stability, and reducing or reviewing unfunded mandates. Several members spoke in support of the bills as tools to improve outcomes or provide flexibility, while others raised concerns about mandates, reporting burdens, and the practicality of implementation. Final actions included multiple do pass recommendations, with recorded votes on HB 2551, HB 2593, HB 2594, and HB 2636, and unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other measures after amendment debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the changes that was enacted by House Bill 345 last session, as you can see highlighted on the
• House Bill 345 has them all roll into the dedicated fund.
• We have for the Senate 3 ayes, 6 nays, one absent and excused; for the House, 1 aye, 8 nays, one absent
• For the House, 9-0-0-N-A-1. We have for the Senate, eight ayes, one nay, one absent and excused.
• For the House, 9-0-0-N-A-1 absent and excused.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met to consider several Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid items, Idaho State Police budgets, the Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Department of Administration and Military Division. The committee first approved a FY 2026 Medicaid forecast supplemental, then approved a budget-neutral FY 2026 hospital assessment fund shift and creation of a separate hospital assessment budgeted program. For FY 2027 Medicaid, members heard extensive discussion of MMIS procurement, estate recovery, program integrity, purchasing staff, hospital assessment alignment, population forecast adjustments, and proposed reductions tied to provider rates and RESHAB. After debate among three competing motions, the committee rejected two alternatives and passed the original motion, which included the governor’s recommended Medicaid adjustments and the $22 million reduction concept, sending it with a do pass recommendation. The committee then approved Idaho State Police Brand Inspection replacement items for trucks and equipment, as well as Idaho State Police division requests for a commercial vehicle safety grant increase, a mobile live scan pilot, and replacement patrol vehicles and equipment. POST Academy replacement items were also approved. For the Department of Juvenile Corrections, members approved clinician service transfer funding from Health and Welfare, replacement items, IT hardware, and restoration of six FTPs and related funding for direct care staff and substance use disorder mentoring services. In the Department of Administration budget, the committee debated Medicaid procurement staffing and related transfers. A substitute motion to fund three FTPs failed, and the committee ultimately approved a compromise motion funding two FTPs, utilities alignment, program transfers, inflationary utilities, IT hardware, and a prior rescission adjustment. The Military Division enhancement request for indirect cost recovery for emergency management and state education assistance funding was also approved. The committee adjourned after announcing its Monday agenda, which included DEQ, public school support and financing, services for the deaf and blind, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current vote is 1-1. Cortese, aye. We'll keep that bill on call for absent members.
• Current vote is 3 to 1. Perez? Aye. Wiener? Aye. Okay, that bill is out on a vote of 5 to 1.
• Current vote is 2 to 1. Perez? Aye. Wiener? Aye. Okay, that bill is out on a vote of 4 to 1.
• Current vote is 3 to 1. Perez? Aye. Wiener? Okay, that bill is out on a vote of 5 to 1.
• Current vote is 3 to 1. Perez? Aye. Wiener? Aye. Okay, that bill is out on a vote of 5 to 1.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• to read this bill again.
• </c><01:21:54.600><c> the</c> dollar on average for each 1% the dollar on average for each 1% the formula
• billing?
• > uh</c><01:30:33.400><c> less</c> name given to this billing uh uh less name given to this billing uh
• </c><01:31:27.280><c> thank</c> party billing thank party billing thank you<01:31:29.000><c> I</c><01

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• With 40 yes, 25 no, and zero excused, House Bill 1038 is adopted. House Bill 1038 is adopted.
• </c> House Bill 1035. House Bill 1035.
• We're going to hear one bill, House Bill 1082. Be there at 1:30. >> Great.
• The Transportation, Housing, and Local Government Committee meets in LSBA at 1:30 for two bills, 1076
• Be to hear one bill, House Bill 1082. Be there<01:46:08.400><c> at</c><01:46:08.480><c> 1:30.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we introducing the bill or the amendments? Okay, we're going to go with the bill. House Bill 7.
• Pro Tem, on your bill, House Bill 7, with the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• I respectfully ask you to reject House Bill 7.
• House Bill 7 draws the line.
• House Bill 7 restores constitutional limits.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 1, having been read three times, shall the bill be passed?
• The question is adoption of Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 1.
• The question is adoption of Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 1.
• Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 1 is passed.
• 1: Representative Zimmerman for the bill, Representative Bill against the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so with that, Senator Pope, come on up on Senate Resolution 1.
• Thanks, y'all, for hearing this bill.
• This is constitutional authority in Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution, Article 1, Section 2 of
• In Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution, Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, and the 14th Amendment
• We urge support of Senate Memorial 1. Thank you. Memorial 1. Thank you.

Bills: SR1 , SM1 , SM6 , SR1 , SM1 , SM6

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: alcohol consumption, Senate rules, legislative conduct, ethics, New Mexico Senate, redistricting, gerrymandering, election integrity, Congress, voter rights, political polarization, Nancy Lopez, Roswell bypass, US Highway 285, U.S. Highway 285, Highway 285 bypass, road naming, highway naming, memorial, transportation department

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill. House Bill 4320...
• House: Shall the bill pass?
• Third reading of the bill. House Bill 2730 by Kendrix of the House and Bergstrom of...
• Question before the House: Shall the bill pass?
• Question before the House: Shall the bill pass?

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from a South African refugee program, Weatherford Middle School students, international students, and the 2025 Aviation State Teacher of the Year, Sam Madewell. Representative Ranson also presented remarks for International Student Recognition Day, highlighting the economic and cultural contributions of international students in Oklahoma. The chamber then took up House Bill 4329 on dental insurance claims, with Pro Tem Moore arguing it would restore fairness by preventing insurers from controlling prices for services they do not cover; the bill drew questions about free-market effects, rural dentistry, and premiums, but Moore said it should not raise costs and noted similar laws in other states. HB 4329 passed 91-5. The House also passed House Bill 2730, which ties the interest rate on taxpayer underpayments to market rates rather than a fixed statutory rate, after brief questions about how the rate would fluctuate; it passed 87-11. House Bill 3465, extending the sunset on the emission tax credit program from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029, passed 82-16. House Bill 4426, extending the sunset on the strategic industrial development enhancement sales tax credit from December 31, 2027 to December 31, 2032, passed 76-20. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings, a rural caucus with OSU President Hess, a devotional, and a lunch event tied to International Student Recognition Day. The House then recessed until the next day, Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.