Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:35.280> uh<00:04:35.400> for<00:04:35.639> cost helpful for consumers
• uh for cost helpful for consumers uh for cost savings<00:04:36.800> and<00:04:37.000> for<
• Choice when the people denying consumer Choice when the people affected<00:05:10.039> must<00
• So energy choice and freedom will provide essential life-saving energy options for consumers.
• with that thank you chair kwam consumers with that thank you chair kwam and<00:07:59.199> thank

Bills: HF484, HF483, HF1447, HF1496, HF554

Keywords: natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the National Consumer Law Center.
• For white consumers, it was over 100 points higher at 726.
• I'm the director of AI and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, and I'm here in strong support
• Consumer Federation of America, or CFA, is an association of nonprofit consumer organizations established
• CFA is an association of nonprofit consumer organizations established in 1968 to advance consumer interests

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of landlord-tenant and home rule bills, with most testimony focused on rent stabilization, tenant opportunity to purchase (TOPA), tenant fees, access to counsel, algorithmic rent fixing, and tenant protections in subsidized housing. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty outlined the hearing procedures and noted that written testimony could also be submitted. Several members and invited speakers emphasized that the committee was hearing from both local officials and residents affected by housing instability, especially in Somerville and other communities facing high rents and displacement. Supporters of rent stabilization and local-option rent control argued that Massachusetts needs tools to prevent displacement while new housing is built. Senator Eldridge, Senator Jalen, Somerville officials, tenant organizers, and residents described steep rent increases, no-fault evictions, and the loss of naturally occurring affordable housing. Somerville’s home rule petition was described as allowing annual increases tied to CPI plus 2%, capped at 5%, with exemptions for owner-occupied two- and three-family homes and a 15-year exemption for new construction. TOPA supporters said it would let tenants or their designees buy buildings before speculative buyers, preserving affordable housing stock; opponents, including small landlords and property managers, argued rent control would reduce supply, discourage investment, and that TOPA could delay sales and harm properties. The committee also heard testimony on bills to curb junk fees and regulate tenant charges, including limits on late fees, lease renewal fees, payment portal fees, attorney’s fees, and other add-on charges. Advocates said these fees can add hundreds of dollars a month and disproportionately harm low-income renters and renters of color. Another major topic was algorithmic rent fixing: Senator Moore and Representative Sabadoza said landlords should not use software such as RealPage to coordinate pricing, citing federal antitrust actions and arguing that competition is essential to lowering rents. Additional testimony supported a statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, with legal services providers saying representation dramatically improves outcomes and can save the state money, and a bill to create an office of tenant protections to better enforce sanitary code violations. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just wanna make sure we have an added layer of protection to consumers in California.
• And we wanna make it as easy as possible for the consumer.
• All the bills that we pass colleagues It's always really hard to ensure that the consumers know that
• We wanted to make sure it was as easy as possible for the consumer.
• It simply ensures that our existing consumer protection laws are enforced and consumers can be made whole

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• remember and continue to have conversation on the ongoing impacts to our health care system, the consumers
• Linda, my last question to you, and I turn it over to my co-chair here: how do we make sure that our consumers
• We are not here to cooperate with ICE enforcement, and the privacy laws that people may worry about and
• tension with this idea that people want some certainty around the protection of their data and their privacy
• so that they ...of their data and their privacy so that they will not be more vulnerable to being exposed

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s Medi-Cal program and on community health effects from recent immigration enforcement actions. Committee leaders said H.R. 1 would sharply reduce federal funding, increase administrative burdens, and worsen access to care, especially for Medi-Cal enrollees, immigrant families, rural communities, and reproductive health patients. The second half of the hearing examined how ICE raids and related federal actions are creating fear, reducing clinic and emergency department use, and disrupting children’s access to schools and early childhood education. Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined the main H.R. 1 provisions affecting Medi-Cal: work requirements, semiannual eligibility redeterminations, shorter retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal support for emergency and lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for prohibited abortion providers. She estimated millions could lose coverage, with tens of billions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California warned the defunding provision could force clinic closures, service reductions, and loss of access to family planning, STI testing, and cancer screenings. The California Hospital Association said the financing changes could cut hospital revenue by tens of billions over 10 years and threaten access, especially for rural and safety-net hospitals. The Western Center on Law and Poverty argued the law would increase churn, paperwork, and uninsured rates, disproportionately harming working adults and people experiencing homelessness. Committee members asked about implementation timelines, notification systems, administrative costs, the effect on immigrant eligibility, and whether California could delay or mitigate some provisions. Bass said the state was still assessing federal guidance, planning county and provider outreach, and exploring a possible delay for work requirements and a transition period for provider-tax changes. Members also discussed how state budget actions may need to be revisited in light of H.R. 1, and how California might preserve access through state-only funding or other policy changes. In the second panel, CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Children’s Partnership described the health consequences of immigration enforcement. Speakers said raids and data-sharing fears are causing anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care, with Los Angeles County reporting declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits after enforcement actions. The Children’s Partnership said school and early childhood absences are rising in some communities and that enforcement is undermining children’s emotional well-being and access to education. Members asked for more data and discussed possible state protections, telehealth, mobile care, and legal and policy responses to reduce fear and preserve access to health and education services.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires hospitals and clinics to report data and follows all privacy laws like HIPAA.
• A similar bill passed last session but was vetoed over privacy concerns.
• The amendment adds stronger privacy protection and patient choice, and, Mr.
• The House enhanced the $100,000 income cap to adjust for inflation using the consumer price index for
• all urban consumers.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, um, really we're just hoping to make this easier for consumers.
• Senator Bolton, I see you consumers.
• <00:31:02.640> that<00:31:02.960> comes loss of anonymity and privacy that comes loss
• of anonymity and privacy that comes with<00:31:03.360> engaging<00:31:03.840> with<00:
• and privacy provisions to ensure<01:11:05.440> strong<01:11:05.760> legislative<01:11:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• GDP rose 2.5% in 2024, bolstered by resilient consumer spending.
• Consumer Bureau when supervising those large banks, correct?
• One of the things that has also impacted consumers is inflation.
• It's returned $20 billion to consumers.
• It consumes information, but it Never releases it.

Bills: SB257

Keywords: supply chain resilience, critical supply chains, critical goods, manufacturing, domestic manufacturing, reshoring, nearshoring, supply chain security, supply chain shock, supply chain disruption, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, semiconductors, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, advanced manufacturing, blockchain, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, each month more people will be consuming digital advertising.
• consumers in Massachusetts rely on.
• Tobacco is often purchased with gasoline, food, beverages, and other items by adult consumers.
• High taxes make these products less accessible for low-income consumers trying to quit smoking.
• We want to allow people to consume this type of harmful products. That's the goal.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a long hybrid hearing on a wide range of tax bills, with testimony covering cigarette and tobacco taxes, nicotine pouches, contractor rental equipment exemptions, aircraft sales tax exemptions, rolling stock, advanced sales tax payments, a gun and ammunition excise tax, a digital services tax, and a psilocybin cultivation/tax proposal. Committee chairs outlined the hearing process and noted that 39 House-filed sales and excise tax bills were being heard for required reporting by November 28. No votes were taken during the hearing. On tobacco-related bills, supporters including Senator Keenan, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and Tobacco Free Mass backed higher cigarette taxes and closing the synthetic nicotine loophole, arguing the measures would reduce youth initiation, encourage cessation, and offset health care costs. Retailers, wholesalers, and convenience-store groups opposed the increases, warning of smuggling, out-of-state purchasing, and harm to small businesses; premium cigar representatives argued cigars should be treated separately from cigarettes. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3067 and related bills concerning nicotine pouches, with public health advocates supporting taxation and industry witnesses urging a lower, more competitive rate. Several other bills drew sharply divided testimony. United Rentals supported H. 3065 to simplify contractor rental equipment exemption paperwork, while airport and aviation groups opposed bills to repeal the aircraft sales tax exemption, saying it would hurt airport competitiveness and jobs. The Transportation Association of Massachusetts backed rolling stock tax exemptions, saying the current tax discourages fleet investment and interstate commerce. Restaurant industry representatives supported repealing advanced sales tax payments and changing penalty rules, saying businesses were hit with retroactive penalties after unclear pandemic-era changes. On H. 3082, an excise tax on guns and ammunition, gun violence prevention advocates, Roca, and Giffords supported the bill as a dedicated funding source for prevention and survivor services, while sportsmen’s groups opposed it as unfair to lawful gun owners and harmful to conservation funding. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3208, a digital advertising services tax, with Representative Paulino supporting it as a way to capture revenue from online advertising and fund public needs, while the Chamber of Progress opposed it as costly and burdensome for small businesses and campaigns. Finally, multiple witnesses testified on H. 4050 regarding psilocybin cultivation and taxation: advocates from Mass Healing, Roca, the Reason Foundation, and individuals describing personal medical benefits urged a regulated, permit-based system, while the hearing ended after all signed-up speakers were heard and the chair adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Companies have told many of you that the AVs will save consumers money, but that just isn't true.
• They won't pass on savings to consumers, and these cuts will be at the expense of working families.
• We took significant amendments in Privacy Committee. to help address some of the access issues around
• Madam Vice Chair for her support of the bill and I just would like to say that those of us the sit-in privacy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] Welcome to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, dated March 13th, 2025.
• of the Privacy where they don't<00:32:44.519> want<00:32:44.679> the<00:32:44.840>
• It helps consumers get the right product in the right place at the right time.
• It helps consumers get the right product in the right place at the right time.
• Thank you. retailers who in turn sell the consumers retailers who in turn sell the consumers through<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is a really good bill that protects the privacy in certain sensitive areas but gives parents
• Protects the privacy on certain sensitive areas, but gives parents appropriate access to the children's
• These proposals are discriminatory, anti-consumer choice, anti-small business, are discriminatory, anti-consumer
• There are people that want to consume these products. They're over 21.
• When you force retailers to explain to an adult consumer why they can't buy a legal product, you put

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on a wide range of bills focused on children’s health, tobacco control, newborn screening, pediatric cancer, palliative care, and professional licensure. Early testimony highlighted Senate bills to expand newborn screening for pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, lysosomal storage disorders, and congenital CMV, with families and clinicians describing severe diagnostic delays, missed treatment windows, and the benefits of early detection. Speakers also supported a bill to improve pediatric cancer research through a dedicated trust fund, and a bill to extend pediatric palliative care services to age 22, with parents and providers emphasizing continuity of care for seriously ill young people. Several witnesses gave personal accounts in support of the newborn screening measures. Families described children who endured years of misdiagnosis before receiving diagnoses such as Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, Pompe disease, Niemann-Pick disease, and CMV, often after irreversible damage had already occurred. Medical and advocacy witnesses said Massachusetts already collects some of the relevant screening data and argued that results should be reported to families, while others urged the committee to add conditions to the state panel because effective treatments already exist. The committee also heard support for a bill to establish a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder program and training for providers. On tobacco and youth health, testimony supported bills to ban internet tobacco sales, strengthen youth protections, and reduce lung cancer deaths through point-of-sale information and quit-line access. A student testified about easily purchasing flavored nicotine products online without meaningful age verification, and public health advocates backed measures to keep tobacco out of children’s environments. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to ensure parents have access to their children’s medical records through age 16, with exceptions for sensitive services already protected by law. The committee additionally took testimony on an optometry licensure bill, where ophthalmologists opposed language they said could broaden scope of practice and allow optometrists to use the title “optometric physician,” while optometry educators and students supported the bill as a modernization measure with no scope expansion. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly reminded speakers of time limits and noted that written testimony could be submitted for additional comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pharmaceuticals that are being consumed Pharmaceuticals that are being consumed because<00:44:08.680
• We strongly focus on privacy, as Representative Edwards knows.
• We strongly focus on privacy, as Representative Edwards knows.
• We strongly focus on privacy, as Representative Edwards knows.
• We strongly focus on privacy, as Representative Edwards knows.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT WE NO ONE IN THE FULFILLMENT CENTER KNOWS WHAT THAT THAT IS THE WAY AMAZON PROTECTS PRIVACY.
• LET THEM SEE WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY CAN ACTUALLY DO AND THEN GET IT TO THEM EVERYONE CONSUMES KNOWLEDGE
• YOU HAVE TO PRESENT THE KNOWLEDGE IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS THEM THAT INDIVIDUAL TO CONSUME IT AT THE TIME
• THEY NEED TO CONSUME IT.
• ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS THAT IS CROSS FUNCTIONING ACROSS ALL OF THESE TO GET PEOPLE TO CONSUME STUFF

Transcript Highlights:

• Without proper safeguards in place, this capability can pose a danger to consumers in both health care
• On AB 489, Bonta, the motion is do pass to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
• That can be incredibly time-consuming, painful, and costly to the system.
• we have routinely stepped up and had higher standards to ensure we're putting patients first and consumers
• California has routinely stepped up and had higher standards to ensure we're putting patients first and consumers

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee held its first regular bill hearing of 2025 and considered a wide range of measures on health care access, professional regulation, animal welfare, and consumer protection. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted its rules and then approved a consent calendar of several bills, including measures by Chen, Caloza, Carrillo, Arreguín, Berman, and Flora. The committee also took up AB 1082, which would allow California nursing students enrolled in out-of-state programs to complete clinical training in California; supporters said it would help address the nursing shortage and keep students closer to home, while opponents warned it could worsen already limited clinical placement capacity and reduce oversight. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations after a quorum was established. The committee then heard and advanced several health-related bills. AB 50, by Assembly Member Bonta, would ease Medi-Cal access to over-the-counter hormonal contraception by removing the need for a prescription for coverage purposes; pharmacists, reproductive health advocates, and medical groups supported the bill, and it passed unanimously to the Committee on Health. AB 489, also by Bonta, would prohibit AI systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed health professionals; supporters from medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other professional groups said the bill would protect patients from misleading chatbot advice, and it passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 481, by Assembly Member Rubio, would expand the tasks that federally qualified lab personnel can perform under CLIA supervision to help address lab staffing shortages; labor groups raised concerns about training, certification, and supervision, but the bill passed to Appropriations with an amended do pass recommendation. The committee also considered animal welfare and access-to-care measures. AB 631, by Assembly Member Lee, would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; supporters said the reporting would improve policy and resource allocation, while members discussed how the requirement would work for shelters without websites, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 867, also by Lee, would prohibit cat declawing except when medically necessary for the animal; animal welfare groups strongly supported the bill, while the veterinary association opposed it as an improper legislative regulation of veterinary surgery, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing a limited number of qualified dentists trained in Mexico to practice in underserved California areas; supporters framed it as a cost-neutral way to address major dental access gaps, the California Dental Association remained opposed unless amended, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Several members later added their votes on the various items after the hearing, and the committee kept the hearing open briefly to allow additional add-ons.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The Minnesota Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee will come to order on Thursday
• Secondly, it expands the privacy provisions in the bill for information that is maintained by the Department
• <00:28:41.840> the uh uh secondly um it uh expands the uh uh secondly um it uh expands the privacy
• 00:28:45.279> uh<00:28:45.760> in<00:28:46.080> the<00:28:46.240> bill privacy
• uh provisions uh in the bill privacy uh provisions uh in the bill um<00:28:48.880> for<00:28:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an antiquated procedure that is error-prone and both labor-intensive and time-consuming, significantly
• Individual voter votes—that's where we run the risk of bumping up against ballot privacy and an individual's
• That's kind of the essence of what we need to look at with respect to this ballot privacy issue.
• location and you know that that voter checked in at that location, that's where we might have some privacy
• There are concerns about privacy, but I think they can be adequately addressed, and so I am for this

Bills: HB569, HB766, HB1638, HB2316, HB2773, HB2785, HB3113, HB3709, HB3775, HB4275

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Transcript Highlights:

• Some argue that raising the minimum wage would negatively impact consumers, suggesting that smaller profit
• suggesting that smaller profit consumers suggesting that smaller profit margins<00:42:56.280> and
• Entities providing this information are responsible with confidentiality, and privacy is maintained.
• as concerns about family privacy as concerns about family privacy entities<01:22:20.280> providing
• and privacy is maintained using<01:22:26.679> Medicaid<01:22:27.239> has<01:22:27.400>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT MEANS WITH PRIVACY RULES, REPRODUCTIVE LOSS AS WELL ANY OF MY FEMALE VISITS ARE SUBJECT TO ANYTHING
• SENATE BILL 1606 CONTAINMENT BROUGHT LANGUAGE BETWEEN THE REQUIREMENTS ON THIS BILL, THE PRIVACY AND
• RULE AND SECURITY RULE AND OTHER LAWS, REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES THAT IMPACT ACCESS, DISCLOSURE, PRIVACY
• LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BALANCE ACCESSIBILITY WITH THE NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS FOR INFORMATION SECURITY, PRIVACY
• EVERY PROVISION REGARDING THE PUBLIC PRIVACY COMPONENT CAME FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TO PROVIDE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><03:37:07.040> uh embeds as a constitutional right uh embeds as a constitutional right uh privacy
• It is very important for the right to privacy to not be forced or coerced to give more information that
• anybody than the right to privacy anybody than the right to privacy demands. demands. demands.
• generally are not patients and consumers generally are not discriminated<04:05:56.160> against
• or caregivers or cannabis consumers or caregivers or cannabis consumers generally<04:06:07.760><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do understand that there is a provision in there in which I'm very concerned about privacy, data, and
• ATT. 8. 2756, utilities, high load, low, factory, consumers.
• ATT. 8. 2756, utilities, high load, low, factory, consumers.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and guest introductions for Pastor Caden Metcalf and later Doctor of the Day Jane Peterson. Members then approved the journal and took up a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 1827, which passed by division vote 13-12, bringing the bill back for further action. The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider several bills on the calendar. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted committee amendments and recommended do pass on SB 1041 (Arizona Trail Fund appropriation), SB 1131 (education-related appropriation and cardiac emergency response plan funding, with a floor amendment adding a placeholder amount), SB 1140 (misdemeanor record expungement/civil rights restoration), SB 1249 (Alzheimer’s disease/state brain appropriation and DHS reporting), SB 1275 (sentencing and imprisonment, with a floor amendment that drew criticism from Sen. Ortiz for limiting judicial discretion and expanding prosecutor control), SB 1517 (Barbering and Cosmetology Board appropriation), and SB 1673 (Crime Victim Notification Fund appropriation). Most committee and floor amendments were adopted on voice vote; SB 1275’s floor amendment was adopted by division, 15-13. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and moved to third-reading votes on a series of bills. SB 1161, SB 1209, SB 1598, SB 1118, SB 1399, SB 1563, SB 1564, SB 1629, SB 1754, SB 1041, SB 1131, SB 1140, SB 1249, SB 1517, and SB 1673 all passed, with recorded votes ranging from unanimous to divided; several members explained votes, especially on SB 1598 (community gardens in schools) and SB 1754 (special education parent support and FERPA concerns). The Senate then recessed, accepted a large batch of House bills for first reading and committee reference, heard committee meeting announcements, and adjourned until Monday, March 9, 2026.