Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Florida Carbon Association, just wave in support. Thanks, Kelly.
• amended this bill to ban incinerators near schools because burning plastic like foam releases toxic emissions

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom
• Because of the strength of the carbon-fluorine bonds contained in PFOS, very high temperatures are needed
• employed, including commercial hazardous waste incinerators, hazardous waste burning cement kilns, and carbon
• We have the benefit of that carbon-fluorine bond, which is so great, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 677, an act relating to geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide.
• </c> geologic sequestration of carbon geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. dioxide. dioxide.
• House Bill 677 is a bill dealing with carbon sequestration.
• </c> is a bill dealing with carbon is a bill dealing with carbon sequestration.<04:00:55.279><c> It</
• </c><04:01:03.680><c> It</c> carbon sequestration operations. It carbon sequestration operations.

Bills: HB567 , HB776 , HB2 , HB568 , HB619

Keywords: open records, public access, transparency, government accountability, public agency, dental practice, licensing, administrative regulations, dental assistants, supervision, Medicaid, community engagement, healthcare, managed care, eligibility, public assistance, insurance, public adjuster, claim process, contract requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• California has established ambitious climate goals, including reaching 100% zero-emission vehicle sales
• by 2035, and having 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030.
• that EV infrastructure must be built at the speed and scale necessary to enable the state's zero-emission
• many of you know, is California's largest source of climate pollution, and the transition to zero-emission
• less likely to rely on public charging networks, and that hesitation has real consequences for zero-emission

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• California has established ambitious climate goals, including reaching 100% zero-emission vehicle sales
• by 2035 and having 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030.
• that EV infrastructure must be built at the speed and scale necessary to enable the state's zero-emission
• many of you know, is California's largest source of climate pollution, and the transition to zero-emission
• less likely to rely on public charging networks, and that hesitation has real consequences for zero-emission

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange County and Humboldt County supervisors, described growing misuse of large nitrous canisters, impaired driving, youth access, and waste and safety problems. There was no formal opposition testimony, and multiple organizations and local governments voiced support. Committee members generally supported the bill but raised questions about enforcement and the role of existing licensing agencies; the author said amendments addressed concerns about balloons and bags. The bill was moved on a due-pass recommendation to Senate Appropriations and left on call. The committee also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1340 on small business procurement reporting, and SB 903 on AI in mental health care. SB 1312 would build on last year’s cemetery workgroup to address abandoned private cemeteries; the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association said the bill is intended to use forthcoming recommendations to improve maintenance and oversight. It was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report contract and payment data involving small businesses to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure, and it was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 903 drew the most extensive debate. The bill would restrict the public offering of psychotherapy services through AI unless a licensed professional is involved, require disclosure and informed consent, and preserve confidentiality rules. Supporters argued that chatbots and AI therapy tools can mislead consumers and create safety, bias, and privacy risks, while opponents from the California Medical Association and TechNet warned the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial clinical tools, triage, research, and FDA-approved applications. Committee members pressed the author on clarity, administrative uses like note-taking, and whether the bill would allow clinician-supervised AI; the author said the intent is to keep a human clinician in the loop and continue refining the language. The bill was moved to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technology, and Consumer Protection Committee and left on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 1271 would collect data on licensed midwives’ capacity to serve as preceptors to strengthen the training pipeline; supporters described workforce shortages, rural access problems, and closures of labor and delivery units. It was moved due pass to the Senate Health Committee and left on call. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would standardize enforcement and better match the agency already regulating EV infrastructure, while county sealers and others opposed the move as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening local consumer protection. The bill was moved due pass to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and left on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• This increases access to zero-emission mobility at a much lower price point than individually purchasing
• I also kind of want to touch a little bit on congestion and emissions here.
• And also I want to add all emissions.
• I know we have heard a great conversation about how this electric car kind of produces less emission.
• going to align with our state climate commitments, including reduction of VMT and greenhouse gas emissions

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This increases access to zero-emission mobility at a much lower price point than individually purchasing
• I also kind of want to touch a little bit on congestion and emissions here.
• And also I want to add on emissions.
• I know we have heard a great conversation about how this electric car kind of produces less emission.
• going to align with our state climate commitments, including reduction of VMT and greenhouse gas emissions

Summary: The committee held a work session on autonomous vehicles, beginning with an overview from the Washington State Transportation Commission on the state’s five-year AV work group. The commission described its 2018 legislative mandate, the 35-member executive committee and seven subcommittees, and the resulting 29 recommendations and “roadmap to the future.” The presentation emphasized six policy “building blocks” for Washington: agency readiness, public outreach, equity, safety, testing and pilots, and a path to deployment. It also noted current Washington law requires AV testing companies to self-certify with the Department of Licensing, carry $5 million in liability insurance, report collisions and violations, and notify local law enforcement before testing; three companies are currently certified. State regulators from California and Arizona then outlined their AV frameworks. California described its long-running permit system for testing with and without a safety driver and for commercial deployment, its current rulemaking to expand use cases to heavy-duty trucks and passenger shuttles, and new requirements for mileage, operational assessments, and more detailed crash and incident reporting. California also said it is creating a new enforcement tool allowing citations to be issued to manufacturers for moving violations by AVs. Arizona described its executive-order-based approach, later codified by statute, which allows testing and driverless operations through self-certification, law enforcement interaction plans, quarterly meetings with companies, and reporting of crashes or near misses; Arizona also said it tracks crashes monthly and has not recorded fatalities attributed to AVs. Industry representatives from Waymo, Zoox, and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that AVs can improve safety, accessibility, and mobility while creating jobs. They described extensive sensor systems, community outreach, first-responder engagement, and current operations in multiple cities. Waymo cited more than 127 million rider-only miles and said its data show large reductions in injury-causing and pedestrian crashes; Zoox said it operates in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle and stressed its purpose-built electric robotaxi and local jobs; AVIA said its members have driven more than 145 million autonomous miles and that 26 states now expressly authorize driverless operations. Members asked about public education, crash and fatality tracking, enforcement, weather, school zones, first-responder interactions, and labor impacts. Labor and public-safety witnesses from the Teamsters, firefighters, and driver unions opposed commercial AV deployment without stronger safeguards. They argued Washington should not be an unregulated testing ground, especially for heavy trucks and hazardous materials, and warned of job losses for drivers, taxi and rideshare workers, and related occupations. Firefighters and driver representatives raised concerns about AVs interfering with emergency scenes, blocking responders, and creating risks in dynamic roadway incidents. Committee members also asked for comparisons to human-driven vehicles, data on citations and crashes, and more information on how AVs interact with pedestrians, first responders, and workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second reappropriation is for the zero emission vehicle operations.
• million through June 30th, 2026 to the now Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Zero Emission
• and other public agencies, relevant community organizations, and other parties to create a zero emission
• The Budget Act of 2024 transferred the zero emissions programs and associated funding to GoFundMe.
• And certainly around zero emissions.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this is one of the original policy plans that we wanted in our majority agenda, majority of your carbon
• Policy plans that we wanted in our majority agenda, Majority Leader Carbone.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may remember that there was a small grant program that was put in place for carbon capture utilization
• You may remember that there was a small grant program that was put in place for carbon capture utilization
• , and Representative Kempinik will show you down in Bowman County there that we've been utilizing carbon
• could also utilize it for gas until we get some of those coal plants figured out on how to get that carbon
• Chairman and Ron, on the carbon dioxide using that for the enhanced oil recovery, do we have enough,

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee received a compliance and status update on Industrial Commission programs and the Bank of North Dakota. Staff reviewed appropriations and spending for several Industrial Commission funds and grant programs, including lignite research, oil and gas research, clean sustainable energy, grid resiliency, salt cavern analysis, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members discussed the timing of reimbursements, uncommitted balances, and the structure of the pipeline capacity and enhanced oil recovery funding. The Industrial Commission also reported on its administrative budget, grant management system project, and recent leadership transitions across several agencies. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described active grant rounds and the status of major projects. She said the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority approved three projects in its sixth round, with remaining uncommitted cash and loan capacity still available, though no new funding was appropriated this session. She also said the Oil and Gas Research Council approved six enhanced oil recovery projects and expects additional funding after a federal Department of Energy award replaces one project’s state funding. For grid resiliency grants, she said some projects have been funded, some commitments were returned or reallocated, and some DOE funds remain pending. She also updated the committee on the salt cavern business case study, which replaced an earlier larger development proposal, and on the NDSU research park grant, where the nonmatching portion was paid and the matching portion has moved slowly because the match must be in cash. Ron Ness then gave an extended presentation on enhanced oil recovery and North Dakota oil and gas trends. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, especially gas takeaway and projects like the Bakken East pipeline. He argued that enhanced oil recovery using CO2, natural gas, surfactants, and other methods could extend Bakken production for decades, but that the state needs more CO2 supply, better storage, and updated tax and regulatory incentives. Members asked about lateral lengths, CO2 availability, pipeline impacts, and the role of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and Ness emphasized that the projects are intended to share technical learning across operators and attract follow-on investment. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and strategic update. President Don Morgan said the bank’s mission remains to support North Dakota agriculture, commerce, and industry while cooperating with the state’s financial sector. He reviewed the bank’s main business lines: participation lending with community institutions, student loans, disaster lending, mission-based programs, and a new fintech-focused effort. Morgan said deposits are flattening, so the bank is managing balance sheet growth carefully, while still reporting improved net income and strong efficiency. He also introduced Rough Rider Coin as a bank-to-bank payment rail, not a public cryptocurrency, intended to speed and modernize payments within North Dakota’s banking and credit union system. Committee members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster program use, and how credit lines and liquidity would be affected if deposits shrink.

Transcript Highlights:

• They store carbon and help address climate change, protect water quality and regulate water systems,
• First, they play an immense role in sequestering carbon and this helps mitigate the impacts of a changing
• </c><00:26:59.720><c> and</c><00:26:59.800><c> this</c><00:26:59.960><c> helps</c> sequestering carbon
• and this helps sequestering carbon and this helps mitigate<00:27:00.720><c> the</c><00:27:00.800><c>
• First, they play an immense role in sequestering carbon, and this helps mitigate the impacts of a changing

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HCR112 , HR307 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR79 , HCR104 , HB75 , HB410 , HB719 , HB750 , HB944 , HB1098 , HB1220 , HB1252 , HB359 , HB210 , HB468 , HB1117 , SB382 , HB368 , HB552 , HB732 , HB870 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB208 , SB274 , SB300 , SB312 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , HR74 , HB998 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , SB237 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB258 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469

Keywords: oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding, taxpayer liability, public liability, offshore wells, onshore wells, coastal erosion, Department of Conservation and Energy, natural resources

Bills: HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HCR112 , HR307 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR79 , HCR104 , HB75 , HB410 , HB719 , HB750 , HB944 , HB1098 , HB1220 , HB1252 , HB359 , HB210 , HB468 , HB1117 , SB382 , HB368 , HB552 , HB732 , HB870 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB208 , SB274 , SB300 , SB312 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , HR74 , HB998 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , SB237 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB258 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469

Keywords: oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding, taxpayer liability, public liability, offshore wells, onshore wells, coastal erosion, Department of Conservation and Energy, natural resources

Bills: SCR 22 , SB 53 , SB 204 , SB 266 , SB 268 , SB 291 , SB 292 , SB 296 , SB 304 , SB 305 , SB 413 , SB 447 , SB 455 , SB 462 , SB 493 , SB 504 , SB 519 , SB 522 , SB 532 , SB 541 , SB 667 , SB 670 , SB 673 , SB 681 , SB 687 , SB 711 , SB 746 , SB 765 , SB 783 , SB 827 , SB 850 , SB 860 , SB 888 , SB 897 , SB 901 , SB 927 , SB 955 , SB 963 , SB 984 , SB 989 , SB 993 , SB 996 , SB 1023 , SB 1033 , SB 1058 , SB 1062 , SB 1101 , SB 1119 , SB 1172 , SB 1173 , SB 1215 , SB 1220 , SB 1227 , SB 1228 , SB 1229 , SB 1238 , SB 1239 , SB 1245 , SB 1248 , SB 1254 , SB 1259 , SB 1273 , SB 1277 , SB 1302 , SB 1332 , SB 1341 , SB 1346 , SB 1350 , SB 1352 , SB 1353 , SB 1355 , SB 1358 , SB 1370 , SB 1371 , SB 1378 , SB 1403 , SB 1404 , SB 1415 , SB 1437 , SB 1448 , SB 1450 , SB 1464 , SB 1493 , SB 1494 , SB 1537 , SB 1566 , SB 1569 , SB 1589 , SB 1598 , SB 1644 , SB 1709 , SB 1719 , SB 1729 , SB 1733 , SB 1744 , SB 1772 , SB 1810 , SB 1841 , SB 1895 , SB 1930 , SB 2039 , SB 2289 , SB 2312 , SCR 1 , SCR 6 , SCR 27 , SCR 32 , SB 2232

Keywords: mental health, court proceedings, notice requirements, legal filings, electronic documents, parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, tax collection, managed audits, taxpayer rights, dispute resolution, penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1911, Rogers, carbon credits, held in committee.
• AB 2464, Wicks, firm zero carbon resources, do pass. That's out on an A roll call. Thank you.
• Firm zero carbon resources. Do you pass? That's out on an A roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is about cutting energy costs and reducing emissions by updating our rules to match the realities
• for Disease Control and Prevention said each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 100 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 100 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning

Bills: HB1697 , HB1678 , HB1679 , HB2282 , HB1940 , HB1671 , HB1481 , HB2015 , HB2207 , HB2486

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: natural hair braiding, registration, Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Act, public health, sanitation, cumulative voting, associations, unit owners, board of directors, elections, Hawaii Revised Statutes, condominium, association meetings, electronic voting, proxy voting, mail voting, insurance, premium increase, policy cancellation, licensing

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1697, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions. The DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it recognizes braiding as within the scope of cosmetology practice but warned that a broad exemption could create consumer protection gaps, especially around sanitation training, tool use, and enforcement. Supporters from the Institute for Justice and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued the current licensing regime is overly burdensome and unrelated to braiding, citing the 1,250-hour training requirement, high tuition costs, barriers for low-income entrepreneurs, and the fact that many other states already exempt braiders. Committee members asked whether a standalone sanitation course or similar training could address the board’s concerns, and the board said it would bring that idea back for discussion. The committee also noted 16 written testimonies in support and 2 in opposition. The committee then took up HB 1678, relating to condominium and planned community association elections using cumulative voting. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, said the bill would clarify that cumulative voting applies to all candidates, including write-ins, and would help resolve confusion in association elections. One testifier urged the committee to remove proxy voting, calling it an abuse of power in some associations, while another asked whether cumulative voting and proxies could be manipulated to stack votes. In response, the parliamentarian explained that cumulative voting and proxy voting are different, that proxies simply allow someone to vote on another’s behalf, and that existing deadlines and counting procedures reduce opportunities for abuse. Testimony also emphasized that electronic or mail voting can be secure and efficient, and that the bill would make the process clearer and more democratic. Finally, the committee heard testimony on HB 1679, which would clarify an association board’s authority over electronic meetings, electronic voting, voting without a meeting, and mail voting without a meeting. Supporters said the measure would clean up statutory language, make electronic voting optional, and fix problems created by a 2024 change that made written-consent timing rules difficult to use for association actions. They also said the bill would clarify that proxies are only used at meetings, not for actions taken without a meeting. One opponent argued the bill needs further amendment because electronic voting is not well defined and could be abused, and questioned the neutrality of parliamentarians testifying on condominium bills. No votes were taken on any of the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The prayer today is by Representative Michael Carbone, and the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Representative
• Representatives Gillette and Carbone. Yes, please proceed.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recorded attendance at 56 present, zero absent, and four excused. Members then used personal privilege to introduce guests and recognize visiting groups, including the West Valley Regional Chamber, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Arizona, Vitalant, and veterans and military representatives. The chamber and blood donor month proclamations were read, with Representative Bliss recognizing January as National Blood Donor Month in Arizona and Vitalant’s role in supplying most of the state’s blood supply, and Representative Aguilar declaring January 22, 2026, West Valley Regional Chamber Day. The House handled a large volume of procedural business, including reports of standing committees, first reading and referral of numerous bills and resolutions, and announcements of committee meetings. The bills covered a wide range of topics such as elections, education, housing, taxes, health care, artificial intelligence, veterans, public safety, and energy. Several measures were also withdrawn and reassigned to different committees, including referrals to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, Government, Public Safety and Law Enforcement, and Natural Resources, Energy, and Water. Members also made brief remarks honoring guests and community causes, including a Veterans Caucus lunch announcement focused on military-family policy and a personal remembrance by Senator Cruz. No substantive floor votes on legislation were taken beyond procedural approvals and the motion to adjourn. The House recessed and later adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also believe that livestock can bring important benefits, helping to sequester carbon, improve soil
• bring important benefits, helping to bring important benefits, helping to sequester<01:29:02.159><c> carbon
• /c><01:29:02.560><c> improve</c><01:29:02.880><c> soil</c><01:29:03.199><c> health,</c> sequester carbon
• , improve soil health, sequester carbon, improve soil health, and<01:29:03.600><c> promote</c><01:29:
• Cultivated meat also uses less farming land and fresh water, reduces emissions, and does not rely on

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a statewide coalition for better transportation across the Commonwealth in order to reduce emissions
• These benefits provide incentives for residents to change how they commute and lower emissions.
• This resulted in a reduction of an estimated 35,000 tons of CO2 emissions in the first 12 months of the

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on a large group of bills carried over from the previous session, with Chair Jake Oliveira and House Co-Chair Paul McMurtry outlining the process and limiting testimony to three minutes. The committee heard testimony on several labor and workplace proposals, including bills to harmonize employee definitions to address misclassification (SB 1338/HB 2141), expand bereavement leave (including H. 2189/S. 1354 and related bills), protect collective bargaining rights for certain administrative employees (HB 268/SB 1306), expand commuter transit benefits (HB 2153/SB 1345), regulate employer use of credit reports (S. 1286), and require apprenticeship participation or OSHA-related workplace safety measures on public projects. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read into the record additional bills that did not receive testimony that day. Supporters of the misclassification bill, including Greater Boston Legal Services and the AFL-CIO, said aligning the employee-status tests across wage, unemployment, and PFML laws would reduce confusion, improve enforcement, and help workers wrongly treated as independent contractors or managers recover benefits and bargaining rights. NAGE and its representative argued that public-sector employees have been improperly reclassified into management titles to weaken unions, and that the bill would force the Division of Labor Relations to review those titles. On bereavement leave, advocates including the Louis E. Brown Peace Institute, a state representative, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, and individual survivors described the impact of sudden loss and homicide on families, saying guaranteed leave would help workers grieve, make arrangements, and avoid losing jobs or custody-related stability. The committee also heard support for commuter benefits as a low-cost way to reduce emissions and increase transit use, and for restricting employer credit checks because of inaccuracies and discriminatory effects. There was opposition to some construction-related bills. The Associated Builders and Contractors and the Building Trades Employers Association supported apprenticeship training in principle but said current apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios are outdated or misunderstood, and that the bills should be amended or clarified before advancing. The Massachusetts landscape and snow-removal industry strongly supported a snow-liability limitation bill, arguing that hold-harmless clauses and broad indemnification requirements force contractors to assume liability for conditions they cannot control, drive up insurance costs, and threaten business viability. The committee did not take any votes during the hearing, and the session ended with the chairs thanking members, staff, and the public before adjourning.