Transcript Highlights:

• His undergraduate degrees and hopefully be going to law school in the near future.
• Well, I mentioned that we have bonds, so what we do... is we we issue bonds and these are not general
• revenue bonds, these are backed by... the mortgages.
• Stayed, went to school here. I've been here 56 years.
• And so first one was in high school, graduation. Second one was during college.

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• the bond for.
• Yeah, that's my district. Representative Monson: Yeah, so this is my district.
• That's his district.
• The school sections were sections 21, 32, and 36.
• I also want to thank SITLA Trust Lands for all that you do for schools.

Committee: Joint Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• On the next page, number five, school district: School District Operating Reserves.
• That's something that the school district can execute on.
• sites, both as a district and a charter school, are what help us find the path forward.
• But when my schools are closing in my district, my regular public schools, because we have more charter
• school location in my district.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for school districts. for school districts.
• We have very few districts<01:26:58.400><c> school</c><01:26:58.680><c> districts</c><01:26:59.120><c
• > across</c><01:26:59.600><c> the</c> districts school districts across the districts school districts
• districts' abilities to secure bonds for capital construction?
• Chairman. school districts' ability to uh, jump in school districts' ability to uh, jump in and<01:32

Committee: House Appropriations & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• , and the school district is looking up at dramatically increasing numbers.
• Thank you. list high on your all's priority to follow and update us on just because school districts
• A brief word about our interactions with some special districts or with the special districts in general
• It's important that someone who is in a MUD district knows they're in a MUD district.
• So it's the whole bonding thing.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:38.319><c> of</c> May their work strengthen the bonds of May their work strengthen the bonds
• </c> &gt;&gt; Welcome Talson High School. Welcome. &gt;&gt; Welcome Talson High School. Welcome.
• We have Senate bond initiatives, calendar 26.
• School provides materials that are then talked about at a school board hearing, that can't be edited
• </c> the senator from the 27th district. the senator from the 27th district.

Transcript Highlights:

• The school district can't. But to your question, we would either have to...
• The school district can't.
• But to your question, we would either have to, not just school districts, all taxing districts would
• So, just a personal example for me in my district, you know, I just have the one school district.
• School districts most of the time do not.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform met in executive session with a quorum present and took up a House Committee substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 1066 and 1088. Members discussed several amendments that bundled multiple property tax provisions, including clarification of the 15% commercial ownership threshold, school levy language, senior property tax freeze language, no-tax-increase bond wording, ballot language requirements, and a severability clause. One proposed amendment to preserve a comparison to a single-rate calculation in the auditor’s multi-rate tax form drew extended discussion about whether the current siloing approach could reduce projected revenue for taxing districts; the sponsor ultimately withdrew that amendment after noting the issue would need further study. The committee then adopted another amendment shortening ballot language requirements, and later adopted the underlying committee amendment and rolled the changes into a new substitute. Members also discussed a tax abatement provision added to the bill, with concerns raised that large abatements, such as those tied to a data center project, could affect levy calculations; supporters argued the language would apply to cities and counties rather than school districts. After debate, the committee voted to adopt the substitute and then voted the House Committee substitute for the Senate substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 1066 and 1088 do pass by a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 5 noes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it doesn't include the tax credits and bonds that are the...
• would still be doing the administration of those bonds and tax credits.
• Sometimes bonds get confused with general obligation bonds and other types of bonds.
• Usually it's the district attorney of the county.
• and at least 50% of those bonds allocated to the new HDFC.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two of the players here with us today played high school football at Menlo-Atherton High School with
• District Board of Education in 2004.
• He led efforts to pass several major school bonds and parcel tax measures in order to improve San Leandro
• Beyond his work on the school board, Mr.
• Cassidy was then elected... school bonds and parcel tax measures in order to improve San Leandro students

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor recognitions and resolutions. Senators also welcomed guests including California Conservation Corps members, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo agriculture leadership students, and College of San Mateo championship athletes. The chamber approved the journals, stricken items from the daily file, and referred SCR 112 back to the Assembly floor. The main legislative actions were on two resolutions and two gubernatorial appointments. SR 81 by Senator Pérez, designating March 2, 2026 as Read Across America Day, was supported by Senators Choi and Rubio, emphasizing literacy, libraries, and reading access; it passed 37-0. SCR 125 by Senator Wahab, recognizing Ramadan, was supported by Senator Becker and adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate also confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes. Much of the remainder of the session consisted of adjournments in memory. Senators honored Stephen Cassidy, former San Leandro school board member and mayor; John Joseph Zoria, a San Jose farmer and community figure; Crystal Schoenfelder, a workers’ compensation attorney and advocate; and Belinda Baraghani, a prominent Latina political strategist and community leader. The session ended with remarks about Ramadan’s themes of empathy and community, and the Senate recessed with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent House District 69.
• So welcome back to the Senate District.
• You know, at one time, we used to have bond issues. ...bonds for 33 years, and we used to have Kyuss
• and Company do our bond.
• It also concerns me because in the smaller rural communities where our school districts are remote, and

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Neighbors, the Navajo Nation, Hicoria, Mescalero, our school districts, our chapters, elected officials
• Alamo Navajo School Board member Rick Padilla. Alamo Navajo School Board Superintendent Bill Green.
• In our district, House District 46, we are home to four sovereign Pueblos: Tesuque, Pojoaque, Nambé,
• Adelina Begay from Shiprock High School. Thank you. And Deshawn Begay from Newcomb High School.
• And so I know it's different with colleges because they can do bonds and districts have to do mill levies

Bills: HB111 , HJR1 , HB61 , HB8 , HB30 , HB43 , HB156 , HJM2 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB70 , SB3 , HJM3

Summary: The House convened for a special American Indian Day celebration, with prayers, flag citations, a Navajo national anthem, and many members introducing tribal leaders, students, veterans, and community guests. Speakers emphasized Native sovereignty, government-to-government relations, cultural preservation, education, and the importance of representation in state government. The Speaker announced plans for a future tribal summit to discuss funding, capital, and policy priorities with tribes and nations. After the celebration, the House received executive messages, including gubernatorial authorization for new bills and notice that House Bill 9 had been signed into law. Committee reports were adopted on several measures, including House Bills 128, 285, 20, 52, 57, 58, 206, 109, 38, 66, 178, 198, 202, 224, 257, 103, and 247, with several health-related bills advanced via committee substitutes and referred onward. The House also adopted House Memorial 32 and enrolled House Bill 50 with a certificate of correction. On the floor, House Joint Resolution 1, as amended, passed 67-0. The resolution would create nominating committees for certain constitutionally named institutions, require no single party majority on those committees, and shift the student regent appointment to an elected student government body; members discussed the one-year party-registration requirement and the timing of implementing legislation. House Bill 8, which creates and funds the Major Capital Projects Fund for higher education projects, was then debated at length over its graduation-rate criteria and waiver provisions, and an amendment was offered to require Higher Education Department waiver findings to be reported to and approved by the State Board of Finance for added oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• This provides a lot of clarity, hopefully, not only to each DOTD district, but each of your districts
• Parish Government, and Putsch Train Levy District, correct?
• that recently flooded, and a new elementary school, Tibuto Middle School.
• So previously, we haven't been able to bond all the dollars.
• We come up at the department against our bonding capacity.

Summary: The Senate Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee received an update from DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet and Deputy Secretary Bo Black on the department’s transformation efforts. DOTD highlighted its new project delivery dashboard, key performance indicators, and litter abatement work, including nearly $15 million spent on litter pickup and a new highway sponsorship pilot. Members also received updates on LTIF 1.0 and 2.0, with officials reporting that most LTIF 1.0 work is complete and that LTIF 2.0 is progressing under budget. The committee also heard updates on the Office of Highway Construction’s bridge bundling program, the Calcasieu River Bridge project, and the Cameron Ferry boat replacement and privatization solicitation process. The committee reviewed the draft 2026-2027 highway priority program, which DOTD said includes $913 million for construction and about $1.2 billion across 302 projects. Members discussed the public roadshow comments, project acceleration, and corridor planning, including the I-12 corridor and the Calcasieu River Bridge environmental review and public meetings. No vote was taken on the highway priority program at this meeting. The statewide flood control program presented six recommended projects for fiscal year 2026-2027, including projects in Gretna, St. John, St. James, Mandeville, and two Lafourche-area projects, with officials saying the projects meet benefit-cost criteria and would reduce flood damage. The airport construction and development priority program was also reviewed, with 31 air carrier projects and 99 general aviation projects recommended. The rail program reported no new projects but said it expects a $13 million request and has 19 projects in the queue, while the port program presented three unfunded projects for future consideration. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and LSU’s Center for Analytics and Research presented crash data focused on impaired driving. They said 2024 saw 753 traffic fatalities, with impaired driving accounting for about one-third of fatal crashes, and estimated the economic cost of impaired driving at roughly $700 million. Members discussed youth driving, marijuana and alcohol trends, ignition interlock, DWI courts, and enforcement challenges on waterways. The meeting concluded with no formal votes or final actions on the major program items presented.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:18.080><c> districts</c> helps ensure that stu school districts helps ensure that stu school
• ><c> $255</c><00:31:42.000><c> per</c> School districts have lost $255 per School districts have lost
• ,</c><00:36:39.200><c> school</c> I've got very rural districts, school I've got very rural districts
• district or the home school district.
• school district or the home<00:57:59.520><c> school</c><00:57:59.760><c> district.

Bills: HF3790 , HF3654 , HF3371 , HF3470 , HF1099

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicles using the left lane when overtaking another vehicle, turning left, and for public transit, school
• First, providing HCDA the authority to develop parcels outside of their community development districts
• Secondly, allowing HCD to create community facilities districts within TOD zones.
• Thirdly, amending chapter 206E, HRS, to authorize HCD to issue community facilities district bonds to
• under new HRS 206- and the issue bonds under new HRS 206- and the amount<00:02:57.120><c> of</c><00:

Summary: The committee first took up HB 229 HD1, a transportation measure previously heard jointly with another committee. Members recommended passing it with amendments. The amendments would shift the left-lane restriction from a speed-based standard to apply to vehicles over 10,000 pounds and vehicles towing another vehicle or trailer on roads with three or more lanes in the same direction. The committee also indicated the Judiciary Committee would handle the penalty amounts, while preserving exemptions for passing, left turns, public transit, school buses, and emergency vehicles, and keeping the bill limited to counties with populations over 500,000. The motion was adopted without discussion. The committee then considered HB 1 HD2 relating to the HCDA and transit-oriented development financing. The proposed amendments would give HCDA authority to develop parcels outside community development districts, allow community facilities districts within TOD zones, authorize CFD bonds and HCDA bonds to finance infrastructure, especially transit infrastructure, and incorporate the structure and intent of SB 1669, along with technical changes. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted. Later, the committee heard HB 1167 HD1, an emergency appropriation to the Department of Transportation. DOT testified in support and clarified that the requested appropriation was $1 million from state highway funds. The committee recommended passing the bill with amendments, including changing the defective date to July 1, 2025 and noting the $1 million request in the committee report for further consideration by Ways and Means. The motion passed, with the chair, Senator Kanuha, and Senator Dort voting in favor and the vice chair excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> okay, and there is a uh charter school okay, and there is a uh charter school bond<02:31:32.720>
• It would simply set up an independent bonding authority to help charter schools that may need capital
• The bonds issued would be tax-free, like any school bond.
• </c> to help with school bonds that can be to help with school bonds that can be taxexempt taxexempt
• bond authorities have charter school bond authorities have utilized<02:34:56.720><c> equitable</c><02

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. The chamber approved routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with the previous day’s journal, and allow introduction of bills and committee reports throughout the day. The Senate also received several House messages referring bills to committee, including local constitutional amendments for Limestone, Blount, and Mobile counties, a human cloning bill, a Fair Campaign Practices Act bill, a public education bill, a court fees bill, and a physician assistance bill. Committee reports were then taken up. The Finance and Taxation General Fund, Confirmations, State Governmental Affairs, County and Municipal Government, Education Policy, Banking and Insurance, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Transportation and Energy, and Local Legislation committees all reported a number of bills favorably, many with amendments or substitutes. Several measures were advanced to the calendar for the next legislative day, and the Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Eileen Meyer and Tiffany Martin to the Alabama Board of Midwifery, Jennifer Ag, Jerry Gross, and Edgar Hower II to the University of West Alabama Board of Trustees, Patricia Sims, Tony Cochran, and Sandy Stimson to the Alabama State Port Authority Board of Directors. The Senate then adopted a special order calendar under Senate Resolution 34, setting the order of business for the 10th legislative day. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 161, the App Store Accountability Act, which was described as a child-protection measure requiring parental permission, age verification by app stores, accurate app age ratings, and limits on minors entering contracts through app downloads. Senators speaking in support said the bill was needed to protect children from harmful online content and preserve parental control, and they discussed an amendment clarifying the meaning of “act” and preserving compliance with other state age-verification laws. The debate was ongoing in the portion provided, and no final vote on HB 161 appears in this excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I come from a very conservative district.
• And I come from a very conservative district.
• So as the bonding package, I didn't like the bonding package because I didn't think the bond...
• So as the bonding package, I didn't like the bonding package because I didn't think the bonding package
• I just like to say that there are six districts within the state, and every district, you know, gets

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 251, which would amend the Horse Racing Act to address “program owners” and “program trainers” used as fronts by suspended or unlicensed people in the racing industry. The sponsor and Racing Commission director said the bill is meant to protect the betting public, deter fraud, and give the commission stronger enforcement tools, including suspension, revocation, and fines. After brief questions about how penalties are applied and whether the standards are already reflected in statute and racing rules, the committee voted 9-0 to give the bill a due pass. Senate Bill 73 followed, requiring driver education schools to teach at least three hours on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists, beginning in 2027. Supporters, including local officials and advocacy groups, said the bill would improve public safety and help new drivers understand the rights and responsibilities of people outside vehicles. Committee members discussed existing driver-ed content, the definition of vulnerable road users, and whether the bill would replace any current instruction; sponsors said it would set a statewide minimum without crowding out existing curriculum. The committee approved the bill on a 9-1 due pass vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 111, an agency bill to expand confidential personal information under the Motor Vehicle Code to include sex, gender, national origin, and immigration status. The sponsor and Tax and Revenue officials said the change would protect sensitive records in MVD files from disclosure except in limited circumstances. With no public opposition, the committee passed the bill 6-4. Senate Bill 150, creating refundable tax credits to support local newspaper printing operations, drew broad support from newspaper and business representatives who said the credits would help preserve local news and printing capacity amid plant closures and rising costs. Some members raised technical and oversight questions, but the committee voted 9-1 to advance it. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 172, a committee substitute extending a gross receipts tax credit tied to national lab technology transfer and commercialization. Supporters from the labs, economic development groups, and chambers of commerce said it helps move research into New Mexico businesses and supports job creation; the committee adopted the committee substitute and advanced it. Senate Bill 76, which would raise the gasoline and special fuel taxes to fund road maintenance, generated extensive debate over infrastructure needs, affordability, and whether a broader transportation funding plan should be developed first. Supporters argued the state’s road backlog and maintenance needs justify the increase, while opponents cited consumer costs and the need for more study; the bill passed 6-4. The final bill, Senate Bill 235, would regulate large microgrids and data centers by requiring renewable energy use, PRC oversight, annual reporting, and limits on rate shifting. Supporters said it would protect air quality, water, and utility customers, while opponents warned it would add burdens and discourage investment; the committee heard extensive testimony but the transcript ends before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• district.
• This is not just important to my district; my district feeds everybody's district in some way, shape,
• Valley Municipal Water District, Stockton East Water District, all in support of **SB 149**.
• Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, and Mesa Water District
• Chiefs in the fire district support the Prop 4 climate bond expenditures in the wildfire and resilience

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• districts.
• districts.
• districts.
• districts.
• That's really important for the school districts.

Summary: House Democratic leaders and House Republican leaders announced a compromise set of budget targets reached Friday night, describing it as a numbers-only deal that leaves policy issues aside. They said the targets are the first step in the budget process: House committee chairs will write bills to fit the targets, those bills will go to Ways and Means, and later leaders will negotiate global targets with the governor and Senate. Leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects compromise rather than either party’s ideal budget, and that they will continue talks with Governor Walz and the Senate over the next several weeks. The speakers highlighted what was not included in the deal, saying it does not target paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, reproductive rights, or universal school meals. They said the House priorities that did make it in include housing, education, pensions, public safety, and transportation. On education, they said the compromise provides $40 million in new money in the first biennium for the READ Act and no cuts in either biennium, contrasting that with larger cuts in the governor’s and Senate proposals. They also said schools could still choose to fund unemployment insurance for school workers from existing resources, though it was not earmarked in the targets. Leaders said the agreement leaves room for committee chairs to make choices within the targets, including in health and human services, where they described the target as a reduction in projected growth rather than a cut to existing appropriations. They said the budget plan sets aside discretionary inflation adjustments in the first biennium while preserving inflation indexing for items like the K-12 formula. They also said the deal improves the state’s long-term balance, with a projected $1.6 billion balance in the first biennium and a $1.3 billion deficit in the second, and that the House’s numbers do not include the same revenue assumptions as the governor’s and Senate’s plans. In questions, leaders said conference committees will require majority support from both House and Senate conferees, and that the House will send equal numbers of Democratic and Republican conferees. They said the bonding bill size is still under discussion, but the adopted numbers would allow for roughly a $700 million general obligation bill. They also said large state spending for professional sports facilities is likely over, and explained that the press conference was held without Republican leaders for logistical reasons after the deal was reached late Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3551 by Cunningham relating to school district students reentry to regular education environment for
• HB 33655 by Alcott relating to the increasing the threshold of voter approval for the school district
• for engaging in certain misconduct against the school district employer for the Committee on Public
• district or open enrollment charter school officials, employees and actions and other proceedings by
• district and protection of the school districts against certain losses in local revenue or for the Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Every high school event is not covered.
• Every high school event is exceptions. Every high school event is not<00:15:15.600><c> covered.
• Go ahead. >> Auburn said that it was that high schools were excluded. >> No, the any high school and
• Um, we removed the high school football stadiums at the request of a House member.
• Um, we removed the high school football stadiums at the request of a House member.

Bills: HB227 , HB454 , SB323 , HB266 , SB52 , SB53 , SB296 , HB37 , HB429 , HB93 , HB249 , HB328 , HB111 , HB132 , HB26 , SB261 , HB227 , HB454 , SB323 , HB266 , SB52 , SB53 , SB296 , HB37 , HB429 , HB93 , HB249 , HB328 , HB111 , HB132 , HB26 , SB261

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness