Video & Transcript : 'parish board of election supervisors' :
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LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works May 11th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- allows for people to apply to be on the board of SlipFa East, but we did not reinstate the ability of
- The amount of employee and board turnover at SLFPA East is alarming.
- We told you last year about four members of that board who resigned in protest because they were no longer
- Basically, the situation is that the former levee board, members of that board, when they did their contract
- the levee board, because if you take all of the people who are on the levee board and you remove them
Summary:
The committee first adopted Amendment Set 527 without objection, then took up Senate Bill 56 concerning the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District and its possible transfer into the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West. Amendment Set 5327 was adopted to add a compliance officer with specified qualifications, described as a checks-and-balances measure separating that role from the chief of police. Testimony in support emphasized the district’s limited recurring revenues, the need for professional management, and the West Bank authority’s ability to provide administrative and operational support. A witness for affected landowners raised concerns about unpaid takings claims and urged amendments to preserve liability and avoid litigation, but the committee ultimately reported SB 56 favorably with amendments.
The committee then received an update from DOTD Secretary Glenn Laude on the department’s transformation initiatives, including outsourcing operations and maintenance, construction process improvements, faster contractor payment times, quicker change-order approvals, and improved project delivery rates. After that, the committee reported favorably Senate Bill 171, which makes cleanup changes to the new water resources authority, and Senate Bill 252, which updates driver’s license organ-donor authorization to record both yes and no choices. Senate Bill 72, dealing with electronic titles and vehicle registration, was amended extensively to modernize OMV processes, support electronic lien and title transactions, and set standards for secure digital titles; it was then reported with amendments.
House Bill 939, which would have created a Louisiana New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission, was converted into a substitute bill creating a Louisiana Vehicle Commission and consolidating the existing new and used vehicle commissions. After discussion of implementation, governance, funding, and employee-transition concerns, the committee adopted the substitute amendments and then deferred the bill. Senate Bill 129, creating a Master Combat Infantry Specialty license plate, was amended to add designated state officials for a related special plate request tied to security and parking around the Supreme Court in New Orleans, and it was reported with amendments. Finally, House Resolution 243, as amended, urged safety warning signage on the Tickfaw River after a fatal boating accident; the amendment shifted responsibility from DOTD to surrounding parish governing authorities, and the resolution was reported with amendments before the committee adjourned.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Governmental Oversight and Accountability Feb 11th, 2026
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- election night and watching the results come in and we saw that 2% of the people voted in that election
- Do you know what percentage of the electorate voted for you in the last election?
- None of us were elected, were required. have to vote in a...
- None of us were elected were required to have over 50% of the people who are registered to vote in order
- I support public education, all of the workers, and all of my state's elected government officials, whom
Keywords:
public records, public meetings, property rights, transcripts, settlement negotiations, Veterans Day, K-12 schools, holiday observance, education, Florida statutes, cybersecurity, local government, grant program, data-sharing, Florida Digital Service, ransomware protection, county administrators, city managers, exemption, privacy
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- The Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Representative Matt Gress.
- Let us begin with the prayer of the Sermon of St. Francis of Assisi.
- I rise on a point of personal privilege to introduce Doctor of the Day. Please proceed.
- He returned to the Diocese of Phoenix as pastor of St. Gregory and present pastor of St.
- He was elected a member of the Explorers Club in 2025, and coolest of all, asteroid 34104 is named after
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works May 11th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- of Slipfa East, but we did not reinstate the ability of that board to select its chair.
- The amount of employee and board turnover at SLFPA East is alarming.
- We told you last year about four members of that board who resigned in protest because they were no longer
- levee board, members of that board, when they did their contract estimates and sought bids for their
- the levee board, because if you take all of the people who are on the levee board and you remove them
Summary:
The committee first adopted Amendment Set 527 without objection, then adopted Amendment Set 5327, which adds a compliance officer requirement and related qualifications for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority. Supporters of Senate Bill 56 argued that the Lafitte levee district lacks sufficient recurring revenue to maintain its system and that the West Bank flood authority could provide professional management, coordination, and financial support. Testimony also raised concerns about governance problems at SLFPA East and about unresolved landowner damage claims tied to prior levee work. The committee reported SB 56 favorably with amendments.
The Department of Transportation and Development secretary then gave an update on the agency’s transformation initiatives, including outsourcing, construction process improvements, faster contractor payments, quicker change-order approvals, and higher project delivery rates. The committee next reported Senate Bill 171 favorably, which cleans up language for the recreation, economy, navigation, and transportation authority board, and Senate Bill 252 favorably, which allows driver’s license records to reflect both acceptance and refusal of anatomical gift authorization.
Senate Bill 72, dealing with electronic vehicle titles and registration, was amended extensively to modernize OMV processes, require electronic lien and title functions for certain users, and set implementation timelines; it was then reported with amendments. House Bill 939, which would create a Louisiana Vehicle Commission by consolidating the motor vehicle commissions, was amended with a substitute but then voluntarily deferred to allow more stakeholder work. Senate Bill 129, creating a Master Combat Infantry Specialty license plate and adding a special plate provision for designated state officials tied to Supreme Court parking/security concerns, was reported with amendments. Finally, House Resolution 243, urging safety warning signage on the Tickfaw River after a fatal boating accident, was amended to shift responsibility to parish governing authorities and was reported with amendments.
IA
Bills:
HF869 , HSB245 , HF317 , HSB13 , HF306 , HF64 , HF549 , HF42 , HF530 , HSB166 , HF793 , HF265 , HF310 , HSB9 , HF363 , HSB16 , HF649 , HSB189 , HF901 , HF539 , HF924 , HSB262 , HF573 , HF139 , HF572 , HSB15
Committee:
Joint Judiciary
Keywords:
veterinarians, animal mistreatment, liability immunity, legal conduct, animal rescue, good faith, veterinarian, licensed veterinarian, veterinary practice, animal cruelty, animal abuse, animal neglect, animal torture, threatened animal, law enforcement cooperation, peace officer, animal welfare, bestiality, animal fighting, animal contest events
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment & Energy Jan 20th, 2026 at 04:00 pm
Environment & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- you could dispose of them with just one board member.
- The Growth Management Hearings Board kind of has a cyclical work schedule in which there are times of
- So we think the sharing of resources in terms of these boards is a great opportunity to speed some of
- board, it still has to meet the qualifications of the Pollution Control Hearings Board or whatever board
- kind of lend themselves to blended boards or smaller boards as they do now, where you can kind of already
Committee:
House Environment & Energy
Keywords:
pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, electric utility, energy assistance, low-income households, monthly bill assistance, energy equity, waste management, energy, climate action, environmental regulations, fair treatment, renewable energy, sustainability
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Labor and Industrial Relations May 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Of that 20 to 25% of the time, Of that 20 to 25% of the time, how many are approvals, how many are denials
- So, to answer Chairman Cruz's question, in my company we have elected to give four weeks of paid maternity
- That's a self-election, and maybe it's a little bit of a self-flex for everybody who thinks businesses
- So far this year, we have completed over 400 expungements from different parishes across the state of
- So far this year, we have completed over 400 expungements from different parishes across the state of
Summary:
The House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee met on May 7, 2026, and first deferred several measures, including House Bill 460, Senate Bill 322, Senate Bill 32, Senate Bill 22, and House Bill 561. The committee then took up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz, which would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) by MCG as the primary guideline, while keeping the existing variance and appeal process. Cruz and MCG representative Troy Prevo argued that ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and used in many states, and said it could reduce delays, disability duration, and costs. Dr. Jason Picard, the state medical director, testified that Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference in many cases because the state schedule lacks coverage for some body parts and treatments, and said the bill would not otherwise change the appeals process or care delivery.
Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would delay care or improve it. Several members questioned the private-company nature of ODG, the $400 annual subscription cost, and whether Louisiana doctors would be forced to rely on an out-of-state guideline. Rep. Glorioso and others raised concerns about preauthorization delays and proposed amendments to create tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and make the carrier prove by clear and convincing evidence that care was not medically necessary to challenge it. Chairman Cruz said he was willing to work with those ideas, and the committee also discussed adding an on-ramp or legacy language so current patients would not be disrupted.
Opposition testimony came from injured-worker advocates and representatives of medical and labor groups, including Joseph Jola St. and Robin Krumholt. They argued that Louisiana’s current guidelines are already working, that rates have fallen over time, and that the real problem is delay in approval rather than the content of the schedule. They said ODG is overly rigid, cost-driven, and can lead to denials that shift costs to workers, Medicaid, or private health insurance. They urged the committee to keep Louisiana’s existing system and instead adopt tacit approval under current law. The bill was still under discussion at the close of the transcript, with amendments being read and no final vote shown.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Labor and Industrial Relations Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Melissa Flornoi, and I'm board chair of 10,000 Women Louisiana.
- And I really want to just call out how impressed we are since the Department of Education and the Board
- Apparently, there was a member on a library board that wouldn't call another member of the library board
- The library board because they would not use the preferred pronouns by another member of the library
- I'm board chair of 10,000 Women, and I'm here today to ask you to defer House Bill 1137.
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeals process by allowing additional medical evidence submitted in court to be sent back to the medical director for review and a new opinion. The Attorney General’s office explained the bill, noting a 30-day deadline for the medical director to act before the case returns to court. The bill drew support from injured workers and several business and labor groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments and then reported the bill favorably without objection.
House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage starting at $12 in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation, prompted extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, and the AFL-CIO, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind living costs, that many workers remain in poverty despite working, and that higher wages would help families and local economies. Opponents, including NFIB and several members, argued that the market is already setting wages above the federal minimum in many jobs, that a mandate would raise costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or jobs, and hurt small businesses. After discussion, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a roll call vote.
The committee then reported Senate Bill 383 favorably with amendments. That bill expands the incumbent worker training program by increasing funding flexibility, shortening the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allowing unobligated funds to roll over. Members and the Louisiana Works secretary discussed workforce training, outreach, and how to connect workers to existing training programs and high-demand jobs. The committee also reported Senate Bill 382 favorably, which repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and began hearing House Bill 422, the “Behind-the-Counter Safety Act,” aimed at workplace violence protections for retail and food service workers, including signage, reporting, and enhanced penalties; the sponsor explained it was intended to address attacks on frontline workers and to give businesses a tool to warn against violence.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Mar 26th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- For the coming of every spring marks a renewing of the world.
- Even in challenging moments, the spirit of Nowruz reminds us of the resilience of people, the enduring
- of human suffering.
- He chose a life of religious pursuit in search of a deeper understanding of human suffering and the path
- Thank you for reminding us of that. The monks walking, and it was inspiring for all of us.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Mar 18th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Transcript Highlights:
- Society, and I'm a member of the board of directors at Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Society, and I'm a member of the board of directors at Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
- As a matter of practice, the committee takes elected officials out of turn to testify.
- the misconceptions that all of us, whether we’re elected officials or the public, have.
- I'm the pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, the parish that the Lippincott's belong to.
Summary:
The hearing covered several public safety bills and related testimony. On S. 2681, “Colby’s Law,” which would establish safety standards for BMX/motocross tracks, the committee heard emotional testimony from the family of a teen killed at a track and from advocates who said minimum standards are needed for barriers, medical staff, emergency planning, insurance, and oversight. A track owner and rider also testified that safety is important but argued the bill was incomplete and should better distinguish between BMX and motocross and include more specific equipment and weather-related rules. On S. 2680, a bill to expand emergency planning around aging nuclear plants and high-level nuclear waste sites, supporters from Cape Cod, medical groups, and anti-nuclear organizations urged a 50-mile emergency planning radius and stronger state preparedness, citing risks from long-term waste storage and inadequate federal oversight. The committee also heard testimony on a Barnstable home rule petition to allow certain emergency response vehicles to use red lights, with the town supporting the change to improve response times on the water.
A substantial portion of the hearing focused on H. 5158, the Protect Act, which would limit state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. County sheriffs testified about how ICE notifications and detainers work in practice, distinguishing between criminal warrants and civil immigration requests to notify, and describing their discretion when people are released on bail or at the end of a sentence. Sheriffs said they generally notify ICE when requested, especially in cases involving serious charges, but emphasized the need to balance public safety, victim notification, and due process. Committee members pressed them on the impact of ICE pickups at courthouses and jails, and several lawmakers and witnesses argued that pretrial detainees taken by ICE can disrupt prosecutions and deny victims their day in court.
Supporters of the Protect Act included labor, education, health care, and immigrant advocacy groups. They said immigrants and mixed-status families are living in fear of routine interactions with police, schools, courts, and hospitals, and urged the committee to ban 287(g) agreements, prohibit law enforcement from asking about immigration status or providing operational assistance to ICE, and add stronger protections for sensitive locations such as schools and health care facilities. Medical witnesses described patients and families avoiding care because of ICE presence, and educators said students are missing school out of fear. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and indicated it would continue receiving written testimony before taking action later.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Jan 14th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- And, of course, our boards of trustees are so, so important to the decision-making of where we go and
- And, of course, our boards of trustees are so, so important to the decision-making of where we go and
- And he is a reappointment to the Board of Trustees of Northwest Florida State College.
- And he is a reappointment to the Board of Trustees of Northwest Florida State College.
- And he is a reappointment to the Board of Trustees of St. Johns River State College.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office on the proposed higher education budget, which emphasized no tuition or fee increases for Florida residents, continued affordability, and increased funding across workforce, colleges, and universities. The presentation highlighted major investments in Bright Futures, other scholarships, workforce development, the Florida College System, and the State University System, including funding for performance, student success, campus safety, and faculty recruitment and retention. Committee members asked questions about the Ocoee Scholarship, the proposed Guardian program on campuses, and how university recruitment and retention funds would be used; officials said the Ocoee Scholarship remains funded at current levels, Guardian options could vary by campus, and university funds would be distributed to institutions for faculty recruitment and retention without additional directives.
The committee then heard testimony from a series of appointees and reappointees to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities. Witnesses from Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Miami Dade College, Northwest Florida State College, and St. Johns River State College described their backgrounds and stressed workforce development, affordability, dual enrollment, nursing, cybersecurity, adult learners, and local economic needs. Several highlighted strong nursing outcomes and job placement, and some discussed campus expansion, business incubators, and programs tailored to regional industries. One appointee from Miami Dade College emphasized helping adult students return and complete degrees by better using prior credits.
After hearing from the appointees, the committee took up the confirmation package as a block. A motion was made and seconded, the roll was called, and the confirmations were reported favorably by the committee. The meeting then adjourned.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Relative to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, to provide for membership of the board, to
- provide for the duties of the board, to provide for qualifications of members of the board, to establish
- a procedure for filing and filling vacancies of the board, to provide for the president of the board
- I'm the executive director of the Board of Medical Examiners.
- I'm the executive director of the Board of Medical Examiners.
Bills:
HB689 , HB742 , HB926 , HB946 , HB948 , HB1028 , HB1095 , HB1114 , HB1121 , HB1155 , HB1185 , HB1217 , HB1220 , HB1227 , HCR76
Committee:
House Health and Welfare
Keywords:
public assistance, child welfare, benefit adjustment, DCFS, LDH, fraud detection, household reporting, Medicaid, immunization, healthcare eligibility, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, health policy, vaccination requirements, vaccination status, vaccine mandate, medical freedom, medical autonomy, public buildings, public access, government services
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 26th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- We are having a potpourri of bills on a variety of topics.
- I am also on the Mason County Board of Health and a member of the Mason County Substance Abuse Coalition
- Recently, the Mason County Board of Health, City of Shelton, and the Mason County Substance Abuse Coalition
- My name is Scott Waller, a board member of the Washington Association for Substance Misuse and Violence
- I'm one of the co-founders of Lux Pot Shop and a board member of WCLA.
Committee:
Senate Labor & Commerce
Keywords:
kratom, taxation, regulated substances, health safety, state revenue, cannabis, marijuana, home grow, home cultivation, personal cultivation, adult use cannabis, recreational marijuana, 21 and older, controlled substances, RCW 69.50, Liquor and Cannabis Board, LCB, plant limits, cannabis possession, cannabis concentrates
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- The distribution is calculated on the basis of population and the number of homesteads throughout the
- Article 7, Section 26 of the Constitution requires a minimum of $90 million annually.
- to local entities proportionally based on population and the number of homesteads within a parish.
- A set of amendments before you.
- A set of amendments before you. A set of amendments before you.
Committee:
Senate Finance
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- At the request of absolutely no one, it strips the voting rights away from an elected school board member
- Why would we be considering taking away the vote of an elected school board member who also serves their
- Why would we be considering taking away the vote of an elected school board member who also serves their
- duty of the school board It shall be the duty of the school board to<01:56:19.599><c> provide</c><01:
- </c><02:07:35.840><c> of</c> 718 requires the state board of 718 requires the state board of education
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Feb 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Workplace Standards
Transcript Highlights:
- fees to L&I to support the costs of the board.
- There are two amendments. ...security guard licensing fees to L&I to support the costs of the board.
- the supervisor of industrial insurance, and it requires that a request for continued treatment be made
- the supervisor of industrial insurance, and it requires that a request for continued treatment be made
- the Labor Board, would still be able to file wage and hour claims with the Department of Labor and Industries
Committee:
House Labor & Workplace Standards
Keywords:
transparency, industrial insurance, insurance rate increases, financial disclosure, regulatory oversight, workers' compensation, medical care, healthcare access, employee rights, insurance coverage, security, regulation, employment standards, security guards, industry board, unemployment, electronic notices, compensation, digital communication, order processing
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Transcript Highlights:
- Society, and I'm a member of the board of directors at Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
- As a matter of practice, the committee takes elected officials out of turn to testify.
- the misconceptions that all of us, whether we're elected officials or the public, have.
- I'm the pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, the parish that the Lippincotts belong to.
- chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on several public safety bills, with testimony first on S.2681, Colby’s Law, which would establish safety standards for BMX and motocross tracks. Supporters, including the family of a child killed at a track, argued the bill is needed because some tracks lack basic protections such as barriers, emergency plans, on-site medical staff, and adequate track maintenance. A motocross track representative opposed the bill as overregulation that could impose major costs and argued existing safety efforts and voluntary safety committees are preferable. No vote was taken during the hearing.
The committee also heard testimony on S.2680, which would expand emergency preparedness requirements around aging nuclear power plants and nuclear waste sites from a 10-mile to a 50-mile radius. Supporters from Cape Cod Downwinders, Massachusetts Peace Action, physicians, and other advocates said current law is outdated and insufficient, citing risks from radioactive waste storage, limited federal oversight, and the need for broader evacuation and emergency planning. Testifiers urged the bill’s passage, and no action was taken.
A major portion of the hearing focused on the Protect Act, H.5158, dealing with limits on cooperation between state/local agencies and federal civil immigration enforcement. Sheriffs testified about how ICE detainers and notification requests work in practice, emphasizing discretion, public safety, and the difference between sentenced prisoners and pretrial detainees. Supporters from labor, education, and health care groups said immigrant communities are living in fear and asked for stronger protections, including bans on 287(g) agreements and clearer limits on ICE activity in schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations. The hearing also included testimony on H.4697 regarding training and certification of constables and civil deputy sheriffs, with the Hampshire County sheriff saying sheriffs are already working with POST and MPTC on training standards and that the bill may be duplicative.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 22nd, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Here is a prayer of gratitude for those who put the welfare of others ahead of their own and give us
- of justice of all.
- He also sits on the Board of Trustees for the Coast Guard Academy and the Coast Guard Foundation.
- We'll be permitting the use of displays on the floor at the request of Senator McNerney on behalf of
- SB 1360 is part of the Civil Rights Act of 2026.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- He is the executive director of Andre House and is a parish priest at St.
- I rise to a point of personal privilege for the purpose of introduction of guests. Please proceed.
- Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona: 1.
- That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this resolution to the family of Yvonne Glee Lyme Federson
- It does not change any of the rights or responsibilities of county assessors or any of that process,
Summary:
The House convened on Ash Wednesday with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the journal approved, and a series of guest introductions recognizing Dr. William Thompson, Disability Day at the Capitol participants, Arizona Cattle Growers, a GCU student guest, striking ASU Aramark workers and union supporters, Nurse-Family Partnership nurses, Navajo Nation visitors, and others. Members also made remarks honoring Lent, Ramadan, Black History Month, and various community figures. Attendance was recorded at 54 present, 3 absent, and 3 excused, and the House received committee substitutions and Senate messages without objection.
The chamber adopted House Resolution 2006, a death resolution honoring Yvonne Glee Lyme Federson and her work with Childhelp to combat child abuse. The resolution was adopted unanimously, followed by a moment of respectful silence. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole and later an additional Committee of the Whole to consider several bills. Measures receiving do pass recommendations included HB 2089, HB 2177 as amended, HB 2258, HB 2322 as amended, HB 2786, and HB 2825 as amended, with amendments adopted on HB 2177, HB 2322, and HB 2825. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and ordered those bills engrossed or regrossed as appropriate.
In the additional Committee of the Whole, members debated HB 2074, HB 2104, and HB 2105, all property- or health-related measures. HB 2074 drew sharp debate over an amendment removing a life-of-the-mother exception in a partial-birth abortion provision; supporters said the change clarified that safer medical alternatives exist, while opponents argued it would criminalize care even to save a mother’s life. HB 2104 and HB 2105 were amended to add taxable improvements as a trigger for assessor review and to make a standardized report optional, with supporters saying the changes improved county property tax administration and opponents warning they could hinder assessors and create litigation. All three bills received do pass as amended recommendations and were ordered engrossed.
The House then took up third-reading votes and passed HB 2173, HB 2203, HB 2223, and HB 2501 by 57-0 votes with three not voting. HB 2307, an emergency measure concerning dangerous and incompetent defendants and out-of-state treatment options, passed 37-20 with three not voting, but failed to achieve the required two-thirds vote for the emergency clause. Members explained votes in support as a temporary response to a lack of in-state treatment beds, and in opposition as a bill that was too broad or not yet implementable. The House adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
African American Suicide Prevention T.F. Jan 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I serve as the immediate past chair of the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners.
- And we are responsible, while the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners are responsible for
- I am an attorney by trade and training, but I'm here as president-elect of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton
- We have sent it out to the Board of Regents. We've sent it out to individual universities.
- We have sent it out to the Board of Regents.
Summary:
The task force met to review the prior minutes, hear introductions from members and stakeholders, and receive an update on the HCR 86 study on African American suicide in Louisiana. Dr. Williams summarized survey findings from 94 university respondents and said the work focused on college students as a key risk group, with financial stress and other early triggers identified. He said universities had resisted participation because of stigma and concerns about enrollment and reputation, and he recommended stronger statewide reporting requirements, better data collection, and more targeted prevention efforts.
Members discussed possible policy responses, including mandatory suicide prevention training, gatekeeper training for faculty and staff, student awareness materials, and adding 988 information to student IDs and campus outreach. Dr. Thomas described existing LDH efforts, including 988 partnerships, a university toolkit, and training through the Louisiana Center for Prevention Resources. Senator Boudreaux and others said the issue should be addressed through legislation rather than voluntary action alone, while Dr. McKee noted that occupational licensing rules and statutes could support required training and reporting.
The task force agreed to revise the report language to say reporting would be confidential unless otherwise required by law, and to circulate additional state examples and recommendations before February 1 for use as a legislative template. Members also asked that the Office of Public Health be included in discussions about a centralized suicide data hub, since it already tracks real-time suicide data. The chair thanked the participants, said the final recommendations would guide possible legislation, and adjourned the meeting without setting another date unless further action is needed.