Transcript Highlights:

• Once this facility is completed, it'll serve 11 school districts and possibly two more that could come
• </c> completed, it'll serve 11 school completed, it'll serve 11 school districts<00:20:42.400><c> and
• my district 20B.
• </c> for a small district with limited staff. for a small district with limited staff.
• It's by the schools.

Bills: HF4680 , HF4047 , HF4590 , HF3757 , HF3569 , HF4507 , HF4426 , HF4927 , HF4788 , HF4757 , HF4747 , HF3561 , HF4014 , HF4013 , HF4689 , HF4766 , HF4589

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Court rulings in the past have devastated school districts.
• You can ask the good senator from Burlington how that impacted his school district.
• Devastated school districts.
• Then when the prison went in, I'm sure the school district rejoiced.
• It allows the school district that has completed appropriate financial training to invest certain district

Bills: HB3044 , HB3465 , HB3625 , HB3704 , HB3759 , HB3920 , HB3972 , HB4191 , HB4311 , HB4426

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee considered several House bills dealing with tax credits, fee changes, school funding, and investment authority. House Bill 4426 extended the sunset on the SIDE tax credit to December 31, 2032, and passed 7-2. House Bill 3704 elected Oklahoma into the federal income tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and passed 9-2. House Bill 4311 raised the unclaimed property division’s administrative fee from 4% to 6% to cover increased duties and costs; it passed 8-3 after debate over whether the increase was justified. House Bill 3044 reauthorized the veterans income tax checkoff and the associated capital improvement fund, and passed 10-0. House Bill 4191 revised the Smaller Employer Quality Jobs Act by lowering job thresholds, expanding qualifying locations and industries, and changing other eligibility rules; it passed 6-4. House Bill 3465 extended the emission tax credit sunset from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029 and passed 6-4, with opponents arguing it subsidized compliance with federal mandates. House Bill 3972, a title-off bill addressing ad valorem reimbursement issues tied to the state purchase of a prison, drew extensive debate over precedent and scope; an amendment to add a sunset failed 5-5, and the bill then passed 8-2 as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• schools in the district and, in connection therewith, making the state auditor's examination of the
• </c> concerning the examination of a school concerning the examination of a school district<00:33:39.200
• </c> we're talking about, which is a PR bond. we're talking about, which is a PR bond.
• , a monetary bond.
• </c> to impose a uh a monetary bond. to impose a uh a monetary bond.

Transcript Highlights:

• districts or property-poor school districts at the benefit of property-rich school districts will bring
• My school districts are suffering.
• However, right now, when I look locally at our school districts, I see that our school districts are
• Tacoma School District, 15%.
• We were intimately familiar with the budget of the school district and what the school district could

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• parish as a member of the district.
• Indiana Regional Juvenile Justice District to remove Rameen Parish as a member of the district to remove
• House Bill 285 by represent Bacola, Title 17, use of school buildings, powers the local school boards
• , two authorized school boards, who in House Bill 285 by Representative Bacala, Title 17, use of school
• buildings, powers of local school boards, to authorize school boards to enter into certain cooperative

Bills: HR46 , HR47 , HR48 , HR49 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , HR42 , HR43 , HR44 , HR45 , HCR22 , HCR23 , HCR24 , HCR25 , HCR26 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR29 , HCR30 , SCR13 , HB894 , HB983 , HB984 , SB19 , SB23 , SB26 , SB30 , SB39 , SB45 , SB46 , SB50 , SB51 , SB55 , SB69 , SB71 , SB73 , SB84 , SB85 , SB89 , SB96 , SB98 , SB101 , SB110 , SB148 , SB150 , SB160 , SB164 , SB303 , SB340 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB160 , HB171 , HB174 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB198 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB237 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB316 , HB351 , HB393 , HB400 , HB413 , HB446 , HB469 , HB486 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB807 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB474 , HB487 , HB503 , HB606 , HB633 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB846 , HB852 , HB856 , HB868 , HB875 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB221 , HB148 , HB331 , HB149 , HB901

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the pledge, leave granted for one member, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Women Shaping Industry Day, Louisiana Agriculture Week, and CODOFIL Day at the Capitol. The chamber also received Senate messages concurring in several House concurrent resolutions and adopting SCRs 14 and 15, which designated Flood Awareness Month and recognized the bond between Quebec and Louisiana. Numerous resolutions and bills were introduced and referred, including measures on retirement systems, juvenile justice districts, carbon sequestration in St. Helena Parish, tax administration, election procedures, education, criminal justice, and state property transfers. The House adopted several resolutions without objection, including commendations for Thrive Academy, Bishop Lonnie Welder, Pastor Aaron Holloway, World Down Syndrome Day, and others. Members also heard committee reports on a wide range of bills, with many reported favorably or with amendments. In morning hour, the House discharged and withdrew two bills from committee, and later returned some bills to the calendar with notice to call them on later dates. The chamber then took up a series of floor bills, passing HB 474 to create an income tax checkoff for the Grambling State University National Alumni Association, HB 487 on penalties for unsafe red-light passing maneuvers, HB 503 on utility terrain vehicles in Golden Meadow, HB 606 on personal delivery devices, HB 633 on estimated income tax filing timing, HB 707 on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission Advisory Board, HB 970 on tacit dedication of public roadways, HB 728 on out-of-state tow truck requirements, HB 846 on license plate coverings, HB 852 on a domestic violence donation checkoff, HB 856 on DOTD indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity construction contracts, HB 221 naming the proposed Mississippi River bridge the President Donald J. Trump Expressway, HB 148 designating a highway memorial, and HB 331 creating a Louisiana GOP specialty plate. Most of these bills passed with little or no opposition, though HB 221 drew debate and passed 68-26. The House adjourned after announcing committee meetings for the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Duluth Central High School while serving as a state legislator.
• George Floyd was murdered in my district, and civil unrest happened.
• wanted... to create a bonding bill that they called a very vanilla bill.
• She said, "We cannot just build a vanilla bonding bill; we need to have some flavor to the bonding bill
• One was to change the makeup of North Couchiching Sanitary District.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the bonding the bonding request<00:14:08.120><c> um</c><00:14:09.120><c> and</c><00:14:09.320><c
• </c> we'll get started with our um bonding we'll get started with our um bonding proposal<00:33:20.720
• In the past, projects have included public school districts that have built early childhood education
• In the past, projects have included public school districts that have built early childhood education
• school districts uh that included public school districts uh that have<01:30:45.520><c> built</c><01

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• districts.
• House Bill 1329 required school districts to provide extensive, detailed expenditure data, including
• Our school finance systems are as diverse and unique as our schools themselves.
• School districts maintain comprehensive financials, which are largely held electronically and provide
• district expenditures.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Independent School Districts (ISDs) will use student enrollment figures instead of population figures
• So if there's three entities—the county, the city, the school district—I mean, looking at 1.5 million
• We're grateful for the investment in public schools that you all made this year, but districts still
• Our school passed a school bond for a new middle school in West Odessa.
• Of course, the 2.5% for schools, the 3.5% for some cities and counties, and special districts.

Bills: HB17 , HB23 , SB 10

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> District One. Ah, excellent. District One. Ah, excellent.
• There are over 12,000 students involved in CTSOs throughout every school district in Maryland.
• </c><00:03:59.439><c> Through</c> school district in Maryland. Through school district in Maryland.
• Um, District 11 dentist, Dr. Dentistry. Um, District 11 dentist, Dr.
• </c> from the 33rd district. from the 33rd district.

Summary: The Maryland Senate met on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with a quorum present. The session opened with an invocation by Chaplain David Stadler, followed by journalization of his remarks and several introductions recognizing guests in the chamber, including dentists, an intern, a former legislative staffer, and representatives from the University System of Maryland and other groups. Senators also noted upcoming committee meetings and a Legislative Black Caucus photo the next day. The main floor action centered on a resolution honoring Maryland Career and Technical Student Organizations for Career and Technical Student Organization Week. The sponsor described the role of CTSOs in serving more than 12,000 students statewide and in building leadership, professional, and career skills. The resolution was read in full and adopted unanimously, with the Senate expressing congratulations and appreciation for the organizations’ work with young people. The Senate then took up layover items and calendar bills. Senate Bill 56, concerning Maryland Longitudinal Data Center external data sharing for multi-state reporting, was special ordered for one day after members raised privacy-related questions. Senate Bill 99, the Open Meetings Act/Local Board of Education Transparency Act measure, was also special ordered for one day after discussion of its committee amendment. The chamber also received administrative corrections from the Governor and referred them to the Executive Nominations Committee, and the majority leader later moved adjournment until February 19 at 10:00 a.m., which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• How are the funds distributed annually to the school districts right now?
• : the library district, the cemetery district, the county, all of those in there.
• district has to opt in.
• It did not work when we're talking about districts in their... ...early from new districts.
• These districts do go away.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• How does this affect school districts and political subdivisions?
• It's not actually given to the school districts.
• A school district may levy the operating levy for school purposes, require by subsection, less all adjustments
• They're sitting at 275... ...a school district may levy the operating levy for school purposes, require
• I mean, if you have a school district that has four schools and a big new subdivision gets built and

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• has</c><00:08:41.479><c> to</c><00:08:41.640><c> be</c> school districts and money has to be school districts
• </c> counties cities and school counties cities and school districts<00:09:08.480><c> uh</c><00:09:08.640
• You have the gamut of districts that just close down and give up, or those that limp along, and the bond
• means the city, the county, and the school district.
• </c> city the county um and the school city the county um and the school district<00:53:21.720><c> and

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm State Representative from Roswell and Chavez County House District 59.
• I personally don’t believe this is in lieu of bonding.
• I personally don’t believe this is in lieu of bonding.
• And the district court... That’s your town. It would seem to make more sense.
• And some are up to 8% with local taxes included, so school board, et cetera.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It also ensures that all parties agree to a bond before a bond is reinstated.
• We also have Leader Berman's district staff. Leader Berman's district staff.
• school campuses.
• So if a school district is at capacity right now, based on a comp plan that restricts new residential
• in my Senate district.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• He starts talking to me about neighborhood schools. And where am I on neighborhood schools?
• the bond bill worked and the importance of reading the bond bill.
• district.
• And a school district does include charter schools.
• And a school district does include charter schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got 66 school districts, including districts like Minneapolis, St.
• We've got 66 school districts, including districts like Minneapolis, St.
• We've got 66 school districts, including districts like Minneapolis, St.
• The schools in my district use I Love You Guys as part of our safe school planning, but they both advocate
• They were built and operated by the local school districts.

Bills: HF3220

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• district.
• This includes traditional public schools, vocational technical schools, and charter schools.
• This includes traditional public schools, vocational technical schools, and charter schools.
• And while some Delaware school districts experience a 15% annual teacher turnover and the replacement
• His wife was a teacher for 21 years in the Indian River School District.

Transcript Highlights:

• union with the school district.
• Their contract is with the school district, not with the charter school.
• district, not with the charter school.
• Johns County School District.
• that a school district dispose of property.

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:

• </c><00:13:39.839><c> bill</c> to be happy we pass a bonding bill to be happy we pass a bonding bill
• This bill also establishes a permanent and ongoing aid to school districts, 36 of the 330 school districts
• of</c><00:44:46.800><c> the</c><00:44:46.960><c> school</c> to school districts to 36 of the school to
• school districts to 36 of the school districts<00:44:47.599><c> out</c><00:44:47.760><c> of</c><00:44
• </c><01:11:10.560><c> systems</c> public and and charter school systems public and and charter school