Transcript Highlights:

• I will research that for you and get back to you.
• So, yes, I will get back with you on that.
• The amendment is adopted back on the bill. No 1, 1, Okay. Back on the bill as amended.
• I think back shares a lot of this information. Okay.
• One we're gonna go back to tab.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:00.079> and legislature could just come back and legislature could just come back and
• Representative Lee." from having card game in the back. That from having card game in the back.
• Chairman, if there's, if you need room up here, I'll just sit back and come back if you need me to.
• I'll I'll sit back >> Thank you, Mr. John. I'll I'll sit back and<01:30:48.560> listen.
• >> look forward to coming back, Mr. >> look forward to coming back, Mr. Chairman?

Bills: SF0110, SF0044, SF0046

Keywords: property tax, residential real estate, tax assessment, primary residence, tax revenue, gambling, lotteries, raffles, social relationships, charitable gaming, gaming, liquor establishments, skill based amusement games, regulations, age restrictions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's really fun to be back here.
• <00:14:48.440> home that by and large they come back home that by and large they come back
• We will have you back again.
• A year later, she's sober, she's back with her family, and back at work.
• Um, but we will bring it back.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, we'll come back to Lynn. How about that? Then are you on the internet?
• Put myself in a position so I don't have my back to anyone here. I apologize.
• I have my Walmart groceries in the back. That's okay.
• I brought him back the $10, and I said, “If I give you this $10, do I get my kid back?”
• They had to call me back, and... ...they had to call me back, and, you know, to this day, it was a very

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard testimony on several bills, with strong support expressed for a proposed municipal and public safety building authority (H. 2571/S. 1650). Municipal officials, fire chiefs, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, regional planning leaders, and Senator Comerford described aging town halls, fire stations, DPW facilities, and other local buildings, especially in small towns and gateway cities, and argued that local budgets and Proposition 2 1/2 make major capital projects difficult to fund. Testimony emphasized the need for a dedicated revenue stream, with the bill proposing a share of marijuana excise tax revenue and a rural funding set-aside. Committee members asked about prioritization and funding levels, and witnesses said even a modest start would help address a large statewide backlog. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee later adjourned unanimously. The committee also heard testimony on H. 2689, requiring fuel gas alarms/detectors in residential dwellings using explosive gases. Representative Jeff Roy, Susan Brown, Jason Cohn, and representatives from NEMA and Kidde supported the bill, describing it as a life-saving measure similar to carbon monoxide detector requirements. Witnesses cited the 2015 Franklin propane explosion that killed Nancy and Robert Brown, the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, and national fire data showing fatalities and property damage from gas leaks. They said detectors are affordable, commercially available, and should be required where gas is used; one witness noted battery-backed or battery-operated options exist. Committee questions focused on cost, battery power, outdoor propane setups, and whether the bill would cover private databases or only residential safety devices. Another major topic was S. 1755 on missing and abducted children. Senator Pavel Payano testified in favor, citing the case of Lee Manuel Villoria Paolino and arguing that misclassification of missing children as runaways can delay urgent response and worsen outcomes, especially for Black and brown youth. He said the bill would set minimum law enforcement response standards, require training, and expand multilingual intake forms. The committee also heard support for expanding the state DNA database through familial DNA searching, with Dr. Amory Myers explaining that the technology could help solve long-unsolved cases while including guardrails to prevent use of private consumer DNA databases. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on H. 2740, “Colby’s Law,” establishing safety standards for BMX and motocross tracks. Colby Lippincott’s family, community members, and industry representatives described his fatal crash and urged requirements for medical staff, insurance, inspections, warning systems, barriers, and access roads. Witnesses said the bill would not end the sport but would create basic protections, and the committee heard that Massachusetts would join a number of other states with similar standards. The hearing ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative DeSotel, if you can come back up. Thank you, members.
• Thank you for being back in the committee today.
• What this bill does basically is put the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program back on track.
• The QR code is simply going to be on the back.
• I'll come back tomorrow. We're not coming back tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Judiciary B met on May 14, established a quorum, approved the May 5 minutes, and then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions. The committee first heard House Bill 1252, which would expand and modernize local court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish by enlarging the Marksville and Bunkie city courts, adding small claims, misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil jurisdiction, and allowing online payments and virtual appearances. Supporters said it would keep justice local and reduce pressure on district court, while opponents urged more study and warned about impacts on existing courts and funding. The committee adopted Amendment Set 3835 and reported HB 1252 with amendments. It also reported HB 167, requiring state prisons to provide release documentation to inmates; HB 1038, after amendments and continued negotiation with marshals and constables; HB 1077, allowing microbreweries to sell at certain special events; HB 1204, changing administration of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program to the Office of Juvenile Justice; HB 492, placing the Governor’s Impaired Driving Task Force into statute; HB 175, dedicating $500,000 in lottery proceeds annually to a veterans service grant fund; HCR 41, directing ATC to allow electronic beer rebates; HB 833, creating a Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force; HB 656, creating a pilot program for inmate-administered services; HB 978, raising the population threshold for mayor’s courts to remit indigent defender fees; and HB 969, updating and expanding the crime victim compensation program. The committee also approved HB 985, which adds QR codes to sex offender identification cards, after adopting Amendment Set 3861, and HB 579, updating the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, after adopting Amendment Set 3830. Several bills drew notable opposition or requests for further work. HB 968, which creates a framework for electronic monitoring providers to notify courts before removing ankle monitors for nonpayment, drew objections from the ACLU and a vendor representative who argued it would turn criminal courts into debt-collection forums and could lead to jail for inability to pay; the author said the bill was intended as a public-safety framework, not debt collection. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 968 favorably and agreed to move a 10-day-to-15-day notice change on the floor. HB 525, requiring DOC to publish more incarceration data, especially from local facilities, was opposed by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, which said the bill would impose substantial new reporting burdens; DOC said it was already posting most of the data and would continue updating it. The committee ultimately deferred HB 525, with members encouraging further work. HB 1005, a cleanup-and-restructuring bill for the Office of the State Public Defender, was reported favorably after the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about substantive changes, including removal of board approval for the state public defender and changes to district defender protections; Vice Chair Harris said he would work with stakeholders on those issues. HB 1029, a local alcohol-permit moratorium bill for House District 3, was voluntarily deferred to next week so the author could address concerns about the length of the moratorium. The meeting ended after all scheduled business was completed, with the committee agreeing to revisit the deferred items later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that the back of a sedan? The picture on the left of the dog?
• Yes, it looks like it's the back of a midsize SUV. I'm not sure.
• The back of a midsize SUV, similar to the next slide, because it looks like a backseat.
• I was scheduled to come see it, but we got conflicts, so we'll get it back on the calendar.
• out again to take these individuals, handcuff them, put them back in the back of a truck or a vehicle

Bills: HB2134, HB2253, HB2270, HB2402, HB2404, HB2673, HB2941

Keywords: critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, law enforcement, disciplinary action, administrative appeals, investigative files, due process, retaliation, county seal, law enforcement authority, sheriff's posse, public safety, county governance, ambulance services, certificate of necessity, emergency medical services, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• We, of course, also in California experienced in the last two years a record back-to-back record visitor
• I'll have to get back to the committee.
• I apologize for having my back to you; I'm really sorry about that.
• I think, transparently, I'll have to dig into that and get back to you.
• When we started getting back into everybody's got their job back, you know, it was like a three-week,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Mark Edwards in the back with a microphone.
• I will get back to you.
• To celebrate that and kind of go back to what created us.
• So I'll turn it back over to Madam President and Madam Chair.
• We urged the president back then, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• We urgently need this legislation. ...backing to thrive.
• If you go back and look at the witness list...
• Can I introduce you to the guy in the back of the room?
• All we're doing is holding people back. back when we're trying to get them into the trade.
• And so now I'm going to turn it back over to you.

Bills: HB589, HB705, HB1842, HB1874, HB2349, HB2614, HB2827, HB3012, HB3214, HB3308, HB3385, HB3529

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• in their home so they can move back in.
• in their home so they can move back in.
• You can go back and forth. Okay. Thank you.
• What is our reasoning of, well, let me go back.
• They want to increase affordable housing units back home.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met and took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with SB 262 on trust law technical changes. Senator Berman explained four clarifications involving trust decanting, successor trustee actions, ademption by satisfaction, and homestead/community trust definitions; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SJR 174 and SB 176, which together would prevent certain homestead tax assessment increases when owners elevate flood-prone homes, and SB 180, a hurricane preparedness and response bill that included a strike-all amendment addressing FEMA reimbursement, mutual aid, hazard mitigation, and post-disaster rebuilding issues. Supporters from emergency management, beaches, counties, and local business groups testified in favor of SB 180, and it was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 608, which renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Florida statutes, despite questions about cost and an appearance in opposition. SB 1002, dealing with utility service restrictions and local government limits on energy-related policies, drew opposition from Earthjustice and Florida for All over possible unintended consequences and fossil-fuel favoritism, but was still reported favorably. SB 466 on the Florida Museum of Black History generated extensive testimony, with strong support from St. Augustine, Florida Memorial University, pastors, local officials, and the museum foundation for locating the museum in St. Johns County; one witness argued for Eatonville instead, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 1128 on building permits for single-family dwellings after an amendment clarified local zoning review and added insurance and liability protections for design professionals. SB 582, increasing penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, was reported favorably with support from preservation advocates. SB 1202, extending family health insurance premium benefits to firefighters permanently disabled during training exercises, also passed without opposition. Finally, SB 1242 on community redevelopment agencies prompted the most debate: supporters argued CRAs can be valuable tools for affordable housing and redevelopment, while opponents warned the bill would effectively end all CRAs by 2045 and block new projects; after extensive discussion, the bill was reported favorably. At the end, senators recorded additional votes on several tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I recognize your choice is going to be back-to-back with town meeting or back-to-back with the general
• We still have a back-to-back election cycle that happens.
• We still have a back-to-back election cycle that happens.
• See you guys back at 1:40. Okay, it's 1:40. We're back.
• <04:27:00.880> I look back and you would look back I look back and you would look back I understand

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We lost our commercial air service back in 2018, so SkyWest had planned to come back in 2020, but we
• One more back.
• It's coming back. So my only question...
• They want to go back to work.
• And he said, "Dad, come back to what?"

Transcript Highlights:

• Board has tracked this data going back Board has tracked this data going back for<00:10:07.800><
• back up.
• table, and thanked Miss Mackey for coming back up.
• So really watch the back door, okay?
• <00:57:06.079> to back to back to 2019<00:57:07.839> you<00:57:07.960> do<00:57:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee heard Senate File 486, as amended by the A2 delete-everything amendment, which would create a supplemental, year-round energy assistance program administered by the Department of Commerce alongside LIHEAP. Senator Dibble said the bill is intended to help low-income households pay utility bills throughout the year, including summer months, by providing crisis grants, ongoing monthly assistance, emergency heating system repair or replacement help, outreach funding, and reporting requirements. The committee adopted the A2 amendment before hearing testimony on the bill as amended. Supportive testimony came from Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board, Jenny Glumac of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Mackey of Minnesota Valley Action Council, Ron Elwood of Legal Aid, Jamie Fitz of CenterPoint Energy, George Shardlow of the Energy CENTS Coalition, and Kent Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association. Witnesses said energy burdens are especially high in rural Minnesota, utility arrears and shutoffs have increased, and most shutoffs occur in summer when LIHEAP is unavailable. They argued that year-round assistance would help vulnerable households, reduce shutoffs, improve health and housing stability, and create administrative efficiencies by using existing LIHEAP infrastructure. Several witnesses cited data on the need for assistance, including high energy burdens in rural areas, more than 91,000 Minnesota households disconnected for non-payment in 2024, and the large share of LIHEAP recipients who are seniors, people with disabilities, children, or veterans. Amanda Mackey described a client story illustrating how energy assistance can stabilize a household and lead to broader benefits. Senator Mathews offered comments supporting help for households in need but said the bill is a stopgap and tied the need for expanded assistance to prior legislative actions that increased energy costs. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion of the transcript provided, and members indicated they would return to questions after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is already July, and welcome back to our Otis Investigations work group. We have...
• Welcome back to our Otis Investigations work group.
• But we'll be back to these discussions, I'm certain. It's welcome. Great.
• I understand you're just back from a joyful time. Yeah, my pleasure.
• What number did you get back on that? Thank you.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After considering all that, we then loop back on our current assessment.
• If they are not yet vested, the contributions will come back to them.
• Additional contributions will be needed to get that plan back on track.
• In the plan and potentially even be moving back and forth.
• I believe they did back then. I don't remember how that was initiated.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I will get back on that one.
• Okay, I will get back on that one.
• Okay, I will get back on that one.
• Okay, I will get back on that one.
• Okay, I will get back on that one.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a Legislative Audit presentation summarizing Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions for fiscal year 2025. Auditors said the department distributed about $4.6 billion in grants overall, including $3.2 billion from the Public School Fund, $1.1 billion in federal funds, and $268 million from other state and miscellaneous sources, across 56 Public School Fund programs, 14 other state programs, and 29 federal programs. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, master principal bonuses, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; audit staff and Department of Education representatives explained that the report was only a distribution summary and not a recipient-level audit. Members also questioned why many districts showed lower funding, and staff said the decline was largely due to reduced federal and one-time COVID-related funds. Senators and representatives also discussed whether some incentive programs, such as master principal and national board bonuses, were tied to student outcomes, and whether Economics Arkansas was the sole entity named in special language for financial literacy funding; department staff said they would follow up on several details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on consumer price index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global, with discussion of CPI-U and core CPI estimates for future fiscal years. Dr. Carlos Silva explained that the forecasts generally trend toward about 2 percent over time and that recent projections may have understated actual inflation because of recent shocks. Members asked about the accuracy of past projections, and he said he would provide more detail later if needed. The bulk of the meeting focused on the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with a statewide student-to-teacher ratio of about 14 to 1, average teaching experience of 11.9 years, and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found that districts with higher poverty and minority concentrations generally had less experienced teachers, and that teacher shortages remained widespread, especially in special education, math, science, and foreign language. Members asked about licensure exceptions, alternative preparation pathways, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, and the cost and return on investment of traditional versus alternative routes. Staff said some licensure exceptions are being phased out under Act 304 of 2025 and that they would follow up on several requested details. The report also found that teacher retention averaged 87 percent statewide in 2025, with districts retaining teachers at higher rates than charters, and that 30 percent of surveyed teachers were considering leaving the profession. Principals and teachers identified school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the strongest negative factors. On salaries, BLR reported a statewide average teacher salary of $60,254 in 2025, with districts averaging $60,458 and charters $55,724. Arkansas ranked 45th nationally on average teacher salary in 2025, though its cost-adjusted ranking improved to 36th; among SREB states it ranked 12th, and among neighboring states it ranked fourth. Members asked about starting salaries, salary compression, district step increases, and whether the report should be shared more broadly with educators and school leaders. Staff said they would provide follow-up information on several questions, and the committee took no formal action beyond receiving the presentations and asking for additional data.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're just going to go back to back here. There you go. We're just going to go back to back here.
• We're just going to go back to back here. Let's, if we can take up Senate Bill 43. All right.
• And it gave me my life back, gave my kids their father back, and gave my wife her husband back.
• Anything to get back to my two boys. Anything to get back to my wife. I had profound success.
• I know I'm coming back tomorrow. Would it be possible to push 30 back?

Bills: SCR37, SB145, SB237

Keywords: informed consent, healthcare, medical procedures, patient rights, surgeon general, regulatory review, adult residential care, generators, emergency power, health safety, Louisiana Department of Health, compliance, regulations, child welfare, Department of Children and Family Services, mandatory reporting, abuse prevention, investigative teams, child ombudsman, forensic interviews

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 28 with a quorum and took up several health-related bills. SB 113, concerning the local health care provider participation program in Calcasieu Parish, was amended with a technical set and reported favorably with amendments after the author explained it would shift the local sponsor from the parish to the city. SB 23, which exempts certain assisted living facilities from the definition of food service establishment, was reported favorably. SB 150, allowing LDH to scan and return supporting documents for vital records changes, was also reported favorably. SB 221, which would allow EMS providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for treating patients on scene without transport, drew questions about billing, coding, and implementation but was reported favorably, with members noting it could reduce unnecessary ER use and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're just going to go back to back here. Let's, if we can take up Senate Bill 43. All right.
• And so, let me back up. This bill— So let me back up.
• gave my wife her husband back.
• Anything to get back to my two boys. Anything to get back to my wife. I had profound success.
• I know I'm coming back tomorrow. Would it be possible to push 30 back?

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 28 with a quorum and took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 113 on the local health care provider participation program in Calcasieu Parish. The committee adopted a technical amendment and heard that the bill would shift the local sponsor from the parish to the city if needed by a June 1 deadline. After brief discussion and no opposition, SB 113 was reported favorably with amendments. The committee then approved SB 23, which exempts certain assisted living facilities licensed by LDH from the definition of food service establishment, and SB 150, which would allow LDH to scan and electronically store vital records supporting documents and return originals to citizens. SB 221 also advanced after testimony that it would allow EMS providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for emergency responses where treatment is provided on scene but the patient is not transported. Members discussed that the bill could reduce unnecessary ER use and likely would require some rulemaking, but it was reported favorably. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 404, a broad vision benefit plan reform bill. Supporters, including optometrists, said the measure would improve transparency, patient choice, and access to eye care by limiting restrictive plan practices; opponents from the vision care plan industry argued it was an unprecedented, provider-driven overhaul that could raise costs and reduce flexibility. After extensive testimony and an agreed amendment clarifying network participation, the committee reported SB 404 favorably with amendments. The committee also reported SB 32 favorably with amendments after emotional testimony from parents and advocates about perinatal bereavement care, cooling devices, and training for hospitals to give grieving families more time and dignity after infant loss. Finally, the committee heard SB 43, which would create a psychedelic-assisted therapy initiative within LDH for clinical research and treatment involving ibogaine and psilocybin, with testimony from veterans, researchers, and advocates describing potential benefits for PTSD, substance use, and traumatic brain injury. The bill was reported favorably with amendments and set to pass a courtesy sheet. The committee then began SB 253, a bill regulating peptides and compounding pharmacies, adopted technical amendments clarifying provider liability, and continued discussion as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You went from—if you just go back—everything in government moves slow compared to private business.
• I'm going to go back before. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Chair offer back to us, and then we'll go to both of you. So what I heard Mr.
• We are back on the bill. It sounded like you had some other proposals on the bill. Thank you.
• Chair, on what happens when we claw back funds off reservation and on reservation, if you would.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And like I said, we added some funding back in for that item there.
• And again, that $38.1 million was added back in HAF or is going to be added back in HAF.
• Well, sorry, I'm waiting to put on a bill and they sent me back, and I'll be going back.
• And in the back of the bill on the non-recurring end...
• So those dollars flow directly back out. on aging 17%.

Keywords: 996, all