Transcript Highlights:

• But I do think there is room to tighten our rules in our regulated space.
• figuring out how to sort of balance that act.
• So the scale of our law enforcement team is about 75 sworn staff and about 54 of our line-level folks
• That in no way comes into our calculus when our team is out working on things.
• Does that advance our investigation further?

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Frank Damrow Jr. to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, Michelle Eddger to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and David Galavis to the State Park and Recreation Commission, each by 4-0 vote. The committee also approved a rule waiver to allow SB 1447 (health) to be heard after the policy committee deadline, and took up floor acknowledgments before moving to appointments requiring testimony. The committee then heard from Clint Kellam, nominee to lead the Department of Cannabis Control. Members focused heavily on cannabis labeling, youth protection, attractive-to-children packaging, the SB 540 educational pamphlet, and the department’s efforts to steer consumers from illicit to legal products. Kellam said the department’s role is not to promote increased consumption but to move existing consumption into the regulated market, and he described enforcement against illicit cultivation and retail, consumer education efforts, and a possible AI tool to help licensees review packaging. He also said the department would consider tighter packaging rules, including one-serving packaging, but emphasized the need for research and legislative collaboration. The committee voted 4-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate. The committee next heard from Jennifer Osborne, nominee to direct the Department of Industrial Relations. Questions centered on DIR’s handling of Cal/OSHA audit findings, labor commissioner backlogs, PAGA enforcement, staffing shortages, IT modernization, and how her administrative background would help address those issues. Osborne said DIR is working on revised Cal/OSHA policies and procedures, additional staffing and intake changes, new IT systems, and possible use of outside administrative law judges to reduce delays. She also clarified that the Civil Rights Department is not under DIR, but said she would follow up on concerns raised. Public commenters from employer groups, labor, and industry largely supported her nomination, and the committee approved her appointment 4-0 to move to the full Senate for confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• miles of state forest roads that provide the groundwork, or the network, for our forest industry work
• miles of state forest roads that provide the groundwork, or the network, for our forest industry work
• So resiliency kind of lends to it as we're working on, you know, our forests are successionally changing
• our forests are successionally you know our forests are successionally changing<00:26:21.240><c> and
• can include our our our thoughts on some can include our our our thoughts on some of<00:28:56.919><c>

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> overview of our legacy work and our overview of our legacy work and our partnership<00:12:55.680
• </c> our state parks and recreation areas. our state parks and recreation areas.
• So, um I'll get into our system.
• </c> coming to work with them in our parks. coming to work with them in our parks.
• and our people maintain it our cities and our people maintain it and<00:40:40.560><c> we</c><00:40:40.720

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto.
• And this be our motto: In God is our trust.
• Our inner cities continue to deteriorate across our country, and there is no need for that.
• Those things need to be fixed. We need to fix them as a team.
• All right, let's move to our senators. All right, let's move to our senators.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened for opening day of the second regular session of the 57th Legislature with ceremonial prayers, the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. Senate President Warren Petersen gave a farewell-style address highlighting his efforts to shift power toward members and committee chairs, preserve conservative policies, and deliver annual tax cuts, including a projected $1 billion cut this year. The chamber then recessed for an opening-day speech by Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller, who spoke about Arizona’s labor-force needs, workforce training, and GCU’s role in expanding access to education and middle-class jobs, including apprenticeships and technical programs tied to local employers. After returning to order, the Senate adopted its organizational rules for the session, including suspending rules so bills and resolutions could be read by number and short title only on first and second reading and by number and title only on third and final reading. Members also approved a motion to notify the House and Governor that the Senate was organized and ready for business, and the House later reported that it was likewise organized. The chamber then adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the President announced committee assignments for standing and statutory committees, including Appropriations, Education, Finance, Government, Military Affairs and Border Security, Natural Resources, Rules, Legislative Council, Legislative Audit, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The remainder of the session focused on points of personal privilege, with senators introducing family members, constituents, local officials, school leaders, law enforcement officers, tribal leaders, and advocacy guests. Several members used the occasion to emphasize issues they expect to work on this session, including education, public safety, housing, water, early childhood services, veterans, border security, and workforce development. The Senate also received a motion to request House consent for an adjournment schedule, and the body adjourned until Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. after announcing upcoming committee meetings and the first batch of bill introductions and references.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Climate Commitment Act is one of our main policies that will allow us to achieve our state's climate
• So our rule states that any fuel supplier So our rule states that any fuel supplier supplying 10,000
• But if you had definitions in our statute such as affiliated entities, Definitions in our statute, such
• Not under the, so the Energy Independence Act is applying to our electric utilities that are over 25,000
• Our PUD commissioner that we just spoke with represents a lot of our members.

Bills: HB2426 , HB2606

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> continuing to discuss that with our continuing to discuss that with our partners<00:09:28.959><c
• <00:13:36.600><c> state</c> weekends because our a lot of our state weekends because our a lot of our
• to manage our forests in the face of climate change.
• to manage our forests in the face of climate change.
• to our forest industry and what it means to our forest industry and the<00:58:41.440><c> environment

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These issues, opportunities, and threats facing our state's forests. And we ask for an aye vote.
• </c> act like ATF. act like ATF.
• the bill is going to be because this is our fix."
• </c> leaving our state. leaving our state.
• Bill forward because it gives our community more tools to act before a crisis becomes a tragedy.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our schools, our coaches, our local athletic associations are already capable of navigating these conversations
• There are real problems to fix.
• what we're focusing our time on.
• We elect our school boards. We elect our fire boards.
• Our problem is we are growing too fast. We are growing beyond our means.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in our districts know about it in our in our districts know about it that<00:39:28.240><c> this</c><
• </c> our rentals. our rentals.
• </c> hadn't come up in our in our activities. hadn't come up in our in our activities.
• </c> to fix that. So, thank you very much. to fix that. So, thank you very much.
• </c><02:34:57.520><c> our</c> going to be another tax on our our going to be another tax on our our citizens

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the State Capitol and to our committee hearing.
• Shame on us for taking this long to protect our kids.
• Please do the right thing for the future of our kids and our great state of California and support SB
• Please do the right thing for the future of our kids and our great state of California and support SB
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today. Thank you all.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Shame on us for taking this long to protect our kids.
• Please do the right thing for the future of our kids and our great state of California and support SB
• Our efforts throughout the state have mirrored the FDA.
• So 7-OH is really our concern.
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today. Thank you all.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety heard two bills. SB 99 by Senator Blakespear, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, would improve coordination between civilian and military law enforcement in domestic violence cases involving military protective orders (MPOs). The bill would require courts to check for MPOs in the NCIC system when considering restraining orders, allow MPOs to be admissible evidence, require civilian officers to notify military law enforcement of possible MPO violations, and allow local agencies to enter MOUs with the military. Supporters said the bill would close jurisdictional gaps that can leave survivors unprotected; the ACLU opposed it unless amended, citing due process concerns because MPOs are issued by commanders without court process. The committee discussed amendments to make notification and MOU provisions less automatic and to broaden local agency participation, then passed SB 99 to Judiciary on a 5-0 vote. SB 758 by Senator Umberg, as amended, would make the sale or distribution of products with unnaturally concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) a misdemeanor and would restrict nitrous oxide sales by tobacco retailers while preserving legitimate culinary and medicinal uses. Supporters, including local governments, law enforcement, and public safety advocates, described widespread misuse of nitrous oxide and 7-OH, especially among youth, and cited poisonings, injuries, and deaths. Opponents argued the bill would criminalize adults using kratom-related products for pain relief or harm reduction, questioned the scientific evidence, and urged a regulatory or public health approach instead of prohibition. Committee members largely agreed the issue raised public health questions and supported moving the bill forward with amendments; SB 758 passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shame on us for taking this long to protect our kids.
• Please do the right thing for the future of our kids and our great state of California and support SB
• I mean, I think our members would be happy with a ban on kratom as well.
• And I would say that in our research... Public safety input. Exactly.
• Okay, that completes our agenda for today. Thank you all.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety heard two bills. SB 99, by Senator Blakespear, would improve coordination between military and civilian law enforcement in domestic violence cases involving military protective orders. The author and a Department of Defense witness said the bill would help courts and police identify existing military protective orders, allow them to be considered in restraining order proceedings, require notification to military authorities when violations are suspected, and encourage memoranda of understanding between agencies. The ACLU California Action opposed unless amended, citing due process concerns because military protective orders are issued by commanders without court procedures. Members generally supported the bill as a way to protect survivors, and it passed the committee 5-0 to the Judiciary Committee. SB 758, by Senator Umberg, addressed nitrous oxide and concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products sold in retail settings. Supporters, including local officials, law enforcement groups, and parents, argued that nitrous oxide misuse and concentrated 7-OH products are harming youth and communities and that the bill would restrict sales while preserving legitimate culinary uses of nitrous oxide. Opponents, including kratom and drug policy advocates, argued the bill would criminalize adults, that 7-OH is a naturally occurring kratom component with limited evidence of severe harm when used alone, and that regulation rather than prohibition would be preferable. After discussion, the committee adopted amendments narrowing the bill and voted 5-0 to send SB 758 as amended to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the future, for our children and our grandchildren.
• They were created to protect our wetlands, forests, beaches, and diverse wildlife that call them home
• These spaces shape our identities, our leadership, and our connection to the planet.
• SBAT tells developers, you don't build over our springs, our trails, our history, without a fight, and
• Most of our privately owned forest land has been looking for another source of wood.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee first took up SB 80, the Parks Preservation Act, which would define state park purposes around conservation-based recreation and public access, prohibit uses such as golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, and hotels, require more public notice and advisory input on land management changes, and mandate reporting on park spending and maintenance backlogs. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with conservation groups, youth advocates, and other members of the public backing stronger protections for state parks. The bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 200, directing DEP to develop a statewide waste reduction and recycling plan, and CS for SB 496, which clarifies that timeshare facilities are governed by Chapter 721 and only need annual board meetings. CS for CS for SB 1404, dealing with illegal gambling, was amended to add reporting requirements, tighten penalties, preempt local gambling legalization, and create a process for vetting certain machines and veteran-service-organization gaming questions; the bill drew significant concern from veterans groups and others over vague machine definitions and the need for clearer standards, but it was still reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 622 to allow pari-mutuel permit holders to lease facilities across horse-racing classes. The committee next approved CS for CS for SB 712 after adopting a strike-all and amendment that covered synthetic turf rules, change-order timelines, public works scoring, elevator and alarm contractor issues, mass timber code updates, pool and spa contractor scope changes, spaceport building-code exemptions, and solar/energy-storage inspection provisions. Support came from timber, construction, and industry groups, while pool contractors objected to parts of the scope changes. The committee also reported favorably CS for CS for SB 1742, a major condominium reform bill that pauses reserve funding after milestone inspections, expands financial flexibility, adds disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules, and increases data collection and oversight; members from both parties praised the sponsor’s work on condo issues. Finally, the committee approved SB 1574 on renewable natural gas infrastructure and SB 1580 authorizing DEP coastal resiliency public-private partnerships. It also passed CS for SB 1760, which requires certain public officials and agency leaders to meet Florida residency or proximity requirements. The last bill, SB 820, would codify the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s office; while supporters said it would permanently support faith-based and community organizations and improve coordination, several senators raised concerns about church-state separation, the office’s ties to Hope Florida, and whether codifying it could make the program more political. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not separate out our SAU budget. It is part of all of our budgets.
• </c> our revenue is we don't know uh what our our revenue is we don't know uh what our uh<01:07:23.720
• our warrant, our voting warrant, and so those names are on a public list.
• </c> coverage throughout our coverage throughout our state<04:07:57.119><c> that's</c><04:07:57.319><
• </c><04:09:58.960><c> of</c> Telecommunications Act of Telecommunications Act of 1996<04:10:01.159><c

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• policy act, as well as carryout bags.
• The enactment of CETA has really pushed our utility to reimagine how our grid is powered and operates
• But we worked with both our stores in Oregon and our stores in Washington.
• through our self-checkouts.
• We as an industry are here to partner with our environmental friends, our cities, our municipalities,

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Bills: HB145 , SB29 , SB37 , SB64 , HB279 , HB292 , SB35 , SB40 , SB43 , SB48 , SB96 , SB143 , HB132 , SB20 , SB21 , SB101 , SJR1 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM30 , HM52 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB2 , SB264 , SB241

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening

Transcript Highlights:

• to better all of our lives.
• Lord, you know that our session is to better all of our lives.
• serve our communities.
• These are our neighbors; these are our professionals.
• These are our neighbors; these are our professionals, our blue-collar and white-collar workers—the folks

Bills: HB145 , HB164 , HR1 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HB99 , HB206 , HB213 , HB270 , SB104 , SB193 , HB38 , HB254 , HB256 , SB58 , SB64 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB253

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County

Transcript Highlights:

• to better all of our lives.
• Lord, you know that our session is To better all of our lives.
• Speaker and gentlelady, our local communities and our cities, our counties, pay lobbyists.
• These are our neighbors. These are our professionals, our blue-collar, our white-collar workers.
• Our blue-collar, our white-collar workers, the folks that we talk about in these halls and in our community

Bills: HB145 , HB164 , HR1 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HB99 , HB206 , HB213 , HB270 , SB104 , SB193 , HB38 , HB254 , HB256 , SB58 , SB64 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB253

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County

Summary: The House opened with quorum, invocation, pledge, and several announcements recognizing guests and Early Childhood Day at the Roundhouse, including remarks supporting New Mexico’s universal child care efforts. The chamber then received and adopted a long series of committee reports, moving multiple bills forward, including HB 303, SB 96, HB 195, HB 279, HB 292 (with a Judiciary substitute), SB 30, HB 234, SB 35, SB 40, SB 43, HB 153 (with an Appropriations substitute), HB 253, HB 255, HB 287, HB 371 (with an Appropriations substitute), SB 143, HB 248 (with a Taxation and Revenue substitute), HB 309, SB 48, and enrollment/signing reports for memorials. The House also received Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for SB 41, which would eliminate the statute of limitations for certain sexual crimes and was referred to Judiciary. The main floor debate centered on House Judiciary Committee substitute for HB 99, a medical malpractice reform bill. Supporters said it would balance patient compensation with provider stability by capping punitive damages, raising the burden of proof for punitive damages, and limiting when such claims can be pleaded. Several members described the bill as the product of months of bipartisan work and argued it would help retain doctors, especially in rural areas. The House passed HB 99 on final passage by a vote of 16-3. The House also passed HB 66, expanding the health care provider loan repayment program, by 69-0; HB 306, addressing unexpected patient-facing facility fees, by 69-0; HB 38, adding wheelchairs to insurance coverage for certain prostheses-related benefits, by 69-0; HB 20, allowing Native American applicants to request a distinguishing designation on driver’s licenses and ID cards, by 66-3; and HB 253, preserving and regulating virtual education with an emergency clause, by 69-0. The chamber then took up HB 213, which expands optometrists’ scope of practice to include certain laser eye procedures. A proposed amendment requiring patients to sign a disclosure acknowledging that optometrists are not MDs or DOs and did not attend medical school was debated at length, with supporters framing it as informed consent and opponents calling it demeaning and unnecessary. The House tabled that amendment 35-19, and the underlying bill continued in debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is part of a broader vision for our people in our region, our homeland, larger.
• It is part of a broader vision for our people in our region.
• to change the conditions of our lives.
• And that is a part of our history.
• table and sustain our communities.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our constituents are asking us to act with urgency to address the cost of living crisis.
• But this is our bill, the Assembly's bill, our voice, our vehicle in that house to make sure we do the
• Supporting our educators and especially our students.
• I want to thank our colleague.
• Our firefighters and our incarcerated hand crews deserve better.

Keywords: 988, house, all