Transcript Highlights:

• Members, 1794 creates the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Vacancy Registry Act.

Bills: SB1421 , SB1427 , SB1484 , SB1503 , SB1553 , SB1557 , SB1564 , SB1566 , SB1567 , SB1591 , SB1642 , SB1794 , SB1837 , SB2044

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: mental health, nonphysical intervention, training, youth care, conflict resolution, staff training, pediatric screenings, type 1 diabetes, health care providers, parental consent, reimbursement, state funding, public health, medicolegal investigation, medical examiner, coroner, sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden unexpected infant death, SUID

Transcript Highlights:

• Which food bank are you speaking of? The food group it's called.
• Cuz bank is actually hunger solutions?
• And so, are have you changed food bank.
• are</c><00:42:23.599><c> you</c> the food bank.
• Which food bank are you the food bank. Which food bank are you speaking<00:42:24.240><c> of?

Bills: SF1959 , HF2444 , SF2298 , HF2445 , SF2216 , HF2443 , HF2130 , HF1943 , HF2436 , HF2442

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Eli Lieberman, executive director of the Washington State Green Bank.
• Green banks across the country have proven this model works.
• Acting Chair Callan and Ranking Member Steele and members of the committee.
• Acting Charcalan and ranking members, Seal and members of the committee.
• Thank you, Madam Acting Chair, temporary chair. It's acting chair, right? I'll figure it out.

Summary: The House Capital Budget Committee opened its first hearing of the session on HB 2295 and briefly heard a presentation from OFM Senior Budget Advisor Jen Masterson on Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget. She said the proposal uses about $396 million in new appropriations, leaving roughly $5.4 million in remaining bond authority, and includes major investments in housing, urgent state facility needs, climate-related projects, K-12 school safety and modernization, and higher education minor works. The housing package was the largest share, with $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund, plus funding for homeownership, preservation, manufactured housing communities, and flood-impacted home repair. Committee members asked follow-up questions about Rainier School and juvenile rehabilitation projects, and staff said Rainier School was on the plan and that juvenile rehabilitation funding included flexible capacity funding and facility improvements. Public testimony was largely supportive of the governor’s housing, education, climate, and natural resources proposals, while several speakers urged changes. Housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, community land trusts, and service providers backed the Housing Trust Fund and homeownership funding, including support for manufactured housing preservation and transit-oriented affordable housing. School and college representatives supported small district modernization, seismic safety, lead remediation, and minor works funding, while some asked for additional support for specific projects such as Cascadia College’s new building, Central Washington University’s feeder line replacement, and WSU Spokane health education renovations. Natural resource and tribal witnesses supported salmon recovery and community forest investments, but asked for more funding for RCO community forest and estuary programs. A major recurring concern was the proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance Account, which cities, counties, sewer and water districts, and the Public Works Board said would jeopardize low-interest loans already awarded for local infrastructure projects and shift costs onto distressed communities. Other testimony opposed the budget’s omission of certain projects, including the University of Washington’s power plant decarbonization work and a Spokane cultural hub, while some local governments requested funding for wastewater and flood-control projects. No votes were taken; the chair closed the public hearing after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, USDA support has been cut at food banks across the country.
• food bank, make deliveries, and by going to the Alexandria Food Bank is where, you know, you see people
• We currently only sell to Second Harvest Food Bank.
• The five regional food banks support over— The five regional food banks support over...
• Food banks are no different.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• up an automatic payment, electronic payment option—either a credit card, a debit account, or their bank
• We're going to have JJ talk a little bit about the Retail Sales Installment Act and how that applies
• And they also, as I said earlier, have to provide access to the information about their bank account
• to in a moment, there is a provision that the Attorney General's office can enforce that act.
• is a provision that the Attorney General's office can enforce that act.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1212, the Survey All Vulnerable Electric Transformers Act, the SAVE Act, requires utilities
• House Bill 1212, the Survey All Vulnerable Electric Transformers Act, the SAVE Act, requires utilities
• “The FOI, the Federal Information Act. I mean, Freedom of Information Act, what if that happens?
• That is a request for bank records on a bank customer.
• So banks and credit unions are exempt.”

Bills: HB241 , HB267 , HB467 , HB673 , HB744 , HB798 , HB1026 , HB1027 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1212 , HB1230

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: financial records, consumer protection, banking law, disclosure, service of process, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board, residential roof, coastal zone, fortified roof, building standards, construction code, insurance, hurricane resilience, safety, security cameras, abandoned property

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Edward Gillen, House No. 5528.
• An act modernizing financial departments in the city of Holyoke, House No. 5448. House No. 5418.
• An act modernizing financial departments in the city of Holyoke, House No. 5448.
• An act relative to amending the traffic commission in the city of Westfield, House No. 5449.
• The House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Edward Gillen, House No. 5528.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bank gets a hold of her. Said, hey, someone stole your check out of your mailbox.
• They did that, actually cashed it, actually went to the bank, and the bank found it.
• It was either the business or the bank itself, but it's either the parcel number or the routing number
• We have several instances where banking, a lot of people do the online banking, where the banking institution
• So, because there will be somebody, if we leave it like this, there will be somebody— The acts beyond

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:30.000><c> trust</c> first division is the banking trust first division is the banking trust
• </c><00:03:04.519><c> department</c> jurisdiction uh the banking department jurisdiction uh the banking
• Last year, last legislative cycle, we did pass the Money Transmitter Model Act, which is an act passed
• Last year, last legislative cycle, we did pass the Money Transmitter Model Act, which is an act passed
• </c> myself very lucky at the banking myself very lucky at the banking Department<00:10:25.120><c> I<

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hence why this digital financial space with their existing bank or credit union.
• This is the part of the bill that banks have concerns about.
• That is one of the sticking points that the banking industry does not agree with. Why?
• Senate Bill 1036 by Senator Grayson, an act related to land use.
• Senate Bill 1036 by Senator Grayson, an act related to land use.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Paul Stavoski, House No. 4426, comes from the House
• The House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Enkita Gagendra Patel, an employee of the Department
• Third reading of a bill: An Act establishing a charter for the city of Medford, House No. 4263.
• sick leave bank for Alex?
• Third reading of a bill: An Act establishing a sick leave bank for Alexander Schwartz, an employee of

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted several resolutions, including commendations for Newell Tillman’s 20 years of volunteer service in Westford and congratulations to the Flint Memorial Library on its 150th anniversary. The chamber also suspended Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12 as needed to take up several House papers and petitions, referring petitions to the appropriate committees and advancing two House sick leave bank bills for Paul Stavoski and Enkita Gagendra Patel to third reading. The Senate then considered House No. 4263, a bill establishing a charter for the city of Medford. Senator Jalen offered and the Senate adopted an amendment replacing the bill text, after which the bill was passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed to be engrossed House No. 4323, establishing a sick leave bank for Alexander Schwartz of the Department of State Police. On final passage, the Senate enacted House No. 4364, authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant certain easements to the town of Bourne, and sent it to the Governor for approval. The Senate adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar. It then agreed to adjourn in memory of Lorraine Patricia Steele of Boston, observed a moment of silence, and adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Kathleen Roder, an employee of the Office of the Chief Medical
• Food prices remain high, and local food banks are stretched Food prices remain high, and local food banks
• House Bill 4521, an act establishing a sick leave bank for Kathleen Rodriguez, an employee of the Office
• a sick leave bank for Candy J.
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Candy J.

Summary: The Senate first adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4521, establishing a sick leave bank for Kathleen Roder of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, by standing vote, with 8 in favor and none opposed. The chamber also suspended rules to refer several petitions to committee, including a resolution to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications and a petition on officer training related to stage suicides. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including legislation clarifying the duties of the Adjutant General and enhancing access and support for military-connected families, both with new drafts, and a bill designating Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, which was ordered to a third reading. A major portion of the session focused on the House’s nonconcurrence in the Senate’s amendment to the fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget and the appointment of a conference committee. Senators from both parties debated how to respond to the federal government shutdown and the threatened lapse in SNAP benefits, with repeated calls for the Commonwealth to use available state resources to prevent hunger, protect vulnerable residents, and seek federal reimbursement. Several members criticized the governor’s use of taxpayer-funded communications on the issue, while others defended the administration’s limited initial response and emphasized fiscal constraints. The Senate ultimately insisted on its amendment and appointed a conference committee consisting of Senators Rodrigues, Comerford, and O’Connor. The chamber also passed several local and special bills, including measures exempting Natick’s assistant fire chief from civil service, authorizing sewer service in Sharon, changing the term of the elected moderator in Holden, updating Medford’s linkage exaction program, and establishing sick leave banks for Candy J. Pike and Kathleen Roder. The Senate later adopted amended resolutions calling on the President of the United States to release contingency funds for SNAP during the shutdown, adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The banks didn't go bankrupt.
• It's time to act.
• It's time to act.
• It's time to act.
• It's time to act.

Bills: HR77

Keywords: Fred Korematsu, civil liberties, constitutional rights, Japanese internment, historical education, national reflection, personal justice

Transcript Highlights:

• There is required a standing vote: an act establishing a sick leave bank for Jato Charlotton, an employee
• If there is no objection, one matter will be taken out of the orders of the day: an act establishing
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Stephen Forget, an employee of the Worcester County Sheriff's
• The Committee on Rules of the two branches acting concurrently.
• One matter comes before the Senate for its final passage: an act establishing a sick leave bank for Jato

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine matters. It adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4182, a sick leave bank bill for Jato Charlotton of the Department of Transportation, and later passed that bill to be enacted and sent it to the Governor. The Senate also adopted resolutions honoring the 14th Dalai Lama and congratulating two Eagle Scouts, Jack Geyser and Windsor Sheppler. The chamber then considered H. 4103, establishing a sick leave bank for Stephen Forget of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. The bill was taken up out of the orders of the day, ordered to a third reading, and passed to be engrossed. A House bill, H. 4230, establishing a sick leave bank for James Caruso of the Department of Transportation, was also advanced when the Senate suspended the rules and ordered it to a third reading. The Committee on Rules reported a petition and bill from Pavel Payano to expand access to the family self-sufficiency program in Massachusetts. The Senate suspended its rules and Joint Rule 12 so the matter could be referred to the committees on housing. At the close of session, the Senate adopted an order to reconvene on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're the state's largest statewide food bank, partnering with more than 350 food banks and pantries
• , which is the largest food bank here in Pierce County.
• Food banks are not revenue-generating entities.
• act, or if it is found to violate the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or
• the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 5808, a proposal to require nonprofit health carriers with “excess surplus” to pay 10% of that surplus into the state health care affordability account for Cascade Care Savings. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $330 million one time in 2027, while the Office of Insurance Commissioner would have implementation costs. Supporters argued the bill would redirect consumer premium dollars to help people afford coverage, while opponents from health plans said reserves are needed for solvency, claims, and capital needs and warned the bill would destabilize nonprofit insurers. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2254, which would let the Partnership Access Line assessment cover administrative costs; HCA and Seattle Children’s supported it as a technical fix that saves general fund dollars, and a child psychiatrist asked that savings be reinvested in behavioral health services. House Bill 2385, which extends deadlines for the Medicaid Access Program because of federal restrictions on new provider taxes, also drew support from provider groups seeking future Medicaid rate increases. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6286, which would increase fines on private detention facilities that deny Department of Health inspections and dedicate the fines to an account for community repair and assistance to harmed individuals and families. Supporters, including Tacoma’s mayor and family members affected by detention, framed the bill as an accountability measure; fiscal staff estimated Department of Health costs of about $395,000 in the 2025-27 biennium. Senate Bill 6006 would exempt food banks from sales tax on certain services enacted last session, with food bank and tribal representatives saying the savings would go directly to food and operations. Senate Bill 6351 would create exemptions from the new sales tax on live presentations for before- and after-school care, arts and cultural nonprofit classes, and K-12 school purchases; school districts, arts groups, and PTA representatives supported it, while asking for clarifying language and broader nonprofit exemptions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 would let cities and counties create local sales tax remittance programs for affordable housing projects, and housing builders, Habitat affiliates, counties, and city officials supported it as a local tool to lower development costs. In executive session, the committee received briefings on several tax and spending bills and then voted to advance multiple measures. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5949, which narrows a B&O tax exemption related to insurance premiums; a proposed retroactivity-removing amendment failed. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6129 on cigarette, tobacco, and nicotine taxes after rejecting several amendments, including proposals to study the tax policy or replace the bill with illicit-market enforcement language. The committee also passed Senate Bill 6228 repealing a preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers, Senate Bill 6231 repealing data center sales tax exemptions, and Second Substitute Senate Bill 5965, which retained a bag-fee approach rather than a full ban after adopting an amendment. The committee then returned to public hearing and began testimony on Senate Bill 6353, a major Working Connections Child Care bill that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, lower the provider rate target from the 85th to the 75th percentile, and make other program changes; the briefing was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• By the thin air that you now owe the bank.
• The existing system, where you have your bank account, money comes from your bank account, either goes
• So that act is now being discussed. The Genius Act has already passed.
• Does, and they're called the Genius Act.
• So much like Silicon Valley Bank, in 2023, when we saw a number of people at that bank lose their assets

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Northeast Bank was established in 1947 by a handful of local business people who believe banking services
• Specifically, we are opposed to requiring banks to collect sales tax on certain bank fees.
• </c> Northeast Bank is a community ba Bank Northeast Bank is a community ba Bank based<00:37:23.960><
• to collect sales tax on requireing Banks to collect sales tax on certain<00:37:46.359><c> Bank</c><00
• banking services.

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> custodial accounts and help local banks custodial accounts and help local banks and<00:18:29.840
• Banks should be people should use the bank, right? I did. Credit unions are great.
• Banks should be people should use the bank, right? I did. Credit unions are great.
• </c> used like with employers to bank used like with employers to bank accounts<00:36:16.640><c> for<
• </c> before you act. Yes. before you act. Yes. &gt;&gt; Very<01:17:48.239><c> good.

Bills: HF3604 , HF2236 , HF3709 , HF3766 , HF2400

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The food banks would be the recipient of this. We have seen major cuts in funding and food banking.
• And we sell to Second Harvest Food Bank, which And we sell to Second Harvest Food Bank, which has been
• But with the food bank, some people get the wrong idea But with the food bank, some people get the wrong
• idea about food banks.
• You have food banks here, and I heard one say that the funding is going to the food banks.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several budget requests tied to health and human services. Louisiana Children’s Advocacy Centers asked for continued support and a supplemental appropriation of $1.173 million for infrastructure and standardization, explaining that the money would expand use of the Guardify digital evidence system, improve chain of custody, and reduce reliance on DVDs. Baton Rouge and statewide CAC leaders said prior funding helped eliminate a therapy wait list and speed services for abused children. Members asked detailed questions about the digital system, MDT coordination, and how the request related to SB 237, which would strengthen multidisciplinary review of child abuse cases. The Alzheimer’s Association sought $824,000 to sustain the dementia care specialist program, saying it helps families navigate services, keep loved ones at home longer, and reduce Medicaid costs. AARP and the Live at Home Coalition also testified for 750 additional Community Choice waiver slots at a state cost of $3.3 million, arguing that home- and community-based care is cheaper than nursing homes and that the current wait list is more than 11,000 people. Legislators discussed the size of the need, the state’s long-term care spending mix, and whether more support should go to family caregivers and community-based options. Testimony also focused on disability support services, substance use treatment, and developmental disability provider rates. A parent and direct support worker described the Children’s Choice waiver’s 20-hour cap and low pay, saying it makes it hard to retain caregivers and meet the needs of medically fragile children. Odyssey House and O’Brien House asked for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates under ASAM 4, warned that removal of room-and-board payments and weak Medicaid eligibility pathways are reducing access, and called for more oversight of sober living homes; members questioned outcomes data, length of stay, and links to homelessness. Finally, the Arc of Louisiana said the LDH rate study confirmed underfunding and supported a $53.6 million increase in state general funds, with local ARC leaders describing the services they provide and the need for higher direct support professional wages.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the rule is that if there's a receiver, they can take all your bank accounts.
• Actually, I think it is. all into a bank account, they lose that exemption identity.
• Bank garnishment is incredibly costly and inefficient, and the bank gets their attorney's fees first.
• into a debt that the bank owes you.
• You can still garnish a bank account. It's a pain, but nobody lost money.

Bills: HB 1193 , HB2495 , HB2733 , HB3104 , HB3395 , HB4325 , SB3009

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence