Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:23.720><c> all</c><00:09:23.880><c> of</c> America to the proposal before us all of America
• to the proposal before us all of our<00:09:24.160><c> members</c><00:09:24.600><c> sympathize</c><00
• empathy and the lack of benevolence is the precise thing that brought us to the coalition supporting
• This is new to you, but not to all of us that were here the last couple of years.
• of us that were to you but not to all of us that were here<01:24:39.159><c> the</c><01:24:39.280><c>

Bills: HF1976

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Paul Zirix, the Secretary of the State Election Board, and I appreciate the chair working with us
• Oklahoma, under our current law, is allowed to register using their parents' last place of residence
• offices, but this is something that I think brings us in line with some of the other states.
• We know that in any type of employment, there are cases of retaliation.
• How is this justifiable, and where's the fairness of this?

Bills: HB2938 , HB2939 , HB3306 , HB3722 , HB4113 , HB4123

Committee: House Elections and Ethics

Summary: The Ethics and Elections Committee heard several election-related bills. HB 2938, as amended by PCS, would restrict certain overseas voters who are not military or dependents from voting in Oklahoma state and local elections unless they were bona fide residents with an intent to return, while still preserving federal voting rights where applicable. The Secretary of the State Election Board explained the measure as a tightening of existing law and said counties would flag affected voters for federal-only absentee ballots. After questions about how intent would be determined and how ballots would be administered, the committee passed the bill 5-1. HB 2939 would remove outdated references to fax machines from election law at the request of the State Election Board. Testimony noted fax returns are now rare, limited to a very small number of military and overseas voters, and are less secure than current electronic and mail options. The committee passed the bill 6-0. HB 3306, as amended, lowers the threshold for requiring a candidate committee filing from $1,000 to $400, with the author describing it as a transparency measure to ensure more candidates disclose fundraising and spending. The committee passed that bill 6-0. The committee also passed HB 3722, with a PCS clarifying that voter registration applicants must actively choose a party affiliation rather than being defaulted to unaffiliated if they leave the field blank. The bill passed 5-1. HB 413, with an amendment, clarified that people with felony convictions regain voting rights once all incarceration, parole, supervision, probation, and related obligations, including fines and fees, are completed; the committee passed it 6-0. Finally, HB 4123, which would bar former school employees terminated for cause from running for school board in the same district, drew concerns about fairness and the breadth of “for cause.” The author said the bill was aimed at serious misconduct cases and agreed to work on clarifying language, and the bill was laid over until the next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• laws which has the use of force at its very core, in which claims to emanate from God.
• Separate division of the police force.
• , the sole purpose of which is to prevent the use in our state courts of any body of religious or cultural
• uses the same type of language Oklahoma did.
• I would add, I don't think any of us are afraid of any particular position on this committee.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• way and allow our economy to flourish and let us get ahead of the affordability challenge we have in
• Attorneys want to make sure other attorneys aren't breaking the law because it gives the rest of us a
• That tells us we're getting it wrong. It could be any number of things.
• The governor, of course, proposes using some of that to pay for that exact thing.
• Are one of the ways would you use Climate Commitment Act funds going to this session.

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a session-opening media availability on the second day of Washington’s 60-day legislative session, criticizing Governor Bob Ferguson’s State of the State address and previewing their priorities. They said the central issue this session is affordability, and argued the state should respond with less spending, fewer taxes, and less regulation rather than new taxes or expanded government. They also said they expect a major fight over the operating budget, warned against using the rainy day fund or weakening the balanced-budget requirement, and said the state should look for savings in areas where caseloads are down but spending continues to rise, including reducing middle management in state agencies. A major focus was the governor’s proposal for a tax on high earners, which Republicans repeatedly described as an income tax and said they would oppose. They argued it would eventually expand beyond millionaires, said voters have rejected income taxes repeatedly, and said a constitutional amendment would not pass. They also criticized past tax increases such as the capital gains tax, death tax, document recording fees, and climate-related charges, saying Democrats have not provided meaningful tax relief for working families. Republican leaders said the Working Families Tax Credit is one area where they can support using existing Climate Commitment Act revenue, and they suggested other uses for those funds, including transportation and wildfire prevention. The leaders also discussed public safety and immigration, saying the governor and Democrats have been inconsistent on federal law enforcement and that coordination between agencies is essential. They said concerns about masked federal agents and immigration enforcement should be left to investigations rather than political conclusions. On child care and DCYF, they said allegations of fraud and waste should be investigated through audits or other oversight, and they rejected the idea that looking into possible fraud is offensive to honest providers. They also said they see potential bipartisan overlap on transportation and housing, but argued the governor’s housing plan relies too much on public spending and not enough on permitting reform, Growth Management Act changes, and energy code changes to increase supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• consent that can authorize all future uses and disclosures of their part to records for the purposes
• We don't need legal process at all that blood and all of that evidence is available to us because of
• It is believed that a medication inside of the upon I use DUIs, the example could cause impairment.
• Yes, that will help us to go out and target individuals who want to commit acts of violence so we can
• and experienced the history of behaviors that would justify that.

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, using some of the new data we are gathering as a result of improved data gathering, some
• and more, there has been some use of AI in this line of work.
• He has reduced the backlog despite a forced workforce reduction of 15% due to lack of funding.
• the number of challenges that were in front of us.
• Clear that up and gives us more resources for our constituents, which I think all of us should take seriously

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first took up several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Trinidad Solis, M.D., and Gerald Talbert, M.D., to the Medical Board of California. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, with roll calls on each item showing unanimous support from members present and the items left open for additional votes before final tallying. The main public business was the confirmation hearing for George Cardona, J.D., for a second term as Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California. Cardona described reforms made since taking office, including new conflict-of-interest and gift rules, stronger investigative requirements, efforts to reduce backlog and improve efficiency, and monitoring of discipline disparities identified in prior studies. Senators questioned him about safeguards after the Girardi matter, the John Eastman discipline case, racial and ethnic disparities in attorney discipline, unauthorized practice of law by notarios, staffing shortages, and the use of AI in filings. Public witnesses from the State Bar, SEIU Local 1000, and others spoke in support. The committee voted 3-0 to advance Cardona’s appointment to the full Senate. The committee then heard Laura Enderton Speed, J.D., for Executive Director of the State Bar. She said her priorities would be restoring public trust, improving the discipline system, addressing the February 2025 bar exam problems, and strengthening fiscal stability and internal controls. Members asked about the State Bar’s structural budget deficit, the remote administration failures in the February exam, safeguards against undisclosed gifts and conflicts, and the status of audits and investigations. Supporters from the State Bar, the civil defense bar, SEIU Local 1000, and a longtime colleague testified in favor. The committee approved her appointment 5-0 to move to the full Senate. At the end of the meeting, members also approved the remaining governor’s appointments and procedural items, and the chair thanked Senator Jones for his service on the committee before adjourning the public portion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every one of us here, we believe that education matters.
• c><01:05:27.039><c> state</c><01:05:27.200><c> of</c> use are outside of the state of use are outside
• </c> outbursts for some of us when we speak outbursts for some of us when we speak and<01:52:24.239><
• Why are we using the median income of our state versus...
• </c><03:42:13.120><c> us</c> vote of the uh of the bill before us vote of the uh of the bill before us

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a very traumatic thing for all of us.
• The money can then be used, transferred around; it's just part of the budget of the department.
• Heap's point about the ability of funds to be used as slush funds... ...that Mr.
• Heap's point about the ability of funds to be used as slush funds at the discretion of departments, and
• Heap's point about the ability of funds to be used as slush funds as a discretion of departments if those

Committee: House House Regulatory Oversight Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met for its first hearing of the session, took roll, introduced members and staff, and reviewed committee rules and amendment deadlines. The chair also announced that video recording would not be allowed in the room and set the order and speaking limits for the day’s bills. The committee heard HB 2248, the Arizona Medical Freedom Act, which would bar governmental entities, businesses, schools, and ticket issuers from denying employment, entry, services, or participation based on whether a person has or has not received a medical intervention. Supporters framed it as protecting bodily autonomy, parental rights, and freedom from medical discrimination. Opponents, including physicians, child care and public health advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could undermine vaccination policies, school and child care illness controls, and protections for immunocompromised people. The bill passed on a 3-2 vote. The committee then heard HB 2086, which would prohibit governmental entities and businesses from requiring vaccination or masks/face coverings, with limited exceptions for workplace safety and infection control. Supporters said it would prevent government coercion and protect individual liberty and business freedom; opponents warned it would interfere with private business decisions and public health measures. After testimony and debate over the scope of the bill and the relevance of Jacobson v. Massachusetts, the committee approved HB 2086 on a 3-2 vote. Finally, the committee considered HB 2688, which would require the Arizona Department of Administration to identify state budget positions vacant for at least 150 days and direct budget units to eliminate those positions each fiscal year, with some exceptions such as Corrections and DPS. The sponsor said the bill was intended to reduce waste and prevent vacant positions from functioning as slush funds, while critics raised concerns about hard-to-fill specialized roles. The committee passed HB 2688 on a 3-2 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a very traumatic thing for all of us.
• The money can then be used, transferred around, is just part of the budget of the department.
• Heap's point about the ability of funds to be used as slush funds... ...that Mr.
• Heap's point about the ability of funds to be used as slush funds at the discretion of departments, if
• Heap's point about the ability of funds to be used as slush funds as a discretion of departments if those

Bills: HB2086 , HB2248 , HB2688

Committees: House Regulatory Oversight , House House Regulatory Oversight Committee of Reference

Keywords: vaccination mandates, mask requirements, public health, government entities, COVID-19, medical freedom, healthcare mandates, employment requirements, government regulation, vacant positions, state budget, government efficiency, employment, full-time equivalent positions

Transcript Highlights:

• We're on, Department of Finance. Give us some good news.
• I think we've said this time and again in this hearing: if all of us support rail, many of us support
• And you're saying all of us have to, we have to.
• One, can you provide us an overview of the Salton Sea proposals in the May Revision when you come back
• Additionally, we are deeply concerned about the continued use of the budget process to make fundamental

Transcript Highlights:

• do due diligence with us this morning as we debate and carry out the fundamental rights of our citizens
• As we weather the storm, bring us into a place of... ...the storm, bring us into a place of repentance
• the cops do not have complaints of excessive force or rude or discourteous behavior.
• I know you said it's about 10 yards; most of us get it, like basically sitting...
• Most of us get it, like basically sitting, watching TV or on the football field.

Bills: HB403 , HB224

Committee: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, HB224, Alabama, obstructing governmental operations, first responder, emergency responder, police, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, public safety, harassment, interference with emergency personnel, crime, Class A misdemeanor, emergency scene

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> the</c> to justify the preservation of the to justify the preservation of the evidence<00:37:29.680
• ><00:59:51.280><c> um</c> going to make felons of all of us who um going to make felons of all of us
• , and amends the definition of disaster and emergency to limit the use of emergency powers except to
• disaster and emergency to limit the of disaster and emergency to limit the use<01:08:03.520><c> of</
• </c><01:08:46.159><c> for</c> which of course has been with us for which of course has been with us for

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills related to bribery and public corruption. On SB 2249, which would increase penalties for bribery under certain circumstances, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the measure, arguing that Hawaii’s current class B felony penalty is probationable and too weak to secure cooperation in corruption cases, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Snyder decision narrowed federal bribery prosecutions. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that elevating bribery to a class A felony and making it non-probationable was excessive, overbroad, and would remove judicial discretion. Multiple individuals also testified in support. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about removing deferred acceptance of plea provisions and asked HPD about the $20,000 threshold; the prosecutor said alternative charges could still be used in plea bargaining, and HPD said the threshold aligns with first-degree theft. The committee also discussed how current law tolls the bribery statute of limitations while an official remains in office, with the prosecutor explaining it can extend up to six years total. The committee then heard SB 2494, which would set a nine-year statute of limitations for bribery offenses. The Public Defender opposed the extension, saying the justification based on the length of federal investigations was too broad and that bribery already has a longer limitations period than most felonies. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill, saying bribery cases often involve coordination with federal investigators, that federal and state evidence-gathering methods may differ, and that a longer period would help ensure admissible evidence and allow state prosecution when federal law no longer applies. Members asked whether there were public examples of cases lost to the current limitations period; the prosecutor said he was not aware of any publicly available examples, but maintained nine years was a reasonable period. The committee also considered SB 2737, which would create a misdemeanor for failure by a state or county elected official to report bribery. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and suggested changing the term to “public servant” for consistency with existing law. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the intent but warned the reporting requirement could create Fifth Amendment issues for witnesses who might otherwise be useful in grand jury proceedings. The bill drew broad public support, with 33 supporters and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up SB 3071, which revises sex trafficking and promoting prostitution statutes by redefining “profits from prostitution” and adding an affirmative defense for certain lawful transactions. The Public Defender opposed the measure, saying it still could reach people without the required criminal intent and that the affirmative defense language could be applied unevenly. The Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported the bill, saying it better addresses concerns raised by the State v. Ibarra decision while closing loopholes that allow traffickers to disguise profits as loans or gifts. The prosecutor emphasized that traffickers are sophisticated and can structure transactions to evade current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• May every roadblock direct us to new pathways of clarity.
• c><00:13:44.560><c> it</c><00:13:44.720><c> is</c> familiar to all of all of us, but it is familiar to
• all of all of us, but it is simply<00:13:45.560><c> a</c><00:13:45.680><c> federal</c><00:13:46.040>
• They would have to turn over patient data to justify their use of 340B drugs to private drug companies
• </c><00:23:46.720><c> drugs</c><00:23:47.200><c> to</c> to justify their use of 340B drugs to to justify

Transcript Highlights:

• I use she/her pronouns, and I'm a very, very proud child of immigrants.
• Help us prevent the tsunami of evictions of most of our vulnerable residents who would be left with no
• That is just one of several mutual aid efforts many of us have taken on to help preserve the dignity,
• That is just one of several mutual aid efforts many of us have taken on to help preserve the dignity,
• all of us to do before and it's time for all of us to do our<01:27:01.840><c> part.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> request for us to ask an accounting of request for us to ask an accounting of your<00:31:20.559>
• A lot of us up here do not think that you guys are operating in the best interest of our tax of the citizens
• main with 3,970 feet of 8-inch sewer force main.
• feet of 30-inch force main 11,000 linear feet of 30-inch force main connecting<01:14:35.600><c> the</
• sewer</c><01:15:39.920><c> force</c> ft of linear feet of 8 in sewer force ft of linear feet of 8 in

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including welcoming new committee member Senator Reginald Thomas, approving the minutes, and receiving a correspondence report on several information items. Those items included University of Kentucky research equipment funding, UK capital project funding using federal/private funds, debt issues from McGoffin County and Owen County school districts, lease modifications by the Division of Real Properties, asset preservation project revisions at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) information on Kentucky Wired critical infrastructure. The main discussion focused on a dispute over the Kentucky Wired communication shelters, or “huts,” and related payments under KCNA’s agreement with Asellicom/Excel. Brad Kilby of Asellicom testified that KCNA had not paid for the huts, that Asellicom had not received the alleged $8 million or any later payment, and that Asellicom remained the legal owner. Committee members pressed him on whether payment had been received, whether anyone else might have received it, and whether the lawsuit or dispute resolution process clarified the issue. Kilby said no payment had been received and that the matter was part of ongoing litigation. KCNA Executive Director Doug Hendricks and General Counsel Adam Atkins then testified. They said a certified check for $8.5 million was mailed in July, based on the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary’s determination that $8.5 million was due under the model procurement code, even though KCNA had initially requested about $12 million to cover a worst-case estimate. They said the contract allowed payment in full or in tranches, that the huts were completed and operational, and that KCNA had not received documentation supporting Asellicom’s higher $10.1 million claim. Members expressed frustration over the missing check and the broader implications for Kentucky Wired, and one member requested that the committee obtain all agency requests related to KCNA/Kentucky Wired since inception; the co-chairs said they would look into making that information available. No formal vote was taken on the dispute during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe you and I have... of justifying Mr. Newmeisterers's Choo of justifying Mr.
• </c><00:25:59.120><c> the</c><00:25:59.360><c> use</c> many of these bills because of the use many of
• It's the use of the policy statement. It's the use of the word<01:24:13.520><c> may.
• of us.
• </c> don't have that here in front of us. don't have that here in front of us.

Bills: HF3661 , HF2380 , HF3468 , HF3483

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Members and guests, all of the young people, will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Members and guests, all of the young people, will lead us in the presentation of the flag of the United
• And physical risks and harms of social media use.
• Most of us who are parents see that all the time.
• media by use of young people.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill ensures that perpetrators cannot use ignorance or misrepresentation of the victim's age as a
• The use of AI is a growing issue that we need to deal with holistically across all channels.
• human trafficking, the use of Physical force to inflict sexual violence must be found in the bill, and
• That's just the reality of the way that the prison system operates; most of us never see and experience
• by This bill addresses the use of a sedative for large animals by veterinarians.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's associated with the use of the public rights-of-way.
• And so they have to be able to use the public right-of-way just like any other user of the public right-of-way
• used a video of a rusty pipe issuing some kind of black liquid into a pool of water and suggested that
• All of that would let us take pressure off of groundwater.
• So they just hire a bunch of veterinarians? Not a bunch of us.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They had used sort of a gold carding standard where they used 90% as their threshold, and we thought
• Some of the eligible uses of Proposition 1 were for these types of facilities as well.
• Travelers are used more often than many of us would like them to be used, but they're an available resource
• None of us would be here if it was not for a woman.
• None of us would be here if it was not for a woman.

Committee: House Health

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, staffing, and coverage. A major special order was SB 306 by Senator Becker, which would reduce prior authorization requirements for services and drugs that are routinely approved. Becker and supporters, including the California Medical Association, California Hospital Association, Health Access, Planned Parenthood, and others, argued prior authorization delays care, adds administrative burden, and can lead to serious patient harm. Opponents from health plans, insurers, the Chamber of Commerce, and physician groups raised concerns about preserving utilization management, the bill’s 90% approval threshold, drug coverage, and how “modifications” are counted. After late amendments and discussion with the Department of Managed Health Care, Local Health Plans of California withdrew opposition, while the bill remained opposed by some groups. Committee members discussed patient stories, cost concerns, and the bill’s amended structure, and the author asked for an aye vote. The committee also heard SB 35 by Senator Umberg, which would let cities and counties inspect unlicensed sober living homes if the Department of Health Care Services does not act on complaints within set timelines. Supporters, including the League of California Cities and several local governments, said the bill responds to inadequate state enforcement and growing problems with unlicensed facilities. One county behavioral health group opposed unless amended. Members largely supported the bill, citing community impacts and the need for stronger oversight. SB 62, also by Senator Becker, would codify California’s proposed essential health benefits update if approved federally, adding hearing aids, durable medical equipment, and infertility/IVF coverage. Health Access California and several advocacy groups supported the measure, while the California Family Council opposed. The committee then heard SB 596 by Senator Menjivar, which would tighten the definition and use of hospital on-call lists in the nurse staffing ratio enforcement process. Nurses and labor groups supported the bill as closing a loophole, while the California Hospital Association and other hospital groups opposed, arguing it would reduce staffing flexibility and increase costs. Finally, SB 40 by Senator Wiener would cap insulin copays at $35 per month and limit step therapy for insulin; it drew broad support from medical, patient, labor, and student witnesses, with no opposition testimony heard. The committee ended with discussion of SB 363, which would address health care coverage and independent medical reviews, but the transcript cuts off before that item was fully taken up.