Bills: HR670 , HB1601 , HB1600 , HB1834 , HR780 , HR131 , HR504 , HB6938

Keywords: military, veterans, mental health, suicide prevention, awareness day, Russia, Ukraine, foreign policy, territorial integrity, national interest, Russian aggression, Russian occupation, Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, sanctions, diplomatic recognition, foreign assistance

Bills: HR915 , HB7401 , HB2478 , HR1381

Keywords: Holodomor, Ukraine famine, 1932-1933 famine, genocide recognition, Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, collectivization, grain confiscation, human rights, Ukraine, Ukrainian people, Russian aggression, Vladimir Putin, foreign affairs, sense of the House, commemorative resolution, historical remembrance, Soviet repression, Kremlin denial, Ukraine sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• defined in section 4022A of the CARES Act, and the first offers a first look period to the owner-occupant

Bills: HB2323 , HB6644 , SB629 , HB8882 , HB8881 , HB8880 , HB8879 , HB4238 , HR915 , HR826 , HB7401 , HB7396

Keywords: Big Bend National Park, land acquisition, boundary adjustment, Secretary of the Interior, conservation, Holodomor, Ukraine famine, 1932-1933 famine, genocide recognition, Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, collectivization, grain confiscation, human rights, Ukraine, Ukrainian people, Russian aggression, Vladimir Putin, foreign affairs, sense of the House

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, Washington's business and occupation, ...in the effectiveness of aerospace tax
• By way of background, Washington's business and occupation tax, or B&O tax, is imposed on the gross receipts
• House Bill 2713 imposes a business and occupation tax surcharge on the operators of private detention
• By way of background, Washington's business and occupation tax is imposed on the gross receipts of business
• I signed in as other because I am not opposed to the business and occupation fees to be charged for doing

Bills: HB2730 , HB2713

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, state revenue, private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the proposed substitute of House Bill 2038 imposes an additional business and occupation tax
• However, the proposed substitute of House Bill 2038 imposes an additional business and occupation tax
• Part four of the bill creates a business and occupation tax credit for grocers operating in underserved
• Washington exempts certain entities subject to this tax from the state's business and occupation, or
• Turning to the bill, the insurance premium exemption to the business and occupation, or B&O, tax is modified

Bills: HB2038 , HB2297 , HB2382 , HB2487 , HB2018

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: HB2038, Washington, B&O tax, business and occupation tax, social media tax, platform tax, youth behavioral health, mental health, adolescent mental health, children's mental health, telebehavioral health, behavioral health account, state treasury, digital services tax, internet platform, social media companies, youth services, depression, anxiety, public health funding

Transcript Highlights:

• 4 by Meyer, proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the enactment of a law imposing an occupation
• This amendment would sunset the ban on occupation and transaction taxes related to security markets as
• HB 4299 by Shaheen relating to the unauthorized occupancy of real property, including the removal of
• certain unauthorized occupants, creating a criminal offense for the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and
• HB 4380 by Johnson and Rowley, requiring an occupational license to practice magnetic resonance imaging

Bills: HJR4 , HJR6 , HB195 , HB 13 , HB143 , HB135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked on policies related to occupational licensing regulatory reform and, of course, marijuana, which
• When I first got elected to this building in 2016, the proteM asked if I wanted to work on occupational
• Houston we created a commission where we systematically one by one reviewed all professional and occupational
• About 3/4 of our economy is actually regulated by some professional or occupational license serving in
• hope that my time in this building, regardless of when it ends, that We continue to work through occupational

Bills: HB2933 , HB3041 , HB3048 , HB3081 , HB3297 , HB3338 , HB3673 , HB3790 , HB3983 , HB4105 , HB4139 , HB4203 , HJR1023

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, Oklahoma, fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, towing services

Bills: HB2713 , HB2730 , HB2297 , HB2487 , HB2382 , HB2089 , HB2431 , HB2451 , HB2590 , HB2325 , HB2278 , HB2224 , HB2322

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Bills: SB6073 , SB6113 , SB6116 , SB6129 , SB6162 , SB6114 , SB5857

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: SB 6073, LEOFF, Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System, retirement system, pension, public safety retirement, wildland firefighter, aviation firefighter, wildland fire, forest firefighter, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, firefighter benefits, retirement benefits, service credit, disability retirement, survivor benefits, employer contributions, Washington RCW, public employees

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibit the legislature from enacting a law that imposes a tax on securities transactions or an occupation

Bills: HB195 , HB247 , HB255 , HJR2 , HJR4 , HJR6 , HJR31 , HJR34 , HB195 , HB247 , HB255 , HJR6 , HJR31 , HJR34

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: school district, ad valorem tax, local revenue, tax collection, education funding, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure, Texas-Mexico border, ad valorem taxation, farm products, livestock, timber, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment

Bills: HB2993 , HB3850 , HB3595 , HB3763 , HB3760 , HB4272 , HB3277 , HB3148 , HB3651 , HB3323 , HB4287 , HB4105 , HB3304 , HB3345

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, HB3595, Safer Counties Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, county grants, traffic barrier equipment

Bills: SB1936 , SB1612 , SB1543 , SB1260 , SB1988 , SB1859 , SB2041 , SB1257 , HB4272 , HB3277 , HB3148 , HB3651 , HB3323 , HB4287 , HB4105 , HB3304 , HB3345

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: forfeiture, criminal offenses, law enforcement, Class D1 offenses, property seizure, SB1612, mandatory reporting, violent injury reporting, gunshot wound, stab wound, poisoning, burn injury, explosive injury, medical reporting, healthcare providers, law enforcement notification, evidence preservation, patient video records, confidentiality waiver, misdemeanor penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• The cruelty of the Russian leadership knows no bounds.
• </c><01:30:52.960><c> leadership</c> The cruelty of the Russian leadership The cruelty of the Russian
• </c><01:34:31.120><c> drone</c> On the other side, the Russian drone On the other side, the Russian drone
• </c> Russian occupied territories. Russian occupied territories.
• </c><01:54:47.360><c> Senator</c> occupational license fees. Senator occupational license fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an occupation sheet that they put out each year.
• And it does list specific master's degree, bachelor's degree, associate's programs, occupations that
• I can relay, if you would like me to read a specific occupation I can find on here.
• New Mexico in-demand occupations. There's an occupation sheet that actually they put out each year.
• and in-demand occupations list.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 97, which would appropriate funding to the Department of Health for updated shaken baby syndrome, now called abusive head trauma, prevention training and educational materials, including baby models used in demonstrations. Testimony from the sponsor and the New Mexico Injury and Violence Prevention Coalition supported the bill and emphasized that the materials had not been updated since 2016. Members noted the budget already included about $167,000 for this purpose, and the bill was tabled without opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 280, creating a Youth Internship Pilot Project to support paid internships for youth as a workforce development tool. Supporters from New Mexico Voices for Children said the bill would provide mentorship and relevant work-based learning, while members questioned what occupations would qualify, whether the program would focus on trades and high-demand jobs, and how schools, employers, and Workforce Solutions would participate. The bill was tabled, with Representatives Duncan and Pettigrew recorded in opposition. The main item of the meeting was House Bill 151, as substituted by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. The bill would create a compensation fund and commission for survivors of childhood sexual abuse involving public entities, while also allowing a three-year lookback window for claims and preserving private civil claims for private entities. The sponsor explained that the substitute removed a forward-looking statute-of-limitations change, set a $700,000 cap tied to the Tort Claims Act, used an administrative eligibility process with a "more likely than not" standard, and included reporting, confidentiality, and referral provisions. Supporters described the measure as a survivor-centered way to provide compensation while limiting state exposure, but members raised concerns about attorney fees, fund solvency, private versus public liability, rural impacts, and whether the state should pay for claims involving public institutions. After public testimony in support, the committee adopted the substitute but then voted on the bill itself and ended in an 8-8 tie, so the measure remained in committee and was not advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now I'm going to have to say, well, you're Russian, maybe. I don't know.
• </c><00:17:19.760><c> I</c><00:17:19.919><c> don't</c> well, you're Russian, maybe.
• I don't well, you're Russian, maybe.
• You know, I'm a Russian spy. I'm a spy from Iran.'
• Russian spy. I'm I'm a spy from Iran and Russian spy.

Summary: The committee took up an amended bill, sponsored by Rep. Lily Walsh, aimed at requiring certain foreign principals involved in New Hampshire real estate transactions to file an affidavit electronically with the Department of Justice. Walsh explained that she revised the proposal after the first hearing by limiting it to leases longer than 14 days, removing notarization, allowing electronic filing, shortening notification timelines, and clarifying that lessors or agents would not have to verify the affidavit’s truthfulness. She asked the committee to recommend the bill ought to pass with amendment and also noted a technical correction to use “real estate licensee” rather than “realtor.” The main opposition came from a real estate practitioner on the committee, who argued the bill was burdensome, could create discrimination concerns, and would place real estate professionals in an improper enforcement role. He also questioned the bill’s practical effect and pointed to existing federal CFIUS procedures as a better mechanism for handling foreign investment concerns. Several members echoed concerns about whether the state had authority to regulate in this area, whether the bill would actually stop bad actors, and whether it could be enforced without discriminatory impacts. Representatives from New Boston Space Force Station testified in support, saying the legislation was critical to national security because proximity to the installation could allow adversaries to observe operations or interfere with radio frequency communications. They argued federal processes were too slow or ineffective and that state action could better push hostile actors away from the base. Committee members questioned the technical basis for the 10-mile buffer, whether it would really help, and why federal agencies were not handling the issue. No vote was taken during the exchange shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• When he was in high school there, when the Russians invaded, his house was bombed.
• So Nazar speaks Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Spanish. He speaks Russian. He speaks English.
• Therapy Licensure Compact, and amending the Occupational Therapy Act to provide for state and federal
• Therapy Licensure Compact, amending the Occupational Therapy Act to enacting the Occupational Therapy
• Licensure Compact, amending the Occupational Therapy Act to provide for state and federal criminal history

Transcript Highlights:

• So they will discount rates to get to a higher occupancy number, so you will see this fluctuation in
• Some of it's driven by the property trying to get a higher occupancy rate because the more rooms you
• </c><01:49:20.800><c> But</c> way, I know this guy's a Russian."
• But way, I know this guy's a Russian."
• </c> go they were all Russians go they were all Russians anyways<05:41:11.520><c> so</c><05:41:11.520

Summary: The committee first discussed a budget-related issue involving liquor commission enforcement staff and tobacco enforcement funding. A member explained that proposed cuts to “group two” enforcement positions at the liquor commission could jeopardize the tobacco enforcement money that flows to Health and Human Services, and expressed confidence that the enforcement division would ultimately be preserved. The main hearing was on Senate Bill 19, which would modernize hotel and motel statutes by repealing outdated requirements. The sponsor and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association said the bill would remove obsolete rules such as the old guest book/card system and antiquated posting requirements for room rates and motel signs. Members questioned whether the bill would eliminate the requirement to record guest departure dates or affect inspection rights, and the witnesses said the intent was only to remove the book-and-card reference while leaving the rest of the recordkeeping requirement in place. Supporters argued the rate-posting rules are widely ignored, hard to enforce, and outdated in an era of digital reservations and variable pricing; the committee also discussed whether any consumer-protection purpose remained. The public hearing on SB 19 was then closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 280FN, which would require food delivery services to have an agreement with a restaurant or food retail store before offering delivery from that business. The sponsor said the bill restores a prior law that had sunset and was intended to prevent third-party platforms from listing restaurants without consent. Restaurant industry testimony strongly supported the bill, describing problems with unauthorized listings, delayed deliveries, and reimbursement disputes, and saying the agreement requirement protects restaurant brands and consumer expectations. Members shared examples of delivery problems and voiced support for reinstating the safeguard.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Russian plan when they invaded Ukraine was to be in Kyiv in three days to install a friendly government
• But the Russian field commanders used cell phones to communicate, which allowed the Ukrainians to use
• AI targeting systems developed by Palantir to directly target Russian command-and-control locations
• And within days, over 20 Russian generals and their staff had been killed, which stopped the Russian
• But just highlighting this Madex facility, it's 2,800 and 700 square feet of high-hazard occupancy building

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 914 by the Ways and Means Committee: an act relating to the Division of Occupational and Professional
• Housebell 914 by Ways and Means Committee, an act relating to the Division of Occupational and Professional
• House Bill 914 by the Ways and Means Committee: an act relating to the Division of Occupational and Professional
• And the Chinese and the Russians, and everybody building power plants every day... ...behind, and the
• Chinese and the Russians and everybody building plants every day, and we're here sitting here talking

Transcript Highlights:

• I've also been a participant in a track two process with leading U.S., Russian, and European diplomats
• I've also been a participant in a track two process with leading U.S., Russian, and European diplomats
• The U.S. could do the right thing and the Russians or the Chinese could refuse to go along.
• The US could do the right thing and the Russians or the Chinese could refuse to go along.
• The U.S. could do the right thing, and the Russians or the Chinese could refuse to go along.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing on a wide range of bills affecting law enforcement, corrections, fire services, emergency management, telecommunicators, and sex offender policy. Testimony strongly focused on proposals to restore an education incentive for Massachusetts State Police troopers hired after the Quinn Bill was repealed, with State Police Association witnesses arguing the current system creates unfair pay disparities, hurts recruitment and retention, and leaves newer troopers earning less than some supervisors with the same or less education. They urged favorable reports on H. 2651, S. 1759, and S. 1783. A separate witness also supported H. 2627, a sheriff’s pay-parity bill, while suggesting amendments to avoid distinctions between correction officers and jail officers and warning that the proposal should not be viewed as a funding issue alone. The committee also heard testimony on public safety and oversight bills. A rape survivor testified in support of S. 1663, arguing that municipal fire or police personnel convicted of sex offenses should not remain in positions of public trust. Senator Miranda testified in support of S. 1723, S. 1724, and S. 1727, which would create correctional officer training/accountability standards, a correctional inspector general, and privileged communication with legislators for incarcerated people; he said the bills respond to misconduct and lack of independent oversight in the Department of Correction. In contrast, the Fire Chiefs Association and Professional Fire Fighters opposed H. 2572/S. 1668/S. 1740 on emergency management, saying the bill was developed without enough collaboration, lacked local-control safeguards, and could undermine incident command and local decision-making during disasters. Several panels supported other public safety measures. The Fire Chiefs Association and PFFM backed S. 1641 and S. 1744 to create a Massachusetts Public Safety Building Authority to help fund fire station and municipal public safety building projects, and supported S. 1647 to implement the Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendations on hot works and welding safety, including tougher penalties and training requirements. Witnesses also supported H. 2664/S. 1736 to create a hoisting machinery regulations board, saying current licensing standards for heavy equipment are too minimal. Another panel backed H. 2663/S. 1761 to classify 911 telecommunicators as first responders, citing stress, burnout, and the expanding role of dispatchers. Finally, an attorney from CPCS testified in opposition to S. 1752, warning that expanded sex offender residency restrictions would likely increase homelessness, make supervision harder, and raise constitutional concerns based on prior court rulings.