Transcript Highlights:

• So I want to be very clear that this bill is not about rolling back regulation.
• So I want to be very clear that this bill is not about rolling back regulation.
• . regulation. regulation.
• We are appreciative of the agency's willingness to be flexible and continue working with the regulated
• </c> among the regulated community. among the regulated community.

Bills: HF4253, HF4257, HF3236, HF4264, HF4149, HF4019

Keywords: boat storage structures, public waters, natural resources, rule amendments, watercraft canopy, PFAS, environmental regulation, manufacturers, public health, product safety, groundwater, water appropriation, water-use permit, water permit, aquifer test, aquifer, well construction, groundwater permit, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• There are various patchwork of towing regulations.
• There are various patchwork of towing regulations. Phoenix has one. Tempe has one.
• There are various patchwork of towing regulations. Phoenix has one. Tempe has one.
• So unfortunately, we have to regulate those that are bad.
• I can tell you right now for this program, the watercraft program, we have literally zero.

Bills: HB2127, HB2257, HB2305, HB2573, HB2772, HB2941, HB2957

Keywords: special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, boating, watercraft licensing, law enforcement, safety fund, state funding, Arizona Revised Statutes, towing regulation, private towing carriers, vehicle impound, towing rates, preemption, DUI, ignition interlock, substance abuse treatment, driving privileges

Bills: HF4261, HF4263, HF4264, HF4787

Keywords: natural resources, motorboat, boating safety, personal watercraft, PWC, watercraft operator permit, boater safety exam, off-road vehicle, ORV, ATV, snowmobile, state trail pass, cross-country ski pass, horse pass, state park permit, game and fish, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife permit, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• Leech Lake has regulations that do not allow hunting in rice beds during harvest.
• Is it the watercrafts that are causing some of these things to happen?
• Chair, Representative, we have approximately 650,000 registered motorized watercraft in Minnesota.

Bills: HF3426, HF3896, HF1426, HF3793, HF4061, HF4246

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, wild rice, watercraft regulation, environmental protection, aquatic ecosystems, HF1426, product stewardship, extended producer responsibility, EPR, electronics recycling, e-waste, battery recycling, circuit boards, printed circuit boards, electrical products, covered products

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members, House Bill 2398 requires a watercraft owner who provides a watercraft for rent in Arizona
• Chair members, House Bill 2398 requires a watercraft owner who provides a watercraft for rent in Arizona
• Additionally, the amendment establishes regulations for peer-to-peer watercraft sharing and requires
• A peer-to-peer watercraft sharing program must provide proof of insurance before the watercraft sharing
• We operate 25 watercraft and 10 jet skis.

Bills: HB2091, HB2140, HB2320, HB2384, HB2398, HB2502, HB2780, HB2918, HB2939, HB2950, HB2999, HB4020, HB4026, HB4029

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also defines cruising as the repetitive driving... ...regulation that prohibits cruising.
• Members, House Bill 2398 requires watercraft owners who provide their watercraft for rent and for boat
• The bill requires watercraft owners who provide their watercraft for rent and boat liveries to maintain
• The bill makes a watercraft owner who provides a watercraft for rent, or a boat livery owner who causes
• a class one misdemeanor if the watercraft is involved in an accident in this state.

Bills: HB2003, HB2057, HB2109, HB2111, HB2112, HB2114, HB2256, HB2259, HB2317, HB2323, HB2398, HB2443, HB2446, HB2574

Keywords: driver education, instruction permit, underage drivers, motorcycle licenses, traffic regulations, special plates, centennial, Arizona Department of Transportation, vehicle registration, commercial discounts, Arizona Centennial, distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety

Bills: HB2385, HB3349, HB3962, HB3883, HB4396, HB4811, HB5088, HB4588, HB4867, HB4895, HB5398, HB5616

Keywords: NRA, funding, major events reimbursement, annual meetings, exhibits, events trust fund, Pan American Games, Olympic Games, motor sports racing, local control, event support contract, INDYCAR, Arlington, tourism, funding eligibility, sporting events, economic impact, local governments, American Performance Horseman, American Rodeo

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill is mainly focused on regulations to protect minors.
• These regulations don't prohibit the development of AI in Arizona.
• So we can only regulate AI if we're regulating it for minors.
• I believe that states are able to regulate technology.
• I have a note that the FMCSA regulations, the federal regulations on this, require that a driver unable

Bills: HB2056, HB2057, HB2224, HB2257, HB2265, HB2311, HB2352, HB2367, HB2369, HB2446, HB2532, HB2592, HB2752, HB2809, HB2957

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, special plates, centennial, Arizona Department of Transportation, vehicle registration, commercial discounts, Arizona Centennial, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding, Arizona, boating, watercraft licensing, law enforcement

Bills: SB 30, SB 517, SB 1313, SB 1314, SB 1316, SB 1541, SB 1698, SB 1845, SB 1860, SB 2420, SB 2429

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, vaping regulation, manufacturer compliance, directory listing

Transcript Highlights:

• Another thing that I hope this includes is red tape and regulations.
• And the only thing that we could find was what's in federal regulations today.
• And the only thing that we could find was what's in federal regulations today.
• These regulations which are in place... ...conflict with CMS.
• And while it's hard to regulate, the platforms are really aware who's on there.

Bills: HB387, HB673, HB947, HB975, HB1102, HB1228, HB1229, HCR66, SB102, SB165, SB280, SB291, SB326, SB521

Keywords: engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, security cameras, abandoned property, blighted structures, property management, digital assets, abandonment, custodian, escheatment, blockchain, cryptocurrency, unclaimed property, state treasurer, Department of Public Service, statutory entities, public administration

Bills: HB 11, HB491, HB837, HB1562, HB1732, HB1757, HB1888, HB2286

Keywords: licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, massage therapy, civil penalties, human trafficking, public safety, law enforcement, student permit, occupational regulation, education, occupations code, criminal history, HB 2286, interior designers, certificate of registration, renewal, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm really pleased to be here this morning with our vice president of rates and regulation, Jessica Hobbick

Bills: HB2133, HB2592

Keywords: sexual material, consent, synthetic depiction, privacy, internet regulation, rights protection, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens, 1182, all

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533, SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533, SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Summary: The Senate convened, a quorum was established, and Senator Yek delivered the opening prayer. The body then granted unanimous consent for an entourage to appear on the floor for a citation presentation honoring Oklahoma State Troopers Michael Patnode and Joy McLaughlin for their quick response and lifesaving assistance during a medical emergency at the Capitol on January 13, 2026. The citation praised their professionalism and noted that emergency responders arrived in less than eight minutes because of their actions. The floor leader also recognized the Senate staff and others involved in the incident, noting that the person who had the medical emergency was recovering and had returned part-time. Senator Nice introduced an intern, Cottrell Strain, a sophomore English major at Langston University with an interest in politics. Several announcements followed, including a Farm City Festival lunch on the second floor, a Veterans and Military Affairs Committee meeting, and a Business and Insurance Committee meeting. The Senate also adopted a motion to celebrate Senator Julie Daniels’ birthday. No legislation was debated or voted on in the transcript beyond the citation and the procedural motions, and the chamber adjourned until Monday, February 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of Senate bills covering real estate, construction licensing, insurance, alcohol regulation, medical marijuana, and other business matters. Among the measures discussed were SB 1732, which preserves Oklahoma’s current rule that brokers are not required to enter into a buyer brokerage agreement before showing real estate; SB 1443, which codifies payment rules for anesthesia services and physical status modifiers; and several sunset-extension bills for boards and agencies including the architects and interior designers board, the Construction Industries Board, the Abstractors Board, and the engineering and surveying board. The committee also heard bills on workers’ compensation, dental insurance billing practices, salvage title thresholds, energy standards for state-funded buildings, self-storage lien modernization, and medical marijuana training and licensing issues. Testimony and debate focused heavily on consumer costs, market competition, and regulatory clarity. Supporters of the dental bill (SB 1942) argued it would keep insurers from setting prices for non-covered services and allow patients and providers to negotiate directly, while opponents warned it could raise costs for consumers; the bill passed 8-2. Similar free-market arguments were made for the real estate, anesthesia, and alcohol-related bills, while consumer protection concerns were raised on the self-storage and dental measures. SB 1590, which would expand a fortified-roof grant program to commercial buildings, drew discussion about funding and the state’s role in helping reduce insurance costs. SB 1767 sought stronger enforcement against out-of-state spirit shipping, with concerns noted about lost tax revenue and age verification. Most bills received committee approval, often unanimously or by wide margins, including SB 1732, SB 1217, SB 1443, SB 1455, SB 1457, SB 1459, SB 1466, SB 1944, SB 1946, SB 1352, SB 2132, SB 1920, SB 1285, SB 1304, SB 1305, SB 1326, SB 1590, and SB 1767. Several bills were amended in committee, often to update sunset dates or clarify language, and title-striking motions were adopted on some measures that were still being worked on. The meeting ended with the chair noting that 20 bills had been handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As background, this act regulates commercial email, and an email is considered a commercial email if
• As we have background, this act regulates commercial email, Act.
• As we have a background, this act regulates commercial email and an email is considered a commercial
• Burples recommends rules and regulations to administer licensing and regulatory laws.
• We do so with highly trained and regulated professional engineers and land surveyors, and I'm happy to

Bills: HB2229, HB2274, HB2294, HB1269, HB1078

Keywords: professional engineers, registration act, licensing, engineering practice, state regulations, email regulation, commercial communications, consumer protection, data privacy, electronic mail, consumer access, real property, food security, medicine access, restriction, pawnbroker, fees, interest rates, financial regulation, pet insurance

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2229, which updates the Professional Engineers Registration Act. Staff described changes to board membership, registration qualifications, continuing education, exclusions from registration, certificate terms, and terminology updates. Representative Zahn said the bill is intended to modernize and clean up the code, and noted she would offer an amendment to avoid changing the board’s official name. A board representative supported the bill as a way to improve licensing flexibility and administrative consistency, while one member questioned removing the U.S. citizenship requirement for board members; the witness said the requirement had been requested by the committee last year and that board members would still need to be Washington-licensed and familiar with state law. The hearing on HB 2229 was suspended and later reopened for additional testimony, then closed without action. The committee also heard House Bill 2274, which would modify the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act. Staff explained that the bill would raise the knowledge standard for violations from “reason to know” to “reliable basis,” require a subject line to be likely to mislead a reasonable recipient about a material fact, limit damages to recipients who received, reviewed, and detrimentally relied on the email, and repeal the act’s per se Consumer Protection Act violation while leaving statutory damages in place. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, retailers, hospitality businesses, and e-commerce representatives, argued that a recent Washington Supreme Court decision led to a wave of lawsuits over ordinary promotional subject lines and exposed businesses to large statutory damages and defense costs even without proof of harm. Opponents and consumer advocates argued the current law already targets false or misleading subject lines, that the bill would weaken consumer enforcement, and that the recent lawsuits involve deceptive urgency tactics. The committee did not take final action on HB 2274 during the hearing. House Bill 2294, which would prohibit future negative use restrictions on real property that block grocery stores or pharmacies where such uses are otherwise allowed, also received a hearing. Staff said the bill would declare such restrictions against public policy, with exceptions for existing covenants, nearby relocations, and certain retail centers, and would enforce the prohibition through a per se Consumer Protection Act violation. Representative Farivar said the bill responds to food access problems, including the Lake City grocery closure, and is modeled on local ordinances already adopted in Seattle, Bellingham, and Kent. Food industry and grocery association witnesses generally supported the goal of improving food access, though one group asked for narrower guardrails to preserve legitimate business uses of restrictive covenants and raised concerns about competition and investment. The committee then moved to executive session and unanimously voted House Bill 1269, which adjusts pawn broker loan terms, interest rates, fees, storage charges, and online payment options, out of committee with a due pass recommendation by voice vote.

Bills: HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, nuisance birds, local governance, regulation, outdoor activities, public safety, Rio Grande, vegetation management, border security, environmental regulation, Carrizo cane

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:53.120><c> where</c><00:36:53.240><c> we</c> regulations where we regulations where we you<00:
• Medicaid is negotiated with regulated.
• </c><00:51:21.720><c> by</c> part of the market that is regulated by part of the market that is regulated
• ,</c><01:00:02.541><c> [snorts]</c> state regulations, [snorts] state regulations, [snorts] what<01:00
• ,</c><01:35:53.960><c> which</c> First Alliance and our regulator, which First Alliance and our regulator

Bills: HF3766, HF3972, HF3437, HF4118

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• As you've heard, the legislature passed really strong regulation in 2009 that has worked very well to
• Your constituents' access to safe, well-regulated legal credit options has been sorely diminished or
• The policy asks the yards to continue to additionally regulate our industry, and we have agreed to do
• So if you’ve got fiber cuts, regulating us does not affect any of that.
• So if you've got fiber cuts, regulating us does not affect any of that.

Bills: HB2361, HB2542, HB2629, HB2394, HB2274, HB1078, HB2294

Keywords: small loans, consumer protection, financial regulation, lending limits, credit access, animal testing, alternatives, ethical research, animal welfare, scientific methods, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2542 would require animal testing facilities, contract testing facilities, and manufacturers to use validated non-animal alternatives in drug development when available, unless federal regulators request animal testing. Staff and the prime sponsor described the bill as building on federal FDA modernization efforts and prior Washington action on cosmetics. Supporters, including students, animal welfare advocates, and biotech-related groups, testified that modern alternatives are more humane and scientifically relevant, while an industry representative said animal testing remains necessary for now and asked for amendments to protect patient safety and scientific research. No vote was taken. House Bill 2629 would address theft and destruction of critical communications infrastructure by restricting cash transactions for nonferrous metal, creating civil penalties for stolen copper used in telecommunications cable, and making destruction of critical communications infrastructure a Class C felony and criminal profiteering offense. The prime sponsor and telecom witnesses said copper and fiber thefts are causing widespread outages affecting 911, hospitals, schools, and first responders, and that Washington has seen a sharp rise in incidents. Scrap metal industry representatives supported parts of the bill but said more effective tools would be transaction-record sharing, evidence retention, and searchable databases; a prosecutor also said the bill falls short without stronger evidence-gathering provisions. No action was taken. House Bill 2394 would expand the insurance fraud program and redefine insurance fraud as a Class B felony, adding acts such as fraudulent billing, misrepresentation in claims, and appraisal manipulation. The bill also broadens the Insurance Commissioner’s investigative tools, expands who can be considered a victim for restitution, and requires certain reporting of suspected crimes. The Insurance Commissioner’s office, the bill sponsor, and insurance industry groups said the measure responds to increasingly sophisticated, technology-driven fraud schemes and would help protect consumers as well as insurers. The committee also heard House Bill 2361, which would raise the maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 and index it to inflation. The sponsor and lender representative said the current cap is outdated and that the bill would provide a legal credit option for emergencies without changing fees or safeguards, while AARP, labor, poverty, and legal aid witnesses opposed it as a return to predatory debt traps that would increase costs for low-income borrowers and older adults. The Department of Financial Institutions raised implementation questions about inflation adjustments and publication requirements. No votes were taken on any bill.