Transcript Highlights:

• support and hard work that you guys put into to come up with something like this, and seeing the process
• support and hard work that you guys put into to come up with something like this, and seeing the process
• we needed to ask you what percentage of the forms coming in are they actually responding to the voluntary
• we needed to ask you what percentage of the forms coming in are they actually responding to the voluntary
• we needed to ask you what percentage of the forms coming in are they actually responding to the voluntary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard seven bills on consumer protection, DBEDT-related matters, and tourism/creative industry issues. On SB 2031, DCCA supported aligning state law with the FTC’s 2025 rule on hidden fees and pricing misrepresentations in live event ticketing and short-term lodging; hotel and financial industry witnesses also testified, and senators asked for complaint and enforcement data. On SB 2129, DBEDT and business groups supported a study of minimum wage impacts, with testimony emphasizing effects on hours, employment, prices, and business viability; a senator asked whether the study could also examine the gig economy and business closures, and DBEDT said that may be possible but would require more research and data access. On SB 2259, which would promote dementia-friendly businesses, DBEDT said the measure fit better with another agency and lacked the department’s expertise, while the Executive Office on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association supported the intent and offered to help with curriculum, branding, and training. Testifiers described dementia as a spectrum and said businesses should be trained to communicate effectively with customers and employees living with the disease; suggested amendments included changing the branding language and requiring at least 85% of employees to complete training rather than all employees. A senator also raised concerns about stigma and whether early-stage dementia should affect a person’s ability to function, and the witness responded that people can often function well in early stages. The committee also heard SB 2577 on sports tourism, which DBEDT and the Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported as a way to better understand which events draw visitors and economic benefits. SB 2578, creating a film commission, drew broad support from DBEDT, Creative Industries, SAG-AFTRA, the Hawaii Film Alliance, the Hawaii Film Office, and others, but several witnesses urged changes to the commission’s composition and authority, including more labor representation and limits on the commission’s ability to adjust the production cap. Senators questioned staffing, costs, and whether current film office employees should transfer to the new commission, and one senator proposed a friendly amendment to add musicians, SAG, IATSE, and Teamsters, though the department cautioned that too many members could make the commission difficult to manage. The transcript ends during discussion of the film bill, with no final votes or committee actions stated for the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we often call that the referral process.
• But they're all voluntary.
• So it's not a detailed intake process or anything.
• They're usually quick through the judicial process.
• But that's a starting point in the budget process.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• integrate so there's a consistent and... ...to allow ourselves to integrate so there's a consistent process
• So everything that we track is voluntary. You know, are they willing to provide that data with us?
• Everything that we track is voluntary, you know, are they willing to provide that data with us?
• I wasn't able to process anything, and the things that would usually send me running didn't seem to matter
• And I do believe that that's part of the process of grooming these kids and attacking kids.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is able to provide that on a voluntary is able to provide that on a voluntary basis<01:18:13.760
• They build in uh 6% vetted process.
• This agency has a really good process, and I appreciate the intent, but the process works, and it works
• This agency has a really good process, and I appreciate the intent, but the process works, and it works
• There's oversight throughout the entire process. There's oversight throughout the entire process.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nurse-Family Partnership is a voluntary evidence-based program that pairs registered nurses with low-income
• There's the formal appeal process, which we discussed in committee, but there are also two other paths
• and have their concerns addressed outside of the formal appeal process and have changes made as needed
• of a notice of a change process that changes and updates it.
• It does not change any of the rights or responsibilities of county assessors or any of that process,

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several guest introductions recognizing Disability Day at the Capitol, the Arizona Cattle Association, Nurse-Family Partnership nurses, Navajo Nation visitors, and others. Members also made personal privilege remarks on topics including a strike by ASU Aramark food service workers, Lent and Ramadan, and Black History Month. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 2006, a death resolution honoring Yvonne Glee Lyme Federson and her work with Childhelp, with a moment of respectful silence. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole and then Additional Committee of the Whole to consider several bills. HB 2089, HB 2177, HB 2258, HB 2322, HB 2786, and HB 2825 were all recommended do pass, with HB 2177, HB 2322, and HB 2825 amended. HB 2074, dealing with abortion-related language, drew extensive debate over a floor amendment that removed a life-of-the-mother exception; the amendment was adopted and the bill was then recommended do pass as amended. HB 2104 and HB 2105, both relating to county property tax assessment procedures and inspections, were amended to address assessor concerns and then recommended do pass as amended. After the committee reports were adopted, the House considered and passed several third-reading bills. HB 2173, HB 2203, HB 2223, and HB 2501 all passed 57-0. HB 2307, an emergency measure concerning dangerous and incompetent defendants and out-of-state treatment options, passed 37-20 but did not receive the required two-thirds vote to enact the emergency clause. The House then received announcements about upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• are simply voting on whether or not we should bypass the Constitution and bypass the public input process
• carried a piece of legislation that was signed into law, creating the California ALS Research Network Voluntary
• it's simply a disease as has been mentioned that has it takes months if not years to diagnose by the process

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• something to do, I'm going to let the body know I'm going to step back and we're going to start this process
• President, I mean, uh, Senator, I really have no reason to prolong this process.
• My bill is not voluntary, but it is an opportunity for us to get those firearms away from people who

Bills: SJR 5, SJR 36, SJR 5, SJR 5, SR 105, SR 121, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28

Keywords: bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a process called alternative methods of means, and the AMM process has been used in local jurisdictions
• AB 2601 is a process bill.
• This is a process bill. That's about process streamlining, and time is money.
• This is a process bill. That's about process streamlining and time is money.
• That's about process streamlining and time is money.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have completed voluntary services.
• and a grandmother, not a lobbyist, but as someone who believes deeply in limited government, due process
• But as someone who believes deeply in limited government, due process, and the protection of innocent
• The state should act within defined limits, respect parental rights, and follow the process, while still
• So I'm like, well, how do I know it's going to stay there when I'm not in this process anymore?

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee considered eight bills and reported all of them favorably, several as amended. HB 1347 on clinical laboratory personnel was presented as a response to staffing shortages in Florida labs; the sponsor and Quest Diagnostics supported aligning state licensure with CLIA standards to improve hiring and turnaround times. The bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 47, dealing with specific medical diagnoses in child protective investigations, drew extensive emotional testimony from parents and advocates who said children had been wrongly removed after misdiagnoses; the bill was amended to tighten timelines and record-sharing requirements, then passed 26-0. CS/HB 287 created a public records exemption for applicants, owners, operators, and references of family foster homes and passed unanimously. The committee also approved CS/HB 439, allowing chiropractors to inject vitamins and nutrients under training and safety limits, after an amendment clarified they may not prescribe prescription drugs; it passed 26-0. CS/HB 1021 would allow pharmacists to administer medications in trauma centers under physician direction, and an amendment added pediatric trauma centers; it passed 26-0. HB 867 would let occupational therapists perform dry needling after specified training and supervision, and it passed 25-0. HB 1309, which shortens deadlines for patients to access their medical records and aligns nursing home access rules with federal law, drew opposition from health information management groups over privacy and portal/data-security concerns, but supporters argued it simply speeds access to records; it passed 21-5. CS/HB 915 codifies and expands Medicaid eligibility protections for working people with disabilities so they can keep coverage while employed, with strong support from disability advocates and emotional testimony from the sponsor about her son’s benefits concerns; it passed 26-0. After these votes, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal SBIR program features a competitive selection process with master-driven funding.
• By leveraging the rigor of the SBIR process, SB209 would deploy taxpayer funds into promising companies
• Senate Bill 1592 would simplify this process and centralize the collection of local hotel occupancy tax
• Centralizing this process by the Comptroller creates a reliable revenue stream for local governments.
• It's not necessarily going untaxed; the Comptroller's opinion is that that constitutes data processing

Bills: SB209, SB529, SB1265, SB1592, SB1728, SCR37, SCR38

Keywords: SB 529, Texas Tax Code, municipality, hotel and convention center, hotel convention center project, tourism development, economic development, tax revenue pledge, revenue commitment, qualified project, municipal finance, local government, special district, hotel occupancy tax, nearby establishments, convention center financing, city population 130000, Section 351.155, Section 351.157, child care

Transcript Highlights:

• After attending a wellness talk where he learned about evidence-based treatments like cognitive processing
• And how do we have what kind of certification process, what are we doing or what are your recommendations
• the part of the families chat sitting back here behind me and he will tell you they go through a process
• And historically we've come to the legislature do with the back of the bill process, which is not a fun
• process to go through because we're saying we had more cost than we anticipated by the legislature.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you be able to briefly explain to the committee the process by which a superintendent is hired
• I want this process to be fair, and I want to respect the will of the voters.
• I'm just trying to understand the process.
• There are five more in the application process.
• <02:43:56.359> it five more in the application process it five more in the application process

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've made every effort to streamline our processes. that is a process area that that is a process
• In that process of evaluating that okay.
• Yes, yes, part of our enforcement process.
• How would that process?
• And then we have other parks in process now.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their rights to privacy and dignity must remain at the center of our legal process.
• And so the process went on for almost another six months.
• The legal process was relatively straightforward.
• We're now in the process of adopting a third child.
• The government shouldn't be in the process of promoting or mandating products.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 10 is the ice arena process.
• Section 5 relates to the voluntary pre-kindergarten program.
• I feel the pressure much as you might right now in your budgeting process.
• I feel the pressure much as you might right now in your budgeting process.
• I feel the pressure much as you might right now in your budgeting process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:38:16.239> have voluntary associated child shall have voluntary associated child shall
• <02:10:36.320> is to make sure that the the process is to make sure that the the process is
• They're now part of that process. process. process. >> Followup. >> Followup.
• c> clarity<02:26:34.399> and inspection process needs clarity and inspection process needs
• <02:34:51.280> So the normal board meeting process. So the normal board meeting process.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Operational costs: is there any analysis of what it would cost locals to process applications and switch
• incentivizes more cleanup projects without any additional state costs by clarifying the timeline for voluntary
• I think one day we're going to look back years from now when we're all done in this process and remember
• I think one day we're going to look back years from now when we're all done in this process and remember

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 27, 2025 and first considered HJR 1257 and its implementing bill, HB 1259, which would create two $25,000 property tax exemptions and an assessment cap for long-term rental properties owned by Floridians who also have a homestead in the state. Supporters argued the measure would increase long-term rental supply and help Florida residents, while opponents from counties and cities warned of a large revenue loss, potential tax shifts to businesses, and weak guardrails against abuse. Members raised concerns about wealthy owners holding many condos, possible family-member workarounds, and whether savings would actually reach tenants. The committee adopted an amendment to the implementing bill, then reported both measures favorably after party-line-leaning debate and recorded votes. The committee then unanimously reported HB 761, which limits deferred ad valorem and non-ad valorem tax relief to properties with a just value of $1 million or less and raises the minimum tax certificate sale amount from $250 to $500. Members also unanimously approved CS/HB 733 on brownfields, which expands and clarifies the state brownfields program, and two Osceola/Sunbridge local bills, CS/HB 4043 and HB 4059, dealing with special district infrastructure and district boundary expansion subject to voter approval. HB 995 on Areas of Critical State Concern, focused largely on the Florida Keys, was amended to remove the ad valorem tax exemption portion and to adjust the growth cap from 500 to 825 units, then was reported favorably. Later, the committee approved HB 6021, which repeals sales tax on all bullion purchases of gold, silver, and platinum, with supporters calling it a sound-money measure and critics asking about future revenue effects if related legal-tender legislation passes. Finally, the committee passed HB 1339, which excludes wind-damage mitigation improvements from assessed value for property tax purposes, after adopting a clarifying amendment about secondary water barriers. Throughout the meeting, most bills were reported favorably, often after brief debate and with little or no public testimony beyond support or opposition from affected local-government and industry groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also establishes timelines for obtaining that opinion and creates a process for completing
• Children are removed and the process to terminate parental rights begins immediately.
• Christie Steely: There is no justice in this process. Absolutely none.
• We can't continue to accept a process where parents are presumed guilty, families are torn apart, and
• We have an open civil society and we have voluntary associations that people in this country join to

Transcript Highlights:

• the legislature passed the appropriations, then we've got to go through our work plan rebalancing process
• We had, we're in the process, actually, of conducting five total special leg is lative elections.
• We currently have House District 35 in process. In fact, tomorrow is the Republican runoff.
• So we think we'll be able to process more of those and hopefully have less wait times and things like
• They aren't really requirements, but the voluntary voting system guidelines is what they're Called 2.0

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that process started January 1st.
• And we think that I personally think it's a good process. If a.
• What was the process they had to go through?
• Outside of the hearing process, which they're not getting paid for.
• They're voluntary.

Keywords: 996, all