Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:44.760><c> do</c> particular state that those employees do particular state that those employees
• </c><01:26:57.199><c> new</c> the newbies or the new employees new the newbies or the new employees new
• employee wants to voluntarily help.
• employee wants to voluntarily help. ...the benefit for new employees.
• employee wants to voluntarily help.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:51.120><c> I</c> try to provide for the employees. I try to provide for the employees.
• </c> they might reach with uh an employee they might reach with uh an employee that<00:09:45.440><c>
• I have employees. They show up, they get paid, and then you all required your pay.
• </c><01:08:30.799><c> I</c><01:08:31.040><c> have</c><01:08:31.279><c> employees.
• I have employees. They at my business. I have employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• By and large, federal employees are immune from losing their job.
• It should have been a hole-in-one, but it took the IRS nearly a decade to fire an IRS employee. employee
• I'm a federal employee.
• You can't have our employees show up. And so all of our employees, as Mr. Hughes said, are at will.
• Give the bonus to the employee.

Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Keywords: nominations, Scott Cooper, Eric Ulan, federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, accountability, collective bargaining

Summary: The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what I would suggest, and it's only a suggestion, everybody, we don't inhibit free speech rights here
• And I also heard testimony saying that people felt that if we removed this free speech zone, that it
• zone that it would increase free speech zone that it would increase the<00:53:59.520><c> possibility
• It interferes with freedom of speech.
• And chair recognizes federal employees. And chair recognizes Representative<02:04:11.440><c> Burch.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it was a great speech. I'm grateful for it and we're happy to take your questions.
• I think it was a great speech. I'm grateful for it and we're happy to take your questions.
• I think it was a great speech. I'm grateful for it and we're happy to take your questions.
• How has the speech tonight altered the trajectory of the legislative session?
• How has the speech tonight altered the trajectory of the legislative session?

Transcript Highlights:

• This cost report is required annually and includes wages and benefit information about its employees.
• I ask you to support House Bill 2600 to make sure supported living employees are spending state dollars
• I ask you to support House Bill 2600 to make sure supported living employees are spending state dollars
• After months of them refusing to budge, employees voted unanimously to authorize a strike.
• This is my respectful speech.

Bills: HB1873 , HB2600 , SB5957

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care

Transcript Highlights:

• Does it have employees? Who's managing it?
• We believe privacy is a human right, and the First Amendment protects our freedom of speech.
• So, this will help employees and employers to be able to go to one webpage and get all the information
• they need on the resources that are available to their employees.
• But at the same time, about 90% of restaurants are small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

Bills: HB2226 , HB2269 , HB2343 , HB2760 , HB3621 , HB4079 , HB4204 , HB4518 , HB4531 , HB4555 , HB4850 , HB4876 , HB4903 , HB4996 , HB5122

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3627 would allow the chair of the State Board of Education to hire its own employees.
• pays one third, and an employee like a waiter, waitress, port worker pays the other third.
• HB 5196 by Capriglione, relating to telework for state employees. The chair recognizes Mr.
• My staff met with employees of the Attorney General's office.
• I will not make a big speech because you have heard both sides talk.

Bills: SB17 , SB1569 , SB2420 , HB5138 , HJR161 , HB1937 , HB3334 , HB5444 , HB5137 , HB361 , HB321 , HB5447 , HB464 , HB678 , HB2294 , HB4172 , HB3225 , HB1769 , HB5394 , HB1837 , HB1787 , HB2271 , HB2440 , HB5134 , HB5149 , HB2151 , HB2073 , HB2186 , HB2025 , HB1936 , HB1777 , HB1663 , HB 1306 , HB 1290 , HB1527 , HB4802 , HB3462 , HB2963 , HB2462 , HB2560 , HB644 , HB2725 , HB2621 , HB2588 , HB1443 , HB1403 , HB3032 , HB1557 , HB1664 , HB2811 , HB2088 , HB2598 , HB3062 , HB3134 , HB3940 , HB4027 , HB4097 , HB4862 , HB4170 , HB4157 , HB4205 , HB4279 , HB4377 , HB4838 , HB5424 , HB5294 , HB4870 , HB4763 , HB5639 , HB4112 , HB2275 , HB1677 , HB5014 , HB3848 , HB3797 , HB3727 , HB3709 , HB3177 , HB3057 , HB4176 , HB4202 , HB2180 , HB3528 , HB3658 , HCR76 , HCR127 , SB906 , SB1229 , SB855 , SB703 , SB1025 , SB888 , SB1119 , SB1080 , SB929 , SB1355 , SB2231 , SB1877 , SB1998 , SB552 , SB17 , SB1569 , SB2420 , HB2697 , HB3801 , HB3488 , HB3477 , HB3466 , HB3469 , HB2594 , HB2564 , HB2298 , HB5331 , HB5646 , HB5247 , HB5323 , HB4384 , HB3896 , HB4014 , HB3627 , HB3594 , HB2524 , HB510 , HB561 , HB 1181 , HB3963 , HB5111 , HB2785 , HB1661 , HB200 , HB1803 , HB249 , HB721 , HB851 , HB 1128 , HB1904 , HB30 , HB1916 , HB541 , HB5560 , HB3071 , HB5627 , HB5435 , HB2688 , HB3045 , HB3483 , HB4213 , HB4226 , HB783 , HB175 , HB4735 , HB5155 , HB5057 , HB4813 , HB5339 , HB5196 , HB5033 , HB3486 , HB4211 , HB74 , HB4730 , HB4743 , HB4463 , HB4139 , HB4752 , HB4486 , HB4437 , HB4426 , HB4396 , HB4263 , HB3487 , HB3418 , HB2266 , HB2229 , HB2189 , HB5224 , HB5195 , HB3947 , HB3358 , HB3370 , HB3745 , HB3697 , HB2001 , HB1968 , HB3371 , HB3909 , HB4944 , HB2284 , HB4506 , HB3317 , HB4166 , HB3913 , HB1768 , HB4603 , HB2494 , HB3099 , HJR138 , HB133 , HB3832 , HB1988 , HCR34 , HB3421 , HB3892 , HB5138 , HJR161 , HB1937 , HB3334 , HB5444 , HB5137 , HB361 , HB321 , HB5447 , HB464 , HB678 , HB2294 , HB4172 , HB3225 , HB1769 , HB5394 , HB1837 , HB1787 , HB2271 , HB2440 , HB5134 , HB5149 , HB2151 , HB2073 , HB2186 , HB2025 , HB1936 , HB1777 , HB1663 , HB 1306 , HB 1290 , HB1527 , HB4802 , HB3462 , HB2963 , HB2462 , HB2560 , HB644 , HB2725 , HB2621 , HB2588 , HB1443 , HB1403 , HB3032 , HB1557 , HB1664 , HB2811 , HB2088 , HB2598 , HB3062 , HB3134 , HB3940 , HB4027 , HB4097 , HB4862 , HB4170 , HB4157 , HB4205 , HB4279 , HB4377 , HB4838 , HB5424 , HB5294 , HB4870 , HB4763 , HB5639 , HB4112 , HB2275 , HB1677 , HB5014 , HB3848 , HB3797 , HB3727 , HB3709 , HB3177 , HB3057 , HB4176 , HB4202 , HB2180 , HB3528 , HB3658 , HCR76 , HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one, the First Amendment right of speech does not mean that we can only protect the speech that
• This is why speech needs to be protected.
• So we want to talk about free speech.
• I'll talk about free speech.
• We're up here listening to a bill about free speech.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've heard from the proponents that this is the attack on free speech.
• However, it's simply not true that this is a free speech issue.
• However, it's simply not true that this is a free speech issue.
• So you do run into some speech issues, and when it comes into religious speech, which I believe this
• protection, much like political speech.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• No employee at the board or contractor. Senator Maiden, your microphone's not on.
• So that's not an employee that you're aware of, or... I've been CEO for two and a half years.
• We've never had an employee or a contractor by the name of Robert. So you would know.
• I'm here for a lease which is for the UK Healthcare's speech language pathology clinic.
• </c><00:54:55.520><c> language</c> healthc care's uh speech language healthc care's uh speech language

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:

• Help cover expected growth in employee compensation and benefits and other operating costs, including
• </c><00:36:05.200><c> compensation</c><00:36:05.760><c> and</c><00:36:06.079><c> benefits</c> in employee
• compensation and benefits in employee compensation and benefits and<00:36:06.800><c> other</c><00:36
• This again is to help cover expected growth in employee compensation and benefits, other operating costs
• </c> help cover expected growth in employee help cover expected growth in employee compensation<00:37

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• [No substantive transcript; non-speech audio/brief interjections only.] Senator Stivers. Aye.
• he meets in the hallways of the Capitol and the annex, from legislators to fellow staff, to those employees
• :15:06.840><c> engage</c><01:15:07.480><c> in</c><01:15:07.640><c> protected</c><01:15:08.320><c> speech
• </c><01:15:09.120><c> and</c> to engage in protected speech and to engage in protected speech and expressive
• in</c><01:22:55.000><c> this</c><01:22:55.760><c> body</c> Because nobody in this body, under the speech

Transcript Highlights:

• [No audible speech; transcription noise.] [No audible speech; transcription noise.]
• [No audible speech; transcription noise.] [No audible speech; transcription noise.]
• [No audible speech; transcription noise.] [No audible speech; transcription noise.]
• The bill requires health care institutions to prominently post an employee notice, establishes civil
• , pharmacist, pharmacy employee, medical school student, medical school employee, or any professional

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 148, a bill allowing classification by biological sex in limited settings such as multiple-use bathrooms, certain sports, and involuntary commitment facilities. Supporters said it was needed to protect privacy and safety, especially for minors, and argued it was consistent with recent federal and state developments. Opponents said the bill was poorly defined, unnecessary, and could create discrimination or confusion, especially because it did not define “biological sex” in the text. The committee voted 10-8 ought to pass, and the chair said a minority report would be written. The committee then considered HB 254, a bill concerning medical aid in dying. The chair moved ought to pass and described the bill as a matter of liberty for terminally ill patients within six months of death, arguing it should not be treated as suicide. Opponents raised religious, ethical, and policy concerns, including worries about a slippery slope, misuse by vulnerable people, and the effect on death records and public health data. The committee voted 11-7 ought to pass, and the chair said a majority report would be written with a minority report by Representative Perez. Finally, the committee turned to HB 611 with Amendment 2025-0638, a replace-all amendment dealing with recoupment of costs for appointed counsel. The chair explained the amendment would restore the law to its pre-2020 form, allowing the Office of Cost Containment to seek repayment from some recipients of appointed counsel services, including those found not guilty, if they had the ability to pay. Supporters said the prior change had sharply reduced collections and that the state should not treat indigent defendants differently from people who hire private counsel. Opponents argued the policy unfairly bills innocent people and children who were entitled to counsel. The transcript cuts off during debate on the amendment, before a vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair will entertain up to five requests for one-minute speeches on each side of the aisle.
• I just say to the gentleman that that was a great speech for social media, but it will do nothing to
• Without objection. e The Chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches.
• </c> the agencies and the public employee the agencies and the public employee unions<04:39:53.240><c
• Yes, but a big portion of their 4,500 employees is actually debt management.

Transcript Highlights:

• that of fully licensed speech language pathologists, who pay only $210.
• With that, Madam Chair, do have a testifier. for speech language path pathology for speech language path
• that of fully licensed speech language pathologists, who pay only $210.
• that of fully licensed speech language pathologists, who pay only $210.
• representing the Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, what message were they sending us in regard to how many employees they had?
• What message were they sending us in regard to how many employees they had in the budget for that?
• State employees are 3 and 3.” “Yeah, but we talked about that.
• Or the employee numbers. The FTE numbers, yeah. And the question is on the dollars.
• On page six, those full-time employees were removed anyway, then 95.

Bills: SB2015

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Summary: The committee met to review revised long sheets and section-by-section language for a human services/health budget bill, with much of the discussion focused on how to present block grant funding and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for behavioral health clinics and CCBHCs. Members debated whether to keep FTE counts in the budget at all, ultimately leaning toward removing or zeroing out the FTE references while keeping the dollar authority, and reducing the salaries-and-wages block grant by about $4.75 million. They also discussed public health federal authority, agreeing to remove about $60 million in unused federal spending authority tied to COVID-era funds, and clarified that if federal money later becomes available it could be requested through the Emergency Commission. A major topic was the provider inflation increase. The House version had 2% and 2%, while members debated alternatives and appeared to settle, at least for further work, on 2% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year, with staff asked to recalculate the fiscal impact. The committee also reviewed FMAP changes, noting a revised 2027 FMAP estimate and its effect on general fund and other funds, and discussed whether to adjust public health and other line items accordingly. Several members emphasized that many of these numbers are still tentative and will be refined before final action. The committee also touched on several policy items and capital-related provisions, including behavioral health services, Medicaid expansion, the moratorium on new ICF beds, and a proposed amendment for a medical homes/fourplex-related item that would show a $400,000 legislative investment with repayment from a developer. There was extended discussion of the All True hospital/facility proposal, with some members favoring leaving it in with a smaller initial commitment and others preferring to remove it and revisit later in conference committee. The meeting ended with staff asked to continue updating the bill language and members instructed to review remaining sections before the next meeting; no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am also an employee of the University of Minnesota, as is my wife, Professor Karen Painter.
• some of the other parts of the University seem to have some difficulties with respecting the free speech
• I am also an employee of the University of Minnesota, as is my wife, Professor Karen Painter.
• some of the other parts of the University seem to have some difficulties with respecting the free speech
• of Faculty staff and students who speech of Faculty staff and students who descent<00:51:42.440><c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and they do actually raise free speech concerns. So, here's the bottom line.
• So, here's the bottom speech concerns.
• And it will harm speech ban could have.
• It has a lot of implications on privacy, freedom of speech, etc.
• It has a lot of implications on privacy, freedom of speech, etc.

Committee: House Small Business & Information Technology

Transcript Highlights:

• anything to current employees or the younger employees.
• anything to current employees or the younger employees.
• </c><00:24:13.159><c> this</c> employees or the younger employees this employees or the younger employees
• [No audible speech captured.] [No audible speech captured.] [No audible speech captured.]
• [No audible speech captured.] [No audible speech captured.]

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1, focusing on the legislative branch budget, especially the Senate and House lines. Members discussed that the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 adjusted authorized amount was higher than 2024 actual spending, largely due to personnel, benefits, and travel, and one member proposed a $500,000 annual cut. Staff explained that any reduction would need to be allocated across specific line items such as personnel, benefits, and travel, and noted that the Senate budget is entirely General Funds. After discussion of how the adjusted authorized figures were calculated and why the branch no longer staffs some joint committees as it once did, the committee moved on without taking a vote on that section. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from the New Hampshire Retirement System. NHRS officials described their statutory administrative budget, which is funded through the retirement trust rather than the General Fund, and said the FY 2026-2027 increase is driven by IT modernization, cybersecurity, a new strategic plan, and additional staff positions. They also reviewed the system’s funding progress, clean audit opinions, investment performance, and changes to asset allocation, while noting that several recent pension-related laws required major database changes. Members questioned the large increase in salaries and benefits, the need for new employees versus contractors, the purpose of training costs, and the source of the Group Two benefit funding. NHRS said the governor’s budget includes General Funds for Group Two benefit changes, with $5 million in FY 2026 and $27.9 million in FY 2027, and that the figures reflect the governor’s recommendation and related HB 2 provisions. Committee members also asked about employer and employee contribution rates for Group Two police and fire members, which NHRS said were not included in the budget document but were about 31.2% for police and 30.35% for fire, with employee shares around 11.55% and 11.8%. The committee did not make a decision on the NHRS budget during this exchange and indicated it would review the details further before returning to it later. The committee then heard from the Community Development Finance Authority on the State Treasury Department budget line for the required state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant program. CDFA explained that its $280,000 annual request for FY 2026 and FY 2027, totaling $560,000, supports administration, technical assistance, contracting, and monitoring of roughly $19 million in annual federal CDBG funds. Members asked about the leverage of the state match, oversight of projects, staffing, and grant prioritization. CDFA said it has 18 employees, uses public hearings and a scoring system to prioritize awards, and conducts both desk and on-site monitoring, with annual audits to ensure compliance. No vote was taken on the CDFA item in the portion provided.