Transcript Highlights:

• Judgment of how to spend those taxpayer dollars and the witnesses are correct had legislation on this
• And who's in the best position to make that judgment about cost is, is it?

Bills: HB279, HB310, HB365, HB391, HB420, HB422, HB638, HB279, HB310

Keywords: HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit, production area authorization, production zone, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contested case hearing, administrative hearing, groundwater restoration, groundwater baseline, water quality, mining permit, restoration values, natural resources, environmental regulation, in-situ uranium mining, permit amendment, public hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• The second change was the creation of an express provision of law providing that the offer of judgment
• selective hearing practices, used their backup trial divisions to create supplemental trial and summary judgment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• task force last interim, where our stated goal was to identify ways to improve student outcomes and evaluate
• 31:05.440> student<01:31:05.760> outcomes<01:31:06.639> and<01:31:06.880> evaluate
• improve student outcomes and evaluate improve student outcomes and evaluate needed<01:31:07.840>
• It's very significant. >> And then you did mention that the federal government just won a judgment.
• I don't know if you want to call it a judgment, but the district had to pay $10 million. >> Well, they

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:50 Robotics Education – 0:04:18 Canopy KY – 0:14:15 Comprehensive Support and Improvement – 0:23:20 Postsecondary Credit Alignment – 0:53:15 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in K-12 Settings – 1:21:25 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 2:05:15 Adjournment 2:05:41, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with a roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the minutes by voice vote, and recognized a guest of Senator Hickden, retired judge Dan Kelly. The chair then moved through a tight agenda and limited public presentations and questions. The first presentation was on robotics education in Kentucky, led by Representative Chris Lewis, Kentucky FIRST Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen, and students from Whitfield Academy. They argued that robotics should be expanded in high schools as a workforce pipeline for engineering, manufacturing, and advanced technology jobs. The presentation emphasized hands-on learning, industry certifications, teacher development, and a proposed framework to fund robotics education programs statewide. Committee members were not allowed to ask questions because of time constraints. The second presentation was from Canopy Kentucky, led by Adam Watson and founder Scott Collins. They described Canopy’s business and entrepreneurship education programs for fifth graders and high school students, including the NextGen Good Biz initiative and an eight-classroom high school unit. Canopy requested a one-time $750,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026, matched by private funds, to expand into more schools and rural areas, train educators, and report outcomes. Members asked a brief question about how the programs fit into school schedules and the difference between the elementary and high school offerings. The final presentation, from KDE’s Kelly Foster and Todd Allen, reviewed the state’s school improvement classifications. Foster explained CSI, TSI, and ATSI status, the federal and state legal framework, and how House Bill 298 returned CSI identification to an annual cycle. She reported that Kentucky identified 50 CSI schools on the most recent release, with 53 CSI schools statewide, along with 39 TSI schools and 102 ATSI schools. She also outlined KDE’s support process, including education recovery staff, diagnostic reviews, turnaround plans, and required professional learning for CSI schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• often represent some of the most affordable home ownership options on the market, it is important to evaluate
• options on the market, it is<00:15:44.000> important<00:15:44.320> to<00:15:44.480> evaluate
• <00:15:45.040> existing is important to evaluate existing is important to evaluate existing
• I'm driving and texting and I cause an accident and the person I hurt sues me, I don't pay that judgment
• My liability insurance pays that judgment. Um, so I wanted to clear that up as well. Mr.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force met on October 22, 2025, with a quorum present and several members participating remotely. Members approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Michelle Urick of the Legislative Coordinating Commission then gave an administrative update on proxy voting and the task force’s operating procedures. She said the enabling statute only authorizes the officially appointed member to act and vote, so proxy voting is not allowed, and votes must be cast in person at the meeting where the item is considered. She also said members may submit written positions, but not vote before or after a meeting. In response to concerns about attendance for future votes, the chair said the January meetings would be rescheduled if possible using a Doodle poll so more members could be present in person. The group also agreed to treat the revised document as operating procedures rather than a formal charter, with no separate adoption action needed at that time. The task force then moved into testimony on homeowners and commercial property insurance. Paul Edgar of Minnesota Realtors said rising insurance costs are adding to housing affordability pressures, citing an increase in the monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance payment on a median-priced Minnesota home from $1,622 in 2021 to $2,642 in September 2025. He said higher insurance costs and limited coverage can affect buyers’ financing, especially for condominiums and townhomes, and urged continued work on liability and insurance-related laws that may discourage condo development. He also referenced prior bipartisan reforms to Minnesota’s condominium construction defects law and said his organization supports further improvements to encourage more condo production. Keenan Ravery of the Minnesota Mortgage Association focused on how insurance requirements affect mortgage lending. He explained that lenders require insurance both at origination and throughout the life of the loan, with standards aimed at protecting collateral rather than providing full homeowners coverage. He said replacement-cost coverage has long been the norm, but recent issues with roofs, deductibles, HO-6 policies, and force-placed insurance have become pain points for consumers and lenders. He said his association is working with national trade groups on reforms that could allow more flexibility in coverage types and deductibles, and he expressed hope that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency may announce policy changes in the coming months or by early 2026. No votes or substantive policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and agreeing to pursue scheduling adjustments for January.

Transcript Highlights:

• percentage of my students aren't showing me that they're understanding something, I'm reflecting, I'm re-evaluating
• So I had to make a judgment about whether I was supposed to enroll or not without sufficient information

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing focused first on teacher retirement legislation, especially H. 2932 and S. 1884, which would give long-serving educators a one-time opportunity to enroll in Retirement Plus after the program’s 2001 rollout was described as confusing and inconsistently communicated. Legislators, union leaders, and many teachers testified that some educators missed the opt-in window because of faulty notices, leave status, transfers, or misinformation about payroll deductions, and that many have had to work several extra years as a result. Supporters said the bills would correct an unfair administrative error, provide a buyback option with interest, and could also save local school districts money by allowing earlier retirements. Representative Mark Sylvia also testified for H. 4234, a Fairhaven-specific bill to raise the age limit for special police officers from 65 to 70 and clarify appointing authority, citing experience and budget needs. The committee then heard testimony on several pension investment and divestment bills. Supporters of H. 2811 and related climate-risk measures argued that PRIM should assess, disclose, and address climate-related financial risk in the state pension fund, warning that fossil fuel investments could threaten long-term returns and public finances. Environmental advocates and financial experts said climate risk is systemic and urged transparency, divestment planning, and alignment with the Commonwealth’s climate goals. Another set of speakers supported H. 2984, which would divest pension investments from companies selling weapons to Israel; they argued the state should not be complicit in violence in Gaza and cited humanitarian and human rights concerns. Additional testimony supported H. 2900 and S. 1869 to divest from the firearm industry, with speakers saying pension investments should not undermine Massachusetts gun laws. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs repeatedly thanked speakers, limited testimony time, and noted that written testimony could be submitted later. The hearing concluded with the committee moving through the sign-up list and hearing extensive public testimony on the teacher retirement and divestment proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is making no judgments, nothing about the actual interventions themselves.
• influences the policy underwriting risk, not through established and reliable data metrics or thorough evaluation

Bills: HB778, HB 1266, HB1576, HB2213, HB2517, HB2518, HB2841, HB3306, HB3320, HB3388, HB3508, HB3520, HB3689

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<01:53:16.480> the believes the personal judgment, the believes the personal judgment, the
• But how do we make a judgment on a protective order is the question.
• But wouldn't you not have to make that judgment if there's a protective order?
• <02:02:19.360> on<02:02:19.520> a how do we make a judgment on a how do we make a judgment
• if if there's a protective judgment if if there's a protective order,<02:02:25.840> it<02:02:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reasons in the testimony why this might be problematic in the resolution of cases and the final judgment
• reasons in the testimony why this might be problematic in the resolution of cases and the final judgment
• reasons in the testimony why this might be problematic in the resolution of cases and the final judgment
• reasons in the testimony why this might be problematic in the resolution of cases and the final judgment
• reasons in the testimony why this might be problematic in the resolution of cases and the final judgment

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 655 would limit collection of unpaid motor vehicle taxes, fees, and penalties to the most recent five consecutive years of delinquency. The Department of Transportation opposed the bill, saying it could significantly affect state and county revenues and that the fiscal impact was hard to estimate. The Tax Foundation noted the bill would shorten the existing collection period, while an individual testifier supported it as a narrow measure that would help owners of old or inherited vehicles. In questioning, the department said it could not quantify the cost but suggested it would prefer case-by-case flexibility rather than a fixed five-year limit. HB 697 would authorize Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement personnel to inspect and certify evidence from automated speed enforcement systems and would appropriate funds for the program. The Department of Transportation supported the measure, citing the workload created by the red-light camera pilot and the need to assist police and prosecutors. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended technical amendments so the verification language would apply consistently across the chapter and allow the appropriate reviewing entity to act. The committee also heard support from the AAHU Metropolitan Planning Organization and opposition from three individuals. HB 711 would require defendants convicted of causing the death of a parent or legal guardian of a minor child while driving under the influence to provide financial support to the surviving child. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that criminal restitution must be tied to verified losses and that this type of long-term support is better handled in civil court, where trusts, conservatorships, and insurance claims can be addressed. The Department of Transportation supported the bill as a deterrent to impaired driving, and police, prosecutors, and an injury prevention group also submitted support. Members questioned whether the measure was better suited to civil litigation, and the public defender agreed that the civil system was the proper venue. HB 108 would allow direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and require county liquor commissions to adopt rules. The Attorney General raised constitutional concerns, saying the bill’s different treatment of out-of-state manufacturers could violate the dormant Commerce Clause and recommended revisions. Brewers and distillers testified in support, saying the bill would put beer and spirits on a similar footing with wine direct shipment, help small producers reach consumers, and support the local economy without increasing underage access. They also said the bill should be amended to address grandfathering language. No final votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• never exist, I'm most sad for those who promote and legalize it because we will each stand in final judgment
• never exist, I'm most sad for those who promote and legalize it because we will each stand in final judgment
• concerns because of potential retaliation or because people will think you're being discriminatory or judgmental
• will think you're being discriminatory will think you're being discriminatory or<00:52:13.200> judgmental
• or judgmental. or judgmental.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to limit this, or no, you can't do this or you can't do that, and the things that are in the best judgment
• to limit this, or no, you can't do this or you can't do that, and the things that are in the best judgment
• 00:45:36.960> best and the things that are in the best and the things that are in the best Judgment
• > provider<00:45:38.720> what<00:45:38.839> would<00:45:39.040> help Judgment
• of the provider what would help Judgment of the provider what would help the<00:45:39.520> patient

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the Department for Medicaid Services’ program integrity work. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Program Integrity Director Jennifer Dudinsky outlined Kentucky Medicaid’s structure, funding, enrollment, and spending, including FMAP rates, the size of the Medicaid and KCHIP populations, the number of providers, and 2024 expenditures. They also described the managed care and fee-for-service populations, noting that managed care serves most members while fee-for-service is concentrated in long-term care and waiver populations. Most of the discussion focused on fraud, waste, abuse prevention, and provider oversight. The department described its provider enrollment and certification checks, revalidation requirements, site reviews, fingerprinting for some high-risk providers, and termination grounds such as false application information, Medicare actions, unreported ownership changes, and abandonment of a provider number. Members asked about nonprofit ownership reporting, MCO fraud oversight, and how the department tracks unusual CPT code utilization, especially in behavioral health. The department said it uses data analytics, audits, policy review, and collaboration with behavioral health staff to monitor those trends. Dudinsky explained the division’s four branches: provider licensing and certification, audits and compliance, recovery, and third-party liability/estate recovery. She described prepayment and postpayment audits, referrals of credible fraud allegations to the Attorney General, monthly meetings with the AG’s office, and coordination with the Office of Inspector General, CMS, HHS OIG, MCOs, and other partners. She also explained payment suspensions, stand-downs during law enforcement investigations, and recovery efforts for overpayments, provider/member fraud, and third-party liability. The department said its recovery and avoidance efforts produced more than $251 million in savings so far in 2025. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would say at 5 megawatts, these smaller systems wouldn't go through the site evaluation committee,
• I would say at 5 megawatts, these smaller systems wouldn't go through the site evaluation committee,
• wouldn't go through the site evaluation wouldn't go through the site evaluation committee<02:24:
• And, or at least the standard that the utilities are using to do evaluations.
• utilities are using to do evaluations. utilities are using to do evaluations.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are themes that we learned from the professional judgment panels, also interviews, and then the
• During the professional judgment...
• During the professional judgment panels, we asked educators, administrators, and stakeholders to help
• So, what we heard from our civil safety professional judgment panels, also our interviews, and then at

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• guess the executive can point its finger, and we do make mistakes and sometimes we make mistakes in judgment
• sometimes we make make mistakes and sometimes we make mistakes<00:39:13.160> in<00:39:13.280> judgment
• <00:39:14.480> I<00:39:14.600> can't<00:39:14.960> defend mistakes in judgment
• I can't defend mistakes in judgment.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota, uh we've won more than 300 convictions in Medicaid fraud and won more than $80 million in judgments
• more than $80 Medicaid fraud and won more than $80 million<00:04:30.720> in<00:04:31.040> judgments
• c><00:04:31.520> and<00:04:31.919> restitution<00:04:32.560> for million in judgments
• and restitution for million in judgments and restitution for Minnesota<00:04:33.759> taxpayers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• finding and you have public notice and public hearing requirements that are the oversight for that judgment
• that are the oversight for the<00:03:56.080> um<00:03:56.120> that<00:03:56.320> judgment
• call<00:03:57.400> that<00:03:57.600> they<00:03:57.760> make the um that judgment
• call that they make the um that judgment call that they make at<00:03:58.200> the<00:03:58.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• warranted, if it's going to be something that's going to be, um, you know, in their professional judgment
• to um you know in<00:07:04.960> their<00:07:05.199> professional<00:07:05.599> judgment
• <00:07:06.080> going<00:07:06.160> to in their professional judgment going to in their
• professional judgment going to be<00:07:06.400> do<00:07:06.560> that.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2567, a Judiciary package measure concerning temporary restraining orders for threats and harassment tied to a public employee’s official actions. Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and the Judiciary said they had worked out a compromise to address earlier concerns, including a two-year pilot project, broader coverage for state officers and employees across all branches and counties, a special fund to pay for private counsel in some cases, and authority for Judiciary staff attorneys or Judiciary funds to represent Judiciary personnel. Members asked about coverage for retired judges, funding limits, and whether the measure could be used for workplace disputes; the witnesses said retired judges and per diem judges could be covered if the harassment related to their work, the fund would be limited and subject to available appropriations, and petitions would not be allowed between employees in the same branch. The chair recommended passage with amendments, and the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously. The committee then heard SB 2448, which creates a civil remedy for the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images under the Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act. The bill’s proponent from the Uniform Law Commission explained that a plaintiff would need to show intentional disclosure or threat of disclosure of a private intimate image without consent, and said the privacy question would be fact-specific. Supporters, including the Commission on the Status of Women and Imua Alliance, favored giving survivors civil recourse. Opponents from the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and others warned that the term "private" could invite victim-blaming and broad discovery into a survivor’s past, while still acknowledging the need for some privacy limitation to avoid overbreadth, especially for people who intentionally distribute intimate content online. Committee members questioned whether the definition of "private" should be tightened. The bill’s proponent said the term should remain because it aligns with the related criminal statute and helps keep the measure focused on classic revenge-porn situations, while still allowing Hawaii-specific changes if needed. The committee did not take final action on SB 2448 in the portion provided, but testimony and discussion centered on balancing survivor protections with concerns about discovery and the scope of liability.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did not intend for this list to make any judgments as to which public servants should be protected
• We did not intend for this list to make any judgments as to which public servants should be protected
• We did not intend for this list to make any judgments as to which public servants should be protected
• We did not intend for this list to make any judgments as to which public servants should be protected

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Transcript Highlights:

• there is a bar stool for everyone, where what can I get you is an honest question, and there is no judgment
• is<00:25:32.880> no honest question, and there is no honest question, and there is no judgment
• what<00:25:34.159> a<00:25:34.320> legal,<00:25:34.720> responsible judgment
• about what a legal, responsible judgment about what a legal, responsible adult<00:25:36.080> drinks

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor has the full discretion under his judgment to call us in immediately.
• I trust his judgment. I trust Colonel Martin to decide that with the governor.
• I trust his judgment. I trust Colonel Martin to decide that with the governor.
• Now, APRN, can they administer vaccines under their own discretion and own practice judgment?

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, received a House message that H.B. 422 had passed the House, and heard gubernatorial nominations for the Council on Sex Offender Treatment. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day and several visiting groups and adopted a resolution designating June 20, 2025, as Texas Nuclear Legislative Day. Members then considered and passed several bills and resolutions, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. SB 311 passed to final passage on the Texas Supreme Court’s writ power. SB 883, on off-label prescription access for COVID-19 treatment, passed to engrossment. SB 1706, creating an Open Meetings Act exception for certain defense, military, and aerospace deliberations, passed despite concerns from Sen. Eckhardt that the bill’s use of “deliberate” could weaken open-government protections. CS SB 1677, directing a study on diabetes-related amputations, passed with support from Sen. Menendez. SB 1967 expanded flood infrastructure fund eligibility to certain multipurpose projects, and SB 1255, a cleanup bill on mold assessor and remediator regulation, passed unanimously. The Senate also approved CS SJR 40 and CS SB 871, which would change emergency and disaster law to require legislative involvement after prolonged or widespread emergencies and to limit gubernatorial suspension powers, with Sen. Eckhardt questioning whether the bill could slow urgent business closures during a disaster. Additional measures passed included SB 1426 transferring management of the First Capital State Historic Site to the Texas Historical Commission, SB 249 requiring TxDOT to fund memorial markers for fallen peace officers, SB 1592 centralizing collection of hotel occupancy taxes from accommodation intermediaries, SB 1271 allowing concurrent jurisdiction on military installations for certain juvenile matters, SB 745 creating a higher penalty for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, SB 365 shortening the academic fresh start waiting period at public colleges, and SB 1171 adjusting compensation and standards for certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department inspector general employees. CS SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, passed after questions about its relationship to federal homeland security and its focus on border security and critical infrastructure. The latter part of the session focused heavily on CS SB 38, a major eviction and squatter-related bill. Sen. Bettencourt described widespread squatter cases and argued the bill, with a Moody amendment, would clarify notice and eviction procedures while balancing property-owner and tenant rights. Sen. West said he supported addressing squatters but worried the broader eviction changes could harm vulnerable renters, especially single mothers, and said he would vote present not voting. The discussion continued with additional testimony from Sen. Kolkhorst about the need for a balanced eviction process.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it would go to the courts, and the courts again would have an opportunity to review that judgment
• And then it would go to the courts, and the courts again would have an opportunity to review that judgment
• And then it would go to the courts, and the courts again would have an opportunity to review that judgment
• And then it would go to the courts, and the courts again would have an opportunity to review that judgment
• And then it would go to the courts, and the courts again would have an opportunity to review that judgment

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met to hear House Bill 520, which would authorize the Department of Education to issue subpoenas in investigations and hearings involving the code of conduct for New Hampshire educators. Representative Lynn, the bill sponsor, said the measure was intended to give the department standard subpoena power during investigations and in later adjudicatory proceedings, with a process for challenging overbroad subpoenas. He argued that agencies with investigative and hearing authority should also have the power to compel witnesses and documents, and said the bill was narrowed from an earlier broader draft to focus on teacher credentialing and address concerns about scope. Members raised several concerns about whether the department already has enough authority, whether the Attorney General could handle subpoenas instead, and whether the bill creates an imbalance by giving subpoena power mainly to the investigating side. Representative Burroughs said she did not feel she had enough information and was uncomfortable with the bill, especially regarding who bears subpoena costs. Representative Biron questioned the trial analogy and whether both sides truly have equal subpoena rights. Lynn responded that the investigative stage is like a grand jury process, where only the investigating body subpoenas witnesses, while the adjudicatory stage allows both sides to seek subpoenas through the hearing officer. Other questions focused on the bill’s scope. Representative Andreos asked what investigative authority the Department of Education already has, and Representative Organ questioned why the bill is limited to educators rather than also covering vendors, charter school boards, or the EFA scholarship organization. Lynn said the limitation to educators was deliberate, because earlier broader versions drew objections for being too expansive. Representative Tur asked whether the Attorney General could already handle such matters, and Lynn said that while the AG might be able to pursue some investigations or court subpoenas, agencies should be able to conduct their own internal investigations. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.