Transcript Highlights:

• Appreciate the testimony. >> Thank you. Appreciate the testimony.
• >> Appreciate your testimony. >> Appreciate your testimony.
• Appreciate that testimony. Thank you. Appreciate that testimony.
• Um, public testimony. We have Okay. Um, public testimony.
• <03:35:35.840> Sir, for your testimony. Sir, for your testimony.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. testimony. testimony.
• >> testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony, testimony, testimony, >> Steve. >> Good morning.
• testimony. Well, thank you for that. testimony. Well, thank you for that.
• close my testimony. close my testimony.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we will take public testimony after the presentation.
• testimony.
• testimony on today's agenda and topics.
• Any written testimony will be distributed to all the JLARC members.
• Again, do we have any public testimony? Anyone signed up? No, we don't.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office performance audit of Washington’s Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163). Auditors said the initiative’s background checks and 75-hour training requirement are widely viewed as safety measures, but the state lacks pre-2011 data to directly measure safety outcomes. They also found Washington’s long-term care workforce is still short, though the state ranks better than many others in workers per disabled person, and that some groups and regions have larger gaps between authorized and actually used Medicaid care hours, suggesting access problems for certain clients. The audit focused heavily on the certification process for home care aides. Auditors reported that many applicants never finish certification, that the process often exceeds the 200-day legal deadline, and that delays can cause lost income, job loss, and in some cases repeated employer changes that allow aides to keep working without becoming certified. They recommended that the Department of Health accept applications only after training and testing are completed, move testing into training programs more broadly, and eliminate redundant DOH verification of FBI background checks. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and the role of immigration in workforce shortages; auditors said they found no financial performance standards in the Prometric contract, did not specifically study immigration status, and did not focus on language barriers in this audit. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services officials largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including expanded in-program testing, more staffing, and rule changes, and that testing has been integrated into more than 110 training programs. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Both agencies said they support further streamlining and expect continued collaboration, including possible budget or legislative requests. No public testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned without taking any vote or formal action on the audit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
• If there are no further questions, we'll proceed to public testimony.
• At this point, the meeting will progress to public testimony.
• If no further questions, we will proceed to public testimony. To be J.D.
• Thank you for your testimony. Randy Lee, thank you for being here today.

Bills: SB840, HB2025, HB2512, HB3139, HB3798, HB3892, HB4373, HB4398, HB4582, HB4689, HB5187, HB5658, HB5666

Keywords: HB 2025, Texas Property Code, plat filing, replat, amended plat, condominium plat, subdivision, county clerk, tax certificate, ad valorem taxes, delinquent taxes, property records, real property, land use, local government, property development, subdivision recording, condominium recording, tax receipt, eminent domain

Transcript Highlights:

• And of the amendment in the testimony.
• Uh, thank you for your testimony.
• , >> Thank you for your testimony, >> Thank you for your testimony, Representative<02
• Um, thank you for your testimony.
• And I have written testimony.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No public testimony on the amendment. We'll now take public testimony on the amendment.
• We will now have public testimony on the PCS.
• We want to get public testimony on the PCS.
• We want out to get public testimony on the PCS.
• Seeing no questions, we'll take public testimony. No public testimony.

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee met to hear and vote on several bills, with all measures reported favorably. The first major item was PCS for HB 175 on payment stablecoins, which would create a Florida regulatory framework aligned with the federal GENIUS Act so issuers can choose state regulation instead of federal licensing. Members asked extensive questions about how stablecoins differ from other digital assets, whether Florida would need federal approval, and what impact the bill would have on the Office of Financial Regulation; the sponsor and OFR said the state framework would mirror federal standards and that any workload increase was currently indeterminate. The PCS passed unanimously after testimony from OFR and the Florida Blockchain Business Association in support. The committee then approved CS for HB 961, which streamlines electronic signature requirements for salvage titles and certificates of destruction, and HB 1415, a DFS stablecoin pilot program allowing certain stablecoins to be used for licensing and regulatory fees. HB 1415 was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin, limit the pilot to established stablecoins with at least $1 billion market cap, and require secure custody through a public depository or custodial bank. Members discussed how any interest or revenue would be used, with sponsors saying the pilot was still exploratory and intended mainly to cover program costs. Both bills passed favorably. HB 1039, establishing a state cryptocurrency reserve, also passed after a strike-all amendment moved administration of the reserve from the CFO’s office to the State Board of Administration and tightened eligibility to cryptocurrencies with a $100 billion market cap over the prior 12 months. Supporters argued the bill would create a framework for future diversification and investment in established digital assets, while several members raised concerns about volatility, reporting frequency, and the meaning of new terms such as qualified liquidity provider and secure custody solution. The committee also passed CS for HB 951 on penny rounding for cash transactions, with an amendment clarifying cash transaction definitions and treating money orders and gift cards like credit-card transactions for rounding purposes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. Dr.
• Thank you for your testimony. I’m going to try to keep remarks down... Your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. George Fasieu, U.S.
• Thank you for your testimony. The rest are waving and...

Summary: The Committee on Rules met and first approved several open-government sunset repeal bills and related measures. SB 7024 and SB 7026, both sponsored by Senator Mayfield, were explained as consolidating and extending public records/public meetings exemptions for cybersecurity information and trade secrets held by agencies; both were reported favorably. SB 7020, sponsored by Senator Trumbull, reenacted an aquaculture records exemption for records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and was also reported favorably. Later, the committee approved SB 14 and SB 24, claims bills for relief involving Miami-Dade County, and SB 16, a claims bill for Heriberto Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg; all were reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS for SB 806, a consumer right-to-repair bill creating portable wireless device and agricultural equipment repair acts, despite opposition from several industry groups, and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll close public testimony. Any other cards?
• All right, now we'll close public testimony on Senate Bill 524.
• I will open public testimony on House Bill 3474.
• This time, we'll open public testimony on House Bill 5246.
• Okay, we will now open public testimony.

Bills: SB524, SB782, HB42, HB1056, HB2894, HB3033, HB3474, HB3594, HB4738, HB5246, HB42

Keywords: SB 524, Texas franchise tax, veteran-owned business, new veteran-owned business, business tax exemption, filing fee exemption, Tax Code Chapter 171, Business Organizations Code, Comptroller, small business, veterans, entrepreneurship, tax repeal, privilege tax, beginning date, franchise tax exemption, severance tax, oil, gas, restimulation wells

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard a lot of testimony and conflicting testimony.
• We heard a lot of testimony<01:02:13.440> and<01:02:13.839> conflicting testimony and conflicting
• testimony and conflicting testimony.<01:02:16.079> Well,<01:02:16.400> first<01:02:16.559
• Well, first of all, this was testimony.
• Discussion from the committee.” provided you with testimony from the provided you with testimony from

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Judge, for your testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you for your testimony. The chair calls Shannon Edmonds.
• Appreciate the testimony. Members, any questions for this panel?
• Appreciate the testimony. Members, any questions for this panel? I appreciate the testimony.
• Appreciate the testimony. Thank you.

Bills: HB40

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cook's testimony, then we can go to member questions.
• <00:16:12.880> Good present your testimony. Thank you. Good present your testimony.
• And yourself and present your testimony.
• please and present your testimony. please and present your testimony.
• yourself and present your testimony. yourself and present your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do not have any testimony, Mr. Chair.
• your testimony to two minutes.
• earlier it's about a 10-minute testimony earlier it's about a 10-minute testimony so<00:26:28.399
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Bills: HF550

Keywords: redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The testimony is characterized as bill.
• testimony. Thank you. testimony. Thank you.
• submitted uh written testimony as well. submitted uh written testimony as well.
• and you can verify their testimony for and you can verify their testimony for yourselves.<01:07:51.359
• Please, if you could respond to your testimony. >> Um, to your testimony.

Bills: SB2024, SB896, SB2613, SB494, SB2391, SB2125, SB2614, SB2615, SB3262, SB3325, SB3118

Keywords: charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no questions, is there public testimony?
• No public testimony—well, there is public testimony, I apologize. All right, Karen Marillo.
• No further public testimony. Is there debate on the bill?
• We do have public testimony.
• Seeing no questions, there is public testimony.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to hear three member bills before turning to budget discussion. First, the committee considered HB 1295 on memory care, which would set baseline operating standards for memory care providers and facilities, clarify resident contract requirements, and restrict facilities from advertising themselves as memory care providers unless they meet the bill’s criteria. AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Florida Senior Living Association supported the measure, and it was reported favorably with no debate. The committee then heard HB 1235, which would authorize Florida to join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. Representative Conerly and a representative of the Florida Society for Respiratory Care said the compact would improve workforce flexibility and patient access while preserving state oversight and using licensure fees rather than taxpayer dollars. The bill received favorable testimony and was reported favorably. Next, HB 933 was presented by Representative Rosenwald to add two new children’s initiative sites, one in Bay County and one in Broward County, expanding a program that coordinates education, health care, employment, and housing supports for children in disadvantaged communities. The bill had support from Florida Children’s Initiative and was also reported favorably. After the bill presentations, members were told the agenda would move to budget discussion, and the chair noted that budget recommendations had been submitted to Chair McClure. With no further business, Representative Redondo moved to recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair opens public testimony for Senate Bill 790.
• Hearing none, testimony is closed.
• Public testimony is closed.
• Hearing none, testimony is closed.
• Hearing none, public testimony is now closed.

Bills: SB480, SB767, SB790, SB971, SB1066

Keywords: water resources, interlocal contracts, local government, collaboration, planning activities, wildfire response, firefighting equipment, emergency services, state database, Texas Forest Service, customer complaints, Public Utility Commission, water service, complaint process, utility regulation, SB 971, Texas Water Assistance Program, Water Code, rural political subdivision, rural water

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met on Texas Water Day and limited public testimony to two minutes. The chair emphasized the need to move quickly because of scheduling conflicts with other committees and noted the importance of water policy and related stakeholders. The committee heard several bills focused on water administration, rural utilities, emergency response, and public works contracting. Senate Bill 790 by Senator Alvarado would let the Public Utility Commission create a simplified process for resolving tenant complaints over water or wastewater bill discrepancies; it was described as a way to avoid lengthy contested-case hearings for small disputes. Senate Bill 971 by Senator Sparks would clean up conflicting statutory definitions of “rural political subdivision” so Texas Water Development Board programs are applied consistently; Texas Rural Water Association testified in support. Senate Bill 767, also by Senator Sparks, would expand and improve a statewide database of fire-response equipment so departments, including volunteer and rural departments, can locate and share resources more effectively during emergencies; fire service witnesses supported the bill and suggested annual updates to keep the database current. Chair Perry laid out Senate Bill 480 to clarify that local governments and special districts may enter interlocal agreements for water-related planning and research, including aquifer management and flood/water planning. He also presented Senate Bill 1066, which raises payment and performance bond thresholds for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department public works contracts to $150,000, arguing the change would reflect inflation and help smaller vendors on lower-risk projects. Witnesses were heard on the bills, with no opposition recorded in the transcript. The committee voted out all five bills favorably. SB 1066, SB 480, SB 767, SB 790, and SB 971 each received unanimous committee approval and were recommended to the local and contested calendar, with SB 767 noted as amended by a suggested annual-update requirement for the equipment database.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testimony is limited to two minutes.
• thank you, director, for your testimony. thank you, director, for your testimony.
• proceed with your testimony. proceed with your testimony.
• with your testimony. with your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Bills: HF3714, HF4399, HF4176, HF2544, HF60, HF4231, HF4232

Keywords: foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, education, school board, elections, local governance, school district, site-governed schools, education reform, local control, autonomy, interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, student eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• and also wanted to ask if um testimony and also wanted to ask if um testimony that<00:33:28.919>
• Thank you for taking my testimony.
• equation um comes through in testimony equation um comes through in testimony from<01:12:45.199>
• bill I think when when we hear testimony bill I think when when we hear testimony we<01:12:53.360
• much for your help um and your testimony much for your help um and your testimony um<02:13:27.719

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first dealt with scheduling and housekeeping, including a plan to take a hard break at 2:00 p.m. for an early bill, hold a brief executive session, and then continue with the remaining afternoon bills. The chair also noted the next likely meeting date would be March 12, when the committee expected to take up the remaining bills before crossover deadlines. The main substantive item was House Bill 142, which would recognize the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and related remembrance purposes. Prime sponsor Rep. Michael Moffett described the bill as a bipartisan measure revised to address earlier concerns, arguing that the flag honors fallen service members, can be personalized with names, and complements rather than detracts from the American flag. He said many other states have already adopted it and suggested the committee could amend details such as the number of days and locations for display. He also raised practical issues about flag dimensions and whether the bill should use "shall" or "may" for display requirements. Testimony was divided. Janine Nutter opposed the bill, saying she supports Gold Star families but objected because the flag resembles the Viet Cong flag and because she believes the American flag should remain the sole symbol representing servicemembers. Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee under RSA 115:8, also opposed the bill, saying the committee believes the American flag is the only symbol needed, while still praising the work of Honor and Remember in creating personalized flags for families. Committee members asked questions about where the flag would be flown, whether the State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen is already displaying it, and how the bill’s language would interact with cemetery policies and committee discretion. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• with that, I'll conclude my testimony. with that, I'll conclude my testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. >> All right. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. All right. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. All right. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No testimony. No testimony on the bill. Cruz-Perez, second. Johnson, roll call.
• No testimony.
• We do have some testimony on this.
• There's no testimony on this bill. Motion on the bill. There's no testimony on this bill.
• And these hours of public testimony, of the hours of department testimony, anyone who doesn't think the

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Education K-16 will continue now with public testimony.
• Your testimony was very good.
• Your testimony was very good.
• So thank you all for your testimony. Thank you. Yes, sir.
• Seeing none, hearing none, public testimony is now closed.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.