Transcript Highlights:

• When the phone is purchased, that phone knows this person is over 18. Can you explain that?
• Are we talking about pre-purchase or post-purchase of the phone?
• because again, an adult is purchasing the phone.
• And if an adult is purchasing the phone and wants that child to have it, they're going to purchase the
• But whoever's purchasing the... the tech companies already know is what I would tell you.

Bills: SB186, SB187

Keywords: internet filtering, child protection, obscene content, civil liability, manufacturers, app store, app store provider, app developer, mobile app, age verification, parental consent, minor safety, child online safety, parental controls, age gating, digital privacy, data protection, in-app purchases, online consumer protection, deceptive trade practice

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:02.639> that um development costs, purchasing that um development costs, purchasing
• We are part of what's called the strategic purchase request process, where we have review of IT purchases
• <00:18:47.760> request called the strategic purchase request called the strategic purchase
• <00:18:54.000> We<00:18:54.240> are purchases across the state.
• We are purchases across the state.

Keywords: 0:20 Rollcall 2:28 Definition of Legacy system and demands of modern workplaces 10:48 Discussion of funding and planned expenditures 22:26 Contingency funding 23:16 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance heard a presentation from the Commonwealth Office of Technology on legacy IT modernization funds and how they are used to address outdated, unsupported, or unsustainable systems. David Carter and Carrie Welch explained the state’s definition of a legacy system under KRS 7A.180, emphasizing not only vendor support issues but also changing business needs, regulatory compliance, and the loss of institutional knowledge for older systems. They described the office’s review process for determining whether a project qualifies, including assessing business risk, comparing options such as upgrades, replacements, shared solutions across agencies, or commercial products, and then matching the project to available funding. The presenters said COT reports twice a year to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue on progress with legacy modernization projects. They reported 30 projects funded to date, with 18 completed, and said remaining projects are still moving forward while agencies continue to identify modernization needs. They highlighted examples of completed work, including modernized security cameras, replacement of unsupported systems, migration of documents to the Commonwealth Enterprise Content Management Platform, restoration of vendor support, a digital policy acknowledgement portal, replacement of the State Police dispatch system, and digitization of paper records for faster retrieval and better disaster resilience. Members asked for more detail on how the $10 million request would be allocated, including system-by-system spending, the split between software, hardware, vendor contracts, and staff time, and how the office determines when a system needs replacement. COT said it did not have a system-by-system or cost-category breakdown at the hearing but could provide one later, and explained that the funds are intended for development and first-time acquisition costs rather than ongoing maintenance. They also said the $5 million annual request was based on prior years’ experience and that agencies often contribute some funding themselves, so the program could still operate if appropriated less than the full amount. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for the record, I want to point out that USDA's cancelling the local foods purchase assistance are
• of dairy products purchased by SNAP.
• benefits, as well as purchasing equipments.
• Purchases of kitchen equipment and expansion of local foods.
• We need to invest in farm-to-school and local purchasing programs and grant initiatives to streamline

Bills: SB222

Keywords: whole milk, school lunch, school meals, National School Lunch Program, Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, Child Nutrition Act, USDA, nutrition standards, dairy, nonfat milk, low-fat milk, reduced-fat milk, lactose-free milk, nondairy beverages, plant-based milk, milk substitution, parental consent, legal guardian, food allergies, allergic reaction

Summary: This meeting of the committee focused primarily on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, S222, which aims to permit schools to offer a fuller range of milk options, including whole, reduced, and low-fat varieties, that have garnered bipartisan support. Chairman Bozeman opened the session by highlighting concerns over children's nutrition and the obesity epidemic, emphasizing the significance of nutritious school meals in addressing these issues. Experts from various organizations were invited to discuss the implications of this bill as well as the current challenges facing school meal programs, including budget constraints and food supply issues. The meeting included passionate testimonies about the direct impacts of current dietary guidelines and federal funding reductions affecting schools' abilities to provide healthy meal options.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it authorizes appraisal... ...districts to finance the purchase, construction, or renovation of
• Districts to purchase or lease real property.
• entities of the potential purchase, and then the taxing entities only have 30 days to pass a resolution
• And as a reminder, this process is in addition to our Board of Directors approving the purchase.
• I presume when you say you save taxpayers money, it's just by not having a delay in the purchase of a

Bills: HB3557, HB5578, SB973, SB974, SB2068, SB2073

Keywords: ad valorem tax, property tax, incomplete structure, human occupancy, tax exemption, HB 5578, Texas Tax Code, Section 6.062, appraisal district, county appraisal district, chief appraiser, budget hearing, public notice, notice of hearing, newspaper publication, website notice, social media notice, online newspaper, county government, property appraisal

Transcript Highlights:

• And when they go that way, they're having to not just purchase; they have to retire early.
• It's the same thing if you decide to purchase an electric car.
• Chair, Representative, today an individual can purchase... Mr.
• Chair, Representative, today an individual can purchase a distributed energy resource.
• And when they purchase, it's from a company who we might call a third party in this case.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like I mentioned it's used to purchase like I mentioned it's used to purchase food<00:13:50.639>
• um and there's the local food purchase um and there's the local food purchase um<00:20:37.760>
• to purchase to purchase food<00:41:34.839> you<00:41:34.960> just<00:41:35.079>
• Thank you. purchasing power at costs that we can't purchasing power at costs that we can't find<00:51
• <01:02:41.279> at drop in food available to purchase at drop in food available to purchase

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've not banned them from purchasing it in that three years, so they could purchase something and bring
• But the bill requires that the bill that would have been purchased before the effective date, and then
• or outside no no but I'm saying that you give them three years you've not not banned them from purchasing
• it in that three years so they could purchase something of the you know and bring it in bring it in
• years they have three years they have three years they have three that the bill would have been purchased

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Agriculture Committee met for its first 2026 meeting and took up a full agenda of bills focused on food safety, agricultural programs, consumer transparency, and farm-related policy. Early measures included S.592 on a youth and agriculture entrepreneurship summer employment program, which was reported to finance without opposition, and S.1239E, the Food Safety and Technical Disclosure Act, which would require disclosure of certain food ingredients to the state and public and also ban three substances outright. Senator Kavanaugh described the bill as closing a loophole in federal food safety law; Senator Borrello opposed it as a state-by-state approach that could raise costs and disrupt the supply chain, while Senator O’Rourke supported it as a science-based measure with available substitutes. The bill was reported back to the board with one no vote and one without recommendation. The committee also advanced S.1783A on liquefied petroleum/propane fee disclosures, with supporters saying it would prevent consumers from being charged for improper or hidden fees and opponents arguing it should not single out state-related charges; the bill moved to the board. S.4041, creating a sanitary retail food store grant program, was reported to finance. S.4162, relating to the Fresh Connect program and local produce purchases, prompted discussion about whether state resources should instead be concentrated on the Double Up Food Bucks program; sponsors said both programs are needed and that Double Up has capacity limits, and the bill was moved to finance. Later, the committee advanced S.6286A, establishing an agricultural tax viability pilot program tied to agrivoltaics; supporters said it would address a need raised in recent hearings and work with farm groups, while Senator Borrello voted no. The final bill, S.7618 on food safety and quality date label requirements, drew debate over whether New York should act without a federal standard and whether the bill could create confusion or unintended costs, especially for dairy and other perishables. Supporters said the bill would reduce food waste and simplify the many existing date labels without forcing new labeling on those who do not already use it; members also discussed refrigeration references in the bill, and the sponsor said the language could be adjusted. The committee then adjourned and announced that future meetings will be held on the third floor in the new location.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, very basic health information, um, you can purchase and be getting a shipping tracking notification
• It could be mailed from a It could be mailed in from out of state, purchased online in Texas, mailed
• But if it's, if it's a Texas resident, it's purchased in state in the stream of commerce in Texas, yes
• What we're seeing is in many cases in those situations, the man is actually going online and purchasing
• This is especially true in human trafficking situations, purchasing the drugs himself and forcing.

Bills: HB 229, HB 3990, HB 5082, HB 5510

Keywords: biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, flags, display, state law, municipalities, government buildings, drug enforcement, local control, home rule, municipal charter, county policy, ordinance preemption, state preemption, attorney general enforcement, civil penalties, mandamus

Transcript Highlights:

• To a single purchaser, this amounted to nearly all of the possible combinations for the lotto game.
• Each number combination for the lotto game, assuming it only takes 10 seconds to fill out, purchase,
• Penalty: felony of the third degree. - Group purchase arrangements.
• Most revenues come from scratch tickets, which are impulse purchases with immediate gratification.
• Impulse purchases with immediate gratification need to stop.

Bills: SB82, SB1807, SB2254, HB119, HB130, HB581, HJR98, SB1988, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: business liability, concealed carry, handgun policy, premises liability, criminal acts, civil liability, business premises, concealed handgun, property liability, property rights, gun regulations, criminal liability, protective order, confidentiality, personal information, court records, victim protection, charitable raffle, nonprofit, wildlife conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd be surprised. the ability of prosecutors to actually prosecute and punish individuals who purchase
• Instead of saying that any victim of sex trafficking who's purchased— instead of making that a wobbler
• It should be a felony every time and any time somebody wants to purchase a child for sex.
• It should be a felony every time and any time somebody wants to purchase a child for sex.
• When it comes to Johns purchasing them for sex on the street? Mr.

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum after a roll call and prayer, then moved through routine business and a lengthy floor debate centered on AB 379, a bill dealing with protections for minors and human trafficking victims. Assembly Member DeMaio first sought to bring the bill up without Public Safety Committee amendments, arguing the committee had gutted the bill and removed felony language for purchasing 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. The body instead adopted a substitute motion to take up Assembly Member Schultz’s floor amendments to AB 379, and the bill became the focus of intense debate over whether the amended language would still adequately protect minors or instead weaken penalties and create a lower standard for 16- and 17-year-olds. Supporters of the amendments, including Schultz, Petri-Norris, Mark Gonzalez, Krell, Wynn, and others, said the changes were intended to strengthen and clarify the law, protect trafficking survivors, and preserve prosecutorial effectiveness while avoiding misinformation about existing law. Opponents, including DeMaio, Gallagher, Dixon, Macedo, Castillo, and others, argued the amendments watered down the bill, failed to restore the original felony treatment for buyers of 16- and 17-year-olds, and amounted to political maneuvering rather than real protection. The chamber also briefly considered a motion to table the amendments, which failed, and an appeal of a ruling on decorum, which was rejected. After debate, the Assembly adopted Schultz’s amendments to AB 379 by a 55-21 vote and then rereferred the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The chamber also handled several procedural items, including re-referrals of other bills, consent calendar actions, and a series of unanimous consent votes on numerous bills and resolutions. The session ended with announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session, followed by adjournment until Monday, May 5 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so MassDOT stepped in and purchased new chargers to continue.
• And so MassDOT stepped in and purchased new chargers to continue on through the remaining life of the
• So when we're talking about school bus purchases or trash trucks or any other large electric vehicle
• purchases, this provision is key.
• But I think the tax credits for vehicle purchases are definitely top of mind on the chopping block.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on the impact of the Trump administration’s federal climate policy changes on Massachusetts, with a focus on threatened grants, regulatory rollbacks, and state options to continue climate work. Chair Creem and other senators emphasized that Massachusetts still has a 2050 net-zero mandate and needs contingency plans for clean energy, transportation electrification, offshore wind, resilience, and financing if federal support is reduced or withdrawn. Executive branch witnesses said Massachusetts has already experienced disruptions to more than $1 billion in climate-related federal funds, though many suspended grants were restored after litigation by the Attorney General’s office. EEA reported continued uncertainty around a $389 million Grid Innovation Program award and a FEMA dam-safety reimbursement, while MassDOT said its NEVI fast-charging program remains on track with about $50 million obligated, but a $14.4 million competitive charging grant is on hold and future unobligated NEVI funds remain uncertain. Senators also discussed EV rebates, charging infrastructure, the role of the Community Climate Bank, and whether the state can expand independent financing and support for municipalities, higher education, and nonprofits. The Attorney General’s office described successful multi-state litigation that won a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the federal funding freeze, restoring access to many EPA, DOE, USDA, and Interior funds, while noting continued enforcement actions over FEMA manual reviews and other barriers. The office said it is also preparing to defend the endangerment finding, California vehicle-emissions waivers, offshore wind permits, and other federal climate protections. Outside advocates warned that federal tax-credit rollbacks, tariffs, and possible repeal of IRA and infrastructure funding could slow EV adoption and raise costs, while offshore wind testimony said federal permitting pauses and legal challenges are delaying projects and could leave Massachusetts far short of its 2030 offshore wind goals. Nonprofit witnesses also described canceled or delayed grants for wetland restoration and urban heat mitigation, and urged the Legislature to increase state funding, including for the environmental bond bill and municipal vulnerability preparedness work.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Purchasing, Transportation Services, Facilities Management, and Risk Management all represent oversight
• One of those divisions is the State Purchasing Division.
• Not to mention the buildings we have already acquired or purchased in the last few years.
• Chair, Senator Woods, our request last year was to purchase the building.
• We've purchased it. it from ERB.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All purchases will be made within New Mexico, ensuring that investments remain local while expanding
• All purchases will be made within New Mexico, ensuring that investments remain local while expanding
• In fiscal year 2024, 34% of the New Mexico-grown program purchases were made with the Regional Farm to
• Importantly, 82% of our purchases were sourced from small and mid-scale producers, and operations of
• Purchasing local foods necessitates following seasonal availability, importantly, within New Mexico's

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The sales tax generally is on the total purchase price.
• That gets you your total of 9.8% sales tax paid on the purchase.
• I go to the store, I purchase the shirt.
• That purchase is subject to sales tax.
• The purchaser? Yes, the purchaser. Thank you. That's a better term.

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from Dr. Reich on the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC), including how the council’s joint executive-legislative forecasting process works, the main state revenue sources, and recent economic conditions. He said Washington’s economy is slowing, with weak employment growth, softer taxable sales, and uncertainty from tariffs, federal spending, and the federal shutdown. He also noted that the September forecast was reduced, mainly because of lower sales tax and real estate excise tax collections, and that the state still expects modest growth rather than a recession. Members asked about whether Washington tends to lag national downturns and how forecast information should affect budgeting; Dr. Reich said the forecast is a revenue tool, not a budgeting decision, and that spending choices remain with elected officials. The Department of Revenue then presented on Washington’s sales and use tax structure and the implementation of Senate Bill 5814, which expands retail sales tax to several services effective October 1, 2025. Steve Ewing explained how sales and use tax are sourced, how reseller permits and the multiple points of use exemption work, and how the new law applies to live presentations, temporary staffing, investigations and security services, IT services, custom website development, advertising services, and custom software. He said DOR held listening sessions, issued interim guidance, and set up a centralized landing page and outreach efforts to help taxpayers understand the changes. He also described a six-month grace period for certain pre-existing contracts through March 31, 2026, but said penalties and interest still apply under the statute. Committee members raised concerns about how businesses and individuals will know when a service is taxable, who is responsible for collecting and remitting tax, and how sourcing will work for services delivered across multiple locations or online. DOR staff walked through examples involving accounting services, live lectures, virtual events, advertising campaigns, and search engine marketing, including the use of reasonable allocation and pool codes when exact sourcing data is unavailable. Members also questioned the administrative burden on small businesses and professionals newly subject to tax, and whether additional legislative fixes or relief from penalties and interest may be needed. No votes or formal actions were taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can answer questions about HOV lanes, but it allows electric vehicle owners to purchase a decal to
• vehicle uh owners of electric<00:01:11.280> vehicles<00:01:12.240> to<00:01:12.560> purchase
• <00:01:13.159> a electric vehicles to purchase a electric vehicles to purchase a decal<00:
• battery electric or plug-in purchase battery electric or plug-in vehicles<00:02:42.840> and<00
• your electric vehicle uh to purchased your electric vehicle uh to enroll<00:03:14.720> in<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides that for a vehicle owner purchasing the wildflower specialty license plate for more
• The bill provides that for a vehicle owner purchasing the wildflower specialty license plate for more
• opens the existing FOP plate to the general public and allows for a redesign, expanding who may purchase
• Allowing the general public to purchase the plate provides a broader and more reliable customer base,
• This has been a memorial that has been financially supported by the tag, but the tag was only purchased

Summary: The Transportation Committee met and considered several transportation-related bills, including multiple honorary roadway designations, specialty license plates, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles agency measures. SB 628, by Senator Gates, designated a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor three sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack; it passed favorably without debate. SB 174, by Senator Rodriguez, designated part of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Senator Arrington spoke in opposition, citing Kirk’s controversial public statements, while Senator Rodriguez said the bill honored civic participation rather than ideology; the bill passed favorably. SB 388, by Senator Arrington, raised the annual use fee for the Florida wildflower specialty license plate from $15 to $25, with an exception for certain fleet purchases, to support conservation and education programs; it received supportive public comment and passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 470 by Senator Wright, which opens the existing Fraternal Order of Police specialty license plate to the general public and allows a redesign to increase sales and funding for law enforcement memorial efforts. A representative of the FOP testified in support, explaining that the memorial benefits fallen officers’ families. SB 584, by Vice Chair Avala, authorizes DHSMV and county tax collectors to enter agreements allowing local enforcement of certain commercial driving school laws, aimed at reducing fraud and improving oversight; it passed favorably with supportive comments from lobbyists. The committee then took up DHSMV agency package bills: SB 488, which updates motor fuel tax and vehicle-related provisions, including IFTA compliance, online filing, higher crash-reporting thresholds, and email communications; and SB 490, the companion public records exemption for email addresses used under SB 488. Both were reported favorably, with SB 490 noted as requiring a two-thirds vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded missed votes in the affirmative on SB 628, SB 174, and SB 388. The committee then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it authorizes appraisal districts to finance the purchase, construction, or renovation of real
• Currently, board, the board of directors of the appraisal district approves the purchase or lease.
• Then the chief appraiser notifies all the taxing entities of the potential purchase, and then the taxing
• And as a reminder, this process is in addition to our board of directors approving the purchase.
• And I presume when you say save taxpayers' money, it's just the, by not having a, a delay in a purchase

Transcript Highlights:

• Residents offer to purchase.
• residents offer to purchase. residents offer to purchase.
• . purchase. purchase.
• residents as an opportunity to purchase residents as an opportunity to purchase the<01:04:24.080
• refines the opportunity to purchase refines the opportunity to purchase language.<01:12:07.000> We

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the event a contract, the purchase and sale, is entered into without the seller providing notice,
• the purchaser is entitled to terminate the contract within seven days after receiving the required PID
• This ensures that all purchasers are fully informed before finalizing their purchase.
• This ensures that all purchasers are fully informed before finalizing their purchase.
• The right to terminate applies only are fully informed before finalizing their purchase.

Bills: HB 106, HB144, HB145, HB252, HB1732, HB2221, HB2467, HB2468, HB2517, HB2518, HB2963, HB3016, HB3689, HB3960, HB4386, HB4490, HB4751, HB5247, HJR175, HB2213

Keywords: HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection

Summary: The committee first handled pending business, including reconsidering SB 715 and then voting out several measures. The committee substitute for SB 1978 was reported favorably, and HB 431, HB 1522, HB 1922, HB 3228, HB 3229, HB 3803, HB 3804, HB 3805, HB 3806, HB 4219, HB 4238, HB 434, HB 1584, and HB 4739 were all reported favorably, many with objections sent to the local and uncontested calendar. HB 1522 and HB 4238 were adopted as committee substitutes before passage. The committee then moved into public testimony on HB 2963, a right-to-repair bill for consumer electronics. Supporters argued it would reduce waste, lower costs, and help independent repair shops by requiring manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information on fair terms, while opponents said the bill was too broad and the automotive MOU exemption was problematic. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 2467, which would align State Fire Marshal Office investigators’ pay with other commissioned peace officers at TDI; testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the office’s arson-investigation role, and the bill was left pending. HB 252, a bill allowing certain state agencies flexibility to pay Schedule A employees twice monthly, was laid out and left pending after limited testimony. HB 2468, dealing with public improvement district notice in real estate transactions, would let buyers terminate within seven days if required PID notice was not provided before contract execution; it drew no public testimony and was left pending. HB 4386, an annuity exchange and surrender process bill, was presented as a consumer-protection measure with deadlines and penalties for insurer delays; it received support from industry witnesses and was left pending. The committee then heard HB 4751, creating the Texas Quantum Initiative within the Governor’s Office to coordinate quantum research, workforce, industry partnerships, and possible future grant funding. Witnesses from universities and industry supported the bill, while several senators questioned whether a new state structure was necessary; the bill was left pending. HJR 175 proposed a constitutional amendment protecting Texans’ right to use mutually agreed forms of exchange, including cash, bullion, digital currency, or private script, and was discussed at length in the context of central bank digital currency and barter; it was left pending after testimony. HB 2221, updating insurance anti-rebating laws to allow wellness and value-added services, drew supportive testimony from the insurance industry and discussion about incentives versus monitoring; it was also left pending. Finally, the committee heard a series of utility wildfire and infrastructure bills: HB 106, requiring oil and gas operators to maintain certain electrical infrastructure near well sites; HB 144, requiring electric utilities to submit pole inspection and management plans to the PUC; and HB 145, requiring wildfire mitigation plans and allowing self-insurance under certain conditions. Utility, insurance, and cooperative witnesses generally supported the wildfire-related bills while asking for clarifications and less burdensome reporting, and the bills were left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the 20th century, 1923, Mary Cabot Wheelwright purchased the Hacienda and six acres of land.
• It was amended in 2006, and that allows lease purchase agreements, which are sort of a new thing and
• So if I'm a purchaser, you know, why issue tax-exempt debt?
• We're able to provide those underwriters, those traders, purchase their bonds.
• Does a state entity purchase the hospital or something like that? That's fine.