Transcript Highlights:

• decorum rules are located with the hard copies of the agenda and are available for view on the legislative
• Now we'll jump into our legislation.
• One, it increases representation from the community.
• <00:49:34.079> That representation from the community.
• That representation from the community.

Bills: SF0069, SF0070, SF0016, HB0078, HJ0002, HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water development, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management

Transcript Highlights:

• That you needed more representation from the tribal communities in developing these programs.
• Chair, for your focus on tribal youth and their over-representation in our justice system, and the real
• My understanding is there are task forces that don't currently have CHP representation as part of them

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:23:23.840> and<00:23:24.080> and<00:23:24.240> for<00:23:25.120> representive
• <00:23:25.679> rung Mr chair and and for representive rung Mr chair and and for representive

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met on February 18 and retained several bills for possible inclusion in the budget. House Bill 97, appropriating funds to the Department of Environmental Services for wastewater infrastructure projects, was retained on a 21-0 vote. House Bill 197, which would have the state pay 7.5% of certain political subdivision employees’ retirement contributions at an estimated annual cost of $28 million to $29 million, was also retained unanimously. House Bill 246, creating the Conservation District Climate Resilience Grant Program with a small appropriation of about $50,000 per year for two years, was retained 22-0. House Bill 519, appropriating $500,000 annually to support the Waypoint Youth and Young Adult Shelter, was likewise retained 22-0. The committee then shifted to a broader budget discussion. Representative Maguire said the committee was facing a roughly $732 million gap between projected revenue and spending, based on preliminary Ways and Means figures and the governor’s budget. He noted that the governor’s plan included $81 million from the rainy day fund and $127 million from proposed slot machine revenue, while other potential obligations such as $150 million in YDC payments and prison down payments were not included. Members discussed how Ways and Means revenue estimates are based on current law, meaning proposals not yet enacted would not be counted in the official forecast. Members also asked about the relationship between the education funding committee and Finance, and were told that many education bills would likely come back to Finance after action in the other committee and on the floor. The chair and members discussed donor towns, swept funds, and the possibility of moving more information technology spending into the capital budget if appropriate. The meeting ended with agreement to let Division 2 head to education funding, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and also to provide access to the Office of Capital and Forensic Ritz for individuals without representation
• The chair lays out Senate Bill 1372, once again, by Senator Chui Hinojosa and recognizes representation
• I want to thank Senator Parker and Rep Thompson for all their work on human trafficking legislation,

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• studies conducted by state legislators studies conducted by state legislators over<00:04:52.800>
• legislators have been anticipating. legislators have been anticipating.
• the mid to uh 2010s and legislators the mid to uh 2010s and legislators started<00:14:07.680>
• <00:14:42.880> sessions is that you know legislative sessions is that you know legislative
• , legislation, legislation, but<00:32:05.360> I<00:32:05.600> can<00:32:06.159> um

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Budget Office Oversight Commission met on January 22, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the December 17, 2025 meeting. The main presentation was by Erikica McKeler of the National Conference of State Legislatures on dynamic fiscal notes, dynamic scoring, and how they differ from static fiscal notes. She explained that dynamic analysis tries to capture broader economic and behavioral effects of policy changes, but that most states have experimented with it only briefly, often for tax bills, and many have later scaled back or abandoned the practice because it is staff-intensive, expensive, and difficult to validate. McKeler highlighted examples from Texas, Utah, and Arkansas. Texas requires dynamic fiscal impact statements for certain large tax or fee measures and for the biennial appropriations bill; Utah has done such analyses on request during the interim but only when staff time allows; and Arkansas recently began producing dynamic fiscal notes with thresholds and request limits. She noted that these states generally use REMI software, though Utah switched to IMPLAN for cost reasons. She also outlined common challenges, including the need for strong staff expertise, the sensitivity of results to assumptions, the expense of software licenses, and the difficulty of measuring accuracy over time. Members then discussed whether dynamic scoring could be useful for health and human services programs where a policy may shift costs between settings rather than create a simple new expense. Senator Marty raised a Medicaid example involving home-based blue light therapy for newborns, arguing that dynamic analysis might better capture potential savings from avoiding longer hospital stays. Legislative Budget Office and Minnesota Management and Budget staff responded that such effects may be better understood as direct program substitutions rather than true dynamic effects, and emphasized the need for reliable data and caution because savings estimates could reduce appropriations if they do not materialize. The discussion also touched on whether dynamic models would capture local government impacts, but no formal action was taken beyond the approval of minutes and receipt of the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are so many legislators across the Commonwealth who care deeply about this issue and are trying
• And Chloe is sharing that there should be some midwifery representation, which would be useful as well
• There's not much new business other than it's almost the end of the legislative session.
• And I know most legislative leaders are working actively to try to get those accomplished by the end
• of this legislative session, which is July 31st.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met to review the state budget process and discuss maternal and perinatal health funding. Members heard that the House did not adopt several maternal health amendments, including funding for community-based perinatal mental health grants, implementation of maternal health law items, private insurance coverage for midwifery care, a midwifery workforce development fund, birthing center grants, and the Tufts Center for Maternal Health Advancement. On the Senate side, several items were adopted, including funding for the Mass NOW menstrual equity program, $1 million for the Neighborhood Birth Center, and an out-of-state resident reproductive health training pilot; however, proposed funding for a midwifery workforce development fund, a health education trust fund, and the Tufts center was not adopted. Commission members discussed whether to send a letter to the conference committee. Several members emphasized that while the Senate wins were positive, the commission’s core mission is perinatal and postpartum mental health, and that the letter should note the lack of explicit support for perinatal mental health and PMAD-related needs, as well as the importance of infant mental health and the parent-infant relationship. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the conference committee highlighting the broader maternal health wins while urging continued investment in perinatal and postpartum supports. The meeting also covered commission vacancies and future planning. Staff reviewed open seats, including a House minority seat, several governor-appointed seats, an optional commissioner seat, and appointments for the Senate and House co-chairs. Members suggested possible representation from the Children’s Trust, families impacted by addiction, and midwifery. The commission also noted that April and June meeting minutes would be circulated for later approval, and that the legislative session is nearing its end with several pending bills related to perinatal mood disorders and postpartum issues. The meeting adjourned after no further new business.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are up here on the dais behind the speaker. like to recognize our 2025 Tarleton legislative interns
• These young leaders have actively engaged in our legislative process. gaining first-hand experience and
• Teaching students interact with elected officials, participate in mock legislative sessions, and develop
• The nation is here today to learn more about the legislative process, gain exposure to elected officials
• continues to create economic development. diverse county in America and that's reflected by the representation

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Taiwan delegation legislative reception Taiwan delegation legislative reception from<00:33:09.480
• "Also having representation."
• And also having representation.
• "Also having representation.
• legislation. Yes. legislation. Yes.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a federal designation, and the federal legislation allows governors to designate certain zones
• That's a federal designation, and the federal legislation allows governors to designate certain zones
• That's a federal designation, and the federal legislation allows governors to designate certain zones
• <00:30:01.080> allows<00:30:01.560> governors<00:30:02.080> to legislation allows
• legislation, um that would be number one,<00:46:36.920> a<00:46:36.960> stipend<00:46:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so the last piece of the legislation was to estimate the...
• Um so the the last piece of<00:21:51.760> the<00:21:51.919> legislation<00:21:52.559>
• and there's been draft legislation and there's been discussions<00:42:54.880> on<00:42:55.599
• Chair, just thank you for opportunity uh to respond uh to the legislation and to present this report
• and to present this report legislation and to present this report today.<01:03:18.240> and<01

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a Met Council report from Charles Carlson on high-subsidy transit route analysis required by the transportation bill. Carlson explained that the study uses per-passenger operating subsidy, compares routes by type and service day, and is intended to help providers improve cost-effectiveness while recognizing transit’s importance for access, affordability, safety, and the region’s economy. He noted that routes more than 60% above peer averages are considered the highest-subsidy tier, and that the report also estimates the cost of Metro Mobility associated with those routes. Members asked several questions about why contracted service can cost less than directly operated service, whether contracting affects wages, union membership, or service quality, and why the Met Council targets about 20% of regular route service for contracting. Carlson said contracted service can be cheaper because of lower overhead and other market factors, that the council sets minimum wage and service-quality requirements in contracts, and that customers should not notice a quality difference. He also said the 20% target is meant to balance cost-effective service, geography, and a mix of providers, and that some routes may become more cost-effective with more frequent service depending on local demand. Carlson reported that in 2024, 206 of 264 routes met guidelines, 16 were in the lowest intervention tier, 14 in the middle tier, and 28 were in the highest-subsidy tier. He said the regional share of high-subsidy service was about 4.1%, but the share varied widely by provider, with some at 0% and others much higher. He estimated that discontinuing the highest-subsidy routes would save about $23 million annually and up to $72 million in capital costs. For Metro Mobility, he said the cost associated with trips tied to high-subsidy routes rose from about $368,000 in 2023 to about $6.1 million in 2024, largely because the mix of routes triggering federally mandated paratransit service changed, especially in the Shakopee area.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's good to have of State Legislators.
• <00:13:22.399> that some potential legislative roles that some potential legislative roles
• was incorporated with OB3 legislation was incorporated with OB3 legislation last<00:25:57.200>
• that, it will enter the legislative that, it will enter the legislative process.<01:23:30.239>
• piece of legislation and the funding. piece of legislation and the funding.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 0:00:00 Workforce Pell Grant Update – 0:03:30 Extension Office Update – 0:33:25 Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies – 1:07:08 Early Literacy Outcomes – 1:32:20 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 1:58:30 Adjournment 2:13:13, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• delegating their legislative powers. delegating their legislative powers.
• lines independent of state legislators. lines independent of state legislators.
• <02:12:03.760> HP1487 legislative processes stall. HP1487 legislative processes stall.
• should be submitted to the legislators. should be submitted to the legislators.
• . legislation. legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She lobbied for greater representation of workers in legislative bodies and led the charge to elect Latinos
• The legislation was reported from the Committee on Appropriations.
• House Bill 701, a different legislation.
• House Bill 1015, different legislation.
• Legislation has an emergency clause on it.

Keywords: March 12, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing was conducted solely and independently by the State Auditor's Office under the authority of legislation
• of the state of Washington and operates independently of the legislature and thus of the Joint Legislative
• We conducted this audit pursuant to a legislative requirement in House Bill 2180, which required our
• Historically inadequate funding for special education may be set to improve with new legislation.
• Most demographic groups had similar rates in special education to their representation in the overall

Summary: The JLARC I-900 Subcommittee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on special education services, focused on comparing student needs, district identification practices, and funding. Auditors said Washington does not appear to under-identify any particular population for special education, though districts face ongoing challenges with identification, documentation, staffing shortages, and inconsistent referral tracking. They explained that their analysis used statistical models because the true prevalence of disabilities is unknown, and found Washington districts generally clustered near the national average, with little evidence that any demographic group was systematically under-identified. The audit also found that special education funding has historically been insufficient, with districts collectively covering about $500 million in costs not paid by state or federal sources, and that districts spent about 26% more per student than they received in funding. Auditors noted recent legislative changes that removed the special education enrollment cap and changed the safety net process, but said it was too soon to assess their effects. Their recommendations to OSPI included clarifying what counts as an official special education referral, requiring districts to report referral data even when no evaluation follows, and ensuring the new statewide data system is developed with district input, training, and possibly a mandate for uniform use. OSPI staff said they concurred with the report and appreciated the work of the auditor’s office and JLARC. During member questions, Representative Paulette raised concerns that the audit did not directly examine prevalence of specific disabilities, such as autism and dyslexia, in vulnerable populations or compare Washington’s identification practices to medical and peer-reviewed prevalence data. Auditors responded that medical prevalence is not known in a systematic way, that educational eligibility differs from medical diagnosis, and that the report’s conclusions should not be read as proving no populations are under- or over-identified. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• unanimously do support this legislation. unanimously do support this legislation.
• .<00:26:44.000> Um, legislation.
• Um, legislation.
• celebration and representation. celebration and representation.
• <00:56:24.319> is<00:56:24.559> also Hampshire's legislation is also Hampshire's legislation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Out of the sunset legislation, there, there was a requirement.
• I'm the legislative, uh, chair for the Sheriff's Association of Texas.
• So we, we support any legislation. We're very 2nd Amendment friendly.
• It, there's some legislation being drafted.
• Legislative fix potentially.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney with the Legislative Counsel Service. All right, thanks.
• Ennis, the Senate Memorial 14 of this last past legislative session. Mr.
• I would view that, if I may be so bold as to say, that that is a decision of the legislative body of
• But when it comes to regulations from the legislation that we've passed, I know.
• I'm sorry, maybe Representative, um, I don't. legislative representative, just a person that is doing

Transcript Highlights:

• And in addition, the joint legislative audit committee had the California State Auditor conduct an audit
• Nor do I take their representations with a whole lot of weight.
• I think it's our duty as the legislative body to ask these tough questions, and I know that we can't
• They lobby on legislation. Or ACCE, Alliance for California...
• This legislation removes barriers for workers to make it easier for them to elect a union to represent

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . legislation. legislation.
• First, the bipartisan representation from members is to make sure that there's legislative buy-in for
• requirement for legislative language. requirement for legislative language.
• . legislation. legislation.
• <00:31:51.840> um<00:31:52.360> uh legislative um uh legislative um uh district.<00:31:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• camell's moves to okay so representive camell's moves to accept accept accept Section<00:14:03.120><
• They can be re-legislated when the time comes, if it comes.
• when the time comes if it legislated when the time comes if it comes<01:04:47.880> yeah<01:04
• And we have a whole bunch of legislative changes that are going to be debated this week.
• And we have a whole bunch of legislative changes that are going to be debated this week.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Department of Labor on several House Bill 2 sections. Members discussed raising the annual elevator certificate fee, which had been $50 since at least fiscal year 2014; the commissioner said the Inspection Division generates more revenue than its costs, and members agreed to amend the fee to $75 and later voted unanimously to accept Section 137. The department also explained a proposed change to civil penalty/warning language in Section 139 to align enforcement across labor laws; that section was accepted unanimously. The commissioner then gave a detailed overview of the second injury fund, describing how it is financed by assessments on insurance carriers, how claims are reviewed for reimbursement, and how the fund is intended to reimburse certain workers’ compensation costs. Members questioned whether the program still serves its original purpose, whether it is revenue-neutral, and whether it should be sunset; the department said the fund is a mixed bag for the state and industry, but no sunset language was adopted. Sections 140 and 141 were then accepted unanimously. The committee next heard from the Judicial Council on Sections 125 through 127. The witness said the changes would streamline payment for indigent defense services other than counsel, reduce the number of bills requiring judge review, and expand the council’s ability to contract with providers for services such as translation and evaluations. He also explained a proposed fail-safe allowing the executive director to decline to process questionable invoices and send them to a judge instead. Members generally supported the streamlining, and Sections 125 through 127 were accepted unanimously. Toward the end of the discussion, members asked about the cost impact of changing the misdemeanor/felony threshold from $1,000 to a higher amount. The Judicial Council said felony cases are significantly more expensive than misdemeanors because they involve more hearings, more discovery, and more attorney time, with assigned felony cases costing several times more on average. No action was taken on that question in the excerpt.