Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't hear it in our...
• Chair hears none. So ordered.
• Chair hears none. So ordered.
• Chair hears none. So ordered. Mr.
• The chair hears none.

Bills: HB17 , HB16 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB 15 , SB 18 , HB17 , HB16 , SB10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB15 , SB18

Transcript Highlights:

• bills toward the end of today's hearing.
• We'll now hear from members of the public.
• But I hear you, my friend. I agree with you. Absolutely.
• Reminder, we do not have a hearing next week. Our next hearing will be on the 25th at 8:30 a.m.
• Reminder, we do not have a hearing next week. Our next hearing will be on the 25th at 8:30 a.m.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety-related bills. AB 383 by Assembly Member Davies would expand and clarify firearm restrictions tied to juvenile adjudications, allow certain minor firearm possession for hunting or training with guardian approval, and authorize warrants in some domestic violence-related firearm surrender situations. Supporters, including a district attorney representative, argued it would close gaps in existing law and improve public safety; opponents said it would over-criminalize youth and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 400 by Assembly Member Pacheco would require law enforcement K-9 units to meet statewide POST standards covering training, use of force, and handler skills. Supporters said the bill would create consistency, accountability, and safer deployments; opponents argued the standards were inadequate and would legitimize harmful canine practices. After debate over whether the bill expanded canine use or simply standardized it, the committee approved AB 400 and sent it to Appropriations. AB 380 by Assembly Member Gonzalez would extend price-gouging protections during emergencies, including for hotels, food, essential goods and services, and commercial property, and would remove the 12-month lease limit loophole for rent gouging. Supporters said the bill responds to wildfire-related exploitation and provides clarity for disaster victims; business and landlord groups warned it could amount to commercial rent control and create uncertainty for future emergencies. The author said he would continue working on amendments, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 358 by Assembly Member Alvarez would create a narrow exception to Cal-ECPA so law enforcement could inspect tracking or surveillance devices found in a person’s home, vehicle, or property with the finder’s consent. Supporters said the change would help stalking and domestic violence victims preserve evidence quickly; privacy advocates argued warrants and existing emergency exceptions already cover these situations. The chair proposed narrowing the language to “tracking or surveillance device,” and the bill was held on call after an initial roll with only three votes in favor. The transcript also began AB 247, which would raise pay for incarcerated hand crew firefighters, with testimony from formerly incarcerated firefighters in support, but the discussion was not completed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Entertain a motion if there members, uh I am hearing about an members, uh I am hearing about an amendment
• </c><00:06:59.199><c> it</c> this here, but I would like to hear it this here, but I would like to hear
• </c><00:07:26.560><c> I'm</c><00:07:26.720><c> not</c> like to hear about that.
• I'm not like to hear about that.
• Uh, hearing no objection. Uh, the bill gets a favorable report.

Bills: SB332 , HB362 , HB323 , SB332 , HB362 , HB323

Committee: Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, so ordered. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
• Hearing no objection. Fourth Order of Business.
• Hearing no objection, so ordered.
• Hearing no objection, the Senate now stands at ease.
• Hearing no objection, the Senate now stands at ease.

Bills: SB5223 , SB6071 , SB5966 , SB6061 , SB6016 , SB5973 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5899 , SB6190 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5924 , SB6263 , SB6282 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5609 , SB5901 , SB5943 , SB5975 , SJM8016 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB5909 , SB6044 , SB6239 , SB6045 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5762 , SB6032 , SB6066 , SB6082 , SB6164 , SB6176 , SB6319 , SB6308 , SB6200 , SB6080 , SJM8014 , SB6177 , SB6052 , SB6182 , SB5828 , SB6335 , SB6017 , SB5470 , SB5990 , SB5046 , SB5387 , SB5637 , SB5647 , SB5839 , SB5888 , SB5962 , SB6018 , SB6037 , SB6047 , SB6078 , SB6130 , SB6147 , SB6151 , SB6197 , SB6220 , SB6256 , SB6311 , SB6343

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we are going to hear three bills, a little out of order.
• I will now close the hearing on Assembly Bill 543, and we will open the hearing.
• We are now going to start the hearing on Assembly Bill 165, which We are now going to start the hearing
• 165 and we will open the hearing on Assembly Bill 405.
• I missed the entire hearing.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It has finally been set for a hearing in public health.
• We keep hearing there's a teacher shortage, and we need to protect our teachers.
• However, Ken King has not given it a hearing. We are calling...
• We need that hearing.
• But it's stuck in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee without a hearing.

Keywords: immigration, children's rights, E-Verify, social transitioning, election integrity, Texas GOP, legislative session, urgent legislation

Summary: The committee meeting was characterized by fervent discussions surrounding critical legislation, particularly regarding immigration, children's rights, and election integrity. Key bills such as HB2258, aiming to ban social transitioning for children, and E-Verify legislation were highlighted as urgent priorities. Several representatives expressed frustration over stalled bills and emphasized the necessity of decisive action to fulfill their commitments made during their campaigns. The urgency was marked by the approaching deadline for bill passage, with only days remaining in the legislative session. Members urged House leadership to prioritize these bills, warning that failure to act would undermine public trust in their capacity to fulfill the Republicans' campaign promises.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for holding today's hearing about the LAO. My name is Gabe Pettick.
• and subcommittee hearings, building out in many cases the agendas that you'll use in the hearings.
• and attending the pre-hearing meetings.
• And... ...for hearings and attending the pre-hearing meetings, and so, you know, it's a very important
• So that concludes the subject of the hearing.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Budget

Summary: The Joint Legislative Budget Committee met to organize for the new legislative session, adopt its committee rules, and elect leadership. Members were told the committee is distinct from the Budget Conference Committee and JLAC, and the chair outlined JLBC’s role in reviewing administration requests to change enacted budgets, reviewing agency reports, and selecting the Legislative Analyst. The committee also heard a presentation from Legislative Analyst Gabe Petek on the LAO’s history, mission, independence, and main responsibilities, including budget and revenue analysis, member-request research, fiscal analyses of ballot measures, and review of midyear budget notification letters. During discussion, members praised the LAO’s nonpartisan work and asked about its role supporting budget subcommittees and hearings. Petek said staff regularly coordinate with committee and subcommittee staff, and suggested the lower 2021 handout count may have reflected pandemic effects, though he offered to look into it further. He also explained that budget notification letters are intended for urgent or unforeseen midyear budget actions and are not meant to bypass normal legislative review. The committee adopted its rules without objection and elected the Senate chair and Assembly vice chair without objection. After additional members arrived and were added to the record, the final votes were announced as 8-0 in the Senate and 7-0 in the Assembly for both the rules and the leadership election. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That laid out for our hearing today.
• I know, you know, I hear the same things you hear.
• I know you hear the same things I hear.
• I hear the same things you hear.
• But we'll hear from the office of OPIC and hear what you have to say. Thank you, Chairman.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, so ordered. Mr.
• Hearing none, it is ordered. Thank you, Ms. Bicharat. Mr.
• Hearing none, it is ordered. Thank you, Mr. Pree. Mr.
• Hearing none, so ordered. I would agree with you.
• I think we have five RSs we're going to hear.

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee considered several FY 2027 budget items, beginning with the Idaho Judicial Branch. The committee approved an additional $3.9007 million from dedicated funds for court operations, including $800,700 from the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund, $700,000 from the Drug Court/Mental Health Court/Family Court Services Fund, $400,000 from the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and $2 million ongoing from the Court Technology Fund. Members noted the technology fund had grown enough to sustain the ongoing transfer, while Senator Wintrow remarked that funding for a treatment-court peer support program had not been restored. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a Guardian Ad Litem Division budget increase of $165,300 in general funds, including $77,900 ongoing for the Second Judicial District CASA program and $87,400 to restore a one-time FY 2027 rescission. Supporters described the CASA request as funding a trainer-recruiter position and related office costs, and several members spoke favorably about the role of guardian ad litems. The motion passed, also with a do-pass recommendation. Members next took up the Millennium Income Fund. They approved $9,872,200 from the fund for recommendations including the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, Youth Assessment Centers, children’s advocacy centers through the Idaho Domestic Violence Council, an additional recovery center in Kamiah, and a statewide drug awareness media campaign. A substitute motion added $30,000 one time to restore funding for statewide training and coordination of school resource officers, which passed after discussion about whether the Millennium Fund committee had been consulted. The committee then adopted maintenance and new language for the Millennium Fund items, including reporting and oversight provisions, and later adopted language for reappropriating unspent state archives move funds for the Idaho State Historical Society. Finally, the committee approved the Idaho State Historical Society budget, adding $486,300 from dedicated funds for archival moving and OITS hardware. Members explained the move would be handled in phases and funded through dedicated sources rather than general funds. The committee also adopted statewide appropriations language making conditions, limitations, and restrictions in budget bills binding law, and adjourned after announcing the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee will come to order for the purpose of a public hearing.
• The hearing today is being recorded and live-streamed on TVW.
• So that will conclude the public hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 5834.
• So that will conclude the public hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 6007.
• So that will conclude the public hearing on substitute Senate Bill 607.

Bills: SB5109 , SB5835 , SB6065

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: mortgage lending, fraud, prosecution, financial regulations, consumer protection, retirement, lump sum payment, benefits, pension, financial security, SB 6065, school district transportation, transportation vehicle fund, pupil transportation, school buses, electric school buses, zero-emission buses, bus fleet electrification, charging stations, vehicle replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• But I want to hear them, and I pay a lot of tuition to go to school to hear those opinions.
• Hearing none, so ordered.
• Hearing none, so ordered. Thank you.
• Hearing none, it is adopted.
• Hearing none, so ordered.

Bills: SB2972 , SB1909 , SB2815 , SB735 , SB2233 , SB800 , SB1069 , SB2683 , SB2986 , SB2058 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1032

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you able to hear me? We can hear you. Go ahead, please.
• Do you hear me? We can hear you and we can see you. Terrific. Go ahead, please.
• Can you hear me? You guys, I can't hear you guys at all. Go ahead. Okay, there you are.
• Can you hear me? Thank you. Okay. A reminder. Can you hear me? We can.
• Can you hear me? Great. We can hear you and see you. Go ahead, please. Oh, you. Sorry about that.

Bills: H5432 , H5433 , S3093 , H5363 , H5137 , H5247

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: Newbury, rodenticides, second generation anticoagulant rodenticides, SGARs, pesticides, pest control, wildlife protection, environmental regulation, local bylaw, municipal authority, private property, rodent control, anticoagulant poison, public health, Massachusetts local option, Wellfleet, fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, nutrient pollution

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:23.640><c> or</c> permit holders attending hearing or permit holders attending hearing or
• It's very don't hear a question.
• </c> allocated for this particular hearing. allocated for this particular hearing.
• <00:19:02.240><c> day,</c> hearing day, hearing day, but<00:19:03.480><c> we're</c><00:19:03.600><c>
• </c> to hear. to hear.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me? We hear you. Can you hear me? We hear you.
• Hi, Brianna, do you hear me? Do you hear me? Hello. Yes, I can. Can you hear me? Yes.
• And hear me out on this. In Idaho, we value parental rights. Hear me out on this.
• Hello, can you hear me? We hear you. Hello, can you hear me? We can hear you.
• Hello, can you hear me? We hear you. Hello, can you hear me? We can hear you?

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Any persons in this hearing room in opposition?
• Any person's in this hearing room in opposition?
• the last bill of this hearing.
• the last bill of this hearing.
• Yeah, let's hear the expert opposition real quick.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard three major bills focused on California’s energy transition, fuel supply, and climate investments. SB 237 by Sen. Grayson proposed short-term measures to stabilize gasoline supply and prices, including validating the Kern County EIR for new oil and gas permitting with setbacks, a well cap, offshore/pipeline provisions, possible suspension of summer fuel blend requirements, and a study of regional fuel blends. Supporters argued it would help keep refineries operating, protect jobs, and reduce price spikes during a “mid-transition” away from fossil fuels, while opponents said it was a fossil-fuel giveaway that would worsen pollution in Kern County and fail to address refinery-community protections or broader transition planning. The committee approved SB 237 on a due-pass vote, with some members voting no or not voting. The committee also heard SB 352 by Sen. Reyes, which would strengthen implementation of AB 617 by codifying the Environmental Justice Bureau in the Attorney General’s office, requiring at least five years of monitoring in AB 617 communities, and mandating annual reporting by CARB and air districts on program implementation. Supporters said the bill would add accountability and ensure the new continuous funding for AB 617 leads to real emissions reductions, while opponents criticized the process and argued the bill was an end run around separate negotiations and imposed rigid requirements on limited resources. The bill advanced on a due-pass vote after extensive testimony from environmental justice groups, business organizations, and local air districts. Finally, SB 840 by Sen. Limon was presented as the cap-and-invest package, maintaining California’s climate leadership while directing revenues to state and community priorities. Supporters highlighted stronger offset integrity, more frequent protocol updates, continued funding for programs such as AB 617, transit, housing, and other climate investments, and broad labor and local government support. Some witnesses and members noted the bill did not include dedicated funding for zero-emission vehicles or climate-smart agriculture and urged future work on those priorities. The committee passed SB 840 on a due-pass vote as well, and all three bills were later confirmed out of committee on the floor call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair hears none. Motion adopted.
• I said it in hearing, after hearing, after hearing.
• I keep hearing nobody's ever died from cannabis.
• I hear you, I hear you.
• I do hear it from DAs sometimes.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB9 , SB42 , SB15 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SCR1

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the purpose of today's hearing is to lay out bills.
• I appreciate you hearing me out today.
• You hear that silence? I don't get to hear that anymore.
• Listen, you get to hear that; I don't.
• We hear you.

Bills: SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to hear from Mr.
• </c><00:20:47.160><c> Today,</c><00:20:47.440><c> the</c> hear hear Senate File 4431.
• Today, the hear hear Senate File 4431.
• </c> for hearing this bill today. for hearing this bill today.
• Can you hear me all right? >> We can hear you perfectly. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to hear from Ms. Kerry Katan.
• We’ve had a hearing, an entire hearing on broadband, I think our first hearing, We’ve had a hearing,
• an entire hearing on broadband, I think our first hearing.
• Can you see me and hear me? Yeah. Great. Thank you. Greetings, can you see me and hear me? Yeah.
• Hearing none, we will declare this hearing at a conclusion.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just say that this needs to go to a committee hearing and to hear a lot more detail.
• </c> disappointing to hear that now. disappointing to hear that now.
• ><c> we</c><00:30:45.279><c> hear</c><00:30:45.520><c> hear</c><00:30:45.919><c> a</c><00:30:46.080><
• c> lot</c><00:30:46.399><c> you</c><00:30:47.039><c> all</c> aisle but we hear hear a lot you all aisle
• but we hear hear a lot you all tell<00:30:47.600><c> us</c><00:30:47.760><c> that</c><00:30:48.000><

Committee: House Ways and Means