Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment H-339 by Representative Abel removes a provision that entitles a prevailing plaintiff to recover
• these provisions, the plaintiff would be required to prove that the driver was negligent, and the prevailing
• these provisions, the plaintiff would be required to prove that the driver was negligent, and the prevailing
• Representative Abel: This amendment simply removes the provision providing for attorneys' fees and costs for prevailing

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard and acted on five bills. House Bill 2548, dealing with hospital and provider material change transactions, was presented with a proposed substitute that added disclosure requirements, quarterly AG website notices, filing fees, and nonprofit-related notice provisions while removing several original enforcement sections. Members debated the 25% ownership threshold and concerns about market effects, but the substitute passed 7-6 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2453 would allow board-certified psychiatric pharmacists to sign certain involuntary commitment and treatment-related petitions and opinions. Members said the bill was intended to expand access to treatment while preserving court decision-making authority, and it passed 8-5. House Bill 2640, addressing unauthorized UCC filings, would let the Department of Licensing refuse or terminate filings made to harass or defraud debtors; members described it as a Department of Licensing request bill, and it also passed 8-5. The committee then considered House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways. The proposed substitute created a rebuttable presumption of negligence against drivers, expanded protected areas, excluded motorcycles from the definition, and adjusted damages and education provisions. Members adopted several amendments, including an emergency-vehicle exemption and a reporting clarification, but rejected amendments that would have removed attorney fees, limited joint liability, or replaced the presumption with a direct civil action. The substitute passed 8-5. House Bill 2386, which removes statutory garnishment answer forms and directs the Washington Pattern Forms Committee to develop a form, passed 12-1. Finally, House Bill 2239, authorizing family burial grounds on private land, passed unanimously after a substitute added setbacks from water sources, local remediation procedures, burial reporting requirements, relocation permits, and seller disclosure language.

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 8 ayes and 0 nays, the motion prevails. The chair lays out Senate Bill 2034.
• There being 8 eyes and no nays, the motion prevails.
• There being 6 ayes and 3 nays, the motion prevails. She No. Wait, this sex.
• There being 7 eyes and 1 nay, the motion prevails.

Bills: HB 660, HB 4845, HB 3902, HB 5396, HB 4615, HB 1825, HB 1403, HB 4336, HB 4585, HB 4371, HB 863, SB 1589, HB 5223, HB 3195, HB 2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. The chair lays out Senate Bill 2034.
• There being eight ayes and no nays, the motion prevails.
• There being six ayes and three nays, the motion prevails. Thank you. This. Wait, this. Six.
• There being seven ayes and one nay, the motion prevails.

Bills: HB660, HB4845, HB3902, HB5396, HB4615, HB1825, HB1403, HB4336, HB4585, HB4371, HB863, SB1589, HB5223, HB3195, HB2734

Keywords: child protective services, adult protective services, caseload limits, call processing goals, child-care licensing, employee workload, reporting requirements, employee caseload limits, protective services, workload management, accountability, Department of Family and Protective Services, employee goals, call processing, child care, human resources, government accountability, Medicaid, provider enrollment, revalidation

Transcript Highlights:

• MARKET RATES BECAUSE OF THE 80 TO 120 PERCENT I AM AMI IS IN MANY COMMUNITIES EQUIVALENT TO THE PREVAILING
• AVERAGE RENT AND IN SOME COMMUNITIES THE RENT FOR THESE UNITS CAN EXCEED THE PREVAILING MARKET RENT
• EVERY YEAR FOR 30 YEAR FOR RENTING ONE BEDROOM UNITS FOR $1,500 WHICH IS ABOUT THE AVERAGE PREVAILING
• EVEN THOUGH THE RENT WOULD THEN EXCEED THE PREVAILING MARKET RATE AND KEEP IN MIND THE CITY DOES NOT

Transcript Highlights:

• For clarity's sake, the person who was on the prevailing side... is there a prevailing side?
• He was on the prevailing side; it's equal, but it was all... it was all equal. He...
• That's not the prevailing side. Okay, all right.

Bills: HB194, SB87, SB237

Keywords: healthcare, advanced practice nursing, nurse collaboration, medical board, nursing board, committee structure, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, hemp, hemp beverages, psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive hemp products, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails.
• say favor say I I I opposed<00:12:25.360><c> the</c><00:12:25.480><c> motion</c><00:12:25.800><c> prevails
• c><00:12:26.399><c> the</c><00:12:26.560><c> bill</c><00:12:26.720><c> is</c> opposed the motion prevails
• the bill is opposed the motion prevails the bill is on<00:12:26.959><c> its</c><00:12:27.079><c> way

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1384, which would create the “Great Start Child Care Tax Credit” by expanding the existing dependent care credit for families with children under age six. The bill would raise the qualifying expense limits for young children, allow more children to qualify, and phase the credit down starting at $125,000 of earned household income until it reaches zero above roughly $400,000. The author said the proposal is intended to better address the high cost of child care, especially for middle-income families who may not qualify for other assistance programs. Claire Sanford of the Minnesota Child Care Association testified in support. She said child care providers across Minnesota have unused capacity because many families cannot afford services, and argued that making care cheaper for families is important for workforce participation and child development. She also supported the bill’s focus on children under five and its expansion of help up the income scale, saying middle-class families have received little assistance with child care costs. Members asked about how the bill differs from current law, the cap for a family with one child age five, and the fiscal impact. The author explained that a family with one child under age six would have a $10,000 cap under the proposal and said a prior fiscal note estimated the bill at about $200 million per year. The author also noted the proposal had been introduced previously and said the Department of Revenue’s new ability to make advance payments could be relevant as the bill moves forward. The author renewed the motion to re-refer HF 1384 to the Committee on Taxes. The committee approved the motion by voice vote, and the bill was sent to Taxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. The minutes are adopted. Members, just a brief change to our agenda for today.
• Motion prevails and House File 3006 is placed on the general register.
• Motion prevails and House File Opposed.
• Motion prevails and House File 3006<00:20:00.559><c> is</c><00:20:00.799><c> placed</c><00:20:01.039>
• Motion prevails, and House File 1290 is placed on the general register.

Bills: HF3006, HF2130, HF1290

Keywords: Department of Corrections, DOC, corrections budget, supplemental appropriation, deficiency funding, public safety finance, incarceration, prerelease services, community supervision, postrelease services, supervised release, probation, reentry, reentry services, prison reform, body-worn cameras, corrections officer cameras, ARMER radio system, PREA, Prison Rape Elimination Act

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. All opposed. Motion prevails.
• And then Chair Cosnik, I see prevails.
• It nos, and the motion does not prevail. It does<00:32:46.559><c> prevail.
• Motion prevails.
• Um Representative prevails. All right.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And those that lose out don't just experience poor economic mobility, depressed wages, or suffer unhealthy
• They are also more wages or suffer unhealthy working conditions, they are also more likely to experience
• And then actually something I know that my colleague at Flotus will talk about: what are the wages that
• are cut has a lot more to do with investments in the quality of the workforce and with lifting up wages
• In the trades, we then were able to make sure that they were receiving a living wage, a good earning,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. wages or suffer unhealthy working conditions, they are also more likely to experience poorer
• And then actually something I know that my colleague at Flotus will talk about, what are the wages that
• are cut has a lot more to do with investments in the quality of the workforce and with lifting up wages
• In the trades, we then were able to make sure that they were receiving a living wage, a good earning,
• And especially for them to access higher-wage jobs.

Summary: The hearing focused on inclusive economic development in California’s Central Valley, with the chair describing prior state and federal investments in Fresno and the region, including Transformative Climate Communities funding, the Southwest Fresno Community College campus, affordable housing and infrastructure projects, medical education pathways, F3 Farm Food Future, and high-speed rail-related jobs. The chair emphasized that rural and historically disinvested communities often face complex application processes and limited technical capacity, and said the committee’s goal was to learn from successful local models and identify ways to better direct resources to communities that need them most. The first panel featured representatives from the Sierra Health Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and UC Merced. Chet Hewitt argued that health and economic opportunity are inseparable and described Sierra Health’s economic development portfolio, including the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund, the Impact Investment Fund, and the Community Economic Mobilization Initiative (CEMI), which together support healthier workplaces, microbusiness financing, and nonprofit capacity. Jessica Kaksmarik said Irvine’s place-based grantmaking in inland regions aims to strengthen worker and community power, support community-led development, and expand equitable pathways to mobility, while stressing that philanthropy must partner with government because it cannot meet the scale of need alone. Dr. Manuel Pastor and Dr. Ed Flores both argued that inequality and extractive development weaken long-term growth, and that community organizations need both power-building and technical expertise to influence regional planning; Flores also described the Valley Seed project and high-road economic development models that link labor, climate, and community benefits. The second panel highlighted community-based programs and the effects of unstable funding. Yolanda Randalls described the Sweet Potato Project at West Fresno Family Resource Center, a youth agriculture and entrepreneurship program that combines hands-on farming, business training, and mental health support; she said participants improved from a 1.9 GPA to a 3.3 GPA and that the program is seeking long-term support as its funding nears expiration. Addie Carr of Neighborhood Industries described a second-chance employment model that provides job training, case management, literacy and life coaching, and small no-interest loans, and said CEMI helped the organization open a second store and create more jobs. Maria Redoubt Orozco of Community Alliance with Family Farmers said small farmers are central to the Valley’s economy but face land, water, climate, and market barriers, and warned that federal cuts to programs like Local Food Purchasing Assistance threaten local food systems. Daniela Rodriguez of Immigrants Rising described entrepreneurship and technical assistance for undocumented and mixed-status entrepreneurs, including the SEED initiative, and said policy uncertainty and access-to-capital barriers continue to constrain immigrant economic mobility. In closing discussion, panelists repeatedly called for longer-term, braided, and flexible funding rather than one-time grants, and the chair noted the need to continue supporting community-defined practices and public-private partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• There being nine ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being nine ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being nine ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails. The Chair lays out Senate Bill 1855.

Bills: SB612, SB1855, SB2568, SB3058, HB49

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• And then if you look in 2024, we had 248 applicants, and you can see that qualified wages have grown
• In 2008, the qualified wages were $112,000. In 2024, they were $632,000. So, it is frustrating.
• </c><00:47:11.200><c> growth</c> package is you can see the wage growth package is you can see the wage
• have grown exponentially qualified wages have grown exponentially in<00:47:37.040><c> 2008</c><00:47
• c><00:47:38.880><c> 112,000</c> in 2008 the qualified wages were 112,000 in 2008 the qualified wages

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to review tax expenditures, elect a chair and clerk, and hear updates on two credits due for periodic review: the career and technical education (CTE) center tax credit and the research and development (R&D) tax credit. Members first organized the meeting, then heard from Jennifer Ramsey of DRA, who explained the purpose of the tax expenditure review process and summarized the CTE and R&D credits. She said the CTE credit allows donations to CTE centers for a credit against business profits tax, is capped at 25% of a taxpayer’s liability, has a $500,000 aggregate limit, and was extended in SB 98 to fiscal year 2031. She also noted DRA could not provide detailed financial data because of statistical disclosure limits when too few taxpayers claim the credit. Committee members pressed for more historical and aggregate information, arguing they needed numbers to judge whether the credit is effective and worth continuing. The committee then heard from Chrissy Vanderhook of the Department of Education on the CTE credit. She described New Hampshire’s CTE system as serving 26 secondary centers and seven post-secondary centers, with industry partners providing internships, work-based learning, equipment, employee time, and other in-kind support that can qualify for the credit. She said the department reports annually to legislative leaders and that fiscal year 2025 credit activity was down about 48% from FY24, partly due to staffing changes and outreach issues. Members asked whether the program extends to community college-level programs, and she said it can, though she was not sure how broadly it is used that way. The committee also discussed a new Granite Patron of the Arts credit, which DRA said went into effect July 1 and is included in the tax expenditure report even though it is not yet listed in the statute. For the R&D credit, Ramsey explained that it offsets business profits tax and can carry forward to business enterprise tax, is based on incremental research spending, and currently has a $7 million annual aggregate cap. She said the cap has not yet been reached but could require proration as early as fiscal year 2026 if not increased. She noted there were 271 taxpayers claiming the credit in fiscal 2024 and that a proposal last session to raise the cap to $10 million and increase the per-company limit did not advance. Mark Liberty of BEA said the credit is an important recruitment and retention tool, especially for life sciences, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, but acknowledged BEA does not track direct revenue return. Andrea Hchvaria of New Hampshire Life Sciences argued the R&D credit is critical for startups and cited growth in applicants from 71 in 2008 to 248 in 2024, with qualified wages rising substantially over that period. Committee members repeatedly asked for more objective economic-impact data, but DRA said it only tracks who claimed the credit and the amount claimed, not broader business outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those investments clearly directly impacted wages and impacted the ability... ...been seen, you know
• And those investments clearly directly impacted wages and impacted the ability to see those vacancy rates
• And those investments clearly directly impacted wages and impacted the ability. clearly directly impacted
• wages and impacted the ability to see those vacancy rates improve.
• It's going to require wages to stay high in order to attract a workforce, because the competition for

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved the prior November minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, noting 102 of 132 members responded. The report showed continued improvement in staffing: overall vacancy rates fell from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, with declines across programs such as adult long-term residential, community-based day supports, supported employment, and day rehabilitation. However, vacancies remain high, especially for licensed practical nurses and clinicians, and nearly 4,000 positions were still unfilled. Providers also reported that almost 1,800 people remain waiting for day services. A major new focus in the survey was health insurance costs. Nearly 90% of respondents reported premium increases averaging 11%, and providers said those increases make it harder to offer competitive wages and benefits and hurt recruitment and retention. ADDP said the survey will be repeated in the fall and emphasized that while Chapter 257 investments appear to have helped reduce vacancies, rising insurance costs, immigration-related workforce pressures, and other affordability issues could threaten progress. Commissioners and presenters discussed the need to maintain gains, the importance of keeping the survey manageable while preserving historical comparisons, and the role of immigration and workforce policy in staffing stability. The subcommittee then elected new co-chairs, unanimously approving Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian. Members discussed possible topics and speakers for the next meeting, including training and turnover, direct support professional pipelines, apprenticeships, PCA training, and workforce models from other states. Several names and organizations were suggested for outreach, including Josh Cutler, Juan Vega, JVS, HSRI, and NASDDDS. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• 118 in the guidelines, is that we no longer have courts automatically imputing 40 hours of minimum wage
• Anywhere from 25 to 40 on minimum wage, that in our agency's setting, people, especially lower income
• so they get a proportional share of the child support because you can't just stack orders, minimum wage
• orders, on a father who only makes minimum wage.
• A combined income of, just say, both parties have a combined income of minimum wage.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And those investments clearly directly impacted wages and impacted the ability... ...clearly directly
• impacted wages and impacted the ability to see those vacancy rates improve.
• And those investments clearly directly impacted wages and impacted the ability. clearly directly impacted
• wages and impacted the ability to see those vacancy rates improve.
• a whole is looking at a net population drop for the first time in decades, it is going to require wages

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved prior minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, which covers community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injuries. The survey had strong participation, with 102 of 132 members responding, and this year included new questions on rising health insurance costs. ADDP reported that workforce conditions have improved for a third consecutive year, with the overall vacancy rate falling from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, and vacancy declines across several program areas. However, vacancies remain high in key roles such as licensed practical nurses and clinicians, nearly 4,000 positions remain unfilled, and about 1,800 people are still waiting for day services. Providers also reported major health insurance premium increases, which they said make it harder to offer competitive wages and benefits and affect recruitment and retention. Committee members discussed the impact of federal immigration policy, workforce shortages, and the need to maintain recent gains in staffing. The subcommittee then elected Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian as co-chairs by vote. Members discussed possible topics and guests for the next meeting, including training, turnover, waiting lists, direct support professional pipelines, apprenticeships, and possible speakers from state agencies, advocacy organizations, other states, and workforce programs such as JVS. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. Pending business: HB5151.
• There being nine ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails. Pending business: HB3333.
• There being 9 ayes and 0 nays, the motion prevails. HB4271 is pending business.
• There being nine ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being nine ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.

Bills: HB456, HB482, HB1463, HB1682, HB1949, HB5549, SB763

Keywords: translation, environmental quality, complaints, accessibility, multilingual, TCEQ, environmental justice, environmental complaints, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, language access, public information, Texas Commission, multilingual access, administrative actions, environmental regulations, state representatives, state senators, penalty notice, Water Code, legislative notification

Transcript Highlights:

• Every 3 eyes and 2 nays, the emotion prevails.
• There being 3 ayes and 2 nays, the emotion prevails.
• There being 3 ayes and 2 nays, the motion prevails.
• There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, the motion prevails. So, thank you, Representative Hicklin.
• Those experts help us prevail in that case. We won that veteran over $600,000 in back pay.

Transcript Highlights:

• There being nine ayes, one nay, and three absent, the motion prevails.
• There'll be 11 ayes, zero nays, and the motion prevails.
• There being 11 ayes, zero nays, the motion prevails. The chair leads the next discussion.
• There being 11 ayes, zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being 11 ayes, zero nays, the motion prevails. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB589, HB705, HB1842, HB1874, HB2349, HB2614, HB2827, HB3012, HB3214, HB3308, HB3385, HB3529

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. Mr. Chair, I renew my appeal of the point of order on quorum.
• The motion prevails. The clerk will take the roll. Right.
• The motion prevails.
• The House stands adjourned until noon Wednesday, January 15th, 2025. nay the motion prevails the house
• stands nay the motion prevails the house stands adjourned<01:17:04.760><c> until</c><01:17:05.440><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> low unemployment and Rising real wages low unemployment and Rising real wages at<00:08:51.760><c
• and salary income per worker, or average wage income, is expected to continue to increase.
• While our estimates for wage growth in 2024 and 2025 are little changed since November, our forecast
• for wage and salary disbursements in 2026 is 1.2 percentage points higher than in November, resulting
• and salary income per worker or wage and salary income per worker or average<00:15:36.079><c> wage</

Keywords: 1187, senate, all