Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, what you're saying is that these will be contracted within a school district?
• Chair and Representative—contracted out to an outside company necessarily.
• So you have this huge spectrum of what's happening. ...contracting with them.
• However, it's actually a program contracted with a district, but those will continue.
• Chair and Representative, who is behind this bill in terms of?

Bills: HB253, HB153, HB255, HB287, HB371, SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete

Transcript Highlights:

• , not the terms of what should be disclosed in a contract to the consumer, but the disclosure provisions
• of what should be disclosed in a terms of what should be disclosed in a contract<00:34:43.000> to
• <00:38:26.000> were realized was funding contracts were realized was funding contracts were
• you violate the statute uh the contract you violate the statute uh the contract is<01:05:08.760>
• <01:22:56.960> service<01:22:57.520> contracts manfacturers contract service contracts

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Senator Hancock moves that public testimony be limited to two minutes today.
• So thank you for... ...the guys that fight most of the majority of fires outside the city limits.
• Current state law requires payment bonds for contracts in excess of $25,000 and performance bonds for
• contracts in excess of $100,000.
• contract by the project owner.

Bills: SB480, SB767, SB790, SB971, SB1066

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:34.120> to entities including but not limited to entities including but not limited
• his team is seeking to eliminate contracts for government workers.
• We hear a lot about waste, fraud, and abuse, and so the fraud I think is a well-understood term.
• <00:58:39.520> memos records reports plans contracts memos records reports plans contracts
• terms or we’re using terms that aren’t necessary, how do we enforce that?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Or $75 million that is doing that long-term solution.
• An appropriate budget category for contracts and other costs.
• Let's go to key terms, please. I'm not going to go through the key terms of what a budget...
• Next slide, key terms: what are budgetary controls?
• And reinstate limitations on appropriations and/or allow determination of expenditure limits by DFA in

Transcript Highlights:

• contracts.
• board, which again mirrors county counsel appointment provisions, and to be clear, is not a term limit
• You talked about the four-year terms. Did you bring it four-year terms? Yes, yeah.
• How long is that term? There's no term limits, sir.
• No term limit, indefinite until they're removed by vote through the board of supervisors, correct?

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• public construction contract? public construction contract?
• s- you know, we we often hear the terms s- you know, we we often hear the terms sticky<00:52:05.000
• Um but in terms of spent out."
• <01:11:29.160> of question first and in terms of question first and in terms of resources,
• <01:13:43.080> bill<01:13:43.320> really in terms of what the bill really in terms

Bills: HF1234, HF3528, HF3672, HF3679, HF3680, HF1944

Keywords: payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, data transparency, Legislative Budget Office, state agencies, fiscal notes, public data, standard time, federal law, time zone

Transcript Highlights:

• It only speaks to the contract between ICE. The other piece in terms of Madam Chair...
• And the contract with ICE.
• The contract... The contract between ICE and the county is only what will be addressed by the bill.
• contract. ...in a precarious situation with the contract they have, where they were operating without
• That's somehow the only economic development plan available: a prison contract, a detention contract,

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee put some guardrails up, for lack of a better term, in terms of what you want capital projects
• So this is the quarterly report that we just referenced in terms of the organizational materials.
• They don't necessarily show you what's been contracted per se.
• There was this contract which went through quite a cycle.
• <00:15:36.600> are a more General thing that contracts are a more General thing that contracts

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee held an organizational meeting. Members elected Rep. Miltz as chair and later nominated Sen. Mark McConkey as vice chair, but that appointment was carried over because he was not present to accept it. Mike Edgar was nominated and accepted as clerk. The committee also adopted its procedures and guidelines, which set deadlines for agencies to submit capital project materials and establish reporting thresholds intended to keep small projects out of the quarterly report. The main discussion centered on the Department of Administrative Services’ quarterly capital budget project report for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. Staff explained that the report compiles statewide capital projects under the committee’s guidelines and includes new projects plus large DOT projects. Several members raised concerns about projects listed as on hold or lacking updates, including the Big E agricultural building rebid, a prison woodworking facility, Pease pier projects, the General Sullivan Bridge removal, Sunapee State Beach parking lot work, and a closed-loop referral contract. Members asked for better status updates, especially on projects with no agency response, and the chair said agencies could be asked to appear before the committee if needed. Members also discussed the governor’s proposal in HB 2 to change the report from quarterly to annual. Several members opposed the change, saying quarterly reporting is more useful for oversight, and suggested the committee ask Finance to remove that section or consider raising the reporting threshold instead. There was also discussion of toll credits, with staff explaining that any other use of toll credits requires committee approval, and of the Department of Corrections’ prison planning funds, including $50 million currently available for site feasibility and design work. The committee agreed to schedule its next meeting for April 14, with June 23 to be revisited later, and then adjourned by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:44.920> handicap lack of restrooms limited handicap lack of restrooms limited handicap
• <01:00:01.039> of intent of your question in terms of intent of your question in terms of
• <01:20:21.440> our limiting our limiting our profitability<01:20:23.520> additionally<01
• <01:49:24.159> of my understanding this the in terms of my understanding this the in terms
• fairgrounds then we also contract fairgrounds then we also contract directly<01:53:32.159> with

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To, uh, limit editorial discussion.
• So I will continue to limit, um.
• Um, my questions are kind of along the same lines in terms of wages.
• of feeding, in terms of um dressing, in terms of a lot of those things.
• So, um, and then in terms of, of like furnishing your home.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to say in the in the term terms of purchasing vehicles for our city, I don't believe it is
• As far as contracts go out, our contracts are typically bid on a three year cycle.
• So, you know, there's a contract.
• I'm putting in a 75-question time limit, so. A what? 75-question limit. Okay, 75 minutes.
• So it's 400 times the number of contracts out there except for the contracts that are 2% of the total

Bills: HB10, HB 12, HB675, HB10, HB12

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• School the second way is to contract School the second way is to contract with<00:04:26.600>
• if the charter school is Contracting if the charter school is Contracting with<00:23:06.640>
• If the charter has to contract, if we have to pay the charter schools, if we have to contract, first
• a gene general term a gene general term um<03:37:18.640> when<03:37:19.160> we're<
• <03:37:54.160> of the case because really in terms of the case because really in terms of

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on HB 222, which would repeal the requirement that a chartered public school and the resident school district sign a memorandum of understanding on how students with disabilities will receive special education services. The prime sponsor, Rep. Peggy Balboni, said the bill was requested by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators and the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She argued that federal and state law already require districts to provide FAPE and that the MOU requirement has created extra work, legal costs, and delays without improving services. She said many MOUs remain unsigned, but students are still receiving services and complaint numbers have not changed. Rep. Mooney also supported repeal, calling the MOU duplicative and impractical because IEPs and 504 plans already govern services. Testimony from Jane B. Brulu of the special education administrators’ association and Beth McLure of the charter schools alliance echoed that view, saying the MOU has not helped students, has added hours of work and legal fees, and has mostly been a source of disputes over funding and service costs. McLure said her school has worked with more than 15 districts and has always been able to reach agreements, though the first year of the requirement took substantial time and money. Committee members asked about the original purpose of the law, unsigned MOUs, and whether disputes could be resolved without the requirement. A representative from the Department of Education said the MOU was originally proposed to address reports that some students were not getting services on time and to provide some oversight, but the department has no authority to order charter schools or districts to agree and no appeal process if they cannot. The department also said it does not currently audit charter school special education services because it lacks authority to monitor charter schools directly, and it urged the committee to consider some alternative oversight if the MOU requirement is repealed. The hearing on HB 222 was then closed, and the committee announced it would begin the hearing on HB 699 after a short break.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will likely limit public testimony, if there's too much, to two or three minutes.
• So it doesn't limit any information where we found or it's been found that it's been in terms... ...it
• It includes language that says including but not limited to.
• A lot of times in emergency work, that's not contracted.
• A lot of times in emergency work, that's not contracted.

Summary: The subcommittee considered a long agenda of civil justice and claims measures. HB 1173, relating to the Florida Trust Code, was presented as a clarification of standing in trust litigation after recent case law; after questions about who may sue, an amendment was adopted clarifying that an expressly named charity retains standing, and the bill passed 14-2. HB 1437, on attorney’s fees in motor vehicle PIP disputes, drew testimony from insurers and reform groups opposing a return to fee-driven litigation and from medical groups supporting fee recovery for prevailing parties; it passed 17-0. CS/HB 147, addressing prohibited debt-collection communications during nighttime and early morning hours, was described as a clarification of an outdated statute in light of modern communications, with support from business groups and no opposition in the vote; it passed 18-0. The committee then heard several claims bills against the Department of Children and Families. HB 6511, for relief of L.P., described severe injuries to a child after DCF allegedly failed to act on warning signs; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill passed 18-0. HB 6515, for relief of Michael Barnett, involved DCF’s alleged failure to investigate domestic violence that preceded the killing of three children and injury of a fourth; members asked about the settlement amount and the case’s circumstances, and the bill also passed 18-0. HB 1517, expanding wrongful death law to allow parents of an unborn child to recover for the child’s death, generated the most extensive debate. The sponsor said it aligns civil law with existing criminal definitions and excludes claims against mothers and providers of lawful medical care, including IVF; opponents warned it could be used to target reproductive care, support networks, and domestic violence survivors, while supporters framed it as a justice measure for families. An amendment clarifying damages rules for minors and unborn children was adopted, and the bill passed 13-4. Finally, HB 947, on evidence of medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, sought to allow broader evidence at trial and to change “shall” to “may”; supporters said it would improve fairness and transparency, while opponents argued it would weaken post-2023 tort reforms and reintroduce inflated medical damages. The amendment was adopted and the bill was then taken up with additional opposition testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in my 3rd term.
• The, the contracting nursing issue has, has died down a little bit, right?
• The contracting issue, yes, it does seem to be calming down.
• Particularly in long term care. OK.
• Like, is, is the benefit commensurate to the cost, both in terms of dollars and time.

Transcript Highlights:

• A low-lying movable bridge brought huge limitations to the space industry in terms of the things that
• It has been a tremendous accelerant in terms of not only...
• And obviously, you know, our funding source is limited to what it is.
• We only have what comes in in terms of revenue to move... ...limited to what they are.
• All of our ports now have long-term contracts with those tenants, with those entities that are there.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee heard an overview from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the state’s transportation work program, with emphasis on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, major roadway projects, workforce needs, seaports, airports, spaceport infrastructure, and the role of MPOs/TPOs in planning. He said the $4 billion general revenue investment in Moving Florida Forward has been leveraged into a roughly $7 billion-plus program, with 20 projects underway and about 70% of the initiative expected to be under construction by year’s end. He highlighted I-4 as the centerpiece, describing a new procurement approach, phased delivery, and added lanes intended to provide congestion relief during construction. He also discussed a projected 38% growth in transportation workforce needs and proposed a Florida Transportation Academy and a research institute to support training and innovation. Tiffany King of the Florida Airports Council said Florida’s 128 public-use airports have about $5.7 billion in unfunded projects through 2029, and stressed that airport priorities include not only terminals and passenger capacity but also safety, security, gates, and environmental work. Michael Rubin of the Florida Ports Council said Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports now have a $195.9 billion economic impact, support about 1.2 million jobs, and generate $7.4 billion in state and local taxes; he noted that ports still have about $4 billion in project needs, including dredging and intermodal connections. Jeff Sheffield of the North Florida TPO described the value of regional, community-based planning and said his four-county TPO has helped align local priorities with FDOT funding. Members asked about whether the state is planning for advanced air mobility and “flying cars,” whether Moving Florida Forward bypassed MPOs, how long major projects take, cost escalation, regionalization of MPOs, port governance, airport governance, and the contractor qualification system. FDOT and the witnesses said the state is working on policy and planning for advanced air mobility, that Moving Florida Forward did not bypass MPOs because the projects were already locally prioritized, and that the main delay is funding rather than the planning process. They said long-range plans are updated regularly and can be amended when priorities change, and that regional MPO structures can improve coordination. The committee took no formal vote; the meeting concluded after questions and comments, including discussion of workforce training opportunities for incarcerated individuals and a motion to adjourn by the ranking member.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in terms of response funding, Dr.
• I'm assuming we have some limitations on what we could do in terms of interstate commerce and regulation
• limitations on what we could do in terms limitations on what we could do in terms of<00:18:38.159
• > the hunting elk um you know limited by the hunting elk um you know limited by the size<01:18
• make it into more of a long-term make it into more of a long-term agreement<01:25:03.159> so<

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• What do you mean in terms of how this would be handled in terms of termination, is that the question?
• Right now we've limited the salaries to $50,000 in statute.
• Some are about, I don't know, contract claims.
• That may limit me.
• But this would limit that.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's not one single agency that's going to contract, or all the agencies are going to contract with
• President, Senator, you mean the state auditor or contract auditor? The contract auditors.
• If they currently have a contract with an agency and their contract is for four years, I don't know how
• The statute of limitations on second.
• subject to a statute of limitations.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• budget deficits and longer-term structural deficits.
• We appreciate all the work on the Medi-Cal asset limit and rejecting that $2,000 limit, and we look forward
• of the asset limit so that we can ensure some kind of regularity.
• Thank you. ...in the future in terms of the asset limit so that we can ensure some kind of regularity
• of the asset limit so that we can ensure some kind of regularity.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.