Transcript Highlights:

• For over 100 years, the Texas Insurance code has included anti-rebating laws which prohibit insurance
• So this bill moves the life and health anti-rebating statutes into a new chapter in the insurance code
• Uh, section of the insurance code.
• It is because the Department of Insurance interpreted that provision of code to prevent implementing
• The protections, provisions of existing code.

Bills: HB139

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• , there's in vivo cell-based studies, and there's some human epidemiology studies primarily in occupational
• Plains Open Water is fully compliant with the FDA's food code.
• FDA's food code still allows plain soap in food preparation because there's no evidence of benefit of

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Century Code is structured that way.
• The requirement to file those reports is in Century Code.
• There are some penalties in code and what— Officer or agency.
• Dan, 42 occupational boards.
• They all have their different sections of code.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some might call occupation you choose.
• of rights for every occupation.
• Is that something you every occupation.
• I was just looking at the code of ethics and the code of conduct, which come from the rules, and they
• > which of ethics and the code of conduct which of ethics and the code of conduct which come<03

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Deputy Director of HCD's Division of Codes and Standards.
• Codes and Standards acts as a statewide enforcement agency, title and registration agency, code enforcement
• HCD's Codes and Standards Division is funded by fees for services.
• As I mentioned, the code enforcement unit...
• I mentioned the code enforcement unit to help mitigate that.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Deputy Director of HCD's Division of Codes and Standards.
• Codes and Standards acts as a statewide enforcement agency, title and registration agency, code enforcement
• HCD's Codes and Standards Division is funded by fees for services.
• I mentioned the code enforcement unit to help mitigate that.
• Codes and Standards, that's a division that's well within HCD.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're seeing is the, the juveniles are being approached with, uh. coded emojis, uh, different types
• I was going through the different code provisions that, that it captures, right?
• That way we still have access to our penal code chapter 12 enhancements, and I'm happy to answer any
• Pursuant to Texas Penal Code Section 6.03, a person is criminally negligent when he ought to be aware
• And there is a problem in the code.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAD TO GO FIND OUT WHAT THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WAS.
• MOST OF THEM HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
• IF IT IS A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE HAS THE REQUIREMENT OF LOCAL REGULATION.
• IS HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT THE CODE APPROACH.
• HOW DO WE MAKE THE CODE BETTER? REMEMBERING THAT THE CODE IS MINIMUM NOT MAXIMUM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then two, I never voted for the code of ethics 1010.5 rules.
• Our code prohibits discrimination. By real estate agents.
• Our, our code of conduct covers discrimination.
• That's not a violation of, of our code.
• Um, there is a definition in Chapter 51 of the Occupations code that defines trade associations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And on line 1.12, the bill requires post-writ occupancy for 10 days.
• writ occupancy for 10 days. writ occupancy for 10 days.
• As a result, communities must absorb months of unpaid occupancy while managing deteriorating home sites
• , code violations from municipalities, and safety risks as properties go unmaintained and neglected for
• Occupancy by landlords or landlord's family members as a reason to not renew.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter nine of the Code of Criminal Procedure relates to trades business. and occupations injurious
• Chapter 49 of the Code of Criminal Procedure relates to death inquests and Chapter 50 of the Code of
• The Code of Chrome procedure project is an interesting one. For decades, the code needed updating.
• correct enacted codes to conform the codes to the source law from which they were deprived, and to revise
• codes or parts of codes enacted during the preceding legislative session to incorporate enactments of

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill amends one section of the Highway Code on the Parkways Authority that covers tolls and competitive
• And those amendments actually modified a different section of code that currently already specifies public
• This bill amends two sections in the traffic code related to the operation of a vehicle at or near the
• Mariah, is there anything in code that forces DOH to remove their construction signs when they're done
• not only the safety of the workers that are there, but it's also the safety of the vehicles, the occupants

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:52.240> Authorizes<00:12:52.880> rom occupancy vehicles.
• Authorizes rom occupancy vehicles. Authorizes rom for<00:12:55.360> testimony.
• limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements under 2023 United States Code
• And I would just United States Code.
• <01:10:47.840> for any other United States codes for any other United States codes for purpose

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met on February 5 and heard testimony on a long agenda of transportation-related bills. Early measures included HB 2392, which would create an employer tax credit for transportation demand management benefits; HB 2462, which would bar auto manufacturers and dealers from charging post-sale fees for already-installed hardware; and HB 2423, which would require diesel sold for on-road use to contain at least 5% biodiesel. HB 2392 drew support from the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and one individual, with the Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation offering comments. HB 2462 drew support from DCCA and one individual, while the Alliance for Automotive Innovation opposed it. HB 2423 drew comments from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Hawaii Farm Bureau, support from Pacific Biodiesel and the Hawaii Transportation Association, and a question from the chair about whether biodiesel is exported; the witness said production stays local. The committee also heard HB 1771 on voluntary carbon offsets for air travel, HB 2081 on requiring firefighters exempt from CDL rules to follow equivalent alcohol and substance abuse policies, HB 2334 on allowing the Department of Transportation to assume NEPA responsibilities for certain projects, and HB 2336 on DOT agreements with the Department of Defense for work at military installations using federal funds. HB 1771 drew comments from Life of the Land warning that carbon offsets are often unreliable and could create liability, while Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines offered comments. HB 2081 received support from DOT, county human resources offices, fire departments, and county officials, with the Hawaii Firefighters Association in opposition. HB 2334 was supported by DOT, and the director said other states using NEPA assignment can complete projects in about half the time. HB 2336 was supported by DOT, HIEMA, DBEDT’s military relations office, and the Hawaii Military Affairs Council; the committee discussed the administrative fee as a way to recover costs under an intergovernmental agreement. The most extensive testimony centered on HB 1666, which would limit new motor vehicle markups above 5% of MSRP and require recordkeeping. Multiple dealer groups and the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association opposed it, arguing it would threaten dealership operations, especially in Hawaii’s high-cost market and for vehicles without an MSRP. The committee also heard HB 2375 on uniform towing and parking enforcement standards on state and leased lands, including notice, disability protections, payment safeguards, and public reporting; DLNR, DAGS, and several advocacy groups testified, with strong public support and concerns about towing practices and ADA compliance. HB 2415, which would appropriate funds for crosswalks near school properties, drew support from DOT, DOE, and the Hawaii Bicycling League, and the committee discussed how counties would request projects and how funding would be allocated. Finally, HB 2451, which would move Hawaii toward fare-free public transit beginning in 2027 and create a dedicated funding source through a petroleum tax increase, received broad support from DOT, the Energy Office, public health and advocacy groups, and many individuals; DOE testified that it currently uses about $2.1 million for student bus passes and that the program is tied to savings from inactive school bus routes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result of the 2005 Workers' Compensation Reform, Chapter 504.053 of the Texas Labor Code created
• of Insurance. their performance graded by TDI, just like certified networks. 405 of the Texas Labor Code
• This bill makes a few changes to the labor code to speed up first responders' recovery.
• HB 4415 would amend Labor Code 451.0025. ...to include all public employees, not just first responders
• They were wrestling with, I think it was the Code Construction Act. That's my nerdy stuff.

Bills: HB875, HB1667, HB2369, HB3844, HB4415, HB4479, HB4483, HB4676, HB5118, HB5400, HB5545

Keywords: workers' compensation, municipal construction, bidding requirements, small municipalities, contracting policies, first responders, PTSD, mental health, emergency services, medical expenses, injury claims, insurance carriers, opportunity youth, workforce development, employment, education, federal funds, employment discrimination, immunity waiver, public employees

Transcript Highlights:

• So what this bill is proposing is, instead of doing 100% solely based on the zip code where the person
• lives, to be able to shift and modify that formula to 75% based on the zip code, and then 25% based
• lives, to be able to shift and modify that formula to 75% based on the zip code, and then 25% based
• where Black and Latino consumers are the majority is a lot higher than ZIP codes ...ZIP codes where
• It's a lot higher than ZIP codes where the majority of people are white.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on a wide range of auto insurance and vehicle-related bills. Testimony focused heavily on autonomous vehicle regulation, auto insurance rating by ZIP code, rental car liability coverage, and surcharge thresholds for minor accidents. Representative Polito supported a bill to regulate autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, arguing for school-zone restrictions, slower speeds, a remote kill switch, and minimum insurance requirements to protect the public. Representative Mendez and Senator Payano testified for legislation to reduce racial and socioeconomic inequities in auto insurance pricing by limiting the weight insurers may place on territorial loss costs, while the Mass Insurance Federation and Consumer Federation of America offered opposing and supporting views, respectively, on the fairness and actuarial impact of geographic rating. The committee also heard support for a bill to remove inspection-sticker violations from license-point calculations, and for a bill to raise the damage threshold for insurance surcharges and minor/major accident classifications. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed House Bill 1301 on rental car liability. Enterprise Mobility, the American Car Rental Association, and a small Massachusetts rental company supported the bill, saying personal auto insurers should be primary when their insureds drive rental cars, that Massachusetts is an outlier compared with most other states, and that the change would reduce costs and simplify claims handling. The Mass Insurance Federation opposed the bill, arguing that current Massachusetts law already clearly makes the vehicle owner’s policy primary and that shifting liability would raise costs for private-passenger policyholders. Committee members asked detailed questions about how rental coverage works, whether premiums or rental rates would change, and how other states handle the issue. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to adjust surcharge rules for at-fault accidents, with sponsors arguing that repair costs and vehicle values have risen sharply and that the current thresholds are outdated. Members discussed how the point system affects drivers, whether the proposal should apply cumulatively or per incident, and how Carfax and out-of-pocket repairs factor into consumer costs. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted written testimony could still be submitted and, during a brief personal privilege, recorded support for two underinsurance bills, H. 1109 and S. 748. The committee then moved and seconded a motion to adjourn, and the hearing ended without any votes on the bills themselves.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Menendez then asked how the code treats adult charter schools in terms of... three in operation
• And again, when the occupancy is not there, we have to make those changes.
• Code 1091.
• Yeah, so the Education Code kind of sets the policy for that.
• I think the, I mean, the underlying sort of Education Code provision that has the Coordinating Board

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, we conducted a workforce and academic needs assessment to identify the priority occupations
• in our region, the degrees that were required to get these occupations, and the gaps in program availability
• And I'm not going to quote the entire code section, but Education Code Section 1930 definitely points
• And I'm not going to quote the entire code section, but Education Code Section 1930 definitely points
• Need to know what the legislative intent was for a code section that appeared in 1978?

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met to review CSU and State Library budget issues, enrollment trends, the Capital Fellows program, and a Title IX update. Chair David Alvarez opened by stressing that CSU faces serious financial pressure, including a systemwide deficit and proposed cuts that he and several members said were too large and likely to harm access, course offerings, and student services. Public comment focused heavily on the Braille Institute Library, with patrons, staff, veterans, and advocates urging restoration of funding and warning that the proposed cut would severely affect blind and visually impaired Californians across Southern California. Several CSU faculty, staff, and union representatives also opposed the proposed reductions and warned of larger class sizes, fewer sections, and layoffs. On the CSU core operations item, the Department of Finance explained the Governor’s proposal to reduce ongoing General Fund support by about $375 million and defer a 5% base increase, while the LAO said CSU core funding would be roughly flat once tuition and targeted augmentations were considered, but warned that rising costs and prior shortfalls would still force campuses to cut spending. CSU’s Chancellor’s Office said the proposed cut would deepen existing problems, citing prior-year budget gaps, job losses, reduced course sections, and student-service reductions. Members pressed Finance and the LAO on whether cuts could be made more surgically, especially at the Chancellor’s Office or in institutional support rather than in instruction, and the LAO said the Legislature has flexibility to target cuts more specifically. CSU also described ongoing consolidation efforts, including shared services among campuses and the planned Cal Maritime/Cal Poly San Luis Obispo integration, while cautioning that savings are not yet fully known. The committee then discussed CSU enrollment. The LAO recommended holding enrollment targets flat because the budget does not add new funding, while CSU reported strong recent growth, including more California residents, record first-year enrollment, and expanded direct admissions and transfer pathways. Members questioned why some campuses with high demand turn away many applicants while others continue to lose enrollment, and CSU said it is shifting resources from campuses with sustained declines to those with demand, using a 10% below-target threshold. The committee also discussed whether enrollment declines mirror local population trends, how to improve marketing and program alignment, and whether lessons from Cal Poly Humboldt’s conversion could inform other campuses such as Sonoma State. The Capital Fellows item drew a Finance proposal for a salary increase and an LAO counterproposal for a smaller raise plus future COLA language; the committee kept the item open. Finally, CSU reported progress on Title IX compliance, saying it has completed most State Auditor recommendations, expanded civil rights staffing, and increased training, prevention, and case-management efforts, though members asked how proposed budget cuts might affect those services.

Transcript Highlights:

• or the JSON code.
• and every vendor can still have their code, but within their code, when you're going to exchange data
• All we're telling them is within the software, add code that when you exchange.
• Data you the comptroller is going to decide whether to use deliminated field code or the JSON code and
• Currently, The tax code sets a 5-year expiration date for these property tax exemptions.

Bills: SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: redistricting, election, Texas legislature, district composition, political representation, congressional redistricting, Texas House of Representatives, U.S. House, Congressional districts, district map, district boundaries, gerrymandering, voting rights, election law, apportionment, representation, special committee, PLANC2308, redistricting plan, elections

Transcript Highlights:

• If you guys are going to move in this bill, I would really be careful because of the current occupant
• If you guys are going to move in this bill, I would really be careful because of the current occupant
• <00:27:38.960> in<00:27:39.279> Washington of the current occupant in Washington of
• We have no agency willing to enforce HAR, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the Penal Code.
• Revised Statutes and the Penal Code. Revised Statutes and the Penal Code.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 888, which would bar operators of smart household security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement unless the user consents or police obtain a warrant. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection offered comments and Judiciary submitted written support. Several individuals also submitted written support. The committee recommended passage with amendments clarifying that the Office of Consumer Protection may enforce violations and adopting Judiciary’s recommended changes, while also deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The motion passed unanimously among members present, with one senator excused. The committee then took up SB 2777 on insurance disclosures. The bill would require authorized insurers to disclose claim-handling data to consumers, including claims open at the start of a period, closed with payment, closed without payment, and open at the end of the period. The committee described amendments to clarify the bill, remove a requirement for the DCCA insurance division to handle publication, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. The measure was passed with amendments and the recommendation was adopted, with one member voting no and another excused. In a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Judiciary hearing on SP2738 relating to tax haven abuse, the Department of Taxation offered comments and the Tax Foundation testified in opposition, arguing the state should rely on IRS audits and existing worldwide reporting rules rather than create a separate state approach. Other written testimony was noted in both support and opposition. The committees recommended passage with amendments adopting Taxation’s technical changes and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050; the recommendation was adopted, with one senator noting reservations. The joint hearing then moved to health-related bills, including SB 2690 on primary care spending, SB 3103 on energy assistance, SB 3137 on Department of Health authority over food, drugs, and cosmetics, SB 3164 on child welfare service organizations, and SB 3206 on cannabinoids. SB 2690 drew strong support from physicians and advocates who said it would address primary care shortages, especially on neighbor islands, while HMSA and others warned a fixed spending percentage could raise costs and suggested a working group. SB 3164 drew support from child welfare providers and opposition from the Attorney General over indemnification language, and SB 3206 drew mixed testimony: state agencies raised federal-law and vagueness concerns, while hemp and cannabis advocates and some farmers supported the measure and urged broader legalization or amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:17.480> speech<00:37:17.920> language<00:37:18.520> biomedical occupation
• speech language biomedical occupation speech language biomedical intervention<00:37:20.079> with<
• report also specifies that some of the reason for the increase in cost is using different billing codes
• report also specifies that some of the reason for the increase in cost is using different billing codes
• <01:50:21.400> therapy nursing physical occupational therapy nursing physical occupational

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from DHS on its early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) study and related licensing proposal. Christy Grom explained that EIDBI is a Medical Assistance state plan service for children and young adults under 21 with autism or related conditions, and that DHS’s multi-phase evaluation included standards review, community engagement, and a comparison with other states. She said the service is important but that DHS identified gaps in oversight, including stretched clinical supervision, providers affiliated with many centers, out-of-state providers, and rapid growth in enrollment that has outpaced current monitoring capacity. DHS’s main recommendation was to create a provisional license for EIDBI in Chapter 245A as an immediate step, with later work toward full licensing standards. The proposal would let DHS identify controlling individuals, disqualify ineligible people, investigate maltreatment, suspend or revoke licenses, require background studies and qualifications before service delivery, move EIDBI providers into a higher-risk category for revalidation, and make DHS the lead investigative agency for maltreatment. DHS also recommended statutory standards for supervision, caseloads, training, and documentation, while emphasizing the need to balance oversight with continued access to services. Grom said the provisional licensure proposal is part of the governor’s budget and that DHS hopes to begin implementation in 2025, with a possible full license start date in 2028. Testifiers then spoke in support of EIDBI while urging the committee to preserve access and include more community input. Ana Hagi Muhammad, a parent of three autistic children and a Somali community advocate, said EIDBI has been beneficial for her family and that community organizations serving Somali families have not been sufficiently engaged in DHS’s process. Ana Muhammad, a Black mother of a young autistic child, said ABA has helped her son with communication, self-regulation, and independence, and asked that discussions reflect the diversity of family experiences. Committee members asked testifiers to keep remarks brief and to identify which modality they use, and the chair indicated the committee would continue hearing from additional testifiers before further discussion.