Transcript Highlights:

• Next week we are going to have session.
• executive session when I have a chance. executive session when I have a chance.
• >> wait until I call the executive session? >> wait until I call the executive session?
• go into executive session? go into executive session? Yes,<01:24:48.600> ma'am.
• executive session? executive session? >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another change that happened in, I believe, the 2024 session.
• This is another change that happened in, I believe, the 2024 session.
• Uh this just simply 2024 session.
• We had that come up in the 2024 session.
• preparation for 2024 session. preparation for 2024 session.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 History of SEEK 00:02:15 Summary of On-Behalf Payments 00:12:40 Discussion on Collection of University Debt Department of Revenue 00:32:40 Northern Kentucky University 00:57:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the September 17 meeting, and heard a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education staff on SEEK school funding and KDE on-behalf payments. KDE explained recent SEEK changes, including the guaranteed base per-pupil amount, attendance-based calculations, second-month and January growth, the 2022 change funding kindergarten at 100% instead of 50%, and the existing add-ons for at-risk students, exceptional children, limited English learners, home/hospital instruction, and transportation. Staff also reviewed tier one funding, noting the 2024 increase from 15% to 17.5% and explaining that eligibility depends on local tax effort and property wealth. They also described Senate Bill 6 from the 2025 session as a reporting proposal to include on-behalf costs in education spending totals. KDE staff then outlined on-behalf payments made for districts, including roughly $458 million for Teachers Retirement System contributions, $942 million for health insurance, about $12 million for technology costs, and additional SFCC debt service outside KDE’s appropriation, for a total of about $1.5 billion. Members asked how a future Senate Bill 6 would affect local contributions and whether folding on-behalf payments into SEEK would shift costs among districts. KDE and Senator Gibbons clarified that the bill was intended only as a reporting mechanism and would not change local contribution or district payments; it would simply present a broader total of state education investment. The discussion also noted that Kentucky’s reported SEEK amount alone does not capture all state education spending. Members raised questions about home and hospital instruction data, saying local concerns suggest growth in some communities even if statewide numbers appear stable. KDE said the statewide figure has been relatively consistent but offered to provide district-level trend data. Co-Chair Petrie also asked about the accuracy of SEEK projections and on-behalf calculations, referencing prior concerns from the Office of Education Accountability. KDE responded that it works with the state budget director’s office in a consensus forecasting process and has been reviewing demographic and property-assessment data, including exceptional child counts, to improve forecast accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are lawyers that don't know we came in session today.
• body in the House and the Senate come back to session?
• back in session.
• When some of you will be back in session? Yes.
• During the final week of the session, the Senate During the final week of the session, the Senate took

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, I'll open the executive session on Senate Bill 488.
• executive session on Senate Bill 569. executive session on Senate Bill 569.
• real life session. real life session.
• Um I I will say we have session<01:10:44.520> tomorrow.
• So if somehow we make session tomorrow.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is something that we deal with every session or every other session as changes occur at the federal
• <00:21:34.080> as every session or every other session as every session or every other session
• session if they need a certain report. session if they need a certain report.
• to get them through the next session to get them through the next session while<00:40:35.400>
• But one last the of the next session.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 95 members present, excused absent members, and adopted a legislative citation honoring Dave Buzz Baker for his long career with WKYT and the UK Sports Network. The Senate clerk then reported several Senate bills passed by the Senate and requested concurrence. The House approved the journal and received committee reports advancing a wide range of bills on agriculture, banking and insurance, judiciary, licensing and regulations, education, and information technology, covering topics such as agricultural procurement, pesticide labeling, vehicle financial protection products, proxy advisory services, financial exploitation, status offenses, firearms liability protections, school administrator salaries, sick leave, school safety, and data privacy. The chamber then considered House Bill 468 on civil rights. The bill would update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to align the definition of disability with the federal ADA, and it would remove the Kentucky Human Rights Commission’s adjudicative powers over employment and public accommodations disputes while preserving investigative functions. House Floor Amendment 1 was adopted; it removed language barring attorney’s fees, preserved local commissions’ investigative powers, authorized local commissions and private plaintiffs to file civil actions in circuit court, and extended the probable-cause determination period from 30 to 180 days. The bill, as amended, passed 72-22. House Bill 757, the session’s revenue bill, was then debated. Its sponsor described provisions including moratoriums on certain local school district taxes, Internal Revenue Code conformity, new taxes on data brokering, fantasy contests, and predictive markets, EV charging station inspection fees, elimination of some tax expenditures, Department of Revenue cleanup provisions, and process changes for inheritance tax, property tax delinquencies, and other measures. Members raised concerns that the bill would limit local school boards’ taxing options and could affect bonding and school construction; the sponsor said TIF-related provisions would sunset future participation, not existing projects, and that the bill had been developed with agency input. House Bill 757 passed 69-18. The House also passed House Bill 727, creating the Kentucky Education Placement Service System for teacher applicants and district job postings, by a vote of 94-0. The chamber then took up House Bill 776, a modernization of the Dental Practice Act, with changes to board authority, licensure renewal, hygienist and assistant rules, and telehealth standards; the sponsor noted an ownership-related issue and presented House Floor Amendment 1 for consideration, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that amendment and the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• and for incorporating the amendment that was discussed with stakeholders in the Senate late last session
• is one of a number of meaningful, practical proposals we are asking the committee to support this session
• and for incorporating the amendment that was discussed with stakeholders in the Senate late last session
• is one of a number of meaningful, practical proposals we are asking the committee to support this session
• is one of a number of meaningful, practical proposals we are asking the committee to support this session

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 2614 was heard with a delete-everything amendment adopted at the outset. The bill, as explained by the authors, would prevent local governments from requiring amenities or common property that effectively force the creation of a homeowners association, while still allowing developers to create HOAs voluntarily when needed. The authors said the language was negotiated with stakeholders, including the League of Minnesota Cities, and was intended to be moved on to the Housing Committee for further discussion. Supportive testimony came from Housing First Minnesota and the Minnesota Homeownership Center. They argued that unnecessary HOA mandates can raise housing costs, reduce homebuyer choice, and shift public infrastructure costs onto homeowners through dues in addition to property taxes. Testifiers cited examples involving single-family developments, a Burnsville case involving a large roof assessment and disputed ACH withdrawal, and the Heritage Park development in Minneapolis, where an HOA was required but later became difficult to dissolve. They said the bill would preserve HOAs where they are genuinely needed, such as townhomes or shared-amenity developments. Members raised questions about the removal of county-specific language in the amendment, the meaning of the bill’s references to services and common property, and whether the bill would still allow neighborhood signs or other developer-requested features. A major point of concern was stormwater ponds and drainage infrastructure: one member argued that prohibiting cities from requiring HOA maintenance of such facilities could shift costs to taxpayers, while the authors responded that the bill was meant to stop cities from mandating discretionary amenities and that maintenance issues had been partly addressed in the amendment. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, but the amendment was adopted and the bill was discussed for referral onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We welcome today, on day 35 of this legislative session, all of our viewers that are watching us from
• Um, every session people ask us what our priority is going to be.
• I know that we're halfway through the session and, again, we all have our priorities.
• So from those listening sessions and survey, one message has come through clearly.
• <01:02:46.560> and So from those listening sessions and So from those listening sessions and

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and excused absent members. The chamber received second readings of several bills and resolutions, including measures on ad valorem taxes, planning and zoning, tax-dollar restrictions, provisional medical licensing, Medicaid oversight, environmental regulations, municipal financial reporting, nuclear workforce development, and county law libraries. Committee reports advanced bills on economic development, education, judiciary, and veterans/public protection, and the body also received a list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics such as rural revitalization, athletics, SNAP eligibility, diaper tax exemption, domestic violence, middle school math, pedestrian bridges, constitutional amendments, education, and several honorary resolutions. The Senate then took up House Bill 314, which would reorganize the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (Kentucky Wired) by moving it under the Commonwealth Office of Technology, restructuring its board, and adding members representing cities and counties. Supporters said the bill was an administrative change, not a funding measure, intended to focus the network on students, teachers, and public users while awaiting an audit. Critics argued the project has been a costly taxpayer burden and called for stronger oversight. The bill passed final passage 32-6. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 157, which aligns Kentucky law with federal mortgage rules so that certain rate buy-down payments do not count against borrower fee caps, with supporters saying it would help housing affordability and reduce costs for borrowers. Senate Bill 214 also passed unanimously; it allows the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to accept non-federal funding for grants without routing those funds through the Department of Finance. The Senate later adopted several resolutions, including Senate Resolution 61 recognizing Links Incorporated Day, Senate Resolution 114 commemorating the 80th Southern Legislative Conference, and Senate Resolution 118 honoring Joseph H. Mattingly Jr. Additional remarks highlighted a Black History Celebration event and a lengthy floor speech criticizing the Kentucky Hospital Association’s reserves and urging investigation, followed by consideration of Senate Resolution 55 on Profound Autism Day in Kentucky.

Transcript Highlights:

• about that in executive session. about that in executive session. Okay. Okay. Okay.
• We are in executive session, and we'll talk about 495. >> Right to start.
• session.
• collective session. collective session.
• <01:42:53.360> All collective session. I'll second it. All collective session.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That from the legislative session was a fire department equipment database.
• I didn't think, um, we would get everything we wanted in one session. Nobody ever does.
• All these people work together based on the work this committee did last session.
• call special session was require.
• Um, one, our legislative appropriation request this past session was for 369 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• And are we better prepared as a state after the legislative session went through?
• Item we had from the legislative session was a fire department equipment database.
• You've appeared several times before our committee during the sessions.
• Our legislative appropriation request this past session was for $369 million.
• We had a bad one in Fredericksburg at the beginning of the last session.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we've seen a couple of bills this session. Chair calls. Streamlining it, making it work.
• I think we've seen a couple of bills this session. Chair calls Ezekiel Zeke Silva, Dr.
• This is a cleanup bill from itemized billing last session.
• We've heard many of these this session.
• We've heard many of these this session.

Bills: HB163, HB216, HB721, HB2035, HB2038, HB3057, HB3153, HB3233, HB3595, HB3801, HB3812, HB4076, HB4129, HB4377, HB4535, HB4666, HB4730, HB4743, HB4903, HB5149, HB5155, HB1534

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, then established a quorum with five members present. Members heard and left pending several House bills, including HB 4743 on allowing hospitals to license mobile stroke units under a hospital license, HB 4129 on earlier DFPS enforcement tools for single-source continuum contractors in community-based foster care, HB 4903 creating a Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to coordinate child care regulations across state agencies, HB 3812 revising the gold card/prior authorization process for physicians, HB 4535 requiring written informed consent before COVID-19 vaccination and a standardized state information sheet, and HB 4666 reducing the frequency of some HHSC reports to the legislature. The chair also noted HB 35 would be voted on later after a subcommittee back was received, and that a large number of bills would be heard the next day. Most of the testimony focused on HB 4535 and HB 4730. On HB 4535, supporters argued the bill would strengthen informed consent for COVID vaccination by requiring written consent and clearer state-level information about risks, manufacturer liability protections, and adverse-event reporting; opponents, including a pediatrician and medical groups, said existing federal and state informed-consent materials already cover these topics and warned the bill could create duplicative paperwork and penalties. On HB 3812, the Texas Medical Association supported changes that would extend the gold-card evaluation period to one year, raise transparency, and make prior authorization exemptions easier to administer, while health plans said they were neutral and viewed the bill as a balance between reducing burden and preventing fraud or unsafe care. HB 4730 drew extensive testimony from adoption professionals, birth mothers, adoptive parents, and child welfare advocates. The bill would require DFPS to create a relinquishment form, train child-placing agency staff, and extend the minimum waiting period for voluntary relinquishment from 48 hours to seven days. Supporters of the current law argued the 48-hour period aligns with hospital discharge, allows informed decisions, and helps birth parents and adoptive families begin healing and bonding without pushing children into foster care or creating legal and Medicaid complications. The author said the bill would be revised and that the seven-day provision was a work in progress. No votes were taken on the bills during the meeting; each bill was left pending after public testimony closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to get started with an exact session, but first a pledge of allegiance.
• up, I want to open up the exact session up, I want to open up the exact session on<00:12:40.399>
• The chair reopened the executive session on SP 170.
• like we discussed in the earlier session like we discussed in the earlier session today<01:38:51.119
• That may be during a session day or it may not be.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may remember we started giving an overview during session, and we got cut short for some voting items
• And so the first of those, Significant discussions, particularly two sessions ago.
• the screen, presenting the final version of the... ...session.
• It was created last year during this session, and I’ve been here about 10 months.
• But we were established in Act 389 in the 2025 session.”

Summary: The committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or other action items. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black gave an update on the department’s transformation efforts, focusing on faster project delivery, improved construction administration, and new technology. They said monthly contractor payment approvals have been reduced from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, change orders from about 40-45 days to around five days, and that DOTD delivered 86% of its advertised projects in the last fiscal year. They also described new tools such as Headlight for field inspections, Smart PM for schedule tracking, Hall Hub for e-ticketing and work-zone mapping, and a pilot using advanced sensors on district vehicles to identify potholes, guardrail damage, and other asset issues. The department also outlined a district reorganization that replaces the area engineer model with dedicated district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, with no increase in total staff. Members raised concerns about local maintenance issues, especially mowing, drainage, culverts, potholes, and communication with district offices. Several members asked for clearer coordination on jurisdictional questions, more frequent meetings with district administrators, and better public updates on long-running projects. LaD said DOTD would schedule follow-up meetings, use the coming customer service portal to track complaints, and improve public communication through project information officers, social media, and other outreach. Questions also covered contractor accountability, utility relocations, road transfer maps on the DOTD website, and whether maintenance work adjacent to capital projects should be handled by district crews or through new IDIQ contracts. The secretary also reviewed the Highway Priority Program process, saying DOTD will work between June and September to review projects not included in the prior program, explain why, and refine a five-year fiscally constrained plan before the fall road show. He said the department is using IDIQ authority to award bridge maintenance and other task-order work, and that this should help address a two-year bridge repair backlog. Members discussed whether current funding levels are enough to reduce the statewide backlog, and DOTD said the current program likely maintains rather than eliminates it absent new revenue. The hearing ended with a project-specific update that a barge struck the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge that morning, causing significant damage; DOTD said divers and staff would inspect it and determine emergency repairs. After DOTD’s presentation, Archie Chesson of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction gave a brief update on that office’s first year, describing its use of consultant pools, master service agreements, a public GIS map, and a data tool to prioritize rural road and bridge projects, with several early projects already completed or under construction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also looking for positive consideration for this bill this session.
• As I said before, it was a late file last session. This is a new bill this session.
• It’s a refile, and it’s been supported in the past two sessions.
• we're hoping to It's refile and it's been supported in the past two sessions.
• after session and, frankly, are going nowhere.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on a wide range of state, probate, and family bills, with chairs Edwards and Day outlining strict testimony limits and accepting written testimony. Early testimony focused on H. 1911/S. 1138, which would clarify that a durable power of attorney may create a trust if that authority is expressly granted; sponsors and elder law advocates said the bill would resolve uncertainty created by the Barbetti decision and align Massachusetts with other states. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1102, a proposal to establish medical panels in Probate and Family Court. Supporters, including attorneys, parents, physicians, and advocates, said neutral three-doctor panels would help judges resolve disputed medical issues in guardianship and custody cases involving children, elders, and people with disabilities. Testifiers described cases where medical treatment was blocked or contested by one parent or guardian, arguing the panels would provide impartial expertise and protect vulnerable people. The committee also heard support for bills addressing disability discrimination in family court, military parents’ custody rights, and a shared parenting bill, H. 1710, which drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and others who said a 50-50 presumption could harm survivors and children. The committee also took testimony on several probate and court-administration measures. Senator Lovely supported a bill on nominee trust partition, and Senator Comerford and probate officials backed legislation to codify additional registry staff positions and modernize registry operations. Other bills discussed included foster care liability insurance, with providers warning that rising premiums and loss of coverage could force program closures; health care proxy storage and activation; access to decedents’ email accounts; uniform trust decanting; the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act; heirs’ property partition protections; a constitutional right to health care; alimony-related reforms; child-centered family law; and a right of disposition for funeral arrangements. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And here we are in the third day of session only, the third day.
• the third day of session the third day of session only,<00:14:29.959> only<00:14:30.240><
• , who were here during the last session, who were here during the last session, where<00:16:06.160
• You will remember that on the last day of session, I clearly stood up on this floor and said we don't
• , I clearly stood up on this of session, I clearly stood up on this floor<00:18:36.120> and<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord, as we begin day 14 of this legislative session, we pray for all those who have been impacted by
• you to bless every member of this House, including the Speaker Osborne, leadership, staff, LRC, and session
• We are reminded that God session staff.
• <01:17:17.920> This<01:17:18.560> session the process fairly quickly.
• This session the process fairly quickly.

Keywords: Convene 00:00:00 Senate Message 00:04:59 Orders of the Day 00:06:19 Recess 00:06:38 Reconvene 01:11:12 HB 306 01:11:42 HB 34 01:14:19 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 01:16:25 Rep. Petrie Statements on Budget 01:16:42 Motions, Petitions, and Communications continued 01:23:50 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 01:36:28 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 01:38:52 ConC/Rules Report 01:45:18 Floor Amendments 01:46:21 Adjournment 01:46:32, 958, all

Summary: The House convened on the 14th legislative day after winter weather closures, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 27, 30, 40, and 76 and requested concurrence. The chamber also suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and later recessed briefly for caucus and for meetings of the committee on committees and the rules committee. Two bills were taken up and passed on the floor. House Bill 306, relating to criminal trespass, was explained as a workplace-safety measure that would define disruptive or threatening behavior in workplaces and increase penalties for repeat offenses; it passed 83-7. House Bill 34, relating to death benefits, was described as expanding recognized cancers for fire service-related benefits; it passed 92-0. After passage of HB 34, a motion for a clincher was adopted without objection. During announcements, a member from Todd outlined the newly filed branch budget bills and said the executive budget would be a scaled-back, “bare-bones” operational budget focused on restraining spending growth and inviting more public review through budget subcommittees. The House also adopted a citation honoring Notre Dame Academy and Catholic Schools Week, heard an announcement about hearing screenings by the Kentucky Academy of Audiology, and received a lengthy floor speech marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day before adopting House Resolution 30 without objection. At the end of the session, new bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on lactation consultation, Medicaid waivers, a child tax credit, postsecondary employment, long-term care, court security officers, prisoner monitoring devices, administrative regulations, the state budget, transportation, legislative and judicial appropriations, stalking, and memorial overpasses. The committee on committees referred several bills to standing committees, the rules committee posted House Bills 56, 214, 281, and 366 for the next day, a floor amendment to House Bill 320 was reported, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anderson might be appropriate to answer that question when he comes up later in the session.
• So we were here in front of this committee prior to legislative session.
• We see what happens through legislative session with some of these recommendations.
• We're certainly available during session if you have any questions about them.
• This was a very, very informative work session.

Summary: The committee heard a series of presentations on comprehensive plan updates, permitting reform, special purpose district coordination, and subdivision reform. Pierce County and the City of Redmond described their recent comprehensive plan updates, emphasizing housing production, transit-oriented development, middle housing, preservation of affordable housing, and the need for technical assistance and clearer state guidance. Both jurisdictions said the planning process took years and was complicated by overlapping state requirements, changing legislative mandates, and multiple review authorities. Redmond in particular said mid-course legislative changes forced supplemental environmental review and added significant cost and delay, and both local governments asked for more stability, clearer statutes, and better-aligned timelines. Presenters from the architecture, building official, and development sectors focused on permitting delays and proposed ways to speed housing delivery. Dave Boucher of AIA Washington argued for a provisional construction permit process for projects stamped by licensed professionals, along with mandatory deadlines and fewer stalled review cycles. Tim Woodard of WABO described existing tools such as pre-application meetings and phased approvals, noting they can improve certainty but also require staff time and careful coordination. Representatives from Master Builders and D.R. Horton said permit and subdivision delays add substantial cost to housing, citing studies showing months of delay and tens of thousands of dollars added per home, and urged administrative approvals, concurrent review, self-certification, and limits on repeated review cycles. The committee also reviewed a Commerce-led task force report on integrating special purpose districts into Growth Management Act planning. The task force recommended early invitation and notice to water, sewer, school, port, and other service providers during countywide planning policy and comprehensive plan updates, better coordination on grants and capital projects, updated water system coordination plans, and improved school siting and funding alignment in fast-growing areas. Speakers stressed that the recommendations were intended to be light-touch and focused on better communication rather than major statutory overhaul, while also noting that rural and slow-growing areas should not be burdened with the same requirements as rapidly growing jurisdictions. On subdivision reform, FutureWise and the City of Spokane discussed making more subdivision decisions administrative, preserving vesting, clarifying exemptions, and reducing unnecessary notice and appeal steps. Spokane described local reforms such as smaller minimum lot sizes, unit lot subdivisions, and reduced-process “minor engineering review” for simple plats, while raising concerns about new notice requirements and appeals to city councils for technical plat decisions. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the theme that local governments, builders, and state agencies need clearer, more coordinated rules to reduce delay and uncertainty while still protecting safety and planning goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought it would be useful for us to take a look back at what we did this last session.
• We can take action in a 30-day session, and I hope we do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• We don't have this opportunity during the session.
• Better note: the next meeting will be post-special session.
• I don't know what to expect from the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• joining us on Tuesday, June 24th, for the Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee work session
• So today we have work sessions on two topics: an overview of technology issues, especially the use of
• And I don't think I have to do anything more for a work session.
• For you to consider for the 2026 legislative session.
• Thank you for the great work session. Really appreciated it.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on technology in government, AI, broadband, and digital equity. Seattle CTO Rob Lloyd described the city’s AI strategy, emphasizing responsible use, privacy, security, community input, and data strategy. He said Seattle is using small pilots and partnerships to test AI for tasks such as public records processing, infrastructure inspection, and permitting, while keeping humans as the final decision-makers. Members asked about bias, liability, training on best practices, labor involvement, and public records; Lloyd said AI should remain an assistant tool, not a replacement for human judgment, and that Seattle is still testing solutions for records requests and permitting. WATech CTO Nick Stow and Deputy Director Mark Quimby discussed the state’s broader AI policy, the generative AI executive order, a sandbox with more than 15 agencies, and use cases including a resident portal, cybersecurity, and wildfire detection. They stressed consent, closed systems, human-centered design, and the need to govern all forms of AI, not just generative AI. Committee members raised concerns about federal data access, labor issues, and wildfire detection effectiveness. Spokane County IT staff described a more restrictive approach to AI, citing privacy, bias, and cyber risks. The county standardized on Microsoft Copilot as its only approved chat-style AI tool, blocked other AI chat platforms, and requires human review of all AI-generated content. They said AI is also being used by criminals for phishing and deepfakes, underscoring the need for strong policy and security controls. The committee also received an update from the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Yuki Ishizuka said the task force has 19 members and eight subcommittees covering ethics, consumer protection, labor, health care, public safety, education, government efficiency, cybersecurity, and industry/energy. The task force is working toward an interim report due December 1, 2025 and a final report due July 1, 2026, and is reviewing recommendations through public forums and advisory committees. Ishizuka warned that a federal budget reconciliation provision could bar states from enforcing AI regulations for 10 years, and several members voiced support for state authority and asked about possible 2026 legislation. The committee then heard updates on broadband and digital equity. Commerce’s Dave Pringle said the BEAD broadband program is being reshaped by new NTIA guidance, which removed or reduced emphasis on several prior priorities, and Washington is now working under an expedited process to submit its state application by September 4. He noted that no projects have been built yet, that four counties did not receive applications in round two, and that the state is trying to keep applicants engaged through office hours and a shortened review window. The Office of Equity and the Digital Equity Forum reported increased participation, new members, and ongoing outreach to tribal, rural, and underserved communities, while previewing recommendations such as creating an interdepartmental digital equity team and improving data use. Finally, Lumen’s Robert Thoms described private-sector broadband deployment challenges, including permitting, regulation, and the economics of extending fiber, while noting continued investment in overbuild projects, a $30 low-cost service option tied to the former ACP, and work with the state, tribes, and libraries. No votes were taken; the meeting consisted of presentations and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they got to walk last session, or in the sunset day. We had.
• And they got a walk last session, or in the sunset day. I don't know how they did it. I don't know.
• after session, thinking when we see a problem, we can just regulate it.
• And this session, we will end it. This bill is the final nail? No, not the final.
• Following the previous legislative session, Senate Bill 2040 was enacted into law.

Bills: SB1406, SB1681, SB2480, SB2721

Keywords: body donation, medical science, forensic science, willed body program, informed consent, boarding home, boarding home facility, adult care home, group home, assisted living, county reporting, municipal reporting, annual report, reasonable accommodation, fair housing, disability accommodation, local ordinance, permit requirement, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2480, which would clarify that the Texas Medical Board may collect license renewal surcharge fees from all licensees to fund the Texas Physician Health Program and related administrative costs. The bill author explained the funding fix was needed after prior language was found to allow surcharges only for physicians and physician assistants. Witnesses from the Texas Physician Health Program supported the measure and described the program’s confidential monitoring and treatment services; members asked about the fee amount, which was described as capped at $15 per two-year registration cycle. The bill was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bills 1406 and 2721, both authored by Senator Parker, addressing the handling of human remains by non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, willed body programs, and related facilities. Senator Parker and several witnesses described alleged abuses involving unclaimed bodies, consent problems, body leasing, hotel-based dissections, and mishandling of cremains, and argued for strict licensing, inspections, transparency, and criminal penalties. Supporters included families of deceased veterans and other relatives, a biomedical ethicist, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, and some public safety and hotel industry representatives who said legitimate training should continue but bad actors should be shut down. Opponents or cautious witnesses from accredited donation organizations and bioskills labs said they support stronger oversight but warned the bills could unintentionally disrupt legitimate medical education and urged clearer language and implementation of existing law. Both bills were left pending. Senate Bill 1681, by Senator Menendez, would require counties and municipalities that regulate boarding homes to report facility standards and related information to the Health and Human Services Commission. The author said the bill is intended to improve state oversight of boarding homes that serve elderly and disabled residents and to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill was left pending after brief discussion. After the testimony portion, the committee returned to voting on pending business and unanimously reported Senate Bills 527, 912, 1580, 1952, and 2032 to the Senate with recommendations that they do pass and be printed, and each was also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 407 and reported the substitute favorably, with six ayes and three nays. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 500 as pending business.