Transcript Highlights:

• Any treatment recommended must be provided by DJJ and may be provided via contract. health issues.
• So that contract will become fully effective September the 17th.
• Uh so that tenants of that contract.
• 00:54:42.160> effective contract will become fully effective contract will become fully effective
• take a look at whether we can contract take a look at whether we can contract that<01:21:29.040>

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:03 Roll Call: 00:00:09 Agency Updates: 00:01:44 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board Update: 00:03:36 Department of Juvenile Justice Update: 00:23:10, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council approved the minutes from its November 8, 2024 meeting and welcomed new member Representative Nick Wilson. The council also heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on a school attendance awareness campaign aimed at reducing truancy referrals to court, and a member requested a future, more detailed presentation on truancy trends. The council then received an update from the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board from Dr. David Frink and Elsie Berger. They described the board’s membership, meeting schedule, public access, annual report and three-year plan, and its role in helping Kentucky remain compliant with federal juvenile justice requirements so the state can receive Title II funding. They said the board reviews grant applications for community-based services, substance use, and early intervention programs, with about $584,000 in federal funds this year and a little over $600,000 expected next year. Members asked about participation, board vacancies, and how to engage with the board, and the presenters emphasized the importance of statewide representation and community input. The Department of Juvenile Justice then provided a broader update through Commissioner Randy White and Deputy Secretary Mona Wamik. White said DJJ is under an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation focused on conditions in detention facilities, including use of force, isolation, abuse, mental health care, and special education, and said the department has cooperated with repeated information requests and site visits. He also reviewed recent legislative and administrative changes, including 2023 Senate Bill 162, regional detention planning, facility segregation requirements, staffing and salary investments, improved staffing levels, reduced mental health vacancies, and training efforts related to security threat groups. He said DJJ has made progress but continues to work on staffing, safety, and facility improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Counselors and social workers failed to even ask, who did I stay with?
• Job order contracting is one of several alternative methods for awarding construction-related contracts
• While most construction contracts are for major modernization of schools, job order contracts relate
• into a single master contract.
• WECA supports job order contracting.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the department to to deal with contracts the department to to deal with contracts to<01:41:22.639
• <01:43:31.040> contract<01:43:31.600> managers and contract contract managers and contract
• <01:48:22.880> relating island where we saw contracts relating island where we saw contracts
• <01:55:32.159> be reason after you hire state workers be reason after you hire state workers
• Contract them all and hire them all out. Contract them all out. out. out.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had three potential buyers for the paper, and in fact, the labor union that represents the workers
• It's true that, you know, I remember as a child when my dad was a logger and getting contracts with the
• This is a moment where we need to speak up for those forests and for those workers who are unfortunately
• I support this bill as a wife of a federal worker, and I like the language of the bill.
• I think where some see rhetoric, the rest of us see fact: 3,400 federal workers that manage our forests

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved routine procedural motions, and recognized several guest groups, including First Five California, a fourth-grade class from Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, visitors from Modoc and Lassen counties, and representatives from the Port of Long Beach. The chamber then moved through second reading and concurrence items, with most bills and resolutions being read, deemed adopted, or passed on file without debate. The main floor action centered on ACR 39, designating May 2025 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month. Assembly Member Ramos and many caucus members spoke in strong support, describing the crisis as a state of emergency and emphasizing violence against Native women, girls, and two-spirit people, the need for better data collection, agency coordination, tribal sovereignty, and continued action beyond symbolic recognition. The resolution passed concurrence with 67 ayes and 0 noes. The Assembly also passed a series of bills on topics including classified school employee pay stubs (AB 374), allowing voucher preferences in housing (AB 282), authorizing nurse practitioners to sign death certificates (AB 583), student health insurance protections (AB 594), local housing pre-approval programs (AB 1206), veterans education program administration (AB 1509), expanding the Family Urgent Response System (AB 898), Star Wars Day (H.R. 33), local news sale notice requirements (AB 611), mask-wearing protections in public spaces (AB 1326), a Chula Vista university land-use measure (AB 76), undercover officer record protections (AB 1178), and preservation of Clover Valley in Rocklin (AB 1152). Most passed with broad support, though AB 282 and AB 611 drew some opposition. A major debate occurred on AJR 10, which urged the President to reverse cuts to the U.S. Forest Service. Members from both parties discussed wildfire prevention, forest health, staffing, and federal-state responsibility, with some criticizing the administration and others emphasizing forest management and the need for bipartisan cooperation. The resolution was adopted after a co-author roll and final roll vote of 67 ayes and 0 noes. The chamber then adopted the second-day consent calendar, heard an adjournment in memory for Giovanni “Johnny” of East Side Italian Deli, and adjourned until Monday, May 12, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our commitment stems from a deep concern over both the safety for drivers and our workers on Minnesota
• <00:41:54.599> on<00:41:54.760> Minnesota drivers and our workers on Minnesota drivers
• and our workers on Minnesota roads<00:41:56.920> it<00:41:57.040> was<00:41:57.240>
• my perspective up here and talked about my perspective as<01:02:17.720> a<01:02:17.920> worker
• but really um this is an as a worker but really um this is an important<01:02:21.599> issue<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, workers can only access money they have already earned.
• dependence where workers pay fee after fee just to stay afloat.
• If a withdrawal causes an overdraft, the worker is left holding the bill.
• Do you, like, contract with a grocery store or contract with a sporting goods store to, like, bring my
• contract?

Bills: HB2118, HB2181, HB2308, HB2309, HB2402, HB2476, HB2682, HB2698, HB2875, HB2877, HB2903, HB2910

Keywords: mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, HB2181, death certificate, death certificates, vital records, funeral establishment, funeral home, human remains, medical certification of death, death registration, state registrar, local registrar, county medical examiner, alternate medical examiner

Transcript Highlights:

• Do they not provide some kind of contract?
• There is not a standard contract that every county has. uh, they may have something that is done for
• Especially you coming from being a first line worker. I mean, we know how dangerous that work is.
• It takes everyone involved to ensure the safety of our underground infrastructure and our workers.
• Most of the time, the boring contracts that are doing it.

Bills: HB206

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the son of an oil field worker and a schoolteacher.
• ... ...or allegations against companies that they have breached a contract.
• are not local workers.
• Senate Bill 2584 by Schwertner, relating to the regulation of service contracts and service contract
• Senate Bill 2584 by Schwertner, relating to the regulation of service contracts and service contract

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with remarks highlighting UTRGV’s growth, degree production, research expansion, medical school, and role in serving the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The chamber also recognized the doctor of the day and adopted additional resolutions, including one for Denton County Days at the Capitol and another recognizing Texas HBCU Day. The Senate gave extensive recognition to outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp through Senate Resolution 368. Senators from both parties praised his long public career, leadership of the A&M System, support for regional universities, and bipartisan approach. The resolution was adopted after multiple members added their names. The chamber also heard from advocates with the Texas Streets Coalition, and received gubernatorial nominations for the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. On legislation, the Senate passed several major bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to address teacher vacancies, bilingual certification testing, paid leave options, classroom removals, and appeal rights, then passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment on parents’ right to direct a child’s education, advanced on a 22-9 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, aimed at preventing foreign influence and intellectual property theft at public institutions of higher education, passed unanimously. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the business entities bill, also passed after debate over corporate governance and shareholder protections. Senate Bill 857, authorizing law enforcement to tow certain vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed despite some concern about towing abuses during disasters. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536 on dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, but the transcript ends as that bill is being laid out.

Transcript Highlights:

• That represent workers within the state agency.
• But if we are talking about engineers, or attorneys, or nurses, or social workers, right?
• Workers, right?
• With their job, school work, boss, co-workers, or peers.
• The coalition has a contract, and we have grant funding to contract with those mentors. Of course.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, do they appreciate contracts? No, they don't.
• , the local contracts.
• <00:06:50.880> How<00:06:51.039> do contracts, the local contracts.
• How do contracts, the local contracts.
• local contracts? local contracts?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've also lost some DOT workers, so it's something we definitely support.
• We've got some contracts already in place. Some contracts were in the negotiation phase.
• Some contracts were in the negotiation phase.
• We have our vendors already selected, and we've already entered into contracts with those vendors.
• the funds to that, so I think all these kind of fall into... ...contract basis, but we already have

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• some of those contracts where we do some certain site investigations.
• If the sites are smaller and it's a small cleanup, we have a contract for removal or remedial actions
• , or if it's a more complex site, we issue a site-specific contract, assuming we have the budget.

Bills: HB27, HB143, HB205, HB308, HB311, HB417, HB430, HB562, HB812, HB1129

Keywords: inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, insurance premiums, Municipal Fire and Police, dedicated fund, assessments, Louisiana legislation, hazardous waste, cleanup fund, environmental protection, state treasury, Consumer Price Index, law enforcement, firefighters, health insurance, survivors benefits, Lafayette

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• some of those contracts where we do some certain site investigations.
• If the sites are smaller and it's a small cleanup, we have a contract for removal or remedial actions
• or if it's a more complex site, we issue a site-specific contract, assuming we have the budget.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on May 13, 2026, and reported several bills favorable. HB 27 was approved after testimony that it would delete a constitutional sentence requiring debt payments to be applied to the oldest outstanding amortization, giving retirement boards more flexibility to pay off the most advantageous debt. HB 143 was supported by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association and local law enforcement representatives to raise the statutory per diem for housing state inmates in local facilities from $26.39 to match the current $29.39 rate already being paid in practice. HB 205 drew extensive testimony from clerks of court and election officials who said election commissioners have not had a pay increase in 19 years and are struggling to staff precincts, especially under the new closed party primary system; the bill would let local governing bodies enhance commissioner pay as a stopgap, and it was reported favorable despite concerns that it does not fully solve the staffing problem. The committee also approved HB 308, which would require state stadium and arena facilities to accept cash for smaller transactions or provide a kiosk to convert cash to a prepaid card without extra fee. HB 417 was reported favorable to increase the cap on the hazardous waste site cleanup fund from $6 million to $8 million and tie it to inflation; DEQ staff explained the fund helps pay for Superfund matches and cleanup of abandoned or bankrupt hazardous waste sites, and the increase would not affect the state general fund. HB 12, supported by the Louisiana Assessor Association, would provide 5% annual salary equalization increases for assessors through 2029, with local opt-in and no state general fund impact; members discussed the recurring pay parity issue with clerks of court and the possibility of a study resolution to address future adjustments more systematically, and the bill was reported favorable. Representative Kerner announced HB 311 would be deferred after concerns it could amount to a tax increase. HB 1129, supported by the Louisiana Auctioneers Association, was amended to clarify that the state’s movable-property auctions include internet auctions and to give Louisiana auctioneers preference to bid on those contracts; it was then reported favorable. HB 562, which would update transcript fees for the 19th Judicial District Court, prompted concerns about higher costs for litigants and due process implications, and the committee agreed to defer it to the next meeting for further discussion. The meeting ended with adjournment after brief recognition of visiting cattle industry representatives.

Transcript Highlights:

• unit would amend our existing contract unit would amend our existing contract with<01:27:14.600>
• <01:27:22.119> which of the work into their contract which of the work into their contract
• and staff up to manage those contracts and staff up to manage those contracts<01:34:53.760> we
• Hampshire were to impose worker Hampshire were to impose worker requirements<04:28:22.800> I<
• appropriate it's within our contracts appropriate it's within our contracts that<04:36:03.879>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and then finally, um, contracting with providers is more expensive.
• Uh, and then finally, um, contracting with providers is more expensive.
• Uh, and then finally, um, contracting with providers is more expensive.
• Uh, and then finally, um, contracting with providers is more expensive.
• <01:34:51.199> in were very worried about contractions in were very worried about contractions

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To maintenance crews, security officers, food service workers, and many more.
• So announcements for today: it is Border Development Day, New Mexico Mesa Day, Workers Day, and Luna
• Castilian is under contract with the Army and the Navy, and hopefully soon the Air Force, to close and
• to eight years, and providing for prepayment of certain child care assistance service contracts.
• Child care assistance service contracts. Respectfully yours, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• jobs more companies looking for workers jobs more companies looking for workers than<00:58:07.799
• taking you know highly skilled workers taking you know highly skilled workers out<01:33:30.239><
• because they don't have the housing to supply that for the workers?
• that for the workers?
• <04:22:31.119> meaning the number of unemployed workers meaning the number of unemployed workers

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• And not a place that is ideal for the training of the 70% of the future workers.
• And not a place that is ideal for the training of the 70% of the future workers.
• I am quite grateful workers. for that.
• contract with each of the three parties. contract with each of the three parties.
• Do you contracts and things like that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:16.320> so<00:32:16.480> the students and dislocated workers so the students
• and dislocated workers so the program<00:32:17.000> offers<00:32:17.440> access<00:32:
• state system and dislocated worker state system and dislocated worker program<00:32:34.360> enrolling
• We know from years of data that students and workers who cannot pass or do well on such exams without
• Young people are referred by social workers, therapists, teachers, and other professionals.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, yes, that worker would basically self-report and acknowledge.
• They have a contract for five years of races.
• These changes ensure that utility workers receive. Telecommunications and pipelines.
• It maintains the enhanced penalties for the assault or harassment of a utility worker.
• Two years for most torts, well, four years for breach of contract.

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, prayer, approval of the previous journal, and messages from the House, then moved through several recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the Texas chapters of Blue Star Mothers of America, Fine Arts Education Day, Donate Life Texas Day, Baha’i Capitol Day, County Government Day, Jack County Day, Crockett County Day, and a recognition of Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanik for service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The chamber also heard remarks from visiting doctors, students, county officials, and community groups, with multiple senators speaking in support of military families, arts education, organ donation, and local government service. The Senate then took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2779, relating to the allocation and use of certain hotel occupancy tax revenues. Senator Birdwell said the bill would stop local governments from conditioning HOT funds on race- or class-based priorities and would require Galveston to transfer the full state rebate for beach cleaning and maintenance to its park board. After questions, the Senate suspended the rules, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed it, though the final vote showed significant opposition. The chamber also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2322, described as a cleanup bill removing the compelling-factor test for dispatchable generation from the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. A major debate centered on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2253, which would phase out uncertified teachers in core classrooms and strengthen educator certification requirements. Senator Creighton argued the bill responds to a teacher pipeline crisis, adds parent notification, creates multiple preparation pathways, and provides financial incentives for certification; Senator West and Senator Sparks pressed for rural flexibility and implementation details. An amendment from Senator Gutierrez to add a teacher student-loan repayment program failed on a 11-17 vote, while other technical and fiscal amendments were adopted. The bill then passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2371, updating skimmer-reporting rules to cover electronic terminals beyond fuel pumps, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2351, relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit. Senate Bill 619, a conscience-protection bill for health care workers, drew extended questioning from Senators Cook, Eckhardt, and Menendez about patient abandonment, scope, and whether it could allow refusals of legal services such as vaccines, antibiotics, contraception, or personal care; despite those concerns, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment. Finally, the chamber began consideration of Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1169, which would allow public entities to form public utility agencies to cooperate on water and wastewater projects without eminent domain or cross-collateralization, with Senator Hinojosa explaining it as a tool for small and rural communities facing utility infrastructure problems.