Transcript Highlights:

• and accounting for the state's money, estimating the state's revenue, and managing the state's purchasing
• They have to fit under our FTE cap and so sometimes that allows us the flexibility to move quickly on
• So that would give the agency additional flexibility to deal with that because the issue is that any
• I call it loss in purchase power of approximately 45%, setting aside any political discussions... about
• ... to help retirees, shall we say, recover from that loss, a significant loss, almost... 50% in purchase

Transcript Highlights:

• and accounting for the state's money, estimating the state's revenue, and managing the state's purchasing
• FTE cap, and so sometimes that allows us the flexibility to move quickly on the implementation of new
• So that would give the agency additional flexibility to deal with that.
• artists from all over the state and hundreds of tourists like myself from out of town not only to purchase
• I call it loss in purchase power of approximately 45%.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's only to purchase state... No, it doesn't go to the historical sites.
• and restrict the use of the $146,400 appropriated for exceptional item 5 for the sole purpose of purchasing
• and restrict the use of the $146,400 appropriated for exceptional item 5 for the sole purpose of purchasing
• To provide flexible reporting and data analysis capabilities to allow focused outreach to all our Texas
• To provide flexible reporting and data analysis capabilities to allow focused outreach to all our Texas

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:29:02.280> that<00:29:02.440> can<00:29:02.560> deliver<00:29:03.280> flexible
• relief program that can deliver flexible relief program that can deliver flexible responsive<00:
• Third, many local restaurants, including those that purchase from local farmers, have felt the impacts
• c><00:41:30.640> from<00:41:30.800> local<00:41:31.080> farmers, those that purchase
• from local farmers, those that purchase from local farmers, have<00:41:31.680> felt<00:41:31.880

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held a hearing on the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Testifiers described broad effects on cities, small businesses, workers, and schools, and several speakers voiced support for House File 4477, which would create a targeted state relief program for affected businesses and communities. Metro Cities said member cities reported unexpected burdens on public safety, public works, emergency management, and other local services, and its board adopted a policy supporting state assistance for those costs. Northstar Policy Action presented data arguing the operation contributed to higher unemployment, reduced hours, lost wages, and business losses, including a reported $106 million in lost wages from reduced hours and an estimated $18 million per week in taxpayer costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the city incurred nearly $1 million in direct costs and estimated small businesses lost about $16 million per week, with major drops in foot traffic and sales, especially among immigrant-owned neighborhood businesses. Other testimony emphasized impacts outside the metro area and on specific communities. Georgia Gallardo of Kerkhoven Cattle Butcher said rural small businesses also suffered, citing reduced sales and weekend traffic. The Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs reported that Latino-owned businesses support thousands of jobs and have seen sales declines of 40% to 90%, while WomenVenture and the Minnesota CDFI Coalition said CDFIs were seeing urgent demand for flexible relief and described businesses delaying hiring, reducing hours, or pausing expansion. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruly said federal agents’ conduct during the surge undermined trust, created public safety concerns, and led to overtime and other local costs, while also noting he supports federal immigration enforcement in principle. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the district lost 112 students since December, still had 72 not returned, and had to rapidly create a virtual learning option for students who did not feel safe attending in person. Across the hearing, witnesses argued the disruption was statewide, not limited to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and that state relief was needed to prevent business closures, job losses, and longer-term damage to communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• , modernize classrooms, support high-demand programs that lead to living-wage careers, rightsize flexible
• :04:44.000> rightsize to living wage careers, rightsize to living wage careers, rightsize flexible
• learning spaces, and upgrade flexible learning spaces, and upgrade building<00:04:46.919> systems
• The taxpayers have supported the purchase of new equipment.
• <01:09:09.520> of taxpayers have supported the purchase of taxpayers have supported the purchase

Bills: HF2418, HF1666, HF232, HF344, HF402, HF431, HF468, HF547, HF583, HF1476, HF1711, HF2787, HF2788, HF3207

Keywords: capital investment, political subdivisions, state assistance, funding, project grants, child care, Slayton, state bonds, economic development, extended time revenue, school funding, state aid, career and technical education, CTE, STEM, secondary credit, after-school programs, summer school, learning year program, extended day

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also here on behalf of Moms for Liberty, many parents in Amador County, and we appreciate the flexibility
• For other things, by design, they're meant to look different and have some different levels of flexibility
• passed by Democrats and supported by Democrats in the 1990s to do exactly that: to provide a more flexible
• It's great; however, teachers had no input on this, and the district decided to purchase a license for
• That means that districts are losing purchasing power every year as their COLA does not stay in line

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes. The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously. Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• MNTC stepped up to purchase the facility so our critically important work could continue.
• :33.920> to dalan tee challenge mntc stepped up to dalan tee challenge mntc stepped up to purchase
• the facility and so our purchase the facility and so our critically<00:10:36.040> important<00
• I'm glad you asked the question, and we keep asking the question: how flexible is this overall program
• is this overall program to how flexible is this overall program to the<00:19:46.840> fact<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They take the flexibility that we offer because they are public schools, but they are given flexibilities
• differing learning needs, and also those that are facing life situations that truly require some flexibility
• This allows families to have access to personalized and flexible programs that give our kids the opportunity
• We must not let flexibility become the cover for fraud or innovation an excuse for neglect.
• If you have means, you have the ability to either purchase a home in a neighborhood with a fantastic

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor file of bills. Early measures passed with little or no debate, including AB 698 on local transfer taxes and affordable housing analysis, AB 456 on mobile home sales, AB 1129 on reportable infant health conditions, AB 69 on Fair Plan insurance notices and voluntary market searches, AB 357 on expedited student and faculty housing permits, AB 383 on firearms code cleanups, AB 426 on drones interfering with emergency response, AB 825 on energy affordability and transmission financing, and AB 699 on ballot transparency for local tax and bond measures. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan margins, while AB 825 drew the most extended debate over whether it would lower costs or expand state control of energy infrastructure; it ultimately passed 45-5. The most contentious item was AB 84, which would strengthen oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools and tighten accountability for charter spending and operations. Supporters argued it was needed to stop fraud and misuse of public education dollars, citing major scandals and audit findings, while opponents warned it would harm legitimate charter schools, reduce educational options, and disproportionately affect rural and special-needs students. Several members said they supported the bill only to keep negotiations going, and others urged more targeted or delayed action. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the Assembly passed AB 84 on a 41-22 vote. The chamber also took up AB 610, a housing bill that would require cities and counties to disclose planned housing restrictions and limit new constraints for three years after housing element approval. The author framed it as a certainty and transparency measure to help address the state’s housing shortage, while noting continued discussions with local governments and housing advocates. The transcript ends with the bill’s presentation and request for an aye vote, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• formula, and annual inflation adjustments have not kept up with pace, causing districts to lose purchasing
• Adjustments have not kept up with pace, causing districts to lose purchasing power year after year.
• Next, the bill offers work-study flexibility by waiving the requirement for employers to contribute 25%
• I think that our students absolutely need this flexibility.
• It gives COEs the same flexibility, the same guardrails, the same accountability that already exists

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard AB 402, which would increase Cal Grant award amounts for students attending private nonprofit colleges and allow community college transfer entitlement awards to be used at those institutions. The author and supporters said the bill would restore award levels to their 2001 value and improve access for low- and middle-income, working, military, and transfer students. Several witnesses from private nonprofit universities, community college districts, and advocacy groups supported the measure. Senators raised concerns about the prior Cal Grant agreement tied to Associate Degree for Transfer participation and about the need to fund broader Cal Grant reforms, but the bill advanced on a unanimous due-pass vote to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up AB 2067, a sunset extension for lease-lease-back authority for TK-12 school construction through July 1, 2032. The author and supporters from school housing and contractor groups said the method provides flexibility, early collaboration, cost control, and legal certainty for school construction projects. Senators asked how often lease-lease-back and other alternative delivery methods are used, and whether the skilled-and-trained workforce provisions limit competition. Some members objected to the skilled-and-trained requirement, while others said the bill simply preserves an existing tool without changing labor rules. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, with Senator Ochoa Bogh voting no, and was placed on call. AB 1204, which would revise the Local Control Funding Formula by increasing supplemental and concentration grants, lowering the concentration threshold, adding regional cost adjustments, and setting a minimum annual COLA floor, drew extensive testimony on both sides. Supporters said the bill better reflects regional costs, inflation, and student need, especially for low-income, multilingual, and unhoused students. Opponents, including several school district leaders, argued it would widen funding disparities and divert money from the LCFF base grant, which they said should be the priority. Committee members also questioned the fiscal impact, the proposed 4% COLA floor, and whether the bill had enough research and stakeholder consensus. Despite those concerns, the bill was advanced to Appropriations on a due-pass vote and placed on call. Finally, the committee heard AB 1235, which would require a skilled-and-trained workforce process for CSU design-build projects to align CSU with UC and community college construction rules. Supporters said it would improve training and project quality, while opponents from contractor groups argued it would reduce competition, increase costs, and impose mandates without evidence of better outcomes. Several senators objected to the skilled-and-trained requirement as limiting opportunities for contractors who comply with state law, while others noted the issue was already common in higher education construction. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote on AB 1235 was captured.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does so in a manner that preserves flexibility in the face of tremendous uncertainty and threats.
• Financial flexibility is really important to our schools.
• Again, schools have been asking for flexibility to use that for different purposes.
• One of the challenges, as the state is a big purchaser of health care, is that we see that growth impact
• Given these uncertain economic times, our school district needs the flexibility to address student needs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• NMHBA member, stated that they already offer extended sick leave benefits and would really like the flexibility
• Furthermore, mandated leave in the private sector removes the flexibility businesses need to adapt to
• economic challenges. the flexibility businesses need to adapt to economic challenges.
• That people who purchase things will be paying those taxes.
• There will be staff, and there will be flexibility in how those staff positions are filled, Madam Chair

Transcript Highlights:

• How much land did they purchase from Texas?
• But let's get to a time where when you can still purchase. purchase a new one to maintain your mission
• For instance, if I was to purchase two different U.S. manufactured drones, I would have to purchase two
• to stop them from purchasing land.
• We stopped hiring, we hesitated to purchase warehouse.

Bills: HB17, HB34, HB41, HB 118, HB 119, HB 127, HB 128, HB 129, HB 130, HB132, HB133, HB17, HB41, HB118, HB119, HB127, HB128, HB129, HB130, HB132, HB133

Keywords: foreign ownership, real estate, national security, designated countries, Texas property law, lobbying, foreign adversaries, compensation prohibition, transparency, civil penalties, higher education, foreign adversary, research security, trade secrets, academic partnerships, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy

Transcript Highlights:

• , necessary to establish, purchase, necessary to establish, purchase, extend,<02:16:32.800> maintain
• uh significantly ties the flexibility uh significantly ties the flexibility that<03:27:56.560>
• realistically expect and demand requires flexibility in terms of operations.
• realistically expect and demand requires flexibility in terms of operations.
• realistically expect and demand requires flexibility in terms of operations.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in executive session, so I guess we have a little flexibility.
• So I get we have a little flexibility. So I get we have a little flexibility.
• It's um a little bit of<00:12:49.680> flexibility<00:12:50.480> for<00:12:50.720> folks
• , gets them a of flexibility for folks, gets them a lower<00:12:51.760> payment<00:12:52.079><
• Stable tokens are currently the 16th largest purchaser of U.S. Treasuries.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is that flexibility. If they take care of the unit. So it is that flexibility.
• So we want that flexibility. Thank you. Sorry. Could I respond to that possibly? Yeah.
• code requiring them to only deduct what they are actually paying for professional services or to purchase

Keywords: Virginia Housing Commission - Fees in Residential Rental Agreements Workgroup, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we would have to purchase some kind of a scanner.
• And then it gives us that flexibility if we just want to list the city or take that address information
• incorporate that into one motion, but we've just been talking about the addresses and we do have flexibility
• But I guess if there's ways to make it more flexible or helpful, Senator Roers. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first discussed security and member contact procedures, with several members emphasizing the need for formal security training at the start of each session and clearer procedures for knowing where legislators are staying during session for welfare checks and emergency contact. Members also raised concerns about the disclosure of home addresses in other public records and forms, and Legislative Council was asked to prepare a background memo on possible training, best practices, and related legislative or rule changes. The committee then took up a bill draft to reduce the number of paper copies of state publications sent to the State Library from eight to two. Legislative Council explained the cost savings and the move toward digital distribution, but the State Librarian testified that the library still needs paper copies for circulation, archives, and depository libraries, and requested a minimum of three copies. After discussion, the committee amended the draft to require three copies instead of two and passed the motion. The committee also approved a related House and Senate Rules amendment reducing the number of bound journals distributed, and a separate rule change removing the requirement that legislators’ home addresses be printed in the rule book and allowing a lower print run based on request and need. The committee next reviewed data on bill pre-filing and legislative workload. After hearing testimony that agency bills tend to arrive in a late-year rush and that staff workload is especially heavy around organizational session and the holidays, the committee voted to move the agency pre-filing deadline to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It also amended the deadline for constitutional amendments and study resolutions, moving them earlier so they would occur before crossover, and adjusted the reporting deadline accordingly. Members discussed whether these changes should be handled in special session or organizational session, and staff explained that the agency deadline change could be made effective for the next regular session through a permanent rules change. Finally, the committee reviewed proposed special session rules. Staff explained that the special session would use joint appropriations and joint policy committees, with expedited bill processing, limited bill introduction routes, and remote participation allowed for members and public testimony with approval. The committee also resolved a House appropriations membership issue by keeping the House side at 23 members and giving the House majority leader authority to appoint a replacement for the vacant seat, while increasing the Senate dollar threshold to match the House. Members then discussed the upcoming rural health special session process, including how the interim rural health group would differ from the actual special session committees, the timing of committee work and the governor’s address, and whether remote participation would be permitted in the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• potential impact on interest rates for individuals and businesses, whether they're borrowing money for purchasing
• And just kind of my little side comment on that is, in some ways, I appreciate the flexibility that the
• But also, it's a huge cut, so it's like you get some flexibility, but But you don't get as much to do
• Chair**: Representative Lara, I believe there is some flexibility about how districts can use their title

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 48: limits on ounces and milligrams to purchase, and additional increases in single-packaging
• I appreciate your flexibility. Happy day 117 for those who celebrate.
• I appreciate your flexibility. Happy day 117 for those who celebrate.
• to try to time conception to the semester schedule, and we really need the extra time as well as flexibility

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We increased funding to meat processing grants, and we dedicated funding to purchasing milk from food
• So we've also provided MDA with some flexibility in addition to increasing the resources for both of
• In the last biennium, in fact, I think even two years ago, 13,000 acres was purchased outright.
• Over half of that was turned over after it was purchased by either the state or nonprofits.
• <02:07:14.400> that or you know any land purchases that or you know any land purchases that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• during the budget I had the flexibility during the budget to<01:44:50.679> be<01:44:50.880>
• So I think that is where we would get the flexibility.
• ...I could have the flexibility that if I stay within my lines, I can fill those unfunded positions.
• They have a program called Forest Legacy, and that allows us to purchase the development rights.
• the development rights this to purchase the development rights this is<04:43:40.400> a<04:43:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work. Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow. Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money. On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.