Transcript Highlights:

• Their flow chart for their Texas offices is much easier. It's just we don't...
• His colleague that practices both in New Mexico and Texas... ...shows his cost in Texas.
• His colleague that practices both in New Mexico and Texas, doubled.
• His colleague that practices both in New Mexico and Texas shows his cost in Texas.
• So it's bigger than more power than our utility currently generates.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion. The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care. The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:09.680> and to make sure that those are utilized and to make sure that those are utilized
• <00:37:22.600> creative our community, we've utilized creative our community, we've utilized
• our zoning ordinances, and utility our zoning ordinances, and utility plans. plans. plans.
• We do building codes that address building across the state. Cities can't do that.
• that<00:59:52.720> address We do building codes that address We do building codes that address

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Code to really figure out exactly how that state conforms.
• So it references the Internal Revenue Code Section 62.
• Business-wise, I'm thinking, how are you competing against Texas?
• These contractors are moving to Texas and Arizona.
• We need to get away from dollars and cents in the tax code.

Transcript Highlights:

• in Texas.
• a creative Texas.
• Investment Council, the Texas Music Office and Texas Film Commission, and Travel Texas.
• Texas.
• Texas, it's really a Texas issue. Sure, of course.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The only thing I would caution on when we talk about the Permian is to remember that the Texas part of
• And I think that through our tax code and through our regulations, we can have that deeper caring.
• Healthcare deductions are among the largest in the tax code.
• We ought to look at what Texas and Arizona are doing. In other words, scrap all of this.
• Texas doesn't charge anything. So can you enlighten us on that?

Transcript Highlights:

• amends the Public Works Apprenticeship and Training Act, requires street, highway, bridge, road, utility
• allows... ...that allows contractors hired on for public works projects, such as roads and certain utilities
• Speaker, every year investor-owned utilities present their energy efficiency filings to the Public Regulation
• Investor-owned utilities present their energy efficiency filings to the Public Regulation Commission.

Bills: HB145, HB164, HR1, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB306, SB29, SB37, HB99, HB206, HB213, HB270, SB104, SB193, HB38, HB254, HB256, SB58, SB64, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM29, HM43, HM59, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB253

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County

Transcript Highlights:

• They have no authority over the Texas Medical Board.
• In Texas or in the nation? In Texas, the starting salary is what, 102?
• I mentioned Texas State Technical College.
• Utilities have all got outside experts they can hire.
• an array of settings across Texas.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So your Texas Tech University system, your Texas State University system, North Texas, University of
• and move to Texas.
• , and when you marry a Texas girl, you retire in Texas.
• , and when you marry a Texas girl, you retire in Texas.
• , Texas—this is 200.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It emphasizes public safety in Texas. It reinforces.
• In 2023, Texas ranked 3rd in the US for deaths.
• Texas has ranked in the top 3 for the last decade. 42.4% of our fatal crashes in Texas are due to impaired
• Because I know GEO ran some prisons in Texas and MTC also ran some prisons in Texas, and I believe MTC
• This is good for the Texas economy.

Bills: HB153

Transcript Highlights:

• to cases Coast to a small area in Texas to cases Coast to Coast<00:20:06.480> this<00:20:06.720
• We practice zip code discrimination in our public schools.
• Support ending zip code discrimination and expand education freedom by pressing the green button, Mr.
• Support ending zip code discrimination and expand education freedom by pressing the green button, Mr.
• and if I know assigned to by ZIP code and if I know that<01:15:23.679> some<01:15:23.960>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have different codes, they have different modifiers, they have different portals.
• His colleague that practices both in New Mexico and Texas shows his costs in Texas.
• For the Texas A&M University system, and you retired from the job after just...
• So, as we know, our two big utilities in New Mexico wouldn't have had the capacity.
• Hamilton, thank you so much for coming all the way out here from Texas.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• utilizes in the state EOC. utilizes in the state EOC.
• The primary concern today is a Texas.
• So you could call and to be utilized.
• like ports, utilities, things like ports, utilities, transportation<01:22:45.520> pathways,<01
• Use that QR code. >> Thank you. Yes.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in all of these ways, it will save people money on utility costs.
• It will save people money on utility costs.
• And then how will the funding actually be utilized?
• than Texas.
• , but $228 per square foot for market-rate housing in Texas.

Summary: The committee hearing centered first on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on the largest polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would make polluters help pay for climate harms, protect taxpayers, create jobs in construction and clean energy, and dedicate at least 40% of funds to disadvantaged communities. Support testimony came from environmental justice groups, labor, youth advocates, health organizations, and many individual witnesses, while opponents from the building trades, chambers of commerce, petroleum, and business groups warned it would raise fuel and consumer costs, threaten refinery jobs, and create legal and economic uncertainty. Committee members debated the bill’s impact on affordability, jobs, refinery closures, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses climate funding needs. The committee ultimately voted to give AB 1243 a due pass recommendation to the Judiciary Committee, with the roll left open. After AB 1243, the committee moved to another bill on wildfire mitigation and related resilience work. The author said the measure addresses a long-running wildfire problem and accepted committee amendments, describing the bill as a response to increasingly severe wildfire seasons and the need to help communities stay safe and rebuild after disasters. The transcript cuts off as that presentation begins, so no final action on the second bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• , providers, and local governments conduct utility operations.
• , providers, local governments conduct the utility operations.
• Smoothie King, for example, now in Texas.
• Smoothie King, for example, now in Texas.
• It's in Now in Texas. I remember the original Smoothie King on Veterans Highway. It's in Texas now.

Bills: HR320, HR321, SCR55, SCR69, SCR75, SCR77, SCR78, SCR79, SB259, SB295, SB312, SB348, SB444, SB485, HR73, HR118, HR144, HR196, HR237, HR249, HR260, HR267, HR272, HR278, HCR85, HCR100, HCR105, HCR107, HCR114, HR245, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR37, SCR63, SCR30, SCR40, HB62, HB193, HB210, HB220, HB246, HB364, HB420, HB475, HB584, HB622, HB772, HB784, HB949, HB953, HB1043, HB1070, HB1092, HB1134, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1214, HB119, HB129, HB233, HB283, HB538, HB789, HB850, HB870, HB1236, HB1241, HB54, HB137, HB321, HB368, HB386, HB414, HB431, HB552, HB555, HB578, HB590, HB593, HB618, HB638, HB670, HB692, HB707, HB708, HB715, HB718, HB732, HB741, HB748, HB776, HB796, HB807, HB822, HB848, HB856, HB887, HB888, HB917, HB921, HB1082, HB1243, HB1246, HB378, HB509, HB1090, HB1259, SB80, SB131, SB143, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB367, SB384, SB388, SB389, SB398, SB408, SB431, SB468, SB469, SB496, SB4, SB52, SB57, SB83, SB145, SB152, SB194, SB276, SB319, SB333, SB448, SB450, SB465, SB484, SB501, SB509, SB149, HR168, HB463, HB998, SB123, SB353, SB479, SB495, SB82, SB97, SB283, SB326, SB518, SB197, SB268, HB901, HR20, HR74, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB646, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB89, HB74, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB468, HB956, HB1117, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB78, SB208, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB341, SB379, SB382, SB387, SB401, SB441, SB449, SB487

Keywords: Arsenal, Arsenal F.C., Premier League, English football, soccer, football club, Mikel Arteta, Emirates Stadium, North London, Tottenham Hotspur, Gunners, sports resolution, commendation, celebration, championship, silverware, Louisiana House Resolution, ceremonial resolution, domestic violence, forensic medical examinations

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the New Mexico Railrunner Express utilizes what are called stink bombs.
• Nobody knows it's gone off unless you are utilizing this wayside detector technology.
• If there's a code in ICU, I got to be there. If there's a code in ER, I got to be there.
• There's a code pink, meaning a baby, I got to be there.
• There, at another hospital I work at, we have to go from Taking care of a baby who just coded.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I think of that, and I think of how good Texas... Texas has been to generations of my family.
• I look forward to serving the citizens of Texas and the Texas Tech University System. of the Governor
• Number of physicians that want to practice in rural Texas, or if the Texas Education Code (TEC) has anything
• They were crossing the entire state of Texas; we're just about everywhere, but South Texas.
• How's Texas?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE'VE GOT A TROPICAL STORM PARTY, TEXAS BORDER SUPPORT, HURRICANE IDA.
• WE JUST RECENTLY WENT TO KERRVILLE TEXAS FOR THE FLOODS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE IN TEXAS AND WE CURRENTLY
• AGAIN, MEN AND WOMEN LIKE ME KNOW HOW TO UTILIZE SYSTEMS.
• TEXAS COLLEGE STATION TEXAS WERE NUMBER ONE IN PREPAREDNESS IN THE COUNTRY.
• THEY HAVE A DISASTER CITY AT TEXAS A AND M THAT EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED GOES TO COLLEGE STATION TEXAS

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Thomas Gleason, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
• Raymond: But in Texas? In Texas, yes? Dan DiIorio: Yeah. Mr.
• And you've seen that in Childress, Texas and in West Texas. Okay.
• , Texas.
• We do utilize a variety of approaches, but that's just been notable for this large investment in Texas

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's duplicative of the existing structure of the code, Children's Code and Criminal Code.
• So it's duplicative of the existing structure of the code, children's code and criminal code.
• And the additional mandates, they're of the code, children's code and criminal code.
• And because they are pretrial detainees, they're able to utilize— they're not charged right now.
• law that created a compact between Texas and Louisiana.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 1033, which expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include airports, heliports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, certain government and military sites, and oil and gas platforms. Supporters said the bill is part of a broader effort to position Louisiana for aerospace and defense investment, while opponents from the Sierra Club warned that repeatedly broadening critical infrastructure could chill protest and free-speech activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 1034, which authorizes local officials to declare temporary protection zones for public safety for up to 72 hours, with one extension. The sponsor and the Department of Economic Development said it would be a tool for aerospace and defense projects and other public-safety needs; ACLU testimony raised concerns about notice, property rights, and possible impacts on public waterways. The bill was also reported favorably. The committee next considered several criminal justice bills. House Bill 51, barring post-conviction bail for defendants convicted of aggravated offenses against children, and House Bill 55, limiting public disclosure of juror information to protect juror privacy, both received broad support and were reported favorably. House Bill 635, aimed at protecting Louisianians from transnational repression by foreign governments through penalty enhancements for underlying crimes, was supported by a national security advocate and reported favorably. House Bill 133, increasing penalties for students who commit attacks on teachers or other students, was amended to address juvenile procedure and exceptionalities; teachers testified about serious injuries they suffered, while the ACLU and criminal defense lawyers raised concerns about mandatory minimums and individualized sentencing. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 676, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals, or “body brokering,” in the substance-use treatment industry. The sponsor and Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives described schemes that steer vulnerable patients into fraudulent treatment arrangements for profit; the bill was reported favorably. House Bill 159 created a Caddo Parish pilot program for pretrial home incarceration with electronic monitoring to reduce jail overcrowding. The sheriff said the jail is far over capacity and that the program would be limited to nonviolent, non-sex-offense defendants with risk assessments, court approval, and behavioral-health check-ins. Witnesses supported the concept but urged tighter liability language; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill with amendments. House Bill 106, dealing with unauthorized administration of melatonin to children in child care settings, was reported favorably. Later, the committee amended and reported House Bill 108, which changes juror qualifications to exclude people convicted of crimes of violence or sex offenses from criminal juries, after opponents argued it would unnecessarily bar citizens from jury service. House Bill 784, a cleanup bill on sex offender registration and notification, was amended and reported with technical changes. Senate Bill 388, which removes a trigger clause tied to a border compact and authorizes review of state contracts for foreign-adversary benefit, was amended and reported. Finally, House Bill 772, a bail-procedure reform requiring accurate mailing and electronic notice information and consolidating notice rules, was presented as a fairness and efficiency measure and had support from the bail industry and prosecutors; the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• By doing so, we make our aviation fuel tax provisions, simplifying Florida's tax code.
• It could be positioned that way, but with a leaner tax code, we're attracting new investment.
• But again, it simply makes it available to all to be utilized for transactions. Follow-up.
• Texas is just a depository.
• My company utilizes a lot of these depositories as well as developing their own.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up four bills. The committee first heard HB 4041, which would create the Corkscrew Grove Stewardship District in Collier County to finance and maintain infrastructure such as transportation, utilities, and stormwater systems without changing county regulatory authority. The bill drew no opposition, was reported favorably, and passed 14-0. The committee then considered HB 1485, which repeals Florida’s aviation fuel tax provisions. The sponsor argued the change would simplify the tax code, attract airline investment, and support lower fares and more routes. Members raised concerns about the estimated recurring $22.8 million impact on the State Transportation Trust Fund and $2 million on general revenue, and airport representatives warned of reduced grant and development funding, especially for general aviation and municipal airports. Supporters said the change would increase competition and fuel sales in Florida. The bill was reported favorably on a 12-5 vote. Next, the committee heard HB 999, which would recognize gold and silver as legal tender, allow electronic debit access to bullion accounts, and remove tax burdens on transactions involving precious metals. The sponsor and supporters described the bill as a way to protect purchasing power and provide an alternative parallel to the dollar, while opponents and some members raised concerns about consumer protections, predatory practices, privacy, and the role of the Office of Financial Regulation in rulemaking. After extensive testimony, the bill was reported favorably 19-0. Finally, the committee considered PCB WMC 25-01, which would reduce the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lower several related taxes, including the business rent tax, nonresidential electricity tax, mobile home sales tax, and coin-operated amusement machine tax. The proposal was estimated to reduce revenue by about $5.5 billion annually. Members discussed impacts on the budget, education funding, and whether savings would reach consumers, while supporters emphasized relief for Floridians and business competitiveness. The bill passed unanimously 19-0 and was reported favorably. The chair then noted a prior procedural apology on the record, and the meeting adjourned.