Transcript Highlights:

• For reporting purposes, an adjunct professor with the standard nine classroom hours workload may qualify
• a hospital in the area who is going to partner with Tarleton, and we have here the gentleman who performed
• So there's going to be new GME development at the partner hospitals by accreditation standards.
• We've seen those rural fair market value standards increase steadily.
• space into top-tier research lab space and high-performing classroom space for teaching, installing

Bills: HB42, HB125

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then she went to go perform. She became a student of performing arts.
• Uh she was asked to amazing performance.
• whereas caregiving youth often perform whereas caregiving youth often perform adult<00:40:26.720
• > invites This vague intent standard invites This vague intent standard invites selective<01:18
• c> enforcement standard invites selective enforcement standard invites selective enforcement and<

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum present, approved the February 27, 2026 journal, and then moved out of order to consider resolutions. Senate Resolution 003, designating March as Arts Education Month in Colorado, was read at length and supported by Senators Snyder and Basley, who emphasized the educational, social, and economic value of arts instruction and noted concerns about unequal access across the state. Senator Coleman and Senator Danielson also spoke in support, highlighting personal experiences with the arts and the importance of preserving arts programs in schools. The resolution passed unanimously, 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The chamber then adopted House Joint Resolution 1019, recognizing Caregiving Youth Day. Senator Judah described caregiving youth as children and teens who provide substantial care for family members while balancing school and other responsibilities, citing statewide and national data on the prevalence of youth caregivers and the risks they face. Senator Gonzales also spoke in support, urging the legislature to recognize and support this often invisible work. The resolution passed 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate next took up third-reading consent calendar House Bill 1035, which enacts the 2025 Colorado Revised Statutes as positive and statutory law; it passed 32-3, with Senators Baisley, Lynda Zamora Wilson, and Long voting no. Senate Bill 53, expanding eligible borrowers for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority mortgages, then passed 29-6 after no-vote requests from Senators Zamora Wilson, Amabile, Sullivan, Hinrichsen, Baisley, and R. Pelton. House Bill 1064, concerning modifications to the youthful offender system, passed 23-12 after several no-vote requests, and Senate Bill 43, concerning regulation of firearm barrel transfers and related criminal penalties, was introduced for final passage with Senator Zamora Wilson delivering extended opposition focused on Second Amendment and fiscal concerns; the transcript cuts off before the vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• REPORTING STANDARDIZATION SHOULD BE CLEARED FOR ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR HOW MEMBER UTILITIES SUPPORT
• SO A LOT OF THE STANDARDS AND DATA COMING IN FROM WATER USAGE RIGHT NOW IS OUR OLD TECHNOLOGY AND OLD
• AI AND HIGH PERFORMANCE SERVICE TO FLORIDIANS.
• AI AND HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ARE EMBEDDED ACROSS OUR OPERATION.
• ALL THE WORK WE DO AROUND AI IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STANDARDS OF TECHNOLOGY.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two-thirds is a very high standard. I think that's an unusually high standard for things.
• I think that's an unusually high standard for things.
• This includes energy performance contracts, which fall under RSA 21-I:19-d.
• If we look at the definition of an energy performance contract, the energy performance contract is set
• If we look at the definition of an energy performance contract, the energy performance contract is set

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This slide shows a very high-level summary of how OGM fulfills their mission to standardize, streamline
• <00:03:39.319> streamline their mission to standardize streamline their mission to standardize
• public dollars the required performance public dollars the required performance measures<00:10:25.200
• doing to consider past performance doing to consider past performance within<00:11:35.000> their
• could perform the required duties.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Nine of the 12 districts affected are Republican-performing districts.
• Six of which improved their Republican performance in the House substitute.
• performance for Democrats, but will still strongly perform for Democrats.
• Nine of the 12 districts affected are Republican performing districts.
• performance for Democrats, but will still strongly perform for Democrats.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to lay out House Bill 4, the House companion to Senate Bill 4, and no public testimony was taken at this hearing. Senator King explained that HB 4 was based on the House’s revised congressional map, which he said made only minor changes from SB 4 while aiming to comply with law, improve Republican political performance, and keep districts compact. He noted changes affecting several districts, including moving Fort Bliss into CD 16, placing all of Navarro County into CD 6, and moving Liberty County into CD 9, and said counsel had reviewed the map and found it legally compliant. Several senators criticized the process and the substance of the map. Senators Alvarado, Miles, and Hinojosa objected that the House substitute had not been subject to a public hearing and argued that communities in Houston, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas were being split or paired with unrelated areas. They also questioned the compactness of the districts and raised concerns about racial effects, including changes in Black voting-age population in CD 9 and CD 18. Senator King responded that the committee had already heard extensive testimony on redistricting, that the Senate was following its usual companion-bill process, and that he had not relied on racial data but on historical voting patterns and legal review. After debate, Senator Parker moved to report HB 4 favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be ordered not printed. The committee approved the motion by a 5-3 vote, with one absent, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS TELLING YOU HOW MANY WE ARE PERFORMING AND THESE ARE THE FINDINGS THESE ARE COMING FROM.
• ALTHOUGH WE DID PERFORM STANDARD PROCEDURES WHEN IDENTIFIED NO MISUSE AND OUR PROCEDURES ARE NO SUBSTITUTE
• THE INVENTORY AND HAVE NOT FOLLOWED UP OR PERFORMED A FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
• WERE NOT PERFORMED AT ALL.
• THAT'S JUST PERFORMING YOUR INVENTORY AND TAGGING ITEMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The classic case of this performed one.
• their job under these perform their job under these conditions?
• There are uniform standards that are used for that process.
• There are uniform standards that are used for that process.
• <05:05:41.520> recounts, based on audit performance recounts, based on audit performance recounts

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• triangle president CEO and performance triangle president CEO and CC<00:39:01.400> board<00:39
• Typically, you have performance metrics, things like that.
• Typically, you have performance metrics, things like that.
• What happens is the consumer will be credited towards the things that come standard with the home.
• They upgraded from the standard White Oak to a Brazilian Cherry. There's a small upcharge.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 1 of the bill establishes a default statewide standard for all school districts in the state
• Thank you very much. establishes a default Statewide standard establishes a default Statewide standard
• As far as the standard of “completely and honestly,” that is a legal terminology that exists elsewhere
• How I'd be able to implement this bill, um, as far as the standard of “completely and honestly,” that
• um was subjective completely standard um was subjective and<00:28:48.480> would<00:28:48.640>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many times this training is performed on the job. Imagine if you're overseas...
• Many times this training performed on the job. Imagine if you're overseas.
• After many times, this training is performed on the job.
• And while the job has certainly evolved, the standards have not.
• SB 1203 adds 18 hours on top of our already nation-leading 40-hour standard.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several Senate bills focused on workforce training, public safety, health, and consumer protection. SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would expand and modernize private security guard training, especially de-escalation training, and drew strong support from security workers and labor groups who described dangerous encounters and inadequate preparation. Opponents, including security firms and business groups, argued the bill would impose major costs, create staffing shortages, and push employers toward unregulated alternatives. The committee ultimately voted to pass the bill to Labor and Employment, with some members noting support contingent on future amendments about training capacity. SB 936 by Senator Blakespear would restrict retail sales of larger nitrous oxide canisters while preserving legitimate medical, culinary, and automotive uses. Supporters, including Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, counties, public health groups, waste agencies, and law enforcement organizations, said misuse of nitrous oxide is causing addiction, impaired driving, neurological harm, and disposal hazards. There was no organized opposition on the record, and the committee passed the bill to Public Safety. SB 1271 by Senator Reyes would require the Medical Board to collect data on licensed midwives’ capacity to serve as preceptors and train new students, with the information reported to the Legislature. Supporters said California’s midwifery pipeline is strained, especially in rural and birth-desert areas, and that more data is needed to expand training access. The committee passed the bill to Health. SB 903 by Senator Padilla would prohibit AI chatbots from being advertised or used as therapists without appropriate licensed-professional oversight and informed consent, and would reinforce confidentiality and patient-protection rules. Testimony centered on the death of a teenager after extensive interactions with an AI chatbot, with supporters urging stronger guardrails and opponents asking for amendments; the committee passed the bill to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The consent calendar item, SB 1165 by Senator Caballero, was also approved and sent to Revenue and Taxation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to move on to kindergarten performance, measuring math progress.
• They continue to perform well above the average, but they saw a 0.35 decline.
• innate performance?
• The performance in math mirrors what we're seeing in NAEP results nationally.
• Our assessment is based on our state-adopted Common Core state standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires those districts to clearly explain how, merging or not, they will meet state education standards
• , district quality standards, and how they will better provide their... ...how they will better provide
• The second reason I do not support this bill is its potentially negative impact on well-performing and
• cost-effective on well-performing and cost-effective community elementary schools.
• We could have protected these well-performing elementary schools if we had enacted measures to provide

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• His dedication to the Texas A&M University system and the state of Texas has set a high standard for
• AG 44. 493 by Jens of Harris ruling the duty of a police officer to standardize lethality assessment
• AG 4634 by Goodwin, ruling the quality standards for the sale of aggregates and. for the committee on
• HB 4702 by Lilani relating to the required in the consideration of standardized testing. course as a
• Item 91 by Schaffner relating to the waiver of certain minimum standards of law enforcement agencies

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Providers that are performing services currently in our state.
• The new timeliness standards in this bill would be a big shift from our current standards and statute
• “Madam Chair, Representative, I believe this comes back to the standard of care.
• What is the standard of care, and they don’t feel comfortable?”
• The bill complies with federal Medicaid standards.

Bills: SB1095, SB1114, SB1116, SB1162, SB1164, SB1178, SB1179, SB1249, SB1253, SB1346, SB1347, SB1446, SB1561, SB1813

Keywords: gender transition, minors, irreversible surgery, health professionals, puberty-blocking drugs, medical procedures, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, behavioral health, patient brokering, appropriation, state funds, Maricopa County, claims review, medical necessity, American Indian health program, healthcare regulations, healthcare compliance, behavioral health technicians, licensing

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1114, which would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to investigate behavioral health patient brokering statewide. Sponsor Sen. Karen Werner described the bill as a response to fraud involving vulnerable Native Americans and said the county attorney would investigate the whole state. Some members questioned why the Attorney General was not handling the work and whether the funding should go to a county office, while others supported the effort. The committee voted 10-1 with one present to give SB 1114 a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1116, which would require that denials or adverse appeal decisions on behavioral health claims for the American Indian Health Program be reviewed by someone with at least two years of relevant clinical experience. Access testified neutral but said the bill’s language was too broad and could increase appeals and staffing needs, estimating about $490,000 for eight FTEs. Sen. Werner said the bill was meant to prevent inappropriate denials by reviewers without relevant expertise. Members raised concerns about definitions and staffing, and the committee approved the bill 7-4 with one present. Senate Bill 1346 would require Access to notify providers of claim deficiencies within 72 hours and decide corrected claims within 10 business days. Supporters said the measure would reduce long delays and help providers stay afloat; Access said it was working on process improvements but warned the bill would require more staff and system changes, estimating about $580,000. The committee passed SB 1346 7-5. Senate Bill 1347, requiring insurance coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients at risk of infertility, drew strong support from cancer survivors and advocates, with insurers neutral; the committee passed it unanimously 12-0. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1813, which would require Arizona State Hospital admissions to be based on clinical need rather than county of residence. Supporters argued the Maricopa County cap unfairly delays treatment and is not required by the underlying court ruling, while ADHS warned the bill could conflict with the Arnold v. Sarn settlement and could shift access away from rural counties. After extensive discussion, the committee passed SB 1813 9-2 with one present. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 1178, which would allow naturopathic physicians to administer IV antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals; the initial testimony was largely opposed by medical associations on patient-safety and training grounds, with supporters yet to testify in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• These 16 beds are doing standard acute care.
• Admissions and discharges are occurring in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Extended or standard approach that we use today.
• So in addition to mobile crisis and the crisis units and standard appointments, events.
• To mobile crisis and the crisis units and standard appointments, they also have urgent care.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, who said DMH serves about 29,000 people and is facing rising demand, higher operating costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. She explained that the FY26 budget prioritizes fully funding the state-operated inpatient system, which is at 100% occupancy and often serves people transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital, while making reductions in other areas to balance the budget. Those reductions include a 50% cut to case managers, a pause on closing the Pocasset unit pending a working group on Cape access, and changes to youth and contracted services such as right-sizing IRTP and CIRT, reducing Youth PACT from seven teams to three, scaling back flex and jail diversion grants as ARPA funds wind down, and preserving the behavioral health helpline and community-based crisis services. Members from Western Massachusetts and the Cape raised concerns about access, staffing, and the impact of cuts, and Doyle said the department would continue operating IRTP services, improve the referral process, and work with stakeholders on the Pocasset review and other access issues. The committee also discussed school-based mental health, 988, loan forgiveness for workforce recruitment, and the role of co-response programs for law enforcement. Secretary Robin Lipson then testified for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, describing a proposed FY26 budget increase of about 21% to support councils on aging, home care, elder abuse investigations, caregiver support, care transitions, and nutrition programs. She said the agency is managing rising demand, especially from the growing 80-plus population, and noted uncertainty around federal Older Americans Act funding after the federal disbursement agency was disbanded. To control costs, the office will manage intake and caseload growth in a fully state-funded home care program, but current clients will not lose services. Lipson also highlighted a new $1 million line item for local mini-grants to support age-friendly initiatives. In questions, members focused on elder scams, and Lipson said scams are increasing and the agency is working with banks, district attorneys, and public awareness campaigns. The Health Policy Commission’s Executive Director David Seltz presented the agency’s FY26 request and said the biggest challenge is health care affordability, with family premiums near $29,000 annually and many residents delaying care because of cost. He emphasized that recent legislation significantly expands HPC’s role through a new Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which will examine the drug supply chain and pricing, and a new Office of Health Resource Planning, which will support statewide planning around closures and access gaps. The new law also creates task forces on maternal health access and primary care, and adds transparency and oversight for private equity in health care. Members asked about pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, 340B, and maternal health closures; Seltz said the data show rapid growth in GLP-1 spending and that the new offices will help the state better understand cost drivers and access problems. The Center for Health Information and Analysis then began its testimony, describing its role as the state’s data hub for health care spending, utilization, quality, and affordability analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the Alamo is very committed to looking at what those standards must be; that's one approach.
• In the past, the letter has been exhibited infrequently precisely because of these standards of letting
• It would be helpful for the agency to use the same prioritized standards for the New World Screw Worm
• These artists perform in schools and libraries, specifically, Artists perform in schools and libraries
• those performances for free for the public.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a program called the National Performance of Dams.
• And so this dam is not designed up to the standard even...
• So I can't—I won't go into all the data and all the analyses that we performed.
• Thank you very much for joining us today for another edition of Water Quality Standards.
• These are New Mexico Environment Department groundwater quality standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Business attraction, again, continuing to perform really highly.
• We also have great opportunities for shopping and performing arts, so we continue to emphasize those
• Arts so we continue to Performing Arts so we continue to emphasize<00:31:21.600> those<00:31:
• Minnesota has one of the best performing Minnesota has one of the best performing art<00:31:25.880
• And supporting industry standards for welding careers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Explore Minnesota Executive Director Lauren Bennett McGinty gave the committee an agency overview focused on the state’s tourism, livability, business attraction, film, and outdoor recreation promotion work. She highlighted record 2023 tourism results, including 80.2 million visitors, $4.1 billion in economic impact, more than 180,000 hospitality jobs, and $2.3 billion in state and local taxes, and said tourism sales, hotel occupancy, and other metrics continued to improve. She also described the agency’s marketing strategy, including a new campaign centered on authentic Minnesota stories, expanded domestic and international advertising, and a strong emphasis on winter, diverse markets, and accessibility. McGinty reviewed several one-time-funded programs launched or expanded in the last year, including Explore Minnesota for Business, the tourism recovery grant program, the first Tribal Nations Grant program, and the outdoor recreation industry partnership with IRRR, DEED, and DNR. She said the recovery grants had distributed $1.15 million to 110 grantees, the tribal grant program had spent $1.4 million with eight tribal nations, and outdoor recreation was estimated at $13.5 billion annually with 10.5% growth. She also noted strong media and social media results, including a viral Timberwolves-related campaign, high video completion rates, and increased website traffic. In response to committee questions, McGinty said the workforce and business attraction campaign is aimed at showing why people choose to live and work in Minnesota, using stories from newer residents and businesses, and that it is performing well in markets such as Silicon Valley, Boston, and Seattle. She said the agency is investing more in winter advertising to promote Minnesota as a winter destination and is working with partners to highlight activities beyond outdoor cold-weather recreation. Members also discussed the agency’s new film program, resident retention efforts, and a planned music-themed tourism ad tied to Prince and Bob Dylan. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivision four has gift standards and policies.
• Subdivision four um has gift standards Subdivision four um has gift standards and<00:02:27.440><
• That I believe was was was um um um performed<00:19:29.760> in<00:19:29.960> 2018.
• performed in 2018. performed in 2018.
• Our office does perform annual list maintenance. Excuse me.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HF 2526 and received a walkthrough of the DE1 amendment from nonpartisan staff. The amendment revised the bill’s gift and ethics provisions by defining local government and public safety officer, narrowing covered mental health or wellness services to those provided by a qualified mental health professional and tied to recovery from a traumatic event, excluding luxury services or events as determined by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, and allowing local governments to adopt additional gift restrictions. It also added a bribery-related provision for gifts made with intent to influence a public safety officer. Members noted the language had been worked on by Representatives Duran, Vernig, and Freiberg, and the DE1 was adopted unanimously. HF 2526, as amended, then passed to the floor on a voice vote. The committee then turned to HF 3722, which would remove deceased voters from the state voter registration system. The bill author argued that deceased voters should not remain on the rolls and that removing them would clean up the voter list. Secretary of State staff testified in opposition, saying deceased voters are already kept in a separate deceased status, not on active rolls, and that retaining the record helps flag suspicious activity and preserves voter history in case of administrative error. A second testifier described a real case in which a deceased voter’s retained record helped election officials identify and investigate a fraudulent ballot. After discussion, the committee tabled HF 3722. Finally, the committee heard HF 3723, which would require additional verification for absentee ballot applications and permanent absentee voters. Supporters said the bill would help ensure ballots are not sent to people who have died or moved out of state. Secretary of State staff opposed the bill, saying most voters are already verified at registration, that the proposed checks would duplicate existing procedures, and that additional verification could create delays or false rejections. A testifier also objected to the bill’s effective date, saying it would take effect only days after absentee voting begins. The sponsor argued that voters remain on the permanent list indefinitely and that periodic verification is needed because people move or die; the committee did not reach a final vote in the portion provided.