Transcript Highlights:

• The tax court has interpreted this rule.
• The tax court has interpreted this statute as black and white over the years.
• The tax court has interpreted this rule.
• c><00:09:52.000> real weaken statutory protections for real weaken statutory protections for real
• But that is the government's job; that is its statutory role to wear both of those hats.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• for violations of the statutory for violations of the statutory requirement<00:04:50.639> to<

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:01 SB 132 Discussion 00:44 SB 132 Vote 07:10 SB 33 Discussion 08:30 SB 33 Vote 17:24 SB 85 Discussion 18:08 SB 85 Vote 25:58 Adjournment: 26:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 132, which would clarify that state law does not limit local governments’ authority to regulate businesses affiliated with licensed massage therapists. The sponsor and supporting testimony from a police chief and the Kentucky League of Cities said the bill is aimed at helping cities respond to complaints about suspected illegal activity, including possible human trafficking, by expressly allowing local ordinances on zoning, licensing, inspections, advertising, hours, and sanitation. The bill also increases the penalty for practicing massage therapy without a license from a class B to a class A misdemeanor and makes each unlicensed session a separate offense, while preserving existing protections for trafficking victims. The committee then heard Senate Bill 33, which addresses recovery residence centers. Senator Thomas said the bill responds to fraudulent or noncompliant recovery homes operating without proper certification and creating neighborhood problems. The measure would require recovery residences to notify cities when they apply for and receive certification, report certain ownership and contact information, and allow cities to keep a registry so they can identify certified facilities. Testimony from the Kentucky Alliance of Recovery Residences supported the bill’s enforcement goals but objected to making addresses public, citing safety concerns for vulnerable residents; the sponsor agreed to remove the public-record language through a floor amendment. The committee passed the bill favorably 8-0. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 85, which would allow state retirement benefits to be directed to a special needs trust. The sponsor and co-sponsor said the bill is intended to help state employees provide for a dependent with special needs after the employee’s death without affecting eligibility for waiver or other benefits. A witness from the Kentucky Alliance of Recovery Residences supported the concept and noted the importance of clear language, while Senator McDaniel raised a technical concern about whether the bill could allow benefits to be directed to an unintended beneficiary. The sponsor said the language would be reviewed and clarified if needed. The committee approved the bill 8-0 with favorable expression and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• interpretive centers. interpretive centers. >> Oh, yes. >> Oh, yes.
• >> on the interpretive centers. >> on the interpretive centers.
• Do we add new interpretive the accuracy? Do we add new interpretive centers?
• Next slide. updating interpreters uh and providing updating interpreters uh and providing signage<00:
• trying to which is about interpreting trying to which is about interpreting and<00:47:08.320>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• but could you talk about any of your constituents that may have been impacted by this current interpretation
• It simply requires that before an elected justice's statutory administrative authority is materially
• What is missing is due process when statutory administrative authority is taken from an elected justice
• I apologize if that's how— I apologize if that's how you interpreted it.
• They provide a statutory means of execution... They delegate authority.

Bills: HB2226, HB2406, HB2663, HB2695, HB2805, HB2976

Keywords: veteran status, veterans court, treatment court, diversion program, initial appearance, arrestee processing, criminal procedure, DD-214, Department of Veterans' Services, prosecuting agency, court notification, military service, armed forces, veterans benefits, reentry, mental health court, drug court, specialty court, Arizona criminal law, pretrial hearing

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2663, which updates military leave protections for state and non-state employees by aligning statutory language with how service members’ orders are described. Representative Pena said the change was intended to remove confusion without affecting benefits, and members noted it would help protect employees called to training, deployment, or state active duty. The bill passed unanimously with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2976, a bill addressing administrative control of justice courts and due process for elected justices of the peace when state or county entities take action affecting their statutory authority. Supporters, including two Pima County justices of the peace, described administrative orders that transferred control of their courts without notice, findings, or a meaningful chance to respond, and argued the bill would require notice, a hearing, written findings, and review before such changes. The Arizona Supreme Court’s government affairs director opposed the bill as unconstitutional, arguing the state constitution gives the Chief Justice administrative supervision over all courts and that the legislature cannot impose those procedures by statute. After a lengthy and at times contentious exchange over constitutional authority and the role of elected JPs, the committee voted 6-1 to give HB 2976 a due pass recommendation. After a recess, the committee considered HB 2406, which requires the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services to study how aware veterans are of available state, local, and federal benefits and to report recommendations for improving awareness. Testimony in support emphasized that many veterans do not know the full range of benefits available to them and suggested surveys, outreach, and other low-cost methods to gather information. Some members questioned whether a study was necessary or how it would be conducted, but several said they would support it for now; the bill received a due pass recommendation by a 5-1-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2226, which requires courts at initial appearance hearings to ask whether a defendant is a veteran and, if so, to consider referral to veterans’ treatment or diversion programs. Supporters said the bill would help identify eligible veterans early in the process and connect them to services, while one member raised Fifth Amendment concerns about asking the question before counsel is present. The sponsor and testifier agreed to work on an amendment clarifying that the answer could not be used against the defendant in later proceedings. The committee moved the bill forward with a due pass recommendation, with members indicating support pending that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• cases, interpret the statute.
• cases, interpret the statute.
• Um we interpret recruitment challenges.
• I guess this is a matter of statutory I guess this is a matter of statutory interpretation,<00:23
• statutory job of the TCO. statutory job of the TCO.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, I have some interpreters who are employees and on staff, and the rest of the interpreters
• With this growing need for interpreter hours, my employee interpreters end up spending roughly half their
• time scheduling the contract interpreters.
• So that's taking my staff interpreters out of the courtroom.
• are doing the scheduling, then they're not interpreting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second most costly is translation and interpretation, and working with applicants to read through
• um and working with interpretation um and working with applica<00:10:39.200> applicants<00:10
• And as a result of that, we know for sure we'll at least need three different interpreters to help us
• as well as our financial interpreters as well as our financial consultants<00:14:09.000> and<
• statutory statutory 501c3<01:16:09.440> nonprofit<01:16:10.199> Consulting<01:16:10.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are free to decide cases independently using standard tools of statutory interpretation.
• statutory interpretation. statutory interpretation.
• <00:17:19.640> So, interpretations into law. So, interpretations into law.
• deferring to agency interpretations. deferring to agency interpretations.
• I have a quote from In re Weaver from 2003: "Statutory interpretations are entitled to substantial deference

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you've interpreted it correctly. I think you've interpreted it correctly.
• Um, but it could have been interpreted either ongoing or one-time, and JAC elected to interpret it as
• elected to uh interpret it as one time. elected to uh interpret it as one time.
• Is there any objection to that<01:24:59.520> interpretation? that interpretation?
• that interpretation?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• statutory language. statutory language.
• <00:35:51.599> The<00:35:51.920> second statutory authority to do it.
• The second statutory authority to do it.
• <01:41:12.080> but up in court, needs an interpreter but up in court, needs an interpreter
• They were decided in favor of the county's interpretation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IS THE SPECIFIC AND STATUTORY LANGUAGE AROUND THESE VERY SPECIFIC RULES?
• THEY ARE NOT AN EXERCISE OF REGULATORY POWER THAT COULD EXCEED TO STATUTORY AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY ARE
• THE AGENCY STATEMENT OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY THE INTERPRETS OR PRESCRIBES LAW OR POLICY OR PRESCRIBES
• THE FIRST IS THE LACK OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO ISSUE PERMITS FOR A CIGAR WHOLESALE DEALER.
• YOU CAN TELL FROM THE FACT THAT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A COMPANION RULE AND HAS NO STATUTORY BASIS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The judicial branch has rules about how they interpret legislation, known as rules of statutory construction
• They're expected to be able to understand and predict what judges will interpret those laws to mean,
• There are rules of statutory construction.
• Chairman, I might remind us all that the first rule of statutory construction is that the legislature
• That's a really important rule of statutory construction.

Transcript Highlights:

• to provide clarity and ensure consistent interpretation of what constitutes reprisal.
• Okay, the rules do not result from statutory changes made by the Legislative Assembly.
• As I review the rules, I will discuss the changes that result from statutory changes that were made by
• For appealing an initial board decision and just corrects the statutory reference.
• It requires a specific finding that there is one of the following: an absence of statutory authority.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kelleher: There's no statutory definition of a local historical society as far as I'm aware.
• definition of a the There's no statutory definition of a local<00:05:07.200> historical<00:05
• <00:09:42.840> of<00:09:43.280> and interpreting the best management of and interpreting
• Am I interpreting that correctly? Okay, I would have to—I think that's how I read it.
• The city of statutory requirement.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Reprisal to provide clarity and ensure consistent interpretation of what constitutes reprisal.
• The rules do not result from statutory changes made by the Legislative Assembly.
• Please note that there were statutory changes made in the Legislative Assembly and Senate Bill 2121,
• For appealing an initial board decision and just corrects the statutory reference.
• It requires a specific finding that there is one of the following: an absence of statutory authority.

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's worth noting that the bill doesn't overhaul how the privilege is interpreted.
• It's already supposed to be interpreted narrowly, and there's already an opportunity for redactions,
• In addition to fixing this interpretation issue, this bill codifies a requirement that lenders offer
• In addition to fixing this interpretation issue, this bill codifies a requirement that lenders offer
• HB 4518 provides the statutory foundation for these organizations to register and operate in Texas while

Bills: HB111

Summary: The committee heard a long series of House bills, with most measures laid out by Senate sponsors and then left pending after brief public testimony. Early bills focused on construction and licensing issues, including HB 305 on prompt payment for public construction audits, HB 5093 on restoring public access to notary contact information, HB 2037 on updating landlord-tenant repair and security deposit rules, HB 4214 on a centralized public information request contact database, and HB 5435 exempting higher education institutions from a 90-day notice requirement for certain public-private partnership projects. Testimony was generally supportive on these bills, and no votes were taken; each was left pending. The committee also considered several transparency and regulatory bills. HB 111 would expand the Public Information Act to certain nonprofit state associations and narrow some attorney-client and working-paper exceptions, with supporters arguing it would improve oversight of public funds and critics questioning the scope and thresholds. HB 5129 would protect occupational license holders’ personal identifying information from disclosure without consent, HB 4350 would allow peace officers to redact personal information from online real property records, HB 4748 would authorize multiple-award state purchasing contracts, and HB 4765 would clean up code enforcement officer licensing rules. HB 4134 would allow motor vehicle creditors to charge limited fees for electronic payment options while requiring a free alternative, and HB 1043 would direct a study of blockchain-based property title records; both drew testimony, with some concern about the practical effects and vendor implications of the blockchain study. Several bills addressed insurance, workforce, and digital-asset regulation. HB 3520 would reduce the insurance coverage required for transportation network companies during the period when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger, drawing support from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and opposition from trial lawyers who argued the higher coverage better protects the public. HB 3320 would create a self-insurance pool for religious institutions, with TDI explaining it would still be regulated but operate under a special statutory framework. HB 4233 would modernize rules for digital asset service providers by removing certain auditor-access requirements and updating reporting and licensing provisions. HB 3923 would reduce bachelor’s-degree requirements for some state jobs, though Every Texan argued low pay, not degree requirements, is the main driver of turnover. HB 4518 would create a legal structure for decentralized unincorporated nonprofit associations tied to blockchain governance; business law experts opposed it as unnecessary and potentially risky, while crypto advocates supported it. Finally, HB 1803 would join an interstate compact for dentists and dental hygienists, with supporters citing workforce shortages and opponents saying Texas already licenses quickly and that the compact could weaken state oversight. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly closed testimony and left bills pending, and a quorum was eventually established before later items were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• If a provider, interpret it.
• That's how we interpret that. That's where we interpret the authority as coming from.
• That's where we interpret that.
• interpret the authority as coming from. interpret the authority as coming from.
• with statutory requirements context. with statutory requirements context.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with procedural announcements about report turnaround, amendment submission methods during split operations, a possible January 29 session, the governor’s State of the State on February 5, parking, cafeteria opening, and the plan to finish work by February 10. It then moved into executive session on HB 1123, which would require certain companies to post salary ranges on public job listings. Representative Granger moved ITL, arguing the bill would interfere with negotiations, especially for higher-level jobs, and raise compelled-speech concerns. Supporters, including Representatives Schultz, Sullivan, Cahill, Staub, and others, said salary ranges help applicants avoid wasted time and travel, improve transparency, and are already a common workplace disclosure. The committee voted 10-9 to ITL HB 1123. The committee next took up HB 177, concerning a definition of remote work in labor law. Representative Murphy moved ITL, saying the bill could burden employers, create vague obligations, duplicate existing protections, and potentially require intrusive compliance measures. Representative Sullivan described a proposed amendment that would narrow the bill to a definition of remote work and remove broader requirements, but the committee ultimately voted 11-9 to ITL HB 177. Members also noted that the amendment had not been fully circulated in time and that the issue might merit further review. Finally, the committee opened HB 1352, a workers’ compensation bill focused on repricing and payment practices. The sponsor withdrew an initial ITL motion and moved OTP after amendment review. Members discussed concerns raised at the hearing about delayed payments, third-party administrators, and the need for better accountability. Representative McKenzie’s amendment would define good faith, create a voluntary three-year dispute-resolution pilot, restore fines to prior levels, and add reporting/accountability requirements for carriers that miss the 30-day payment deadline. Several members supported the amendment as a way to help small businesses and providers, while others said repricing needed broader study through the workers’ compensation advisory council. The Department of Labor explained that the amendment would require carriers and related payers to report missed determinations to the department and would increase oversight of payment timeliness.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also adds statutory probate courts to a list of courts that must provide parties with copies
• Statutory probate courts were, I believe, inadvertently left off the list of courts that were required
• So SB 1448 requires statutory probate courts to...
• So SB 1448 requires statutory probate courts to Required to do that.
• So SB 1448 requires statutory probate courts to provide those orders electronically.

Summary: The committee first adopted its rules, which were distributed in the same form as the prior session’s rules. Members then took up several bills, beginning with SB 711, an HOA/condominium association bill that would extend and conform property-owner protections to condominium associations; the bill’s author and a Community Associations Institute representative testified in support, and the bill was left pending. SB 942 would allow child support and certain prenatal/postnatal medical expenses to be calculated from the date of conception rather than birth; it drew supportive testimony from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Attorney General’s Child Support Division, and was also left pending after testimony. SB 1448, an estates and probate cleanup bill, would require transfer of original wills by qualified delivery, add notice and electronic-order requirements for statutory probate courts, and make other clarifications; it received supportive testimony from the Texas Real Estate and Probate Institute and was left pending. The committee also heard SB 1403, the Attorney General’s Title IV-D child support modernization bill, which updates notice, review, remote-hearing, and administrative-process provisions and clarifies several enforcement and evidence rules; the AG’s office testified that it would improve efficiency, and the bill remained pending. SB 1404 would allow courts to require an email address in final SAPCR orders when other contact information is nondisclosed and clarify service and judgment requirements; the Attorney General’s office described it as a good-government measure, and it was left pending. SB 1559 would require transfer of protective orders into divorce or custody cases to avoid conflicting orders; family-law practitioners and a family court judge testified that it would resolve longstanding conflicts identified by multiple courts of appeals, and the bill remained pending. Finally, the committee considered SB 746, a guardianship bill that would address conflicts of interest in guardianship proceedings, allow guardian ad litem appointment earlier in the process, and require timely court action on annual guardianship reports and accounts; a committee substitute would remove some provisions and extend a reporting deadline from 20 to 30 days. TREP supported the bill, and one practitioner suggested requiring courts to state reasons when rejecting annual accounts. SB 1536 would require dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain family guardians, with a committee substitute narrowing the scope and reducing the training time from three hours to one; the Alzheimer’s Association supported the measure and the substitute, and the bill was left pending. No bills were voted out of committee during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• we can request that they give us a list of those things that they figured they could do without statutory
• They're just a statutory cleanup, if you will. So with that, Mr.
• I say probably, likely being interpreted different ways in different situations.
• I say probably is likely being interpreted different ways in different situations.
• That's why I think we still need to do something statutory. This may not be it.

Summary: The task force approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, striking language about contracting with a security vendor. Members then reviewed a draft bill on concessions procurement (LC 27.0161), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, update language for vending and merchandising machines, and clarify where concession proceeds are deposited. OMB explained the bill and said it was open to further changes, including language to address artificial fragmentation, clarify which government entities are covered, and possibly set contract-length limits. Members raised questions about whether the bill would apply to school districts, park districts, airports, and other political subdivisions, and about whether concession agreements could direct proceeds to nonprofits or other secondary recipients; OMB said the statute is intended to require proceeds to go to the government entity’s operating fund or general fund. OMB also reported on other survey suggestions. It said a proposed general authority for agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is best limited to high-volume agencies. On legal notices, OMB said it had made progress with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernizing online notices, improving ADA compliance, and discussing rate and definition changes. On click-through agreements, OMB and the Attorney General’s office concluded no statutory change was needed after revising internal guidance; the $20,000 threshold was described as a practical cutoff for adhesive, nonnegotiable software terms. OMB also said issues raised by the Center for Distance Education on alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures had been resolved through policy clarification. The University System gave a brief update on its collaboration with OMB and said it was continuing to review concessions, surplus property, and capital project statutes with all institutions involved. The task force then discussed a draft bill on requirements for new or expanded spending, intended to require agencies to identify program purpose, needs, alternatives, success measures, and budget details, and to report on outcomes over time. Members and staff debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how much should be real-time versus periodic, and whether the bill should include full implementation costs for pilot programs. Legislative Council staff said the new program evaluation division is still being built out, that staffing remains limited, and that the office plans to continue working with OMB and the executive branch to refine the proposal before the next meeting. No final action was taken on the draft bills beyond directing further work and follow-up for the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Arts Board receives about its statutory 47 percent.
• I think he knows that this is not... that the interpretation he is forwarding today is not the interpretation
• It was ignoring motions, not ignoring an interpretation of a rule.
• It's not how we interpret the rules. We can interpret the words.
• So, members, we are here to interpret laws and make laws. We are here to interpret rules.