Transcript Highlights:

• It's virtually the same as our FY 2025 adjusted authorized.
• It's virtually the same as our FY 2025 adjusted authorized.
• <00:17:01.240> for uh FTA is Federal Transit Authority for uh FTA is Federal Transit Authority
• here depends really on Treasury bonding here depends really on Treasury bonding and<01:11:46.800
• records and certificates as authorized records and certificates as authorized under<05:00:36.958

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process. A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities. Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• DACA, and people who are being held with no ability to request a bond hearing.
• New Mexico has clear authority to decide how state and local resources are used.
• ICE has discretionary authority.
• Local authorities have very limited ability to check the abuses of ICE.
• They would not allow local authorities to enter the area.

Bills: SB100

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It repeals the bond language that's currently in statute and replaces that with a fee to be collected
• How much was the bond that was required by these groves? Uh, $50,000 dollars.
• If the bond covers property that was used to commit a crime, they're no longer valid, and most of the
• And had we pushed forward on the bond issue, the more that we Called those bonds, the more expensive
• So the fee is an annual fee, as was the bond.

Bills: HB3011, HB3143, HB3144, HB3881, HB3519, HB3522, HB3530

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, personal use permit, manufacturing, excise tax, Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, alternative nicotine products, vaping, regulations, manufacturing standards, packaging requirements, penalties, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got Senate bond initiatives.
• All right, the bond initiatives are ordered to the capital budget subcommittee.
• We've got Senate bond initiatives.
• We've got Senate bond initiatives.
• Take care. right, the bond initiatives are uh right, the bond initiatives are uh ordered<00:02:44.480

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met in a brief pro forma session with only three members present. The presiding officer welcomed several new student pages from across the state and noted that, despite the light floor schedule due to a snow day, committees were still active and more substantive debate was expected the following day. The chamber then considered the reading of the journal and introduced one bill, Senate Bill 390, a Wicomico County measure concerning Class A beer, wine, and liquor license alterations, which was referred to the Finance Committee. Two Senate bond initiatives were also introduced: one from Senator Brooks for 234 Main Street and one from Senator King for Washington Grove Playground; both were referred to the Budget and Taxation Committee and then ordered to the capital budget subcommittee. No floor votes were taken on the bill or bond initiatives. After a quorum call confirmed the Senate remained in session, the majority leader moved adjournment, and the Senate adjourned until Thursday, January 29 at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bitcoinbacked uh conduit bond that um Bitcoinbacked uh conduit bond that um was<00:34:56.079> issued
• several states that have um authorized several states that have um authorized the<00:35:15.280><
• Bitcoin and so our version of mitigating that risk is authorizing intent.
• <00:56:56.079> Um,<00:56:56.480> if that risk is authorizing intent.
• Um, if that risk is authorizing intent.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met to review stable tokens, real-world asset tokenization, and blockchain-based trust, approved the agenda and December 12 minutes, and heard a presentation from Anchorage Digital after postponing a planned Bitco presentation because of its IPO quiet period. Anchorage’s Melinda Delos, Joe Mioli, and Kevin Wasaki introduced the firm, describing it as a global digital assets platform and the first crypto-native institution in the U.S. to receive a federal banking charter. They said their approach emphasizes security, regulated custody and trading services, and responsible innovation for institutional clients, banks, states, and sovereigns. The presentation focused on post-Genius Act momentum in the stablecoin market. Anchorage said the law provided regulatory clarity and helped spur activity with major clients, including Athena, Tether, and Western Union. The speakers highlighted Western Union’s planned stablecoin as especially significant because it reflects adoption by a long-established traditional payments company, and they said the project illustrates how stablecoins can support programmable, real-time, interoperable payments. They also noted that Anchorage is providing issuance infrastructure for the Western Union project. The commission and presenters also discussed government uses of tokenized assets, including reserve legislation, digital assets for tax collection and fees, and a Marshall Islands initiative to use a tokenized sovereign bond for direct citizen payments. In response to a question, Anchorage said it would follow up on which states are using digital assets for revenue collection, mentioning Louisiana and Pennsylvania as examples. The banking discussion centered on remittances, instant payments, and interbank settlement, with Anchorage arguing that stablecoins can reduce settlement time, fees, and foreign exchange risk while improving traceability and auditability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts, acknowledging your sovereign authority over
• all creation as we pray for those who are in authority.
• The bill expands the powers of authorities.
• The bill expands the powers of authorities related to loans, bonds, and other debts used for the purpose
• Right now, we're familiar with the bond schedules.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including remarks from the new Democratic caucus leader, Senator Berman, who emphasized affordability, education, health care, public safety, and opposition to measures he said would roll back child labor protections, book access, and gun safety laws. The chamber also recognized military leaders from U.S. Army Special Operations Command and an intern from Senator Polsky’s office. No committee reports or executive messages were on the desk at the start. The Senate then took up and passed several bills, often after substituting House companions and adopting technical amendments. Among the measures approved were the dangerous dogs bill (the Pam Rock Act), local government land regulation, vessel-related voter freedom/boating provisions, blood clot screening and treatment, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, concealed carry licensing for certain officers and service members, timeshare management firms, disability history and awareness instruction, manufacturing and manufacturing fees, public education on background screening requirements, utility service restrictions, educational opportunities for military children, Medicaid oversight, health facilities authorities, and veterans’ nursing home beds. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on human trafficking, waste management, Bright Futures, Medicaid oversight earlier in the day, mammogram coverage, and others. Debate on the disability history bill was especially extensive, with senators discussing the use of the word “disability,” the role of bias, and whether the bill fit with broader DEI-related policy debates. The bill’s sponsor and supporters framed it as a first step toward helping students understand and respect people with disabilities, and the chamber opened co-sponsorship before substituting the House version. Other bills drew focused questions about local government costs, impact fees, staffing burdens, grant criteria for small manufacturers, and the scope of utility preemption. Most measures passed on strong votes, including several unanimous votes, with the concealed carry/firearms bill passing 33-3 and the local government land regulation bill passing 26-8.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, we'll be calling authors according to seniority while currently in the committee room unless
• Now, I lay out House Bill 1630 and call on the author, Representative Lopez, to explain.
• I'm a joint author on this bill.
• Any other questions for the author? Okay. Thank you. The Chair will reserve your right to close.
• Any questions for the author? I think you will reserve your right to close.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• So the package supports a combination of FTE, one of which shows up in a bill authored by the chamber
• The first is a clarification of the MPCA authority and to make sure that we have the authority to recover
• and to make sure that we have authority and to make sure that we have the<00:53:42.359> authority
• not not have clear statutory authority not not have clear statutory authority to<00:54:29.079>
• <00:57:01.079> and public facilities Authority and public facilities Authority and currently

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So whichever way you would through bond.
• Um, there's a partnership that occurs between the local economic development authorities and MDA.
• And we're asking you for the first time to give us authority to pay overtime to Oakley employees.
• And we're asking you for the first time to give us authority to pay overtime to Oakley employees.
• And we're asking you for the first time to give us authority to pay overtime to Oakley employees.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 28 January, 2026; 8:15 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), including its consolidated tourism and agency request. MDA said it has had strong recent results, citing about $65 billion in capital investment since 2020, roughly 25,000 jobs, record tourism, clean audits, and oversubscribed incentive programs. For FY27, the agency requested $26.4 million in general funds, level special-fund operating support, restoration of eight pins reduced in the LBR process, and several general-fund increases for a career ladder, a new HR system, training, and operating costs. MDA also discussed a $1.25 million request for America 250 activities, including a Mississippi event and participation in the National Mall “Great America State Fair,” plus an energy accelerator program tied to the governor’s energy initiative and a broader three-tier energy preparedness strategy. MDA also explained its incentive refill requests, saying it was not seeking additional funding for the ACE grant program this year and had shifted that support toward the governor’s port/rail/road investment fund and energy-ready sites. The agency highlighted a renewed request to restart funding for the small municipal and limited population counties grant program, which it said had previously helped smaller communities with water, sewer, downtown, and other projects. On tourism, MDA presented a breakout showing what the budget would look like if tourism were separated into its own department; officials said the current tourism budget within MDA is about $5.7 million in general funds and $7.9 million total, and estimated about $1.3 million in additional cost would be needed to stand up a separate tourism agency. A significant portion of the discussion focused on criticism from Senator Wiggins that MDA has not delivered enough economic development for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He argued that constituents believe MDA does little for the coast and objected to the agency’s role in the GCRF and coastal projects, saying the coast has not seen meaningful results in years. MDA officials responded that complaints about uneven distribution are common across the state, that MDA works with local economic development partners rather than dictating project locations, and that it has helped support major coastal projects such as Relativity Space, Lockheed Martin expansions, PCC Gulf Chem, BWC Terminals, and AWS. The exchange also touched on the Port of Pascagoula and local leadership disputes, with both sides disagreeing over whether the port and the coast have been adequately supported. No votes or formal actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
• But again, we are a nonprofit, so we don't actually have any authority.
• , San Antonio River Authority, and the river authorities are great: Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority,
• So where do, in the stack of authorities, where does, like, the Bandera...
• They already have the ability or the authority to use pre-approved plans.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Summary: The committee met to monitor implementation of several housing-related bills from the 89th session, with the chair emphasizing Texas’s housing shortage and the need to review land-use laws. For House Bill 24, witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Reason Foundation, a church-affordable housing project, Habitat for Humanity, developers, and housing advocates said the bill’s higher protest threshold and simpler council override had reduced procedural barriers to rezoning, helped projects move forward, and supported lower rents and more multifamily development. Public testimony largely praised HB 24 as working as intended, and the chair noted it had passed the committee 6-1, the House 83-56, and the Senate unanimously. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 1567, which preempted certain municipal occupancy limits based on unrelated-adult restrictions. Supporters, including Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Realtors, Texans for Housing, and Texas A&M student leaders, said the law improved clarity, reduced arbitrary local limits, and helped students and property owners use existing housing more efficiently. Opponents from College Station and Bryan-College Station neighborhood groups argued the law has encouraged investor purchases, tear-downs, and “stealth dorms,” displaced working-class residents, and harmed family homeownership. The chair noted SB 1567 had passed the committee 5-1, the House 101-19, and the Senate 30-1. The committee also reviewed Senate Bill 15, which reduced minimum lot sizes in covered jurisdictions. Ed Pinto of AEI said the law had already led to thousands of new small lots and lower-cost starter homes, while recommending expansion to more counties and broader application to attached housing. Other witnesses from builders, Pew, and housing advocates said smaller lots can increase affordability, but some cities, such as College Station and Grand Prairie, were adding local standards that could blunt the bill’s effect. City representatives from El Paso described how they implemented the law by reducing lot sizes and widths, while urging broader applicability to more of the city. The chair said SB 15 had passed the committee 7-0, the House 86-43, and the Senate 24-7. Finally, the committee began hearing testimony on Senate Bill 840, a by-right multifamily redevelopment measure. City officials from Garland and Plano described how they had updated local standards to comply while preserving design and setback rules, and said the bill could help redevelop built-out commercial corridors and add housing without expanding city footprints. The transcript ended as the committee continued taking testimony on SB 840.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, we talked about prior authorization reform.
• The reason why has totally to do with prior authorization.
• prior authorization and then they refuse to pay the bill.
• You may be subject to prior authorization.
• <04:51:56.600> there subject to um prior authorization there subject to um prior authorization

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 437, which would change New Hampshire law on undischarged mortgages by creating a shorter period after which certain old mortgages would be treated as unenforceable. Prime sponsor Representative Bill Boyd said the bill was developed with input from bankers, lawyers, realtors, the Attorney General’s office, and the Banking Department, and he noted a drafting correction needed on line 18. He explained that the proposal would replace current law with a new framework modeled partly on Massachusetts, including a five-year expiration after a stated maturity date and a 35-year period for mortgages without an expiration date. Supporters said the bill would help clear obsolete title defects, reduce costly quiet-title litigation, and make real estate transactions easier for consumers, attorneys, and conveyancers. Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips, Susan Cole of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, and Michelle Coffin all testified in support, describing the bill as a consumer protection measure. They said undischarged or improperly discharged mortgages often surface during title searches, causing delays, legal expenses, and failed or delayed closings. Coffin and Hakken-Phillips emphasized that many of these cases involve old, effectively obsolete mortgages and that the current process often requires expensive court action even when no one contests the title. Cole described a recent transaction in which a title defect caused a buyer to walk away and later restart the financing process, creating costs for both buyer and seller. A committee member asked about notice to mortgage holders; the response was that the lender bears responsibility for recording and extending the mortgage, and that due process rights would remain if a lender later contested the discharge. Ryan Hill of the New Hampshire Bankers Association said the banking industry had reviewed the bill and was generally comfortable with it, while requesting a delayed effective date so members would have time to adjust their recording practices. He said the bill’s January 1, 2028 effective date reflected that request. After closing the hearing on HB 437, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 721, the Gold and Silver Legal Tender Act. Representative Juliet Harvey-Bolia introduced it as a bipartisan economic justice bill intended to recognize gold and silver as legal tender, protect against inflation, and address concerns about trust, taxes, and government taking. She argued that gold is a stable store of value and discussed tax treatment in neighboring states, federal history, and digital gold platforms. The hearing on HB 721 was still in progress when the transcript ended, with the chair limiting questions because of time.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you going to the bonding committee for this meeting? Do you want to address that?
• Okay, our next bill author is Representative Nash. I guess we're going to Nash.
• Chair, the bill author, this is your second time presenting and nobody's pie. So thank you.
• I am really happy to be authoring this bill and to have my bipartisan co-authors as well.
• We've also commissioned a local author to write the history.

Bills: HF2411, HF2471, HF1440, HF1393, HF1631, HF1259, HF280, HF1281, HF1459

Keywords: cultural heritage, funding, White Earth Nation, tribal community, construction, Delano, sesquicentennial, community events, fall of Saigon, Saigon anniversary, Vietnam War commemoration, Vietnamese Minnesotans, Cambodian Minnesotans, Lao Minnesotans, Southeast Asian refugees, Asian American heritage, cultural heritage fund, Minnesota Humanities Center, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, equity funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there to pay losses or until the bonds mature?
• It's our total liquid resources, including the pre-event bond.
• We can issue hit Bozza have a hurricane which is what we refer to as pre-event Bonds.
• You have a bond repayment mechanism. I wanted to understand this 92 billion dollars.
• It Revenue Bond market in initiative emergency assessment to pay back those bonds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we discussed bonding a little bit and trying to get our leads on the same page on that.
• That wasn't that what we're bonding.
• How do you close on bonding targets, and is there any concern about the Muni bond income tax exemption
• <00:06:52.160> But contractors voting on bonding bills.
• But contractors voting on bonding bills.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Such investment authority, administrative oversight, and the fiduciary duty legally lie with the plan's
• The availability of the full eight-year property tax abatement currently authorized in state statute
• This has negative impacts on schools beyond the equalization base, lower bonding authority when they
• Chair, members, Senate Bill 1429 expands the Arizona Commerce Authority Board of Directors' ex officio
• Chair, members, Senate Bill 1429 expands the Arizona Commerce Authority Board of Directors' ex officio

Bills: SB1090, SB1293, SB1414, SB1429, SB1503, SB1536, SB1633, SB1724, SB1764

Keywords: savings and loan, technical correction, Arizona Revised Statutes, financial institutions, prohibitions, GPLET, abatement, tax incentives, local government, property improvement, central business district, insurance, settlement demands, time limits, third-party claims, regulatory compliance, initiative, referendum, ballot measures, petition circulators

Transcript Highlights:

• We used bonding<00:03:46.920> money.
• I think the bonding bill in 2018 had $300 in the bonding bill for roads and...
• I think the bonding bill in 2018 roads.
• So, we got to see what bonding bill looks like.
• to see what bonding bill looks like. to see what bonding bill looks like.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Republican senators held a Tax Day press event focused on affordability, arguing that DFL control has led to overspending, higher taxes, and reduced competitiveness in Minnesota. They criticized recent state tax increases and proposed new taxes, including taxes on social media and advertising, extending sales tax to legal and accounting services, a higher income tax tier, a statewide property tax, and a housing-related sales tax amendment. They also contrasted Minnesota policy with federal tax relief, saying Minnesotans need spending restraint, fraud reduction, and a smaller, more efficient state government instead of additional revenue measures. Senator Dziedzic focused on transportation costs, especially high license tab fees, saying residents are overwhelmed by taxes and fees and that the state should fund roads and bridges with existing money rather than raising fees. He cited a House proposal to quintuple tab fees and said Minnesota’s vehicle ownership costs are far higher than neighboring states. Senator Kunesh focused on property taxes, saying homeownership is becoming unaffordable because of state spending and unfunded mandates passed on to local governments. He argued that Democrats’ 2023 spending drove up property taxes and warned that a proposed statewide property tax would worsen the housing crisis and hurt families, seniors, and first-time buyers. In response to questions, the senators said their caucus is open to companion bills and some targeted tax relief measures, including conformity with federal changes such as tax treatment of tips and overtime and Section 179 business provisions. They said they support transportation investment but want it funded through existing resources and better prioritization, not new taxes or fees. They also discussed possible bonding negotiations and said they are still evaluating proposals related to HCMC and a one-time property tax rebate, which they described as insufficient compared with the need for permanent relief. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we have the bill in the shape the author would like. originally taxed so we don't want to add originally
• now we have the bill in the<00:01:18.119> shape<00:01:18.520> the<00:01:19.119> author
• gaming to continue, now charities that their taxes were not being able having to go to pay off the bond
• 00:02:13.319> B and we were able to pay the stadium B and we were able to pay the stadium B Bond
• off more quickly than Bond off more quickly than anticipated<00:02:17.959> and<00:02:18.800><

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 169, which would change the tax structure for charitable gambling. Representative Robbins offered and the committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, described as a technical correction to ensure sports-themed tip boards are not inadvertently taxed under the bill. Robbins then presented the bill as a way to replace the current tiered combined net receipts tax on charitable gambling with a flat 5% rate, arguing charities were being overtaxed and that prior promises of relief had not been fully delivered. Chair Stevenson pushed back on several of Robbins’ factual claims, correcting the record on the status of E-pull tabs, the share of charitable gambling revenue they represent, and the amount of tax relief already enacted in 2023 and 2024. He said E-tabs were not eliminated, that the revenue split between paper pull tabs and E-tabs is closer to 45/55, and that charities had already received a $15 million tax cut plus savings from reduced developer fees. Robbins responded that the changes still significantly reduced revenue and that the bill was intended as a middle-ground approach. Testimony largely came from charitable gambling and veterans groups in support of the bill. Rachel Jenner of Allied Charities of Minnesota said nearly 1,000 charities depend on charitable gambling, cited high taxes and fees, and said many organizations were seeing revenue declines after the new E-pull tab rules took effect. Dr. Christy Jano of the American Legion Department of Minnesota said charitable gambling funds support veterans, youth, and community programs, and that a flat 5% tax would help posts continue those efforts. Members asked about the size of the revenue drops and how much gambling proceeds go to overhead and operating costs; Jenner said the losses varied by organization and that it was too early to know the long-term effect, while Jano said some expenses are used for property taxes and building upkeep. The committee then moved on to additional testimony, including Tim Angstrom, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supermajority requirements already exist for constitutional amendments, for bond authorizations, for
• requiring a supermajority that we use in other places, and we require supermajorities for towns to bond
• requiring a supermajority that we use in other places, and we require supermajorities for towns to bond
• taxing authority responds appropriately and<00:41:48.800> quickly.
• part of the of the authorization. part of the of the authorization.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment does is it puts on the funding for the community grants appropriation and also adds a SH bond
• I think there are some good accountability measures with the um with subdivision 4 with the surety bond
• appropriation and also adds uh a SH bond appropriation and also adds uh a SH bond requirement<00
• in the amount or proof of the SH bond in the amount or form<00:02:38.959> as<00:02:39.200>
• subdivision 4 with the assurityity bond. subdivision 4 with the assurityity bond.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3426, an LCCMR bill, and focused on amendments while noting that the bill would be laid over for further work. Members said they were still negotiating one additional section, including guardrails to work with the DNR, and that the bill would return the following week. The committee adopted the A10 amendment, which addressed the “critical and emerging issues” account and was described as adding guardrails so the account would be used for truly emerging issues rather than as a fallback funding pot. The A11 amendment was also adopted after discussion; it added funding for the community grants appropriation and required applicants to provide a surety bond, with supporters describing it as an accountability measure for the new program. Several members expressed support for the amendments and for continuing to refine the bill, while one member initially indicated the A11 was not yet supported before the committee clarified the position and proceeded. No final vote on the bill itself was taken; instead, the motion to lay over House File 3426, as amended, carried so the committee could continue work on the remaining section and bring the bill back later.

Transcript Highlights:

• He has a new committee substitute, and that committee substitute would remove all authority for the DSHS
• Members, this bill relates to the posting of information regarding certain bonds guaranteed by the permanent
• Members, this bill relates to general obligation bonds issued by a school district.
• organization with significant regulatory influence without direct accountability to Texas voters or state authorities
• “Senate Bill 2615 authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt these rules for implementation

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard Senate Bill 1961, which would expand reporting on post-secondary outcomes and workforce data, including employment, earnings, regional labor demand, and credentials of value. Senator Bettencourt said the bill is intended to close data gaps and improve alignment between education programs and workforce needs. Witnesses from Opportunity Austin, Texas 2036, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and the Fort Worth workforce community testified in support, saying better data would help students, parents, schools, employers, and regional economic development efforts. After questions from members about regional workforce pipelines and semiconductor talent needs, public testimony closed and SB 1961 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably, including SB 1325, SB 604, SB 1832, SB 747, SB 2185, and SB 2395, with committee substitutes adopted where needed. SB 1325 was amended to remove the DSHS commissioner’s authority to issue standing orders for respiratory distress medication in schools. SB 1832, relating to school transfer or private-school funding options for students victimized by a public school employee, and SB 747, relating to intimate visual material policies, were both advanced on recorded votes. SB 2185, on the bilingual education allotment, was initially moved to a local calendar but was later backed up and reported to the full Senate after a fiscal note was noted. SB 2395, on school district general obligation bonds, was also reported favorably and then moved to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard SB 646, which would expand the Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to additional professions, increase award amounts, and add stipends for rural and bilingual service. Senator West said the bill responds to mental health workforce shortages and inflation. The Texas Counseling Association supported the measure, and a Hogg Foundation representative said participation has grown sharply since prior changes. SB 646 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2647, which would create a Texas state accrediting agency and interim oversight system for higher education accreditors; supporters from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a massage school owner argued it would improve accountability and reduce accreditor overreach, while Senator Menendez raised concerns about effects on law and medical school accreditation and student opportunities. SB 2647 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2786, which would exempt first responders from the Texas Success Initiative entrance exam, and SB 2615, which would standardize remote-work policies across public higher education institutions. The Texas State Association of Firefighters supported SB 2786, saying it would remove an extra step for career advancement; the bill was left pending because the committee substitute had not yet been adopted. SB 2615 was presented as a way to ensure more consistent in-person staffing expectations while preserving exceptions for illness, disability, and some non-teaching roles; it too was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.