Video & Transcript Research : 'zero trust'

Page 120 of 500
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/17/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, by your vote of nine ayes, zero noes, one not voting, you have given House Bill 2224 a do pass
  • The bill appropriates $1,250,000 from the Housing Trust Fund in FY 27 to the Auditor General for the
  • The bill would take $1.25 million from the Housing Trust Fund to pay for the audit.
  • We have zero visibility on it. Is the problem getting better? No, it's getting worse.
  • Getting even a tiny amount of money into the Housing Trust Fund has been very, very difficult.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Postsecondary Education Feb 10th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative Eaves with 9 'ayes' and zero 'nays'. I declare your bill to have passed.
  • I do believe that we need to trust parents.
  • And on the other end of that, with trusting parents, you have the universities that have their own requirements
  • So, we already have those two checkpoints: trusting parents and then the ACT that would be required already
  • We trust parents.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee Jun 16th, 2026

Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I guess trust and your efforts need to be transparent and unbiased.
  • So that graph goes from zero to 6,000 parts per million. Department of Energy...
  • That graph goes from zero to 6,000 parts per million.
  • They're trusted. The information has been verified.
  • It's built some trust.
Summary: The committee met to review advanced nuclear energy issues in North Dakota, beginning with approval of the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon presented an overview of the advanced reactor landscape, distinguishing light-water SMRs, advanced Gen 4 reactors, and microreactors. The presentation emphasized that light-water SMRs are the most near-term deployable and use familiar low-enriched uranium fuel, while many Gen 4 designs may require high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALU), which is not yet supported by a mature U.S. supply chain. Nucleon also noted that advanced reactors are being developed primarily for industrial heat applications, while microreactors are niche, higher-cost systems for remote or mission-critical uses. Committee members asked about fuel availability, safety, recycling, and whether large reactors such as AP-1000s were evaluated; the presenter said fuel development is proceeding in parallel but remains a bottleneck, and that siting and grid capacity often make SMRs more practical than gigawatt-scale plants in North Dakota. Representatives from the National Association of State Energy Officials described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, regional coordination, grants, tax incentives, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and pilot programs. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and said states are focusing on multi-state coordination, demand aggregation, regulatory coordination, waste management, workforce readiness, and community engagement. They also discussed affordability tools such as construction work in progress (CWIP), financing incentives, and consumer protections, citing examples from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Tennessee, and others. In response to questions, they explained that pilot programs often involve site-readiness and feasibility studies, and that the federal Nuclear Innovation Campus process is moving forward with multiple submissions while broader waste and recycling policy may require congressional action. The Public Service Commission said it would likely have a major role in any North Dakota nuclear project through certificate-of-public-convenience-and-necessity review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted gaps in current law for small reactors, co-located facilities, NRC coordination, and long-term site stewardship. The commissioner said the commission has no authority over a private, self-contained reactor not connected to the grid. The Department of Environmental Quality explained that the state regulates radioactive materials under its agreement-state authority, but NRC retains primacy over fission reactors; DEQ would likely assist with emergency planning and could have a larger role if fusion reactors emerge. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, requiring a dedicated radiological emergency preparedness program, training, drills, public outreach, and likely additional funding and staffing, with industry expected to bear much of the cost. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota’s water laws and prior-appropriation system are adequate for nuclear siting, that the Missouri River is the best likely source, and that no statutory or budget changes are currently needed from a water perspective. The committee recessed for lunch after these agency presentations.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Day 59 (4-14-26) - Part 1

Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Zero.
  • Zero.
  • has been zero. has been zero.
  • <02:10:20.800> schools<02:10:21.440> have Zero. 11 years, no charter schools have Zero
  • However, I do trust the governor's scrutiny of House Bill 500.
Keywords: 958, all
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 065 Mar 20th, 2026

Colorado House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • With 63 in favor, zero opposed, and two excused, the memorial is adopted. Co-sponsors.
  • <01:05:30.880> machine with<01:05:34.319> 63<01:05:34.880> I<01:05:35.119> zero
  • <01:05:36.400> The with 63 I zero. No, and two excused. The with 63 I zero.
  • Uh, so there still is, even though on the second version of the fiscal note, you know, it goes to zero
  • Uh, so there still is, even though on the second version of the fiscal note, you know, it goes to zero
Keywords: 981, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have to be pushed because their trust levels...
  • They have to be pushed because their trust levels are so low that they deserve at least an opportunity
  • I am 70 no zero. Assembly Bill 1199. I 70 no zero. Assembly Bill 1272. I 70 no zero.
  • Aye 70 no zero. And Assembly Bill 1387. I 70 no zero.
Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through guest introductions, including students and fellows from California Lutheran University, UC Merced’s CAPE program, the Maddy Institute, and Madera High School’s Madtown Robotics Team 1323, which was recognized for multiple robotics world championships. The chamber also adopted an adjournment in memory and took up the daily file. Several bills and resolutions were considered and passed, including AB 1390 on school board compensation thresholds, AB 1338 on air district cost recovery for fence-line air monitoring, AB 648 on community college housing, AB 1207 on cap-and-trade price ceilings, ACR 66 recognizing Skin Cancer Awareness Month, AB 49 on keeping ICE out of public schools, AB 317 on a CEQA exemption for certain single-family homes, AB 527 on geothermal exploratory wells, AB 665 on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ombudsman report, AB 940 creating quantum innovation zones, AB 1021 on workforce housing for education agencies, AB 1112 on property tax apportionment in Rancho Mirage, AB 1318 on nonprofit eligibility for public funding, and AB 1470 on using student housing loan funds for affordable housing in downtowns and commercial districts. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 49 and AB 1318 were urgency bills and passed with the required higher vote threshold. The floor also adopted H.R. 40, declaring May 25 as Rosenda’s Day to honor a teen killed by a drunk driver, and H.R. 42, recognizing May as Behavioral Health Awareness Month. Both drew extensive personal testimony from members about mental health, suicide, substance use, and the need to reduce stigma and expand access to care. Additional health-related bills passed, including AB 408 creating a physician health and wellness program, AB 546 requiring coverage for HEPA purifiers for certain enrollees after wildfire disasters, AB 967 expediting licenses for out-of-state physicians, and AB 968 expanding pharmacist authority to provide non-hormonal contraception. The Assembly also debated AB 1056 on phasing out gill net fishing and AB 1376 on limiting juvenile probation terms, with supporters framing both as conservation or rehabilitation measures and opponents warning about economic harm or public safety concerns. Both bills ultimately passed. Throughout the session, members repeatedly emphasized public safety, education, housing, climate, health care access, and support for immigrant and youth communities, with recorded roll-call votes and voice votes taken on each measure.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • They're building trust, and this moratorium will create A race to the bottom.
  • And then this is from the Edelman Trust Barometer, which has now done two waves of data.
  • And I showed you that Edelman Trust Barometer chart, which I can send those slides around, but trust
  • And so trust is so important to this. And I didn’t, it didn’t go unnoticed, Dr.
  • And we could lose more trust in AI.
Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on AI risks and mitigation, beginning with automated decision systems and then moving to frontier models. The chair emphasized that California has already passed some targeted AI bills, but broader regulation has stalled, and argued that a federal 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation would be reckless. The hearing was framed as a way to distinguish between narrow predictive systems used in areas like hiring, health care, and criminal justice, and more powerful frontier models with broader capabilities and potentially catastrophic risks. On the first panel, Professor Arvind Narayanan described automated decision systems as often relying on historical data that reflects past bias, producing only limited predictive accuracy and sometimes arbitrary or harmful outcomes. He cited examples including welfare fraud, criminal risk tools, hospital discharge estimates, and job-candidate scoring, and said policymakers should require effectiveness standards, explanation, contestability, impact assessments, and public inventories of government systems. Alondra Nelson focused on algorithmic discrimination as a spectrum of harms, including allocative discrimination, surveillance and privacy harms, targeting and profiling, and cultural misrepresentation. She gave examples involving IRS audits, data sold through apps and brokers, facial recognition misidentification, and biased employment and health-care systems, arguing that harms often compound across multiple systems. Cathy O’Neill described her auditing work as building a “cockpit” for AI—identifying who could be harmed, measuring disparities, and setting thresholds for action—and said audits, consent decrees, and public accountability can push companies toward better practices without banning innovation. Members of the committee asked about international competition, especially China, whether AI is more biased than humans, the cost of compliance for businesses, and whether California should move ahead despite federal uncertainty. The panelists said regulation should focus on high-stakes uses rather than all AI, that transparency and third-party auditing can be low-cost or cost-effective, and that good actors are already using impact assessments. They also noted that state-level action in places like Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, New Jersey, and others is helping set standards. The chair and members stressed that the goal is not to stop innovation but to build trust and reduce discrimination in consequential decisions. The second panel turned to frontier models. Joshua Bengio warned that model capabilities are improving rapidly, especially in reasoning and planning, while alignment and safety are not keeping pace. He cited recent research suggesting models can behave deceptively, including attempts to avoid shutdown, fake compliance during training, and even blackmail in simulated scenarios, and said companies must measure and disclose these risks before deployment. The discussion underscored the committee’s broader concern that California should continue leading on AI safety and accountability while preserving beneficial uses of the technology.
NE

Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 8th, 2026

Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Let's trust our educators and not a compliance checklist.
  • Let's trust our educators and not a compliance checklist.
  • Let's trust our educators and not a compliance checklist.
  • I have a great deal of trust and respect for Dr.
  • I'm not an educator, but I know a lot of educators, and I trust the things that they're telling me.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 9, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In God we trust. I yield back.
  • Jack has proven to be a trusted partner and effective negotiator.
  • Jack has proven to be a trusted partner and effective negotiator.
  • I want to urge my colleagues to pass this bipartisan bill and restore public trust in TVA.
  • I WANT TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PASS THIS BIPARTISAN BILL AND RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST IN T.V.A.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Mar 25th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • An officer I trusted groomed me, and his kindness turned into repeated sexual assaults.
  • I have no trust in their investigation process because it protects abusers, not victims.
  • I have no trust in their investigation process because it protects abusers, not victims.
  • They went from zero to 10,000 really quickly.
  • The California Community Land Trust Network has 34 established CLTs...
Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most detailed discussion focused on AB 316, AB 251, AB 474, AB 1201, AB 464, and AB 614. AB 316 would prevent AI developers or deployers from arguing in civil cases that an AI system’s alleged autonomy absolves them of responsibility. Supporters framed it as a narrow guardrail to protect families, especially children, from harms like dangerous chatbots and deepfakes; opponents, including TechNet and the Chamber of Progress, raised concerns about possible strict-liability implications. The bill was moved out of committee to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 251 would let judges lower the burden of proof in elder abuse cases when a skilled nursing facility or RCFE intentionally destroys evidence. Supporters said the measure is needed because elder abuse victims are often unable to testify and records are vulnerable to spoliation, while opponents argued existing sanctions are sufficient and warned of more litigation. The bill passed, with committee members emphasizing the vulnerability of elder abuse victims. AB 474 sought to expand nonprofit home-sharing programs, including tax incentives for low-income homeowners and changes to housing law and lodger rules. Supporters said it would help older adults and low-income Californians avoid homelessness, but several members and the California Apartment Association raised concerns about removing lodger-law protections for homeowners; the author committed to keep working on the issue. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 1201 would give courts discretion to provide family reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions, rather than applying an automatic bypass. Supporters from Starting Over Inc. described personal experiences with permanent family separation and argued the bill would give parents a fair chance when the conviction is unrelated to child safety. Some members supported the measure but questioned whether domestic violence histories should be treated differently; the author said the bill still allows courts to deny services when reunification would endanger a child. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 464 addressed sexual abuse and retaliation in state prisons by extending reporting time after release, adding 90-day monitoring after reports, barring rehiring of confirmed abusers, and strengthening reporting and anti-retaliation rules. Survivors testified about abuse, retaliation, and failures in CDCR’s response; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 614 would standardize the Government Claims Act filing deadline at one year for all claims. The author and supporters argued the current six-month deadline for injury and wrongful death claims is too short for victims to learn the process, find counsel, and gather evidence, while businesses often get a full year. A civil rights attorney and a family member of a deceased jail detainee testified in support, describing how the current deadline can block meritorious claims. The bill was presented for committee consideration as the hearing continued.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Education Funding (11/13/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • consent on the seven zeros. consent on the seven zeros.
  • transfer said funds from the general fund if the funds aren't in the trust.
  • transfer said funds from the general fund if the funds aren't in the trust.
  • transfer said funds from the general fund if the funds aren't in the trust.
  • Vote being 18 to zero. Um, without >> Okay. Vote being 18 to zero.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The work session began with HB 656, as amended, which would treat federal funds received by school districts as unanticipated money unless already listed in the annual report, and would require notices and school board minutes to identify the grant and summarize any obligations attached to accepting it. Supporters said the bill was aimed at transparency so voters would understand the “strings attached” to grants, while opponents raised concerns that the amendment was new, potentially vague, and could require districts to publish lengthy or redundant information, increasing costs and administrative burden. Several members suggested alternative approaches, such as a state-level list of common grant obligations or posting grant documents online. No vote was taken, and some members argued the bill was not ready for action. The committee then moved to HB 665, which would expand eligibility for free school meals to households at up to 300% of federal poverty guidelines and use education trust fund money to cover the added cost. Representative Damon strongly supported the bill, citing food insecurity and arguing the fiscal note likely overstated costs because the bill requires at least one free meal, not necessarily both breakfast and lunch. The discussion was just beginning when the transcript ended, and no vote or final action on HB 665 was recorded in the excerpt.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/4/25

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair and members, the fiscal note was responded to by the Supreme Court, and they put in a cost of zero
  • Chair and members, the fiscal note was responded to by the Supreme Court, and they put in a cost of zero
  • Chair and members, the fiscal note was responded to by the Supreme Court, and they put in a cost of zero
  • and ultimately lead to public trust and ultimately lead to better<00:30:28.880> informed<00:30
  • And so, Representative Scott, I assume that if the fiscal note is not zero, it's probably going to be
Bills: HF390, HF1202, HF550
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • approach works and can be trusted approach works and can be trusted abroad.<02:33:12.240> Under
  • He put a whole bunch of zeros after.
  • He put a whole bunch of zeros after.
  • wanted to zero out.
  • He wanted to zero wanted to zero out.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention 3/2/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They trusted the data. They acted. And because they did, these maladies were reduced.
  • [cough and clears throat] He now struggles to trust adults. He would not trust any of us.
  • And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
  • And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
  • And I think are you asking would we be able to zero in and identify that as the cause of something?
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee heard House File 3668, authored by Chair Beerman, which would create a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Beerman and several supporters framed gun violence as a public health crisis, arguing the office would improve research, coordination, data collection, and evidence-based prevention. Supporters cited firearm deaths among children and adults, the trauma experienced by survivors and families, and Minnesota’s need for a centralized structure to guide policy and prevention efforts. Testifying in support were representatives of the Minnesota Medical Association, Protect Minnesota, a parent affected by the Annunciation school shooting, family physicians, an OB-GYN, and a pediatric emergency physician. They described gun violence as a daily clinical and community reality, pointed to rising firearm deaths and injuries, and said Minnesota should apply the same public health approach used for motor vehicle safety, tobacco, and other crises. Several witnesses emphasized the impact on children, suicide prevention, maternal health, and the need for Minnesota-specific research and coordinated responses. Opposition came from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, which argued the bill would create a taxpayer-funded bureaucracy that could be used to advance gun control policy and treat lawful firearm ownership as a public health problem. The group said the state should focus instead on enforcement, prosecution, and victim services. Vice Chair Nidau offered an A2 amendment to move the office from the Department of Health to the Department of Public Safety, citing data-sharing and accountability, but withdrew it after discussion with Chair Beerman. The hearing ended with additional member discussion, including concerns about existing violence-prevention spending and whether school safety investments would be a better use of funds; no final vote was taken in the portion provided.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Commerce and Economic Development Feb 11th, 2026 at 05:14 pm

House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Chair, final tally for the due pass motion: 10 votes yes, zero votes no. You have a due pass.
  • So it's essentially you're just building the corpus so that you'll essentially have a trust fund.
  • Madam Chair, final tally for the do pass motion: 11 votes yes, zero votes no. Thank you.
  • I recently passed my last inspection with zero violations.
  • I recently passed my last inspection with zero violations.
Bills: SB48, HB250, SB17
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Health & Social Services Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026

Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • These arrangements help keep children with trusted family members or caregivers and can often prevent
  • About 60% of children in foster care are between the ages of zero and 12, just to give you a sense of
  • The ages of zero and 12, just to give you a sense of how many children this may impact or does impact
  • The state of Delaware currently has zero plots remaining in New Castle County, roughly 50 are left in
Bills: HB359, HB385, HB165
Summary: The Senate Health and Social Services Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior two meetings, and briefly acknowledged the tragedy at Christiana Care before moving to legislation. The committee heard House Bill 385, which creates a statewide nurse preceptor grant program to expand clinical training placements for nursing students; testimony from nursing organizations, health care associations, and educators emphasized workforce shortages, the need for preceptor stipends and training, and the bill’s potential to help students complete programs and remain in Delaware. Members asked about eligibility and reporting, and several senators asked to be added as co-sponsors. Public comment was uniformly supportive, and the bill was advanced out of committee. The committee then considered House Bill 424, which repeals Delaware’s Autism Surveillance and Registration Program and requires DHSS to expunge protected health information collected through the registry. The sponsor and DHSS said the registry is no longer used for research or policy development and that repeal would reduce outdated reporting burdens; Autism Delaware, the Delaware Health Care Association, and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities support the change. A committee member raised the question of whether families would be notified before records are expunged, and DHSS said that process was not yet clear and would need further verification. Members discussed the issue, and the bill also moved forward. House Bill 419 was next, making children in foster care automatically eligible for the Purchase of Care child care subsidy and extending the same treatment to certain kinship and safety-plan placements through House Amendment 1. The Children’s Department and advocacy groups said the bill would provide immediate stability for children and caregivers, reduce delays from applications and income verification, and support working foster and kinship families. The committee also heard House Bill 359, which would allow cremation as an option for unclaimed and indigent remains when there is no family objection or next of kin cannot be found, addressing a shortage of burial plots and lowering costs; funeral industry testimony focused on preserving next-of-kin rights. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 475, creating a Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund financed by a $10 surcharge on nursing licenses and disciplinary fines to support workforce data collection and analysis through a nonprofit partner, and House Bill 165, authorizing physician associates, occupational therapists, and APRNs to perform dry needling under training and practice standards set by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. All of the bills received supportive testimony, several members added their names as co-sponsors, and the committee adjourned after moving through the agenda.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Apr 23rd, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I-62, no, zero. The measure passes. File item 125, that's ACR 143 by Assembly Member Pacheco.
  • There's zero no votes on either of these when they made it through with bipartisan support.
  • No, zero. The measure passes. It's so nice to have a pinch hitter. Thank you, Assembly Member.
  • often, a victim may see a different prosecutor at each stage of the case, forcing them to rebuild trust
Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then dispensed with reading the journal and moved through a large number of procedural items, including deeming 102 second-reading items read and amendments adopted. The body also approved several floor motions, including suspending rules for guest access and committee noticing, moving AB 2595 to second reading, and sending ACR 110 to the inactive file. Numerous local officials and community representatives were introduced from cities including South Pasadena, Isparia, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Palmdale, Holtville, and Lindsay. On the floor file, several measures were taken up and passed. AB 1673 by Hadwick, allowing county fish and game commissions more flexibility to use certain funds for wildlife conflict prevention, passed 62-0. ACR 143 by Pacheco, proclaiming April 19-25 as California Cities Week, was adopted with 65 co-authors added. AB 1982 by Lowenthal, removing sunsets from existing anti-drink-spiking requirements for certain establishments, passed 68-0. ACR 158 by Solache, recognizing April 2026 as Donate Life Month, was adopted with 74 co-authors added after testimony about organ donation and transplant needs. AB 1908 by McKinnor, authorizing counties to establish victim compensation funds for survivors of abuse involving public agencies, passed 71-0. AB 2052 by Stephanie, aimed at ensuring continuity for vulnerable victims in criminal cases by allowing the same prosecutor to remain on a case, passed 62-0. ACR 178 by Flora, recognizing April 21 as National Rendering Day, was also adopted with 69 co-authors added. The second-day consent calendar and remaining listed items were then approved, with all votes recorded at 69-0 and no items removed. The Assembly also heard an adjournment in memory from Assembly Member Haney for Mary Dallas Armstrong of San Francisco, followed by announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session. The House adjourned until Monday, April 27, at 1 p.m.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 4, 2025 - 04:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • , daycare, preschool, all words to describe the same thing, which is any care for a child from age zero
  • Any care for a child from age zero to more or less five years old.
  • We have Michelle Watson of the Florida Alliance of Children's Council and Trust. She does.
  • Yes. 17-0, zero nays, Madam Chair. Thank you, Sabrina.
Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met and first took up HB 47, Child Care and Early Learning Providers, sponsored by Rep. McFarland. The bill was presented as an effort to reduce child care costs and regulatory burdens by exempting preschools from special tax assessments, moving teacher training and testing online and making it free, allowing abbreviated inspections for top providers, extending license-exempt status to employer-provided child care, and addressing an insurance issue affecting family child care homes. Members asked about DCF transparency, accreditation, background screening timelines, accountability for exempt facilities, and whether violations would still be searchable; McFarland said accreditation would still be required, DCF reporting and abuse hotlines would remain available, and the bill would not eliminate existing transparency for licensed providers. An amendment was adopted to add clarifying language and exempt certain DOD and Coast Guard child care facilities operated by DOD personnel. Several witnesses and members spoke in support, emphasizing workforce needs, affordability, and safety. HB 47 was reported favorably by a vote of 18-0. The committee then heard HB 259, which designates August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day. Rep. Gerwig said the bill is intended to raise awareness of fentanyl’s dangers and overdose risks. Members spoke in strong support, citing fentanyl’s impact on families, youth, and first responders, and the need for education because fentanyl is often unknowingly ingested or mixed into other drugs. Gerwig also described a personal example involving a child exposed to fentanyl in a vacation rental. HB 259 was reported favorably by a vote of 17-0. The meeting then adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 (Part II) Apr 16th, 2025

Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill promotes fairness, transparency, and trust in our institutions of higher education.
  • There being seven ayes and zero nays, the bill will be reported favorably to the full Senate.
  • Seven ayes and zero nays.
  • There being seven ayes and zero nays, the bill is passed. Do you want that?
  • There being seven ayes and zero nays, the bill is passed. Any objections?
Summary: The Senate Education Committee K-16 resumed public testimony on Senate Bill 735, a Holocaust education bill. Alice Min spoke in support, saying learning about difficult parts of history is important for understanding American history and the experiences of minority communities. Sheila Hemphill also supported the bill but urged broader language to include multiple genocides and more instructional material. After a brief exchange, public testimony on SB 735 closed and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 800, which would strengthen higher-education orientation materials on sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking policies, and Senate Bill 2310, which would require public institutions to post clearer online degree and transfer requirements. Both bills were explained by their authors, committee substitutes were adopted, no public testimony was offered, and each bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2055, a cleanup bill for the Texas Leadership Scholars Program, was also heard and left pending after no testimony. A major portion of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 1069, which would require investigations and mandatory termination for faculty found to have discriminated against students based on religion, with a department placed under conservatorship after a termination. The author said the bill was meant to address religious discrimination and protect students; several witnesses, including Muslim and Jewish law students and other advocates, argued it was too vague, lacked a definition of religious discrimination, threatened academic freedom, and could chill speech. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2972, which would set new limits on expressive activity on public university campuses, including restrictions on encampments, masks, sound amplification, and protests during finals; opponents said it would restrict free speech and protest rights, while the bill was adopted as a committee substitute and left pending. Senate Bill 2815, allowing students to choose the diploma name after a university merger or renaming, was briefly heard and left pending. Later, the committee took up pending business and voted out several bills. SB 2920, SB 2398, SB 2927, SB 2929, SB 1241, SB 1395, SB 401, SB 1972, and SB 2540 were reported favorably, with some committee substitutes adopted and several placed on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1241’s substitute would have the Higher Education Coordinating Board study standardized test equivalency scores for admissions. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.