Transcript Highlights:

• And then you can see that we had a total of 418 social service workers who are managing those cases across
• And then you can see that we had a total of 418 social service workers who are managing those cases across

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging, Children and Youth approved the February 11 minutes and then reviewed a DCFS policy manual update from Director Tiffany Wright. Wright said the changes move internal procedures out of administrative rule into DCFS’s internal procedure manual under an executive order, while also updating terminology, conforming to enacted laws, revising foster family continuing education hours, and removing obsolete requirements. Members asked whether the changes would alter practice; Wright said they were mainly terminology and process-location changes, intended to make the department more efficient and flexible. The committee then accepted the rule review without objection. Wright next presented DCFS quarterly performance data for the third quarter of FY 2026. She reported 8,610 hotline reports accepted, 6,919 assigned to DCFS, 22% of investigations found true, neglect as the most common substantiated allegation, and continued staffing shortages in some counties affecting timeliness. She also reported 3,420 foster care cases, 1,788 in-home cases involving 4,568 children, 72% monthly home-visit compliance, 36% permanency within 12 months, 4.5% re-entry into foster care, and 156 children available for adoption. Members asked about neglect trends, sexual abuse/exploitation data, behavior-related removals, staffing recruitment and retention, training improvements, and whether ACE-style testing should be considered for children; Wright said DCFS is expanding recruitment, retention, and training efforts and was open to further discussion on education-related assessments. The committee also received DCFS’s biannual overturned investigations report, covering July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, which tracks hotline calls, accepted reports, true findings, appeals, and overturned findings by county. A member asked for comparison to the prior year’s report. Major Jeff Drew then presented the Crimes Against Children Division annual report, saying the hotline received 67,987 calls in 2025, 37,986 were accepted for investigation, and CACD handled 6,539 cases with a 28% substantiation rate. Members asked about hotline operator training, qualifications, salary, and whether Arkansas compares with other states; Drew said operators receive a four-week training that includes law, policy, scenarios, recorded calls, live-call monitoring, and evidence-chain/decision-making instruction. Finally, Elizabeth Pooley of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas reported that the statewide network of 29 CACs and 64 multidisciplinary teams served 13,568 children and families in 2025, up about 3,000 from the prior year, and hosted 259 trainings for professionals. She said funding comes from a mix of state, federal, and community sources, with state funding set at roughly $70,000 to $75,000 per center and not based on caseload. Members asked about funding stability and standards of care; Pooley said CACs follow national standards and Arkansas is developing state best practices. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3448 addresses this by amending the utilities code to add Chapter 254.
• After all, the vast majority of polls currently in the ground in Texas are governed by the FCC formula
• So this bill creates a new chapter in the code applicable to certain telecom entities.
• in Texas utility code 54204c, the law these bills, this bill appears modeled on.
• And in fact, Chapter 253 of the Utilities Code specifically recognizes those those limited rights of

Transcript Highlights:

• If you see line 27 on page one, it's the section code 40-18 that...
• It's the section code 40-18 that has a comma after 18, which is supposed to be a dash.
• It's a technical revision that just takes some code sections that are cross-referenced in the wrong place

Bills: SB96, SB97, SB130, HB230, SB154, SB93, SB99, SB96, SB97, SB130, HB230, SB154, SB93, SB99

Keywords: salvage title, salvage certificate of title, rebuilt title, flood vehicle, junk vehicle, total loss, motor vehicle title, vehicle branding, insurance claim, insurance company, Department of Revenue, vehicle inspection, rebuilder, automotive dismantler, parts recycler, secondary metals recycler, junkyard, vehicle identification number, VIN, stolen vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• AGC Texas Building Branch for SJR 59.
• Education Code provisions for governing to prevent loss in schools, including measuring what matters
• rights in Texas.
• Senate Bill 2138 would close a critical loophole by applying Government Code Chapter 809 to governing
• Senate Bill 2138 would close a critical loophole by applying Government Code Chapter 809 to governing

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several higher education and public school bills. Senator Burwell presented SB 1242 to remove an outdated Coordinating Board approval requirement for Texas State Technical College land and facility acquisitions, and SJR 59 to create a constitutionally dedicated endowment for TSTC capital needs; both drew strong support from industry and workforce groups and were left pending. SB 757, by Senator Middleton, would create a debt-to-earnings accountability system for public college programs, with supporters saying it would protect students from low-value degrees and opponents warning it could unfairly penalize programs with long-term value, especially graduate, medical, and public service fields; it was also left pending. SB 1241, by Senator Millington, would expand acceptable college entrance exams beyond the SAT and ACT, including the Classic Learning Test, and was left pending after testimony from CLT, homeschool, and student groups in support. SB 1085, by Senator Blanco, would let Sul Ross State University offer lower-division courses at its satellite campuses in the Middle Rio Grande region; it too was left pending. The committee then took up a series of public school and higher education measures, voting several out favorably. SB 605, as substituted, limits commissioner approval of charter school expansion amendments for schools under conservatorship or a management team and was reported favorably 9-0. SB 1871 and SB 1873, both by Senator Perry, were revised to narrow teacher immunity, clarify removal and suspension procedures, require periodic review of in-school suspension placements, and align discipline rules; both substitutes were adopted and reported favorably. SB 1872, SB 1874, SB 762, SB 1962, SB 1750, SB 2252, SB 2253, SB 2365, SB 1924, and SB 37 were also considered, with most reported favorably on party-line or near-unanimous votes. SB 1750 would replace a flat charter school facilities funding cap with an attendance-based formula; SB 2252 and SB 2253 address kindergarten readiness, early literacy/numeracy, and educator preparation; SB 2365 concerns student phone use during instructional time; SB 1924 restores local citation authority for certain school offenses and adds reporting, notice, and completion requirements; and SB 37 would expand state oversight of higher education curriculum, governance, faculty senates, and compliance with state law. Other measures heard included SB 769, which would require a Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education; supporters emphasized the need for better data and accessibility, while witnesses suggested broader reporting on race, disability types, and K-12-to-college transitions. SB 2231 would designate a Free College Application Week in October and was left pending. SB 1878 would modernize the Josie School statute and provide formula funding and aid eligibility for Polytechnic College. SB 1409 would authorize universities to offer self-funded student health benefit plans, with Rice University and Texas 2036 supporting the measure as a way to lower costs and expand coverage. SB 2431 would require universities to give foreign language credit for study abroad programs, SB 2314 would require schools to inform students about opting in or out of record sharing for direct admissions through My Texas Future, and SB 2138 would extend the state’s anti-ESG contracting restrictions to public higher education endowments and governing boards; these later bills were introduced and left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3448 addresses this by amending the Utilities Code to add Chapter 254.
• After all, the vast majority of the poles currently in the ground in Texas are governed by the FCC formula
• This chapter in the code is applicable to certain telecom entities.
• rates under Texas Utility Code 54.204(c).
• As stated in Texas Utility Code 54.204(d), the regulatory commission decides these disputes when they

Bills: HB3445, HB3448

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An act to amend Title 21 of the Delaware Code.
• The legislation modernizes Chapter 57 of Title 15, which governs how election results are canvassed and
• , and Chapter 10.
• Title 18, Title 28, Title 29, Title 31 of the Delaware Code, and Chapter 237, Volume 83 of the Laws of
• General Assembly could not override local governments.

Summary: The House convened on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, and moments of silence for Gerlindy Lancelotti and Iva Durham. Members then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions, including consent calendar items and several measures related to agriculture, lottery reporting, health care, fire service membership standards, inmate work, telecommunications, rent increases, youth camp licensing, primary elections, respiratory care practice, and marriage equality. The chamber also heard extended debate on Senate Bill 233, concerning removal of snow and ice from vehicles, and on House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary while barring participation in both parties’ primaries. Among the notable actions, House Concurrent Resolution 157 passed as amended, directing the State Lottery to report on options to support traditional lottery retailers. Senate Bill 53, preserving the Delaware Farm to Community Program if federal support declines, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 307, giving the Public Service Commission authority to designate eligible Lifeline carriers, and Senate Bill 339, clarifying advance health care directives, also passed. Senate Bill 235, removing a sunset on manufactured home rent increase calculations, passed, as did Senate Bill 325 after House Amendment 1 narrowed disqualifying offenses for fire service membership and adjusted related background-check rules. Senate Bill 309, discharging remaining incarceration-cost balances, and Senate Bill 324, addressing constable-related firearm permit provisions, both passed. The chamber tabled Senate Bill 233 once to consider a proposed amendment for trucks and other hard-to-clear vehicles, but the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended by the Senate. Senate Joint Resolution 19, directing DHSS to study strategies to reduce health care costs, was tabled pending legal review. Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry, passed after extensive floor debate and personal statements from members on both sides. Senate Bill 293, creating a licensure pathway for summer camps to participate in purchase-of-care, passed after House Amendment 1. House Bill 188 on open primary access for unaffiliated voters passed 22-17, and Senate Bill 94, concerning respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery, passed after House Amendment 2. The transcript ends as the House begins consideration of House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404.

Transcript Highlights:

• I teach at two Texas law schools. Um, I'm also a former assistant DA in two large Texas counties.
• Um, I've been an assistant city attorney in several Texas cities, so I'm very familiar with Texas ordinances
• If neutrality has the value of handing that over to the governance, local governance, which will likely
• Actually has an outcome that says it will be the governance, local governance that that establishes the
• 26, uh, of the, of the tax code.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're in the Committee on House and Government Affairs. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
• So somebody from Texas, say, couldn't come and trot in with an ID from Texas and say that they live here
• in and out of the voting booth with a Texas license plate on their car.
• The 2007 election code had 298 pages. The 2007 election code had 298 pages in it.
• But aren't the census workers like hired through the government?

Bills: HR118, HR196, HR237, HR285, HCR85, HB442, HB443, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR63, SB25, SB202, SB319

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that if you're already regulated by the federal government, you don't fall into this.
• completely separate group of people that are preying on veterans that are not regulated by the federal government
• Yeah, that came through House Government.

Bills: HB302, HB371, HB597, HB1097, HB1190, SB34, SB164, SB208, SB232, SB317, SB357, SB421, SB510

Keywords: legal representation, attorney general, elected officials, defense, legislative acts, judicial review, judiciary, election, judges, 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge, precincts, coroner, retention, body, mortuary, investigation, missing persons, Amber Alert, Endangered Missing Child Advisory

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate and House bills, mostly dealing with courts, veterans, public safety, and licensing. Early actions included favorable reports on SB 317, which adds the House and Senate Military and Veterans Affairs committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, and SB 357, which updates court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, cleans up outdated language, and revises reimbursement and security rules. SB 232, funding the judges’ supplemental compensation fund, was amended and reported favorably, and SB 421, modernizing electronic records terminology and safeguards, was also reported favorably. Several House bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and later HB 374-1. The committee then took up SB 208 on veterans’ services, which was presented as a response to the earlier court ruling striking down Act 479. The bill seeks to regulate unaccredited “claim shark” businesses that charge veterans for disability-claim assistance, while exempting federally regulated accredited agents. Testimony from the Department of Veterans Affairs supported the bill as a way to protect veterans from predatory practices, while an opposing witness argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress or the pending Fifth Circuit appeal. Despite the objection, the bill was reported favorably. Members also advanced SB 510, which would restrict access to certain licensed establishments that sell hemp-based intoxicating products, especially bar-like venues where minors can currently enter; Alcohol and Tobacco Control explained the bill’s purpose and scope. HB 302, by Representative Chasson, was discussed as a measure to prohibit vape sales near schools, with testimony from public health and ATC witnesses noting the need to align the bill with existing licensing and local-ordinance authority; the committee moved it favorably after discussion. Finally, SB 34, creating “Brian’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with developmental disabilities, drew extensive emotional testimony from families and disability advocates and was reported favorably, as was SB 164, which adds public works employees to the definition of first responders. The committee adjourned after reporting HB 597, which restructures judicial compensation rules and eliminates the commission after a delayed effective date, and after deferring HB 374-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation updates and modernizes the statutory language governing the promotional fund, ensuring
• Senate Bill 1960 is a government efficiency and modernization bill.

Bills: SB2063, SB1877, SB1884, SB2174, SB1525, SB1771, SB1805, SB1916, SB1365, SB1810

Keywords: unclaimed property, abandoned property, state treasurer, unclaimed property fund, public website, claimant, hearing, administrative procedures act, sales tax exemption, income tax subtraction, youth entrepreneurs, teen business, minor-owned business, sole proprietorship, business license exemption, entrepreneurship, youth vendor, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Title 60, Title 68

Transcript Highlights:

• McKinsey Bishop, co-owner of Abrazo Homes here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as the chair of government
• it includes $6,250,000 to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, $2 million to the Local Government
• it includes $6,250,000 to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, $2 million to the Local Government

Bills: HB63, HB64, HB184, HB200, HB47, HB48, HB2, HB9

Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans

Transcript Highlights:

• So in Chapter 11, it codifies the Texas Constitution requirement.
• It's already in the code, Chapter 11, so they must verify citizenship.
• Texas Government Code Chapter 552 and Texas Election Code Sections 1.012 and 18.66 say the door to election
• That loss of transparency conflicts with the Texas Election Code, Section 122.001A10, which requires
• How elections work in Texas is essential knowledge for a government of the people, by the people, and

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender

Transcript Highlights:

• Is chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code. I mentioned the three-legged stool.
• There is the chapter 36 of the Human Resources Code, which is the statute that used to be known as the
• Uh, but it's still chapter 36 of the Human Resources Code.
• Our statute, chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code.
• Uh, the statute is Chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code. 32 of the Human Resources. Yes, sir.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the Texas Government Code.
• Um, We are pursuant to sections 551.002 and 571.139B of the Texas government code, we are ready to proceed
• code.
• code.
• Similar outcome with chapter with with Section 3902 of the penal code, you know, if, if they come by.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law in Texas government code requires all Texas police agencies to provide a retired police officer
• Fraud has an entire chapter. Chapter 32 of Texas Penal Code corruption has Chapter 36.
• items under Chapter 22. 9 of the local government code.
• So House Bill 3138 amends Chapter 342 Local Government Code to conform to that 2021 law, uh, four years
• police officers regarding what the Constitution in Chapter 9 of Texas Penal Code permits as reasonable

Transcript Highlights:

• We were established by the statute, and we're governed by, under the insurance code, by the workers'
• on the job site in Texas.
• I'm the Executive Director for the Council. created in 1993 under Texas Government Code Chapter 2308
• Expense for local government.
• chapters in the state of Texas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas.

Bills: HB406

Keywords: local economic development, notification, workforce development, municipal agreements, county contracts, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the Texas Radiological Society, the Texas Medical Association, and myself.
• The statute governing the administrative enforcement is found in Chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code
• is in chapter 36 of the Human Resources Code.
• 1367 of the Insurance Code.
• It wouldn't be one code wrong.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the visions that we use to do that is Chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code. mention the
• This includes the Chapter 36 of the Human Resources Code, which is the statute that used to be known
• It's still Chapter 36 of the Human Resources Code.
• Our statute, chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code, which is the statute that we enforce when we go
• The statute is Chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code. 32 of the Human Resources Code. Yes, sir.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• existing Chapter 30A with a new Chapter 30B.
• Uh, this is a completely separate portion of the Texas education code. So the answer is no.
• There are separate sections of Texas education code.
• So this would establish Texas Education Code Chapter 30B.
• They are enrolled in private schools, and so they're separate chapters of the education code.

Bills: HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management