Transcript Highlights:

• Public service loan forgiveness is a federal program that provides federal student loan debt forgiveness
• Changes in federal law at the federal level made it easier to qualify.
• And that's really, really powerful for our state.
• It's only a funding... ...that the federal government sets the cap.
• The purchasing power of HEAF to address critical infrastructure needs.

Bills: HB42 , HB 125 , HB 1233 , HB2853 , HB3148 , HB3326 , HB3701 , HB4066 , HB4361 , HB4762 , HB4909 , HB4912 , HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

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 Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income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

Transcript Highlights:

• Act.
• Act.
• Act.
• Act.
• Act.

Bills: HCR17 , HR993 , HR901 , HR495 , HR1374 , HB1692 , HR1166 , HR708 , HR862 , HR706

Keywords: Holocaust, remembrance, Emancipation Hall, ceremony, commemoration, Iran, Iranian protests, Islamic Republic, free and democratic Iran, human rights, women, life, freedom, morality police, political prisoners, internet shutdown, communications blackout, civil liberties, democracy, self-determination, regime repression, dissidents

Transcript Highlights:

• This aligns Oklahoma with federal law. Open for questions, move for adoption.

Bills: SB330 , SB2069 , SB2095

Committee: House Wildlife

Keywords: elk population, wildlife management, Oklahoma State University, veterinary medicine, ecosystem health, habitat assessment, advanced nuclear energy, nuclear power, small modular reactor, SMR, microreactor, generation III+, generation IV, nuclear reactor, nuclear permitting, nuclear licensing, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, OCC, Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Development Revolving Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• it was finally pulled because, for among other reasons, it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act
• we wind up in court because they may run afoul of some of the union labor laws that exist at the federal
• I am very clear on the real rub between state and federal, the supremacy clause, and the commerce clause
• Yeah, out of what I would say is an act of wisdom, we learn from the mistakes of others before something

Bills: HB3015 , HB3114 , HB3411 , HB3567 , HB3568 , HB3749 , HB3891 , HB4229 , HB4237 , HB4253 , HJR1019 , HJR1046 , HJR1084

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: electronic credentials, Service Oklahoma, digital identification, data protection, driver's license, electronic monitoring, criminal justice reform, nonviolent offenders, Department of Corrections, parole, state law, biosolids, PFAS, environmental safety, agriculture, public health, Department of Environmental Quality, testing regulations, soil amendments, HB3567

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are based on the general appropriation, the Children's Act, and targets that are set legislatively
• Instead, efforts could be directed towards analyzing and acting upon the existing findings to develop
• This also leverages a drawdown of federal funding by working in tandem with the federal employer-provided
• Despite acting out of compassion and urgency, I was also reprimanded for doing this. as well.
• The implied warranties under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act have all been disclaimed.

Bills: HB74 , HB175 , HB460 , HB576 , HB2271 , HB2294 , HB2874 , HB3016 , HB3133 , HB3191 , HB3458 , HB3929 , HB4063 , HB4115 , HB4394 , HB74 , HB175

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• current statute to describe who is authorized to... be the trustee or substitute trustee to exercise the power
• the property code chapter 51 by leveraging the definition of person from the Texas Code Construction Act
• We've seen some confusion arise about whether a person acting as a substitute trustee may be a legal
• Particularly because most of the funds are federal funds and the dollars could be absorbed. with the
• These tools are powerful. but they are also used nefariously, sometimes.

Bills: HB74 , HB175 , HB460 , HB576 , HB2271 , HB2294 , HB2874 , HB3016 , HB3133 , HB3191 , HB3458 , HB3929 , HB4063 , HB4115 , HB4394 , HB74 , HB175

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• , as well as both the state and federal Fair Housing Acts to protect individuals from discrimination
• the federal constitution, where it's implied by the structure.
• of Texans without power for weeks due to high wind damages to power lines.
• This bill. allows non-profit water supply corporations to sell excess power generation back to the power
• This one bill talked about using power for our own use, but also selling that excess power to, among

Bills: HB842 , HB1907 , HB2844 , HB2892 , HB3439 , HB4211 , HB4536 , HB5111 , HB5138 , HB5182 , HB5247 , HB5269 , HB5323 , HB5435 , HJR201 , SB871 , HB3896 , SJR40

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the second piece of the reforms to the Emergency Powers Act.
• Emergency powers are designated as the response for acts of terror, warfare, and situations where citizen
• powers intact, except that he cannot suspend the Disaster Act itself, the Emergency Act, or a provision
• The bill doesn't expand investigative powers under Article 18B.
• I mean, they have a lot of power in this regard.

Bills: HB842 , HB1907 , HB2844 , HB2892 , HB3439 , HB4211 , HB4536 , HB5111 , HB5138 , HB5182 , HB5247 , HB5269 , HB5323 , HB5435 , HJR201 , SB871 , HB3896 , SJR40

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1849, the acting U.S.
• So when the money is spent, it would be subject to the Open Meetings Act.
• Critical infrastructure, and I don't think that part should be subject to the Open Meetings Act.
• So, but the Open Meetings Act allows for emergency...
• The bill is covered by everything subject to the Open Meetings Act.

Bills: HJR4 , HJR6 , HB195 , HB 13 , HB143 , HB135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today though to speak Read Act.
• </c> professional development so they can act professional development so they can act on<00:05:26.400
• The Minnesota Read Act is a training.
• It is powerful to hear that message.
• It is powerful to come um in the time.

Bills: HF60 , HF3067 , HF3730 , HF3638 , HF3401

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• She further warned her husband against putting unlimited power in the hands of husbands, on the grounds
• against She further warned her husband against putting<00:02:56.960><c> unlimited</c><00:02:57.720><c> power
• in</c><00:02:58.800><c> the</c><00:02:59.080><c> in</c><00:02:59.240><c> the</c> putting unlimited power
• in the in the putting unlimited power in the in the hands<00:02:59.760><c> of</c><00:02:59.920><c> husbands
• The A17 amendment is the READ Act as was walked through on Monday.

Bills: HF60 , HF3067 , HF3730 , HF3638 , HF3401

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• He was serving in WAL Act, the Youth Legislative Advisory Council.
• for the purpose of sunsetting those boards and commissions that weren't meeting, and we just haven't acted

Bills: HR9 , HR15 , HB202 , HB206 , HB338 , HB379 , HB547 , HB691 , HB843 , HB861 , HB908

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: human rights, individual liberties, Magna Carta, constitutionalism, free speech, voter identification, election integrity, federal elections, public confidence, election security, SAVE America Act, Louisiana, election fraud, job advertisement, salary transparency, civil service, employment notification, applicant rights, legislative attendance, task force

Transcript Highlights:

• Acting Chair, you miss acting chair.
• Acting Chair, Ms. Carter, go ahead. Go ahead, go, Chair.
• It's an inappropriate use of governor power, and with that I vote aye. Aye.
• Congress act to clearly define the EPA's powers and duties. ...that the U.S.
• Congress act to clearly define the EPA's powers and duties, but I'm happy to answer any questions.

Bills: SB1137 , SB1200 , SB1419 , SB1447 , SB1560 , SCM1004

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip, interactive positive response system, landlord duties, apartment community, mobile home park, sewer line

Bills: HR888 , SJR80 , HJR131 , HJR130 , HJR133 , HR889 , HR878 , HR879 , HB4405 , HR887 , HR886

Keywords: censure, Stacey Plaskett, Jeffrey Epstein, House of Representatives, Intelligence Committee, ethical conduct, congressional disapproval, Bureau of Land Management, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, environmental regulation, oil leasing, coastal plain, HJR130, H.J.Res. 130, Congressional Review Act, CRA, BLM, Buffalo Field Office, resource management plan

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill amends the federal government code to include both current and former administrative law judges
• This resolution is asking the federal government to move forward with... ...NASA's headquarters from
• But they are not governed by either state or federal law.

Bills: HCR141 , SB438 , SB1495 , SB1964 , HB 1225

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: HCR 141, House Concurrent Resolution, NASA, Houston, Space City, Johnson Space Center, Mission Control, Apollo 11, moon landing, aerospace, commercial space, space exploration, Texas Space Commission, space policy, federal resolution, memorial resolution, Congress, Washington D.C., headquarters relocation, space industry

Transcript Highlights:

• offers a chance to support moderate-income households who often fall above the income limits for federal
• John Dirch with the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico.

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

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

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:

• Again, if they can draw down additional federal funds, they can... ...of Family Representation.
• This is where line 48, if the federal government rescinds the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid expansion
• It's like the federal government says you're not getting...
• It's like the federal government says you're not getting any more federal Medicaid expansion dollars.
• Line 50, the recommendation is yes to align those federal funds for TANF.

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

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

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:

• Holy Spirit, almighty God, we bow before you in humility and in awe of your infinite majesty, wisdom, power
• artificial light and sky glow, resulting in exhaustion and deadly collisions with buildings, glass, power
• So, I believe the federal government can go in and audit a tribal gaming compact, as well as they can
• I do believe that if those lines are redrawn, the whole federal Gaming Act could blow up.
• The role of the government, as we have said in our constitution, and that we say in both our federal

Bills: HB3834 , HB3940 , HB4346 , HB2947 , HB3257 , HB3264 , HB4326 , HB4421 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB4118 , SCR22 , SB169 , HB1047 , HB2123 , HB2650 , HB3260 , HB3403 , SR41 , HB3649 , HB3742 , HB3831 , HB3996 , HB4321 , HB4339

Keywords: HB3834, Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act, ibogaine, ibogaine-based therapeutics, ibogaine analogs, clinical trials, FDA approval, breakthrough therapy designation, opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, traumatic brain injury, mental health, neurological disorders, drug development, public-private partnership, State Department of Health, intellectual property, revolving fund, research funding, medical licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate didn't act, but we're going to encourage them in the 119th to act when we urge all of our
• The Senate didn't act, but we're going to encourage them in the 119th to act when we urge all of our
• and Science Act.
• , or IMPACT Act.
• , or the IMPACT Act, H.R. 1534.

Bills: HR240 , HR198 , HR1326 , HR359 , HB1534 , HR1368 , HR1350 , HR1325 , HR1318 , HR730

Keywords: resolution, death of a representative, honor, adjournment, Raul Grijalva, Raúl M. Grijalva, Arizona, House resolution, memorial resolution, condolence resolution, death of a member, adjournment in memory, tribute, obituary, congressional memorial, House of Representatives, committee funding, budget allocation, government expenditures, Congress

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:40.480><c> Um</c> um federal pro federal workforce. Um um federal pro federal workforce.
• >> Oh, from that federal grant.
• >> Oh, from that federal grant.
• >> Oh, from that federal grant.
• >> Oh, from that federal grant.

Bills: SB2024 , SB896 , SB2613 , SB494 , SB2391 , SB2125 , SB2614 , SB2615 , SB3262 , SB3325 , SB3118

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139