Transcript Highlights:

• On Election Day, for those counties that are opting to utilize the countywide polling place program,
• In January of 2024, we will utilize recent advancements in technology to build a stronger data layer
• First, it reduces liability.
• By providing a destination and managed point of service, it helps mitigate potential liability issues
• So this hits on what we need, and that is medical professionals making a medical diagnosis and utilizing

Bills: HB45, SB1540, SB2225, SB2284, SB2382, SB2487, SB2514, SB2595, SB2876, SB2877, SB3031, SB2753

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, spirit beverages, alcoholic beverages, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, distribution, taxation, firearms, local regulation, archery equipment, weapons, voter registration, statewide list

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a lot easier to utilize the criminal system to enforce that court order, because if you have a right
• commercial spaceflight in Texas, the outdated statutes of the past are no longer sufficient to ensure liability
• commercial spaceflight in Texas, the outdated statutes of the past are no longer sufficient to ensure liability

Bills: HB46, HB272

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills and took no final votes, leaving each bill pending after testimony. HB 272 would align venue and evidentiary rules for fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information with existing credit card abuse law; the sponsor said it would improve prosecutions, and the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center supported it. HB 1661 would increase penalties for certain election-related offenses, including failure to distribute election supplies and early release of election results; no substantive opposition was heard. HB 551 would protect the residential addresses of people who receive campaign expenditures on public Texas Ethics Commission reports, similar to donor privacy protections, and a witness from Texas Eagle Forum later indicated support for the privacy change. The committee also heard HB 2820, which would raise the amount charitable bingo organizations may keep in operating capital from $50,000 to $100,000. The sponsor and a Texans for Charitable Bingo representative said inflation and operating costs have made the current cap too low and that the bill would help charities maintain stable operations without expanding gaming. HB 3181 would impose stronger consequences for repeated denial of court-ordered child possession and access, including limiting probation and requiring attorney’s fees after multiple contempt findings; a family court judge and a parent testified in support, while another witness argued the bill should be paired with stronger criminal enforcement and that parents already face high costs. HB 4157 would update Texas law for commercial spaceflight by recognizing liability waivers and preserving workers’ compensation rights; no one testified against it. The committee also heard HB 4145, which would let health care providers satisfy a timely billing requirement by sending bills to a patient’s legal representative in a personal injury case, closing what supporters described as a loophole in letter-of-protection situations. Finally, HB 46, relating to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, drew the most extensive discussion: supporters said it should expand access for legitimate medical cannabis patients and add more delivery methods and conditions, while opponents warned against broader marijuana expansion and questioned adding chronic pain and other conditions. The sponsor said he still supports the program and wants a balanced, regulated expansion, but noted the bill is still being worked on. All bills were left pending at the close of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS DOES NOT CHANGE ANY EXISTING LIABILITIES OR REMOVE ANY PROTECTIONS FOR SENSITIVE INFORMATION WITH
• INDIVIDUALS WITH THE BILL DEFINES THE TERM DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL AND GRANTS IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY
• SPECIFICALLY DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PRODUCT FROM ABORTED FETUSES AND REQUIRES THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO UTILIZE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second change allows companies that utilize a net worth of $100 million to either submit proof by
• Secretary: Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 316, a bill to be entitled an act relating to Limited Liability
• Secretary: Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 316, a bill to be entitled an act relating to Limited Liability

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those nonprofits and those daycare child care centers are having a very, very difficult time finding liability
• difficult time finding liability difficult time finding liability insurance<00:25:19.919> and
• that defendant has and all liabilities that defendant has and all the<01:08:48.080> kind<01:08
• So it should be in the next Public Utilities, I know. We did run this by industry.
• Utilities okay and we did run this by Utilities okay and we did run this by industry<01:24:13.679>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an administrative law judge with the Public Utilities Commission, and I'm asking for your support
• I'm an attorney three with the California Public Utilities Commission with the CASE union.
• living, whether it's gas, whether it's food, whether it's, you know, the cost of electricity and utilities
• And for the private and public sector employers that fund the SIBTF, it means massive and mounting liability
• The result is a system that now faces approximately $30 billion in existing liability that continues

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the bill strictly forbids utilities from collecting undercollection fees from nondefault service
• <00:37:43.280> from strictly forbids utilities from strictly forbids utilities from collecting
• And we know that the fiscal liability facing the state is enormous.
• toward addressing that liability.
• addressing that liability.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, there are all sorts of liability issues, plus you don't know the patient's history.
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2457 allows a utility, after providing 30 days' written notice to
• and the extra high load factor customer has received all applicable zoning entitlements, and the utility
• Monopoly utilities are not always forthcoming with information, and the certificate of environmental
• Monopoly utilities are not always forthcoming with information, and the certificate of environmental

Bills: HB2051, HB2324, HB2439, HB2457, HB2686, HB2837, HB2875, HB2953

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, HB2324, fire code, fire marshal, state fire marshal, municipalities, cities and towns, county-owned buildings, county buildings, intergovernmental agreement, IGA, fire inspection, occupancy certificate, building inventory, local government, county government

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities earn bigger profits.
• Utilities earn bigger profits and utility executives do earn bigger bonuses by spending more money.
• , returns, compensation, and grid utilization.
• , returns, compensation, and grid utilization.
• California Coalition of Utility Employees.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• talk to legal counsel and things of that nature to ensure that you're not opening yourself up to liability
• different classes to try to steer those software companies in a direction that we May be able to utilize
• My goal with that is to utilize all GIS fronts or all GIS initiatives that are going on in the state

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation currently reads electric utility. We are adding water utility to that.
• Section 12, no personal liability for employees or board members operating within the course and scope

Keywords: Energy - Room 409, 3 March, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1049, which was explained as a House vehicle used to insert two previously introduced Senate bills: the rural water oversight committee bill and a measure expanding PSC authority to reject certain certificated areas for municipalities serving customers more than one mile outside city limits, with water utilities added to the existing electric utility language. The committee adopted the strike-off amendment and then passed the amended bill, which was reported out. Next, House Bill 1305 was taken up. The bill would expand oversight of municipally owned electrical distribution systems by allowing the Public Service Commission to conduct audits, but it included a reverse repealer because further work was still needed. The sponsor said he wanted to ensure systems that do not need auditing are not unnecessarily included. The committee adopted the strike-off amendment and then reported the bill. The final and most detailed item was a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority. The sponsor described it as a response to Jackson’s water crisis and warned that without action the city could face bankruptcy and bondholder enforcement. The bill would create a new authority covering Jackson water and wastewater service areas, establish a board with appointments by the mayor, governor, lieutenant governor, and others, transfer operations when the court-ordered process ends, and give the authority powers over rates, contracts, bonds, procurement, reporting, and related financial matters. A committee member asked whether population-based language would capture any city other than Jackson; the sponsor said Jackson is the only city over 100,000 population and acknowledged a drafting issue, noting the reverse repealer was included because the bill was not yet perfect. After the strike-off was adopted, the committee voted to report the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have five temporary intern positions that we utilize to onboard additional people.
• the district to process our milling stockpiles into surface treatment aggregate, which we can then utilize
• It essentially is an Impact to the state's risk liability insurance, and so that's how it's covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements to collect meaningful data and outcomes to ensure that taxpayer resources are being utilized
• And I would like to understand how they're supposed to even pay their utility bills and everything they
• We're allowing districts to take that money and utilize it for something other than, say, just within
• We're just giving them additional flexibility to be able to take it and utilize it how they see fit at
• The consent calendar process will be utilized for considering the amendments as follows.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• today I I I can't I can't utilize today I I I can't I can't utilize inhalation<01:25:00.320>
• For me specifically, once a month, I would utilize that.
• <01:33:01.040> only necessarily best for us to utilize only necessarily best for us to utilize
• Would be utilizing that equipment. May I ask, are you in Manchester? Yes.
• Would be utilizing that equipment. May I ask, are you in Manchester? Yes.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cahill indicated, it's a better system to simply utilize the extensions that the department routinely
• the<00:18:01.520> uh<00:18:01.679> extensions<00:18:02.240> that simply utilize
• the uh extensions that simply utilize the uh extensions that the<00:18:03.200> department<00:
• for our members creates again liability for our members who<05:42:38.878> are<05:42:39.040>
• Not only would employers be risking mislead liability, but this bill also includes a criminal penalty

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1150, which would require disclosure of complaints to public employees within five business days. Members said the sponsor was still working on an amendment, so the bill was held for another week with the understanding it would be executed next week if no amendment was ready. The chair also outlined the committee’s schedule, including upcoming floor reports and the goal of finishing the remaining committee bills on time. The committee then took up House Bill 1168, concerning employer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the bill would give employers more time to gather payroll records, especially when claims arise years later, and said the current system should be adjusted for fairness to businesses. Opponents, including several members, said payroll records are usually electronic and should be produced quickly so workers waiting on wages are not delayed. The Department of Labor deputy commissioner testified that employers can already request extensions and that further extensions could still be requested under the current process. The committee voted 11-9 to ought to pass HB 1168. Next, House Bill 1250, dealing with notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements for leave related to childbirth, postpartum care, and pediatric appointments, was considered. Members said the statute was newly enacted, had been carefully negotiated, and should be allowed to work before being revised. The committee voted 20-0 to recommend inexpedient to legislate, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1043, which would allow private employers to adopt their own minimum pay policies for report-to-work situations instead of being bound by the current two-hour minimum, so long as the policy is established in advance. The sponsor said the bill would modernize an outdated law and preserve the current default if no policy is adopted. Members raised questions about collective bargaining agreements and whether the bill could weaken existing worker protections, while the sponsor and supporters said it was intended to provide flexibility rather than a mandate. The hearing continued with questions and discussion, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Operating costs, like fuel and utilities and legal services.
• them, and we're utilizing health.
• them, and we're utilizing health.
• to utilize them and we're utilizing to utilize them and we're utilizing health<01:19:55.120>
• this because they don't have utilizing this because they don't have those<01:20:15.520> providers

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for a Health and Finance Policy hearing, began with member and staff introductions, and noted that Representative Keeler was participating as a non-voting member. The chair outlined committee rules on decorum and then introduced the day’s first agency presentation from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), with Commissioner Cunningham appearing to present the department’s budget priorities. Commissioner Cunningham described MDH’s broad public health role and emphasized that public health is underfunded relative to health care, with significant reliance on federal dollars. The department’s main budget request was for infectious disease prevention and response to offset anticipated federal funding losses. MDH also outlined several fee increases tied to public water systems, wells, licensing and certification, assisted living and health care facilities, HMO regulation, food/pools/lodging inspections, radioactive materials, X-ray equipment, and asbestos abatement. The commissioner said these changes were needed because costs, workload, and regulatory complexity have increased, while many fees have not been updated in years. MDH also presented budget-neutral proposals, including continuing the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee, converting the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force into a standing advisory committee, restoring some local and tribal public health cannabis and substance misuse prevention grants, creating direct American Indian Health Special Emphasis Grants, reauthorizing the State Trauma Advisory Council, and extending firefighter PFAS biomonitoring work. The department also requested an operations adjustment for rising employee, insurance, fuel, utility, and legal costs, and referenced additional Clean Water Legacy Fund proposals. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided. Representative Bierman then offered supportive comments, praising MDH’s work and backing the funding and fee proposals, especially the restoration of local public health prevention grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• your help today, uh, in regards to how do we move forward in finding and creating a package and utilizing
• and that benefit once again for the reminder of folks is that it would extinguish the state tax liability

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2424, Korea, Public Utility Commission Advisory Board, holding committee.
• AB 2700, Gallagher, utility rates and electric rates, Utility rates and electric rates and utility wildfire
• AB 2493, Petrinoris, utility auditor, do pass. That's out on a B roll call.
• AB 2338, Ransom, utility rate cases, held in committee.
• AB 1975, Schultz, distribution grid utilization metric, held in committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tax and property taxes. utility is municipally owned like penu utility is municipally owned like penu
• <02:01:02.360> for is there would be no tax liability for is there would be no tax liability
• talk about SWAT cost um or or utility talk about SWAT cost um or or utility property<02:02:10.840
• <02:02:25.360> property should be subject to utility property should be subject to utility
• tax that would not be subject to utility tax that would not be subject to utility property<02:02

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The camp operator shall obtain and utilize the best available flood data to determine flood risk for
• insurance. covered by liability insurance.
• <03:02:17.120> the operator shall obtain and utilize the operator shall obtain and utilize
• Utilization or underutilization of real...
• utilization of underutilized real utilization of underutilized real property<04:03:50.080> in<

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.