Transcript Highlights:

• It negatively affects Florida in a fiscal manner.
• They depend on those That is the fiscal impact for me.
• And a couple of notes, I wanted to just point out.
• One final note, I'm the new guy Pearce.
• And I think all of us were fiscal committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative Pettigrew, the first thing I'll note is that change is contingent upon enabling
• The Gaming Control Board started fiscal year 24 with almost a 30% vacancy rate.
• However, a fiscal year 25 budget was essentially flatlined.
• The C-2 funding was originally requested in the 2023 fiscal year for the original $1.5 million.
• I could have hired them toward the end of the fiscal year and paid them through the end of the fiscal

Transcript Highlights:

• amended analysis in the back, it did say that you were still waiting for a fiscal note from the DOE
• I have not seen a fiscal note on this.
• I have not seen a fiscal<01:14:57.360> note<01:14:57.600> on<01:14:57.679> this.
• note on this.
• Like I said, um fiscal note on this.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 69, which would require local school boards to publicly vote on whether to accept or reject charitable gifts or donations, prompted by a case in which a church offered to pay off school lunch debt but the offer was refused and families were sued instead. Senator Keith Murphy said the bill is intended to force transparency and public accountability in similar situations, while acknowledging that boards may still reject gifts with strings attached or for ethical reasons. Members raised questions about anonymity, privacy, and whether school boards already have authority to address meal debt before litigation. Murphy said the bill was aimed at cases where money is refused and families are sued, and he said he would accept amendments to make the vote requirement apply to both accepted and rejected gifts. The hearing on the bill was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 206, which requires public schools to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use during the school day. Trisha Milo, presenting for Senator Rashardi, said the bill is meant to improve focus, reduce distraction and cyberbullying, and create more consistent policies across districts, while still allowing exceptions for medical, disability, language support, and instructional needs. Committee members questioned whether districts would retain flexibility, whether the bill should apply to charter schools and other devices, and whether the annual policy-update requirement and enforcement language were too prescriptive. Milo said districts would still have flexibility in how they write their policies and that she would seek clarification from the senator on several drafting questions. Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association testified in support of the general concept of a cell phone policy, saying many districts already have some form of policy, though not all do, and that existing sample policies are outdated. She said the annual update requirement would likely be burdensome and that the enforcement language seemed intended to ensure administrative involvement rather than teacher discipline, but she suggested the wording may need revision. Members also discussed whether very small districts or districts without schools should be covered and whether the bill should better distinguish between classroom enforcement and student discipline. The chair closed the hearing on Senate Bill 206 after no further testimony, and the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been working with the Senate sponsor, and the intentions for fiscal considerations are appropriating
• And comparing that with fiscal year 2023-2024 for the entire year, we enrolled 1,367, and at the end
• And I love the comments about fiscal responsibility. I think that's important to all of us here.
• I'm not able to answer whether that was noted back then or not.
• I'm not able to answer whether that was noted back then or not.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee took up two bills and then continued oversight discussions with APD and AHCA. CS/HB 27, the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, was presented as a way to let Florida social workers practice in other compact states and vice versa; AARP, the Florida Chamber, and NASW Florida supported it, and the bill passed favorably. HB 1127, a child welfare bill, would create a treatment foster care pilot for children with high behavioral needs, improve DCF data collection on commercially sexually exploited children, and expand recruitment for protective investigators and case managers; the bill also passed favorably after brief supportive testimony. The committee then questioned APD at length about the iBudget waiver waitlist, enrollment pace, spending projections, and provider capacity. APD said it had sent more than 1,100 interest letters in categories 3, 4, and 5, enrolled 1,124 people so far this year, and expects to spend about 96.4% of its waiver appropriation, leaving roughly $82 million unspent. Members pressed APD on why prior discussions suggested more reserve was needed, how long the SANS process takes, whether category 6 could be expanded, and whether the agency has enough waiver support coordinators and direct support providers. APD said it has about 1,061 waiver support coordinators statewide, adequate capacity for current enrollees, but would need further analysis if the legislature directed a much larger enrollment increase. Members also asked about outreach, annual maintenance of the waitlist, portability for military families, and whether communication efforts should be privatized. Finally, AHCA walked the committee through the 2023 Achieved Savings Rebate (ASR) report for Aetna and explained how the report is used for financial monitoring, rebate calculations, and transparency. AHCA said the ASR is separate from the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation, though both are reviewed, and that Florida uses the ASR mechanism rather than an MLR remittance requirement to recover funds from plans. Members asked about related-party disclosures, CVS/Caremark relationships, expanded benefits, encounter data, network adequacy penalties, denials and appeals reporting, interest earned on capitation payments, and whether rate increases were reaching providers. AHCA and the outside auditors said they review the plans’ reported data, reconcile it to underlying records, and can assess liquidated damages for network adequacy violations; several members requested follow-up data on rebates, interest, provider capacity, and related-party reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I saw notes, I saw stamps, I saw pieces of comfort, but I never saw a threat.
• She noted that petition-based non-disclosure allows a judge to exercise that discretion.
• He noted he was also thinking about domestic violence.
• According to TDCJ's own fiscal year 2020, ...six years or more.
• It is important to note what this bill also does not do. ...what this bill also does not do.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Summary: The Corrections Committee first took up pending business and reported several previously heard bills favorably to the full House, including HB 1515 and SB 2405, the TDCJ Sunset bill and its Senate companion, HB 5639 on the veteran housing program, HB 2854 on hospital visits as a parole or mandatory supervision condition and related hospital liability, and SB 1080 on occupational licenses for people with criminal convictions. The committee also heard and advanced SB 1080 without amendment, then moved into new business. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3618, which would limit invasive group strip searches of female inmates in TDCJ facilities. Formerly incarcerated women and advocates testified in support, describing humiliation, trauma, barriers to programming, and arguing that searches were often ineffective and that contraband more often comes from staff. TDCJ’s resource witness said the agency has looked at technology such as millimeter scanners and is in the process of placing them in facilities, while the bill sponsor said the measure would preserve searches in emergencies and require female officers when women are unclothed. HB 3618 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4515 on expanding orders of nondisclosure, with the author saying the committee substitute would narrow the bill to marijuana possession only; supporters from Alliance for Safety and Justice and Right on Crime argued it would improve reentry and public safety, while members asked about eligibility and related offenses. HB 1826, requiring depression screenings for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women, drew support from women’s health advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses; the bill was left pending. HB 1969, to help people leaving prison renew or obtain driver’s licenses, and HB 2708, expanding nondisclosure eligibility for certain misdemeanor convictions, were also laid out and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 2729, which would bar hearsay evidence in hearings on violations of release conditions, and SB 1021, which would make stalking convictions ineligible for community supervision and add related victim-protection provisions; both were left pending. SB 1610, addressing civil commitment facility safety, sex offender registration, and penalties for assaults on staff, drew strong opposition from civil commitment residents, family members, and civil rights advocates who argued it was punitive and raised due process concerns; the resource witness said assaults had increased and explained the civil commitment process and existing legal safeguards. Finally, HB 4764 would require TDCJ to report detailed annual data on restrictive housing; supporters said the bill would improve transparency around solitary confinement, and the committee left it pending before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Gessing: None other than the Legislative Finance Committee agrees with us, as the fiscal impact
• To ensure extra eyes, put the fiscal reports on a website.
• Before I go to the next speaker, I just want to note, the State Auditor is in the audience.
• Senator G, I'll note that we were, we've exceeded the time that we had agreed upon.
• Senator: And Representative sent my granddaughter a note the other day, and it's just changing times.

Transcript Highlights:

• My ask for you is $6 million in supplemental funding for fiscal year 26, to be annualized in fiscal year
• So, our accomplishments for fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026: Our SharePoint platforms have undergone
• In fiscal year 2025, that saved $1,200.
• as the current year. fiscal year 2026.
• But our current carryover is consistent with fiscal year 2025.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think the fiscal note is $500,000 for startup and then $250,000 per year.
• and<00:19:44.679> I<00:19:44.720> think<00:19:44.919> the<00:19:45.000> fiscal
• <00:19:45.320> note<00:19:45.600> is<00:19:46.040> uh bill and I think the fiscal
• note is uh bill and I think the fiscal note is uh 500,000<00:19:47.159> for<00:19:47.280>

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And a little personal note, I was thinking about this as I was prepping for this bill.
• In addition, I think it's also worth noting that we have an open enrollment period that's going to begin
• So when I just a couple quick questions when I look at the fiscal impact report...
• Okay, on the second page under fiscal implications, it says, "1, 2, 3, 4th paragraph from the bottom,
• And then, Madam Chair, going back to the F.I.R. into the fiscal implications.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I believe this does not have a fiscal note because that is covered within the contingency fund.
• this does<00:02:50.480> not<00:02:50.640> have<00:02:50.720> a<00:02:50.879> fiscal
• <00:02:51.200> note<00:02:51.519> because<00:02:51.760> that does not have a
• fiscal note because that does not have a fiscal note because that is<00:02:52.319> covered<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's $89 million above the last fiscal year to date, around 1.7% above last fiscal year to date.
• fiscal year, around 3.7% of February 2025 when you look at those first five months.
• I had some notes before, the last few months, about the natural gas price.
• Our fiscal operation—we centralized our fiscal.
• They used to do their own fiscal operation; DSB did. We've centralized that.

Summary: The council opened with a prayer, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received the February 2026 Monthly Revenue Report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year to date, and said the updated forecast now shows a larger expected surplus. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fee fluctuations, inflation, and economic development incentives; Silva attributed several changes to timing, refunds, tax cuts, weather, and price volatility, and generally described the state’s revenue trend as positive. The Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Medicaid studies, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and other subcommittee reports were adopted. The Medicaid studies report drew extended discussion about DHS staffing and contract nursing costs at state hospitals and human development centers; DHS officials said they were working on a recruitment and retention plan, reported significant vacancies and turnover, and said the state was not at risk of overspending the contracts. Several members urged reducing reliance on contract labor and moving staff onto state payrolls. The Review Subcommittee report prompted questions about a Department of Public Safety aircraft maintenance item and a Department of Shared Administrative Services contract for Deloitte to implement performance and goals management software tied to the state’s new personnel system. After discussion, the aircraft maintenance item was held briefly and then withdrawn from the hold, while the shared services contract was explained as a one-time integration/configuration project for a system that will support employee evaluations and performance-based pay; the report and the separate contract vote were approved. The Personnel Subcommittee also heard testimony from Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald about reductions in force at the Division of Services for the Blind, which he attributed to funding shortfalls and fiscal mismanagement; members questioned the impact on blind and visually impaired clients, the status of board appointments, and whether federal funds could be at risk. The report was adopted with immediate consideration, and the meeting ended after filing the remaining APER report and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> [laughter] >> I pulled it up, but I don't have it in my notes. >> But you know agriculture is a
• I see Dustin behind us, but I think that's why you see the fiscal note the way it is, because you hadn't
• I see Dustin behind us, but I think that's why you see the fiscal note the way it is, because you hadn't
• /c><00:12:25.440> is<00:12:26.079> is you see the fiscal note the way it is is you see
• the fiscal note the way it is is because<00:12:26.720> you<00:12:26.959> hadn't<00:12:27.200

Bills: HB431, HB466, HB523, HB521, SB182, SB300

Keywords: Monroe County, sheriff, sheriff compensation, county salary, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, law enforcement pay, public official salary, county budget, Alabama local legislation, service contracts, consumer protection, advertising disclosure, insurance, contract cancellation, parole procedures, advocacy, parole board

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, I'd note the Public Project Revolving Fund, that top one.
• I would note, though, because the funding has been constructed.
• For this fiscal year 2026, we certified $50 million for this.
• Because the funds, I believe, expire at the end of this fiscal year. Is that correct? Mr.
• Some of them are from fiscal years 25, 24, 23, and 24.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we'll take up House Bill 790, which is an act relating to fiscal year 2026 budget adjustments.
• <00:18:28.799> year<00:18:29.200> 2026 is an act relating to fiscal year 2026 is an
• act relating to fiscal year 2026 budget<00:18:30.720> adjustments.
• to fiscal year 2026<00:20:10.880> budget<00:20:11.200> adjustments.
• Please refrain from the passing of notes and conversation during a roll call.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reading, then proceeded to first readings and committee referrals for six bills: H.841 on miscellaneous animal welfare procedures, H.842 creating a commission on public school employee health benefits, H.843 on monitoring municipal wastewater discharges, H.844 on sales tax and a surcharge related to short-term rental and second-home properties, H.845 on an income tax deduction for snow tires, and H.846 on artificial intelligence and elections. H.611, a bill with an appropriation affecting the Department of Vermont Health Access, was also referred to Appropriations under House Rule 35A. The chamber also read HCR 175, a concurrent resolution honoring the life of J. Stannard Baker of Shelburne, highlighting his role in Baker v. State, his work in mental health and the Episcopal Church, and his death in June 2025. During announcements, members welcomed guests including Baker’s husband and sister, representatives of the Vermont Access Network, a devotional speaker, Human Rights Commission participants, and students from rural community schools visiting for Rural Schools Day. The House also heard remarks about the Human Rights Commission’s upcoming press conference and a caucus meeting on state permit reform. Later, the member from Georgia gave a lengthy historical reflection on Henry Knox and the Fort Ticonderoga cannon expedition, followed by a correction from the member from Stow noting that teams of oxen pulled most of the cannon. On the floor, the House considered H.648, the Department of Financial Regulation’s annual housekeeping bill on banking, insurance, and securities. Representative Olsen offered an amendment clarifying section 48 on federally exempt securities and state notice filings; the amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill then passed. The House then took up H.790, the fiscal year 2026 budget adjustment bill. Representative Shai offered an amendment reallocating $45,000 in HIV/AIDS funding among Vermont CARES, the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, and the HIV/HCV Resource Center; that amendment was also adopted. The bill passed on a roll call vote, 133-0, and the House suspended rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith. The session ended with a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., which was put to the body.

Transcript Highlights:

• Note that last session, for the first time ever, we added oil and gas to become eligible for property
• Slide 9 just shows the applications that the office has received by fiscal year.
• Slide 12 shows, for fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025 up to April 4th, the number of applications
• Slide 12 shows for fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year Slide 12 shows for fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year
• The committee substitute changes the TWC's reporting to ages 14 to 24 to avoid a fiscal note and clarifies

Bills: SB913, SB1086, SB1087, SB1143, SB1534, SB1553, SB1718, SB1754, SB2004, SB2322, SB2448

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• This has a cost of $110,000 in fiscal year 26 only. fiscal year 26 um in order to provide fiscal year
• $1,618,000 in fiscal year 2024. $1,618,000 in fiscal year 2024.
• <01:27:09.520> Note<01:27:09.760> that in fiscal year 27 and later.
• Note that in fiscal year 27 and later.
• fiscal year 2028. fiscal year 2028.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm looking through the fiscal note, and I don't see a reflection of the up to $1 million a year that
• note.
• Is there a fiscal note for this bill? Mr. Chair, uh, maybe fiscal staff can answer that for us.
• c><01:40:06.000> Mr<01:40:06.480> chair<01:40:07.480> uh fiscal note for this bill
• Mr chair uh fiscal note for this bill Mr chair uh maybe<01:40:08.280> fiscal<01:40:08.719>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I noted that we're going at record speed through here.
• Second, they also noted they lack law enforcement authority.
• I saw your fiscal note came out late last night and it looks like y'all are looking at $225 million 240
• Members, HB 5217 represents prudent fiscal policy and a commitment to fairness.
• My very brief notes to follow your brevity of your schedule. Yes, thank you.

Bills: SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: redistricting, election, Texas legislature, district composition, political representation, congressional redistricting, Texas House of Representatives, U.S. House, Congressional districts, district map, district boundaries, gerrymandering, voting rights, election law, apportionment, representation, special committee, PLANC2308, redistricting plan, elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I noted that we're going at record speed through here.
• Second, they also noted that they lack law enforcement authority to compel vendor compliance under state
• I saw your fiscal note came out late last night, and it looks like y'all are looking at 225 million.
• Members, HB 5217 represents prudent fiscal policy and a commitment to fairness.
• My very brief notes are to follow the brevity of your schedule. Yes, thank you.

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• I would, I'm a little disappointed in the fiscal note, and we'll be working on that to get that down.
• Senator Kolkhorst, great bill, and I, too, read the fiscal note.
• We've been having some interesting fiscal note issues, but maybe we can find a department that's willing
• We've been having some interesting fiscal note issues, but maybe we can find a department that's willing
• By ensuring that I&S funds are strictly used for their intended purposes, we can maintain the fiscal

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard several bills focused on school finance, transparency, student safety, and educator misconduct. SB 843 by Senator Kolkhorst would create a centralized TEA database for school bond elections, tax rates, and project details; supporters said it would improve transparency for taxpayers, while members discussed the fiscal note and suggested adding charter schools. SB 1224 by Senator Sparks would require superintendents to report alleged romantic, sexual, or abusive conduct between staff and students directly to law enforcement within 48 hours, with penalties for failure to report; testimony from advocates and survivors strongly supported the bill and urged that it also apply to private and charter schools. SB 747 by Senator Paxton on behalf of Senator King would require school district policies addressing AI-generated sexually explicit images of minors as cyberbullying and direct the School Safety Center to develop guidance; the committee heard emotional testimony from a student victim and discussed school authority to discipline off-campus conduct and the role of cell phones. The committee also heard SB 1636 by Senator Hinojosa, which would limit use of interest and sinking tax revenues to debt service for voter-approved capital projects and not deferred maintenance; school finance witnesses raised concerns that the bill’s language could restrict needed facility maintenance spending and asked for a clearer definition of deferred maintenance. SB 2185, also by Senator Hinojosa, would expand access to the bilingual education allotment for dual-language programs; district officials and educators testified in support, saying it would remove barriers to funding and better support bilingual instruction. SB 604 by Senator West would require the Permanent School Fund Corporation to publicly track bonds backed by the state guarantee program that are downgraded to speculative or junk status, with West arguing the information would provide an early warning sign of district financial distress. Across the hearing, much of the testimony centered on student protection and accountability in schools. Multiple witnesses described educator misconduct cases, failures to report abuse, and the need for outside law enforcement involvement rather than internal district investigations. Committee members repeatedly discussed extending reporting and safety requirements to private and charter schools, and several witnesses urged independent oversight. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.