Transcript Highlights:

• Per the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers promote social justice by striving to ensure that all people
• 30% payment standard levels previously mentioned and also requires that units meet state sanitary code
• 30% payment standard levels previously mentioned and also requires that units meet state sanitary code
• I would use occupancy because then that is going to imply a landlord-tenant situation.
• I would use occupation because then that is going to imply a landlord tenant's situation.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of housing and homelessness bills. Chairs Rich Haggerty and Julian Cyr opened by noting the committee’s focus on EOHLC programs such as RAFT, MRVP, and HomeBASE, and several members and advocates emphasized the urgency of the state’s homelessness crisis, including rising family homelessness and the need for earlier intervention, more stable subsidies, and stronger long-term housing tools. A major theme was homelessness prevention and rehousing. Multiple witnesses supported bills to codify and strengthen RAFT and HomeBASE, arguing that assistance should be available earlier in a crisis rather than only after a notice to quit or imminent loss of housing. Testimony from legal services, homelessness coalitions, social workers, municipal housing staff, and tenant advocates said the programs help families avoid eviction and shelter, but need more flexibility, higher benefit caps, and permanent statutory protection. Several speakers also urged support for codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), describing it as a critical long-term subsidy for low-income households and older adults, and warning that codification would protect the program from future budget or policy changes. The committee also heard testimony on housing stability for older adults, affordable homes for people with disabilities, supportive housing, housing cooperatives, home sharing, local preference, and reentry housing for returning citizens. Advocates for older adults described a Somerville bridge subsidy pilot that helped stabilize seniors while they waited for permanent housing, and urged statewide expansion. Supporters of supportive housing called for an interagency board to streamline funding and development, while cooperative housing proponents backed creation of a Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives and a dedicated funding reserve. A bill to secure housing for returning citizens drew support from reentry providers and Senator Adam Gomez, who said stable housing is essential to successful reintegration. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses generally asked the committee to report the bills favorably, and some members asked follow-up questions on data and program details.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are really the tools that help folks that are writing the code that goes onto the hardware to actually
• Obviously, they've had their coding boot camp for a while... but starting this fall, they're going to
• you see there is a great chart that our team... put together called the Periodic Table of STEM Occupations
• codes and industry clusters.
• With just the number of occupations, and it was still that spike.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we’ve actually in Worcester have leaned on the sanitary code as requiring the property owner to temporarily
• scramble as to whose responsibility it is and so we've actually in Worcester have leaned on the sanitary code
• Only 40% of our housing inventory remains available for year-round occupancy.
• are plenty to house our population and workforce, but they're largely unavailable for year-round occupancy
• Purchasing year-round occupancy restrictions, infilling existing developed properties, and repurposing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing bills, with much of the discussion focused on seasonal communities and funding for year-round housing in places like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. Speakers supported bills including H. 4410/S. 966 and related seasonal communities legislation, which would allow local option real estate transfer fees and expand tools for towns to preserve and create affordable housing. Testimony emphasized severe housing shortages, high home prices, workforce displacement, and impacts on public safety, schools, health care, and local businesses. Many witnesses said the transfer fee would provide a sustainable local revenue stream, citing prior land bank models on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as proof the approach can work. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3989 regarding seasonal community designation, with supporters arguing that towns should be included automatically or through a simpler opt-in process, and on H. 4568 to expand the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which would broaden access to a federal voucher-based savings and self-sufficiency model. Senator Edwards testified in support of a bill to create training for municipal board members, describing it as a toolkit to improve informed local decision-making. Senator O’Connor testified for a bed bug bill, saying it would create clearer landlord and tenant notification and treatment requirements and provide needed legal guidance after his family’s experience with an infestation. Senator Lovely also testified for the Homeworks program, which provides transportation so homeless children in motels and shelters can attend after-school activities. The committee further heard testimony on a bill to fund housing in seasonal communities through a transfer fee and on a companion measure to expand the seasonal communities toolkit, with repeated calls for favorable reports. Witnesses from public safety, health care, housing nonprofits, schools, and local government described staffing shortages and housing insecurity as urgent problems. Later, the committee took testimony on H. 1559/S. 102 to maintain stable housing for families with pets, with animal welfare groups supporting protections against eviction, breed discrimination, and excessive pet rent. They said housing-related pet surrenders are a major driver of shelter intake. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1498 to limit criminalization of homelessness, which would restrict citations, fines, and related consequences for outdoor camping tied solely to homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to read to you Texas Administrative Code, Section 265.15E.
• Rules and Responsibilities under Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, challenges that we face,
• Explain Code Red. Great question. Code Red is a trade name. Code Red is a reverse telephone system.
• We are Texas. We are bad." We are Texas. We are better than anybody else.
• Isn't that required by the Texas Administrative Code?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The government code and the local government code allow governmental entities and political subdivisions
• Examples are organizations like the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Counties.
• To benefit Texas consumers.
• Uh, we serve on the board of the Texas Certified Self-Insured Guarantee Association, the Texas Self Insurance
• Chapter 2210 of the Texas Insurance Code directs TWIA to operate as an insurance company.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our network, Texas Mesonet, that's part of that. Of course, we couple it with West Texas.
• As you know, the state experienced historic flooding in Central West Texas and West Texas last month,
• 141 of the Health and Safety Code.
• the state of Texas.
• Texas needs to step up and work with its communities to remap Texas flood risk.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Texas A&M University.
• Texas.
• It is a unique curriculum, and as you know, in the Texas Education Code Common Core is not allowed in
• Texas.
• For instance, ACD- and SAT that most of our Texas students take because it is in the code, those are

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Administrative Code.
• Not reported the deaths of the campers to DSHS, as required by the Texas Administrative Code.
• That the Texas Administrative Code is still not being complied with, despite them being implored to do
• It will confirm this is required by the plain text of the Texas Administrative Code, as I showed you
• And again, we can confirm this is a plain black and white requirement in the Texas Administrative Code

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a 23-year prosecutor who has seen almost every type of crime here in Texas.
• statewide experts to transform Texas' response to sexual violence.
• I represent the Safe Alliance in Austin, Texas.
• Last session, the seminal program for Texas game wardens was passed.
• I'm the criminal district attorney in Smith County, which is Tyler, Texas.

Bills: HB75, HB108

Keywords: building standards, youth camps, floodplains, safety regulations, environmental policies, drainage utilities, flood management, land use regulation, county authority, drainage fees, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides common sense safeguards into the election code.
• Chair calls Emily French with Common Cause Texas. Good morning, ma'am.
• Chair called Zachary Doling with the Texas Civil Rights Project.
• Texas law organizes our election systems by precincts, not polling locations.
• SB 2166 harmonizes the pre-election testing requirements that are in the Texas election code to ensure

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what 529 does, it doesn't change building codes.
• So, what 529 does, it doesn't change building codes.
• It itself doesn't change building codes.
• It does not weaken our building codes.
• The parents year of birth and zip code.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Current Texas Education Code requires every school district to establish a school health advisory council
• Current Texas Education Code requires every school district to establish a school health advisory council
• Texas has a long history of protecting such exemptions.”
• “Texas has a long history of protecting such exemptions.
• This is the amendment that lines the exact code and the federal tax code that companies applying would

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion to move the intent calendar deadline to 4 p.m. and then took up several bills by suspending the regular order of business. Senate Bill 2031, concerning removal of high fences around breeder deer release sites, passed after an amendment shortened the testing period from five years to three, tied visible identification requirements to the date Parks and Wildlife began requiring them, and made the bill effective immediately. Senate Bill 1490, a cleanup to adult charter high school funding, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2227, creating a process for delayed birth certificates and renamed the Charles E. Barton Act, both passed unanimously after floor amendments. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1964, regulating artificial intelligence systems used by state agencies, also passed unanimously after the author described guardrails for high-risk AI and disclosure requirements. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 2877, which increases penalties for election fraud and related attempts; after debate over whether existing law already covers some conduct and whether the bill was necessary given the small number of convictions, it passed to engrossment and later final passage on a 21-10 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2658, on brackish groundwater production and study, passed after four amendments, including one giving water districts authority to stop production if monitoring shows harm to freshwater supplies or subsidence and another returning a portion of transported water revenue to districts. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 648, strengthening recording requirements for real property instruments to help prevent deed theft, also passed on a 26-4 vote. Other measures approved included Committee Substitute Senate Bill 401, making it easier for homeschool students to participate in UIL activities through local district opt-in/nearest-district participation rules; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 407, requiring health care facilities to honor conscience or religious vaccine exemptions for employees, despite extensive questioning about patient safety and immunocompromised patients; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2117, creating a Texas Committee on Foreign Investment to review risky foreign acquisitions; Senate Bill 1718, adding the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program after a failed amendment seeking equal space for gun-control advocacy; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1626, clarifying limits on censorship and interference with digital expression by social media platforms; and Senate Bill 2206, updating the state R&D franchise tax credit and related sales tax treatment, which passed 31-0. The chamber also debated Senate Bill 1395 on school health advisory councils. An initial amendment to restore voting seats for teachers and school employees failed, but a later amendment by Senator West added students back in an advisory, non-voting capacity. The Senate then handled routine motions, committee scheduling, first-reading referrals, and adjourned until April 29, with the session ending in memory of two constituents.

Transcript Highlights:

• He authored and passed a complete revision of the Texas ethics laws described by Texas Monthly as, quote
• the government code.
• Amanda is a graduate of Texas A&M and the University of Texas Law School.
• And have already been published in the Texas Register.
• government code 572.054.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill makes conforming changes in the government code, education code, health and safety code, transportation
• code, and water code.
• Texas and Israel already enjoy a robust trade relationship, with Texas being one of Israel's largest,
• In energy, Texas is unmatched.
• Texas is already a semiconductor leader, home to companies like Samsung, Texas Instruments, and Applied

Transcript Highlights:

• Once again, in fasting years, we we've moved to four different zip code.
• ;> in fasting years, we we've moved to four different<00:21:07.919> zip<00:21:08.240> code
• In two days, our new zip code, for the Lord's sake, will be forever 96793.
• Let me let me just add too as occupancy.
• So now we did our own permits as well as issued the certificate of occupancy.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Act 279 working group met for an informational briefing with DHHL on its use of the $600 million appropriation and progress on the department’s implementation plan. The chair reviewed the working group’s oversight role, noting that it was created to monitor expenditures, project development, and progress toward reducing the Hawaiian Homes waitlist, and that the group must submit a progress report before the 2026 session and a final report before the 2027 session. DHHL said it had provided an updated booklet reflecting the Hawaiian Homes Commission’s February 2024 recommendations and a detailed accounting of encumbrances and project progress across the islands. DHHL highlighted several implementation themes: innovative financing and construction methods, land acquisitions and exchanges, technology, beneficiary services, and partnerships with counties and private entities. The department described a “project lease” model that gives beneficiaries access to a project rather than a specific lot, with options such as turnkey homes, owner-builder, self-help, or rent-to-purchase arrangements depending on financial qualification. Officials said this approach is intended to serve lower-income beneficiaries, expand access for people on the waitlist, and allow beneficiaries to receive support services such as financial literacy and down payment assistance. The department reported that roughly $511 million had been encumbered for infrastructure, about $152.8 million for acquisitions, financing, and beneficiary services, and about $36 million in other covered costs, with about $588.9 million encumbered as of December 31 and about $120 million expected to be spent by that date. Officials said the original implementation plan covered about 2,722 units, while the updated plan projects roughly 6,000 to 7,000 leases and 2,472 lots to be occupied. They also described phase-two needs for additional funding, including projects on Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Oʻahu, and said they would need continued legislative support, including possible bonding and private activity bond set-asides, to complete remaining projects. Members discussed the distinction between encumbered and spent funds, and DHHL explained that encumbrances reserve money for specific contracts while construction spending occurs over time through progress payments. The department also showcased examples of innovative projects, including a high-rise project in urban Honolulu financed through a mix of private activity bonds, tax credits, and state funds, and an acquisition-based project in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi using multiple funding sources. DHHL emphasized partnerships with the City and County of Honolulu and Maui County, and said it is still assessing future projects to keep infrastructure costs manageable and ensure homes are safe and affordable for beneficiaries.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paso, Texas.
• Paso, Texas.
• We all believe in a strong Texas. A Texas that leads.
• We all believe in a strong Texas, a Texas that leads.
• I think that our Texas agriculture industry is one of the backbones of Texas and our Texas way of life

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This deals with the administrative services related to occupational licensing.
• So, on page two, still in the synopsis, it says the bill would maintain the validity of occupational
• and... ...licensing issued before the transfer and the continuance of the rules of a transferred occupational
• When the code sections were brought over in the 262 pages in front of you, we did not sync up all of

Bills: SB174, SB180, HB196, HB25, SB193, HB25

Keywords: business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, media monitoring, government contracts, state agencies, local agencies, media regulations, transparency, juvenile detention, county management, legal procedures, juvenile justice, county commission, supervision, administration, emergency services, 911

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have to go to Texas and get information, we will have another officer be the affiant, and then
• having issues with, I'm assuming the bill is trying to protect a doctor who comes possibly over from Texas
• The state of Texas has allowed that the state of Texas can sue a provider in New Mexico.
• It simply clarifies existing law, so owners, occupants, and law enforcement all have the same understanding

Bills: HB195, HB279, SB30, HB234, HB292, SB100, SB23, SB221, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, judgments, independent providers, insurance, personal assets, settlements, healthcare, healthcare privacy, electronic medical records, reproductive health, gender-affirming care, data protection, location tracking, confidentiality, SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records

Transcript Highlights:

• centers we have we are the watchdog for the consumer we hold them accountable we recognize unlike Texas
• philosophically, there are attorneys general that are afraid to make decisions, and then there is the current occupant
• Other states around us, particularly Texas and New Mexico, have made drastic improvements in judicial
• Texas last year, New Mexico this year, gave $20,000 base pay to their judges.
• Last month in December, they hosted a one-week course down in Texas specifically targeted to how to handle

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts and counties with an average daily attendance of less than. 250 and a regional occupancy
• Highway construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country, and speeding in construction
• Updates to the insurance code. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• and actually allows for that conservation to take place So have you considered maybe amending the code
• really quick personal story, bills like this, credits like this help two people coming from Orange, Texas

Keywords: 988, house, all