Transcript Highlights:

• I want to read to you Texas Administrative Code, Section 265.15E.
• And I'm not going to get to the point; we've already talked about utilization or not utilization.
• Explain Code Red. Great question. Code Red is a trade name. Code Red is a reverse telephone system.
• and Safety Code?
• He quoted Health and Safety Code, Section 141.0111. I'm sorry, I'm going to go up here.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:41.679> that set of numbers is a program code that set of numbers is a program code
• , so the different financial codes, so something like unemployment insurance that has a fund code, I
• So that's the concern, and I know it sounds like the UARS codes and all the codes—I can't even imagine
• So that's the concern, and I know it sounds like the UARS codes and all the codes—I can't even imagine
• Superintendent Johnson, a 17 code, you fars code, uh, for those of you that don't know, that tells you

Bills: HF957, HF877

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• section section 132-3<00:35:26.680> Hrs 132-3 Hrs 132-3 Hrs is<00:35:29.079> amended<00
• across the United States been utilized across the United States been utilized to<02:03:53.000>
• our tax code.
• this is a good direction in our tax code this is a good direction in our tax code capital<03:56:
• I'm Tina Alva, the section administrator for the Specialized Program Services section, which includes

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, but they're referencing a code section. You're talking about in seven? Yeah.
• So, but they're referencing a code section that doesn't have any civil fines or sanctions.
• Trying to find that section of code. Do you have that handy? Or section of the bill?
• And then at the state level, it's largely codified by Code Section 21-5I-4.
• It's largely codified by Code Section 21-5I-4.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill corrects an unintended consequence of the Florida law regarding municipal utility surcharge
• Current law allows a municipality providing water or utilities to another municipality to charge up to
• House Bill 6017 aims to repeal Section 768.21, subsection 8, of a Florida statute, otherwise known as
• It comes to us from the business law section of the Florida Bar following substantial changes made to
• As I mentioned, this is a version that's supported by the business law section of the Florida Bar.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum confirmed, and several recognitions, including a moment of silence for retired fire captain Bill Guston and a welcome for guests in the galleries. The Speaker then outlined the House’s budget approach, saying the proposed General Appropriations Act would be lower than both the governor’s proposal and last year’s budget, and announced plans to seek a permanent 0.75% reduction in the state sales tax. The chamber also received the governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001 and began considering motions to restore several vetoed appropriations. Members unanimously reinstated funding for the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, the Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1 project, the automated staffing/time management system for the Department of Corrections, and the Baldwin sanitary sewer and water main replacement project. The House also adopted special order and GAA amendment-procedure reports. On the special order calendar, the chamber passed HB 289 on boating safety (“Lucy’s Law”), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process, all by wide margins. The most debated measure was HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “free kill” law limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-sought justice measure for families who lost adult children and were barred from suing, while opponents argued it was needed to provide accountability and fairness. The bill passed 104-6. The House then took up HB 759, which would lower the minimum age to purchase or transfer a firearm from 21 to 18. An amendment to keep the age at 21 was defeated, and debate featured strong arguments on both sides about constitutional rights, public safety, Parkland, military service, and data on youth violence; the transcript ends during continued debate on the bill, before final passage is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Goodlot and the behavioral health costs and utilization. Good afternoon, Mr.
• In the cost and utilization of the Medicaid behavioral health.
• Table 4 shows that telehealth cost and utilization is down.
• We can also see potential outcomes in fewer CPT or ICD-9 codes, which are the codes used to track alcohol
• They get references and resources that they can utilize.

Transcript Highlights:

• District attorneys utilize it. So the activities of that SANE nurse, yes.
• “It says in Article 10, Section 25, for the causes enumerated in Paragraph A of Section 24 of this article
• We don't have it in place, what Section 25 mandates. Okay. What Section 25 mandates. Okay.
• It provides relative to the Uniform Construction Code and inspector licensing.
• Brad Hassard from the Contractors Board, also the Uniform Construction Code Council.

Summary: The committee first deferred Senate Bill 49, which would remove the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the list of offices subject to closed party primary elections, after the sponsor said additional amendments were being prepared. It then took up House Bill 1247, which creates a statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator within the Department of Justice to improve access, evidence collection, and coordination for sexual assault survivors. Members adopted a committee amendment package that clarified the coordinating structure, geographic response considerations, reimbursement language, and related public records issues, and the bill was reported favorably as amended with support from health care and law enforcement-related groups. House Bill 1245, also dealing with public records, was amended to protect certain personal identifying information in criminal history records of criminal justice agency employees who serve as witnesses in criminal proceedings. The discussion focused on limiting release of Social Security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth while preserving disclosure required for court proceedings and impeachment-related purposes. The committee adopted a further amendment narrowing the protection to those PII items in records held by the clerk of court, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1011, allowing jurors to donate per diem compensation to CASA, and House Bill 1186, which standardizes construction code and inspector licensing records while protecting inspectors’ personal information, were also reported favorably. Senate Bill 425, which implements the constitutional mandate for removal by suit of certain elected officials for felony conviction, malfeasance, or gross misconduct, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it creates a civil process to address serious misconduct when criminal prosecution is unavailable or incomplete, while opponents warned it could be abused for political targeting, duplicate existing remedies, and rely on vague standards. After amendments clarifying the process and standards, the committee voted 10-5 to report the bill favorably as amended. The committee also adopted amendments and reported favorably House Bill 1057, extending absentee-by-mail eligibility for overseas service members from one year to two years, and began discussion of House Bill 709, which would create a rulemaking notification system, a 10-year sunset for certain rules, and an Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the governor’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of these references to the 200 section would have to be changed to include the 100 section as well
• management, including CO2 utilization management, including CO2 utilization and<01:08:16.080>
• Code, Section 5312.
• Code, Section 5312.
• The reason for that is, when we heard this bill in committee, we learned that under that section of code

Bills: HB0120, HB0043, HB0128

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When it comes to the rising costs of utilities, it has been enormous.
• The rule is from the Arizona Constitution, Article 4, Part 2, Section 13.
• to the Procurement Code.
• House Bill 2199, in meeting section 33-1409, and section 33-2124, relating to rental parks.
• Sections 22-126, 22-127, and 22-128, relating to justices of the peace.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 40, and Article IV, Section 8A of the Texas Constitution By Article III, Section 40, and Article IV,
• That section for the Justice of the Peace is about justices of the peace.
• That section for the Justice of the Peace is about justices of the peace.
• HB 1 is finally passed subject to Article 3, Section 49(a) of the Texas Constitution.
• SB 5 is finally passed subject to Article 3, Section 49(a) of the Texas Constitution.

Bills: HB1, HB2, HB3, HB5, HB20, HB22

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Summary: The House convened in special session with a gubernatorial proclamation adding subjects related to penalties for legislators who absent themselves, ivermectin access, and groundwater study authority. The chamber also handled routine motions, committee scheduling, and first-reading referrals before moving to the main floor calendar focused largely on disaster response and public safety legislation. The central theme throughout the day was the July 4 flooding and related tragedies, with repeated references to families of victims and the need for stronger preparedness and prevention measures. House Bill 1, on youth camp emergency plans and preparedness, was the most emotional and heavily amended measure. Members adopted changes requiring annual emergency plans for resident youth camps, staff training, parent notification, evacuation maps, floodplain-related disclosures, restrictions on sleeping quarters in flood-prone areas, and funding for enforcement. One proposed amendment to require air conditioning or heat in sleeping quarters failed, while another amendment on floodplain restrictions passed after debate over floodplain versus floodway language. HB 1 ultimately passed the House 136-1 on second reading and later 135-1 on final passage. Senate Bill 2 / House Bill 2 on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery also advanced after extensive discussion. The bill creates training for justices of the peace in mass-fatality events, establishes an emergency manager licensing system, sets local succession procedures, creates a statewide volunteer management system, authorizes drone interdiction in disaster zones, expands disaster loan eligibility, and adds review and planning provisions for certain infrastructure and weather-related issues. Members debated the scope of the training, drone impacts on press coverage, volunteer registration, and infrastructure-related amendments; some proposals were adopted and others tabled or withdrawn. SB 2 passed the House 130-4 on third reading and later 132-4 on final passage. The House also passed House Bill 3 creating the Texas Interoperability Council and a grant program for emergency communications equipment, House Bill 20 addressing disaster-related scams and fraudulent charitable solicitations, House Bill 22 expanding allowable uses of the broadband infrastructure fund for emergency communications, and Senate Bill 5 providing supplemental appropriations for disaster relief, including funds for local warning systems and weather monitoring. Each of these bills passed overwhelmingly, with only one or a few dissenting votes, and members repeatedly emphasized the need to improve coordination, communications, funding, and fraud prevention in the wake of recent disasters.

Transcript Highlights:

• tax code. tax code.
• Section two is an attempt to define what is meant by advertising services.
• <00:58:29.760> three<00:58:30.800> on uh, in section three on uh, in section three
• And every newspaper that remains has a digital advertising page that they utilize.
• advertising page that they utilize. advertising page that they utilize.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 573 of the Texas Health and Safety Code currently permits this warrantless, meaning a mental
• Um, members, uh, Section 22.002A of the Government Code is the codification of Article 5, Section 3 of
• Um, that section of the government code to clarify that the Texas Supreme Court may issue writs of crescendo
• Uh, I would direct the attention of everyone to Article 5, Section 3 of the Texas Constitution.
• Discretionary review, if those things aren't authorized by this section.

Bills: SB 53

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• can get out of jail, get a jail-out-of-free card, so to speak, or if certain foreign laws or foreign codes
• I don't care what foreign code it is.
• We saw a lot of people fleeing into our county to utilize our businesses.
• We saw a lot of people fleeing into our county to utilize our businesses.
• And then it goes into the provisions of this section shall not be construed to...

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2809 and, without discussion, voted it do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes, 0 noes, and 2 present. The committee then heard Senate Bills 977 and 1011, sponsored by Sen. Nick Schroer, which were presented as a restatement of the supremacy clause and a prohibition on foreign laws, foreign treaties, and certain foreign or religious legal systems superseding the U.S. Constitution, the Missouri Constitution, or state law. The bills included carve-outs for voluntary business arrangements, ecclesiastical matters, federal preemption, and the Hague-related custody framework; members and the sponsor also discussed how the language would affect arbitration, family law, adoption, custody, inheritance, and tribal jurisdiction. Supporters said the bills were needed to prevent courts or local governments from relying on outside legal systems or recommendations, while critics raised concerns about unnecessary legislation, private contracts, and possible targeting of religious or international bodies. No vote was taken on the Senate bills during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2589, which would require only a rear license plate on vehicles. Rep. Mike Jones said the change would modernize Missouri law, save money for the state and drivers, and align Missouri with many other states. Members discussed law enforcement concerns, including the ability to identify vehicles from the front, the effect on cameras and traffic enforcement, and possible exceptions for commercial vehicles or rideshare cars. Several members said they supported the idea, while others said they wanted more input from the Highway Patrol and worried about impacts on public safety. The hearing on HB 2589 concluded without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Chapter 56, Section 28, Section 31-9-1.2, NMSA, 1978, Being Laws, 1988, 188, Chapter 107, Section 3
• Section 31 Chapter 108, Section 6 as amended.
• Section 31-18-16, NMSA, 1978, Being Laws, 19977, Chapter 2116, Section 5 as amended, Section 32-2-2A,
• 000, 178, being laws 1977, 177, Chapter 216, Section 5, Section 5 as amended, Section 32-2A-2A, 3.
• Section 5 as amended, Section 32-2A-3, NMSA, 1978, Being Laws, 2002, Chapter 2, Chapter 8, Section 3,

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• > and<00:28:34.159> validation fairly limited utility and validation fairly limited utility
• <00:46:59.520> in um would have limited uh utility in um would have limited uh utility in
• <01:07:07.280> five, very end of this in sub section five, very end of this in sub section
• <01:24:40.800> deter mean that a student's zip code deter mean that a student's zip code deter
• Health education vary by zip code.

Bills: HF751, HF3550, HF3764, HF1490

Keywords: parental notification, school safety, bullying, harassment, violence, prohibited conduct, student discipline, charter school, school district, data practices, student privacy, parent rights, guardian notification, school incident reporting, cyberbullying, restraint, reasonable force, anti-bullying policy, school administration, student conduct

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so this bill aims to fix this oversight by amending the Texas Education Code to add the completion
• In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts shut down, virtual learning was utilized by teachers
• Section one, this bill does not apply to school districts that have students enrollments of 8000 or fewer
• , um, within our school finance sections as well.
• So we can check further into it, but it's my understanding that This will apply even the education code

Transcript Highlights:

• that I will describe in section two.
• account subject to Part B um of section account subject to Part B um of section one<00:34:51.520
• This would provide... there is only one section, and I will go through section one.
• and I will go through only one section and I will go through section<01:26:02.639> one<01:26:
• Senate File 455, section by section, where you are adding, particularly what you're adding there, and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:08:52.719> of be subject to the education co code of be subject to the education co code
• This is the code of ethics and code of conduct for those that are licensed and certified.
• This is the code of ethics and code now.
• This is the code of ethics and code of<02:10:19.679> conduct<02:10:20.400> for<02:10:20.719
• > conduct<02:11:06.639> have these these code of conduct have these these code of conduct

Keywords: 10:00am HB 1260 11:00am HB 1574 12:00pm HB 1816 2:30pm HB 1499 2:45pm HB 1709, 928, house, all

Summary: The conference committee first met on HB 1260, a bill requested by municipal clerks to allow certain divorce-related records to be kept confidential. House members argued the Senate amendment would reverse the presumption of openness established in the Keene Sentinel case and raise constitutional issues under the state constitution’s privacy and open-government provisions. Senate members responded that the 2018 privacy amendment, the limited scope of the proposal, and modern internet risks justified the change, but the House maintained the issue needed a full hearing in a separate bill. The committee ultimately voted unanimously for the Senate to recede and adopt the House version, preserving the underlying bill without the Senate amendment, and both sides said they would revisit the topic in a future session. The committee then took up HB 1574, which extends free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs and provides funding for SNAP administrative costs. The main dispute was the Senate’s addition of $4.4 million for SNAP administration, which DHHS said was needed because federal law would shift more administrative costs to the state and could increase the state’s SNAP error rate, potentially triggering much larger future penalties. DHHS officials reported the current error rate was 7.57% for federal fiscal year 2024, below the national average, and estimated that if the rate rose above 8%, the state could owe about 10% of SNAP benefits, or roughly $12 million for a partial year and nearly $16 million for a full year. Some House members supported the added funding as a preventive measure, while others objected that the underlying bill was modest and the amendment resembled a previously rejected proposal. The discussion ended with the committee moving toward the House position and the bill’s future depending on the chamber’s vote on the Senate amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, there, there's a section in the bill that specifically refers to data sharing, um, and I think
• allow the city of Garland to participate in a qualified hotel project as defined by the Texas tax code
• House Bill 3699 would amend the Texas Labor Code to define last work and.
• Under current law, Section 552,130 of the government code treats vehicle license plates as captured on
• Section 552,130 of the government code and Section 730007 of the Transportation code to clarify that

Transcript Highlights:

• Their deaths were classified under ICD-9 diagnosis code 632, missed abortion.
• I later called the office to learn that, you know, that's exactly what medical coding is.
• Well, because the CPT codes are federally designated, we couldn't do that.
• The last section in the bill certainly does, but the rest of the bill does not.
• The other area that gives me great concern is the section dealing with PPE.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 and approved the minutes from the prior week before taking up a series of House bills, many of them with testimony from sponsors, agency officials, and stakeholders. Early action included HB 971, which would direct LDH to equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent rural health clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; the sponsor described a significant payment disparity and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also deferred HB 1030 and HB 796 until the following week before moving to other items on the agenda. Several bills dealing with Medicaid and provider regulation were advanced. HB 414, as amended, closes a loophole so health care providers cannot hire unlicensed workers with certain serious out-of-state convictions; amendments addressed effective dates, FBI background-check issues for therapeutic group homes, and delays for direct support professional applicants caused by minor record issues. HB 740, as amended, creates an independent review process for Medicaid claims disputes in the coordinated system of care for behavioral health providers, with amendments clarifying applicability dates and program definitions. HB 786, which prohibits extrapolation in managed care claims recoupments and requires recovery to be based on actual overpayments or underpayments, was also reported favorably. HB 915 set timelines and accountability standards for prior authorization and utilization management in Medicaid managed care and was reported favorably after testimony about delays in care. The committee also heard and passed several bills affecting health professions and facilities. HB 405 simply updates the name of the national acupuncture certification body. HB 1095 allows nursing homes to use alternative power sources while keeping existing generator and fuel requirements. HB 557 defines long-term care pharmacies for policy purposes. HB 779 authorizes expedited partner therapy prescriptions for certain sexually transmitted diseases. HB 933 creates an optional commemorative birth certificate, with part of the fee going to the Office of Women’s Health. HB 796, carried by another representative for the author, establishes a chiropractic preceptorship program with on-site supervision requirements and was reported favorably after questions about student training and patient safety. The committee also heard emotionally charged testimony on HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation and patient communication. Several witnesses described the distress caused by current coding language, and supporters said the change would make records more compassionate and understandable; the bill was reported favorably. HB 403 increased the cottage food gross-sales cap, and after testimony from small producers and the committee’s discussion of other states’ higher limits, an amendment raised the cap to $150,000 before the bill was reported favorably. HB 930 modernizes cosmetic-product regulation and creates a small home-based producer exemption under a wholesale-sales threshold; it was also reported favorably. Finally, HB 1041, a no-mandate bill restricting discrimination based on medical intervention status, prompted extended debate over exemptions for schools, hospitals, and other entities, with one amendment failing on a roll-call vote and the discussion continuing over the scope of the bill and federal funding concerns.