Bills: SB5952 , SB5961 , SB5969 , SB5841 , SB5943

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: physical education, school districts, student requirements, education policy, high school, early literacy, childhood literacy, book distribution, Imagination Library, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, preschool, pre-K, reading readiness, school readiness, birth to age five, young children, nonprofit contract, OSPI, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, DCYF

Bills: HB322 , HB 126 , HB3062 , HB1481 , HB2310 , HB2674 , HB 121 , HB2243 , HB3627 , HB 1178 , HB367 , HB5515

Committees: Senate Education K-16 , Senate Education

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, fentanyl prevention, drug poisoning awareness, higher education, mental health resources, substance abuse education, student policy, communication devices, school regulations, disciplinary measures

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas spends about 4.7 billion dollars each year on information technology goods and services across
• It bars Chinese-owned vendors from supplying certain technology. owned or controlled company, a scrutinized
• lines, potential savings obtained from minimizing these outages, and how to leverage emerging technologies
• HCA, natural disaster and recovery programs at the GLO, and technology accreditation, as well as appliance
• $3 billion in federal and state funds dedicated to increasing the programs. of energy-efficient technology

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

Committee: House State Affairs

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

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

Committee: House State Affairs

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, in the state, the only scannable technologies are the ballot can be scanned, the little dot that
• Today, in the state, the only scannable technologies are the ballot can be scanned, the little dot that

Bills: HB569 , HB766 , HB1638 , HB2316 , HB2773 , HB2785 , HB3113 , HB3709 , HB3775 , HB4275

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3709, which would change the partial manual audit process so early voting could be audited by voting location rather than by randomly selected precincts. The author and several supporters said the current precinct-based process is antiquated, labor-intensive, and especially difficult in countywide voting systems and large counties. Opponents and some neutral witnesses raised concerns about whether the change would still allow an apples-to-apples audit against official precinct results, whether random selection procedures should be more clearly defined, and how ballot secrecy and mail ballots would be handled. The Secretary of State’s office said counties already use random selection methods and that the bill would largely standardize early voting audits with election-day procedures, while also noting ballot privacy issues can arise in public records requests. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then took up House Bill 766, as substituted, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both, while making that contact information confidential. Supporters said the change would help parties and local officials contact applicants more efficiently. Opponents argued it could expose personal contact information to public records requests and harassment, and some suggested the information should instead be handled through party rules. The bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. House Bill 3775 followed and would set clearer timelines for when early voting ballot boards may begin opening carrier envelopes, with different start times based on county size. Supporters said the bill would address counties opening ballots too early and improve ballot security, while opponents warned it could delay defect notices and cure opportunities for mail voters and create problems in large counties that process high volumes of ballots. Testimony also focused on whether the bill referred to carrier envelopes or secrecy envelopes and on how counties like Harris County currently image and secure ballot materials. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4275, which would require countywide polling systems to have polling places in each election precinct, intended to address uneven distribution of polling locations across county commissioner precincts. Supporters said the bill would make polling place distribution fairer and more consistent, especially in Harris County, while opponents said it would undermine countywide voting, increase costs, require more equipment and staff, and reduce local flexibility. Several witnesses also raised concerns about ballot secrecy and the practical burden on large and rural counties. The bill remained under discussion as testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• boards to tap into existing funds, whether it be the K-12 Capital Grant Program, the Advancement Technology
• program, or even with... then Advancement Technology or even with the recently passed bill last year
• So, I'm not advocating for any particular vendor in any way whatsoever; it's more so the technology that
• I believe he has a technology that would be very cost effective, and I was just hoping that after we

Bills: HB205 , HB226 , HB234

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications, church magazines, Bible class materials, Sunday school materials, tax administration, indirect tax, state revenue, HB226, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> access to technology today. access to technology today.
• </c> partisan, but it is technology. partisan, but it is technology.
• We have<02:51:50.560><c> the</c><02:51:50.880><c> technology.
• We join economic have the technology.
• They need resources, technology, and support necessary to do their jobs.

Bills: HB7892 , HR1352 , HB5408 , HR1140 , SB2 , HR1345

Keywords: identity fraud, FAFSA, higher education, financial aid, verification system, labor union, collective bargaining, first contract, initial contract, union certification, union recognition, National Labor Relations Act, NLRA, workplace organizing, labor arbitration, mediation, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, FMCS, binding arbitration, labor relations

Transcript Highlights:

• And this would compare light rail to the newer technologies, which is... ...light rail to the newer technology
• We're probably just a couple years away from having that technology available.
• Technology is moving fast.
• It would be public sector, private sector, and dual-use technology, not simply just defense.
• Yes, I think we need to be in the forefront of advanced technology in this area.

Bills: SB1059 , SB1209 , SB1273 , SB1332 , SB1452 , SB1456 , SB1549 , SB1552 , SB1818 , SB1826 , SB1827

Committee: House Transportation & Infrastructure

Keywords: appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, nonoperating identification, homeless exemption, veterans, emancipated minors, Arizona Department of Transportation, transportation, infrastructure, pavement rehabilitation, funding, Arizona, SB1332, light rail, light rail expansion, Maricopa County, Phoenix

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this with four people using emerging technologies and a will-can-do attitude, essentially saving
• </c><00:57:51.080><c> four</c> use emerging technology and four use emerging technology and four staffers
• and and a will-can-do technologies and and a will-can-do attitude,<00:58:13.800><c> essentially</c><
• I have a question about how this impacts innovation, and especially the scaling of technology.
• Has emerging technology<01:23:15.680><c> taken</c><01:23:16.000><c> the</c><01:23:16.120><c> problem<

Bills: SF856 , HF4482 , HF3672 , HF1234 , HF4591 , HF3554 , HF936

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, HF4482, Minnesota Historical Society, state historic sites, historic site management, historic preservation, county historical society, local historical society, municipality, county government, admission fees, grants-in-aid, site operations, site maintenance

Bills: HB2273 , SB5188 , HB2353 , HB2420 , HB2470

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, construction, environment, broadband, infrastructure, loan assistance, economic development, technology access, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, capital budget, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning

Bills: HB332 , HB166 , SB336 , HB447 , HB244

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: computer science, K-12 education, public schools, graduation requirement, digital literacy, coding, programming, STEM, artificial intelligence, AI, computational thinking, technology education, computer literacy, high school credit, middle school, elementary school, teacher training, professional development, distance learning, virtual school

Transcript Highlights:

• is a critical component of the healthcare workforce pipeline and because of the advancements in technology
• . technology, we now have lifelike simulation equipment that can dramatically enhance training programs
• opportunity for school districts to give students pursuing health profession-related career and technology
• I am very bad at technology.

Bills: HB295 , HB824 , HB1579 , HB1581 , HB2189 , HB295

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: bullying, antisemitism, school policies, school discipline, education, education policy, Texas Education Code, hate speech, student rights, civics education, high school curriculum, government, voting process, elected officials, Texas Seal of Biliteracy, biliteracy, bilingual education, multilingual, language proficiency, high school diploma

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the CDC in 2022 over 90,000 births. in the U.S. were achieved with the help of IVF technology
• This is a, the technology is safe, and There's no greater gift, no greater gift, being a father of two
• ability, if the technology exists, then deny the ability for that technology to be covered. covered in
• And women who typically have to. undergo alternative reproductive technologies such as IVF, they are

Bills: HB201 , HB272 , HB618 , HB 1094 , HB 1142 , HB201 , HB272

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, HB 618, Texas insurance code, IVF, in vitro fertilization, fertility treatment, infertility coverage, government employee health benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Advancement and Technology Fund bill. to the previous roll?
• This is the Advancement and<00:33:32.760><c> Technology</c><00:33:33.840><c> Fund</c> I did make a few

Bills: HB517 , HB98 , HB235 , HB236 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB565 , HB517 , HB98 , HB235 , HB236 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB565 , SB380

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: underground damage prevention, one-call notification system, utility locating, excavation safety, dig safe, call before you dig, utility lines, underground utilities, pipeline safety, gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, water utility, wastewater, cable television, locate request, premark, tolerance zone, positive response, contract locator

Transcript Highlights:

• you can see it when you look 10 years ago and you look at it today, and that is the explosion of technology
• is the you look at it today and that is the explosion<00:26:20.559><c> of</c><00:26:20.799><c> technology
• that</c><00:26:21.600><c> is</c><00:26:21.760><c> in</c><00:26:21.919><c> your</c> explosion of technology
• that is in your explosion of technology that is in your pocket<00:26:22.640><c> that</c><00:26:22.960

Bills: HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174 , HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, HB170, supplemental appropriations, Education Trust Fund, Alabama education budget, school funding, K-12 education, local boards of education, textbook adoption, school buses, school safety, charter schools, summer programs, afterschool programs, reading intervention, college and career readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• Michael Kratios to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Mark Meador to be a Commissioner
• and DOD during the first Trump administration. record of ensuring that America leads in emerging technologies
• Consumer protection and science and technology policy several bills on the agenda are ones the committee
• Many deal with technology. issues and will boost America's competitiveness, the securing semiconductor
• Krautsio who is nominated to be the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, isn't new to the

Bills: SB244 , SB28 , SB289 , SB323 , SB389 , SB414 , SB428 , SB433 , SB582 , SB613 , SB759 , SB792 , SB841 , SB843 , SB97

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: national security, cybersecurity, consumer technology, routers, modems, study, communication, consumer protection, smart devices, transparency, internet-connected devices, FTC enforcement, lithium-ion batteries, battery safety, consumer product safety, CPSC, Consumer Product Safety Commission, e-bikes, electric bicycles, e-scooters

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an important meeting where they discussed various bills aimed at addressing pressing issues like consumer protection, technology, and environmental management. Chairman Cruz opened the meeting by emphasizing the role of subpoenas in ensuring accountability and oversight, highlighting a recent compliance from several parties following such threats. The meeting progressed to consider several bills, including the Romance Scam Prevention Act championed by Senator Blackburn, which seeks to protect vulnerable populations from online dating scams that have resulted in enormous financial losses, particularly among seniors. The committee also nominated Michael Kratios for the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Mark Medder for the Federal Trade Commission, underscoring the significance of leadership in fostering innovation and consumer protection in technology sectors.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen firsthand in Fresno what can happen when law enforcement has the tools, the technology, the
• That's why we... the tools, the technology, the training, the tools, the technology, the training, and
• and technology and recruitment and prevention<01:04:35.680><c> and</c><01:04:35.920><c> partnerships
• .<01:30:43.520><c> These</c><01:30:43.840><c> students</c><01:30:44.159><c> applied</c> technologies.
• These students applied technologies.

Bills: HB8365 , HB5625 , HCR75 , HB6260 , HB8469

Keywords: monitoring, court appointments, public service, accountability, government oversight, pro bono, reduced fees, cashless bail, criminal justice, public safety, Attorney General, pretrial release, Iran, military force, War Powers Resolution, U.S. Armed Forces, hostilities, Congress, national security, bail fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• think I made this statement before, it possibly Could be the start of a lot of good things that technology

Bills: HB2992 , HB3183 , HB3464 , HB4170 , HB4338

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers, cryptocurrency mining, large load customer, electric rates, utility tariffs, cost causation, rate design, public power utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative, investor-owned utility, load growth, interconnection

Bills: SB1195 , SB1245 , SB1379 , SB1420 , SB1473 , SB1534 , SB1743 , SB1769 , SB1945

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: nuisance, racing facility, racetrack, qualified defense, local property rights, noise regulation, legal claims, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, drug offenses, DUI penalties, residential treatment, human trafficking, victims, prevention, support services, Attorney General, pilot program, grant funding, public comment

Bills: HB3091 , HB3314 , HB3435 , HB3748 , HB3913 , HB3919 , HB4132 , HB4203 , HB4303

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: county officials, residency requirement, dereliction of duty, removal process, government accountability, marijuana tax, public service impact tax, county funding, voter approval, local government, municipal bonds, ballot proposals, voting process, fund allocation, county government, administration, local resources, public institutions, construction, maintenance