Transcript Highlights:

• Fundamentally, when you think of a state park, the wildlife isn’t simply contained to the borders of
• :27.640> the wildlife isn't simply contained to the wildlife isn't simply contained to the borders
• of the state park but the the borders of the state park but the the the<00:27:31.120> natural
• It allows us to do our energy security...
• Allows us to do our energy security, our cyber security work, and to employ many of the folks in terms

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• slandering of our president has totally removed any chance of our being reimbursed $750 million for our border
• security monies.
• Without it, people cannot access shelter, medical care, or basic benefits like SNAP or Social Security

Bills: SB1063, SB1118, SB1153, SB1154, SB1209, SCM1001

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, safety improvements, Route 70, infrastructure, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, special license plate, special plate, license plate, vanity plate

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard and advanced six measures. SB 1118, as amended, appropriates $3 million to the Department of Health Services for grants to rural hospitals to install radiation protection systems in cardiac catheterization rooms; testimony focused on protecting health care workers from ionizing radiation, with the amendment narrowing the bill from an unspecified appropriation to a specific amount and room type. The committee also approved SB 1154, a $500,000 General Fund appropriation for an ADOT traffic and safety study on SR 64 between Williams and the Grand Canyon, after testimony from local officials, law enforcement, and fire personnel describing heavy tourism traffic, crashes, and fatalities. SB 1063, which appropriates $10.4 million for safety improvements on U.S. Route 70, also received a do-pass recommendation after testimony from the San Carlos Apache Tribe, sheriffs, and tribal law enforcement describing a high number of fatalities and dangerous roadway conditions. The committee then passed SB 1153, which creates a Grand Canyon National Park specialty license plate and fund; the Grand Canyon Conservancy testified that proceeds would support park conservation, research, education, and preservation work. SCM 1001, as amended, urging the renaming of State Route 260 as the Donald J. Trump Highway, was approved after a contentious debate over the symbolism of the memorial. Finally, SB 1209, which exempts people without a residence address or whose address is a homeless shelter from non-operating ID license fees and extends the validity period for those IDs, received a do-pass recommendation after testimony from homeless services providers that IDs are essential for housing, employment, and access to services. Votes were 10-0 for SB 1118, 6-4 for SB 1154, 6-4 for SB 1063, 10-0 for SB 1153, 6-4 for SCM 1001, and 9-0 with one not voting for SB 1209.

Transcript Highlights:

• establishing a centralized crime laboratory portal to process record requests and facilitate the secure
• The crisis at the border has caused increases in crime throughout the state.
• Additionally, a 2024 Department of Justice report found that 91% of girls in our secure facilities NTJJD

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• require the Executive Commission of Health and Human Services to adopt rules as necessary to implement security
• Bill 2332 by Parker, relating to aircraft owned and operated by the Department of Public Safety for border
• security.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation, and routine motions to excuse Senator King and dispense with the reading of the previous journal. Members then took up several ceremonial resolutions and recognitions, including honoring Duncanville High School’s boys basketball state championship, recognizing the city of Palestine, welcoming the Texas African American Lawyers Foundation and Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, acknowledging the Cibolo Chamber of Commerce, and designating Texas County Treasurer’s Day and Mesquite Day. A memorial resolution for Clyde Vance Dunham of Waco was adopted, with multiple senators speaking in tribute to his long legal career and community service; the Senate agreed to adjourn in his memory. The chamber then considered a series of bills, most of which were advanced on expedited motions. Senate Bill 1948, concerning fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities, passed after suspension of the rules and the three-day rule. Senate Bill 1394, updating weight and tire-load rules for ready-mix concrete trucks, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1814, creating an electronic database to provide information to certain veterans, also passed unanimously. Senate Bill 241, tightening enforcement of the public camping ban and authorizing state enforcement and reimbursement mechanisms, drew questions about impacts on unhoused people but ultimately passed. Senate Bill 1147, withdrawing Texas from the Interstate Mining Compact, passed unanimously. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 921 on Medicaid ex parte renewals after a narrower vote, and Senate Bill 609, requiring school districts and charter schools to comply with legally required policies, after rejecting an amendment by Senators Menendez and Perry that would have added a good-faith/resource-limitation safeguard for districts. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 660, requiring bollards or similar barriers near certain hospital emergency rooms, passed with rural exemptions and exceptions for existing protections. Senate Bill 2155, a cleanup bill returning veterinary board authority from TDLR to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, passed with amendments. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1209 on election dates and Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1396 prohibiting national sex education standards in public schools also passed. The Senate then received first-reading bills and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have New Mexico 139, also known as the Border Highway Connector, at $170 million.
• diagram, the picture there in the middle of the page, depicts where that roadway is in relation to the border
• Chair, or talk to me about the status on the border connector road.
• Chair, Representative Lara, the border highway connector— yeah, so the border highway connector is going

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have armed security presence at our schools.
• We have armed security presence at our early child...
• We have armed security presence at our schools.
• Will there be allocated funding for security measures?
• I feel like I had to call security. I mean, when I say security, I mean law enforcement.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a matter of statewide health security.
• It is a matter of statewide health<00:53:42.960> security.
• While I'm confident we will prevail in securing the dedicated revenue that's needed to stabilize this
• The change Health Care Security factors.
• the dedicated revenue that's securing the dedicated revenue that's needed<00:59:57.480> to<00

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And try as I might, with a lot of secret elves working with me, we weren't able to secure the eight-foot-tall
• primary care provider, make sure that you're providing them information so that they have access to secure
• dangerous products on the market, there should be standards in place to ensure those firearms are stored securely
• They must maintain security measures like alarms and digital surveillance.
• They must ensure secure storage. They must report losses. They must ensure secure storage.

Summary: The House convened with Girl State participants presiding for part of the session, including introductions of the student leadership and a unanimous voice vote passing House Concurrent Resolution 152 honoring the young women participating in Delaware Girl State. The chamber also welcomed congressional interns and other guests, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and observed a moment of silence for Nathan Cynix and Kara Feeley before prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes for Representative Ron Gray, who was recognized for his 14 years of service and his work on issues such as bond bills, dredging, bike paths, small business, constituent service, and agriculture-related funding. Multiple members from both parties praised his humor, honesty, mentorship, and dedication to the House and his district. Gray responded with extended remarks reflecting on his family legacy, legislative service, and appreciation for colleagues and staff, and the chamber later sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at his request. The House then received communications, including Senate messages returning several bills and informing the chamber of Senate passage of additional measures. Members were also told that the FY27 bond bill, House Bill 500, had been placed on desks as a gift for review. The House read in Consent Agenda S, which included House Bill 476, House Joint Resolution 13, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 168, Senate Bill 297, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319, and Senate Joint Resolution 21, and began a roll call vote on the consent agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• not sure I want to settle in here when I could go have the same kind of lifestyle right across the border
• 19.520> the same kind of lifestyle right across the same kind of lifestyle right across the border
• 00:29:21.679> in<00:29:21.919> Maine<00:29:23.200> and<00:29:23.520> I border
• over in Vermont or in Maine and I border over in Vermont or in Maine and I know<00:29:23.919> the
• actually is the of Employment Security actually is the one<01:27:28.800> tracking<01:27:29.520

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were all basically forced to change their dining habits and ended up going right across the border
• :38.839> the and ended up uh going right across the and ended up uh going right across the border
• <00:40:39.359> into<00:40:40.079> uh border into uh border into uh Fargo<00:40:42.160><
• demographics of senior citizens, and because we are one of the few states that still tax Social Security
• and a lot of the seniors move Security and a lot of the seniors move to<00:58:11.039> other<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And there is no amount of digital security which will stop those hacks.
• And there is no amount of digital security which will stop those hacks.
• digital security which will stop those hacks.<01:03:41.599> And<01:03:41.839> so<01:03
• know that close to the Vermont border. know that close to the Vermont border.
• Vermont is the longest border that New Hampshire shares, and for towns in the Connecticut River Valley

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal as an organization for the last 10 years has been to work with the state to provide true border-to-border
• ensuring all motans get access to border ensuring all motans get access to border to<00:47:14.000
• > border to border to border Broadband<00:47:16.160> while<00:47:16.359> the<00:
• provide<00:47:47.680> true with the state to provide true with the state to provide true border-to-border
• border-to-border border-to-border Broadband<00:47:50.440> this<00:47:50.599> issue<00:

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• commemorates the Battle of Puebla, where the Mexican Army, against overwhelming odds, stood firmly and secured
• a victory that echoes... ...overwhelming odds, stood firmly and secured a victory that echoed far beyond
• to support the side that sought to keep Black Americans... ...overwhelming odds stood firmly and secured
• million Afro-Mexicans whose heritage continues to influence and strengthen communities across the border

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and approval of the Senate journals. Members then considered several gubernatorial appointments to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Despite protest from Senator Grove over the lack of action on a separate rehabilitation appointment, the Senate confirmed Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, Jason Johnson, Madeline McLean, Brian Bishop, and Sarah Larson, with each confirmation passing overwhelmingly or unanimously. The chamber next adopted Senate Resolution 86 recognizing Cinco de Mayo Week and the 2026 Latino Spirit Award honorees. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing Mexican history, Latino civic engagement, and solidarity across communities. The Latino Caucus then introduced the honorees, including leaders in higher education, philanthropy, labor, health, advocacy, environmental justice, journalism, culinary arts, and the legacy band Los Tigres del Norte. The Senate also adopted SCR 146 declaring May Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and SCR 154 establishing Green Star Veterans and Families Day to honor veterans who died by service-related suicide and their families. Later, the Senate adopted SCR 123 for California Peace Officers Memorial Day after emotional remarks naming officers killed in the line of duty and honoring their families, and SCR 164 recognizing Black Health Equity Advocacy Week, with speakers citing racial disparities in health outcomes and maternal mortality. The body also adopted SCR 103 on Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, with a guest recognition for a behavioral health advocate. In third reading, the Senate passed SB 1159 on artificial intelligence and public participation, SB 1416 shortening refund timelines for duplicate medical/dental payments, SB 1273 and SB 1195 on alcoholic beverage tied-house exemptions, SB 941 limiting commissary markups in private detention facilities, SB 1099 clarifying local authority to provide public benefits, and SB 990 allowing a highway information sign near Ridgecrest. The session concluded with adjournments in memory of labor leader Kent Wong and Navy veteran and artist Victor Valar.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'll have sanitary and we'll also have security with it.
• Recently, through the Board of Finance, we were able to secure 2.9 million to go ahead and start building
• The ones who didn't transfer, we went into either Border Patrol Police Academies or Fire Academies or
• I do have a request in, and I'm trying to go and secure a minimal amount through again, that 4-17 appropriation

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico distributes a lot because of just the two counties, Eddy and Lee, that just crossed the border
• All historical observation, the president who secured the commission for the land office and the Louisiana
• One Computing school for security guard schools and others. So that includes court reporting.
• We awarded $450,000 to 84 school districts to support secure storage for cellphones and smart devices

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we have income assistance, so we have representatives who are trained by Social Security to
• help people apply for their Social Security disability.
• on income, so either, you know, working through VA benefits or, again, disability through Social Security
• And where I'm referring to is in my district, especially along the border, we have vouchers that are

Transcript Highlights:

• When our money was issued to us, we were advised on how to secure our money so that in case something
• So our money is fairly secure.
• have been seeking advice from them as well. because they're a good partner to have on your eastern border
• , we have a lot of herederos that are poor, you know, they're surviving off of... limited social security

Transcript Highlights:

• These are daughters, sisters, mothers, stolen lives that deserve our action to secure justice.
• These are daughters, sisters, mothers, stolen lives that deserve our action to secure justice.
• kids, school lunches for our kids, or any other type of resource, Medicare for our seniors, Social Security
• It currently sits in Victor Heights on the border of Chinatown and Echo Park.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved routine procedural motions, and recognized several guest groups, including First Five California, a fourth-grade class from Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, visitors from Modoc and Lassen counties, and representatives from the Port of Long Beach. The chamber then moved through second reading and concurrence items, with most bills and resolutions being read, deemed adopted, or passed on file without debate. The main floor action centered on ACR 39, designating May 2025 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month. Assembly Member Ramos and many caucus members spoke in strong support, describing the crisis as a state of emergency and emphasizing violence against Native women, girls, and two-spirit people, the need for better data collection, agency coordination, tribal sovereignty, and continued action beyond symbolic recognition. The resolution passed concurrence with 67 ayes and 0 noes. The Assembly also passed a series of bills on topics including classified school employee pay stubs (AB 374), allowing voucher preferences in housing (AB 282), authorizing nurse practitioners to sign death certificates (AB 583), student health insurance protections (AB 594), local housing pre-approval programs (AB 1206), veterans education program administration (AB 1509), expanding the Family Urgent Response System (AB 898), Star Wars Day (H.R. 33), local news sale notice requirements (AB 611), mask-wearing protections in public spaces (AB 1326), a Chula Vista university land-use measure (AB 76), undercover officer record protections (AB 1178), and preservation of Clover Valley in Rocklin (AB 1152). Most passed with broad support, though AB 282 and AB 611 drew some opposition. A major debate occurred on AJR 10, which urged the President to reverse cuts to the U.S. Forest Service. Members from both parties discussed wildfire prevention, forest health, staffing, and federal-state responsibility, with some criticizing the administration and others emphasizing forest management and the need for bipartisan cooperation. The resolution was adopted after a co-author roll and final roll vote of 67 ayes and 0 noes. The chamber then adopted the second-day consent calendar, heard an adjournment in memory for Giovanni “Johnny” of East Side Italian Deli, and adjourned until Monday, May 12, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• rural health clinics, I know that this funding is designated to us as a state, and obviously we have bordering
• So especially on our eastern border, our southern border, and our western border, it's not just providing
• And so I think that's another conversation that we need to have with CMS with bordering communities.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's talk about current focus, and one of them is security.
• So how is your security going as far as training? Are your users receptive?
• Are we seeing all the things we need to make sure we are secure?
• MISR deals with social security. Medicaid payments.
• We have secured funding from the ICIP to build a hangar and other facilities.