Transcript Highlights:

• and our exceptional items address the ongoing growth in our workload, including both staffing and technology
• Finally, regarding technology, our requests aim to create or modernize systems that will improve transparency
• On the technology side, some of your exceptional items, um. You see, Number one was staffing.
• We did receive some funding for technology last session, especially to develop a low code development
• Do you have tools in your toolbox to be able to protect the consumer when an acquiring water company

Transcript Highlights:

• national FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who apply scientific inquiry and innovative technologies

Bills: HB4440, HJR1067, HJR1087, HB4426, HB3704, HB4311, HB3044, HB4191, HB3465, HB3972, HB3759, HB3625, HB1411, HB2980, HB3015, HB3147, HB3277, HB3323, HB3443, HB3882, HB3406, HB2975, HB3977, HB3263, HB2988, HB3404, HB1770

Keywords: Medicaid, low-income adults, healthcare, eligibility restrictions, constitutional amendment, Medicaid expansion, SoonerCare, health coverage, federal matching funds, FMAP, Article XXV-A, state question, special election, Title 63, public assistance, healthcare funding, federal-state match, Medicaid eligibility, Oklahoma Constitution, ad valorem

Transcript Highlights:

• On the next page, page 32, criminal justice technology and data integration is an ongoing issue that
• You all made huge investments in the Department of Information Technology this year, I believe over a
• Most of them are bureaucracy that I don't think actually protects the consumer. So, Mr.
• I was hoping that we were going to move in the direction of having oversight of technology projects.
• Now, moving to page 72, the Information Technology report card.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, by leveraging technology, and two, retaining our professional employees with competitive pay and
• With technology and all other costs rising, we have to find a way to catch up with inflation.
• Technology is a huge increase. We gave... ...inflation. Technology is a huge increase.
• and the rising costs of certified mail and restricted mail, it's either got to be passed on to the consumer
• And we're able to do that work by leveraging technology and keeping the experts employed with us.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State’s office described its FY27 budget, emphasizing efficiency gains from technology, election security work, and business services. It said it is operating with fewer staff than a decade ago, but rising costs and outdated statutory fees are creating deficits in service of process and other operations. The office asked the committee to consider either increasing fees or allowing it to retain a larger share of business-service revenue, and it also proposed creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to help small businesses navigate state government, grants, permits, and related services. Committee members questioned the Secretary of State’s office about fee increases, the current 50-50 split of certain revenues with general revenue, and whether the proposed entrepreneurship office would duplicate existing services. The office said it would complement, not replace, Commerce, SBDC, or grant programs, and would report metrics and policy recommendations to the legislature. The Attorney General then requested a one-time $2 million special revenue appropriation to hire additional lawyers and support staff, citing increased litigation, federal and state legal work, and the need to defend new laws. He also discussed embedded DMV lawyers handling DUI revocation hearings and said the arrangement costs the office just over $200,000. The State Auditor reported that his office is largely self-funded through special revenue and said he wants to reduce reliance on general revenue over time. He highlighted savings from renegotiated leases and an open government contract, discussed the need for more auditors in the Chief Inspector’s Division, and described fraud recovery and P-card operations. A major topic was delinquent land sales: the auditor said the office sold about 17,000 parcels last year and believes online bidding and better marketing could generate substantially more revenue, with the surplus potentially shared among counties, the state, and other programs. Members also asked about securities fee changes, fairness hearings, fire department audits, IT/cybersecurity, and how surplus proceeds from delinquent land sales should be handled. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• renewable energy tax abatement of 55%, and Oregon has an exemption if the project is net metered or consumed
• and we can continue to partner with the utilities throughout California who want to provide this technology
• and ...throughout California who want to provide this technology in rural communities.
• Well, I—technology. New technology. New technology. I totally get it.
• to protect Prop 98 and how to give all Californians hope that we're moving in the direction. ...technology

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In a nutshell, as technologies evolve and the need becomes more and more apparent, the industry, along
• Technologies are already there that are beginning to say it is probable that the scientific checkoffs
• We will be having this conversation for the next probably several sessions as that technology evolves
• We will be having this conversation for the next probably several sessions as that technology evolves
• Texans value choice and markets, not mandates, and should drive technological transitions.

Bills: SB3074, HB49, HB2440, HB3556, HB3619, HB3866, HB4042, HB4112, HB4271, HB4413, HB4426, HB5033

Keywords: SB 3074, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Code, permit applications, environmental permitting, administrative record, ex parte communications, legislative communications, governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, district projects, public records, recusal, conflict of interest, substantial interest, agency transparency, environmental regulation, permit renewal

Summary: The committee heard and laid out several natural resources and environmental bills, with testimony focused on balancing development, public health, wildlife protection, and regulatory authority. SB 3074 would allow the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators to communicate in writing with TCEQ about matters before the commission, with safeguards requiring the communication to be part of the record and allowing other parties to respond; a committee substitute narrowed it to written communications about permits only, limited legislator communications to facilities in their districts, and adjusted conflict-of-interest rules. HB 3556, as substituted, would require notice to Texas Parks and Wildlife for certain very tall structures in specified coastal counties and give TPWD a limited right to seek injunctive relief if mitigation is insufficient to prevent material harm to migratory birds; supporters said it would address ignored wildlife recommendations and protect key flyways, while opponents argued the bill was too broad, singled out wind energy, and gave one agency unusually strong enforcement power. HB 49 would expand liability protections for produced-water recycling and beneficial use; supporters said it would encourage reuse of a large wastewater stream and reduce disposal pressures, while opponents warned it could shield operators from responsibility before the science and standards are mature. HB 4413 would authorize mass-balance accounting for renewable biomass feedstocks, and HB 3866 would regulate intermediate bulk container recycling facilities near homes, with a committee substitute adding a grandfather clause and making implementation contingent on funding. The committee also heard bills affecting air and energy regulation. HB 5033 would create a trigger to end vehicle emissions inspections if federal law changes to allow it; the substitute removed a Supreme Court-related trigger, and the lone public witness opposed the bill, warning it would worsen air quality and harm nonattainment areas. HB 4112 would clarify that on-site storage of high-level radioactive waste is allowed at current and future nuclear reactors and university research reactors only for waste generated at that site; the substitute clarified the language and removed an inoperative permit condition, and witnesses from environmental and nuclear groups said the clarification was needed to prevent unintended restrictions while avoiding off-site storage. HB 2440 would prohibit state agencies from using air-quality rules to ban or restrict vehicles based on energy source, including internal combustion vehicles, and no public testimony was offered. HB 4271 would require TCEQ to hold public meetings on request for composting facility authorizations; the substitute limited the requirement to future applications and was presented as a transparency measure after a denied local request and extensive public comments. Additional bills addressed landowner protections and Railroad Commission oversight. HB 3619 would require the Railroad Commission to restore surface land after plugging or replugging operations and indemnify landowners from damages tied to authorized entry; a witness supported the bill but urged fixing a separate statutory loophole that he said allowed operators to enter unrelated tracts without notice. HB 4042 would extend Railroad Commission pipeline safety and fee provisions to propane distribution systems by removing the word “natural” from the relevant definitions. HB 4426 would set a 10-year permit term for commercial surface disposal facilities, allow renewal based on compliance history, and require renewal applications 120 days before expiration. The committee took no votes because a quorum was not initially present, and each bill was left pending after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• primarily worked in small package transportation, and he was a senior vice president of field and consumer
• Senate that the House has passed House Bill 109, as amended by the House; House Bill 128; House Consumer
• Senate that the House has passed House Bill 109, as amended by the House; House Bill 128; House Consumer
• And again, I think that over time with technology, these agriculture facilities could make changes.
• Facilities are using the best available technology to curtail emissions. That's what we want, Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The witness said that the technology is such great technology for children because they can use it to
• <01:13:21.280> is of um companion AI uh technologies is of um companion AI uh technologies
• There a new wave of technology, right?
• <01:17:25.600> Like technologies who do not get it. Like technologies who do not get it.
• So communications and technology firms.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The information technology personnel, the janitors who clean the building, and everyone else who's part
• AB 2647, Calderon, Nuclear Technologies Assessment, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2343, Patel, AOD programs consumer protection platform, do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 2343 Patel, AOD programs consumer protection platform due pass that's out on an A roll call.
• 1805, Ransom, 911 Oversight, do pass as amended to shift office oversight to the Department of Technology

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:59:56.799> too terms of the Advent of Technology too terms of the Advent of Technology
• The technology has changed?
• <04:45:00.600> I products to New Hampshire consumers I products to New Hampshire consumers
• From a consumer.
• c><05:14:48.920> one<05:14:49.120> that consumer a consumer was the one that consumer a

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• that lower costs for eligible consumers. that lower costs for eligible consumers.
• way that is not consumer intelligible. way that is not consumer intelligible.
• <00:21:06.320> sometimes burden on consumers because sometimes burden on consumers because
• consumers across the board. consumers across the board.
• In short, our main message to consumers In short, our main message to consumers is<00:29:47.039>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is focused on repeat offenders who repeatedly exploit the system and drive up costs for honest consumers
• Bill 4911 as a necessary and timely update to Texas child protection laws in response to emerging technologies
• Since then, we've seen that technology has advanced rapidly, and the law needs further updates to close
• To close on this, the reason this bill is so important is that technology should never outpace our commitment
• in recent sessions... ...made some strides towards helping law enforcement, but unfortunately, technology

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're modernizing a law that hasn't kept up with technology, making sure Californians can claim what's
• Digital assets such as Bitcoin and other currencies based on blockchain technology are currently undefined
• bill also ensures that California implements best practices for managing abandoned digital assets, consumer

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• consume. The gentleman is recognized. consume. The gentleman is recognized.
• Everybody knows that technologies.
• like tasers and similar technologies like tasers and similar technologies exist<00:52:47.599>
• where through the use of technology where through the use of technology people<00:58:52.240>
• people getting this type of technology. people getting this type of technology.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee will meet at 1:30 today. Members, take note.
• Hill, an act making an appropriation to the Board of Regents and addressing economic and technological
• House Bill 153, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer
• House Bill 154, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer
• House Bill 162, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer

Transcript Highlights:

• A spotlight is being placed on the vast potential of this technology.
• Scientific and technological assets and reinforced by our highly skilled workforce.
• This emerging technology is moving towards commercialization and scale.
• Companies working in quantum technologies are not inclined to share information.
• We are quiet, but certainly a powerhouse in the area of technology.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pieces like the motorized technology pieces like the motorized devices<04:31:49.199> somebody
• The technology exists. It works.
• The<04:39:30.799> technology<04:39:31.359> exists.
• <04:39:32.959> But The technology exists. It works. But The technology exists. It works.
• Good afternoon, Chairman and members of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In keeping Texas consumers at the heart of every decision we make.
• At the heart of everything we do is protecting consumers.
• Last year, our helpline answered more than 126,000 consumer calls...
• And so we do know that many consumers move from gold to bronze plans.
• And so, and we do know that many consumers move from gold to bronze plans.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I'm interning with the Office of Consumer and Environmental Protection, and I'm currently about
• c><00:04:43.919> the<00:04:44.160> Office<00:04:44.479> of<00:04:44.639> Consumer
• interning with the Office of Consumer interning with the Office of Consumer and<00:04:45.199>
• of where to come generation of consumers of where to come get<00:35:59.200> good<00:35:59.520
• there are, you know, technology there are, you know, technology sometimes<00:59:17.440> can

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:50 Approval of Minutes 00:01:21 KOAP Report 00:01:42 Community Farm Alliance and KY Double Dollars 00:20:25 Feeding Kentucky 00:40:55, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee received a monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and the A Development Board/Finance Corporation. Staff reviewed May activity, including county council visits, loan and grant approvals, farm safety funding, and support for beginning farmers, agricultural infrastructure, processing, and county/state projects. The committee also recognized an intern and thanked Tara Roberts for her service as she prepares to leave the agency. Members were reminded about a June 20 anniversary event marking 25 years of the office and related programs. A major topic was K-CARD, the Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Staff explained that the program is being expanded to provide more technical assistance for beginning farmers and farm families, including help with business plans and estate planning/farm transition discussions. Members asked how farmers would access the service and were told the extension office would be the front-line contact, with K-CARD providing the technical assistance and neutral-site consultations. The committee also discussed support for large food animal veterinarians. Staff said the incentive program has helped more than 33 veterinarians and is intended to support existing providers rather than quickly increase numbers; members raised concerns about the pipeline and selection process at Auburn University, and staff said discussions with the university were ongoing. The committee then heard from Community Farm Alliance on Kentucky Double Dollars, Fresh Rx for Moms, and farmers market support programs. CFA reported expansion to roadside stands, more retail onboarding, seven new counties, and estimated economic and farmgate impacts, emphasizing that state funding helps leverage federal and private dollars and stabilize local food access programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the May minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• when a utility company is under investigation for perhaps overcharging that they should have some consumer
• Authorities Law in relation to requiring utility service providers to disclose planned rate increases to consumers
• This bill is going to be referred to the Consumer Protection Committee.
• And so things that are combined cycle, things that are newer technology, would not necessarily fall under

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Cameron Parker, considered a large agenda focused on utility consumer protections, rate transparency, NYSERDA oversight, and energy transition policy. Several bills were discussed in detail, including measures to prohibit residential utility shutoffs during extreme temperature forecasts (Bill 120A), delay shutoffs and late fees while a utility is under certain PSC investigations (Bill 904B), require disclosure of planned rate increases (Bill 4989A), limit certain utility charges after 12 months (Bill 8710), and require utilities to disclose more information with major rate change applications (Bill 9433A). The committee also considered bills on net energy metering credits (Bill 1553), reconnection for low-income customers (Bill 965), sanctions and civil penalties (Bill 8908), and annual NYSERDA reporting obligations (Bill 1819). Members raised recurring concerns about affordability, arrears, and who ultimately bears costs when utilities are prevented from collecting immediately. Senator Walczyk repeatedly questioned whether protections would shift costs to other ratepayers, while sponsors and the chair emphasized that the bills did not erase arrears but created temporary consumer protections. Senator May noted that some proposals could produce significant savings for ratepayers. On Bill 1819, Senator Walczyk supported greater accountability for NYSERDA’s use of ratepayer-funded money. Bill 1668, which would authorize NYSERDA to administer grants for switching residents to electric heat pumps, drew questions about funding; staff said it would be funded off-budget from existing sources and would have no direct state cost, though it could require shifting existing program resources. The committee advanced most bills to third reading after motions and votes, with several measures receiving no votes but still moving forward. Bill 2477 was held for possible amendments. Bill 4989A was referred to the Consumer Protection Committee. Bill 5111, the Just Energy Transition Act, prompted extended discussion about its study timeline and a PSC order to facilitate replacement and redevelopment of at least 4 gigawatts of fossil fuel generation; the bill was advanced to third reading after debate. The meeting concluded with adjournment after the committee completed its agenda.