Transcript Highlights:

• Just adding to our child care resources in general, I was blown away to find out that y'all had already
• The Texas Workforce Commission will distribute around 80 million dollars in federal funding for...
• Those dollars are distributed to the 28 local workforce development boards to help opportunity youth

Bills: HB669, HB 1306, HB3173, HB3807

Keywords: healthcare, Medicare, insurance, financial assistance, families, wage theft, employers, penalties, Texas Workforce Commission, employee rights, employer database, worker rights, death investigation, emergency services, medical benefits, exposure claims, public safety, workforce development, TWC, youth workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• It is noted that a little over 1% of general revenue.
• It's DFNA Distributing Officer.
• I think that the government generally makes for a lousy venture capitalist.
• And so I generally support those things.
• But generally, a project of this size goes pretty fast.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, leave requests, and routine business, including reading gubernatorial approval letters for several recently enacted acts. Members also recognized guests in the chamber. The body then took up a motion to send House Bill 1034 back to the Joint Budget Committee, which passed, with Representative Jean explaining the bill would be revised to remove pay raises and address cybersecurity and bank fees later. On the red and budget calendars, the House passed House Bill 1103 to increase the homestead property tax credit by $75, with supporters noting it would be the fourth straight annual increase and total $300 per household over four years. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bills 1007, 1022, 1036, and 1064, then passed Senate Bill 76, a $2 million appropriation for county extension office capital improvements. Several appropriation bills were then considered in batches and individually, with mixed results: House Bills 1005, 1051, 1089, 1090, 1093, and Senate Bills 8, 10, 16, 20, 23, 36, 43, 55, 58, 63, 67, and 30 passed; House Bills 1023, 1035, 1053, 1066, and Senate Bills 41 and 59 failed; Senate Bills 10 and 24 were initially passed over for later consideration. A major portion of the meeting focused on Amendment 1 to House Bill 1100, the RSA/one-time funding package. Representative Jean outlined increases for corrections, state police, LEARNS/freedom accounts, Medicaid, vehicle purchases, and other set-asides, plus a proposed $300 million economic development reserve for a confidential project with clawback provisions. The amendment drew extended debate: supporters argued it could bring major job creation and broader economic benefits, while opponents criticized the secrecy, size of the subsidy, and opportunity cost. The amendment ultimately passed 54-36-3. The House then adjourned until 1 p.m. the next day after announcements about upcoming budget and House Management meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• designed to support first generation designed to support first generation college<00:05:09.120><
• education and just teaching in general. education and just teaching in general.
• generations of our communities. generations of our communities.
• economy has been built over generations. economy has been built over generations.
• for a family for generations. for a family for generations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He is a fourth-generation Arizonan and carries with him a deep, lived understanding of this state, its
• we see the results of their hard work: the children of those original 1999 families, the second generation
• Veterans of Method Fund; 471, Spousal Maintenance, Domestic; 484, Indigent Defense Fund; 4093, Attorney General
• The Committee of the Whole is called to order, with that all the amendments which have been distributed
• All amendments which have been distributed will not be read in full. Hearing none, so ordered.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and introductions of the Doctor of the Day and various guests in the gallery. Members also adopted a proclamation recognizing February 17, 2026, as Kosovo’s Independence Day in Arizona, with remarks highlighting the Kosovo American community’s contributions to the state. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider measures on the calendar. In Committee of the Whole, HB 2307 received committee amendments and a due pass recommendation. HB 2758, relating to groundwater transportation and La Paz County, drew substantial debate and multiple amendments; supporters described it as a water policy measure with added protections, while opponents warned it would weaken basin protections and benefit private water investors. After a division and recorded vote, HB 2758 failed to receive a due pass recommendation. The committee also gave due pass recommendations to HCR 2003, HCR 2047, and HCR 2002 after debate on issues including transgender participation in sports and the historical/biblical naming of Judea and Samaria. On third reading, the House passed HB 251, HB 262, HB 272, HB 296, and HB 2459, with brief explanations of vote on several measures. HB 262 was described as honoring the Buffalo Soldiers, HB 272 as a public health-related measure tied to provider credentialing, HB 296 as a water infrastructure and finance bill, and HB 2459 as a bipartisan mobile home park tenant protection bill. The House then received the Committee of the Whole report, referred the passed measures to engrossing, and noted that HB 2758 failed to pass. The session concluded with announcements about committee meetings, a Game and Fish Department legislative day, and other personal remarks before adjournment until February 18, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• scattered throughout the rules, so rather than walking through each one of the packages, I’ll just talk generally
• The program received a $50 billion appropriation to be distributed over five years, and 50% of that funding
• to the states as baseline funding, for which North Carolina was $100 million a year, and 50% was distributed
• each community can kind of figure out if they want to have a concerted effort at tapping into the generational
• technical things from a nationwide— If they want to have a concerted effort at tapping into the generational

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: Legislative Management met with a quorum, approved the July 11, 2025 minutes, and then considered recommendations from the Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee. Beth Dittes explained proposed special session rule changes, which largely mirror prior special session rules and are intended to speed floor action. The changes would allow faster second readings and transmission between chambers, replace regular standing committees with two joint committees for the special session—Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy—and limit bill introduction methods. The package also included delayed-effective-date changes for the next regular session, such as moving the agency and Supreme Court prefile deadline earlier and advancing several resolution deadlines. Liz Fordall then reviewed revisions to the legislative workplace harassment policy, including clarified definitions, longer intake and review deadlines, an option for informal resolution before a review panel, and clearer disclosure rules. The committee adopted the report and forwarded the rules and policy changes. The committee also approved tentative first-day special session agendas for both chambers, with a Speaker-requested revision to allow time to swear in new House members. Megan Gordon outlined the schedule: early Rules Committee meetings, morning floor sessions, a joint session for the governor’s State of the State, then meetings of the joint appropriations and policy committees, with optional later floor and committee time. Members discussed how the joint committees would handle bills and confirmed the process would mirror the prior special session. The agendas were adopted. Chairman Bekkedahl then reported for the Rural Health Transformation Committee, which had completed its work and recommended five bill drafts for the special session: a Presidential Physical Fitness Test requirement for schools, a nutrition component for physician continuing education, joining a physician assistant licensure compact, expanding pharmacist scope for lab testing and prescribing, and a two-year appropriations bill to cover the program through the next regular session. He explained the federal rural health transformation grant, the state’s application, funding restrictions, and the need to keep the bills aligned with CMS requirements to avoid funding reductions or clawbacks. DHS officials said the department would measure outcomes through required metrics, use templates for awards, and set up an Office of Health Transformation to track long-term impacts. The committee adopted the rural health report and forwarded the bills. Finally, members discussed special-session logistics. Legislative staff said employment committees would approve a limited number of staff, Legislative Management would serve as the delayed-bills committee, and a letter would be sent to legislators explaining the process and a suggested Friday noon drafting deadline for bills to be considered at the January 20 meeting. The committee also discussed how many bills might be introduced and how to assign the rural health bills to the House or Senate for origin. No formal vote was taken on those logistics, and the meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene on January 20.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no funding for these grants in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, and therefore the department
• I am the interim general counsel at the Department of Health.
• I am the interim general counsel at the Department of Health.
• After this rule was finalized, the signs were created and distributed not only to safe homes but to relevant
• The signs were created and distributed not only to safe homes but to relevant residential treatment facilities

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the one about the general revenues being redistributed back to the agencies, right?
• It's DFA, distributing officer.
• And so that's generally why I think these sorts of policies are not always a good idea.
• But generally, a project of this size goes pretty fast. So that's my only input.
• He said roughly half of the jobs in the state are generated by small businesses.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, granted several leaves, and received gubernatorial approval notices for multiple fiscal-session measures. The chamber then referred House Bill 1034 back to the Joint Budget Committee so pay raises could be stripped out and cybersecurity/bank-fee funding handled later. House Bill 1103, increasing the homestead property tax credit by $75, passed 94-0. Members then considered several budget amendments and appropriations. Amendments to House Bills 1007, 1022, 1036, and 1064 were adopted, and Senate Bill 76, a $2 million appropriation for county extension office capital improvements, passed 87-7. A batch of appropriation bills passed, but several individual bills failed, including House Bills 1023, 1035, 1053, and 1066. House Bills 1089 and 1090, supplemental appropriations for pregnancy crisis centers and waste tire cleanup, both passed. House Bill 1093, a corrections reappropriation bill that excluded use of funds in Franklin County, also passed 94-0. The most extensive debate centered on House Bill 1100 Amendment 1, which set out the RSA and one-time funding package. Supporters described major allocations for corrections, state police, LEARNS Freedom Accounts, Medicaid, vehicle purchases, and a proposed $300 million economic-development site-preparation and road package tied to a confidential project. Opponents criticized the secrecy, size, and policy approach of the incentive, while supporters argued it could bring jobs and broader economic benefits. The amendment passed 54-36-3. The House also passed Senate Bills 8, 16, 30, 63, 67, and 73, while Senate Bills 41 and 59 failed, and Senate Bill 10 passed after being briefly set aside for clarification. The chamber adjourned to 1 p.m. the next day, with committee meetings announced for budget and house management.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is much more randomly distributed across the state.
• You see other general government.
• And then they move to general government services and more general, very, very tiny public safety component
• Property tax really goes into their general fund, largely, and so their general fund is a lot like our
• general revenue fund.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for a listening session focused on a presentation by Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research on local government revenues and expenditures. Baker reviewed statewide financial data for counties, municipalities, and independent special districts, using 2018-19 as a baseline year because it was stable and pre-COVID. She explained that counties rely heavily on taxes, with ad valorem taxes making up about 73% of county tax revenue and about 24% of total county revenues statewide, while municipalities rely more on charges for services and have a lower statewide ad valorem share of about 14.7%. She also noted wide variation across local governments, with some counties and cities highly dependent on property taxes and others using them minimally or not at all. Special districts were shown to be very different from counties and cities, with hospital-related revenues and expenditures dominating many of them, while water management districts were more reliant on ad valorem taxes and focused expenditures on the physical environment. Baker also summarized expenditure patterns: counties spent the largest share on public safety, while municipalities spent the largest share on general government services, followed by physical environment and public safety. She emphasized that local government structures vary widely and that the committee should study what characteristics are associated with greater property tax reliance. She said the next research steps would be to extend the analysis through later years, including the COVID and inflation period, and to examine institutional and legal factors that shape local fiscal structures. Members asked about unfunded mandates, fuel taxes, reserves, school taxes, millage rates, and how property taxes relate to specific services such as police and fire. Baker said the current analysis did not yet account for mandates or school taxes and that further work could examine links between revenues and expenditures, commercial versus residential tax burdens, and other factors. After the presentation, members reported back on local meetings with counties and municipalities. Several described large differences in millage rates, revenue mixes, and the impact of any property tax changes on fiscally constrained counties versus larger, wealthier ones. Concerns were raised about how local governments would replace lost revenue, especially for public safety and emergency response, and members discussed the need to consider both revenue replacement and ways to rein in spending. The co-chairs said the committee would continue gathering information, send members follow-up homework and requests for panel suggestions, and invite additional input from constituents, stakeholders, and local governments. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• One was reinsurance, one was the issuance of the Attorney General enforcement of 340B provisions, and
• Is that the general fund, or where? Mr. President, and Sen. Gruenhagen, yes, the general fund. Sen.
• OR The breakup, or percentage of how we would distribute the funds: 50% would be distributed on the
• It looks like the LAC will be distributing the funding.
• They are stealing $75 million worth of general fund.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• election changes between for the general election changes between um<00:24:42.600> when<00:24
• election locations um because I general election locations um because I know<00:26:33.440> here
• we've posted information for the general we've posted information for the general election<00:26
• distributed, and based on when that report was filed.
• Secretary. distributed um and based on when that distributed um and based on when that report<00:52:26.839

Bills: HF1345, HF71, HF993, HF1943

Keywords: HF1345, statutory city, public utility commission, municipal utilities, city council, local government, utility governance, commission membership, staggered terms, vacancy appointment, ordinance, Minnesota Statutes 412.341, municipal ordinance, city commission, public utilities, HF71, Minnesota, public safety, peace officers, correctional officers

Transcript Highlights:

• It's DFNA Distributing Officer.
• I think that the government generally makes for a lousy venture capitalist.
• Generally and not just the politically favored.
• And so I generally support those things...
• But generally, a project of this size goes pretty fast. So that's my only input.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's $1.5 million from the general fund to the EG emergency account.
• And then, Chair and members, that wraps up the general fund changes.
• general fund for the various agencies within the committee's purview.
• <00:14:27.120> fund the committee's net um general fund the committee's net um general fund
• <00:37:19.359> of invest in that uh local generation of invest in that uh local generation

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:

• And so we have been providing general education.
• It's kind of mass communications, general information.
• A general information campaign.
• It includes both the general training module and eight profession-specific modules.
• The proposed one-time investments of $55 million General Fund for H-DAP and $105 million General Fund

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused largely on the implementation of federal HR1 changes and their effects on CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and related county workloads. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, CWDA, LAO, and Finance discussed the CalFresh able-bodied adult without dependents time limit, with CDSS saying about two-thirds of affected adults are already known to be exempt in the system and that roughly 200,000 more could be auto-exempt through new data matches with DHCS and DDS. Officials said those exemptions should be in place by mid-August, before the first possible discontinuance in October, and that counties would receive policy guidance, handbook updates, and client-facing materials. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would be implemented later, with rules and testing completed ahead of a January 2027 rollout, and noted automatic exemptions for some IHSS-related cases. CWDA urged more county staffing and funding, citing examples where high-touch outreach improved exemptions, reduced churn, and increased participation, while warning that without additional resources counties expect delays, higher error risk, and reduced engagement. The committee also discussed a possible CFAP Plus expansion to provide state-funded food benefits to people losing CalFresh eligibility under HR1. CDSS said implementation could not occur before the planned October 1, 2027 CFAP expansion timeline and would depend on final policy choices, system design, and the complexity of adding new eligibility groups. Finance cautioned that any benefit expansion would carry significant General Fund costs, potentially in the hundreds of millions or more. Members asked for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS agreed to provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. A separate item reviewed the CalFresh strategic plan and the revision of CDSS’s online mandated reporter training. CDSS said the strategic plan lead position should be posted in May and that the plan would be data-driven and collaborative. For mandated reporter training, CDSS reported that the revised curriculum is being developed with lived experts and stakeholders, will include content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting, and is on track to launch in fall/winter 2026 ahead of the statutory deadline. The committee also heard updates on Promise Neighborhoods, where advocates described strong outcomes and argued for continued and expanded state support, including AB 1969 to deepen partnerships with community schools; members emphasized the need for more stable braided funding and institution-building rather than short-term program funding. The hearing concluded with updates on the Stop the Hate program and housing assistance programs. CDSS said Stop the Hate has provided direct services, prevention and intervention programming, and statewide coordination, reaching millions through outreach and serving more than 11,200 people through transformative grants; advocates urged reauthorization and more targeted funding for solidarity, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS said proposed one-time investments of $55 million for H-DAP and $105 million for HSP would help avoid funding cliffs and maintain homelessness prevention and housing stabilization services through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in emergency housing assistance, rental subsidies, and enrollments. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um any questions in general rental tax. Um any questions in general about<00:38:12.560> this?
• understand generally why it's happening. understand generally why it's happening.
• so I can look at how the taxes generally so I can look at how the taxes generally perform,<01:00
• So if you go to the General Court main page and you go down to General Court updates, there's a link
• So if you go to the General Court main page and you go down to General Court updates, there's a link

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• over 50 years old, though the city has continued to invest in upgrades, including renewable energy generation
• So, um, with this, I'll hand off to Hibbing Public Utilities General Manager Luke Peterson.
• I'm the general manager of Hibbing Public Utilities.
• Peterson: It's about, depending on how you dice it up, either all treatment or all distribution, or 50
• and 850,000 is the ask for generations and 850,000 is the ask for the<00:41:43.359> phase<00:

Bills: HF220, HF230, HF240, HF241, HF295, HF429, HF490, HF505, HF574, HF576, HF581, HF865, HF918, HF1085, HF1449, HF1452, HF1454, HF602

Keywords: HF220, Minnesota transportation, highway user tax distribution fund, trunk highway fund, Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT, transportation finance, dedicated funds, funding restrictions, arts in transportation, cultural strategies, transportation project planning, project design, project construction, placemaking, public art, infrastructure spending, state statutes 161.045, HF230, Wyoming

Transcript Highlights:

• cooperatives and municipal electric utilities, as well as to state park-owned distribution electric
• We have a set number of parks in the state where the state actually is a distribution system operator
• <00:24:59.600> electric stateowned distribution electric stateowned distribution electric
• distribution system operator. distribution system operator.
• system without putting the distribution system without putting that<00:31:48.080> cost<00:31:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee heard testimony from the Energy and Environment Cabinet on the state-owned dam repair program and Kentucky’s electric grid resilience program. On dams, Commissioner Tony Hatton explained the legal definition and hazard classifications for Kentucky dams, noting there are 975 regulated dams statewide, including 76 state-owned dams, and that hazard ratings are based on potential loss of life or property damage if a dam fails. He described the cabinet’s screening criteria, including inundation mapping, engineering condition, and compliance status, and said the cabinet uses a design-bid-build procurement process to manage public funds responsibly. Hatton outlined current and planned dam projects funded from the prior biennium, including Willisburg Lake in Washington County, where work will address hydraulic capacity, unstable downstream slopes, and likely require a coffer dam, flood wall, auxiliary spillway, and raw water line replacement. He also said Big Bone Lake State Park Dam will be decommissioned, Clemens Lake Dam at Morehead State University is in design for a major rehabilitation, and additional projects include Marion County Sportsman’s Dam, Chenoa Lake Creek/Canning Creek Dam, and a rehabilitation study for the Mud River at Lake Malone. The cabinet also requested $500,000 for routine repairs and maintenance. Members questioned cost estimates, inflation, and whether it would be better to fund design separately; cabinet officials said estimates are current best engineering estimates, costs have generally stayed within about 10%, and the current funding flow requires all funds to be available before bidding. The committee then received a status update on the electric grid resilience program, a five-year federal formula grant under Section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Officials said Kentucky has received years one through three of funding, which has been allocated to state park facilities and municipal electric utilities, while years four and five have not yet been received and would go to distribution cooperatives and remaining municipal utilities. Projects discussed included upgrades at Ken Lake State Park and Kentucky Dam Village, plus municipal projects in Owensboro, Princeton, Williamstown, and Hopkinsville. The cabinet said the selected projects focus on hardening infrastructure, replacing poles, wires, conductors, and transformers, improving vegetation management, and adding or upgrading outage management systems. Officials reported that all projects are under contract and moving into subcontracting and construction, while the Department of Parks is finalizing an agreement with Western Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative for the park-related work.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, the Attorney General prosecuted the state's largest retail seller of dogs and cats, In 2022,
• As of last month, the Federal Reserve regional vaults suspended distributing pennies.
• Some examples are method of distribution.
• to prove or disprove what the Attorney General is asserting.
• Political considerations, but why keep it so narrow to just the Office of the Attorney General?

Bills: S0214, S0482, S7030, S0554, S0994, S0998, S1004, S1074, S1076, S1266

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, consumer rights, chatbot, deceptive practices, government contracts, public records, consumer protection, data privacy, investigations, proprietary information, chatbots, Florida statutes, nonprofit

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism heard and advanced several bills focused on economic development, consumer protection, workforce issues, and technology. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million beginning with the 2027 allocation, and it was reported favorably. SB 1266, as amended, creates a cybersecurity experiential internship and clearance-readiness program with Cyber Florida and was also reported favorably. SB 554, a Florida Bar-backed update to the not-for-profit corporations statute, was approved without opposition. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive sales practices and predatory financing at retail pet stores, received supportive testimony from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which sets rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, also passed favorably. The committee also considered SB 998, the Department of Commerce package, which combines updates to the Small Cities CDBG program, clarification of rural community eligibility, an exemption from a reverter clause for military-related land conveyances, and revisions to E-Verify enforcement. The E-Verify portion drew the most debate, with questions about employer cure periods, treatment of current investigations, and whether the bill creates a loophole for independent contractors. Senator Smith opposed the bill, arguing it creates unequal enforcement between employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. SB 998 was reported favorably on a divided vote. SB 214, which expands the rural community definition to include special districts in rural counties, was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 482, an artificial intelligence consumer-protection bill that creates an “AI bill of rights” covering companion chatbots, parental controls for minors, data privacy, de-identified data, unauthorized use of likeness, and enforcement by the Attorney General, with a limited private cause of action for minors. The bill drew extensive testimony both in support and in opposition, including concerns about privacy, age verification, and enforcement, but it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7030, a public-records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations under the AI bill, and adjourned after members requested to be recorded on certain votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• that a legislative position is vacant, the funds allocated to that portion of the county may be distributed
• Adoption of the above proposed executive amendment will allow for more flexibility in the distribution
• Secretary, call the first committee from the Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund.
• number 187 receives a favorable report by a vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays from Finance and Taxation General
• number 216 receives a favorable report by a vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays from Finance and Taxation General

Bills: SCR 5, SCR 13, SB 3, SB 6, SB 10, SB 12, SB 13, SB 15, SB 17, SB 18, SB 19, SB 24, SB 35, SB 57, SB 65, SB 112, SB 284, SB 290, SB 388, SB 400, SB 402, SB 412, SB 495, SB 499, SB 502, SB 509, SB 621, SB 706, SB 740, SB 815, SB 842, SB 854, SB 875, SB 893, SB 917, SB 974, SB 1025, SB 1061, SB 1073, SB 1106, SB 1268, SB 1281, SB 1300, SB 1362, SB 1379, SB 1447, SB 1451, SB 1555, SB 1902, SJR 36, SJR 12, SCR 13, SCR 25, SCR 5, SCR 22, SCR 12, SCR 24, SB 495, SB 412, SB 10, SB 18, SB 565, SB 372, SB 842, SB 765, SB 62, SB 19, SB 666, SB 707, SB 888, SB 687, SB 706, SB 847, SB 290, SB 13, SB 1248, SB 740, SB 14, SB 1006, SB 504, SB 917, SB 925, SB 388, SB 1902, SB 1121, SB 995, SB 857, SB 305, SB 296, SB 284, SB 35, SB 6, SB 815, SB 3, SB 1281, SB 1379, SB 1300, SB 1497, SB 1499, SB 1498, SB 1451, SB 1061, SB 15, SB 65, SB 241, SB 304, SB 402, SB 499, SB 621, SB 974, SB 1023, SB 1024, SB 1025, SB 1106, SB 686, SB 112, SB 371, SB 204, SB 400, SB 609, SB 1447, SB 670, SB 502, SB 427, SB 850, SB 854, SB 413, SB 1555, SB 1362, SB 1346, SB 1033, SB 1220, SB 1073, SB 810, SB 987, SB 1539, SB 893, SB 447, SB 875, SB 406, SB 509, SB 985, SB 965, SB 17, SB 1119, SB 1505, SB 12, SB 24, SB 57, SB 1194, SB 1253, SB 1215, SB 1532, SB 1268, SB 1302, SB 856, SB 650, SB 583, SB 673, SB 840, SJR 57, SCR 8, SB 213, SB 681, SB 1172, SB 1252, SB 378, SB 610, SB 918, SB 1343, SB 608, SB 487, SB 955, SB 957, SB 988, SB 990, SB 1019, SB 1021, SB 1120, SB 251, SB 958, SB 535, SB 761, SB 1, SB 541, SB 315, SB 379, SB 1018, SB 1737, SB 266, SB 1415, SB 3, SB 6, SB 15, SB 35, SB 290, SB 706, SB 842, SB 917, SB 1281, SB 1451, SB 1902, SB 12, SB 13, SB 17, SB 19, SB 388, SR 261, SR 265, SR 276, SR 277, SR 281, SR 286, SR 293, SCR 5, SCR 13, SB 2425, SB 2880, SB 10, SB 12, SB 13, SB 17, SB 18, SB 19, SB 388, SB 412, SB 495, SB 2425, SB 2880

Keywords: SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming, education K-16, State Affairs, Texas Legislature, public school tribute, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• On each copy and that will be distributed to our members.
• it was, we talked about just the confusion. around whether or not Tylenol itself could even be distributed
• I'm the director of public policy for the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission
• Think it's a beautiful thing for future generations of Texas.
• that I get to be here today and talk about how. important mental health is to me and my entire generation

Bills: SB207, SB611, SB920, SB1174, SB1207, SB1325, SB1396, SB1551, SB1619

Keywords: SB 207, Texas Education Code, public school attendance, excused absence, mental health appointment, mental health care, behavioral health, school district, student absenteeism, same-day return, health care professionals, physician certification, religious holy days, court appearance, DFPS, foster care, education policy, student wellness, school mental health, attendance policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the ability to do it under general law.
• Yes, it would go to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General, I believe, would have 10 days to
• That's what our Attorney General should be doing.
• The bill provides DOR with a 5.5 million dollar appropriation from the general revenue from general revenue
• It is one mill generates less than $5 million.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.