Transcript Highlights:

• is the bill we heard previously that relates to... ...the inspection of the location of a proposed Class
• from the... letter of support that Lieutenant General Kevin Admiral, who is the commanding general for III
• second recommendation expands eligibility for expedited sale. transfer or merger (STM) to include all classes

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill specifically addresses Class A utilities.
• In a lot of these large Class A filings, there are many protests.
• In Class A, the biggest utilities have 10,000 or more customers.
• When they're Class C's and D's, the smaller utilities can't afford what is required.
• These are working-class people; they're working every day to pay their bills.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• It's all under Title III. The majority of it's under Title III.
• And so they are running those classes as people in those areas receive those court orders to attend classes
• Title III funding through the Older Americans Act.
• They're taking the four required graduate-level classes.
• So those are for graduate-level classes, which the tuition and fees for graduate-level class is higher

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:05.439> for is utilities pipelines and railroads for is utilities pipelines and railroads
• class determines the PILT payment rate.
• class determines the PILT payment rate.
• class determines the PILT payment rate.
• class determines the PILT payment rate.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• her young son was doing a school project on his mother and googled her name in front of the entire class
• That Congress under Article III, the U.S.
• Congress—not the state legislature—limited in who they can grant standing under Article III.
• Standing is broader than that given to Congress under Article III. Is it fair to say?
• And then after the children are born, the labor laws here ensure that working-class people forced into

Bills: SB10, SB16, SB6, SB 6, SB 10, SB 16

Keywords: trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, victims, criminal justice reform, victim rights, criminal justice, judicial reform, court procedures, mental health services, criminal penalties, court security, SB 6, Woman and Child Protection Act, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair is delighted to introduce the The Chair is delighted to introduce the 2025 MIAA Division III
• Mary's of Lynn, MIAA Division III girls state champions. Please warmly welcome St.
• Mary's of Lynn, MIAA Division III girls state champions, guests of Representatives Cahill, Armini, Wong
• You can be educated or working class.
• You can be educated or working class, wealthy or struggling to make ends meet.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met in a session centered on the FY26 budget, especially the Energy and Environmental Affairs and Labor/Economic Development sections, while also taking time to recognize several championship teams and other guests. Early in the day, the chamber adopted a set of commemorative resolutions, including observances for Apraxia Awareness Day, International Celiac Awareness Day, and Jewish American Heritage Month. Members also welcomed Franklin High’s cheerleading and boys basketball champions, Winthrop boys hockey champions, St. Mary’s of Lynn girls basketball champions, Holy Trinity School students, and later Boston Celtics guard Drew Holiday and Lauren Holiday. The most contentious debate involved amendments related to Massachusetts’ climate and clean-car policies. Representative Lombardo offered amendments to delay or repeal ACC2/zero-emission vehicle requirements and to convert climate mandates into goals rather than requirements, arguing the rules were unrealistic, costly, and harmful to dealers, consumers, and the economy. Opponents said the House had already addressed the issue, and that climate and energy policy should remain under review through a public process. The House rejected Lombardo’s ACC2-related amendments, including after a ruling of the Chair was upheld by roll call, and later adopted a consolidated Energy and Environmental Affairs amendment by a wide margin. The House then adopted a consolidated Labor and Economic Development amendment and ultimately passed the FY26 budget to be engrossed. Supporters highlighted major funding for environmental protection, parks, fish and game, clean energy, food insecurity programs, agricultural support, economic development, tourism, and an immigration legal assistance fund. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for Molly McGovern, and at the end of the session adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the first overhaul of Railroad Commission's waste management rules in 40 years.
• six well class specifically.
• So is it the Railroads Commission purview to work on the remediation?
• And operators at the requirement of the Railroad Commission hold about $560 million.
• But I would say 75% of the orphan wells under the Railroad Commission's purview.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Class level.
• Gone are the days when the railroads were slow and late.
• Small business of railroading.
• It's the Federal Railroad Administration that does that.
• They have their own railroads in El Paso and Eagle Pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Honorable Christy Craddick, Chair of the Railroad. Commission and Ms.
• I'm Christy product chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• We withdrew our application at the end of the year for class 6 primacy.
• as chair of the Railroad Commission. So the other two don't always love to come.
• We have fabulous first-rate best-in-class facilities.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WHILE THOSE ARE PARTS A CLASS III GAMBLING PERMISSIBLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BUT MAY NOT BE PERMISSIBLE
• EVERY GAME IN THE CLASS III?
• WHAT WE REVIEWED ON A CLASS II VERSUS CLASS III GAMING MACHINE AS A RELATES TO THE VFW AMERICAN LEGION
• THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE HOMEWORK BEFORE CLASS.
• FOR EXAMPLE A PERMIT HOLDER COULD MANAGE CHANGE CREATES UNIFORMLY ACROSS THE MARKET TO ALLOW ALL CLASSES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that world-class facility was built.
• At that time, LSU had a pretty good women's gymnastics program, but not world-class.
• university that she loves so much helped her overcome these obstacles and helped her build a world-class
• math sequence in statute: Algebra I, then Geometry, then Algebra II, or Integrated Math I, II, then III
• So maybe in another school, they might have a license for their pre-K 4 class.

Bills: SR119, SCR65, HCR47, HB196, HB218, HB256, HB325, HB352, HB434, HB448, HB476, HB608, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB749, HB818, HB1059, HB1112, HB1242, HB1249

Keywords: SR119, Senate Resolution 119, D-D Breaux, Sara Breaux, LSU gymnastics, LSU Gymnastics Training Center, LSU Board of Supervisors, facility naming, honorary resolution, public buildings and grounds, women's athletics, Title IX, college gymnastics, SEC gymnastics, Louisiana State University, Tiger Athletic Foundation, women in sports, coach recognition, sports legend, campus naming

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with four members present and took up a long agenda of education-related bills. Early items included SCR 65, which would create a K-12 student success task force to study statewide career and academic pathway advising; the committee adopted a substantive amendment adding designees and then reported the resolution favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SCR 119, honoring Coach D.D. Breaux, after brief remarks about her LSU gymnastics legacy and the request that LSU study naming its gymnastics training facility in her honor. Several bills affecting school operations and student support were heard and reported favorably, including HB 434 on probationary school bus driver employment and superintendent authority over dismissal; HB 484 expanding scholarship benefits for children and spouses of fallen or disabled firefighters and police officers; HB 749 and HB 1059 on savings accounts and TOPS math eligibility alignment; HB 218 adding food insecurity questions to student questionnaires, which was amended and reported favorably; HB 325 expanding TOPS Tech eligibility through dual enrollment and part-time use; HB 476 requiring Safe Haven law postings in middle and high school restrooms; HB 1249 clarifying access to school-based health centers, with an amendment adopted; HB 1242 allowing more than one early learning center license at the same location under certain circumstances; HB 632 improving data protections and functionality for LA First; and HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students, which was amended to address IEP and dispute-process concerns before being reported favorably. Two bills drew extended debate over transparency, privacy, and school autonomy. HB 608 would create confidentiality for intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing documents; LSU representatives argued the bill was needed to protect student-athletes and competitive information, while PAR and the Louisiana Press Association opposed it as an improper secrecy carve-out for state-generated revenue. Despite the opposition, the committee reported HB 608 favorably. HB 1112, which would exempt BESE-approved non-public pre-K programs from certain licensure and safety requirements and adjust related definitions, was amended and then heard with testimony from the Pelican Institute in support, arguing it corrects overreach from prior law and protects private school autonomy and parental choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, one of the things that's important to note is that any type of an upgrade of a railroad is
• If you look at the shortline railroad industry in Minnesota, they run on fairly slim margins to begin
• <00:34:40.320> to Transportation um for the railroads to Transportation um for the railroads
• <00:35:18.680> is that uh taxpayer if if the railroad is that uh taxpayer if if the railroad
• touch base with uh uh with the railroads touch base with uh uh with the railroads and<00:36:03.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This amount shall be from federal funds authorized pursuant to Title III of the federal No Child Left
• This amount shall be from federal funds authorized pursuant to Title III of the federal No Child Left
• This amount shall be from federal funds authorized pursuant to Title III of the federal No Child Left
• This amount shall be from federal funds authorized pursuant to Title III of the federal No Child Left
• This amount shall be from federal funds authorized pursuant to Title III of the federal No Child Left

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The committee and floor took up House Bill 1411, which concerned the Cover All Colorado program. Debate centered on whether removing the program’s cap would create an open-ended entitlement and add pressure to the state budget. Supporters and opponents argued over fiscal impacts, with several members saying the program had grown far beyond its original cost estimate and that the state needed to protect the budget and maintain a balanced plan. The bill was ultimately passed as amended. House Bill 1412 was then considered, authorizing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to use statistical sampling and extrapolation to recover Medicaid overpayments in certain provider audits, including ABA therapy and non-emergency medical transportation. Sponsors said the measure would help recapture millions in overpayments tied to fraud, waste, and abuse, and noted safeguards such as strict benchmarks, internal audit review, and a third-party audit firm. An amendment striking the word “alleged” from the bill was adopted, and the bill passed as amended. House Bill 1413, which changes leave provisions for certain public servants, was also approved. The bill removes a statutory cap on how much sick leave state employees may earn, while leaving actual leave policies to departments and bargaining agreements, and increases annual military leave to align with federal law. Members described it as a modest employee-benefit measure in a year without across-the-board pay raises. The House also laid over House Bill 1410 until later in the day and received the committee of the whole report on a large slate of other bills. Later, Representative Richardson sought to reverse the committee’s action on an amendment to House Bill 1389, which involved the comprehensive human sexuality education grant fund, arguing the grant program should be repealed if it is no longer funded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is Senate 1342, which is an act relative to railroad workers' earned sick time.
• If we value the middle class and rebuilding the middle class and believe in hope and opportunity for
• Unfortunately, the courts ultimately sided with the railroad companies.
• I'm speaking today in support of an act relative to railroad workers' earned sick time.
• For far too long, we as railroaders have worked without the benefit of earned sick time.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on employment rights legislation, especially the Protect Labor Act (H. 2086/S. 1327), which would create state-level labor protections if federal private-sector labor law is weakened or struck down, and would also add protections such as bans on captive audience meetings, virtual elections, stronger misclassification rules, and protections for health care workers and immigrant workers. Supporters from the AFL-CIO, nurses, SEIU, UAW, building trades, teachers, graduate workers, and policy groups argued that the bill is needed because of Trump administration actions, Project 2025, and threats to the NLRA and NLRB. They described the bill as a “trigger” law meant to preserve organizing and bargaining rights in Massachusetts if federal protections disappear or if the NLRB declines jurisdiction over certain workers. The committee also heard testimony on bills to restore a limited right to strike for certain public employees (H. 2078/S. 1311 or related filings). Supporters, including a representative, educators, and labor advocates, said the current ban on public employee strikes weakens good-faith bargaining and leaves workers without leverage to secure wages, staffing, and student supports. They argued that strikes are used as a last resort and that legalizing them under defined conditions would improve negotiations and better reflect the realities of recent teacher strikes in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Municipal Association opposed the strike bills, warning that public employee strikes are already prohibited by state law, that strikes disrupt students and communities, and that local governments face budget constraints under Proposition 2 1/2. The committee also took testimony on paid family and medical leave bills (S. 1351/H. 2110 and S. 1352), which would improve notice to workers, expand public reporting on claim denials and demographics, and fix a technical definition issue that has limited access for some covered contract workers. Witnesses from legal aid, policy organizations, and a small business owner said the changes would improve transparency, equity, and access to benefits without imposing major burdens on employers. Additional testimony supported a railroad sick leave bill and a private construction transparency bill, with Senator Keenan urging favorable action on both. No votes were taken during the hearing; members asked questions, and several witnesses and legislators requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's all under Title III. The majority of it's under Title III.
• And so they are running those classes as people in those areas receive those court orders to attend classes
• They're taking the four required graduate-level classes.
• Those are for graduate-level classes, which means the tuition and fees for graduate-level classes are
• I know you just had an excellent ceremony for a graduating class.

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's all under Title III. The majority of it's under Title III.
• And so they are running those classes as people in those areas receive those court orders to attend classes
• They're taking the four required graduate-level classes.
• So those are for graduate-level classes, which means the tuition and fees for graduate-level classes
• I know you just had an excellent ceremony for a graduating class.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• concentration of disabled veterans, as we have in these counties, which is around Fort Cavazos, home of the III
• The Railroad Commission would be tasked with certifying what qualifies... oil and gas well, and again

Bills: SB524, SB782, HB42, HB1056, HB2894, HB3033, HB3474, HB3594, HB4738, HB5246, HB42

Keywords: SB 524, Texas franchise tax, veteran-owned business, new veteran-owned business, business tax exemption, filing fee exemption, Tax Code Chapter 171, Business Organizations Code, Comptroller, small business, veterans, entrepreneurship, tax repeal, privilege tax, beginning date, franchise tax exemption, severance tax, oil, gas, restimulation wells

Transcript Highlights:

• If they come to railroad tracks, are they still required to do the same crossing tracks, or can they
• If they come to railroad tracks, are they still required to do the same crossing tracks, or can they
• Uh, per our specific state statute that deals with certain vehicles required to cross railroad tracks
• always required to stop at the railroad always required to stop at the railroad crossings. crossings
• 00:36:57.720> simple, class is classes is a simple, class is classes is a simple, cost-effective

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Chairman Christy Craddock, chair of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• In 2010, the EPA created a Class six, well, uh, class specifically to regulate the injection of CO2 into
• The statute to require the state to pursue primacy for Class six UIC program.
• We originally submitted our application for primacy for Class 6 wells in December of 2022.
• Hydrogen fuel cell class 88 trucks will soon be traveling on our Texas roads.

Transcript Highlights:

• railroads diminish uh and railroads railroads diminish uh and railroads cease<00:37:35.960> to
• 2 and Class 3 railroads across the nation.
• We had the privilege of working with nearly every Class 3 railroad in the state of Minnesota.
• 2 or Class 3 railroads, and a 50% tax credit for new rail infrastructure, so those spurs or new rail
• c><00:41:07.839> tax or class three railroads and a 50% tax or class three railroads and a 50%

Keywords: 1187, senate, all