Transcript Highlights:

• Under annual leave, the chapter title and review, we updated the article to include new hire leave.
• Under annual leave, the chapter title and review, we updated the article to include new hire leave.
• New hire leave.
• Section 407.307, use of sick leave.
• Section 407.14, funeral leave and honor guard leave.

Committee: Joint Administrative Rules Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolutions are adopted.
• The order is adopted.
• The order is adopted.
• The order is adopted.
• The order is adopted.

Summary: The House first adopted a series of resolutions, including memorial square dedications in Stoneham, congratulations to IBEW Local 103 on its 125th anniversary, and a commendation recognizing Massachusetts School Administrators Association in honor of National Principals Month. It also adopted orders extending committee reporting deadlines for several Public Health and Public Safety and Homeland Security matters, and concurred in a joint rule suspension to allow consideration of a sick leave bank petition for a Chief Medical Examiner’s Office employee. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee then placed several bills on the calendar, and the House suspended Rule 7A to take them up. Those bills included measures on firefighter employment and retirement in Quincy, Bedford, and Lancaster; designation of Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties; a bill on obstructed views while driving; a disability pension for Lieutenant Deputy Sheriff Brian McPherson; and a cemetery matter in Norton. All were advanced to third reading. The House also considered and adopted amendments to charter bills for Cambridge and Medford, and later concurred in a Senate amendment to the Somerville charter bill. On final action, the House passed to be enacted the Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville charter bills. It also enacted sick leave bank legislation for Gregory Baker of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and Akita Jandara Patel of the Department of Corrections. Additional third-reading bills, including the Acton Memorial Library bill, an Air Library bill, and the John C. Murphy sick leave bank bill, were passed to be engrossed. The session included a moment of silence for the September 11 attacks and a special adjournment in memory of former Representative Robert F. Donovan before adjourning to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move that the House adopt the conference report. Shall the conference report be adopted?
• The conference report is adopted.
• I move that we adopt the conference report. Shall the conference report be adopted?
• The conference report is adopted.
• I hope the conference report will be adopted. Shall the conference report be adopted?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Minnesota water policy is adopted. Minnesota water policy is adopted.
• </c> resolution is adopted. resolution is adopted.
• </c> implementation of paid leave. implementation of paid leave.
• </c> motion uh to adopt the A1 amendment? motion uh to adopt the A1 amendment?
• </c> benefit book is adopted. benefit book is adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move for the adoption of Amendment 945 to Senate Bill 60. You've heard the motion.
• The amendment is adopted. There are no further amendments to the bill.
• The amendment is adopted. There are no further amendments to the bill.
• The amendment is adopted. Are there further amendments to the bill?
• I move for the adoption of Amendment 979 to Senate Bill 502.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolved, that this resolution becomes effective upon adoption.
• The amendment is adopted. Motion carries. The amendment is adopted.
• I move for the adoption of Amendment No. 866 to Assembly Bill 463.
• I move for the adoption of Amendment No. 866 to Assembly Bill 463.
• I move for the adoption of Amendment No. 16 to Assembly Bill 238.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have a motion to adopt the substitute? But uh thank you guys for coming.
• /c><00:02:37.920><c> please</c> adopted.
• House Bill 369 would permit police departments to establish and adopt a policy as to how leave will occur
• a policy as to to establish and adopt a policy as to how<00:03:22.400><c> leave</c><00:03:22.720><c>
• </c><00:03:30.480><c> the</c> allow police department to adopt the allow police department to adopt the

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection met with a quorum and heard two bills. House Bill 369, presented by Rep. Mark Hart with support from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, would clarify how certain police departments accrue and use the 15 days of paid leave required under KRS 95.495 by allowing departments to adopt policies such as monthly accrual. The committee adopted a committee substitute and passed the bill unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 403, presented by Rep. Deanna Frasier Gordon, which creates a six-month grace period for completing missed continuing education requirements so affected individuals can make up two courses instead of restarting the process. After a motion and second, the bill passed favorably and unanimously. The meeting also included introductions of guests, including county coroners and representatives from the coroner association, and concluded with a brief request to record a vote from the first bill and a motion for any other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Leave. Thank you. Senator Love, you're recognized. Thank you, Senator Love.
• Leave for Senator Peyton. Request to leave for Senator Peyton. Thank you, Senator Tucker.
• And ma'am, I'd like to ask leave to have New Corps personnel come on the floor. Leave.
• Senate Memorial Resolution 2 is adopted. Thank you. Senate Memorial Resolution 2 is adopted.
• By vote of 34 ayes, zero nays, Senate Resolution 4 is adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• to six weeks of paid leave per 10-year interval for an employee who gives birth, adopts a child, or
• to six weeks of paid leave per 10-year interval for an employee who gives birth, adopts a child, or
• Um, it allows an additional six weeks of paid leave for birth, adoption or foster parent.
• <c> or</c><00:04:13.680><c> foster</c> paid leave for birth, adoption or foster paid leave for birth,
• ><c> under</c> leave under leave requirements under leave under leave requirements under classified<00

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then took up several administrative regulations. The first was an Office of the Attorney General regulation creating an online submission process for an annual certification report to replace prior quarterly notarized certification forms; there were no amendments or questions. The main discussion centered on Personnel Cabinet regulations 101 KAR 2:034, 2:102, 3:015, and 3:045, which include staff-suggested technical amendments and address state employee compensation and leave. The compensation provisions clarify salary and rehiring/demotion rules, increase critical position premiums from one to three, and update weekend premium and ACE award practices. The leave provisions would provide up to six weeks of paid leave per 10-year interval for birth, adoption, foster placement, or a serious health condition, and allow one paid adverse-weather day per year with supervisor approval. Staff explained that annual and sick leave already accrue and roll over, and that the new six-week benefit was intended as an additional enhancement tied to the 10-year and 20-year sick-leave milestones.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Muth [member_16686] is returned from leave, and her leave will be canceled.
• Senator Hughes has returned from leave. His leave will be canceled.
• Amendment is adopted. Senator Costa requests a legislative leave for Senator Fontana.
• Amendment is adopted.
• Senator Costa, any leaves? No further leaves, Mr. President. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over. Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 40-7-1202, under definitions, we revised the annual leave definition to clarify that annual leave
• In Section 40-7-12.14, new hire leave, that's a new section added to establish a one New hire leave.
• Under Section 40-7-13, sick leave. Section 40-7-13.03, sick leave accrual.
• Section 40-7-13.04, sick leave accrual rate, we clarified that all state agencies 40-7-13.04, sick leave
• Section 40-7-14, funeral leave and honor guard leave.

Committee: Joint Administrative Rules Committee

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• when they adopt, leave for new parents when they adopt, as opposed to just when someone gives birth,
• Greca feels very strongly about the ability to have someone adopt a child to be able to get that leave
• So right now we are, you're seeing a lot of Someone adopt a child to be able to get that leave.
• leave. ...and then he would need to have maternity leave or parental leave.
• When two men adopt a child, they would need to have parental leave.

Bills: LB815A , LB838A , LB912A , LB972A , LB1126A , LB962A , LB1114 , LB921 , LB937 , LB803 , LB803A , LB1032 , LB1032A , LB1075 , LB1075A , LB889 , LB878 , LB933 , LB304 , LB304A , LB1096 , LB1096A , LB1165 , LB1165A , LB958 , LB958A , LB762 , LB1187 , LB966 , LB929 , LB962 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787

Transcript Highlights:

• Scanlon for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for J.
• The question now is on adoption of the resolutions.
• The resolutions are adopted. Adopted.
• The emergency preamble is adopted.
• The emergency preamble is adopted. The House is in order.

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine matters from the Committee on Rules, including ceremonial resolutions recognizing the Concord-Nenezi sister city relationship, the 35th anniversary of the Massachusetts-Hokkaido sister-state relationship, and congratulating Rachel Cohen on earning Eagle Scout. The House suspended the rules and adopted those resolutions. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 on a number of petitions, including proposals involving neuropsychology evaluations for persons with intellectual disabilities, pharmacists’ participation as preferred providers, a sick leave bank for a Department of Transportation employee, and land/easement authority for the City of Lowell. The main substantive issue was House Bill 4001, the fiscal year 2026 state budget, which came from the Senate with a full substitute amendment. The House suspended the rules but voted not to concur with the Senate amendment. The chamber then agreed to reappoint a conference committee, naming Representatives Michlewitz, Ferrante, and Smola to negotiate with the Senate. The House also considered and advanced several Public Service Committee bills establishing sick leave banks for state and local employees, including Kendra Winner, Dana Johnson, Stephen Forget, Daniel Yender, and Martin Kratman; each was ordered to a third reading after suspension of the rules. Later, the House took up Senate No. 2521, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. After suspension of the rules, the bill was read a second time, ordered to a third reading, passed to be engrossed, and then enacted. The emergency preamble was separately adopted by a recorded vote, and the bill was finally passed. The House also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m., then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next order of business is leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Senator Pittman on leaves.
• The next order of business is leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Senator Pittman on leaves.
• President, I request capital leaves for Senators Brooks, Coleman, and Yaw, and legislative leaves for
• Senator Pittman requests capital leave for Senators Coleman, Yaw, and Brooks, and legislative leave for
• Without objection, those leaves will be granted. Without objection, those leaves will be granted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Senator Pittman on leaves.
• President, I request a capital leave for Senators Muth and Pisciottano, legislative leaves for Comitta
• , and Senator Costa requests capital leave for Senators Pisciottano and Muth, and legislative leave for
• Without objection, those leaves will be granted. Without objection, those leaves will be granted.
• A budget that leaves minimum wage behind is a budget that leaves working Pennsylvanians behind.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine administrative business, including approval of the June 1, 2026 journal and several leave requests. The chamber then took up a series of bills and committee referrals, with House Bill 1042 initially sent to Appropriations and later re-referred to Rules and Executive Nominations after committee action. Several other measures were either passed, held over in their order, or re-referred, including House Bills 36 and 513 to Appropriations and various Senate and House bills set aside for later consideration. The most substantive floor debate centered on House Bill 96, where Senator Yaw offered Amendment A4096 to clarify the legal effect of historic tax sales of unseated lands. The amendment would treat certain historic tax-sale deeds as conveying full fee simple ownership, including severed subsurface rights, unless those rights were separately assessed, and would require documentary proof for claims of redemption. The amendment passed 36-14. The Senate also adopted Amendment A4183 to House Bill 1862 after a ruling that Senator Rothman had no conflict of interest and was required to vote; that amendment passed 46-4. Later, Amendment A4173 to House Bill 2559 was adopted 49-1, and House Bill 2559 then passed as amended. Several bills received final passage by unanimous 50-0 votes, including House Bills 482, 1102, 1830, 1860, and 2426, while House Bill 1862 and House Bill 96 were advanced as amended. The Senate also returned a slate of gubernatorial nominations to the governor on motion of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. During petitions and remonstrances, Senator Tartaglione urged action to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, arguing the budget should not ignore low-wage workers. The session also included recognition remarks for Ed Sheehan’s retirement and a submission to the record on the Treaty of Paris. The Senate then recessed until July 12, 2026, at noon, and several bills were signed in the presence of the Senate before recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• I need to adopt amendments. To adopt, let's get them. Give me the number.
• Let's adopt. I'll make a motion to adopt 1648, which is all technical. Okay.
• So I make a motion to adopt 2740. Okay. Adopt 2740. I see no question. Okay.
• We still need to adopt the other two. Okay. I thought we adopted them. Okay.
• Amendment is adopted? Committee? And with the adoption of the amendment?

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 135, which would redirect a portion of wagering dedications from the sports fund to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund and remove a cap affecting that funding stream. The author and staff explained the amendment was designed to avoid any impact on the State General Fund while increasing support for early childhood education. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. Senate Bill 202, from the Secretary of State’s office, would increase the number of compensated days for parish board of election supervisors to cover additional election-related duties. Secretary Landry and election officials testified that the change was needed because supervisors now perform more work, including ballot tabulation, machine sealing, and verification tasks. The committee adopted technical and appropriation-related amendments and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then took up several health and human services bills. Senate Bill 155 would require insurance coverage for medically necessary dental procedures needed before cancer treatment; testimony from medical and dental professionals emphasized that untreated dental problems can delay chemotherapy or radiation and worsen outcomes. After adopting amendments to narrow the fiscal impact, the bill was reported favorably as amended, with discussion of a possible subject-to-appropriation amendment to be worked out later. Senate Bill 237, a major DCFS reform bill, drew extensive testimony and debate over child welfare oversight, mandatory reporter training, law enforcement coordination, and the bill’s large fiscal note. The committee adopted amendments, including a subject-to-appropriation provision, and reported the bill favorably as amended after emotional testimony from supporters and former DCFS employees. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 465 on prompt-pay insurance reform after an amendment reduced the fiscal note to zero; Senate Bill 261 on unclaimed property after a substitute bill was adopted; Senate Bill 295 on expanded coverage for traumatic brain injury rehabilitation after amendments narrowed the mandate and added subject-to-appropriation language; Senate Bill 157 providing six weeks of paid parental leave for K-12 educators and staff, also subject to appropriation; Senate Bill 276 requiring bail bond producers to certify outstanding obligations before new appointments; Senate Bill 83 on human trafficking services after removing the age-expansion cost; Senate Bill 143 on bulletproof vests after shifting funding away from a direct state appropriation; and Senate Bill 450 on school safety assessments after an amendment limited implementation to available funds and resources. In each case, the committee’s actions focused on reducing or eliminating fiscal notes while keeping the bills moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative leave.
• Senator Baker has returned from leave, and her leave will be canceled.
• Further on leaves. Oh, does Joe need me? Yes. Further on leaves.
• That leave will be granted. Senator Pittman on leaves. No leaves. The clerk will call the roll.
• The amendment is adopted. Senator Muth has returned from leave, and her leave will be canceled.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, committee reports, and approval of the prior journal. Members also granted several leaves of absence and welcomed a number of guests, including Ireland’s Consul General and Deputy Consul General, student shadows, an intern, and the Neshaminy High School baseball team, which was recognized for winning the 2026 PIAA Class 6A state championship. The chamber then recessed briefly for an Education Committee meeting and party caucuses before returning to session. On the floor, the Senate advanced several measures. Senate Bill 362, addressing SNAP skimming, passed 49-0 after remarks about protecting food assistance benefits from theft. Senate Bill 469, providing discounted fishing and hunting licenses for current and retired law enforcement, also passed 49-0 after an amendment was withdrawn. Senate Bill 730, codifying Pennsylvania POLST forms for end-of-life medical orders, saw a tabled amendment from Senator Boscola on physician-assisted dying after a 28-21 vote, then passed 49-0. The Senate also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1206 clarifying a temporary license pending FDA approval, and sent House Bill 1344 and Senate Bill 1377 to the House after unanimous final passage. Other bills were moved to appropriations or held in order, including Senate Bill 49, House Bill 96, Senate Bill 535, Senate Bill 536, House Bill 538, Senate Bill 743, Senate Bill 1262, Senate Bill 1273, House Bill 1286, and Senate Bill 1372. House Bill 1862 and House Bill 2017 each received amendments and were re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. The Senate also agreed to consider newly reported committee bills, including measures from Finance, Judiciary, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, and Education. In petitions and remonstrances, Senators Tartaglione and Costa focused on minimum wage and utility affordability, urging action on consumer protections, LIHEAP funding, data center energy costs, and related energy policy. The session concluded with the signing of House Bill 1877 in the presence of the Senate and a recess until June 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., unless recalled earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• leave without pay leave don't have any leave without pay leave balance.
• Recommendations adopted. adopted. adopted. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:52:05.040><c> you.
• Recommendations been adopted. adopted. adopted. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:57:02.640><c> you.
• . adopted. adopted.
• Recommendations been adopted. adopted. adopted. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:00:45.920><c> you.

Bills: SB2119 , SB3131 , SB3069 , SB3180 , SB2137 , SB2993 , SB2778 , SB2672 , SB2014 , SB2967

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: reimbursement, public employees, travel costs, government travel policy, finance management, job title, administrative assistant, executive assistant, state personnel, civil service, modernization, employment standards, DAGS, Department of Accounting and General Services, comptroller, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, public works special project branch, specialized public works, information technology modernization

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they said because she had to leave in the middle of the semester and leave her campus housing
• And so they said because she had to leave in the middle of the semester and leave her campus housing
• They have no sick leave.
• sick leave.
• Women can choose adoptive parents.

Summary: The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.

Transcript Highlights:

• What would happen if HB 3306 was adopted?
• in 2011 what would happen if 3306 was adopted with regard to What would happen if 3306 was adopted?
• We would recommend that be changed to adopt.
• Leave the bill pending. Questions? Questions of the author?
• Leave the bill pending. Senator Johnson. House Bill 3805.

Bills: HB431 , HB1522 , HB1922 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB3228 , HB3229 , HB3306 , HB3803 , HB3804 , HB3805 , HB3806 , HB4219 , HB4238 , HB4344 , HB4386 , HB4739

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several House bills without opposition, including HB 11, HB 132, HB 1041, HB 1606, HB 2286, and HB 5061. Each was moved out of committee with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard HB 3306, which would extend existing construction-contract indemnity exceptions to electric infrastructure construction, maintenance, and vegetation management work for electric utilities and transmission and distribution utilities. The sponsor said the bill would reduce litigation and insurance costs for ratepayers, while construction industry witnesses argued it would shift liability onto subcontractors and create broad-form indemnity in a way Texas law has generally prohibited since 2011. HB 3306 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4739, a Comptroller-requested cleanup bill to repeal an outdated Finance Code provision requiring remittance of a portion of certain delinquency charges to the state, and HB 3803, HB 3804, and HB 3806, all Department of Banking-requested cleanup bills dealing with confidentiality and supervision rules for perpetual care funds, state banks, and trust companies. Those bills were briefly explained and left pending without testimony. HB 4219, aimed at improving Public Information Act compliance by requiring timely notice when records do not exist or are being withheld, allowing complaints to the Attorney General, and imposing training and fee consequences for noncompliance, drew support from a journalist and a policy analyst and was also left pending. The committee then heard HB 4238 on coerced debt and identity theft. The sponsor explained that the committee substitute narrows the bill to court-ordered findings of identity theft/coerced debt, gives collectors seven business days to stop collection activity, and removes a section to avoid litigation over court orders. A law professor and a family violence advocate testified in strong support, describing coerced debt as a barrier for domestic violence and elder abuse survivors trying to rebuild credit and access housing, jobs, and utilities. The bill was left pending. HB 1522, which would require local governments to post meeting notices three business days in advance and make budget materials more accessible online and in physical form, also drew support, though a school business officials representative raised concerns about the timing language, proposed-budget wording, and taxpayer impact statements for school districts; the bill was left pending after discussion. Later, the committee heard additional pending bills, including a PUC background-check bill that would expand the commission’s authority to check current employees and contractors and obtain FBI criminal history information, HB 3805 updating money services business regulation, HB 431 extending HOA solar-panel protections to solar tiles, and HB 3228 and HB 3229 on wind and solar recycling financial assurance and recycler solvency. HB 3228 received support from a Sierra Club witness who said recycling and disposal plans are needed for end-of-life renewable energy equipment, and HB 3229 was described as requiring recyclers to show financial resources at 125 percent through a letter of credit or bond. These bills were heard and left pending.