Bills: SB 2188, SB 2230, SB 1763, SB 879, SB 1147

Keywords: education, funding, state budget, public schools, school choice, geothermal energy, environmental regulation, Railroad Commission of Texas, closed-loop systems, energy production, regulatory exemption, mining, interstate compact, Texas, natural resources, state withdrawal

Transcript Highlights:

• If you would state your name for the record, who you're with and your position on the bill.
• And just want to add, we are trending in the wrong direction in this state.
• Senator Cook, just a quick question on the STD testing, is everything opt-in?
• you get tested for HIV or is it just never?
• Can we send you anywhere else for more testing?'

Bills: HB50

Keywords: constitutional amendment, ballot language, fiscal note, fiscal impact, cost estimate, savings estimate, Legislative Budget Board, LBB, secretary of state, Election Code, Government Code, voter information, ballot proposition, state budget, election administration, Texas

Transcript Highlights:

• We're basically taking some of the rules for the state Board of Public Accountancy and allowing them
• And what that is, is basically a voluntary state option. You don't have to use it.
• A voluntary state option in lieu of bankruptcy.
• We have every year natural disasters that cause problems across the state.
• And this actually put puts state.

Bills: HB59, SB15, SB96, SB104, SB137

Keywords: public accountancy, CPA licensing, board regulations, educational prerequisites, electronic notifications, firm registration, assignment, creditors, insolvency, liquidation, assignee, secured transaction, bankruptcy, state law, voluntary process, distribution of assets, emergency rules, governor certification, state regulations, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 646 conforms to the laws of 20 other states to allow the use of drug testing tools, test
• Thirty-three other states have already decriminalized test strips.
• a second test.
• a second test.
• They go to state hospital.

Bills: S0132, S0418, S0442, S0646, S0748, S1326, S1332, S1660, S1734, S1742, S1750

Keywords: voting rights, felony conviction, database, Florida Commission on Offender Review, restoration of rights, autism spectrum disorder, law enforcement, communication, training, blue envelope, blue card, search warrant, remote appearance, drones, data privacy, drug paraphernalia, narcotic testing, fentanyl, controlled substances, civil forfeiture

Summary: The committee took up a series of criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 646, allowing the use of drug testing tools such as fentanyl test strips and reagent kits to detect dangerous adulterants, was presented as a harm-reduction measure and reported favorably after supportive testimony from advocates and criminal defense groups. SB 442, extending the return period for warrants involving digital evidence from 45 days to one year, also passed unanimously amid testimony from prosecutors and law enforcement about encryption, backlogs, and large volumes of child exploitation evidence. SB 418, creating autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope Program for traffic stops and other encounters, was reported favorably with support from police, disability advocates, and families. SB 132, creating a public database to help people determine eligibility for restoration of voting rights, and SB 748, requiring notice of voting-rights restoration information on sentencing score sheets, both passed with broad support from voting-rights and criminal defense advocates. The committee also approved SB 1734, recognizing juvenile probation and detention officers as officers under Florida law and extending related training and benefits, and SB 1660, designating June as Responsible Firearm Safety Awareness Month. SB 1742, which repealed the existing “unnatural and lascivious acts” statute and created a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a minor, was amended with a delete-all amendment and then reported favorably. SB 1750, a major overhaul of career offender registration requirements, was later reconsidered after a bill-number mix-up and then reported favorably as SB 1332, with FDLE and sheriff’s association support. The most contentious measure was SB 1326, which would eliminate the traditional insanity defense and replace it with a lack-of-culpable-mental-state defense, require malingering assessments in competency evaluations, and limit downward departures based on mental illness. Criminal defense attorneys and disability advocates argued it lacked a treatment component, raised scientific and cost concerns, and could worsen public safety by sending mentally ill defendants to prison without adequate care. Supporters, including the sponsor and the Attorney General’s office, argued it would close gaps and better protect the public. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably on a divided vote, with several members voting no. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on some bills, and Senator Pizzo moved for reconsideration of SB 1326 for a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the time, they are elected from around the state.
• of Education with the authority to appoint a state school superintendent and to operate the State Department
• Across the country, states use many different education governance structures, yet 49 states still outperform
• the state, there is broad support for going back to a state superintendent of schools, regardless of
• , we beat the surrounding states.

Bills: SB104, SJR3, SM3

Keywords: wildlife commission, removal procedures, malfeasance, appointed officials, governance, education reform, public education, state board of education, superintendent, chartering authority, constitutional amendment, policy setting, insects, insect workshop, insect identification, ecology, monitoring, management, pollinators, pollination

Transcript Highlights:

• Our agency adds value by serving state.
• Um, for those who may not know, the state government finance budget bill funds the offices of the state
• Uh, there is a separate state government policy bill which is also moving forward.
• The state lottery retail provisions have been modified.
• effectively in the state of Minnesota. effectively in the state of Minnesota.

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary of State is on line 3.24. The State Board of Investment is on line 3.28.
• The state governor appropriation.
• Secretary of State is on line 313.
• Secretary of State is on line 3.24.<00:02:57.599> The<00:02:57.840> State<00:02:58.080>
• the Minnesota State Board of Investment. the Minnesota State Board of Investment.

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• OK Members, we do have a resource witness from Secretary of State, I assume.
• by the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution.
• So it's up to the states to enforce that balance, and all states do this. Texas does it very well.
• We'll cut off all public funds from cities and from the state.
• This is narrower and I, at the risk of stating the obvious.

Bills: SB 18, SB 19, SB 666, SB 688, SB 707, SB 888

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• their state funding. their state funding.
• <01:01:01.120> If not a red state blue state divide.
• If not a red state blue state divide.
• , all blue states, very blue states.<01:14:08.040> California, states.
• California, states.

Bills: SF856, HF4482, HF3672, HF1234, HF4591, HF3554, HF936

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, HF4482, Minnesota Historical Society, state historic sites, historic site management, historic preservation, county historical society, local historical society, municipality, county government, admission fees, grants-in-aid, site operations, site maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just an automatic savings initiative of the state. automatic savings of the state, facilitating
• It doesn't create a burden for the state.
• It only applies to state employees. The State Controller has discretion...
• It's an opportunity for state employees, say, the Alabama State Employees Association, in connection
• But yes, I want to go back to stating again that code...

Bills: SB163, SB173, SB155, HB93, SB163, SB173, SB155, HB93

Keywords: State Auditor, property investigations, negligence, loss report, civil actions, Alabama Retirement Savings Program, state-facilitated retirement savings, auto-IRA, automatic enrollment, payroll deduction IRA, retirement savings access gap, private sector workers, small business retirement plan, portable retirement account, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, life-cycle fund, capital preservation fund, financial literacy, Department of Workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• seeking in their states.
• Um this is uh Wyoming State summer. Um this is uh Wyoming State Guard<00:17:50.080> amendments.
• There are more than 22 states that have state guards.
• There are more than 22 states that have state guards.
• There are more than 22 states that<00:26:44.720> have<00:26:44.880> state<00:26:45.200>

Bills: SF0012, SF0013, SF0067

Keywords: military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, Wyoming state guard, emergency response, governor authority, state council of defense, 916, all

Bills: SF0012, SF0013, SF0067

Keywords: military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, Wyoming state guard, emergency response, governor authority, state council of defense, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You said the ATF has ignored these similar state laws.
• States don't get to preempt federal law.
• The state, the state, the state does not have that authority.
• It became an issue that the state has the has the right.
• State fire marshals recently gave a presentation to our commissioner's court and stated when best malfunctions

Bills: HB 551, HB 1281, HB 1378, HB 1617, HB 2868, HB 2881, HB 3374, HB 4439, HB 4726, HB 4732, HB 4878, HB 4914, HB 4921, HB 4958, HB 5200, HB 5318, HB 5360, HB 5402, HB 5568, HB 5573, HB 5623, HJR 218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• will do it, as with state law.
• like, so it varies from state to state. state to state, and it can be as simple as acknowledging that
• Right now we're saying state employees. I don't think it covers—state, just state.
• Government code, okay, just state. So, state, was it a state or local governmental entity?
• under state law and are under state funding, commanded entirely by the governor.

Bills: HB551, HB 1281, HB1378, HB1617, HB2868, HB2881, HB3374, HB4439, HB4726, HB4732, HB4878, HB4914, HB4921, HB4958, HB5200, HB5318, HB5360, HB5402, HB5568, HB5573, HB5623, HJR218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Coming to the state of Texas, we're going to be adding exponential load growth here in the state of Texas
• Because we have, for far too long, as a state and really as multiple states, allowed the federal government
• States don't get to preempt federal law.
• Article VI, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution states that laws made by Congress shall be the
• State fire marshals recently gave a presentation to our Commissioners Court and stated that when BESS

Bills: HB551, HB 1281, HB1378, HB1617, HB2868, HB2881, HB3374, HB4439, HB4726, HB4732, HB4878, HB4914, HB4921, HB4958, HB5200, HB5318, HB5360, HB5402, HB5568, HB5573, HB5623, HJR218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:58.160> your When you're ready, if you'll state your When you're ready, if you'll state
• United States. United States.
• prevailing uh for projects state prevailing uh for projects state projects<00:17:09.240> with
• state-imposed mandates and regulations. state-imposed mandates and regulations.
• This is brings state conformity.

Bills: HF4364, HF4821, HF4543, HF3945

Keywords: Central and Eastern European Affairs, ethnic council, advisory council, Minnesota state government, immigrant communities, refugees, humanitarian parolees, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Russia

Summary: The committee first approved the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held an informal hearing on House File 4364, which would establish a Central and Eastern European Ethnic Council in Minnesota. Representative Jordan and testifiers Mykola Mager and Julia Miller described the large Central and Eastern European community in Minnesota, its contributions to the state, and the need for a formal advisory body to help address barriers to government services, support refugees, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and cultural understanding. Members expressed general support and noted the bill’s importance, but no formal action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then took up House File 4543, a bill to create a centralized payroll reporting portal for prevailing wage projects. Representative Frazier said the bill would reduce administrative burden on project owners, improve transparency and accountability, and help prevent wage theft, misclassification, tax fraud, and insurance fraud. Testifiers from county, city, and contractor groups largely supported the idea of streamlining reporting, but contractor representatives raised concerns about employee data privacy, public access to sensitive payroll information, duplication of existing systems, interoperability with contractor software, and the need for stakeholder engagement. Members echoed both support and caution, and the bill was laid over as amended rather than advanced. Finally, the committee considered House File 4821, described by Chair Klevorn as addressing the “penny problem” and a related change to high-deductible insurance plans. The bill would authorize state agencies to round cash transactions because of the penny shortage and would change MMB’s obligation to offer certain high-deductible health plans from “must” to “may,” producing modest administrative savings. Members questioned the drafting of the rounding language and asked about cash transactions at state agencies and the handling of cannabis tax payments. The chair noted the bill had missed the deadline and would be caught by the chief clerk’s office; the discussion ended with the bill being laid over as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, currently we have two statutes that cover the State Ethics Commission.

Bills: SB89, SB54, SB127, SB128, SB77, SB78, SB100, SB101, SB102, SB103, SB113, SB126, SB122, SB136

Keywords: pilotage, commission, statewide laws, maritime regulation, repeal, sunset law, Alabama Surface Mining Commission, environmental regulation, mining, state commission, Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling, state agency, continuous operation, government efficiency, sickle cell disease, healthcare, regulatory commission, public health, 911 services, 911 Board

Transcript Highlights:

• uh days of recognition in state statute. uh days of recognition in state statute.
• the honorary state capital of Minnesota. the honorary state capital of Minnesota.
• contender for the state capital. contender for the state capital.
• Minnesota State Board of Investment. Minnesota State Board of Investment.
• It is protective of the state by ensuring that a state entity does not inadvertently bind the state to

Bills: HF1458, HF2063, HF2164, HF1377, HF927, HF1059, HF1910, HF2232

Keywords: CPA, certified public accountant, public accounting, accountancy, licensure, license mobility, substantial equivalency, interstate practice, out-of-state accountant, NASBA, Uniform CPA Examination, board of accountancy, attest services, audit, tax preparation, financial advisory, consulting, accounting education, master's degree, bachelor's degree

Transcript Highlights:

• This budget does not put our state on a path to eliminate property taxes.
• And stability for the state while avoiding long-term fiscal harm.
• a win-win for the state, the taxpayers, and the people in the trust fund.
• state agency.
• Chairman stated, we'll save the state a lot of money as well.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are over five state auditor reports pertaining to state agencies.
• All this information has to do with the quality and and the productivity of state agencies and state
• According to the State Auditor's Office, on average, state employees are paid 7% less. than those in
• Work for the state. You don't work for the state because you are a child and go, gee.
• We have an opportunity here to put the state of Texas at the front of every other state when it comes

Bills: HB3146, HB3719, HB3895, HB3923, HB4748, HB4751, HB4936, HB4952, HB4990, HB4991, HB5061, HB5196, HB5238, HB5246, HB5487

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code