Transcript Highlights:

• Built environments such as historic and cultural resources, environmental health and safety, public services
• We will move forward to our public hearings.
• We will move forward to our public hearings.
• House Bill 2114 is a good customer service bill.
• That concludes our public hearing on House Bill 2111.

Bills: HB2111 , HB2495

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: Interstate 5 bridge, toll facility, bond retirement, transportation, state funding, vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start off with Senate Bill 264, Public Peace, Health, Safety, and Welfare.
• Federal law prohibits intimidating voters, prohibits anyone in the civil or military service of the United
• ordering, bringing, or keeping troops or armed persons, whether in the civil, military, or naval service
• Carla Crawford, Center for Smyth Public. Thank you, Molly. Carla Crawford, Center for Civic Policy.
• Republican Commission, Democrat clerk, Republican Commission, Democrat clerk, Democrat deputy clerk,

Bills: SB264 , SB261

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms

Summary: The committee heard two election-related bills. SB 264, sponsored by Sen. Duhigg and others and presented by the Secretary of State, would add definitions and new offenses to New Mexico election law to prohibit interference with elections, including the presence of troops or armed persons at polling places or ballot drop boxes, attempts to impose election rules contrary to state law, and intentional obstruction of access to polling places. It also would create civil enforcement options, strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language, and include emergency voting procedures for voters displaced by natural disasters. Supporters, including Common Cause, the Center for Civic Policy, and the League of Women Voters, said the bill protects voters from intimidation and outside interference. Several county clerks and rural legislators raised concerns about late changes, lack of consultation, rural logistics, and possible litigation. The committee adopted the Rules Committee substitute and advanced SB 264 on a 5-3 roll call vote. SB 261, presented as a companion election measure, would remove the existing exception that allowed law enforcement to carry firearms at polling places, but the sponsor offered an amendment to allow armed law enforcement to respond when called by the presiding judge, county clerk, or Secretary of State. Supporters said firearms do not belong in or around polling places because they can intimidate voters and poll workers, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary because existing law already covers law enforcement response and that the amendment created confusion. After a recess caused by members leaving the room, the committee returned, adopted the Rules Committee substitute including the amendment, and advanced SB 261 by unanimous voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3320 eliminates sunsets across the agencies, boards, and commissions subject to that law.
• We have rules that are passed through the rulemaking process, which are both deliberative and public
• Rules that are passed through the rulemaking process, which are both deliberative and public procedures
• , but guidance documents can be issued by agencies without going through a public or deliberative process
• Bundle that we were working on in Judiciary and Public Safety.

Bills: HB3281 , HB3320

Committee: House Administrative Rules

Keywords: administrative procedures, guidance documents, transparency, public inspection, rulemaking, sunset laws, statutory entities, regulatory compliance, emergency provisions, board re-creation

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3320, which would eliminate sunsets across agencies, boards, and commissions subject to the law. Representative Osborne presented the bill, there were no questions or debate, and the committee voted 11-0 to pass it forward. Next, House Bill 3281 was heard. Representative Hall said the bill would require guidance documents created or relied upon by state agencies to be published publicly. In response to questions, he explained that the bill is intended to increase transparency without banning guidance documents, and that publication would occur either on the Secretary of State’s website for agencies under the Administrative Procedures Act or on the agency’s own website for exempt agencies. Members also asked about possible staffing or workload impacts, but no specific estimate was provided. The committee discussed a recent example of an agency relying on an internal policy document that was not public. The bill then received a motion, second, and passed 12-0. After the bills, the chair gave instructions on reviewing a large batch of agency rules and packets under the Raines Act process. Members were asked to return their reviews promptly, ideally by Thursday, and to evaluate each rule for statutory authority, compliance with process, fiscal analysis, and methodology. The chair explained the preferred response format and said disapproval could be full or partial depending on the issue identified.

Transcript Highlights:

• A or B recommendation from the Preventive Services Task Force and preventive services included in HRSA
• Preventive Services Task Force.
• No one is required to receive any service.
• It also includes broader engagement with public health experts in making services are covered.
• Preventive services are often provided by public health and community health clinics, which work to cover

Bills: SB5877 , SB5967

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations, preventive services, state authority, healthcare access, insurance coverage, public health, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the one uh the NCCPA is the That's the one uh the NCCPA is the national<00:13:28.160><c> commission
• > the</c><00:13:29.200><c> only</c><00:13:29.360><c> ones</c><00:13:29.680><c> who</c> national commission
• the only ones who national commission the only ones who monitor<00:13:30.800><c> um</c><00:13:31.120
• We are trained again and able to provide a broad range of services.

Bills: HB31 , HB31

Committee: House Health

Keywords: absentee voting, disabled, blind, voter assistance, voting rights, SNAP, public assistance, nutritional standards, waiver, food regulation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now move on to public comment.
• As a reminder, members of the public can provide public comment in person or telephonically and may submit
• public comment up to 24 hours after the meeting.
• Seeing none, AVH, is there anyone on the line for public comment?
• AVH, is there anyone else on the lines for public comment?

Bills: SB156

Committee: Assembly Government Affairs

Keywords: gun violence, firearm safety, special counsel, data collection, community initiatives, grants, Attorney General, public safety, suicide prevention, 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This past year, the Alabama public examiners found a flaw in their pistol permit process.

Bills: HB375 , HB494 , HB375

Committee: House Jefferson County Legislation

Keywords: pistol permits, Jefferson County, fees, public schools, fund distribution, tax collector, tax assessor, compensation, salary increase, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• General Hawk talked about the importance of public-private cooperation.
• First of all, thank you to all of you for your service to our country.
• Again, we'd ask you to make it, give it to the public today.
• Chairman, and thank you all for joining us and for your service.
• To foreign intelligence services, would it not? Yes.

Committee: Senate Intelligence (Select) Committee

Keywords: national security, cyber threats, civil liberties, transnational crime, FISA Section 702, public-private partnership, intelligence community, Annual Threats Hearing

Summary: The Senate Intelligence Committee convened for a significant meeting focused on the Annual Worldwide Threats Hearing. Prominent officials from various intelligence agencies presented their insights on emerging national security threats, including concerns over increasing cyber threats, particularly from China and non-state actors. A major discussion point included the balance between national security and civil liberties, as evidenced by conversations surrounding Section 702 of FISA and its implications for privacy protection. The challenges posed by cartels and transnational criminal organizations, especially related to narcotics trafficking, were emphasized as pressing issues necessitating coordinated responses from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This meeting underscored the necessity of public-private partnerships to tackle these multifaceted threats effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• The public expects the agency to provide responsive service and timely decisions on their claims.
• Part of it, we talked about, was public health. facing service and particularly among older people who
• Thank you very much for bringing your public, your private expertise to benefit the public.
• security services as well.
• Customer service is paramount.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Social Security, Medicaid, Frank Bisignano, Elon Musk, benefit processing, office closures, public testimony, administration policies, health care, vulnerable populations

Summary: The committee meeting focused heavily on the nomination of Frank Bisignano as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, with intense discussions around the current state of Social Security and its management under the current administration. Members voiced significant concerns regarding potential changes to Social Security and Medicaid, specifically addressing issues such as office closures, delays in benefit processing, and the perceived policies from Elon Musk's association with the administration. Public testimonies highlighted fears that these changes would severely impact the accessibility of benefits for seniors and vulnerable individuals, resulting in a chaotic environment at the SSA. Members expressed a unified opposition to the notion of dismantling these critical programs, emphasizing the long-term implications on their constituents' well-being.

Transcript Highlights:

• to public comment.
• </c> before we open it up to public comment. before we open it up to public comment.
• </c><00:08:26.080><c> Wyoming</c> up to public comment. Uh W. Wyoming up to public comment. Uh W.
• Additional public testimony. Additional public testimony.
• >> Thank you for your time. >> Any other public comment? Close public comment.

Bills: SF0035 , SF0090 , SF0072

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• But I want to make sure that you all understand that public employees provide a service for that money
• Public systems should serve public purposes.
• Public systems should serve public purposes.
• I definitely see how having a public employer provide that financial service would be problematic when
• </c> a public employee. a public employee.

Bills: SF0035 , SF0090 , SF0072

Committee: House Education

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wish to give public testimony, please prepare to do so.
• The time limit for public testimony is two minutes per person.
• Senator Nichols moves that public testimony be limited to two minutes per person.
• Then we'll open it up for public testimony on both Senate Bill 23 as well as the H. J.R.

Bills: SB23 , SJR85 , SB 23

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Bills: HB 112 , HB 199 , HB 621 , HB 1349 , HB 2214 , HB 3466 , HB 3698 , HB 3699 , HCR 9

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Bills: HB 112 , HB 199 , HB 621 , HB 1349 , HB 2214 , HB 3466 , HB 3698 , HB 3699 , HCR 9

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our public hearing, so Senator Melson, we will let you explain your bill.
• Can I ask the first one before we move into the public?
• The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has done its job.
• That's been successful in Florida.
• The commission is taking a lot of heat for this, and they...

Bills: SB185 , SB194 , SB72

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: veterinary medicine, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, prescription refills, animal care, regulatory compliance, agriculture authority, eminent domain, property rights, tax exemption, agriculture center, medical cannabis, cannabis license, integrated facility license, Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, AMCC, medical marijuana, dispensary, cultivation, processing, license appeal

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, this is a community-based service.
• I believe Florida has done something similar.
• These services, so let's say I go in and get a procedure that's not one of the 300 listed services, and
• Public. Yeah, it's public information. I think, I mean, they have access to it now.
• It's public.

Bills: HB946 , HB1093 , SB26 , SB29 , SB30 , SB195 , SB219 , SB222 , SB255 , SB314 , SCR2 , SCR22

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death

Transcript Highlights:

• Representing, we'll start down the public testimony. The Chair calls Heather Bellino.
• We will proceed down the public testimony and reserve the right for you to close.
• I'm here with the Texas Public Policy Foundation testifying for House Bill 4656.
• There's no teeth to a court-ordered services case; there's no consequence.
• I'm the Director of Public Policy for Texas CASA.

Bills: HCR16 , HB782 , HB2159 , HB2288 , HB3281 , HB3819 , HB4656 , HB4696 , HB5494 , HCR16

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: fatherhood, family support, fatherlessness, community engagement, youth development, social policy, male role models, child development, policy reform, role models, mental health, parenting, single-parent homes, welfare reform, economic opportunity, mentorship, community initiatives, children, welfare programs, education

Bills: SB325 , SB370

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: AIDT, Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute, Department of Commerce, procurement, competitive bidding, contract review, legislative oversight, economic development, workforce development, Strategic Workforce Plan, state purchasing, state contracts, public procurement, exemption, higher education, universities, community colleges, public hospitals, health care procurement, transportation procurement

Transcript Highlights:

• , and support staff in public safety agencies and offices. public safety union, the largest in the public
• We represent public safety members.
• </c> enforcement officers and and public enforcement officers and and public employee<00:15:07.120><c
• I'm wondering where the public defense, the public defenders, the public defense bar, and defendants'
• </c> public confidence in the permit process. public confidence in the permit process.

Bills: HF962 , HF3541 , HF2936 , HF3762 , HF2879

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: Capitol security, public safety, emergency management, state buildings, law enforcement, corrections, legislative approval, rule-making, financial impact, jail regulations, expungement, firearm eligibility, criminal records, organized retail crime, retail theft, supply chain theft, theft enterprise, organized theft, cargo theft, shoplifting

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of those residents went to community-based services rather than staying in the institution. center
• Further public comment." "It's been moved by Senator Crago. Is there a second?"
• Further [clears throat] public<00:14:48.560><c> comment.</c> public comment. public comment.

Bills: SF0069 , SF0084 , SF0050 , SF0109 , HB0069 , HB0098

Committee: Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls