Transcript Highlights:

• the Promise Plus program.
• , what are the programs, to look at every institution, all the programs, what are the programs that have
• But the future is changing so fast, you know, how... ...facilities for the future.
• And we do the same through our STARS program that I mentioned in the LEAR program.
• deferred maintenance program, and the Promise Plus program, and that's what you're seeing.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Higher Education met to review interim charges on the Permanent University Fund (PUF), the Available University Fund (AUF), the Higher Education Fund (HEAF), and the Texas University Fund (TUF). Legislative Budget Board staff outlined how each fund works, including PUF’s constitutional role for UT and Texas A&M, HEAF’s capital support for institutions outside those systems, and TUF’s research funding for eligible universities. They also described TUF’s growing corpus and distribution changes, and noted which institutions are nearing eligibility. Committee members asked about distribution formulas, comparisons to other states, and how funds are allocated among system institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Prop 4 grant program.
• The State Department of Conservation has a program known as a Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program
• You have a state park program. You have a Cal Fire program. You have a Forest Service program.
• You have an NRCS program.
• And that becomes salient to the other programs and vegetation programs that take years to accomplish.

Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused on California wildfire resilience funding, the SB 254 report on natural catastrophe resilience, and how the state should better prioritize community hardening, recovery, and financing. Senators emphasized that catastrophic wildfires have driven major property losses, insurance cancellations, and affordability problems, and several members argued that prevention and home/community hardening should receive far more attention than they have to date. Members also raised concerns about CEQA and other permitting delays, the need for ongoing rather than one-time funding, and whether the state should rely more on the General Fund, utilities, or other sources such as polluter-pays approaches. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the state has appropriated about $4.7 billion for wildfire resilience since 2018-19, with most funding going to forest health, fuels reduction, and related landscape work, while only about $65 million has been specifically targeted to community hardening. LAO also noted that future one-time funding is likely to decline, that GGRF revenues may be limited under the new cap-and-invest structure, and that maintenance costs for treated areas could be substantial over time. Senators pressed LAO on why wildfire resilience is not more often funded through the General Fund and on whether current spending matches the scale of the risk. Cal Fire’s State Fire Marshal described the state’s community wildfire preparedness strategy, centered on home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, and said the SB 254 report aligns with Cal Fire’s direction. He said California has roughly 4 million homes in the wildland-urban interface, most built before modern wildfire-resistant standards, and highlighted recent streamlining that approved 383 fuels-reduction projects in under 30 days during an emergency proclamation. Cal OES described the AB 38 pilot and FEMA hazard mitigation work, saying federal approval delays have been a major barrier and that the state has hardened 155 properties so far through the pilot, with many more in process. The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force said the state has coordinated more than $6 billion in state and federal investments, treated over 700,000 acres annually, and is shifting toward more regional, data-driven planning and block grants. Task force staff and Cal Fire both said they are moving beyond simple acreage metrics toward models that estimate avoided loss and community risk reduction, but acknowledged major data gaps on parcel-level home hardening and defensible space. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members discussing possible future legislation and budget changes, including home inspection reforms and continued CEQA streamlining.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:41:38.000><c> elsewhere</c> that they're programmed elsewhere that they're programmed elsewhere
• The beauty of this program, and it's a current use program that's really looked highly upon by many other
• The beauty of this program, and it's a current use program that's really looked highly upon by many other
• </c> problem um the beauty of this program problem um the beauty of this program and<00:53:15.799><c>
• </c> by many other states and conservation by many other states and conservation entities<00:53:24.960

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The program will be administered by the Office of the Governor and funded in SB3, as I mentioned.
• We're trying to be fiscally conservative, I guess.
• This will be a grant program through the governor's office.
• In the future, I believe it was Senator Sparks who did an inventory of all fire apparatus across the
• Plum Creek Conservation District manages 28 flood control structures on the tributaries of Plum Creek

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3, SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jeff Abrams, and I'm the wildlife program associate for Idaho Conservation League.
• My name is Jeff Abrams and the Wall Life Program Associate for Idaho Conservation League.
• We do this through a lot of different programs.
• In the early days of the program, and this program has been going on for 10 years now, the legislature
• Park or program manager authority.

Summary: The Conservation Committee approved the February 5 and February 17 minutes, then heard House Bill 678, which would allow wolf trappers to use remote cameras on traps and rely on a video-based check in place of the current 72-hour in-person trap-check requirement when the camera is functioning. The sponsor and supporters, including the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Wildlife Federation, and Idaho Farm Bureau, said the bill would make trapping more humane and efficient and help with wolf management. The Idaho Conservation League opposed the bill, warning it could leave incidentally captured protected wildlife in traps longer than current law allows and could create enforcement problems. The committee voted to send HB 678 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then received the annual update from the Idaho Department of Lands. Director Dustin Miller reported on endowment land management, timber harvest and revenue, fire suppression, recruitment challenges in the fire program, and the department’s shared stewardship and Good Neighbor Authority work with federal partners. Members asked about firefighter pay, mineral permitting, federal timber capacity, road access, and whether the GNA program can sustain staffing through program income; the director said the program is self-sustaining and aimed to expand federal-land restoration and timber output. Next, the committee considered Parks and Recreation pending rules for Docket 26-1-20-2501. Director Susan Buxton explained proposed fee increases for park entry, annual passes, commercial entry, group camps, boating access, and moorage, but asked the committee to reject the proposed changes to Section 075 and Section 250, with the basic campsite fee section to be revisited next year. The committee approved the docket with those exceptions. Buxton then gave the department’s annual update, highlighting ARPA-funded park improvements, new campsites and docks, trail and recreation partnerships, staffing and retention issues, and major projects at parks including Farragut, Ponderosa, Priest Lake, Eagle Island, and others. The meeting ended after a question about the Eagle Island zip line, which Buxton said would have to be removed because the concessionaire could not maintain it safely.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program and making an appropriation. program and making an appropriation.
• </c> back to folks in the future. back to folks in the future.
• That is from our non-partisan staff. program. program.
• </c> excellent program. Please vote yes. excellent program. Please vote yes.
• I ask for an aye vote. put guardian and conservator. Senator put guardian and conservator.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't tell what the future is going to hold.
• We can't tell what the future is going to hold.
• We're trying to err on the side of conservatives.
• And that will include things like the Launch program.
• That program finances the majority of that program within the state.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the corrected journal, then received committee reports and House messages before moving into floor action on several bills. Among the measures introduced and referred were bills on housing, education, machine guns, cash rounding, virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention, unauthorized workers, and other State Affairs topics. The Senate also took up a number of third-reading bills, including Senate Bill 1314 on Health and Welfare board structures, Senate Bill 1316 on newborn screening exemptions, Senate Bill 1301 on brewer retail taprooms, Senate Bill 1331 on a broad rescission/appropriations reduction package, Senate Bill 1332 on cash transfers to balance the budget, and later Senate Bill 1308 on mediation and Senate Bill 1309 on juvenile corrections. Senate Bill 1314 drew the most substantive debate early in the meeting. Supporters said it would eliminate outdated board structures in the Department of Health and Welfare and regional behavioral health boards that no longer served a necessary function, while opponents argued the boards still provided public accountability, regional input, and transparency, especially for behavioral health services. The bill passed 28-7. Senate Bill 1316, which updated exemption language for newborn screenings to align with other Idaho law and clarify parental rights, passed unanimously 35-0. Senate Bill 1301, allowing small brewers to expand from one to two remote taproom locations, passed 31-4 after supporters framed it as a free-market and small-business measure. The most contentious vote was on Senate Bill 1331, the rescission bill reducing fiscal year 2026 appropriations by about $192.7 million, including cuts to general fund, federal, and dedicated funds, along with reductions in FTEs and some program funding. Supporters said it was needed to balance the budget amid revenue uncertainty and that agencies had been asked where to make the additional 1% cuts; opponents criticized the bill as an across-the-board, opaque “Christmas tree” approach that cut lean and bloated agencies alike and created confusion about specific reductions. After extended debate, the bill passed narrowly 18-17. Senate Bill 1332, which transferred money from several funds back to the General Fund to help balance the budget, also drew criticism for shifting money from programs such as Launch, water pollution control, and building projects, but it passed 26-9. Later, Senate Bill 1308 passed 35-0 and Senate Bill 1309 passed 35-0 with little opposition. The Senate then returned to other business, introduced Senate Bill 1361 on public safety appropriations, and began consideration of Senate Bill 1300, which would change confirmation and appointment provisions for certain state agency directors.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> future beneficiaries. future beneficiaries.
• </c> benefit of future generations. benefit of future generations.
• </c> and the Feeding Our Future network. and the Feeding Our Future network.
• Um but to the uh point of uh conservatives<01:21:03.800><c> wanting</c> conservatives wanting conservatives
• </c> Over $300 million in Feeding Our Future. Over $300 million in Feeding Our Future.

Bills: HF3900, HF1849

Keywords: permanent school fund, school endowment fund, Minnesota constitutional amendment, school aid, public school funding, State Board of Investment, investment income, distributable amount, school districts, property taxes, income taxes, voter approval, ballot question, constitutional amendment 2026, education finance, fund perpetuity, purchasing power, trust lands, swamp lands, internal improvement land fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning today's money into future money—great thing.
• Tying the hands of yourself and future legislatures.
• Operations of the program.
• And so that's what this does; it's a debt program.
• We, the 22, it took us a while to get Our program together. This is a complex program.

Transcript Highlights:

• In contrast, land enrolled in conservation programs such as CRP is still considered agricultural.
• In contrast, land enrolled in conservation programs such as CRP is still considered agricultural.
• </c> funds to support the program if needed. funds to support the program if needed.
• Assistance Program.
• </c> program to fiscal year 2030. program to fiscal year 2030.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But also be a program that a land grant could use.
• The wood grant programs.
• It seems that the Traditional Cultures Program is part of the larger scope of the State Forestry Programs
• Forestry Programs for Land Grants.
• Chair, the presentation that has the slides that say state forestry programs land grants is programs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> clinical doctoral training at programs clinical doctoral training at programs such<00:03:49.120>
• ,</c> open an audiology training program, open an audiology training program, which<00:08:37.080><c>
• ,</c> this initiative offers a conservative, this initiative offers a conservative, common-sense<00:10
• . program. program.
• ,</c> that might be coming in the future, that might be coming in the future, potential<00:41:05.120>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the October 23 meeting minutes and then heard testimony on a planned 2026 bill to modernize Kentucky’s audiology practice act. Witnesses from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology and a Kentucky audiologist said the proposal would largely codify existing authority and add new powers to order certain imaging and lab tests related to auditory and vestibular conditions, as well as prescribe topical ear medications. They argued the changes would reduce delays, especially in rural areas, improve access to hearing and balance care, and help address provider shortages. Committee members asked about evidence for the expansion, responsibility for reviewing imaging results and incidental findings, and whether the changes might affect referrals or scope of practice. The witnesses said they could provide evidence, that the audiologist would be responsible for obtaining and reviewing radiology reports and following up with patients and primary care providers, and that the goal was to speed treatment and streamline referrals when needed. The committee then heard a separate proposal to update the Kentucky Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy statutes by licensing MRI technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers, who are not currently required to be licensed in Kentucky. The bill would create a transition period through January 1, 2028 for current practitioners, require national credentialing for new applicants after that date, expand the board from 9 to 11 members, and clarify scope and enforcement provisions. Supporters said the measure would improve patient safety, align Kentucky with most other states, and recognize national credentials. Members questioned how many workers would be affected, whether the state currently meets national standards, the cost of licensure, and whether the bill could worsen staffing shortages, especially in rural areas. The witnesses said about 800 MRI technologists and 1,600 sonographers in Kentucky are currently certified, initial licensure would cost $100, and existing licensees would not pay an additional fee. They also said the board viewed the change as a safety measure and noted increasing portability of MRI services across state lines. Finally, the committee began hearing a respiratory care interstate compact proposal. The sponsor and respiratory care representatives described the compact as a way to allow licensed respiratory therapists from member states to practice across state lines. They outlined the profession’s role in hospitals, emergency departments, home care, pulmonary labs, long-term care, and telehealth, and said the compact would help with workforce flexibility and access to care. The transcript cuts off before the discussion concluded or any action was taken on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are the future of the state and the future of this country.
• program. ...take advantage of this program, there's individuals that have already in the program in
• Utah’s school choice program is not the biggest program.
• Indiana has an ESA program. Florida, of course, has a program.
• the age of the program, comparable funding, and comprehensive—” “Program size, the age of the program

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities. Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases. Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• available for conservation and land acquisition.
• The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is an agricultural land preservation program designed to
• So, the critical role that the program plays in Florida's future has four major functions.
• This keeps the land's taxable status in place to support local government programs.
• The program participants, who are applicants to the program, must meet at least one of the following

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the California Watchable Wildlife sponsor the annual wildlife photo
• Going on to the Nature Conservancy, where many of us will be able to continue to work with him because
• This delegation reflects the breadth of California's future workforce. Thank you, Madam President.
• And now we can welcome these future leaders to the California State Senate. Thank you. Thank you.
• Let's continue supporting our students and the STEAM programs that are shaping the next generation.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered a prayer recognizing World Water Day and the challenges of water scarcity, and then proceeded with several floor introductions. Members welcomed wildlife photographer Alice Cahill, outgoing California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham, Avalon Fire Chief Michael Alegria, and a delegation of Cal Poly Pomona students participating in CSU advocacy activities. The chamber also received a message that the Assembly had passed AB 2156, and the Senate approved the March 16-19 journals as corrected. The main floor action was on Senate Concurrent Resolution 132, which designates March 22, 2026, as California STEAM Robotics Day. The author and supporting senators emphasized the value of robotics and hands-on STEAM education for career readiness, problem-solving, and workforce development. The resolution passed by a 34-0 vote. Afterward, the author introduced student and industry guests connected to robotics education, including a Poway High School student and representatives from Garner Holt Productions. The Senate then considered five gubernatorial appointments, all of which were confirmed unanimously: Paul Toopee as Director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Peter Britery to the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, Dr. Youngping Chen and Gregory Lung to the California Acupuncture Board, and Roy Mather to the Board of Pilot Commissioners. The body also suspended Joint Rule 62A to allow the Governmental Organization Committee to hear AB 2156 on March 24 without sufficient notice. At the end of the session, the Senate adjourned in memory of Anne Colchin, a longtime Carlsbad city councilmember and public servant, and announced it would reconvene on March 26, 2026, after the State of the Judiciary joint convention.

Transcript Highlights:

• The YCC is the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps, and we are a workforce development program.
• We award grants to different organizations around the state to run programs for youth to address conservation
• And I appreciate this program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• To put all the programs there. How do you fit into that picture?
• So in reference to programs, yes, we would love to do programs there.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Davis then introduced the next topic: conservation district supervisor contracting.
• Conservation<00:09:00.000><c> District</c><00:09:00.480><c> Supervisor</c> Conservation District Supervisor
• Conservation District Supervisor contracting. contracting. contracting.
• </c> Wyoming Association of Conservation Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts<00:11:54.320><
• </c> who don't want to go to the new program. who don't want to go to the new program.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee met briefly to hear and sort through interim topic proposals, with members noting they needed to finish quickly before floor work. The first topic, from Representative Banks and Representative Ottman, would allow non-veterinarians to perform pre-check pregnancy testing on cattle to help address veterinary shortages, while still requiring a certified veterinarian for cattle sold as bred. No public testimony was offered, and the committee agreed to move through the full list and rank topics later rather than taking an immediate vote. A second topic, brought by the County Commissioners Association through Jeremiah Ryman and Joy Hill, concerned subdivision fencing laws. Hill said recent statutory changes moved fencing requirements into the subdivision statutes, creating cost and planning problems for developers and county officials. She said the preferred option would be repeal; if not, counties should have flexibility to exempt some subdivisions, and at minimum the law should be clarified because key terms and requirements are unclear. The committee asked a few questions and then moved on. Representative Davis and Holly Kennedy of the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts discussed updating conservation district statutes. Kennedy said districts are currently barred from borrowing money for major purchases and that election rules can force board members to vacate seats if they move within the district but outside their original locality. The association supported revisiting those provisions. The committee also heard a topic on comparing recreation rules on state lands and federal lands, with the sponsor saying the goal was to identify disparities and possible improvements. Later topics included preventing orphaned water rights, with Keith Kennedy of the Wyoming Association of Irrigation Districts asking for statutory clarification so water rights are properly transferred during divisions and not forfeited, especially in small subdivisions and family exemptions. Another proposal from Representative Ottman addressed a tribal buffalo issue involving whether animals crossing between reservation land and fee land are treated as wildlife or domestic animals; members emphasized the topic was for information and discussion rather than legislation. Senator Pearson also proposed revisiting fence-out laws for livestock to give landowners more protection when repeatedly dealing with wandering animals, while others cautioned that any changes would need to be handled carefully because of differing livestock rules and the state’s fence-in/fence-out framework. Finally, Senator Hicks raised livestock identification concerns, arguing producers should retain flexibility under prior law to identify animals as they choose and that veterinarians should not be forced into new federal tagging requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• regulation where it may for local future regulation where it may be<00:25:58.679><c> reasonable</c><
• Notably, existing farms and conserved land would be grandfathered in and exempt from regulation.
• </c><00:28:51.919><c> development,</c><00:28:52.760><c> the</c> the director of program development,
• the the director of program development, the Land<00:28:53.159><c> Access</c><00:28:53.480><c> and</c
• </c><00:29:11.600><c> Districts,</c> Association of Conservation Districts, Association of Conservation

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> have them tell you about the program. have them tell you about the program.
• </c><01:24:57.440><c> Senate</c><01:24:57.760><c> File</c><01:24:58.080><c> 85,</c> Conservation Program
• Senate File 85, Conservation Program. Senate File 85, Raven<01:24:59.600><c> Act.
• </c><01:29:03.360><c> Senate</c><01:29:03.840><c> File</c><01:29:04.639><c> 85,</c> Conservation Program
• Senate File 85, Conservation Program.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also worked in the Office of the Guardian ad Litem Program.
• That is Senate Bill 1142 related to release of conservation easements.
• That is Senate Bill 1142 related to release of conservation easements.
• It is untenable for the future of this state to do such a thing.
• It is untenable for the future of this state to do such a thing.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for Senate Bill 304, which would address child protective investigations involving children with certain pre-existing genetic or medical conditions. Senator Sharif said the bill is intended to prevent children from being wrongly removed from their families when symptoms of conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, rickets, or vitamin deficiencies are mistaken for abuse. Several parents and advocates testified in support, describing long dependency cases and removals they said were caused by misdiagnosis. The committee adopted a substitute amendment that removed language requiring certain medical personnel to provide differential-diagnosis analysis, and the bill then passed favorably with unanimous support. The committee then heard SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings relating to terrorism, sponsored by Senator Collins, who described the long effort by U.S. victims of the FARC to enforce a federal judgment and recover assets. The bill would clarify procedures for terrorism-related judgments, modernize intangible asset law, and help prevent terrorists from hiding assets or blocking wire transfers. After one supportive appearance form and no debate, the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 96, a local claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and SB 382, an affordable housing rent bill that was amended to define base rent and apply to certain shorter-term rental agreements entered after July 1, 2026; SB 382 drew support from housing advocates and some opposition, but passed unanimously. Several claims bills were also approved: SB 4 for Patricia Armini, SB 6 for Jose Correa, SB 28 for Darlene Engerville and J.R., SB 30 for the estate of M.N., and SB 24 for Mandy Penny Lemon, each involving injuries or damages caused by local government or hospital district negligence and each reported favorably after brief testimony and roll calls. The committee also passed SB 658 on waiver or release of liens after discussion about form language and enforceability. SB 72, which would allow campaign funds to pay certain child care expenses incurred while a candidate is actively campaigning, prompted questions about definitions and safeguards; the sponsor said the bill would require the expense to exist only because of campaign activity, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 1142 on release of conservation easements, which would create a statewide process for releasing certain small, low-value parcels from conservation easements if mitigation credits are secured elsewhere. The bill drew support from the sponsor and a property representative, but environmental advocates and President Passidomo raised concerns about flood control, wildlife corridors, and whether the bill was too property-specific; the sponsor said he would continue working on the language. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 1622, which would repeal the 2018 customary use law and restore local authority over public beach access. Supporters argued the current law has privatized beaches, hurt tourism, and led to harassment and conflict, while opponents defended private property rights and warned against taking away owners’ ability to exclude others. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1622, before a final vote is shown.