Transcript Highlights:

• And here's the problem, this is just one, I could continue if you'd like.
• of additional points. points that would continue to improve the bill.
• And so, I just really appreciate your... continued willingness to engage with us.
• So we've submitted the proposed language and look forward to continuing to work with you.
• Last year alone, TRAC served over 1,200 young adults and that number continues to rise.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• DJ plans to continue his mission and hopes to set a Guinness World Record by being sworn in by 1,000
• And so, as the conversation continues, because I feel that this bill not only is going to fly out of
• It is a Class A misdemeanor, but we want to make sure that they cannot continue to operate and continue
• We have two bills to continue after this voting up here, down in extension E1.028.
• We have two bills to continue after this voting up here, down in extension E1.028.

Bills: SJR12, SJR81, SCR39, SB22, SB32, SB241, SB393, SB414, SB458, SB464, SB568, SB583, SB609, SB660, SB693, SB731, SB732, SB746, SB783, SB785, SB897, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1029, SB1035, SB1036, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1163, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1394, SB1396, SB1470, SB1494, SB1537, SB1596, SB1598, SB1610, SB1664, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2406, SB2407

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, tax exemption, ad valorem, tangible personal property, income production, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, approval of routine motions, and the reading of gubernatorial nominations and several honorary resolutions. The chamber adopted resolutions recognizing Jack and Jill of America Day and DJ Daniel Day at the Capitol, with multiple senators offering remarks praising youth leadership, perseverance, and public service. The Senate also introduced the Doctor of the Day and then proceeded to a long series of floor actions on bills. A major focus was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 568, which overhauls special education funding and services in public schools by moving from a placement-based model to an intensity-based system tied to student needs and IEPs. Senators Bettencourt, Creighton, and Menendez emphasized transparency, parent input, evaluation funding, dyslexia services, and better alignment of funding with actual services; Senator Hinojosa shared a personal story about dyslexia and the importance of early intervention. The bill was advanced on second and third reading and finally passed 30-0. The Senate also passed SB 1396 to prohibit national sex education standards in public schools, SB 2065 on the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System, SB 1664 requiring clearer public disclosure of transmission and distribution utility rate changes, SB 1029 on advertising certain used motor vehicles, SB 1120 expanding rights for family violence victims, SB 1036 regulating residential solar retail transactions, SB 464 creating school-proximity restrictions and penalties for tobacco and vaping sales, SB 1035 giving farmers and ranchers equitable relief from certain local agricultural regulations, SB 1610 addressing civil commitment facility safety and prosecution issues, SB 1197 extending drone restrictions to spaceports, and SB 1386 changing legislative witness immunity from transactional to testimonial immunity. Another major bill was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1188, which updates electronic health record requirements. Senator Kolkhorst said the bill builds on Texas medical privacy law by requiring U.S.-based storage of EMR data, prohibiting recording of voter registration status and credit score information, requiring provider verification and disclosure for AI-assisted diagnosis or treatment recommendations, preserving parental access to minors’ records until age 18, and ensuring EMRs can capture metabolic health and biological sex information. A floor amendment clarified the bill’s scope and enforcement, and the bill passed 23-7. Several measures drew debate, especially SB 414 on bond ballot transparency, where Senators Eckhardt and Menendez questioned whether requiring estimated interest and total debt cost on ballots could be misleading or difficult to implement because interest rates and financing terms can change before issuance or over time. The transcript ends during that discussion, with no final action shown on SB 414.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE MUST BE CONTINUALLY WILLING TO REFRAIN AND IMPROVE GREAT POLICY.
• ENTERING THE ANTENNA LIVE LOCAL IS FULLY REALIZED AND SUCCESS CONTINUES TO GROW.
• THANK YOU AGAIN TO PRESIDENT PASSIDOMO FOR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND I ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT.
• THE DEMAND FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONTINUES TO GROW YET CITIES AND COUNTIES OR IMPLEMENT A LOCAL ZONING
• Martin: IN CONTINUOUS, ABSOLUTELY. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their hope is that with 2025 and continued support of this money, in addition to some other resources
• Their hope is that with 2025 and continued support of this money, in addition to some other resources
• > this<00:14:44.399> money<00:14:44.959> in continued support of this money in continued
• But the construction costs, as you know, continue to rise and every dollar counts.
• Thank you. continue to rise and every dollar continue to rise and every dollar counts.<00:23:23.280><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um in particular um you know continue um in particular um you know portions<00:29:47.440> of<
• to grow so you know for these continues to grow so you know for these reasons<00:30:12.159> we
• We realized that the measure was amended to continue the pilot program.
• the pilot program we would continue the pilot program we would respectfully<00:32:02.120> ask
• <00:57:16.839> to brackets would not only continue to brackets would not only continue to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-related measures. SB 38 SD2 drew mixed testimony on changes to 21H projects, with HHFDC supporting and county and community groups split between support and opposition. In discussion, members focused on how county legislative bodies can alter projects in ways that increase costs, including changes to AMI mixes and fee waivers. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, limiting county changes that would impose stricter conditions than HHFDC, stricter AMI requirements, or reduced fee waivers; the motion passed with one member voting with reservations and two members excused. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 71 SD2, which would revise the rental housing revolving fund. Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi YIMBY, and NAAP Hawaiʻi opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken support for deeply affordable units, eliminate the 5% set-aside for households at or below 30% AMI, and create a funding gap for households between 60% and 120% AMI. Supporters of the bill, including public housing and some development interests, emphasized the need to redirect funding and make the program more flexible. In decision-making, the committee described the bill as making comprehensive changes that would narrow Tier 2 toward higher-income projects and favor shorter loan terms, then moved it out with amendments. The committee also heard and advanced several other measures with little or no opposition: SB 40 SD2 on state finances, SB 378 on HHFDC, SB 572 SD1 on housing, SB 1229 ST2 on the dwelling unit revolving fund, and SB 602 on the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority all received support testimony and were moved forward. For SB 65 SD2, HPHA and other agencies supported the measure, and HPHA testified it sought roughly $8 million to $10 million for repair and maintenance of units not covered by CIP funds. The committee also took up SB 826 SD1 on the low-income housing tax credit, where HHFDC, the Tax Foundation, and DHHL expressed confusion over the bill’s intent and whether it would bar state agencies from using LIHTC financing; no action was taken on that item in the excerpt. SB 944 SD2 on LIHTC transferability drew support and a suggestion to keep clarifying language that notifies the tax department, and the committee indicated it would keep the provision in.

Transcript Highlights:

• How will you continue to hold big tech accountable when it comes to antitrust law?
• I just wanna make sure that you continue to have that commitment to carry through on that.
• We were very concerned about the continuity of one of those entities, specifically.
• Is cleaning house going to continue?
• Unfortunately, the Biden administration did not continue that.

Keywords: nominations, Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Todd Blanch, Gail Slater, confirmation hearing

Summary: The meeting focused on the nominations of Todd Blanch and Gail Slater for the positions of Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, respectively. The committee considered the qualifications of both nominees, with opening statements provided by the nominees themselves. There was an evident emphasis on the rigorous vetting process that nominees undergo before their selection, highlighting the importance of the roles within the Department of Justice. Members of the committee engaged in a structured question-and-answer session to further evaluate the nominees' capabilities and fit for the positions they were nominated for, with each member allotted seven minutes to pose questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to continue to do that, following the intent of...
• Can I get your commitment to continue that good relationship?
• So those are all issues that we are going to need to continue to address.
• The only way I can push them is to not allow those who do not perform to continue.
• That's going to continue. This new freeze, the new hire freeze, is not there.

Transcript Highlights:

• How would we help it to continue?
• How would we help it to continue?
• How would we help it to continue?
• I would hope that it would continue. >> I think it should continue. Yes.
• I would hope that it would continue. >> I think it should continue. Yes.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may be allowed to continue if time permits.
• additional support for that continued additional support for that continued Innovation<01:39:04.719
• If disconnected while presenting testimony, you may be allowed to continue if time permits.
• We want to move this bill forward and continue the conversation.
• We do want to continue the conversation on this measure.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• systems, that they have the ability to continue to receive services and the provider is able to continue
• systems, that they have the ability to continue to receive services and the provider is able to continue
• systems, that they have the ability to continue to receive services and the provider is able to continue
• continue to receive services and the provider is able to continue to bill under those PCA, you know,
• diseases continues advancement for rare diseases continues at<01:13:45.480> an<01:13:45.840><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where we stand at this time, and hoping as we continue the conversation we can continue to strengthen
• That's where we stand at this time, and hoping as we continue the conversation we can continue to strengthen
• That's where we stand at this time, and hoping as we continue the conversation we can continue to strengthen
• We continue to farm 4,000 acres.
• <03:01:37.120> talking important measure to continue talking important measure to continue

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy to continue on this committee.
• Happy to continue on this committee.
• Happy to continue on this committee.
• <00:26:47.039> in communities and uh to continuing in communities and uh to continuing in
• um we are focused on this continued um we are focused on this continued partnership<00:48:46.359

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee convened for its first meeting of the 2025 session, with Chair Melissa Wiklund outlining the new co-chair arrangement, rotating gavel, committee size of 12, and the seven-vote threshold needed to move bills and motions. Members and staff introduced themselves, including several new senators, committee administrators, counsel, fiscal staff, researchers, and new pages. The committee then began its agenda with an overview of the Minnesota Department of Health from Deputy Commissioner Wendy Underwood. Underwood described MDH’s mission and structure, emphasizing public health’s focus on prevention, population health, and the social and economic factors that drive health outcomes. She highlighted the state’s health disparities, the department’s five bureaus, and major work areas including infectious disease response, newborn screening, environmental health, chronic disease prevention, health regulation, health equity, and operations. She also discussed the Center for Health Care Affordability, saying the department has been meeting with stakeholders and has hired a director to begin work on advisory bodies and community engagement around rising health care costs. Members asked questions about physician shortages, burnout, administrative burden, and health care bureaucracy. Senator Grunhagen argued that excessive paperwork and micromanagement are worsening access and workforce shortages, while Senator Abeler asked for data on whether past disparity programs have been effective and whether some efforts should be consolidated. Underwood said MDH has rural health programs, workforce supports such as loan forgiveness, and research on administrative costs and low-value services, and she noted the department has published legislative reports with more data to come. The chair then moved the committee to a broader discussion of public health system development in Minnesota, introducing City of Bloomington officials to present on a recent report.

Transcript Highlights:

• It represents a continuous commitment to public education.
• will continue. You've heard it before. will continue. You've heard it before.
• Districts will continue... America. And two, it was well known America.
• continued her testimony: If a career rule is not passed, districts will continue paying those at the
• In FY27, it's $117, $119, $121, and it continues to increase from there.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll let you continue. Thank you.
• And then continuing...
• And then continuing, and I stress the word continuing, but continuing to align the legislative amendments
• Okay, I'll let you continue.
• Please continue. Yes, sir.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held an informational hearing on the state capital outlay process, with Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration’s Office of Facilities Planning and Control (FPNC) presenting a detailed review of House Bill 2 and proposed improvements. They said FPNC administers about 54% of the bill, while other agencies administer the rest, and emphasized that the capital outlay program has improved significantly over the last few years, with project expenditures more than doubling due to better cash-flow management, staffing changes, and more efficient project administration. They also explained how the bill is structured by priorities, how the priority-one cash line of credit is capped and adjusted for construction inflation, and how the bill has grown into a much larger, longer-range plan than a true five-year program, especially on the non-state side. A major theme was that the bill contains too many dormant, legacy, and low-priority projects, which creates false expectations and ties up funding. Committee members pressed the presenters on culture change, third-party project management, staffing shortages, and the use of technology and statutory interpretation to speed projects without sacrificing compliance. Husser and Baker said they had reduced internal bureaucracy, used staff augmentation because of hiring difficulties, delegated smaller projects to agencies when appropriate, and improved cash-flow analysis so projects can move forward with less money up front. They also discussed overappropriations, dormant projects, and the need to reappropriate unused funds to projects that can actually spend them. The presenters offered several recommendations and considerations: limit the number and size of new projects, reduce scope creep, require more regular endorsement of long-running projects, consider caps on priority-five funding, impose time limits and reporting requirements on non-state grant projects, and possibly require non-state entities to escrow or otherwise demonstrate their match earlier. They also suggested bundling related projects together, expanding that approach beyond the current pilot, and improving transparency by showing full project funding history and the first year each project appeared in the bill. No votes were taken, and the meeting remained informational, with members generally supportive of the efficiency reforms while also raising concerns about false hope, dormant projects, and the need for clearer expectations and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Speaker continues] “That’s the current verification process. Yes.
• [Speaker continues] “Section 4 that’s there talks about records.
• [Speaker continues] “Look at lines 37 and 38, though.
• [Speaker continues] “I don’t know why.
• So that circuit judge will continue having jurisdiction.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure that continues. infrastructure that continues. It<00:16:22.880> connects.
• department shows improvement continued department shows improvement continued efforts<00:26:20.720
• Montgomery and their efforts to continue Montgomery and their efforts to continue to<00:28:02.000
• . continue. continue.
• <00:45:20.160> this I look forward to continuing this I look forward to continuing this conversation

Bills: HB268, SB279, SB304, SB303, SB298

Keywords: lottery winnings, lottery prize, state lottery, income tax exemption, tax exemption, gambling, games of chance, prize proceeds, Alabama Department of Revenue, state income tax, tax relief, winnings, jackpot, lotto, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building

Transcript Highlights:

• So I have those concerns, but I vote I... continually seeing expansion continually seeing expansion of
• hear, the cost of doing business continues to rise.
• hear, the cost of doing business continues to rise.
• We were we've had and it continues.
• <00:54:43.920> I continue the conversation offline. I continue the conversation offline.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services heard Senate Bill 18, a bill described by the sponsor and podiatry witnesses as a modernization of Kentucky’s podiatry laws. The bill would recognize and regulate podiatric assistants, podiatric residents, and supervising podiatrists; allow podiatrists to supervise physician assistants in podiatry practices with approval from the relevant licensing boards; require new podiatrists licensed after January 1, 2027 to complete at least two years of residency; and extend disciplinary authority to the new categories. Witnesses said the measure would improve access to foot and ankle care, especially in rural areas, without expanding scope of practice. The Kentucky Medical Association was said to be neutral after working on the language with the sponsors. Committee members raised concerns about the meaning of “supervision,” whether it required direct or indirect oversight, and whether the bill could broaden billing or coding privileges. Dr. Roberts said supervision could mean direct supervision or indirect supervision, including being available by telephone, and noted the bill mirrors language used in allopathic PA supervision. He also said the bill would not change office staff billing roles and that podiatric assistants would not bill separately. Several senators said they supported moving the bill forward but remained concerned about workforce, cost, and scope creep. The committee adopted a committee substitute, then voted on the bill. The motion passed unanimously with favorable expression. After the vote, the committee moved on to a presentation on outpatient pediatric therapies, where providers described Medicaid reimbursement pressures, workforce turnover, and long waiting lists for children’s therapy services, but no action was taken on that presentation in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:20.320> to earlier, I would be happy to continue to earlier, I would be happy to continue
• with the word incumbent next continuence with the word incumbent next to<00:46:20.079> their<
• As spending by wealthy and corporate interests continues to rise in our elections, this bill expands
• I look forward to having continued discussion as we lay this bill over for Thursday, I believe, where
• I look forward to uh having continued I look forward to uh having continued discussion<01:00:50.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we'll just want to um try to address that a little bit as this conversation continues.
• Um, so we'll just want to um try to address that a little bit as this conversation continues.
• Um, willing to continue to have conversations about that.
• Um, willing to continue to have conversations about that.
• Um, and continues to seek its next stop here in the House.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We will continue to refine our systems and make them better in the future. us a fish so to answer your
• January 1 of '24 to cover kids for 12 months continuously, the assumptions that we had, you know, in
• <00:24:21.640> coverage and now that there's continuous coverage and now that there's continuous
• Case backlogs from as early as 1984 continue through the present day.
• <00:44:31.440> staff has been slow due to continued staff has been slow due to continued staff

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 21 and first approved the January 30 minutes and the consent calendar, with item 2540 removed by the Department of Education and item 25057 set aside for discussion. The committee then took up FIS 25057, a Department of Transportation request tied to a federal grant for building information modeling and related data standardization across DOT systems. Transportation officials explained that the $2.405 million consultant-heavy request would connect surveying, design, construction, and asset management systems, improve efficiency and long-term asset tracking, and help the department catch up with other states. Several senators questioned the lack of immediate, quantifiable budget savings and the reliance on consultants, but the item was ultimately adopted. The committee next approved FIS 25054 for the Department of Health and Human Services after questioning a $16 million shortfall in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. DHHS explained the variance as a budgeting and accounting issue tied to separating CHIP from Medicaid managed care, pandemic-era continuous enrollment, and the new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage for children. Members also approved a Cannon Mountain fee item, where park officials described a proposed price freeze for early-bird passes, a new in-season tier, and modest increases in off-season pricing, while noting operating cost pressures, strong snow conditions, and favorable customer value ratings. That item was adopted unanimously. The committee also approved the Department of Corrections item after discussion of staffing, retirement eligibility, overtime, and recidivism. Commissioner Helen Hanks said retirement-eligible staff had declined slightly, recruitment was improving, overtime hours were down, one housing floor had been closed because of lower population, and the department had reduced reincarceration by 8% over seven years, which she said produced substantial savings. The item was adopted. During informational items, the committee heard a Legislative Budget Assistant performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found the commission inefficient and ineffective in processing complaints, with average case closure taking 840 days, significant backlogs dating back decades, expired administrative rules, weak management controls, disorganized and outdated procedures, unreliable data, and unresolved prior audit findings. The audit included 25 recommendations, two of which may require legislative action. Commission staff said they appreciated the recommendations and expected the additional resources from the prior budget cycle to help address the backlog and improve transparency and efficiency.