Transcript Highlights:

• All right, seeing none, we will move on to testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony, Ms. Boyd-Mayes. Hold on.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. Members, any questions for this panel?
• You've already heard expert testimony. I won't belabor those words or go back over them.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. Members, any questions for this panel? Yes, sir.

Bills: HB 1178, HB1411, HB1441, HB1773, HB1813, HB2107, HB2598, HB2911, HB2967, HB3672, HB5263, HB3797

Keywords: education, temporary certification, out-of-state educators, teacher shortage, military spouses, personal leave, school holidays, employee compensation, overtime provisions, school safety, peace officers, mental health, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, student trustee, school board, student representation, education policy, nonvoting position, school governance

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony: There are no amendments on this bill, so we can move to public testimony.
• Do we have any public testimony? No public testimony. Debate, members. Any debate on Rep.
• Do we have any public testimony? Excuse me, no amendments. There are no amendments.
• Any public testimony? Seeing none? Thank you. Any public testimony? Seeing none, debate, members.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to consider three proposed committee bills under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, each aimed at preserving a public records exemption that would otherwise repeal on October 2. PCB GOS 25-01, presented by Rep. Nix, would keep confidential property photos and personal identifying information tied to applicants or participants in housing assistance programs used for disaster recovery after a presidentially declared disaster. Members discussed the need to prevent fraud and protect distressed property owners from being targeted after disasters. The bill was reported favorably. PCB GOS 25-03, presented by Rep. Sapp, would preserve the exemption for certain sensitive business information submitted to the Office of Financial Regulation for the Financial Technology Sandbox. Supporters said the confidentiality is necessary to encourage companies to submit proprietary information and participate in the program. The bill was also reported favorably. PCB GOS 25-02, presented by Rep. Weinberger on behalf of Rep. Basabe, would continue the exemption for site-specific location information concerning endangered or threatened species. Members noted the importance of protecting Florida’s unique ecosystem and preventing poaching of both animals and rare plants. This bill was likewise reported favorably. Each bill received no amendments or public testimony, and the meeting adjourned after all three were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• share your 90-second testimony. share your 90-second testimony.
• State your name and start your<00:36:53.200> testimony. your testimony. your testimony.
• <00:42:54.800> Thank name and begin your testimony. Thank name and begin your testimony.
• . testimony.
• , you know, we heard with a testimony, you know, we heard with a testimony, they're<01:36:30.240>

Bills: HF4712, HF4801, HF3756, HF4860, HF4931, HF4289, HF4460

Keywords: residential pools, swimming classes, certification, private business, health safety, health care, prior authorization, managed care, medical assistance, mental health, substance use treatment, chronic conditions, health insurance, insulin, healthcare access, pharmacy regulations, patient assistance, affordable medication, healthcare, pharmacy

Summary: The committee met at 1:00 p.m., confirmed a quorum, and approved the April 8, 2026 minutes. The first bill heard was House File 4712, which was laid over after the committee adopted a DE2 amendment. Representative Schultz said the bill would create a narrow additional exception to public pool limitations so highly certified swimming instructors could use certain pools for specialized infant, youth, and developmental-disability swim instruction. The only testifier, Tessa Seppelt, described ISR instruction as water-safety and drowning-prevention training for very young children and children with developmental delays, and said access to appropriate facilities is the main barrier. Members raised questions about emergency egress, public safety, and insurance coverage, and the author said he would follow up on those concerns. The committee then took up House File 4801, a bill by Representative Nadeau aimed at health care program integrity. He said it would align commercial and Medicaid partners to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse by changing prior authorization and retrospective review processes, improving data sharing on suspected fraud, addressing conflicting or duplicative services, allowing managed care organizations to verify provider credentials, and making risk corridors in MCO contracts permanent. The Minnesota Council of Health Plans supported the bill, saying it would help detect fraud and improve coordination, while the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposed it, arguing that expanded prior authorization would delay care, increase physician burden, and harm children with chronic conditions. Members debated patient safety, fraud detection, and whether the bill would undermine recent prior-authorization reforms. The bill was laid over. House File 3756, a technical update to the insulin safety net program, was also laid over. Representative Backer said the bill clarifies that a hospital-use intravenous insulin product is not part of the program because it is sold only to health care institutions and infused by practitioners, not dispensed to patients for self-use. The Board of Pharmacy testified that the language was drafted to avoid affecting future legitimate uses, and members asked whether the definition could limit new uses if treatments change. The committee then began House File 4860, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s presentation is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A2 amendment is adopted, and we'll move to testimony.
• The A2 amendment is adopted, and we'll move to testimony.
• I'm going to read Kiana Thompson's testimony first, as she was unable to be here, but she wrote her testimony
• I'm going to read Kiana Thompson's testimony first, as she was unable to be here, but she wrote her testimony
• committee we had a a testimony committee we had a a testimony 36%<01:04:53.520> of<01:04:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Next, Tom Bruce. After that, Tim Butler.
• today thank you for your testimony today thank you for your testimony Senator<00:42:07.480> Muhammad
• Thank you for your testimony.
• All right, that is the end of our testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Thank you for testimony. Any questions? >> Thank you for testimony. Any questions?
• >> Thank you for testimony. Any questions? >> Thank you for testimony.
• ,<00:20:54.159> let this point conclude my testimony, let this point conclude my testimony
• I appreciate your testimony.
• haven't received any testimony from the haven't received any testimony from the public<00:30:41.520><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Great job on your testimony.
• Great job on your testimony.
• I know that there's been testimony here.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you all for your testimony.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 20 minutes and then advanced HCR 95, which would create a more uniform tax base for future state and local tax exemptions and credits, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers to deviate from that uniformity. HB 648 was deferred by the author. HB 1049, dealing with public meeting procedures and notice requirements, was amended after discussion with the Police Jury Association, school boards, and local government groups; the amendments removed a requirement for a lawyer at every meeting and clarified notice and posting language, and the bill was reported with amendments despite opposition from local government associations and the City of Baker. The committee then heard HB 615, which would expand livestreaming and two-year archiving requirements to more public bodies, including non-elected boards and commissions with taxing or rulemaking authority. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while local government and association witnesses argued it would impose an unfunded mandate, especially on small volunteer boards, and raised concerns about costs, staffing, record retention, and reliance on social media platforms. The bill was not advanced. HB 1201, as amended, would provide legislators reimbursement for travel and limited out-of-session expenses, including housing and mileage, beginning with the next term; members discussed the need to make public service more financially feasible and to broaden who can afford to serve. The committee reported HB 1201 with amendments. The committee also considered two constitutional convention-related bills. HB 244 would set guardrails for any future convention by capping delegates at 144, specifying delegate selection, requiring a two-thirds delegate vote to send proposals to voters, and requiring both a majority of voters and approval by three-fourths of the parishes for ratification; after debate over whether the parish threshold was too high, the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote. HB 4, as amended, was narrowed to require the Senate and House Governmental Affairs committees to meet in the off-season to discuss the mechanics of a possible convention, but members viewed it as more of a study resolution than binding legislation, and the committee voted to keep it in committee. The meeting then moved to confirmation hearings. Courtney Myers, nominated for Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, and Ernest Jacob Reade Jr., nominated as Assistant Secretary, testified about their backgrounds and priorities, emphasizing juvenile rehabilitation, education and vocational programming, mental health services, credible messengers, family contact, and better communication with legislators and families. Nathan McBride, nominated as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, testified about his engineering and government affairs background and said he would focus on legislative work, waste tire management, permitting modernization, and constituent service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. Are you able, Mr.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. testimony. testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you very much for your testimony. Next, we have Sherry Hanson.
• If you would please introduce yourself and proceed with your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we will move to testimony.
• I just wanted to highlight the incentives testimony in this committee.
• I want to remind testifiers testimony.
• you start your testimony. Thank you. you start your testimony. Thank you.
• to highlight the incentives uh testimony to highlight the incentives uh testimony in<00:16:06.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The chamber is in full in our testimony.
• Um, we'll stand on our testimony.
• We stand on our written testimony.
• We stand on our written testimony.
• We stand on our written testimony.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'll move to public testimony. Only, Chair calls Judith Joseph.
• OK, thank you for your testimony. Thank you. Okay.
• Thank you for your testimony. Chair calls Dr. Clifford Porter. Dr.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you. Chair calls Carl Assett.
• Thank you for your testimony.

Bills: HB713, HB827, HB932, HB499, HB510, HB163, HB296, HB879, HB913, HB163, HB296

Keywords: healthcare, maternal health, reporting requirements, Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, health provider immunity, workplace violence, nurses, grant program, healthcare facilities, safety measures, safety, nursing, grants, healthcare safety, verbal abuse, physical abuse, nurse empowerment, occupational therapy, licensure, interstate practice

Transcript Highlights:

• We stand on our written testimony in support of this House concurrent resolution. Services.
• We stand on our written testimony in support of this House concurrent resolution.
• Uh, we received testimony and support from DAGs. This is an issue of discussion in a bill as well.
• <00:02:01.360> This<00:02:01.520> is testimony and support from DAGs.
• This is testimony and support from DAGs.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Government Operations met on April 15, 2025, and took up only one measure, HCR 59. The resolution requests the Department of Accounting and General Services to study the feasibility of limiting project and construction management costs on state construction projects to 10% of total project cost. Vice Chair Keith Regan, speaking for DAGS, said the department stood on its written testimony in support of the resolution. Frank Schultz also testified in support. After a brief recess while waiting for quorum, the committee returned for decision-making. The chair noted that the issue is also being discussed in a bill and said adopting the resolution would help keep the matter in focus. No objections were raised, and the committee voted to adopt HCR 59 as is. Senators Morwaki and Favilla were excused from the vote. The measure passed, and the hearing was concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please state your name and begin your testimony. You have two minutes, sir.
• Hearing none, public testimony is closed. We're going to leave this bill pending.
• Someone will have to correct me on that during their testimony.
• So I look forward to hearing the testimony. Thank you, General.
• Chair opens up for public testimony on Senate Bill 21.

Bills: SB 21, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB764, SB842

Keywords: emergency alerts, weather alerts, public safety, local government, municipality, county, website posting, online notice, emergency management, disaster preparedness, evacuation, National Weather Service, NOAA, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, localized alerts, hazard warnings, severe weather, watch warning advisory, public information

Transcript Highlights:

• from the executive council's testimony from the executive council's testimony about<00:38:31.839
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Um, I have testimony and the Chair.
• So, thank you for your testimony.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with Senate Bill 22-FN, which would expand child care licensing background checks so the Department of Health and Human Services can receive fuller criminal history information, including pending charges and other non-conviction records, similar to the system already used for school staff. Grant Bossi, for Senator Pearl, and DHHS officials Melissa Clement and Christine Sheay testified in support, saying the bill closes a gap that can allow people with disqualifying charges to work with children. They explained that the FBI record is a snapshot in time, that juvenile records are not included, and that the bill would apply to child care programs including residential group homes. Questions focused on what “confidential criminal history” means and how often checks are repeated; DHHS said checks are done every five years or sooner if new charge information is received. The hearing on SB 22 was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 23-FN, which would expand the child endangerment statute and remove the word “purposely” from part of the language. Senator Pat Long said the bill is intended to strengthen protection for children and allow more serious conduct to be charged appropriately. Testimony from law enforcement, including Executive Counselor Dave Wheeler, Sergeant Ryan Rooney of Nashua Police, and Nicholas Georgulis of Manchester Police, supported the bill as a way to distinguish routine misdemeanor cases from the most egregious abuse and neglect cases, such as children living in squalor or being exposed to severe danger. Wheeler and some members raised concerns that the language could be vague or overbroad and cited a prior Manchester firearm-in-a-car arrest as an example of possible unintended consequences; supporters responded that the bill still requires knowingly violating a duty of care and that the serious bodily injury or death standard limits its reach. Rooney also described a fentanyl overdose case involving an 11-year-old and said the current misdemeanor charge did not fully reflect the seriousness of the conduct. The committee recessed SB 23 briefly to open and close SB 161, then returned to SB 23, which remained under hearing with no final vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be a time limit of 2 minutes per witness during the public testimony period.
• So with that, I'm happy to take any questions or we can move on, uh, to witness testimony.
• Additionally, and Sarah mentioned this in her testimony, but.
• Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony. Thank you, Ms. Any questions for this panel?
• Um, so, my question is in response to some testimony that we've heard, um, yesterday and today.

Bills: SB 7

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• You have my written testimony. I'm not going to read through that.
• Anyway, thank you for your testimony. Chairman Van Dever. Thanks. Thank you.
• Appreciate your testimony. At this time, the chair recognizes Dr. Maria Monge.
• Appreciate your testimony. I appreciate it. Good to see you again.
• I think that was the testimony. Is that a true statement or no?

Bills: HB173, HB184, HB484, HB678, HB 1211, HB1507, HB1705, HB1868, HB2290, HB2851, HB2856, HB3041, HB3204, HB173, HB184

Keywords: foreign donations, higher education, public institutions, national security, funding, prohibition, Texas law, healthcare, insurance, affordability, access, public health, foreign influence, education policy, student loan repayment, prosecuting attorneys, border prosecution unit, financial assistance, tobacco, cigarettes

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, seeing none, we're going to go to public testimony. We've got Kaylee Peters from AARP.
• Well, sir, so Senator, you know, he's given his testimony.
• Okay, thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. We have Lisa Hurley from Collier County.
• Okay, that concludes our testimony today. Senators, any debate on the bill? Senator Leak.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to review its fiscal year 2025-2026 budget proposal and several bills. The chair outlined a roughly $18 billion budget area, including major funding for the Department of Transportation work program, Visit Florida, library/cultural/historical initiatives, affordable housing, National Guard tuition assistance, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles needs. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical adjustments and then approved the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee next heard and approved CS/SB 666, creating a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting scholarships, academic, athletic, and arts programs at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Members praised the school’s academic and athletic achievements, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition. The committee also heard extensive testimony on CS/SB 1318, which would rename Florida’s texting-while-driving law as the hands-free driving law and expand the prohibition to handheld use of wireless devices, including in work zones. Supporters, including law enforcement, health care, bicycling, and crash victims’ advocates, argued it would save lives and make enforcement clearer; some senators supported the goal but raised concerns about enforcement, privacy, and impacts on drivers with older vehicles. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 1408, designating memorial highways in Hillsborough and Charlotte counties for Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen and Sergeant Elio Diaz, and SB 1516, creating the International Aerospace Innovation Fund to be administered by Space Florida to support partnerships between Florida and international aerospace companies. Both bills were reported favorably with little debate. Senators also requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move to public testimony. We don't have anyone registered to testify.
• If not, we're going to proceed to public testimony. Thank you.
• Fuller, thank you very much for your testimony.
• So today is my 100th testimony, by the way.
• Price, congratulations on your 100th testimony. Thank you, sir.

Bills: HCR92, HB 114, HB561, HB 1171, HB1894, HB2026, HB2143, HB2337, HB2564, HB114

Keywords: Tuskegee Airmen, commemoration, African American history, civil rights, military recognition, veterans, mental health, Texas Veterans Commission, peer support, suicide prevention, community mental health, grant program, defense, grants, local government, economic support, community development, health and wellness, outdoor recreation, state land use

Transcript Highlights:

• Please state your full name for the record and commence your testimony when you're ready.
• the record and commence your testimony the record and commence your testimony when<00:41:20.839>
• the record and commence your testimony the record and commence your testimony when<00:46:48.640>
• Finally, just a few testimonials.
• State your full name for the record and commence testimony when you're ready.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all