Transcript Highlights:

• >> Reports.<00:09:05.519> Thank<00:09:05.680> you. >> Reports.
• <01:00:38.079> that that's included in the um report that that's included in the um report
• Um, you You reference a report.
• We don't have a pink card. anyone here? We don't have a pink card.
• It's the end of the pink cards. cards. cards. Okay. All<03:05:11.920> right.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: House Finance Division 3 met in work session and opened with procedural remarks from the chair about the committee’s schedule, deadlines, and recommendation options, noting the meeting was advisory and no votes were expected. The first bill discussed, House Bill 1569, concerned repealing the directive to sell the Anna Philbrook Center for Children property in Concord. Testimony from DHHS and New Hampshire Hospital focused on whether the property could be subdivided, the relationship to Senate Bill 572, the status of the city of Concord’s first right of refusal, and the practical effects of a sale. Witnesses said the $5 million sale estimate was a budget assumption, that moving staff and equipment would create some relocation costs, and that the center had required significant recent maintenance and renovation spending. Members also discussed the number of transitional housing beds at the site, the temporary nature of those beds, and whether the property should remain available given hospital workforce and service needs. The committee then turned to House Bill 661, which had been recommitted for further review after new information emerged. The chair summarized federal developments, including a December 2025 ACF letter and a related executive order, as well as a federal HHS press release about states diverting foster youths’ Social Security survivor benefits. Representative Walner explained that amendment 3055H had been drafted to move the bill forward in smaller steps, with a fiscal note requested on the amendment because the original bill was viewed as too large and expensive. Members discussed whether the committee had received copies of the amendment and whether federal guidance or funding had changed the policy landscape. The discussion also included broader questions about foster youth benefits and whether federal action would support state implementation. One member cited ACF language stating that only 11 states had enacted policies to stop interception of survivor benefits and that technical assistance would be available to the remaining states. The meeting remained in work-session mode throughout, with no votes taken and no final recommendations made during the portion provided. The chair indicated the committee could return to the bills later in the month.

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure areas for Texas, right?
• These troubling reports continue to this day, in fact just this week there was a report a squatter pulled
• One apartment complex, they did a summary, reported 102 documented cases.
• Senate Bill 1365 relating to vehicle registration license plates and inspection reports.
• Senate Bill 1365 relating to vehicle registration license plates inspection reports.

Keywords: legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 40, Senate Bill 871, constitutional amendment, emergency powers, governor authority, legislative oversight

Summary: The meeting focused on several crucial pieces of legislation, notably Senate Joint Resolution 40, which proposed a constitutional amendment to clarify the powers of the governor, the legislature, and the Supreme Court during emergencies. Senator Birdwell presented the resolution, emphasizing the need for legislative involvement during prolonged crises. It garnered broad support, passing with 29 votes in favor and only 1 against. Following this, Senate Bill 871, considered the enabling legislation, was also moved for discussion, with the aim of reinforcing the legislature's authority during emergencies while establishing clear guidelines for the governor's powers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shortline railroads, uh, often struggle to maintain and upgrade aging infrastructure due to the limited
• Not coincidentally, that year, Black Land successfully applied for a consolidated rail infrastructure
• Is the federal funding coming from the infrastructure Act?
• They are a vital infrastructure for public safety, law enforcement access, and oversight of commercial
• These funds were intended to support transportation infrastructure in Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please, well, we sort of originally conceived of these as entirely staff reports, which I think makes
• I'm happy to report that as of the end of September, although the number is unofficial, We're close to
• Just for the information of the committee, you do have an investment performance report card for both
• Again, I think it's important to know that infrastructure and capital for this property are crucial.
• Infrastructure and these timelines are short.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know there are conflicting studies and reports out there regarding the harms or benefits associated
• suggesting that our students are at 28... ...would improve, and with one report suggesting that our
• There have been a number of vote cards circulating.
• Additionally, reference report from the reference committee concerning based on final reading.
• Also, the data reporting to the State Department of Education, I think that's very important.

Bills: LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504

Keywords: paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes

Transcript Highlights:

• This report is not a set of recommendations.
• This report is not a set of recommendations.
• We agree with the report on the impacts.
• The report includes under the first pathway and under strategy 1,000. report includes under the first
• That's our infrastructure.' Zero.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chief clerk will report the bill.
• The chief clerk will report the amendment.
• The chief clerk will report the desk. The chief clerk will report the amendment.
• The chief clerk will report the desk. The chief clerk will report the<00:37:44.800> amendment.
• We are seeing reports like this raid. We are seeing reports like this every<00:43:05.680> day.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package, and first adopted an amendment to insert House language into the Senate file. Members then heard brief explanations of several included provisions, including a section from House File 3870 that would make Office of Justice Programs research and victim-related data private, clarify privacy for data collected by the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls office and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office, and remove outdated statutory language. Representative Novotny also described the package as combining a number of previously passed stand-alone bills and a few additional provisions. The chamber then adopted amendments A5, A7, and A8. A5 inserted House language and adjusted an effective date related to public employer discretion in hiring; A7 allowed the Office of Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprinting and federal tax information as required by federal rules; and A8 clarified language affecting jail medical services and custody-related safeguards after collaboration among Representative Witty, the sheriffs association, the Department of Corrections, and advocates. Representatives Hansen, Moller, and Witty all urged support for those changes. A proposed A3 amendment from Representative Duran, which would have kept the current age of delinquency rather than implementing the previously enacted change, drew extensive debate. Supporters argued counties, law enforcement, and other stakeholders were not ready for the change and lacked infrastructure, while opponents said the 2024 law was intended to address serious gaps in juvenile justice and child welfare and should take effect as planned. After a roll call, the House rejected A3 by a vote of 66 yeas to 67 nays. The transcript then indicates another Duran amendment, A2, was called up, but the excerpt ends before its disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• smartwatch policies respectfully report smartwatch policies respectfully report saying<00:02:58.160
• Committee of the whole report. Mr.
• Thursday, February 19th. committee of the whole report if you committee of the whole report if you would
• the whole report. the whole report. >> Thank<02:34:04.960> you.
• report has been adopted. report has been adopted.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request a favorable report on this bill.
• I respectfully request the committee report this bill out favorably. Thank you.
• I respectfully ask that H. 2093 and S. 1343 be favorably reported out of committee.
• Well, I'm unhappy to report that that's not the case.
• And again, I hope for a swift favorable report for age 2093 and S1343. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several labor-related bills, especially proposals to give legislative employees the right to organize and collectively bargain, close a prevailing wage loophole for off-site prefabrication work, and strengthen enforcement against wage theft. Committee chairs opened the hearing by explaining the hybrid format and asking witnesses to keep testimony brief. Multiple legislators testified in support of the legislative staff union bill, saying staff deserve the same bargaining rights as other public employees and that unionization would improve pay, benefits, retention, and workplace dignity. Witnesses also discussed how the bill would likely be structured, with separate House and Senate bargaining arrangements or locals, and emphasized that it would only create the option to unionize, not require it. A second major topic was the prevailing wage bill addressing off-site fabrication and prefabrication in construction. Union leaders, contractors, and workers described how more work is being shifted from job sites into shops, especially in sheet metal, HVAC, electrical, and pipefitting work, and argued that the law should treat that work the same as on-site construction when it is part of a public project. They said the current loophole lets some contractors underbid by paying lower wages off-site, while responsible contractors already pay prevailing wages in their shops. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers, preserve apprenticeship and training standards, improve safety and quality, and make enforcement easier through certified payroll and clearer definitions. The committee also heard testimony on wage theft legislation. Representative Dan Donahue, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, AFL-CIO representatives, and carpenters’ union witnesses described wage theft, misclassification, labor brokers, and tax fraud as widespread problems that hurt workers, honest contractors, and public revenues. They supported giving the Attorney General stronger enforcement tools, adding contractor accountability up the subcontracting chain, and protecting workers from retaliation and from delays that can cause claims to expire. A separate witness supported a bill to extend the statute of limitations for Wage Act cases while AG investigations are pending, and another supported changes to help hospital workers enforce timely payment rights. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:40.559> favorably previously been reported favorably previously been reported favorably
• Clerk, if you would please report Senate Bill 52.
• Clerk, if you would please report >> Mr.
• Order of business will be report of committees. Mr. Clerk, please report.
• And for registration, uh security card.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal from Friday, February 20, 2026. The chamber also announced caucus meetings during recess and received notice that the House had passed House Bills 111, 527, and 555. New Senate bills were introduced, including SB 220 on small farm wineries, SB 221 on abuse of a corpse, and SB 222 on environmental covenants and an emergency declaration. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 52, which concerns fair permitting and licensing practices. The sponsor described the bill as a response to delays and subjectivity in agency permitting, saying it would require clear standards, set deadlines, and provide meaningful appeals without eliminating existing requirements. Opponents argued that a fixed deadline could be too short for complex environmental and public-safety reviews and could pressure agencies with limited staffing; one senator also warned it could benefit large businesses at the expense of workers and communities. Supporters countered that the bill would improve accountability and help businesses, child care providers, and other applicants get timely decisions. After floor amendments were withdrawn, SB 52 passed as amended by a vote of 30 yeas to 5 nays. Before that vote, the Senate also returned SB 50 from the Appropriations and Revenue Committee to the Rules Committee under suspension of the rules. After SB 52, the chamber took up Senate Bill 124, relating to sick leave for school district personnel, and heard the sponsor’s explanation that it was intended to address classroom absences in a cost-effective way that would benefit students and taxpayers. The transcript cuts off during the discussion of SB 124, before any final vote on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I'd move to give the bill a favorable report for my colleague from Jefferson.
• I'd move for favorable report as amended. >> Okay. I'd like to call on U.
• <00:20:51.840> as time to give the bill a fair report as time to give the bill a fair report
• Uh, and with that said, I would like to ask for a favorable report." "Okay. Any other questions?"
• favorable report. favorable report.

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender

Transcript Highlights:

• support through local soil and water conservation districts and improves transparency through enhanced reporting
• According to the latest Texas A&M land trends report, there are now 7 million acres in wildlife tax valuation
• to migrate to a new vendor, it typically faces steep conversion costs, with one county recently reporting

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Reed's understanding is that a report Reed's understanding is that a report was<00:21:12.720> supposed
• <00:42:15.280> the for a property owner to report the for a property owner to report the election
• But the goals would also infrastructure.
• ,<04:19:18.800> developable based upon infrastructure, developable based upon infrastructure
• Thank you. >> The last pink card I have is Tom Blonsky. >> Okay.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Easier to find in an email than a card.
• We didn't have any health councils who reported budgets for 250 to 500,000.
• And then we had two health councils who reported $500,000 to $1 million.
• Five health councils reported they received growth funding, and one reported county funding.
• And maybe you can share the card with Xander; I have it. the card to do a little advertising if you can

Transcript Highlights:

• educational infrastructure.
• Without objection, show the report adopted.
• Without objection, show the report adopted on the bill as amended by the conference committee report.
• That objection, show the report adopted. On the bill is amended by the conference committee report.
• That objection, show the report adopted. On the bill is amended by the conference committee report.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• California has the talent, the infrastructure, and the history. Now we need the commitment.
• And much of what the remarks will be mean that we're just given are in this LAO report.
• So when I looked at it, it seemed like a pretty sound report to me.
• The other two reports that were in, I looked at those reports from Georgia and New York, and they were
• So the LAEDC report has been, of course, a topic of conversation here.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And obviously there's still a lot we need to do to make certain that the infrastructure is in place to
• I'll give you a card. 1838. Witness has to leave, so we could start with her.
• I believe that the The statute was laid out last time, but it was just the wrong one was reported. 514
• Senator Johnson moves that the Senate 1536 as substituted be reported favorably to the full Senate with
• Yes, I there being three ayes and no nays the bill be reported favorably a senator Johnson moves that

Bills: SB387, SB1650, SB1838, SB1839, SB1923, SB1940, SB2052

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill would require sexual assault response teams to provide data in their biannual reporting of the
• Senate Bill 7 seeks to implement water supply and infrastructure framework.
• It's changing it to look more like a state highway. conversation, it's making a state infrastructure
• I think the estimate of Harris County's infrastructure is almost a billion dollars.
• It does add the flood funding infrastructure fund over under the umbrella water fund.

Bills: SJR 12, SCR 39, SB 7, SB 8, SB 27, SB 29, SB 125, SB 241, SB 371, SB 396, SB 406, SB 464, SB 568, SB 578, SB 608, SB 617, SB 660, SB 689, SB 693, SB 707, SB 731, SB 732, SB 763, SB 779, SB 836, SB 854, SB 857, SB 875, SB 878, SB 879, SB 906, SB 920, SB 921, SB 922, SB 942, SB 965, SB 985, SB 996, SB 1029, SB 1035, SB 1036, SB 1059, SB 1084, SB 1098, SB 1101, SB 1185, SB 1188, SB 1321, SB 1332, SB 1366, SB 1388, SB 1396, SB 1453, SB 1484, SB 1494, SB 1536, SB 1563, SB 1596, SB 1610, SB 1619, SB 1737, SB 1738, SB 1741, SB 1816, SB 1822, SB 1841, SB 1939, SB 2155, SB 2188, SB 2230

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Summary: In this meeting, significant discussions revolved around the passage and modification of various Senate Bills, including SB1388, which pertains to family support services under the Health and Human Services Commission. Senator Kolkhorst advocated for the bill, emphasizing its focus on pro-life, family-centered care. The committee passed the bill after thorough examination, showcasing a collaborative effort among the members to ensure its alignment with successful past initiatives. In another session, Senator Hughes presented SB942, aimed at retroactive child support linked to prenatal care, which sparked a constructive dialogue reflecting bipartisan support for maternal and child welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of standing committees and divisions.
• If there is no objection, the reports will be adopted.
• Hearing no objection, the reports are adopted.
• The Clerk will report the amendment. The amendment is coded A-25.
• The clerk will report on the first portion of the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the DNR outdoor recreation endorsement report and MPCA on annual permitting efficiency report
• that are in the report. that are in the report.
• should be in the next annual report. should be in the next annual report.
• efficiency report as well. efficiency report as well.
• Going to do another report.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all