Transcript Highlights:

• THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON AN POLICIES.
• THE HURRICANE LOSS MITIGATION PROGRAM IS A STATE PROGRAM.
• THE MY SAFE FLORIDA'S PROGRAM IS A MITIGATION PROGRAM TO HARDEN HOMES AGAINST FUTURE DAMAGE.
• THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY GRANT PROGRAMS USING OUR FORTIFIED PROGRAM IN ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA
• TECHNICALLY IT IS A THREE YEAR PROGRAM BUT WE ASK FOR EXTENSIONS FOR A THREE TO FIVE YEAR PROGRAM TO

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of educational opportunity.
• As far as what constitutes an adequate education, we do have the working definition of educational adequacy
• As far as its public education students or public school students, As far as its public education students
• Music and art education, excuse me.
• The adequacy definition was updated by the Joint Education Committee, or Joint Committee on Educational

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy requirements. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act through the 2003 Quality Education Act and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required coursework, standards for accreditation, career and technical education, graduation requirements, and recent additions such as computer science, personal finance, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a chart comparing the major laws and repeals over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to federal ESSA requirements and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and reported 2025 ATLAS proficiency results, which remained below the 80% goal across student groups. They also reviewed English learner progress, graduation rates, school support and improvement, and equitable access to educators. Data showed gaps by subgroup and by school poverty/minority concentration, with Title I and high-poverty schools more likely to have emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff. Members questioned the lack of recent data for some ESSA measures, including equity labs and school index calculations, and asked staff to follow up with the Department of Education. The committee also discussed NAEP results, ACT scores, and teacher quality measures under the state accountability act. Arkansas’s NAEP performance remained below national averages in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, and ACT composite scores and benchmark attainment were also reviewed. Members asked for additional information on historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. No formal votes were taken; the main action was agreement to request additional information from DESE and to schedule department follow-up at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• misleadingly suggest a broader application than it actually has, as it... applies only to residency programs
• We kind of triaged till we got the infrastructure built out.
• MS in the screening program. Thank you. Questions. Thank you so much for being here.
• This bill will require private health plans to create right-to-shop program for enrollees.
• We ended up creating a program through ERS that really diverged from the Model Act.

Bills: SB437, SB528, SB626, SB636, SB884, SB968, SB1044, SB1608, SB2336

Keywords: healthcare, training, abuse, neglect, penalties, chemical dependency, safety, regulation, inpatient competency restoration, competency restoration, forensic mental health, mental health law, criminal competency, incompetent to stand trial, Chapter 46B, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospital, behavioral health, local mental health authority

Transcript Highlights:

• several different types of programs, including: Entertainment, recreation, educational, and religious
• We are very aggressive at youth outreach programs.
• at the sheriff's program.
• that you read in here, and there are some great-sounding programs—after-school programs—so kids on the
• After-school programs? Absolutely!

Transcript Highlights:

• Until that point, school-based Pre-K programs were administered by the Public Education Department and
• with funding and program costs.
• at the Public Education Department.
• This program not only literally feeds our children, but it will also increase educational outcomes for
• The other program that we brought up kind of simultaneously is our Assertive Community Treatment Program

Transcript Highlights:

• These landmark projects will bring much-needed tax revenue to help fund local schools, infrastructure
• So workforce, wages, safety, training, public safety, infrastructure, all of that.
• Because, you know, you're always talking about education. So there's more that we can do.
• programs where a large data center could subscribe to renewable energy resources at a premium.
• programs where a large Data Center. that we have are essentially subscription programs where a large

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a great program.
• It's a great program.
• It's an intermediary pilot, I would say, program, or a program that we're really starting to enforce
• Well, the whole idea, as regarding even the name of the program, is a recruitment program.
• If there's a concurrent educational campaign, it's really hard to know whether it's the educational campaign

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Early Childhood Education and Care Department.
• a classic example of early education.
• Specific to bureau or program.
• programs.
• program.

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• health providers and educators.
• We have outstanding programs.
• And I'd like to add, we have a program, we call it the Rural Nursing Education. collaborative, ARNEC,
• We deliver these education. programs to Texas youth and adults through three to 250 offices serving them
• We mobilize volunteers and education programs. to transform lives, to prepare the next generation for

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have outstanding programs.
• We provide an outstanding return on investment by producing educated, involved citizens through programs
• We deliver these educational programs to Texas youth and adults through 3 250 offices serving all 254
• We mobilize volunteers and education programs to perform, to transform lives, to prepare the next generation
• Additionally, a modest investment in the rural Veterinarian incentive program, a loan repayment program

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• , Specialty Education and Trauma and Specialty Education, and Pediatrics.
• Every state has a Medicaid program. It's an entitlement program under federal law.
• programming.
• Many of those partners include... ...implement youth education and prevention programs across the state

Transcript Highlights:

• Summer feeding programs and that we get a little confused on the summer feeding programs.
• We have a seed program.
• Uh, when that program, and it's been many years since we had that program, but we actually saw springs
• Uh, my program, the Farm Fresh program, is strictly a, a volunteer program, uh, but we have about, you
• , a young farmer grant program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oklahoma.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.

Summary: The committee held an interim study on airport security vendors, prompted by Representative Hayes’s earlier House Bill 1271, which would have restricted Oklahoma airports from contracting with third-party identity verification companies such as Clear. Hayes explained the bill stemmed from concerns raised after a December 2022 TSA letter and broader questions about whether these vendors create security risks or bypass TSA screening. The committee heard first from Clear, then Idemia, and then Tulsa International Airport, with members focusing on how identity verification works, whether it differs from TSA screening, and whether the state should regulate these services. Clear’s representative said the company provides an opt-in biometric identity verification service at airports, not physical screening, and that every passenger still goes through TSA screening. He said Clear operates in about 60 airports in roughly 40 states, has about 40,000 members in Oklahoma, and has paid more than $1.1 million to Oklahoma airports since launching in the state. Members questioned how Clear verifies IDs, whether Real ID is required, whether the company can manually override biometric checks, whether it shares data, and whether it has had security issues. Clear said it uses source corroboration with state DMV systems, does not sell data, has no manual override, and has worked with TSA on security upgrades after earlier concerns. Idemia’s representative described the company’s broader biometrics work for Oklahoma and the federal government, including fingerprint systems for the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, civilian background-check enrollment, TSA checkpoint credential authentication technology, and TSA PreCheck enrollment. She said Idemia’s role stops at identity verification and that TSA retains responsibility for screening and for decisions about who enters trusted traveler programs. Tulsa International’s COO said Clear does not replace TSA, that TSA retains exclusive authority over screening, and that the airport leases space to Clear and receives revenue from the arrangement. No vote was taken, and the meeting ended after questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our program would still be in violation of a Schedule III program.
• cannabis program, it would it<00:35:19.839> our<00:35:20.240> program<00:35:20.560>
• if we created our own hemp program if we created our own hemp program >> that<00:38:58.880
• Colorado, California, and Oklahoma grow Colorado, California, and Oklahoma grow the<01:19:18.400>
• prevention, education, and treatment. prevention, education, and treatment.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 888, which would bar operators of smart household security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement unless the user consents or police obtain a warrant. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection offered comments and Judiciary submitted written support. Several individuals also submitted written support. The committee recommended passage with amendments clarifying that the Office of Consumer Protection may enforce violations and adopting Judiciary’s recommended changes, while also deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The motion passed unanimously among members present, with one senator excused. The committee then took up SB 2777 on insurance disclosures. The bill would require authorized insurers to disclose claim-handling data to consumers, including claims open at the start of a period, closed with payment, closed without payment, and open at the end of the period. The committee described amendments to clarify the bill, remove a requirement for the DCCA insurance division to handle publication, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. The measure was passed with amendments and the recommendation was adopted, with one member voting no and another excused. In a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Judiciary hearing on SP2738 relating to tax haven abuse, the Department of Taxation offered comments and the Tax Foundation testified in opposition, arguing the state should rely on IRS audits and existing worldwide reporting rules rather than create a separate state approach. Other written testimony was noted in both support and opposition. The committees recommended passage with amendments adopting Taxation’s technical changes and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050; the recommendation was adopted, with one senator noting reservations. The joint hearing then moved to health-related bills, including SB 2690 on primary care spending, SB 3103 on energy assistance, SB 3137 on Department of Health authority over food, drugs, and cosmetics, SB 3164 on child welfare service organizations, and SB 3206 on cannabinoids. SB 2690 drew strong support from physicians and advocates who said it would address primary care shortages, especially on neighbor islands, while HMSA and others warned a fixed spending percentage could raise costs and suggested a working group. SB 3164 drew support from child welfare providers and opposition from the Attorney General over indemnification language, and SB 3206 drew mixed testimony: state agencies raised federal-law and vagueness concerns, while hemp and cannabis advocates and some farmers supported the measure and urged broader legalization or amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• does not include streets, water, or sewer infrastructure.
• It does not seek to modify the existing program in any way.
• House Bill 4659 adds the town of Addison to the qualified hotel project program.
• He said Tyler became the 11th city authorized under the program.
• One would allow the City of Marble Falls to participate in that program.

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, most of them expanding or adjusting hotel occupancy tax or qualified hotel project authority for specific local governments. Measures discussed included HB 2404 for Childress County; HB 3066 for Allen’s Kalahari resort project; HB 4682 for Plano; HB 4683 for Anna; HB 3076 creating a project finance zone in Frisco; HB 3567 for Wichita County; HB 3715 for McAllen; HB 1039 for Alpine; HB 3182 for Burleson; HB 4926 for Grimes County; HB 4222 for Victoria County; HB 3377 for Katy; HB 4659 for Addison; HB 3241 for Georgetown; HB 4098 for Taylor; HB 3178 for Kerr County; HB 3179 for Mason County; HB 2289 for New Braunfels; HB 4412 for Kermit; HB 5165 for Monahans; HB 3500 for Bastrop; and HB 3169 for Carrollton. In each case, authors and local officials described tourism, convention, hotel, airport, or mixed-use development needs and argued the bills would help attract visitors, investment, and jobs. One non-hotel-tax bill, HB 4226, would exempt Texas food banks from sales tax on vehicle purchases and rentals, with testimony emphasizing the scale of food bank operations and the savings’ impact on meal delivery and disaster response. Testimony was generally supportive from city officials, economic development representatives, and industry groups such as the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Several witnesses described major private projects, including Kalahari in Allen, a proposed hotel and conference center in Addison, a mixed-use project in Georgetown, and a large development tied to Samsung growth in Taylor. For HB 4226, food bank representatives said the bill would help them purchase refrigerated trucks and other delivery vehicles, while an opponent questioned the fiscal note and the scope of the exemption. HB 4926 drew opposition from Camp Allen, whose representative argued a new county hotel tax would raise costs for guests and could hurt the retreat center’s operations. HB 3178 also drew an objection from a Kerr County resident who argued the tax would grow county government and pointed to event center losses, though the author said the revenue would support tourism-related county uses. The committee took no final votes on the bills in this transcript. After each bill was laid out and testimony concluded, the chair repeatedly asked whether there was objection to leaving the bill pending; in each instance, no objection was heard, and the bills were left pending. Several committee substitutes were offered and then withdrawn or noted as conforming drafts, but no bill was reported out or otherwise acted on beyond being left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:40:21.359> um, Kentucky, our Floyd County program, um, Kentucky, our Floyd County program
• Um, have a big heart for the program.
• <00:48:28.240> um<00:48:29.119> they for these programs. um they for these programs
• , thank you judge from Oklahoma, thank you judge from Oklahoma, from<00:52:47.920> Kentucky,
• Thanks for being here this Oklahoma.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview of Kentucky’s specialty courts from Audrey Collins of the Department of Specialty Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts, along with testimony from Christian County District Judge Foster Cutoff. Collins described the mission and structure of drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, emphasizing therapeutic jurisprudence, individualized treatment, judicial oversight, and multidisciplinary teams. She said Kentucky currently has about 2,991 active participants across the three court types, with drug courts in all 120 counties, mental health courts in 17 counties, and veterans treatment courts in eight counties. She also highlighted reported outcomes such as 7,658 entrants and 4,384 successful completions from 2020 to 2024, a five-year average completion rate of 57%, and lower recidivism among graduates than the statewide average. Collins also reviewed funding and costs, saying the department’s fiscal year 2025 budget was $18.6 million, with most of it from general funds, plus restricted and federal funds. She noted spending on personnel, treatment services, and drug testing, and said specialty courts allow participants to remain employed and meet obligations such as child support and restitution. She said participants paid more than $5.4 million in child support, restitution, and other court-related obligations over five years, and that a statewide evaluation by Morehead State University is underway. In response to questions, she said a dip in 2024 collections may have been affected by a case management system overhaul, and that court costs can be waived in some indigent cases while restitution is still required. Judge Cutoff described veterans treatment court and mental health court in Christian County, saying the programs are especially important because of the nearby Fort Campbell military community and because they help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, and related issues. He said the courts rely heavily on staff, treatment providers, and the VA, which helps connect participants to benefits and therapy. He also said mental health court participants receive housing, benefits, and medication support, and that the programs can keep people out of jail and help them stabilize. Committee members asked about the legal basis and history of the courts, and Collins explained that Kentucky’s specialty courts began as pilot programs in the mid-1990s, shifted from federal support to state funding around 2008-2009, and are now largely state funded. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• to do when these programs were created. to do when these programs were created.
• Some of the programs that were exploding in growth—housing programs, autism—that didn't raise any alarms
• , in these programs, in these programs, >> we<00:13:37.200> can<00:13:37.360> we<
• So thank you all." people insured, education levels near people insured, education levels near the<00
• cutting the programs that really matter. cutting the programs that really matter.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting centered on Minnesota’s budget outlook, with the governor and budget officials saying the state remains in a stronger fiscal position than expected despite national economic uncertainty. He emphasized that Minnesota has a surplus, historic rainy-day funds, and continued economic growth, and said the administration plans to continue budgeting over the horizon, using inflation assumptions and long-term planning to avoid abrupt cuts. He also defended last year’s budget compromises and said another budget proposal would be released early next year. A major theme was the governor’s criticism of President Trump and federal actions, which he said were creating economic chaos and harming Minnesotans. He condemned Trump’s comments about Somali Minnesotans and the state, called them racist and dangerous, and argued that elected officials should denounce such rhetoric. He also raised concerns about federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, saying masked agents were causing fear and confusion and that state and local law enforcement lacked communication from federal authorities. The governor and commissioners also discussed fraud in state programs, saying the state has paused certain programs for 90 days and brought in independent forensic auditors to determine the scope of losses. He said the administration is using new stop-payment authority and referrals to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to prevent and prosecute fraud, while avoiding broad cuts to programs that help children, families, and vulnerable Minnesotans. In response to questions, he said the fraud total is not yet known, the audit should conclude around the end of January, and the state will use the findings to add safeguards and address program growth and health care cost pressures in the upcoming session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to the trustee programs, one of my favorites is the music incubator program.
• And it gets a little frustrating sometimes because you work through this program, what we call programming
• So that happened early in the program.
• our child care programs.
• Also, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Windham School District is also given a greater role in administering post-secondary education programs
• And so that is what we're speaking to in this area: rehabilitation programming, meaning the programs
• So TDCJ provides programming, the school district provides programming, and some of the programming is
• program.
• However, in 2011, administration of higher education shifted to TDCJ's Rehabilitation and Programs Division

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• We would have to work with the courts. and educate on why those records are automatically in the portal
• Supervision programs in the state.
• Concerningly, criminals often look to Texas's critical infrastructure, like telecommunication cables,
• Additionally, we conduct training and education programs for officers to help them track metal theft.
• I guess we need to educate those involved that fiber optic does not contain any copper.

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense