Transcript Highlights:

• The next one is in Carthage, Texas, and the other one is over near Timpson, Texas.
• What are building codes?
• in East Texas.
• I assume you were talking about Texas in general, not East Texas.
• Looking on the diagram, it looked like in South Texas and West Texas is water eye.

Summary: The committee met on May 26, 2026, and first approved the minutes from the May 22, 2025 meeting. The main topic was the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with testimony from Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy staff, LSU and Tulane geoscientists, and later LSU law professor Keith Hall. Witnesses said the cause of the swarm has not been definitively identified, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection or hydraulic fracturing remains a concern. They described 50 earthquakes reported by the USGS in Red River, Bienville, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Parishes, including a magnitude 4.9 event on March 5, 2026, and explained that Louisiana’s sparse seismic network limits detection and depth/location estimates. C&E said it inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the events, found no violations, now requires more frequent injection reporting, and is working with researchers and LSU on a possible state monitoring network and future policy changes. Committee members asked about injection depths, fault locations, whether the activity could be natural, and whether Louisiana should adopt stronger monitoring or a traffic-light regulatory system like other states. The witnesses said more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, but that denser monitoring can detect smaller quakes and help identify patterns. Professor Hall summarized responses in other states, including more frequent reporting, increased monitoring, injection reductions, moratoria, and traffic-light systems in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. Members also discussed whether operators should share more seismic and geologic data, and several said the state should avoid jumping to conclusions while still improving oversight. The committee then heard from William Berger, a Texas geoscientist, who described using AI and operator data to model wastewater injection and seismic risk, and said broader data sharing would improve forecasting and siting decisions. He and another witness emphasized that many earthquakes arise from clusters of wells rather than a single well, and that proprietary concerns limit voluntary disclosure. The committee also received a brief update from GOSEP and the Louisiana National Guard on the Barksdale Air Force Base drone incursions. GOSEP said it logged the incident in WebEOC and shared releasable information, while State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose. Officers said a task force has been formed, some personnel have received federal drone-mitigation training, and House Bill 940 is intended to mirror the task force MOU. Finally, Major General Thomas Friloux and Brigadier General Jason Maffus updated the committee on the merger of GOSEP into the Louisiana Military Department. They said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, brought back employees to in-person work, modernized the state’s common operating picture, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance through staffing and contract changes. They also noted the planned transfer of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, ongoing hurricane preparedness, and continued coordination with parish emergency managers. No votes were taken on the substantive topics, and the meeting ended with the committee moving through its agenda items and receiving informational testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Government Code Section 103.024, Senate Resolution 5.
• Texas legislature, the Texas Senate specifically, has dealt with the call that once the subject matter
• government code, section 103.
• , or organizations that had a presence in Texas, and so Texas had. the authority to compel the leadership
• But they have offices in a number of locations, including Texas.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, in, in 2016, uh, Texas created new educational opportunities for the next generation of Texans by
• And lastly, the program partners with the Texas Institutions of Higher Education.
• Uh, so this bill aims to fix this oversight by amending the Texas Education Code to add the completion
• Since the pandemic, we've seen a rapid expansion in 4-day school weeks across Texas.
• I'm Steven Aemon from Disability Rights Texas here to support the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• She has worked on HUD regulations, fair housing requirements, city code enforcement, and she is passionate
• to the request of the Senate and grant consent to the Senate to adjourn after it has completed its labors
• The Senate is to adjourn after it has completed its labors today, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, until Monday
• Title 41, Chapter 23 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 41-23-4125, relating to the Procurement Code
• And actually, President Trump just decreed that we are opening a refinery in Texas, and I just think

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions and proclamations, including recognition of Dr. Eric Osowski as Doctor of the Day, Donate Life Day participants, State Farm Day guests, and proclamations honoring Ganado Unified School District and Chinle Unified School District for academic and cultural achievements. The chamber also handled routine business such as committee assignments, Senate messages, and motions to adjourn and to refer bills to additional Committee of the Whole consideration. The main floor action centered on several bills and a concurrent resolution. HB 2093 was amended to restore mental health instruction while removing social-emotional learning, and HB 2229 was amended after debate over abortion-related language and public funding restrictions; both received do-pass recommendations. HB 2429, HB 2950, and HB 4136 also received do-pass recommendations after floor amendments, with HB 2950 amended to make tourism improvement areas voluntary and add notice requirements. HB 4001 advanced after extensive debate over regulating alternative nicotine products, with supporters arguing it would help curb youth vaping and opponents urging taxation and stronger public-health provisions. HB 4030 and HCR 2052, both focused on limiting municipal tax and fee increases tied to affordability, inflation, and utility costs, were heavily amended and advanced after debate over local control, data centers, water costs, and the scope of the amendments. The House also took up procedural challenges, including a failed appeal of the chair’s ruling that a health-care claims amendment to HCR 2052 was out of order under the single-subject rule. On final adoption of the Committee of the Whole report, the House ordered HB 4001 and HB 4030 and HCR 2052, as amended, to engrossing and signing. In third reading, HB 2170 passed 36-16, HB 2380 passed 31-21, HB 2389 passed 31-21, HB 2784 passed 31-21, and HB 2902 passed 31-21, while HB 2388 failed 23-29. The transcript ends as the House was moving on to HB 294.

Transcript Highlights:

• John Lipschutz with the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
• Patient care: two members shall represent labor organizations. Okay, so you've got your unions.
• I want to know, here's where it says a new section of health care codes enacted.
• options for patients and families, if they can afford it, are to drive either to Colorado, Arizona, or Texas
• Just to add on that, Madam Chair, that's why it's solely in the DWI section code.

Transcript Highlights:

• responsibility to ensure the tax code responsibility to ensure the tax code works<03:27:58.560><
• emergencies act 50 United States code emergencies act 50 United States code 1622<06:53:19.040>
• well I thank the gentleman from Texas well I thank the gentleman from Texas I'm<08:18:30.238>
• I yielded the gentleman from Texas.
• change to my good friends from Texas change to my good friends from Texas transformational<08:26

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code Section 103.024, Senate Resolution 5, Senate Rule 11.20, issue one or more subpoenas to compel
• Texas has never been afraid to set legal precedents. The DOJ has threatened this state directly.
• But um, but we do know that this came first, but Historically, the way the Texas legislature, the Texas
• Code Section 103.024, Senate Resolution 5, and Senate Rule 11.20.
• Or organizations that had a presence in Texas and so Texas had the authority to compel the leadership

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, Machinery Technician Second Class Nathan Anthony, hailing from Bossier City, Texas.
• Then also from Texas, Friendswood, Texas, Electrician's Mate Second Class Nicholas Smith volunteered
• He worked long hours for... hailing from Bo Belde, Texas. Mahalo for hailing from Bo Belde, Texas.
• Fre<00:30:26.720> Friendswood, Then also from Texas, Fre Friendswood, Then also from Texas
• > secondclass Texas, electrician mate, secondclass Texas, electrician mate, secondclass Nicholas<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code to really figure out exactly how that state conforms.
• So it references the Internal Revenue Code Section 62.
• Business-wise, I'm thinking, how are you competing against Texas?
• These contractors are moving to Texas and Arizona.
• We need to get away from dollars and cents in the tax code.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, I mean, we're having the discussion in the other committee of using CIP codes.
• Do they use the ZIP codes to do it?
• BARE, and this is in Century Code.
• So as per Century Code, we are administered by NDSU. And what does that mean?
• That's ourselves, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas A&M.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• At least one of the providers I know of that operates in Texas, you pay about just under $300 for an
• In Texas, there's one I'm thinking of; it's got about a 75% five-year retention.
• Texas uses these; they've got 48 that I know that I'm told alternate providers. 54% of the new teachers
• in Texas are through the alternative path.
• But I know they've been up and running in Texas for over 20 years and producing tens of thousands of

Bills: HB2987, HB3026, HB3076, HB3288, HB3315, HB3467, HB3711, HB3885, HB4427, HB4359, HB4363

Keywords: kindergarten, military families, education policy, school districts, international military dependents, age eligibility, teacher certification, alternative teacher preparation, education reform, employment opportunities, teacher recruitment, physical education, elementary school, prekindergarten, recess, health and fitness, higher education, bachelor's degree, feasibility study, Oklahoma State Regents

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm all over Louisiana and Texas. Texas has programs that allow discounts up to a dollar a gallon.
• Another code that typically gets put in that same boat is the National Electrical Code.
• The other thing the International Code Council has just done in relation to the energy code, because
• a... ...code to see if they could basically create a streamlined version of that code.
• And the only reason why that's in the plumbing code is because it's in the state sanitary code.

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Gates, for your leadership in tackling this labor shortage issue for this industry
• I'm curious what the history of the labor shortage is with folks that are doing mapping and surveying
• Has this labor shortage been one that has been many years in the making in Florida?
• Has this labor shortage been one that has been many years in the making in Florida?
• How do they factor in as being part of the solution to the labor shortage? Senator Smith, is that?

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism convened with several members present and Senators DiCeglie and McClain excused. The committee first heard a presentation from Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, who described the network’s statewide small-business assistance, including startup support, export and contracting help, disaster recovery, and rural outreach. He highlighted reported 2023 impacts such as $3.9 billion in sales generated, $575.9 million in government contracts, $346.2 million in capital, and support for 2,009 new businesses, including 130 manufacturing firms over the past two years. Members asked about comparisons with SCORE and about measuring rural success, with the chair suggesting jobs and wages in rural areas would be useful metrics; Britton said he could provide job data but was unsure about wage information. The committee then took up SB 320 by Senator Gates, which creates a five-year demonstration project for an alternative licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers. The bill would allow a “first-step” probationary license based on industry certification, apprenticeship, recommendation from a licensed Florida surveyor, and passage of the Department of Agriculture exam within the five-year period, without requiring a four-year degree. Senators asked about the labor shortage, education requirements, foreign workers, and moral character standards. Gates said the shortage is chronic and worsening, the bill has no degree requirement, and anyone meeting the qualifications could proceed regardless of visa status. The committee voted to report SB 320 favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 316 by Senator Berman, which authorizes series limited liability companies in Florida and sets rules for how Florida and foreign series LLCs may operate and transact business in the state. Berman explained that the bill is intended to let businesses isolate liabilities across separate series while providing clearer rules for Florida citizens and businesses dealing with such entities. There were no substantive questions, one appearance form in support, and the committee voted to report SB 316 favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas.
• of elder abuse in Texas, up from 60,000 cases reported in 2022.
• Get the Texas Rangers to investigate the probate mafia.
• I'm about to get the Texas DPS to come remove you from the committee room. You're excused.
• So the time periods are short either under the property code or under the terms of the lease.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires us to update our land use and zoning code.
• Is this still going to allow, even though the code may not?
• It also failed to address the labor shortage.
• It also failed to address the labor shortage.
• So this bill does not labor shortage.

Bills: HF3902, HF3895

Keywords: housing tax credit, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, qualified projects, taxpayer contributions, greater Minnesota, zoning, housing, local government, multifamily development, affordable housing, land use, urban development, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST NETWORKS AND LARGEST CONTINUOUS NETWORK AND FUNDING COMES DOWN BY POPULATION TEXAS
• I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE HISTORY OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS WITH FOLKS THAT ARE DOING MAPPING AND SURVEYING
• HAS A LABOR SHORTAGE BEEN ONE THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS OF THE MAKING IN FLORIDA?
• SO, I AM CURIOUS HOW MUCH DOES THIS INDUSTRY RELYING ON FOREIGN LABOR PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE WORK
• HOW DO THEY FACTOR IN AS BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR THE LABOR SHORTAGE?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This child labor law... Thank you. ...system.
• By creating this loophole for child labor, we risk exacerbating those problems and undermining the labor
• I'm looking across our country here at labor regulations from Massachusetts, where I grew up, labor regulations
• from California, from Texas.
• Members, this bill is a bill, I think, has been a labor of love.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Children's was like number two in the country for neurology for kids.
• Did y'all see a neurologist when you went to Texas Children's?
• That NAIC model is still contained in the Louisiana Administrative Code.
• That NAIC model is still contained in Louisiana Administrative Code.
• Aggregated, such as zip code or county.

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and first deferred HB 1142. The committee then heard HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is paid, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens debt. Representative Sawyer and Commissioner Tim Temple said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million in one-time surplus funds and would help expand a popular roof-mitigation program that has already awarded more than 4,600 fortified roofs. The bill drew support from several witnesses and was reported as amended without objection. Next, HB 1210, dealing with insurance claim disputes and a pre-suit review process for Louisiana Citizens claims, was discussed. Representative Dana Henry said he was voluntarily deferring the bill and instead pursuing a study resolution after hearing concerns from members and stakeholders. Department and Citizens officials said the proposal was modeled on Florida’s process and could help resolve disputes faster and cheaper, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony and some opposition cards were noted. The committee then took up HB 1199, which requires coverage for genetic testing and treatment related to SCN2A-associated disorders. Representative Jordan and the Diedon family gave emotional testimony about their daughter Emily’s diagnosis and the importance of timely genetic testing. The bill was amended to require that testing be ordered by a provider and deemed medically necessary by the health plan, with discussion about whether a neurologist should be involved; members said that issue could be refined later. HB 1199 was reported as amended. Finally, the committee considered HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. After a lengthy discussion about state insurance regulation, McCarran-Ferguson, and concerns that the bill could jeopardize federal broadband funding, Representative Jordan voluntarily deferred HB 880, and HB 920 was also deferred. The committee then heard HB 1221, which would limit the policy data collected for the Louisiana Fortified Program Fund. Former Representative Bowler argued the bill was needed to protect policyholder privacy, while the Department of Insurance and Commissioner Temple said the data is needed for surplus-lines premium tax audits, fraud detection, and consumer assistance after disasters. The discussion continued with questions about what data would be visible and how it would be used, but the transcript ends before a final action on HB 1221 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few minutes later, we heard the page over the loud intercom: code blue.
• Summerless is already here on behalf of the California Federation of Labor Unions.
• This is really an economic issue as Labor Chair.
• This is really an economic as Labor Chair, in this space of equity and opportunity.
• This is really an economic as Labor Chair.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously. The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the office hosts the State of Texas employees from the Texas Department of Transportation
• From chapter 419 of the Texas government code, it also falls under the rules of Title 37, Part 13 of
• the Texas Administrative code.
• to communities across Texas.
• I am the mayor of Vita, Texas.