Transcript Highlights:

• So these businesses pay into the program in order to pool resources that are then invested into very
• So these businesses pay into the program in order to pool resources that are then invested into very

Summary: The Senate took up a proposed consent calendar package and advanced it to the consent calendar by voice vote, with remarks noting the measures had broad agreement, no con testimony, and support from chairs and ranking members. Members also briefly noted that many of the items in the package were minority-party bills. The chamber then advanced a long series of bills from the white sheet to the floor or second reading calendar, generally without opposition. Topics included HIV antiviral drug coverage without prior authorization (SB 6183), limits on carrier refund requests to providers (SB 6071), extending limits on replacing jobs with fully automated equipment (SB 5995), medically tailored meals under Apple Health (SB 5966), earned wage access services (SB 5328), financial aid outreach for high school seniors (SB 5841), campaign finance reporting timing (SB 5840), a tourism promotion program (SB 6061), wage enforcement flexibility for Labor and Industries (SB 6058), workforce development changes (SB 5931), collective bargaining for language access providers (SB 5944), compensation petitions for wrongfully convicted persons (SB 5520), court safety background checks for judges and staff (SB 6011), liability protections for donated baby items (SB 6087), clean energy procurement for consumer-owned utilities (SB 6076), non-opioid pain treatment coverage (SB 5916), technical land-use changes involving aquifer recharge areas (SB 6016), human trafficking remedies and business liability (SB 5936), collegiate sports wagering limits in tribal casinos (SB 6137), pathways to medical licensure for overseas graduates (SB 5185), AI and surveillance limits in K-12 discipline and safety decisions (SB 5956), fetal death definition changes (SB 6025), permanent direct-appeal procedures for environmental and land-use cases (SB 6009), allowing unattended vehicles to idle briefly to protect pets (SB 5833), dementia education materials from the Department of Health (SB 6161), asbestos training rules (SB 6188), negligent driving changes tied to excessive speeding (SB 5890), abortion medication reimbursement changes in corrections settings (SB 5917), a Growth Management Act exemption repeal for one county (SB 5820), initiative and referendum process protections related to money in signature campaigns (SB 5973), a federal wildfire response memorial (SJM 8015), juice grapes under agricultural marketing rules (SB 5816), workers’ compensation rate transparency (SB 6136), and a real estate marketing transparency bill (SB 6091). Most motions passed by voice vote with little debate, though a few drew brief support or opposition. Senator Braun opposed the bill extending the prohibition on replacing jobs with fully automated equipment, and Senator Short opposed the bill on initiative and referendum financing and the bill removing a county-specific Growth Management Act exemption. The meeting ended after no further business was raised and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• scene of the supposed drowning and rushed to the backyard where the child was supposedly, there was no pool
• scene of the supposed drowning and rushed to the backyard where the child was supposedly, there was no pool

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee heard and approved three bills. HB 1165 by Rep. Owen would authorize FDOT to issue a special blanket permit for mobile cranes and accessory support vehicles meeting specified size limits, allowing them to travel on and off interstates at all hours, including at night, while still following safety requirements and local travel restrictions. The sponsor and crane industry proponents said the bill would reduce congestion and improve emergency and disaster response. The bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The committee also considered CS for HB 279 by Rep. Partington, which strengthens penalties for misuse of the 911 system. The bill adds restitution requirements for emergency response costs and creates enhanced felony penalties when a false emergency report causes great bodily harm or death. Members raised concerns about juvenile prank calls and suggested awareness efforts in schools; the sponsor said those ideas could be considered separately. A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office representative supported the bill, and it passed favorably by a unanimous vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 177 by Reps. Harris and Woodson, designating a portion of I-Drive as the Harris Rosenway in honor of philanthropist and hotelier Harris Rosen. An amendment was adopted to also designate a bridge in Duval County as the Bernard Wilkes Rebaugh River Bridge in honor of longtime coach Bernard Wilkes. Members spoke in support of both honorees and their community impact. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have family and group in a home, so those are our residential-based programs.
• Following the review of basic care, adult residential payment structures were reviewed.
• Adult residential uses prospective rates as well, but they don't file an annual cost report.
• We then discussed adult residential care and how the payment model is different.
• My question is, is this whole idea of adult residential care new?

Committee: Joint Human Services

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, establishing a process of licensure for New Mexico's residential treatment facilities to ensure
• Furthermore, a report by the LFC found that Medicaid spent more than $4 million in 2020 on residential
• In your presentation, you also talked about residential treatment centers.
• That would be great, because I'm just not aware that we have a whole lot of residential treatment for
• Making that available in residential treatment facilities is absolutely crucial.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunities for them, but also a peer-to-peer mentorship between our residentials.
• So one residential can mentor another residential that may be going through some of the same challenges
• </c><00:27:53.840><c> So</c><00:27:54.000><c> one</c> between our residential.
• So one between our residential.
• residential can mentor another residential can mentor another residential<00:27:56.640><c> that</c><00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Home Safety Services, Juvenile Services, Residential
• </c><00:05:06.479><c> Treatment</c> juvenile Services Residential Treatment juvenile Services Residential
• Similarly, with Residential Treatment Services, making referrals for treatment, referrals for placement
• Similarly, with Residential Treatment Services, making referrals for treatment, referrals for placement
• with residential um training it's<00:32:40.840><c> a</c><00:32:41.000><c> model</c><00:32:41.480><c>

Keywords: Meeting Concurrently w/ (H) Families & Children, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear the 2025 Social Services Block Grant preliminary plan from the Department for Community Based Services. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and Executive Adviser Mary Carpenter described DCBS’s mission and explained that the federal block grant, about $21 million annually, supports Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Home Safety Services, Juvenile Services, Residential Treatment Services, and staff training. They said most of the funding goes to staff and training, and that the department uses surveys, focus groups, program monitoring, funding availability, and historical data to set annual goals. They also noted that Kentucky uses the grant to fund direct services and that eligibility is generally limited to Kentucky residents or runaway juveniles based on need and available resources. Much of the discussion focused on child welfare data and the distinction between poverty and neglect. DCBS officials said Adult Protective Services investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults, and that self-neglect cases have trended down in recent years, which they attributed in part to access to federal resources. For Child Protective Services, they reviewed intake and investigation numbers, noting that many calls screen out before meeting statutory criteria, while about 48,000 cases were assessed or investigated and about 8,000 were substantiated. Members raised concerns about how poverty can be mistaken for neglect, especially in rural areas, and DCBS said it has been working with the legislature, staff, and community partners to better define the difference and connect families to community supports when cases do not meet abuse or neglect criteria. Members also asked about the risk to federal funding and the impact on juvenile services. DCBS said it had not received notice that the $21 million block grant would be cut, but it is monitoring federal developments closely and would need to return to the General Assembly for a budget request if funding were lost. The department said about 30% of the federal share goes to juvenile services. Questions also covered the transition in staff training from Eastern Kentucky University to a broader statewide model, and the agency said it is expanding training opportunities and modernizing delivery. Officials discussed the MST pilot for youth, saying it is a successful evidence-based practice operating in three regions—Jefferson, Northern Bluegrass, and Central Kentucky—with positive outcomes and possible expansion. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• recognized performance entities that perform all of our performance calculations across all of our pools
• And we can provide economies of scale by offering our investment pools to them.
• </c> scale by offering our investment pools scale by offering our investment pools to<00:23:07.960><c
• </c><00:23:27.800><c> of</c><00:23:27.920><c> capital</c> one of our pools of capital one of our pools
• For all SBI retirement assets, we invest and distribute aggregated pools of capital with no knowledge

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The representative said that, in the testimony, a potential compromise was to look at limiting the pool
• :26:30.720><c> the</c> compromise is to look at limiting the compromise is to look at limiting the pool
• 31.880><c> applicants</c><00:26:32.279><c> for</c><00:26:32.480><c> this</c><00:26:33.399><c> um</c> pool
• of eligible applicants for this um pool of eligible applicants for this um and<00:26:33.799><c> in</
• So this would have a bigger pool of revenue.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1301, residential property insurance non-renewals.
• SB 1301 residential property insurance, non-renewals.
• SB 876, Fire and Residential Property Insurance.
• SB 876, Fire and Residential Property Insurance.
• SB 995, Voluntary Residential Facilities.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met for a suspense-file hearing and voted only on measures already heard previously, with no public testimony. The chair explained that bills were taken up quickly in author order, with amended bills to be followed by addendum analyses. The committee considered a very large slate of Senate bills and two Assembly measures covering wildfire resilience, housing, insurance, energy, transportation, public safety, elections, health care, labor, environmental regulation, and various administrative and tax issues. Most measures were approved, many on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a substantial number passed on 5-2 or 5-1 party-line votes with Republicans generally voting no. Several bills were amended before passage, including changes to funding contingencies, timelines, reporting requirements, definitions, and removal of certain enforcement or private-right-of-action provisions. A few members noted concerns on specific bills, including Senator Richardson on SB 1203 (private security training), though he said he would vote for it at this stage. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on wildfire smoke, wildfire recovery, mobile home parks, insurance nonrenewals, AI transparency, data center energy issues, Medi-Cal and health coverage, criminal justice, election administration, housing, and labor/workforce standards. The committee also approved AB 46 and AB 736. No bills were held for testimony because the hearing was vote-only, and the meeting adjourned after all items on the agenda were disposed of.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1301, residential property insurance non-renewals.
• SB 1301 residential property insurance, non-renewals.
• SB 991, Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly.
• SB 876, Fire and Residential Property Insurance.
• SB 995, Voluntary Residential Facilities.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Almost all the residential towers in Canada have scissor stairs.
• buildings with residential occupancy.
• Turning to this bill, it would provide that a project permit application for one or more residential
• housing units within a It would provide that a project permit application for one or more residential
• units, and three years for project permit applications for more than 50 residential units.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several housing, building code, and permitting bills. HB 2228 would direct the State Building Code Council to convene a technical advisory group to recommend code amendments allowing scissor stairs in buildings with more than two dwelling units. Supporters, including architects, builders, and housing advocates, said scissor stairs could improve safety, reduce corridor and stair footprint, lower costs, and allow more efficient and denser housing layouts. The bill was then closed to public hearing. HB 2381 would create a performance-based code pathway for low-rise residential buildings and allow recognition of third-party certifications. The chair described it as a move from prescriptive to performance-based standards, with flexibility for builders and potential alignment with clean building goals. The Building Industry Association of Washington opposed the bill as written, saying the main need is a performance pathway in the energy code rather than the IBC, while FutureWise supported the concept but urged caution about the complexity and timeline of converting code to performance-based standards. The public hearing on HB 2381 was closed after testimony. HB 2418 would change permit review processes, including vesting rules for residential project permits in urban growth areas, pausing review clocks in certain circumstances, extending timelines to other fee-charging reviewing entities, and requiring a single permit responsible official and point of contact by 2027. Builders, developers, and housing advocates generally supported the bill’s coordination and timeline provisions, saying they would reduce delays and costs, though several groups raised concerns about the vesting section and completeness definitions. FutureWise and county representatives warned the vesting changes could create litigation or records issues, while the sponsor said the vesting portion might be reconsidered. The committee also heard HB 2273, which would require embodied carbon reduction standards for larger building projects through reuse, product-based reductions, or whole-building life-cycle assessment. Support came from architects, Commerce, and environmental justice advocates, who said the bill would reduce climate impacts and encourage innovation; opponents from the concrete and aggregate industry and a taxpayer group raised concerns about costs, supply-chain issues, conflicts with other legislation, and exemptions such as for schools. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after closing the public hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is important to emphasize because the kids that are in residential facilities are being taught by
• So our residential programs are uniquely qualified for kids based on their mental health needs.
• We hold them in detention waiting for a bed to open in residential.
• Prices are going up everywhere, but per diem for the kids and increase in residential beds.
• Prices are going up everywhere, but per diem for the kids and an increase in residential beds.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding. FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed. The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh so someone residential construction.
• And that residential or commercial area.
• land throughout a municipality and what those residential dwellings were.
• And I also any other um residential use.
• land throughout a municipality and what those residential dwellings were.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 1598 and an amendment, 2026-0463H. Elliott Barry and Nick Norman testified that the amendment reflected a hard-fought compromise balancing concerns from all sides, and they urged no further changes. With no questions from members, the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend the bill with the amendment to the full committee, 3-0, and closed the subcommittee. The housing committee then moved through several executive session bills. HB 1010 was amended with 2026-0274H, described as clarifying and implementing prior housing law (HB 631) governing residential units above office and retail space; the amendment was adopted unanimously and the bill was reported ought to pass as amended on a 17-0 vote and placed on consent. HB 65 was then voted ought to pass and also placed on consent, with members saying it was duplicative of the compromise reached on HB 1010. HB 1349 was reconsidered for a clarifying vote and again received unanimous support for its prior disposition, 17-0, and was placed on consent. The committee next took up HB 1523, which concerned homeowners associations. An amendment, 2026-0380H, removed Section 5’s Attorney General enforcement mechanism, added HOA conflict-of-interest approval language, and delayed the effective date to give stakeholders more time; it was adopted unanimously. The bill then passed 18-0 as amended and was put on consent. The committee also voted ITL on CACR 16, a constitutional amendment related to sleeping or homelessness issues, after debate over unintended consequences and whether it protected a basic right; the vote was 10-8, with a majority report assigned and a minority report to be written. Later, HB 108, dealing with inclusionary zoning, was voted ITL 10-8 after members argued the bill imposed unrealistic burdens and could halt development; a minority report was noted with amendment 0149H. HB 7, concerning ADUs and restrictive covenants, was also voted ITL 10-8 after discussion of unintended consequences and a proposed amendment to encourage second ADUs; it was sent to the regular calendar with a minority report and amendment 0289H. HB 1120, on water-related subdivision requirements, was ITL’d 17-1 and placed on consent, with one member noting a study amendment had been offered. HB 1143, addressing housing-provider obligations and municipal enforcement powers, was ITL’d 17-1 and placed on consent. Finally, HB 1145, a fee/tax proposal tied to housing development, was ITL’d 11-7; members debated whether it would discourage development, and a minority report was assigned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would severely limit our recruiting pool and could disqualify qualified candidates with valuable
• ><c> could</c><00:58:00.400><c> disqualify</c> recruiting pool and could disqualify recruiting pool and
• Reservoir projects typically are going to have minimum pools associated with those.
• </c><01:29:58.400><c> Uh</c><01:29:59.520><c> again,</c> pools associated with those.
• Uh again, pools associated with those.

Bills: HB0130 , HB0095 , HB0096 , HB0097 , SF0101 , SF0106 , SF0067 , SF0123

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, concealed carry, public colleges, university facilities, weapons legislation, self-defense, campus safety, weapons, age requirement, permits, HB0097, Wyoming firearms privacy, merchant category code, MCC

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 991, Menjivar, residential care facilities for the elderly, due pass as amended to clarify definitions
• SB 991 Menjavar, residential care facilities for the elderly.
• SB 876, Padilla, residential property insurance, due pass as amended to align certain requirements with
• SB 995, Perez, involuntary residential facilities, holding committee.
• SB 222, Wiener, residential heat pump systems, do pass. That's out on a roll call.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that a municipality must not require a planned unit development agreement in lieu of a proposed residential
• development if the proposed residential development complies with the existing zoning ordinance already
• Specifically, for residential development, PUDs offer greater flexibility in lot sizes.
• It's used to create a mix of residential densities and varying lot sizes in a single neighborhood, which
• Residential PUDs enable the inclusion of affordable housing units through density bonuses or reduced

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we already pay, like whether you're ag or residential or all the others, commercial or personal
• And the problem with that is you have, you know, I mean, residential voters usually are able to vote
• Commercial, agricultural, residential, all to go up at the same time and by the exact same amount.
• The current residential property tax law includes bed-and-breakfast inns in which the owner resides.
• The current residential property tax law includes bed-and-breakfast inns in which the owner resides and

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 11, relating to residential safe room rebate program.
• This bill deals with residential storm shelters, and I promise that the weather this past weekend didn't
• </c><00:04:25.240><c> storm</c><00:04:25.560><c> shelters</c> available for residential storm shelters
• available for residential storm shelters on<00:04:26.360><c> a</c><00:04:26.400><c> cost-sharing</c>
• </c><00:04:48.080><c> neighborhood</c> would be a residential neighborhood would be a residential neighborhood

Committee: House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• code consists of a series of model codes like the International Building Code and International Residential
• The council must review the energy code as it applies to residential buildings every three years, and
• update, a city or county may include designation of properties as areas of mixed commercial and residential
• It freezes energy codes for residential and non-residential buildings.
• AB 130 only impacted residential buildings, while HB 2141 would impact both commercial and residential

Summary: The committee opened public hearings on House Bill 2141, concerning building codes, and House Bill 2573, concerning community access to food, medicine, and health services, then later took executive action on several bills. HB 2141 would impose a 10-year pause on new state building and energy code updates after the 2024 codes, limit local amendments until the 2036 codes, then move to a six-year update cycle and remove the current energy-code 70% reduction target. Supporters, including the sponsor, builders, local government groups, and some code officials, argued the bill would reduce regulatory churn, lower housing costs, and give builders and local governments more certainty. Opponents, including environmental groups, architects, fire marshals, and code organizations, said the freeze would raise long-term energy costs, undermine safety and climate goals, and delay adoption of new technologies. No action was taken on HB 2141 during the hearing. HB 2573 would require advance notice before grocery stores or pharmacies close in communities that relied on them for planning under the Growth Management Act, add a health and food access goal and a healthy communities element to the GMA, and authorize cities and counties to use zoning, excise taxes, and nuisance fees to discourage long-term vacancies and preserve access to food and medicine. The sponsor and supporters said the bill responds to recent store closures that created food and pharmacy deserts, especially in overburdened communities, and would give local governments tools to prevent blight and protect access to essential services. Opponents from grocery and retail industry groups argued the bill would punish businesses and property owners, create a chilling effect on investment, and unfairly burden independent landlords. The committee heard testimony on HB 2573 but did not take final action in the portion provided. During executive action, the committee reported several bills out with do-pass recommendations. HB 2517, on permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects, passed 4-3 after one proposed amendment was rejected and another was adopted to require property-owner consent before certain permits on property not owned by the transit authority. HB 2588, expanding county ferry district authority beyond passenger-only ferries, passed 4-3. HB 1529, allowing cities to use county resources for road construction and maintenance, passed 6-1. HB 2223, creating a limited exemption for irrigation district directors’ spouses’ contracts, passed unanimously. HB 2006, extending the deadline for certain rural counties to designate industrial land banks, passed unanimously after adoption of an amendment narrowing eligibility and adjusting timing requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Concerns have been raised about residential child detention facilities in Texas, including allegations
• To achieve this, House Bill 3120 would require the owner or operator of a residential child detention
• It also mandates that owners or operators of residential child detention facilities receiving at least
• The city used to pick up all the refuse, residential and commercial.
• Later, we contracted for all the residential, and then the businesses of the community had to go out

Bills: SB2784 , HB23 , HB247 , HB1533 , HB2011 , HB2013 , HB2273 , HB2421 , HB2464 , HB3120 , HB3424 , HB3575 , HB3788 , HB4370 , HB4809 , HB5057 , HB5084 , HB5534 , HB5668 , HJR34 , HB23 , HB247 , HJR34

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: Somervell County, hospital district, board of directors, elections, local governance, staggered terms, third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure