Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:16.120> note<00:10:16.320> that have uh we do have a fiscal note that have uh
• we do have a fiscal note that wasn't<00:10:16.760> in<00:10:16.880> your<00:10:17.160>
• in November of 2009 it's worth noting in November of 2009 it's worth noting that<00:48:05.800>
• So sorry, I have to look at all my notes here.
• so sorry I have to look at all my notes so sorry I have to look at all my notes here<01:21:43.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I'll take notes, Senator. [laughter] >> Thank you, Senator Curl.
• So, I did have some fiscal note concerns with that.
• I do have some fiscal note concerns with that.
• note would look like, because $2 million now to get it started?
• <00:26:55.600> note after that and what that fiscal note after that and what that fiscal note

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Families and Children met and heard presentation of Senate Bill 191, a pilot proposal to create the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-based Child Care Incentive Program. Senator Danny Carroll explained that the three-year pilot, to be developed with the University of Kentucky College of Education, would reward child care providers or families with a $2,000 payment when a child is found kindergarten-ready, with the award tied to the prior two years of care. He said the program would include child care centers, child care homes, and eligible low-income families, with added supports such as home-visiting resources and curriculum assistance, and would also automatically fund providers caring for children with special needs who cannot be assessed in the same way. Members asked about logistics, eligibility, diversity, and cost. Senator Meredith asked how parents would participate and how many children might be included; Carroll said UK would help define the details and that the pilot would likely use about $2 million in available funds, with a broad enough sample to produce meaningful data. Senator Thomas raised concerns about direct payments to parents and the fiscal implications of scaling the idea; Carroll responded that the pilot would only test the concept, that public pre-K and Head Start would not be included, and that the program would target families eligible for child care assistance. He estimated the broader annual cost, if expanded statewide, could eventually be much higher, but argued the educational and workforce benefits would outweigh the expense. Senator Thomas also asked whether the bill’s reference to diverse providers meant geographic, racial, language, and socioeconomic diversity, and Carroll said that was the intent, with UK given latitude to structure the sample and assessment tool. Another senator supported the bill as a step toward universal pre-K and emphasized that learning begins at birth. The discussion ended with a motion and second on the bill, followed by a roll call vote, but the transcript cuts off before the vote result is stated.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're happy to report that the co-neutrals and the plaintiffs did note progress.
• I just want to note some progress within Kevin S recently.
• However, it is important to note as the Early Childhood Accountability Report noted earlier this year
• You can see the numbers that we estimated over each fiscal year. Okay.
• This heat map is very helpful, and we can give you the updated data for fiscal year 26.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• note here as well?
• There is a fiscal note on there. I think it says undeterminable.
• This bill will probably get deferred because of it is fiscal notes.
• Fiscal note, do we have, Blake, how many more employees you go out to hire?
• Yeah, so I think that's partially why the fiscal note came out, you know, uncertain, because we don't

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and took up several bills related to property rights, expropriation, renewable energy recycling, and local permitting. Representative Domangue first presented HCR 80 on private property rights, using it to highlight the 2025 landman code of conduct and the need for stronger guardrails in expropriation negotiations. She then deferred the resolution in order to allow Chairman Geymann to present HB 841, which was described as establishing a code of conduct for landmen and expropriation-related negotiations. The committee heard testimony and watched video examples from landowners describing intimidation, inadequate compensation offers, and the need for fair treatment. Amendments were adopted to broaden the bill to all certificate holders, prohibit threats about court costs and attorney fees, shorten response times, and add graduated fines and public posting for violations. HB 841 was reported favorably as amended, with no opposition cards recorded. The committee then considered HB 621 by Representative Coates, which would require recycling of decommissioned renewable energy infrastructure to the extent practical. After discussion with DEQ, the bill was amended to clarify that existing universal waste rules apply and to remove language that would have required the renewable facility owner to pay decommissioning costs in that section; the effective date was set for January 1, 2027. Testimony from renewable energy industry representatives supported the measure and explained that solar panels and related components can be recycled at high rates, with established markets for recovered materials. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 621 favorably. Next, Representative Jacob Landry presented HB 595, aimed at preventing local governments from unreasonably delaying or impeding energy projects through permit requirements, especially road permits affecting Haynesville Shale operations. After amendment, the bill required timely action on local road permits and deemed them approved if not acted on within 30 days. Supporters emphasized the economic importance of the Haynesville and the need for predictable permitting, while opponents argued the bill could further erode local authority, particularly regarding carbon capture and sequestration. The committee reported HB 595 favorably. Landry then presented HB 1191, creating a certificate of compliance process for oilfield and exploration and production sites to provide a cleaner path for cleanup, finality, and future investment. The bill drew technical and substantive amendments, including changes to definitions, confidentiality, and the role of DEQ; discussion continued over whether the bill should be deferred to allow more time to work through the remaining issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:11.919> It but that would make a fiscal impact.
• It but that would make a fiscal impact.
• Members, please take note. Senator from Hardin, what purpose?
• >> Members,<00:42:01.200> please<00:42:01.440> take<00:42:01.599> note.
• >> Members, please take note. >> Members, please take note.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and approved the journal. The clerk reported House-passed bills and Senate bills received from the House, and several Senate bills were read a second time and sent to the Rules Committee. Committee reports recommended passage of multiple measures, including bills from Appropriations and Revenue, Health Services, Natural Resources and Energy, State and Local Government, and Transportation. The chamber then moved to orders of the day and took up Senate Bill 50 and Senate Bill 191, while Senate Bill 137 and Senate Joint Resolution 54 were passed over and retained in the orders of the day. Senate Bill 50, relating to the disposition of property, was explained as a broad update to trust, probate, and intestacy law. Supporters said it would streamline probate when there are no disputes, add privacy protections for decedents’ estate information, give courts more flexibility, set retention and filing-fee rules for wills, recognize electronic wills and other uniform-law concepts, and allow transfer-on-death designation for motor vehicles. A floor amendment removed inheritance-tax provisions and corrected technical issues; it was adopted, and the bill passed 35-1 after debate in favor from several senators and no substantive opposition. Senate Bill 191, creating the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program, was also amended and passed. The bill would establish a three-year pilot administered by the University of Kentucky College of Education, providing a one-time $2,000 per child incentive payment or refundable tax credit to child care providers and low-income families when children are assessed as kindergarten ready. A floor amendment clarified that the study and recommendations must comply with federal child care regulations; it was adopted, and the bill passed 35-1 after a senator changed a vote from no to yes. The Senate then recessed for Rules and Committee on Committees meetings, after which the rules committee posted additional bills to future orders and the committee on committees referred several bills and resolutions to standing committees. Several members also made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, a legislative breakfast, a fish fry, and condolences for a community member.

Transcript Highlights:

• Removes the law enforcement and accreditation piece in an attempt to remedy the fiscal note.
• That is the intent of this bill: to address the fiscal note on this bill, not to make it ineffective,
• Basically, the fiscal note was based on a $25,000 accreditation grant.
• Senator Flores, you mentioned the fiscal notes; the original fiscal note was quite pricey. Yes.

Bills: HB33, HB45, HB48, HB1261, HB1465, HB1778, HB2596, HB5238, SB2969, HB45, HB48

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• note.
• We significantly addressed the fiscal note on this bill, not to make it so that it won't work, but to
• So, originally the fiscal note was based on a $25,000 accreditation grant, we took out the accreditation
• Senator Hoffman, just a couple of questions, Senator Flores, you mentioned the fiscal note, so I just
• , the original fiscal note was quite pricey.

Bills: HB 33, HB 45, HB 48, HB 1261, HB 1465, HB 1778, HB 2596, HB 5238, SB 2969

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• I oppose this bill on the grounds of our Texas values of fiscal responsibility and freedom.
• The fiscal note is $736,000. $161,000 over the next biennium, but I don't believe that fiscal note is
• I have to assume that the fiscal note is also not taking into account the cost to physically restructure
• Regardless of its intent, SB 2101 as written is not in line with the values of fiscal responsibility,
• Also worth noting that governments commit an even more egregious form of censorship when they engage

Bills: HB256, HCR19, SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB1130

Keywords: severe weather, adaptation plan, vulnerability assessment, environmental protection, state agencies, federal agents, transparency, law enforcement, identification, public trust, immigration enforcement, HCR 19, Texas concurrent resolution, federal immigration enforcement, masked agents, facial coverings, visible identification, uniforms, badges, name tags

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that's why there's a fiscal note attached, because it would impact them on the payer side of things
• Tim, in the calculation on the fiscal note, did you, did you, is there a percentage?
• I just know that that was the formula they used to come up with the fiscal note. Okay.
• You know, if it's 100% of the cost, it's been figured into the fiscal note, and also what would be an
• You know, if it's 100% of the cost, it's been figured into the fiscal note and also what would be an

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee began with roll call and a brief update on remaining work, then took up Senate Bill 2213, the “science of math” bill. Members clarified that the appropriation for the program was not included in the DPI budget and would remain attached to the policy bill for now. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a do pass recommendation, 21-2. The committee next considered Senate Bills 2036 and 2037, both juvenile justice/Human Services bills involving mental health and criminal responsibility evaluations for minors. Testimony explained that the bills create new processes and require DHS to contract with specialized providers, with appropriations of $500,000 in 2036 and $300,000 in 2037. Members debated whether the funding should come from existing DHS resources or remain as separate appropriations, and whether the programs were one-time or ongoing. The committee adopted amendments on both bills and then recommended both do pass, with 2036 passing 14-6 and 2037 passing 17-4. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget. Representative Bosch outlined major themes in the budget, including migration from PeopleSoft and the mainframe, onboarding/off-boarding automation, double-counting of IT spending, and the transition of education technology from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Members also discussed a study amendment related to a statewide enterprise resource planning system, and added language on grant management and compliance management. The committee adopted the amendments and gave the budget a do pass recommendation, 20-0-3. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2011, the Highway Patrol budget. Representative Pyle explained the House changes, including shifting some one-time costs to the motor carrier electronic permit fund, funding for body armor, breath tests, road course resurfacing, fleet costs, handgun replacement, and carryover authority for federal technology funds. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the budget 21-0-2. The committee then began Senate Bill 2399, a Human Services bill on Medicaid reimbursement for psychiatric residential treatment facilities, but deferred action after testimony from a facility representative and committee discussion about therapeutic leave days, reimbursement rates, and whether a cap on reimbursable days should be set in statute or rule. The chair said the committee would seek more information from DHS and take the bill up the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also do want to note that this is a year-round issue.
• I also do want to note that this is a year-round issue.
• Um, the reason I asked the question is, um, from the fiscal note here, the fund impact, we see that this
• I asked the question is, um, from the fiscal note here, the fund impact, we see that this is about 8
• fiscal issues, we should deal with them. fiscal issues, we should deal with them.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 4738 was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Representative Keeler presented the bill as a funding source for Minnesota’s Safe Harbor program, arguing that trafficking and sexual exploitation are statewide problems and that current shelter and housing resources are insufficient. She and several supporters emphasized that the program serves youth across greater Minnesota, not just the metro, and that state and federal funding pressures make additional support necessary. Testifiers from Place Called Home/Life House, The Link, the City of Minneapolis, and a survivor all described the impact of Safe Harbor and related shelter programs. They cited data on youth served, bed nights, mental health services, and high unmet need, including waitlists and youth turned away because programs are full. Testimony stressed that stable housing and trauma-informed services help survivors recover and move toward education, employment, and family stability. One committee member, Representative Davis, objected to the proposed funding source, saying he would not support taking money from women’s sports scholarships and urging a different source. The bill’s tax mechanism was described as ending the sales tax exemption for preferred seating, suite licenses, and related amenities at athletic and entertainment events. Alec Williams of We Make Minnesota supported the proposal as a fair way to raise revenue from high-end discretionary purchases for a public purpose. Committee discussion also focused on the size of the revenue estimate and the breakdown of the impact, with nonpartisan staff saying roughly 85% would come from suite licenses, 10% from collegiate seating, and 5% from amenities. Representative Smith and others framed the issue as both a tax and moral question, and the chair moved the bill to be laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dan Reagan, Deputy Director of Fiscal Services Division for the Department.
• However, we would note that inspections.
• And I think that is important to note because we are a fire-adapted ecosystem.
• I had to change my note to good afternoon.
• We're looking at establishing the program in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Summary: The subcommittee began by announcing a change in the agenda order, moving item 6 ahead of item 1 and then item 7, and noting there would be no votes taken on any items that day. Item 6 covered a proposed operational efficiencies control section for the Natural Resources Agency that would let multiple departments jointly fund landscape-scale or multi-jurisdictional projects and allow Finance to transfer climate bond funds to a lead state entity. The LAO said the proposal was reasonable but suggested the Legislature consider requiring summary notification on how it is used; Finance said it would consider that request. Item 7 focused on the 2026-27 biodiversity and nature-based solutions spending plan. Finance and the Wildlife Conservation Board described the climate bond funding for habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, public access, tribal nature-based solutions, and related work, including $111 million proposed for WCB and $30 million for Salton Sea habitat and public access projects. The LAO supported the overall approach but flagged the San Andreas Corridor Program as an area where the Legislature may want to specify geographic priorities. Members discussed the pace of Salton Sea work and whether the proposed projects would count toward disadvantaged community goals. Item 8 addressed Cal Fire’s aviation contract and staffing needs for wildfire response. Cal Fire said year-round fire activity, a larger and more complex aircraft fleet, and labor market pressures justified the proposed contract increase, including more mechanics, pilots, and maintenance support. The LAO recommended approval, saying the proposal addressed health and safety concerns. Members asked about contractor staffing, competition in the bidding process, and future technology for early fire detection and suppression. The committee then took up item 1 on golden mussel containment. Fish and Wildlife described the invasive species’ spread in the Delta, the task force and response framework, and a request for eight new positions funded by Prop. 4 to support control plans, outreach, monitoring, research, and coordination with partners and law enforcement. Members pressed the department on whether the state should fund more direct decontamination infrastructure and grants to local water managers, and on the realistic goal of containing the mussel. The chair and several members emphasized the urgency of the threat and requested an itemized breakdown of the $20 million request. The hearing then moved to a broader LAO overview of wildfire prevention and response funding, where the LAO summarized the state’s funding mix and warned that ongoing wildfire resilience funding will likely decline as one-time bond and GGRF funds are exhausted, prompting discussion of long-term funding options and the balance between prevention, suppression, and community hardening.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:58:03.920> new And they actually listed they noted new And they actually listed they noted
• > and<01:54:44.719> I This is fiscally irresponsible and I This is fiscally irresponsible
• <02:49:27.279> Uh thank you note from many of you. Uh thank you note from many of you.
• to foot the bill for their f fiscal to foot the bill for their f fiscal recklessness<03:01:25.040
• research, fiscal experts in nonpartisan research, fiscal analysis,<03:10:56.960> and<03:10:57.120

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A few housekeeping notes. This is an in-person hearing with all panelists testifying in person.
• I'm Justin Howard, I'm the Deputy Secretary of the Fiscal Policy and Administration of the California
• I'll just note that, you know, this is, as I think has been noted, this, we're developing an 8,000-mile
• I also do want to note that the 2026 deadline is the deadline for encumbrance.
• The agenda does a good job in noting some of the oversight considerations that that raises.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, there should be an updated fiscal note that looks at '27, '28, and '29.
• note that looks at 27, 28, and fiscal note that looks at 27, 28, and 29.<01:13:19.840> And<01
• I would leave the question about the fiscal note to the department. >> Okay.
• leave um the question about the fiscal leave um the question about the fiscal note<01:20:41.360>
• <01:28:15.040> note<01:28:15.280> is<01:28:15.440> incomplete the fiscal note

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there is no conflict, we will merge and then merge in the note if needed.
• At what point does the, is it at the fiscal year when the money is returned?
• These notes are patterned after the cross-reference notes that you'll see in some of the title and chapter
• I think that's probably a good stopping point for adding notes retroactively.
• So each of the sections would, the repealed-by note...

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:55.599> note have our fiscal note have our fiscal note and<00:48:57.599> then
• <00:49:00.480> note.
• note.
• So we're about on page the fiscal note.
• bottom it it describes what note one is. bottom it it describes what note one is.

Bills: SF0069, SF0070, SF0016, HB0078, HJ0002, HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water development, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management

Transcript Highlights:

• But as far as the fiscal note, there is no change. Um, we anticipate that this will be fine.
• But as<00:16:53.120> far<00:16:53.279> as<00:16:53.360> the<00:16:53.519> fiscal
• <00:16:53.920> note,<00:16:54.240> there<00:16:54.399> is<00:16:54.560> no
• as far as the fiscal note, there is no as far as the fiscal note, there is no change.<00:16:55.759

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a fiscal note we've discovered on that bill, so we're going to back up and call that bill back
• This bill has no fiscal note, as the program has already been fully funded since last session.
• the current professionals in the program, would also add some stipends for needs that are of special note
• do you feel like it's prudent to still add more money to that portion of it, or wait until another fiscal
• So there is a fiscal note that you're referring to, yes.

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard Senate Bill 1961, which would expand reporting on post-secondary outcomes and workforce data, including employment, earnings, regional labor demand, and credentials of value. Senator Bettencourt said the bill is intended to close data gaps and improve alignment between education programs and workforce needs. Witnesses from Opportunity Austin, Texas 2036, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and the Fort Worth workforce community testified in support, saying better data would help students, parents, schools, employers, and regional economic development efforts. After questions from members about regional workforce pipelines and semiconductor talent needs, public testimony closed and SB 1961 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably, including SB 1325, SB 604, SB 1832, SB 747, SB 2185, and SB 2395, with committee substitutes adopted where needed. SB 1325 was amended to remove the DSHS commissioner’s authority to issue standing orders for respiratory distress medication in schools. SB 1832, relating to school transfer or private-school funding options for students victimized by a public school employee, and SB 747, relating to intimate visual material policies, were both advanced on recorded votes. SB 2185, on the bilingual education allotment, was initially moved to a local calendar but was later backed up and reported to the full Senate after a fiscal note was noted. SB 2395, on school district general obligation bonds, was also reported favorably and then moved to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard SB 646, which would expand the Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to additional professions, increase award amounts, and add stipends for rural and bilingual service. Senator West said the bill responds to mental health workforce shortages and inflation. The Texas Counseling Association supported the measure, and a Hogg Foundation representative said participation has grown sharply since prior changes. SB 646 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2647, which would create a Texas state accrediting agency and interim oversight system for higher education accreditors; supporters from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a massage school owner argued it would improve accountability and reduce accreditor overreach, while Senator Menendez raised concerns about effects on law and medical school accreditation and student opportunities. SB 2647 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2786, which would exempt first responders from the Texas Success Initiative entrance exam, and SB 2615, which would standardize remote-work policies across public higher education institutions. The Texas State Association of Firefighters supported SB 2786, saying it would remove an extra step for career advancement; the bill was left pending because the committee substitute had not yet been adopted. SB 2615 was presented as a way to ensure more consistent in-person staffing expectations while preserving exceptions for illness, disability, and some non-teaching roles; it too was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just noticed this is showing all of our notes, too. That usually doesn't do that.
• Another note on this: this was originally, like I said, kind of a...
• Another note on this: this was originally, like I said, kind of a...
• A few notes or observations. And again, this is something we've been talking about.
• Chairman, I can go back through my notes here. Okay.

Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.