Transcript Highlights:

• The Supremacy Clause requires that federal law prevails when it conflicts with state law.
• A prevailing plaintiff would be authorized to recover compensatory and punitive damages.
• A court would be required to award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.

Bills: HB2095 , HB2500 , HB2412 , HB2595 , HB2354 , HB2597

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation, charitable organization, charity, nonprobate transfer, beneficiary designation, life insurance, retirement account, payable on death, POD account, transfer on death, TOD, financial institution, insurance company, transfer agent, estate planning, donor intent

Transcript Highlights:

• The Supremacy Clause requires that federal law prevails when it conflicts with state law.
• A prevailing plaintiff would be authorized to recover compensatory and punitive damages.
• A court would be required to award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. On House Bill 2354, relating to common interest communities under WUCIOA, staff explained that the proposed substitute would exempt small middle-housing communities from most WUCIOA provisions, exempt certain middle-housing communities from reserve studies if wastewater-related reserve components are not needed, raise the audit threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 in annual assessments, and prevent governing documents from shifting maintenance costs for EV chargers and heat pumps away from the unit owner. Representative Reed and a Community Associations Institute witness supported the bill as a set of cleanup changes tailored to smaller communities, and there were no questions or opposition noted. The committee then heard House Bill 2412, which would add a ninth Superior Court judge in Yakima County. Representative Mendoza and Yakima County officials and judges testified that the county has had eight judges since 1998 despite major population growth, rising filings, and a backlog of more than 2,800 cases older than two years. They said the county can accommodate the new judge physically and has budgeted its share of the cost. The bill was supported as a way to reduce delays, protect speedy-trial rights, and improve access to justice, and the hearing was closed without opposition testimony. House Bill 2500, concerning transfers of beneficiary-designated property to charities, would require holders such as financial institutions or insurers to notify charitable beneficiaries within 10 days of the owner’s death, allow charities to submit an affidavit to claim the property, require transfer within 30 days, and bar holders from demanding personal information or requiring charities to open accounts or wait on other beneficiaries. Charitable organizations strongly supported the bill, describing long delays and invasive paperwork, while credit unions and bankers raised concerns about identity verification, fraud risk, and the 30-day deadline. The committee then heard House Bill 2595, which would extend the time limit for collateral attacks on criminal judgments from one year to three years and allow the Office of Public Defense to provide direct representation in those matters. Supporters, including incarcerated individuals, defense-related advocates, and the League of Women Voters, argued the current deadline is too short for pro se prisoners and juvenile offenders to discover and litigate claims; prosecutors and victim advocates opposed it, citing finality, workload, and harm to victims. Finally, House Bill 2597 would create a state civil cause of action for violations of federal constitutional rights during civil immigration enforcement, with damages, fees, and a three-year limitation period. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an accountability measure for constitutional violations, while law enforcement and other opponents warned about unclear definitions, immunity issues, and unintended consequences. The hearing on HB 2597 was concluded, and the committee noted an executive session on the bill would occur later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair heard none, and the motion prevailed.
• Hearing none, the motion prevails. Committee stands in recess. higher, unfortunately.
• Hearing none, motion prevails. Committee stands in recess. Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails and House File 2371 is re-referred to the Public Safety Committee.” opposed say nay
• The motion prevails and opposed say nay.
• The motion prevails and House<00:21:12.640><c> File</c><00:21:13.240><c> 2371</c><00:21:14.240><c> is

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• conferees, it is a line item transfer authority to allow them to transfer funding from their salaries and wages
• line to their offerings To allow them to transfer funding from their salaries and wages line to their

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on Senate Bill 2007 met to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, which concerned funding and staffing flexibility for the Soldiers’ Home/Veterans Home. Members agreed to restore the FTEs to the pool and to keep the $200,000 and $100,000 items in the bill, with discussion noting that the money would come from the Soldiers’ Home fund and would only be used if needed. The main remaining issue was line-item transfer authority. Staff explained that the transfer provision would let the facility move money between salaries and wages and operating expenses, including contract nursing, to address staffing shortages at a 24/7 facility. Members discussed the difference between the House and Senate versions, with the House allowing up to $600,000 in transfers and the Senate version allowing $400,000. The committee concluded that the higher amount would provide needed flexibility without increasing overall spending authority. A motion was made to adopt the conference committee changes, including restoring the FTE pool and changing the transfer authority to $600,000, and then give Senate Bill 2007 a do pass recommendation as amended. The motion passed by roll call, and the conference committee hearing was closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• $230 million in unpaid caseload, resulting primarily from the inflation factor and county-adopted wage
• The average wage of our workers is about $18.38. So imagine trying to make ends meet with that.
• For many families, the Disability Rights California works with, a gap in IHSS wages can also lead to
• food insecurity and housing instability for an entire household that's relying on those IHSS wages.
• And I think my folks would be 100% on board with a larger differential wage.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impact of H.R. 1 on older Californians and related county administration issues. Chair Jackson and Chair Addis opened by emphasizing California’s rapidly aging population and the need to protect seniors’ access to food, health care, housing, and in-home support services. Testimony from the Department of Social Services, Department of Health Care Services, and Department of Aging described how H.R. 1 would expand work and reporting requirements in CalFresh and Medi-Cal, increase redeterminations, and create new eligibility barriers. Witnesses and advocates warned that these changes could lead to large coverage losses, especially for adults ages 55 to 64, people experiencing homelessness, caregivers, and some immigrant groups, while also increasing administrative burden on counties. The LAO noted that many provisions do not directly apply to Californians 65 and older, but highlighted indirect effects and some direct impacts, including a new home equity limit for certain long-term care recipients and narrower immigration eligibility rules. Committee members pressed the administration and counties on how exemptions would be identified and implemented, whether data systems could automatically protect eligible people, and how outreach would reach older adults, women, LGBTQ seniors, and people with limited digital access. DHCS and CDSS said they are working to use existing data, cross-program information sharing, and human-centered communications to maximize exemptions and reduce churn, including text outreach, print and radio campaigns, and navigator support. Members also raised concerns about the need for legal aid and county eligibility workers to help people navigate complex rules, and requested updated analyses on the number of people likely to lose both Medi-Cal and CalFresh and the broader human and system impacts. No votes were taken. The second major topic was the administration’s proposal to shift some future IHSS costs to counties by establishing a statewide baseline for average authorized hours per case. CDSS said the proposal is intended to improve consistency in assessments and not reduce services, while counties and labor groups strongly opposed it, arguing that rising hours reflect real increases in need, an aging and higher-acuity caseload, and state-mandated assessment tools rather than county error. County representatives said the proposal would strain already limited local revenues, worsen the effects of H.R. 1, and could force cuts to other safety-net services. Committee members questioned the proposal’s timing and impact, but the hearing ended without action, with the chairs asking for continued updates, additional analysis, and more information before May Revision.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails.
• The motion prevails.
• The motion prevails.
• The motion prevails. Senate Resolution No. 10 is adopted.
• The motion prevails. Senate Resolution No. 10 is adopted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Productivity is the most important long-term driver of living standards, wage growth, and overall prosperity
• Productivity is the most important long-term driver of living standards, wage growth, and overall prosperity
• Productivity is the most important long-term driver of living standards, wage growth, and overall prosperity
• Productivity is the most important long-term driver of living standards, wage growth, and overall prosperity
• Productivity is the most important long-term driver of living standards, wage growth, and overall prosperity

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They know wages aren't keeping up with housing, health insurance, or child care.
• </c> they're worried about how their wages they're worried about how their wages are<00:09:09.200><c>
• We know wage theft is a disturbingly common crime.
• know wage theft is a disturbingly common<00:19:10.880><c> crime.
• As a result, wealth inequality wages.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The weeks when there were no wages.
• Unemployment insurance compensation is a partial wage replacement. It is not full wage replacement.
• </c> insurance compensation is a partial wage insurance compensation is a partial wage replacement.<01
• It is not full wage replacement.
• </c> previously, UI is partial wage previously, UI is partial wage replacement. replacement. replacement

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Where do you get $324 million of economic impact or $75 million of household wages?
• </c><01:13:50.280><c> for</c> industry that also pays these wages for industry that also pays these wages
• There are 41 states that tax wage income that do tax capital gains.
• </c><01:28:50.400><c> income</c><01:28:50.719><c> do</c> uh uh 41 states that tax wage income do uh uh
• 41 states that tax wage income do tax<01:28:51.199><c> capital</c><01:28:51.719><c> gains</c><01:28:

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails unanimously.
• Motion<00:46:46.480><c> prevails</c><00:46:46.960><c> unanimously.</c> Motion prevails unanimously.
• Motion prevails unanimously. Thank<00:46:49.800><c> you.

Committee: House Ethics

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. The bill is referred to the general register. make sure she's not forgotten.
• &gt;&gt; The<00:43:06.720><c> motion</c><00:43:07.040><c> prevails.
• ><00:43:07.760><c> The</c><00:43:07.920><c> bill</c><00:43:08.079><c> is</c> &gt;&gt; The motion prevails
• The bill is &gt;&gt; The motion prevails.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are, I guess, the prevailing assumption right now is it looks like the federal rulemaking may not
• /c><00:55:49.280><c> I</c><00:55:49.440><c> guess</c><00:55:49.520><c> the</c><00:55:49.680><c> prevailing
• We are I guess the prevailing happen.
• We are I guess the prevailing uh<00:55:51.839><c> assumption</c><00:55:52.400><c> right</c><00:55:52.559

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 13 and heard several bills, with most testimony focused on House Bill 2340, an emergency appropriation for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui wildfire exposure study and Maui Health Registry. Supporters described the program as a critical, community-based response to the Maui fires that provides health screenings, mental health support, referrals, and workforce training. Testifiers said the study has identified serious health issues, including respiratory problems, heavy metal exposure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia, and several emphasized that the program has saved lives and should be expanded to reach more children and underserved residents. Committee members also noted broad written support from medical, public health, and community organizations. The committee then heard House Bill 65, HD1, on human and community resilience, which would fund development of a Human and Community Resilience Institute. The dean testifying for the University of Hawaii said the institute would take a data-driven, community-based approach to food and nutritional security, especially given Hawaii’s high food insecurity rate and the loss of SNAP-related positions. House Bill 6005, also on the agenda, drew testimony in support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and others, though the transcript excerpt does not include the bill’s full description. The committee also heard House Bill 1605, HD1, expanding the Hawaii National Guard state tuition assistance program to graduate degrees; the Department of Defense, Hawaii Army National Guard, and University of Hawaii supported it, and members clarified that it is a state program separate from the federal GI Bill, though it may sometimes be combined depending on eligibility. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1967, HD1, on permitting workforce development, which would implement recommendations of the speed task force by creating a permitting workforce pipeline with community colleges and coordinating with state and county permitting agencies. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the University of Hawaii supported the measure. House Bill 2139, HD1, on invasive species, would fund research on treatment methods for the Queensland Longhorn Beetle; DLNR, the Farm Bureau, CGAPS, University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers, farmers, and others supported it, citing damage to native trees, culturally important plants, and crops such as cacao, and noting promising early results from nematode biocontrol trials. The final bill heard was House Bill 2383, HD1, establishing a statewide workforce PELL grant framework for short-term training programs; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Workforce Development Council, and the University of Hawaii testified, and a committee discussion followed about how responsibilities would be divided among DIR, WDC, and the governor’s certification role. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, we just had a minimum wage increase, and that minimum wage increase is great for people
• that that minimum wage increase is um, that that minimum wage increase is great<01:26:56.880><c> for<
• </c> Uh so anybody who loses a minimum wage Uh so anybody who loses a minimum wage job<01:27:10.560><
• Maybe their wages wouldn't go up job.
• </c> sustainable wages for these individuals. sustainable wages for these individuals.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um we talk about um someone who prevails um we talk about um someone who prevails in<01:24:04.159
• uh result of it am I am I am prevailing uh result of it am I am I am I<01:24:18.719><c> mixing</c><01
• That means that a lawyer who would take this case would not get paid unless and until they prevail and
• at any point in the who pre who prevails at any point in the proceeding<01:30:20.840><c> shall</c><01
• but it does say they that will prevail but it does say that<02:00:59.320><c> it</c><02:00:59.520><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on HB 584, which would bar New Hampshire and its political subdivisions from enforcing mandates, orders, or similar directives from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum. Prime sponsor Representative Green described the bill as a sovereignty measure and offered an amendment to clarify language, including replacing a reference to entities that “create and enforce policies” with language covering enforcement of policies, mandates, orders, requirements, edicts, or directives. Supporters argued the bill was a preemptive safeguard against outside influence and cited concerns about pandemic-era public health measures and international organizations. Opponents, including the American Heart Association, warned it could chill local policymaking and limit the ability of communities to use outside research or guidance. The chair closed the hearing on HB 584 after testimony concluded. The committee then moved to HB 580-FN, relative to retaliatory defamation in domestic violence and sexual violence cases. Representative Anita Burroughs, the prime sponsor, said the bill is intended to protect people who report sexual assault, sexual harassment, abuse, or domestic violence from retaliatory defamation suits, so long as statements are made in good faith and without malice. She also said the bill preserves the ability of accused persons to defend their names. Burroughs explained that the proposal was prompted by a survivor’s experience and was meant to address the chilling effect of expensive litigation on reporting misconduct. Testimony on HB 580 was generally supportive. Witnesses said the bill would help survivors speak out without fear of meritless lawsuits and described retaliatory defamation as a tool used to silence or intimidate accusers. Burroughs noted the bill was informed by anti-SLAPP principles and referenced high-profile defamation cases as examples of the cost and pressure of litigation. No vote was taken in the portion of the transcript provided; the hearing on HB 580 was opened and testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, we do access the federal hub on people's wage data.
• We have access to the Department of Economic Security wage data there, and so where we can verify it
• Um we have access to wage data security.
• Um we have access to wage data there<00:26:08.480><c> and</c><00:26:08.720><c> so</c><00:26:08.880><c
• </c><00:26:56.240><c> are</c> pull down assuming their um wages are pull down assuming their um wages

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Employers can then choose to provide wage replacement benefits for either birth or adoption, caring for
• This amendment prohibits payment of benefits from being considered as wages in lieu of workers' compensation

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on Tuesday, March 31, with 11 members present for a quorum. The committee first took up House Bill 826, which would modernize insurance referral rules to allow referrals by website or email address rather than only by name or phone number. After adopting a technical amendment set, the bill’s sponsor’s representative said the measure had been worked out with independent agents and that prior concerns had been addressed; the committee reported HB 826 as amended without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 591, a bill creating a voluntary private-market paid family leave insurance product. The sponsor explained it would not create a state program or use taxpayer dollars, but would allow insurers to offer coverage for wage replacement tied to birth, adoption, caregiving, or military-related leave. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then a second amendment clarifying that benefit payments are not wages in lieu of workers’ compensation and do not interrupt claim prescription; after that, HB 591 was reported with amendments without objection. Before adjourning, the committee announced that House Bill 625 would be voluntarily deferred to the following week, and House Bills 751 and 771 would also be deferred until next week or possibly the next day if the sponsor provided notice. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it wages? Is it better opportunities? Is it burnout? Do we have a sense of what's driving folks?
• We found that the top drivers that influenced retention were wages and benefits, agency and employer
• ><c> better</c><00:31:30.519><c> opportunities</c><00:31:31.200><c> is</c><00:31:31.320><c> it</c> wages
• is it better opportunities is it wages is it better opportunities is it I'm<00:31:31.639><c> burnt</
• </c> influenced retention um were uh wages influenced retention um were uh wages and<00:32:08.480><c>

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court in 1982 and to prevail. And this was Central Machinery v. Arizona Tax Commission.
• And young people would come to my father and they say, you know, how come, you know, we prevailed in

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee began with a series of presentations highlighting tribal communities as part of rural economic development. Representative Mae Peshlakai described Legislative District 6, emphasizing its large geographic size, the eight tribal nations within it, and the cultural and scenic importance of the Navajo Nation and other tribes. Governor Stephen Roe Lewis then presented on the Gila River Indian Community, focusing on its history, Hohokam heritage, water rights, the MAR-5 aquifer recharge project, cultural traditions, and the importance of collaboration with state lawmakers. Members praised the presentations and noted the need for greater attention to tribal issues in the legislature. The committee then took up SB 1016, with a strike-everything amendment that moved the property-owner petition requirement earlier in the process for municipal improvement districts and allowed certain notice and protest requirements to be waived. Supporters, including the mayors of Camp Verde and Clarkdale, said the change would improve transparency, reduce financial risk for small towns, and help rural communities build needed infrastructure such as wastewater systems, water lines, and housing-related improvements. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and passed SB 1016 on a 5-0 vote, with one member present and one absent. Next, the committee considered SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, using a strike-everything amendment that would allow municipalities to create expedited plan review and permitting for qualified workforce housing projects and exempt project proceeds from the state portion of the prime contracting sales tax. Habitat for Humanity representatives said the measure would lower carrying costs and help build more affordable homes, while one member noted the tax exemption would reduce general fund revenue but supported the bill as a targeted tradeoff to address housing shortages. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1401 by a 5-1 vote. The meeting concluded with Representative Myron Sosec’s presentation on barriers to economic development on the Navajo Nation and other tribal lands. He discussed lower workforce participation, higher unemployment and poverty, limited access to capital, trust-land financing barriers, dual taxation, infrastructure deficits, and delays caused by federal and tribal review processes. He also highlighted Navajo economic strategies such as loan guarantees, renewable energy development, and tourism investments, and urged state action on tax reform, matching funds, and annual tribal field hearings. The committee then adjourned.