Transcript Highlights:

• So the ERCOT grid or the Texas grid. is 90% of the Texas electric load. 75% of the land, more than 1,200
• To now, we have X number of new jobs in Texas, new businesses in Texas.
• Texas, right?
• And Texas is a.
• University of Texas? Well, that's what I said.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• A pause, though, for five years in any new state building codes recognizes that we have.
• In our state building code, but today's bill only says that we won't do additional harm.
• Assembly Bill 312 by Assemblymember Alanis, an act relating to agricultural theft.
• When agricultural theft occurs, our county agriculture commissioners become responsible for managing
• This bill is a simple update to the operations and enforcement efforts against agriculture theft.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their brick-and-mortar presence is only in the state of Texas, but they operate in about seven states
• I just want to make sure and understand that although they operate out of Texas, that the dollars, the
• That although they operate out of Texas, the dollars the Oklahoma taxpayers have put into this program
• It comes directly from the Oklahoma Administrative Code that already regulates.
• It comes directly from the Oklahoma Administrative Code that already regulates the department.

Bills: SB1421 , SB1427 , SB1484 , SB1503 , SB1553 , SB1557 , SB1564 , SB1566 , SB1567 , SB1591 , SB1642 , SB1794 , SB1837 , SB2044

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard and advanced a series of health-related bills. Senate Bill 1503 would allow a digital abortion-related service provider to participate in the Choosing Childbirth grant program without requiring a brick-and-mortar Oklahoma presence; it passed 10-2. Senate Bill 1553, dealing with appeals reviewed by psychologists, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1427, as amended, would add antibody screening for type 1 diabetes with parental consent and Medicaid reimbursement for the Medicaid population; it passed 9-3. Senate Bill 1642, allowing physicians to prescribe opioids in divided quantities during the initial seven-day period, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1421, requiring non-physical intervention training for direct-care staff and volunteers in certain mental health facilities, also passed unanimously. The committee also approved several behavioral health and rural care measures. Senate Bill 1837 would ask the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek a federal exemption so rural providers of home- and community-based services can also provide case management and person-centered planning; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1566, aimed at expanding access to autism diagnosis and ABA therapy by broadening who may diagnose ASD and allowing telemedical supervision of behavioral techs, passed 9-3 with title off due to fiscal concerns. Senate Bill 1567, a cleanup bill for APRN prescriptive authority and medical board fee language, passed 9-3. Senate Bill 1794 would create a statewide behavioral health vacancy registry to help place people in crisis more quickly; it passed 11-1 with title off after fiscal concerns were raised. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 1484, requiring medical examiner investigations of SIDS and sudden unexpected infant deaths to include review of immunization and medical records and adding parental notification/consent provisions unless a crime is suspected; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1557, transferring ABA therapist licensing duties from DHS to a licensing board, passed after an amendment shifting the board involved. Senate Bill 1564, requiring a standardized billing code and reimbursement rate for certain dental surgeries under general anesthesia, passed 11-1 with title off because of a $1.9 million fiscal note. Finally, Senate Bill 1591, as amended, would cap THC in medical marijuana edibles at 10 mg per edible and 100 mg per package to reduce child poisonings; it passed 10-2. Several bills were amended during discussion, and multiple members noted fiscal concerns, parental consent, and access-to-care issues throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Women's Privacy Act.
• Justice has forgotten Texas.
• Central Texas.
• to the SDC in Texas.
• Texas.

Bills: SB7 , SB14 , SB 7 , SB 14

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I've seen people who have submitted materials that, not long ago, I saw a citation to a code section
• Is a real gap in the law by harmonizing the law of mandatory reporting under CANRA and Penal Code Section
• a court considering this would look at it in the same way that they look at very detailed building code
• The Penal Code defines person to include businesses.
• a broad ordinary meaning, and a violation is also subject to a private right of action under Penal Code

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• How important is that to the State of Texas citizens? Great question.
• You are seeking to amend section 660002 of the Utilities Code.
• If it's a Texas company, you want to make sure it remains a Texas company.
• This violates long-standing Texas policy regarding property rights.
• Not only in Texas, but Texas is unique, we say that often.

Bills: HB2838 , HB2964 , HB3213 , SB924

Committee: House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Policy of the federal tax code.
• that changed the tax code and tax policy.
• Tax rates in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
• And then we were taking them out of the code.
• Volatility to the tax code is an important consideration.

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• 38:31.440><c> Natural</c> chaired the Senate Agriculture, Natural chaired the Senate Agriculture, Natural
• He had a passion for agriculture.
• </c> agricultural issues. agricultural issues. and<00:58:14.480><c> you</c><00:58:14.640><c> know</c>
• <00:58:38.640><c> issues</c> agricultural issues agricultural issues every<00:58:41.040><c> time</c><
• </c> statute with the uniform election code. statute with the uniform election code.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second one is specifically for agriculture, for monitoring, preventing, and controlling damage...
• The second one is specifically for agriculture, for monitoring, preventing, and controlling damage to
• So this was brought to us by the agriculture community, something that they were a little bit concerned
• which preserves to the people of Idaho the right to hunt, fish, and trap, as well as 36-2012, Idaho Code
• and carry out the policy of the state in accordance with the provisions of the Idaho Fish and Game Code

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• So say there's a procedure and there's a code.
• This is a code cleanup bill, just for your background.
• Why can’t this be handled through the building code?
• Why can’t this be handled through the building code?
• Lots of building codes and zoning codes, which are also law.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can grow our agricultural sector. Okay. can grow our agricultural sector. Okay.
• operation for agriculture.
• Again, agriculture land should support the agriculture production.
• </c><00:18:28.559><c> agriculture</c> land should support the agriculture land should support the agriculture
• </c> agriculture production that we want. agriculture production that we want.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate in Agriculture Park and work with veterans. We do a lot of different things.
• A lot of schools have gardens now, and agriculture curriculum is expanding.
• They come to our Agriculture Park. And it is amazing to see. Well, first of all...
• My name is Lexi, and I am a registered dietitian with Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.
• We've seen challenges in, like I'm sure someone will bring up Texas. They had challenges.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been and always will be a proud agricultural state.
• We have been and always will be a proud agricultural state, but I will remind everyone that quantity
• The Agricultural Committee and the Natural Resources Committee have had fewer bills in the last decade
• If we are not good stewards of our natural resources, our agriculture will suffer.
• If we do not have good agricultural practices, our natural resources will suffer.

Bills: LB737 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB1216 , LB1256 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787 , LB365A , LB823 , LB900 , LB903 , LB940 , LB954 , LB1127 , LB1127A , LB1205 , LB1240 , LR293 , LR296 , LR422 , LR505 , LR507

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> within the tribal code. I'm not aware. within the tribal code. I'm not aware.
• </c> is no buffalo in our game code. is no buffalo in our game code.
• </c> That is going against any gaming code. That is going against any gaming code.
• </c> reference to your game code. reference to your game code. &gt;&gt; Yes. &gt;&gt; Yes.
• c> that was adopting a code a game code we that was adopting a code a game code we didn't<02:24:19.520

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Agriculture and Bio Security. Agriculture and Bio Security.
• Kevin Moore with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. >> Okay.
• Kevin Moore with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. >> Okay.
• Kevin Moore with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. >> Okay.
• </c><00:28:15.600><c> of</c> table one to title 49 the code of table one to title 49 the code of federal

Bills: SB2697 , SB2399 , SB2665 , SB2851 , SB3102 , SB2521 , SB3157

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The joint hearing of the Transportation and Labor and Technology committees considered HB 2097, which would allow administrative driver’s license revocation hearings to be held by interactive conference technology such as Zoom and permit electronic exchange of evidence. DOT and the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office supported the bill, saying Zoom hearings have worked well since 2021 and save time and money. Both committees passed HB 2097 with technical and nonsubstantive amendments. The Transportation Committee then heard HB 1163 on commercial driver licensing, HB 2113 on funding vegetation removal from the Kaola Stream drainage way, HB 2283 on port pilotage, HB 1588 on a noise detection camera program, and HB 2333 on airport special districts and aeronautics penalties. DOT asked for HB 1163 to use “non-domiciled” language to match federal rules, and the committee passed it with amendments. For HB 2113, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity said the project would likely need about $1 million, and the committee passed the bill with amendments while noting the funding would be reflected in the committee report rather than the measure itself. HB 2283 drew broad support from maritime and labor interests, but the committee deferred it, saying the Senate version was already moving and would be used instead. HB 1588 received support from DOT and several community and health-related testifiers who said noise from traffic is a serious problem, but the committee expressed concern about enforcement language and re-referred the bill to Judiciary/Ways and Means while still passing it forward. HB 2333 was supported by DOT and airline interests; after questions about airport loitering and sleeping rules, the committee passed it as is. In the final decision-making, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on HB 1163, HB 2113, HB 1588, and HB 2333, and deferred HB 2283.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's see here: Colorado, Texas, and Massachusetts all have a variety of versions of...
• Colorado, Texas, and Massachusetts all have a variety of versions of this.
• The Texas Education Code outlines that kindergarten and first grade students must be screened at the
• And in Texas... Not be before September so that they can have that initial exposure to reading.
• And in Texas for grade one, it's no later than January, so it falls along the same timeline for that

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. For dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund proposal to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, add flexibility for regional occupational centers, support justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, and allow funds for teacher professional development, along with a reduction in required instructional minutes for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding, saying it did not address a clear implementation barrier, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Members and public commenters largely supported the expansion, with some urging additional technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee then discussed the reading difficulty screener proposal, which includes $40 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for implementation costs and statutory changes that would delay formal screening until the 91st day for kindergarten and the 46th day for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align screening with sufficient exposure to instruction; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the investment but cautioned about the timing restrictions, and several members and public witnesses argued the proposed deadlines were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the structured timeline as a way to improve accuracy and reduce misidentification. On special education, Finance presented a proposal to increase the statewide base rate to $99 per ADA through a $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund augmentation, plus COLA and a negative growth adjustment. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be achieved with less funding; CDE strongly supported the increase, citing rising enrollment and local cost pressures, and district and SELPA representatives described large local funding gaps and growing expenditures. The committee also reviewed school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance and the Office of Public School Construction describing $1.5 billion in proposed bond spending, existing balances for new construction and modernization, and the use of bond authority for natural disaster recovery, including projects related to recent fires. For the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the committee heard about the Student Teacher Stipend Program, the Golden State Teacher Grant, state operations funding for misconduct investigations and SB 848 implementation, and a $250 million proposal to extend the Teacher Residency Grant Program; CTC supported the proposals and highlighted new data systems and technical assistance, while public testimony broadly backed the investments and urged continued or additional funding for teacher recruitment, literacy screening support, and special education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Junior Henry, originally from Red Oak, Texas, is a first-year letterman.
• Gentlemen from Texas. Introduction of special guests, Madam Speaker.
• And I also wanted to bring up what happened in Uvalde, Texas.
• The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Texas. Mr.
• Does the gentleman from Texas yield to an inquiry? Yes. Proceed.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 123-0. Members then used points of personal privilege to recognize National Police Week, honor fallen officers, and offer extended tributes to departing colleagues and a departing representative, followed by numerous introductions of special guests, interns, students, and visiting groups from schools and universities. The chamber then received Senate messages and committee reports before taking up House Bill 1839, 2921, and 3015 together. The sponsor described the measure as a technical correction to online age-verification language related to pornography, and members noted the bill had already passed the House and Senate overwhelmingly. The House concurred in Senate Amendment 1 by a vote of 104-30, then adopted the conference/TAFP motion and finally passed the package 112-25. Members next considered House Bill 2596 in conference committee. The sponsor explained the bill as a small-business health plan measure that also included a negotiated amendment expanding private insurance coverage for contraception from a six-month to a 12-month supply, while removing Senate-added blood pressure cuff language and adding a severability clause. After debate about the process and policy, the House adopted the conference report 120-26 and then third-read and passed the bill 119-27. The final major item was Senate Bill 905, creating the Missouri Ranger training program to allow school districts, if they choose, to place specially trained personnel with narrow law-enforcement powers in schools. Debate focused heavily on school safety, local control, funding, training, and whether armed personnel in schools would help or harm students. Supporters argued it would provide an optional, low-cost safety tool, especially for districts without school resource officers; opponents argued it would escalate fear, resemble a prison environment, and fail to address mental health and other root causes. The House moved the previous question, adopted the amendment, and continued debate on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am against this bill because it will undermine my work and research. search by Texas A&M, Texas State
• So I am working with a team that includes Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, the Texas Wildlife Association
• I am the mayor of Westlake Hills, Texas.
• Texas, Texas, that seal right there on the left-hand side. is a libel.
• Emily Rosalera Dove with Texas 2036.

Bills: SB434 , SB844 , SB898 , SB1177 , SB1214 , SB1454 , SB1920 , SB1927 , SB1935 , SB1965 , SB2010 , SB2046 , SB2068 , SB2073 , SB2183 , SB2260 , SB3034 , SB907

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Lauren Gamble. representing the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Public Health Coalition, the Texas
• Whole Blood Task Force, the Texas chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians, and the Texas
• There is a novel rotation program in the South Texas area.
• I'm here on behalf of the American Lung Association as well as the Texas Tobacco Control Code.
• I live in the tiny. town of Edgewood, Texas.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article II

Transcript Highlights:

• We have invited testimony beginning with the Texas Secretary of State, Texas Department of Public Safety
• , the Texas Association of Election Administrators, the County and District Clerks Association of Texas
• ... and outside the state of Texas.
• Those four pieces, they have their new Texas by Texas account, basically. right where you can go in and
• by the Texas Secretary of State.

Committee: House Elections