Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:24.101> [snorts] treatment programming. [snorts] treatment programming.
• <00:02:59.280> for least two evidence-based programs for least two evidence-based programs
• So there are the programs they offer.
• Um, I So, the programming is there.
• I would say the entire program.

Keywords: Call to Order 00:17 Department of Corrections 01:35 Community Transitional Services 06:47 Administrative Office of the Courts 23:06 Department of Criminal Justice Training/ KSP 45:49 Adjournment 59:14, 958, all

Summary: The Public Safety and Judiciary Committee met without a quorum, so approval of the January 3, January 20, and February 3 minutes was postponed. The committee then heard an update from the Department of Corrections on halfway house and Recovery Kentucky funding and operations. Deputy Commissioner Hillary Daily said DOC contracts for up to 1,752 halfway house beds and 780 Recovery Kentucky beds, with 16 halfway houses and 13 Recovery Kentucky centers statewide. She reported 6,329 admissions in fiscal year 2025, average daily populations of 1,041 in halfway houses and 494 in Recovery Kentucky, and explained that Recovery Kentucky placements are more restrictive, generally excluding violent and sex offenders, while halfway houses serve probationers, parolees, and sex offenders who need treatment. She also described programming such as MRT, parenting, adult basic education, and trauma-focused services, and said some facilities offer supervised visitation. Daily said no new funding request was included in the current budget, though DOC has sought rate increases in prior cycles. Community Transitional Services director Barbara Stum also testified in support of halfway houses as re-entry and substance abuse treatment centers. She said CTS primarily serves men coming out of prison or returning to prison who need treatment, and that halfway houses provide security, accountability, treatment, employment support, and help with home placement. Stum said the state moved substance abuse treatment into the community in 2010 to avoid sending people back to prison for treatment, and argued halfway houses are the least expensive form of incarceration. She cited daily rates of $33.61 for CTS beds and DOC figures of $37.33 to $44.33 per day, compared with higher prison and jail costs, and said reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2019. She said staffing and supplies are the main pressure points, with counselor pay below market rates, and noted two counselor vacancies. A former resident, Michael Bird, testified that CTS helped him recover and re-enter the community successfully. The committee also received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of the video arraignment/video conferencing system. AOC officials Zach Ramsey and Charles Buyers said the system is now fully implemented in all courtrooms and is used for video arraignments and other Zoom-based court proceedings. Buyers described the pandemic-era transition from older, inconsistent equipment to improvised laptop/webcam setups, then to a more integrated vendor-supported system with touchscreen controls and a judicial support specialist position for training and operation. He said 324 courtrooms are already up to the current standard, with 128 remaining on an older bundle, and that there are no technical barriers to continued use. AOC said it is seeking $3.8 million in recurring annual funding to keep the systems upgraded and current, and plans to upgrade 46 systems in fiscal year 2026 across 15 counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your intent is that they would not be excluded from this program?
• The goal of the unemployment program in Texas shouldn't be more unemployment.
• These programs have been exceptional for them.
• We think that has not been such a successful program, nor do we even like it very much.
• We think that has not been such a successful program, nor do we even like it very much.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Tedrick Woods, followed by routine chamber actions including excusing Senator Gutierrez and receiving House messages that the House had passed HB 21 and HB 49. Senators also recognized advocates visiting the gallery on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis awareness and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including HCR 66, by voice vote. The Senate then took up and passed a series of measures, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Among the bills finally passed were HJR 2, which would prohibit state death taxes; HB 206, limiting counties from requiring cash bonds for pipeline construction; HB 517, barring property owners associations from fining homeowners for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions; HB 2756, requiring TDCJ correctional officers to receive de-escalation and behavioral health training; HB 451, expanding screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk among children in DFPS and TJJD custody; SB 705, cleaning up the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board; SB 2017, creating an offense for burnouts and wheelies; SB 1858, expanding body armor grant eligibility to ISDs; SB 1400, directing a study on transfer-student outcomes for community college funding; SB 2764, requiring notice to manufactured home buyers about converting homes to real property; SB 748, a licensing cleanup bill on laser hair removal; SB 2519, restricting certain ad valorem tax uses and bonds after amendment; SB 2878, the courts bill with amendments on Brazoria County courts and youth diversion provisions; SB 466, allowing families to request fetal death certificates at any gestational age; SB 1608, requiring timely physical exams for inpatient mental health admissions; SB 1730, limiting civil damages claims arising from certain uses of force or deadly force; SB 2417, clarifying Attorney General antitrust investigation work product and discovery rules; and SB 1946, creating a family violence, criminal homicide prevention task force. The Senate also passed HB 3204, renaming and updating the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, and SB 1986, requiring opioid warning labels. Several bills drew brief debate or amendments. Senators discussed broader HOA reform while considering HB 517, and SB 2203 on TCEQ discovery procedures was amended to require party motions, set a 15-day expiration for certified issues, and limit hearing abatement. SB 2017 was amended to change the mens rea language from knowingly to intentional. SB 2519 was narrowed by amendment to a forward-looking policy statement separating maintenance-and-operation taxes from debt-service taxes. SB 2878 also received amendments to reduce the number of new Brazoria County courts and add youth diversion and crisis-response provisions. SB 466 prompted a floor debate over whether fetal death certificates are appropriate for pre-20-week losses, with supporters emphasizing family closure and opponents arguing the document has no estate-related purpose. SB 1730 also prompted questions about the relationship between criminal findings and civil liability in self-defense cases. The session concluded with additional House and Senate measures being signed in the presence of the Senate and continued consideration of SB 2177, a grant program to help local law enforcement solve violent and sexual offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program that was defrauded by bad actors.
• We're the investigators and prosecutors, but we aren't the administrators of the program.
• It was a pandemic-era federal government program, so it doesn't exist the same way now.
• They go through and talk about specifically the program that was being defrauded.
• the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, there is not funding associated in the budget with this program.
• The whole program is geared to taking care of the children.
• The whole program is geared to taking care of the individual child.
• Every other managed care program is under AHCA.
• AHCA is handling the whole program now.

Summary: The committee met to consider a large agenda of health and human services bills, moving quickly because of a two-hour time limit. Early measures reported favorably included SB 976 on challenges to court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, SB 306 on Medicaid provider network access and after-hours availability, and SB 584 on housing supports for college students and youth in extended foster care. SB 1412 on home health regulation modernization also passed, with one support appearance from the Home Care Association. Members then approved several bills focused on research and care delivery, including SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF with an adopted amendment adding academic medical centers, SB 524 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 1156 revising a Medicaid home health aide program for medically fragile children, and SB 1490 transferring and redesigning the managed care program for critically ill children. SB 1174 on foster home licensure transfers, SB 1620 implementing mental health and substance use commission recommendations, SB 1568 revising e-prescribing exemptions, and SB 788 on veterans nursing home beds were also reported favorably. The committee had more extensive debate on SB 1270, the Department of Health agency package, which included provisions on vaccination status, medical marijuana background screening, licensing and compact issues, and sovereign immunity for volunteer dental workers; it passed after an amendment and several members voiced concerns about patient treatment and “voting power” language. SB 1606 on patient access to records drew strong opposition from providers and health information professionals over privacy, HIPAA, and administrative burdens; it was initially reported unfavorably, then reconsidered and ultimately passed after a motion to reconsider. Other bills reported favorably included SB 1736 on insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives, SB 1808 on patient refunds from providers, SB 1842 on referral disclosure of network status, SB 1354 on behavioral health managing entity oversight, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies with informed consent requirements, and SPB 7032 on presumptive Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals, which was submitted and reported as a committee bill. The meeting ended after all agenda items were handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which is a federal matching program, and the manufacturing assistance program.
• . manufacturing assistance program which manufacturing assistance program which many<00:34:15.800>
• We’re combining B16 into one program so that way HTA will just have three programs to manage.
• from that program ID.
• There is a high-demand program.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• colleagues, please join me in recognizing students from the Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program
• In recognizing students from the Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program as they're standing just
• This program includes visits to the state capital and state agencies to meet with individuals firsthand
• , The goal of any health and human services program has got to be self-sufficiency.
• We will not allow any resources, state resources, to go to any program that is not housing first.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through privileges of the floor recognizing Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program students and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The body also approved the Senate journals and took up several gubernatorial appointments, including confirmations to the Court Reporters Board and the California Law Revision Commission, each approved by roll call vote. The chamber then considered SCR 136 marking the 50th anniversaries of the California Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy. Supporters emphasized coastal access, habitat protection, public trails, and resilience, while one senator argued the commission can overrule local control and slow development. The resolution passed 27-4. The Senate also adopted SR 68 for Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with broad support focused on survivor advocacy and accountability, and SCR 130 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, which passed unanimously. Several bills were then approved on unanimous roll call, including SB 1058 on school nutrition procurement, SB 930 on encryption for school exam proctoring, SB 917 on winery sales at farmers’ markets, SB 1002 on continuity of out-of-state telehealth care, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment, SB 1285 on juvenile record dismissals, and SB 969 on remote developmental services. Later, SCR 131 called for an urgent, coordinated response to unsheltered homelessness, emphasizing interim shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services. Supporters said the state must stop normalizing encampments and better coordinate resources; one senator objected that the resolution did not sufficiently address self-sufficiency or alternatives to housing-first approaches. The resolution passed 34-0. The Senate also adopted SCR 157 honoring school bus drivers, approved the consent calendar, heard committee announcements, and adjourned in memory of Sandy Steers, a conservation advocate and longtime executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Transcript Highlights:

• is our challenge grant program, and I'll speak some of the benefits and impact that program is making
• <00:25:29.360> each of Kentucky awards 400 STEM degrees each of Kentucky awards 400 STEM degrees
• So when challenge grant program.
• To date, we've grant program itself.
• program. Uh include facility expansions. program. Uh include facility expansions.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the August 21, 2025 minutes. The main presentation came from Brandon Reid of the Kentucky Office of Agriculture Policy, who reported that implementation of the Kentucky Agriculture Economic Development Board created by Senate Bill 28 and House Joint Resolution 31 is ahead of schedule. He said the board has been appointed and has met several times, has adopted guidelines and an application process, and has launched its application on the KDA website. He also noted new staffing, including a project manager, and said the office is already working on projects, though some are confidential because of coordination with the Economic Development Cabinet and nondisclosure agreements. Members praised the effort and emphasized the importance of having agriculture represented in economic development work. Reid also described ongoing outreach by Commissioner Jonathan Shell, including farmer appreciation and classroom visits across the state. The committee then heard from Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Bluegrass Ag Tech Development Corp. executive director Jacob Ball about the Bluegrass Ag Tech Development Corp., a public-private partnership involving Lexington-Fayette, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky, and Altech. They said the organization aims to make Kentucky a national and international hub for ag tech, and that it has already awarded challenge grants to startups. Ball explained that the program focuses on animal protein, nutrition, sustainability, mid-size farm solutions, and Kentucky traditions such as distilling and equine. He reported that two rounds of grants have totaled $925,000, with the first round’s seven companies leveraging that into nearly $7 million in follow-on investment, supporting 56.5 Kentucky jobs and creating more than a dozen new jobs. The presentation also highlighted statewide outreach, including applications and engagement from counties across Kentucky, and the goal of expanding participation in eastern Kentucky. Members expressed support for both initiatives and discussed the value of agriculture-specific expertise in economic development. Reid said the Department of Agriculture and the Economic Development Cabinet maintain regular communication and that the new board gives agriculture a seat at the table for future site and industry recruitment efforts. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We expanded our LifeSet program, which serves youth ages 16 into early adulthood.
• The program is an individualized, evidence-based program.
• And then I did want to highlight our workforce resilience program, which is a really incredible program
• As I said, I'm Malcolm Hightower with Casey Family Programs.
• So how do we look at Casey Family Programs?

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, there is not funding associated in the budget with this program.
• The whole program is geared to taking care of the children. ...that individual child.
• The whole program is geared to taking care of the individual child.
• Every other managed care program is under AHCA.
• AHCA is handling the whole program now.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to consider a full agenda of bills, moving quickly through 20 measures and several amendments. Early bills reported favorably included SB 976 on procedures for challenging court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, SB 306 on Medicaid managed care provider access outside regular business hours, and SB 584 on housing supports for foster youth and college students, which drew supportive testimony from former foster youth and was backed by members as a way to improve stability and educational opportunity. The committee also approved SB 1412 to modernize home health regulations and SB 1800 to create a Parkinson’s research consortium at USF, with members citing the need for more research and future funding opportunities. The committee adopted amendments on several bills, including technical and conforming changes to the Parkinson’s bill and other measures. The committee then advanced a series of health care and child welfare bills. SB 524 added Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening; SB 1156 revised the Home Health Aide Program for medically fragile children, including training, reimbursement, and work-hour flexibility; and SB 1490 reorganized services for medically fragile children by shifting program administration to AHCA and requiring a redesign plan for the Medicaid waiver. SB 1174 allowed foster home and child-caring agency licenses to be amended when a foster parent relocates, and SB 1620 implemented selected recommendations from the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, including a new research center at USF and school-based behavioral health review requirements. SB 1568 revised e-prescribing exemptions, and SB 78 authorized certain veterans’ nursing home beds and related certificate-of-need transfers. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate or supportive testimony. Several bills prompted more extensive discussion and some opposition. CS for CS SB 1270, the Department of Health agency package, included provisions on vaccination-related patient rights, medical marijuana reporting, background screening, temporary licensure, compact participation, and sovereign immunity for volunteer dentists; it passed despite concerns from Senators Berman, Brodeur, and Harrell about vaccination language and board/voting-power provisions. CS for SB 1606 on patient access to records drew strong opposition from physicians and health information professionals over privacy, security, fines, and portal access; it was initially reported unfavorably, then reconsidered and ultimately reported favorably as a committee bill. CS for SB 1736, allowing insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives for individuals with developmental disabilities, and SB 1808, requiring timely refunds to patients, both passed. CS for SB 1842, requiring referring providers to help patients determine whether referred providers are in-network, also passed over concerns about burden on small practices. The committee also advanced SB 1354, a behavioral health oversight bill requiring audits, performance reporting, and system transparency measures for managing entities, and SB 1768, which authorizes physicians to perform certain stem cell therapies using specified products and requires informed consent; both drew supportive comments but also concerns about patient understanding and oversight. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7032 as a committee bill to create presumptive Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals during redetermination, and after reconsideration it reported SB 1606 favorably as a committee bill. The meeting ended with members noting their recorded votes on select tabs and adjourning after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you've seen on a resume, she holds a bachelor's degree in education from Southwestern Oklahoma State
• professional counselor and supervisor with extensive experience in behavioral health leadership, program
• She has her bachelor's degree in psychology from Oklahoma State and her master's of arts in psychology

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• utilized in an optional pricing program utilized in an optional pricing program may<03:12:51.200
• release, including clemency, pardon, pardons, juvenile and young adult programs, adult programs, earned
• . programs. programs.
• We have nurses who hold a diploma, associate's degree, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, including
• and doctoral degrees, including PhDs. and doctoral degrees, including PhDs.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 735 expands Florida's boating improvement program to allow for much needed funding for parking for
• The other thing, being someone that has a degree in biological sciences, I went back and checked at Encyclopedia
• When I got my degree in biological sciences, there were only five kingdoms—everything that's alive, or
• When I got my degree in 1995, there were five kingdoms. In 1993, there's eight kingdoms.
• And this is certainly no longer the case because the reality is that this applies to the broader program

Summary: The committee heard and approved several measures. HB 735 expanded Florida’s boating improvement program to fund parking for boat trailers at public ramps and offered a 10% sovereign submerged land lease discount for manufacturers using environmental best management practices; it passed unanimously. HB 4021 expanded the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District in Manatee County by 640 acres and was reported favorably. CS for HB 371, which promotes nature-based methods and green/gray infrastructure for coastal resilience, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from resilience and environmental groups and committee members. The committee then took up HJR 1325, a proposed constitutional amendment to create an elected Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE) with authority to audit, investigate, and report on waste, fraud, and abuse in state and local government. The proposal would eliminate the lieutenant governor position, the Government Efficiency Task Force, and the legislature’s current auditor appointment, with many implementation details deferred to a future bill. Members debated the scope of the new office, its relationship to the Auditor General and inspectors general, whether it should cover the legislative and judicial branches, staffing, and the comparison to federal DOGE efforts. An amendment making a minor wording change was adopted, and the resolution passed 23-? with a favorable report after a split vote. The committee also approved two Gulf of America bills. HB 575 redesignated the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and CS for HB 549 required Florida’s academic standards and newly adopted instructional materials to reflect the federal designation for materials acquired on or after July 1, 2025. Both measures drew criticism from members who argued the renaming was politically motivated, historically insensitive, and potentially confusing for students, while supporters said Florida should align with federal action. HB 575 passed and CS for HB 549 passed 18-7. Finally, HB 4071, a local bill adjusting the boundary between Coral Springs and Parkland in Broward County by about 8.7 acres, was amended and reported favorably with support from both cities and the Broward delegation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Degree felony in 2020.
• What's the difference between a second-degree felony and a third-degree felony that gets us to the place
• By elevating the offense from a third-degree to a second-degree felony, this bill provides a necessary
• is a third-degree felony; committed against a peace officer is still a third-degree felony.
• Really appreciate it. citizen is a third-degree felony committed against a peace officer is still a third-degree

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these programs help students with much-needed career pathways and actually...
• There are as many debates about which program can teach.
• . ...acknowledges the rehabilitative nature of this program.
• And this is a great program. We should give more money.
• And this is a great program. We should give more money.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long floor file of bills. Early measures passed with little or no debate, including AB 698 on local transfer taxes and affordable housing analysis, AB 456 on mobile home sales, AB 1129 on reportable infant health conditions, AB 69 on Fair Plan insurance notices and voluntary market searches, AB 357 on expedited student and faculty housing permits, AB 383 on firearms code cleanups, AB 426 on drones interfering with emergency response, AB 825 on energy affordability and transmission financing, and AB 699 on ballot transparency for local tax and bond measures. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan margins, while AB 825 drew the most extended debate over whether it would lower costs or expand state control of energy infrastructure; it ultimately passed 45-5. The most contentious item was AB 84, which would strengthen oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools and tighten accountability for charter spending and operations. Supporters argued it was needed to stop fraud and misuse of public education dollars, citing major scandals and audit findings, while opponents warned it would harm legitimate charter schools, reduce educational options, and disproportionately affect rural and special-needs students. Several members said they supported the bill only to keep negotiations going, and others urged more targeted or delayed action. After extensive debate and multiple amendments, the Assembly passed AB 84 on a 41-22 vote. The chamber also took up AB 610, a housing bill that would require cities and counties to disclose planned housing restrictions and limit new constraints for three years after housing element approval. The author framed it as a certainty and transparency measure to help address the state’s housing shortage, while noting continued discussions with local governments and housing advocates. The transcript ends with the bill’s presentation and request for an aye vote, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• On healthy rivers and landscape program, there's Healthy Rivers and Landscape Program, there's been a
• So previously that program, if auction revenues came below $130 million, the program would be offset
• , cap-and-invest program has.
• like the Farmer Program, but very much so, the AB617 Community Air Protection Program that have made
• So we'd like to see robust funding for the Wildlife Coexistence Program for the Wolf Program at CDFW,

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a master's student at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and I am pursuing a degree in higher
• I'm a second-year doctoral student in the Natural Resources Science and Management program in the School
• in the school of food and a and program in the school of food and a and I'm<00:09:28.920> honored
• As a reintroduction, I have two degrees from the University of Minnesota and understand the academic
• <00:36:31.960> from reintroduction I have two degrees from reintroduction I have two degrees

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First degree felony. has a minimum of five years imprisonment.
• Chairman Wilson mentioned the academic security and counter-exploitation program.
• This grant program will be housed in the office of the governor.
• enforcement. enforcement programs which account for 30% of the safety programs.
• Porter to British for her master's degree, but later. He caught her daughter.

Bills: HB17, HB34, HB41, HB 118, HB 119, HB 127, HB 128, HB 129, HB 130, HB132, HB133, HB17, HB41, HB118, HB119, HB127, HB128, HB129, HB130, HB132, HB133

Keywords: foreign ownership, real estate, national security, designated countries, Texas property law, lobbying, foreign adversaries, compensation prohibition, transparency, civil penalties, higher education, foreign adversary, research security, trade secrets, academic partnerships, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy

Transcript Highlights:

• In its rural transformation program.
• Subject to your questions. administer that new program. administer that new program.
• President Trump ending DEI programs and programs on environmental justice.
• . program. program.
• For example, I cite the refugee resettlement program because it is a federal program.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The pilot program worked; food truck operators liked it.
• We learned some lessons from the pilot program and are implementing a few changes.
• Counties can charge what it actually costs to run the program, no more, no less.
• program, a revolving loan fund like this.
• The ordinance states that we cannot work when the temperature is 95 degrees or above.

Bills: HB386, HB1449, HB1701, HB2142, HB2675, HB2857, HB3063, HB3171, HB3641, HB3732, HB4045, HB4370, HB4491, HB4505, HB4626, HB5267, HB5356

Keywords: construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million

Transcript Highlights:

• ensuring that the elderly waiver program ensuring that the elderly waiver program receives<01:19
• , into us throughout our entire program, into us throughout our entire program, from<01:44:00.880
• An RN received this education in a two-year associate or four-year baccalaureate degree nursing program
• degree nursing program. degree nursing program.
• . operated program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all