Transcript Highlights:

• No tax. and the education and general space support formula is not congruent with technical training
• Texas State Technical College has a long history. of proven performance and highly in training and highly
• have been pushing for the expansion of TSTC into the fast-growing regions of Texas for access to training
• will create a liable source of capital funding for TSTC allowing them to expand their technical training
• TSTC needs some big spaces to do some big training.

Bills: SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to bring people into our trains as well.
• Eligible uses of money expand some of those uses to include rent, equipment, training, compensation,
• This would just allow them to receive them for hours involving professional development and training
• Section six creates flexibility for training requirements for relative caregivers in FASD training and
• It requires six hours of annual in-service training for those relatives.

Bills: HF1367 , HF2732 , HF1897 , HF1424 , HF1383 , HF2728 , HF2863 , HF1685 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, we're going to do that by ending the train bond.
• Taxpayers are footing the bill for virtually the entire train.
• Of course, we're going to do that by ending the train bond.
• Taxpayers are footing the bill for virtually the entire train.
• Taxpayers are footing the bill for virtually the entire train.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 10 relating to ethics training general counsel, please introduce this item.
• No, I mean, there's not specific funding for trainings.
• We do have the ability to charge a fee for lobby trainings. So.
• We've sort of partnered with universities typically to have a space to do the training.
• We haven't been holding as many live trainings. as maybe the Sunset Commissioners would like us to.

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes. The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting. The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill essentially provides up to... 112 hours of protected leave for training purposes.
• House Bill 439 will ensure all dispatchers are trained and able to coach by standards. to perform CPR
• provided with this important life-saving instruction, even those without previous training.
• that they are not trained in now as the guidelines changed.
• Currently, we do not have those provisions or that full training in place.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• 59.279><c> preventing</c> that's training educators on preventing that's training educators on preventing
• We asked for training that school resource officers would be given, and we never got to see those training
• We asked for training that school resource officers would be given, and we never got to see those training
• We asked for training that school resource officers would be given, and we never got to see those training
• We asked for training that school resource officers would be given, and we never got to see those training

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the training trust fund. We appreciate the proposed amended language, or the new language.
• We already have our own training program. It's approved by the feds. We pay for it ourselves.
• Fund based on wages of the employees. ...apprentice and training fund based on wages of the employees
• Have you done an analysis with the workforce training groups as to how this would affect current work
• Have you done an analysis with the workforce training groups as to how this would affect current work

Summary: The committee first received a detailed New Mexico DOT District 5 presentation from Rhonda Lopez. She reviewed District 5’s budget, staffing vacancies, completed and ongoing special appropriations from 2020 through 2025, active construction projects, maintenance work, STIP and local government funding, and equipment needs. Members asked about a guardrail issue near U.S. 64, the status of the 5% local match for Transportation Project Fund projects, and the New Mexico 371/Navajo Route 36 intersection; DOT said the match agreements were in place or waived where eligible, and that the Navajo Nation funding agreement was nearly finalized. The chair then moved the agenda to bills before finishing the remaining presentations later. House Bill 270, dealing with contributions to apprenticeship and training programs on public works projects, was presented by Rep. Borrego as a follow-up to the 2024 workforce development and apprenticeship trust fund law. The bill would remove an exclusion for street, highway, bridge, road, utility, and maintenance contracts and require contributions unless a trade classification has no approved apprenticeship program. Associated Contractors and the Asphalt Pavement Association opposed the bill, arguing it would raise road project costs and duplicate existing training programs. Members raised concerns about notice, added costs, and whether contractors with existing programs would be paying twice. A motion to table failed on a tie vote, and a later motion to pass also failed on a tie vote, leaving the bill in committee and available for reconsideration. Ranking Member Brown then presented House Bill 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund, with a planned distribution beginning in 2029, including a 5% use for federal matching funds. The bill would also dedicate a portion of the gross receipts tax on electricity and redirect part of the motor vehicle excise tax to grow the fund. Associated Contractors and the Asphalt Pavement Association supported the concept, saying it would help sustain DOT and address the state’s road maintenance gap. Members questioned the electricity tax component, its effect on ratepayers and data centers, the interaction with SB 2 and bond financing, and how projects would be prioritized. A motion to pass failed on a tie vote, and the ranking member suggested the bill could be reconsidered with an amendment removing the electricity portion. The committee then heard a District 4 DOT presentation from assistant district engineer Cruz Sudoste, covering the district’s geography, budget, staffing, completed and active projects, STIP and local government programs, and equipment replacement needs. Members asked about school district uses of transportation project funds and the impact of aging equipment on repair costs. The presentation concluded without any vote or other action on the district report.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Amendment O, sponsored by Senator Wilson, require the Secretary of State to create an online training
• program for signature gatherers and for them to carry a certification of training on their person when
• Speaking to the amendment, wouldn't it be nice if there were some training on this?
• Training is just darn good, Mr. Chairman. Training is just darn good, Mr. Chairman.
• Training is good, and I think we can all agree on that.

Summary: The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on January 23, 2026, first taking executive action on several bills. The committee held SB 6035 and SB 5842 for another week, then worked through SB 5973 on initiative and referendum signature gathering rules. Members debated 12 amendments to a proposed substitute and the underlying bill, but none were adopted. The substitute would prohibit pay-per-signature and require 1,000 pre-filing signatures for initiatives; opponents argued it would burden the initiative process, while supporters said it would curb fraud and improve accountability. The committee then advanced SB 5892, SB 6081, SB 5877, SB 5968, and SB 6034, each on a due pass recommendation, with SB 6081 referred to the Transportation Committee and the others sent to Rules or Ways and Means as noted in the motions. During public hearing, the committee heard SB 5888, which would remove Senate confirmation for members of the Washington State Women's Commission. Senator Wellman said the change would align the commission with similar bodies and correct an inconsistency, and commission staff testified in support, saying the appointment process is already thorough and that the governor would retain appointment authority. The committee also heard SB 6123, expanding a public-records exemption for voluntarily supplied demographic information to local government employees; a Pierce County HR director supported the bill, saying it would help build trust while preserving aggregate reporting. The hearing on SB 5853, sponsored by Senator Wilson, drew strong support and no opposition; it would create a statewide emergency notification system for public officials to alert them to targeted threats, with the Secretary of State and Military Department involved in administration. Secretary of State staff said they supported the concept but wanted to work with the sponsor on implementation details, and the sponsor said he was willing to amend the bill to address those concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for training to continue parenting education services.
• This is for education and training for the DCFS Family Services staff, foster parents, and students.
• This is a new vendor that will be providing the training for the master principal program.
• This is also a new contract, and it is to provide training for the lead teacher pathway program.
• Amendment 6 is for meal services for the Civilian Student Training Program.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• But it'd just be like any other trainings that education facilities would have to do.
• With the education, there are lots of organizations that will do in-school training.
• Investigate and also the requirement that they attend training.
• department in a tri-county area to attend this free training, and they didn't attend.
• You know, they need to be trained.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2901 in executive session. After a brief explanation from the bill sponsor, the committee adopted a House Committee amendment ending in 0.07 that set a five-year expiration date and clarified where reports must be filed. The committee then rolled the amendment into a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute do pass by a roll call of 13 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 3000, which would fix the signature threshold for petition-driven audits by tying the required number of signatures to the gubernatorial election in effect when the petition process begins, rather than when signatures are submitted. The sponsor and the State Auditor’s office said the change would prevent the required number from shifting during the petition period and provide consistency. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 313 was then heard, a fentanyl-poisoning response bill that would require naloxone in public buildings, designate October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, require fentanyl education for students in grades 6 through 12, and require training and investigation procedures for law enforcement in drug-related deaths. The sponsor and multiple family members who lost loved ones to fentanyl strongly supported the bill, emphasizing prevention, access to Narcan, and more thorough death investigations. Committee members generally expressed support, raised questions about the definition of public buildings, school implementation, and funding, and testimony suggested opioid settlement money as a possible source. No committee action was taken on HB 313 in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• have received an appropriation project for years, their staff change, so it is really a constant training
• and Operations really believe that our clients are internal and external, so we are in constant training
• We're in training with the entities that we're working with, and internally and externally.
• Yes, I'm wondering, did this whole project require training or retraining of personnel?
• I was wondering if there's some type of training somewhere to show them or teach them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those have been the areas where we've been investing in training programs across the state.
• So these again are training students for specific occupations.
• They play a vital role in helping train individuals for the workforce.
• They would also then be required for their on-the-job training instructional hours...
• They've got the on-the-job training, and you've got the related technical instruction (RTI) involved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our officers have received training on these changes and will now receive continued refresher training
• We'll continue to receive refresher training, sorry.
• training.
• Our officers have received training on these changes and will receive continued refresher training.
• Our officers have received training on these changes and will receive continued refresher training.

Summary: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first took up the appointment of Joshua Kellum to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellum described his background in diversified land, agricultural, materials, and real estate operations and said he views himself as a conservationist. Senators questioned him closely about his development background, the balance of perspectives on the commission, his vote supporting the black bear hunt, and the use of Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds for the “Yes on 2” campaign. Supporters argued he is primarily a land steward and conservation-minded landowner, while opponents said the commission is already dominated by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend Kellum’s confirmation, with Senator Smith voting no and the rest of the voting members in favor. The committee then received a presentation from FWC on implementation of recently enacted boating and vessel laws. Bill Holcomb outlined changes under SB 1388 (the Boater Freedom Act), including limits on vessel stops and boarding, a new Florida Freedom Boater Safety Inspection decal, and revised rules for Springs Protection Zones. He also reviewed SB 164 on derelict and at-risk vessels, including new enforcement tools, a long-term anchoring permit, and updated penalties; HB 289, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties and education requirements; SB 830 on the disposition of migrant vessels; and HB 735 on water access facilities and boating infrastructure. Holcomb said FWC is in rulemaking, training officers, and updating forms and permitting systems to implement the laws. Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and whether penalties go back to the state, and about the Springs Protection Zone standard. Holcomb said the state can recover removal costs from responsible owners and that the new springs standard requires “significant harm” and that vessel activity be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make those determinations. He said Silver Glen Springs remains a proposed zone but was paused pending the new criteria and rulemaking. The committee took no further action on the presentation and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ensuring that school personnel are properly trained in CPR is essential for improving emergency response
• When it comes to medical emergencies, school nurses are often the most highly trained members on campus
• in public schools and add CPR training to this provision.
• They serve the administration, and they think they serve the... where they are not being trained that
• And I think TEA in the past has called, recalls the required board teamwork, training, team of eight.

Bills: SB2920 , SB2929 , SB2398 , SB865 , SB401 , SB2619 , SB2927 , SB1395 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB1635 , SB1581 , SB2008

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, center Higginbough just is there any training? Goes along with it?
• entails, who needs to receive that training.
• So you have to be trained to, most people who would use it would have. that basic simple training.
• Would be trained just like what Senator Dr. Campbell said.
• It's a pretty quick down and dirty training. If you see this, do this and call 911.

Bills: SB207 , SB611 , SB920 , SB1174 , SB1207 , SB1325 , SB1396 , SB1551 , SB1619

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, this kind book serves as the foundation of her upcoming local government training.
• training workshops with our local governments across the state.
• Also, the local government training will consist of 2 distinct types of workshops.
• So combining that local government training with the AM tool kit, this will set our local governments
• Now, as we look forward in our next phases of of our different actions that governmental training.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:21.639><c> programs</c> Workforce business training programs Workforce business training programs
• Gun range training facility, $2,300,000. Gun range training facility, $2,300,000.
• Gun range training facility, $2,300,000. Let's move on to police standards and training.
• They want to do other trainings with personnel that feel like field operations, other vehicle trainings
• </c> rent those facilities for training rent those facilities for training purposes<04:24:54.199><c>

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and work session on House Bill 25A, the capital improvements appropriations bill, which Representative David Mills said was based on Governor Ayotte’s budget and included appropriations for capital improvements and extensions of prior appropriation lapses. The hearing drew testimony on several requested additions to the bill, with the chair noting the unusually large turnout and moving quickly through speakers. No questions were taken on the initial bill presentation, and the public hearing on HB 25A was later closed. The Community College System of New Hampshire asked for an additional $2.6 million, including $800,000 for IT infrastructure, $1.3 million for critical maintenance, and $500,000 for energy management systems. The witness said the money would address cybersecurity and online learning needs, replace failing boilers and a roof at several campuses, and prevent costly damage such as frozen pipes. The New Hampshire Veterans Home requested $1.5 million for ADA compliance and safety improvements, including floor replacement and wider doors, citing an upcoming VA inspection and the importance of preserving federal funding. Testimony also focused on career and technical education and airport funding. Milford CTE sought to keep $9.9 million in the budget for renovations after a local vote fell short, explaining the project had been scaled down from an earlier $60 million concept and that the school board wanted another chance to seek voter approval. On aviation, Concord, the New Hampshire Municipal Association, and Department of Transportation representatives urged restoring state matching funds for FAA airport grants, saying roughly $3.6 million in state money would leverage about $62 million to $65 million in federal funds for safety and infrastructure projects at public airports. Committee members asked about project selection, matching requirements, and the airport priority process, and witnesses said the program is driven by FAA-approved capital improvement plans and safety needs rather than business-return rankings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we do have an opportunity to increase training. At risk in the future.
• And so we do have an opportunity to increase training slots in midwifery care, in OB-GYN care, obviously
• to continue to train doulas.
• There just aren’t training slots to do it, and training slots take funding.
• There just aren’t training slots to do it, and training slots take funding.

Summary: The meeting was an organizational and planning session of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression. After roll call and housekeeping, the co-chairs thanked Senator Liz Miranda for her service and announced Senator Adam Gomez as the new Senate co-chair. Senator Miranda explained her transition off the leadership role due to other responsibilities and personal losses, while Senator Gomez said he was honored to join, would listen and learn, and would bring a Western Massachusetts perspective to the statewide commission. Members discussed current maternal health developments, including a new Department of Public Health regulation implementing the 2024 midwifery law and allowing temporary licenses for licensed certified professional midwives. The commission also reviewed open seats and possible future appointees, with an emphasis on adding regional, clinical, and lived-experience diversity. Several commissioners raised concerns about birthing hospital and inpatient obstetric unit closures, workforce shortages in OB-GYN and midwifery, reimbursement changes, and the need to expand training slots and funding for perinatal care. A major theme was how the commission should focus its work in the coming year. Members suggested more attention to parent-child relational health, pediatric screening for postpartum mood disorders, coordination across OB-GYN, pediatrics, infant mental health, and home visiting systems, and stronger involvement from clinicians and organizations such as PSI of Massachusetts. The Division of Public Health and the Division of Insurance shared updates on community midwifery reimbursement, a payer learning community, insurance coverage for mental health examinations, and the need for better education about birthing centers and doulas. Commissioners also discussed substance use and maternal mental health supports, noting that current funding for community-based organizations is limited compared with demand. The group reviewed upcoming maternal health events in April, including Black Maternal Health Week activities, and agreed there was not enough time to plan a new commission event for May. Instead, members favored using the commission’s communication channels to share relevant events and information. The commission approved a motion to create a biweekly digest for information sharing, with urgent items still able to be sent directly to commissioners, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no training. There's no safety rules at all.
• There's no training. There's no safety rules at all.
• Let's make sure they do all this training and certification and registration and all these things.
• And like I said, I can remember kind of going through training because, oh, you know, thawed chicken
• And like I said, I can remember kind of going through training because, oh, controlled in time.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Should we look at some kind of additional language in our training manual and our courses to emphasize
• They've done for us in the way of training in our facilities.
• Chris Chapman, Director for Law Enforcement Standards and Training for the State of Arkansas.
• It's the commissioners of the Law Enforcement Standards and Training. It's that group...
• Of the Law Enforcement Standards and Training, it's that group of commissioners that the officer appears

Committee: All ALC-GAME & FISH/STATE POLICE