Transcript Highlights:

• It creates residency requirements for members of the commission.
• Now, there will be a seven-member commission, and this is once everybody that's currently on the commission
• Now, there will be a seven-member commission, and this is once everybody that's currently on the commission
• Fail to safely secure their firearm.
• Fail to safely secure their firearm.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and heard several member introductions and recognitions. The Rules Chair moved CS/CS/SB 622 to the end of the special order calendar, which was adopted without objection. SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed, as were later bills SB 716 and CS/CS/CS/SB 1348. The chamber then took up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and adopting amendments before final passage. Measures approved included a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan (HB 295, 38-0), mitigation banking and land development changes with a phosphate mining lands amendment (CS/CS/SB 492, 35-3), aggravated animal cruelty with a searchable FDLE database and sentencing multiplier (HB 255, 37-0), the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism and related training/funding (HB 711, 37-0), newborn screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (CS/CS/HB 1089, 36-0), and revisions to the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program to expand eligible mitigation projects and adjust approval thresholds (CS/CS/HB 393, 37-0). The Senate also passed workforce education legislation allowing charter schools access to grant funding and expanding money-back guarantees (HB 1145, 37-0), a statewide study on automation and workforce impact (HB 827, 35-0), parole guideline revisions (HB 181, 37-0), court-appointed psychologist procedures in family law cases (HB 901, 37-0), sexual cyber harassment protections covering digitally forged intimate images (HB 1451, 37-0), a home health aide program for medically fragile children with training and reimbursement provisions (CS/CS/SB 1156, 37-0), substance abuse and mental health care changes including 988 oversight and involuntary examination procedures (HB 1091, 37-0), a feasibility study for a statewide pond data database (HB 1359, 37-0), and Department of Law Enforcement housekeeping changes and retired police dog reimbursements (HB 1053, 37-0). The most extensive debate centered on the charter schools bill (HB 443), which expanded charter autonomy, reporting parity, enrollment flexibility, and governance rules; after a delete-all amendment and a friendly amendment, it was placed on the third-reading calendar rather than immediately voted on. Several bills were briefly discussed with concerns about transparency, accountability, funding, and constitutional issues, but all bills brought to a vote during this segment passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does, it actually adds security medical security officers to the fourth degree assault
• 29.599><c> a</c><00:46:29.760><c> vital</c> Hospital security officers play a vital Hospital security
• c> personnel</c><00:47:27.920><c> uh</c> Um, h hospital security personnel uh Um, h hospital security
• ><c> at</c><00:48:58.720><c> Children's</c> the security officers at Children's the security officers
• </c> security officer. security officer.

Bills: HF2358 , HF3496 , HF3504 , HF2169 , HF3440

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, coercion, criminal penalties, law enforcement, victim protection, HF3496, supervision abatement, earned compliance credit, earned compliance credits, conditional release, supervised release, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, restitution, willful nonpayment, probation-like supervision, release supervision, community supervision, lifetime conditional release, early termination of supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• prevent Texans from accumulating debt and criminal penalties that keep them from achieving financial security
• prevent Texans from accumulating debt and criminal penalties that keep them from achieving financial security
• Additionally, the offender would have to receive a request from an administrator, educator, or security
• The testimony or the, or the comment that you said that your security person at the school talked to
• As EV adoption grows, more Texans will rely on accessibility and secure charging network.

Bills: HB316

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a very serious matter for our national security and even agricultural production.
• But I can divine that from the publicly traded securities reports.
• But I can divine that from the publicly traded securities reports.
• I'm Terry Oley, Vice President, Economic Security, California Action.
• Nine months later, PG&E filed another motion at the commission asking the commission to force San Francisco

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second is a one-time dedicated fund request for replacement items, including obsolete security systems
• The second program is the Commission on Uniform State Laws.
• This four-member commission studies proposed uniform laws and drafts legislation for consideration by
• The third program is the Idaho Code Commission, which is continuously appropriated.
• 11th: the Department of Water Resources, Department of Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first considered Idaho Transportation Department budgets. It approved additional dedicated and federal funding for Transportation Services, Division of Motor Vehicles, Highway Operations, and Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition, including money for deferred maintenance, airfield improvements, replacement items, IT hardware, roadside tree removal, highway operations, and a capital transfer for right-of-way and construction. The committee also adopted several pieces of language, including reappropriation authority and accounting-correction language for ITD, and all of these items received due pass recommendations. The Department of Agriculture budget was then reviewed. The committee approved a FY 2026 supplemental for invasive species/quagga mussel treatment and a separate deficiency appropriation for pest monitoring and control. It also approved FY 2027 enhancement funding for replacement items and IT hardware, along with reappropriation language for the Resilient Food Systems Grant. The State Liquor Division budget followed, and the committee approved funding for inflation adjustments, replacement items, and IT/security equipment, but rejected proposed language directing the division to report on energy and utility rebates after the Senate failed to support it. Next, the committee took up the Secretary of State’s budget. Members debated a substitute motion that would have reduced the office’s base budget and added a voter pamphlet appropriation, but that substitute failed. The original motion then passed, funding a one-time voter pamphlet appropriation and an internal personnel transfer, while leaving out the office’s IT replacement request. The Secretary of State testified that additional cuts would slow business filings and election-related work, noting the office had already absorbed a significant rescission. Finally, the Office of the State Public Defender budget was considered. The committee approved funding for six additional trial attorney positions, data migration and storage, ITS replacement items, and health benefit costs, with the agency explaining that its recent transition and high fill rate made the standard health-benefit calculation inaccurate. The meeting concluded with notice of the next day’s budget-setting agenda and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Industrial Commission.
• We'll secure that and we'll keep working on.
• That's the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
• be able to secure land rights. ...to do that we need to do as developers to be able to secure land rights
• It takes a long time to be able to secure land rights.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> availability privacy and security availability privacy and security including<01:36:07.199><c> the
• </c> departments uh dealing with security departments uh dealing with security meters<04:14:58.640><c
• </c> I'm really interested in cyber security I'm really interested in cyber security and<04:15:16.840
• commission commission so so so uh<04:20:05.960><c> I'm</c><04:20:06.119><c> just</c><04:20:06.279><c
• </c> cost yet or that it had uh not secured cost yet or that it had uh not secured the<05:22:43.120><

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires the Housing Finance Commission to investigate and enforce these requirements.
• However, if the violation was willful or purposeful, the Commission must prohibit the developer from
• participating in any Commission programs for two to five years.
• The bill also requires the Commission to post progress reports on eventual tenant ownership programs
• The commission is signed on HB 2527, and we'd like to share several concerns with you.

Summary: The Housing Committee heard two bills and received updates on scheduling. Chair Peterson announced that HB 2266 may move from Thursday to Monday for executive action due to ongoing talks with the city, and HB 2489 will move to next week for additional amendment work. HB 1542, concerning senior independent housing, was briefly opened, then suspended so HB 2527 could be heard first; the committee later returned to HB 1542 for public testimony. The committee adjourned after closing the hearing on HB 1542, with no votes taken during this meeting. HB 1542 would establish rights for residents of senior independent housing, allow enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act, and require a Commerce report to the legislature. The staff summary described the bill as creating protections such as respectful treatment, the ability to install certain safety devices, resident meetings, and timely management responses in emergencies. Rep. Reeves said the bill responds to seniors in Federal Way who lack protections in independent living settings and noted likely amendments to extend the reporting deadline and possibly add a registry to clarify which communities are covered. Testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP supported the bill as a needed consumer-protection measure for vulnerable older adults, while other witnesses asked for broader coverage, including manufactured home communities, and LeadingAge Washington requested more stakeholder work and a technical amendment related to CCRCs. HB 2527 would regulate eventual tenant ownership programs tied to federal low-income housing tax credits. Staff explained that the bill would require developers to create reserve or escrow accounts, inform tenants and partners of their rights and responsibilities, and comply with timely transfer obligations, with enforcement by the Housing Finance Commission and possible debarment from future tax-credit participation for violations. Rep. Pollet said the bill is intended to address cases where Native families were promised eventual ownership of homes but did not receive deeds or keys after years of renting, citing an audit and describing the bill as a needed accountability tool. Supportive testimony from Indigenous rights attorney Gabe Galanda emphasized that hundreds of families, many in tribal communities, were affected. The Housing Finance Commission opposed the punitive approach, saying it had already updated policies after the audit, that the projects are complex and vary by tribal housing authority, and that the bill could undermine collaborative work and potentially misdirect penalties away from the actual responsible parties. Committee members pressed the commission on accountability, ownership structures, escrow obligations, and the status of remaining households, and the exchange highlighted disagreement over whether the bill’s enforcement provisions are appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> doing uh pro needing a social security doing uh pro needing a social security number<00:23:37.120
• </c> department to collect social security department to collect social security numbers<01:55:53.280
• 03:33:50.080><c> could</c> what the investigative commission could what the investigative commission
• So this sets up a typical commission. But the commission is instructed to investigate 10 points.
• investigative commission could The investigative commission could recommend<03:36:08.080><c> to</c><

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As in 1455, iron ability upon border security. ATT.
• As if you can't register, recurrence, commission. Natural Resources.
• S, 10, 23, independent, registered, commission, membership. Government.
• As if you can't register, recurrence, commission. Natural Resources.
• As 14, 8, corporation, commissions, contractors, contractors.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we keep it very secure.
• So we keep it very secure.
• So we keep it very secure.
• So we keep it very secure.
• So we keep it very secure.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I started early in my career doing a water company case before the Public Utilities Commission.
• It's about dignity, economic security, and resilience.
• SB 925 tasks the California Energy Commission with developing a statewide roadmap for the development
• And the California Energy Commission will fill in incredible technology, and the California Energy Commission
• And the Energy Commission is not going to apply them unless the Legislature tells them to do so.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill further created a presumption against liability for negligent security for multifamily property
• owners who take certain preventative security measures.
• I'm more of a numbers guy from the Trial Court Budget Commission and how we deal with that.
• First, there's a security remedy.
• They are recipients of a great deal of hostility, which can raise levels of security threats.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The topics of behavioral health workforce studies and commissions.
• It also established several studies and commissions, folks. Recovery coaches.
• It also established several studies and commissions focused on issues such as the contamination of the
• , and funding for security procedures. ...funding for institutions to be more physically secure, and
• funding for security personnel.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery held a public hearing on 17 bills focused on behavioral health workforce shortages, studies, and commissions. Chairs Mindy Domb and Senator John Velis opened by emphasizing the severity of the Commonwealth’s mental and behavioral health workforce crisis, the resulting gaps in access to care, and the legislature’s ongoing use of loan repayment programs, studies, and commissions to address these issues. They outlined hearing procedures and noted that testimony would be limited to three minutes, with written testimony also accepted. A major portion of the hearing focused on bills to expand the primary care workforce, including H. 2205/S. 1385, which would broaden eligibility for the Mass RePay loan repayment program. Testimony from the Massachusetts Medical Society, Senator Jo Comerford, and Dr. Kate Atkinson described severe primary care shortages, long wait times, physician burnout, high debt burdens, and the need to recruit and retain physicians in more practice settings and regions. Committee members asked about the likely impact of loan repayment, the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and how to prioritize limited funding. Witnesses argued that primary care investment improves access and outcomes and that the bill would help sustain community-based practices. Another large block of testimony supported H. 2208/S. 1411, the proposed perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund, often referred to as the Moms Matter Act. March of Dimes, perinatal mental health advocates, doulas, clinicians, parents, and organizations such as the Boston Public Health Commission and Empty Arms Bereavement Support testified that postpartum depression, anxiety, substance use, and grief are widespread, often untreated, and worsened by long waitlists and a shortage of trained, culturally competent providers. Speakers repeatedly stressed that screening alone is not enough without a workforce to provide timely treatment, and several shared personal stories of postpartum illness, loss, and difficulty accessing care. The bill was also framed as a needed complement to the Commonwealth’s recent maternal health law, which increased screening and therefore increased demand for treatment. The committee also heard support for the Bridge Act, H. 2207/S. 1388, which would create mental health capacity grants for organizations serving communities at high risk of hate crimes or hate incidents. Testimony from the Jewish Community Relations Council and the bill’s sponsor described the mental health harms of hate, including anxiety, trauma, isolation, and loss of trust, and argued that community organizations need resources to build resilience and provide support. In addition, the committee heard from the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association on H. 2218/S. 1380, which would update job classifications to explicitly include licensed mental health counselors and licensed supervised mental health counselors in state behavioral health roles. Witnesses said the change would modernize hiring, expand access, and better reflect current licensure and scope of practice. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the session ended with a motion to adjourn after all testimony was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• That office required us to turn over social security numbers and birthdates for all family members in
• and gave it to the opposing party, which means they gave my minor daughter's birthdate and social security
• number, as well as my social security number, to a woman who had played.
• Chairman, yes, Ronald Morgan, I'm the director of the Judicial Branch Certification Commission.
• There are over 2,000 court reporters registered with the commission right now.

Bills: SB1538 , SB2883 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3376

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: digital court reporting, court reporting, court reporter, electronic recording, audio recording, video recording, transcription, verbatim record, judicial administration, Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial System, courts, depositions, grand jury, referee, court commissioner, court technology, courtroom technology, access to justice, accuracy

Transcript Highlights:

• Wildlife Division Commission is expected to take action to expand digital tagging across all licensed
• So this is further uncertainty and further water shortages. of security reasons. critical start, we need
• Boundary and Water Commission, only 30% of the water used in this region... comes from Mexico.
• There was a couple of meetings in Mexico and they rescheduled them always to Austin because of security
• Texas and help us secure alternative water solutions now.

Bills: SCR13 , SB1248

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent an agricultural region, but food security is national security.
• It's more so because I care and because it's food security.
• We've also been able to develop and implement new security protocol that will increase our security score
• And as I mentioned earlier, food security is national security, and CDFA, while it's a small department
• And as I mentioned earlier, food security is national security and CDFA, while it's a small department

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are approximately 1.2 million security guards in the country, making the private security industry
• Avalos, who's also a security guard here in California.
• Let me ask you to consider the security of the public and to maintain the security of workers and communities
• Latasha Reed, a security officer. SB 1203. Thank you.
• That information with the Department of Homeland Security.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills on public safety, parole, criminal justice oversight, Proposition 36 implementation, behavioral health, gang database reform, cargo theft, and nonconsensual intimate images. The chair explained hearing procedures and noted that SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Several measures were heard but not voted on because quorum was lacking. SB 1446, a committee bill, would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make en banc votes public record, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluation of certain incarcerated people serving determinate or indeterminate terms. Support came from the California District Attorneys Association; opposition came from the Ella Baker Center, Uncommon Law, public defenders, and others who argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The author said the bill was intended to clarify review standards and improve transparency. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual/one-strike offenders from elderly parole eligibility. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office and California District Attorneys Association supported it, citing cases such as Gregory Vogelsang and David Funston; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and others argued elderly parole is already highly restrictive, evidence-based, and cost-effective. Vice Chair Seyarto strongly supported SB 1278, emphasizing victim justice and public safety. SB 1354 would bar out-of-state military personnel not operating under Title 10 from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the governor’s permission; a committee amendment removed a criminal penalty and left enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for Proposition 36 implementation, with committee amendments deleting a specific appropriation and shifting funding decisions to the budget process; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and administration, while opponents criticized the bill as fiscally reckless and duplicative. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer statewide standards for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, especially ABA services for children; supporters said it would improve patient safety and program integrity. SB 1210 would extend CalGang-style oversight, notice, appeal, and DOJ regulation to all gang databases, not just shared ones; supporters described harms from inaccurate, unregulated local databases, while police chiefs opposed applying the CalGang framework to all local investigative files. The committee also heard SB 1019, which would create a DOJ cargo theft task force and add reporting requirements; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, ports, and law enforcement said organized cargo theft is harming supply chains and worker safety, and no opposition was presented. Finally, SB 1217 would create a DOJ clearinghouse to help victims remove nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, from covered platforms; amendments narrowed the bill’s scope and clarified law enforcement’s role. The author and survivor witnesses described ongoing trauma from repeated reposting of exploitative images and argued the bill would provide a centralized removal process. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1217, with no final votes taken on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico has taken many steps to protect and secure the right to vote.
• As part of our election security division, we provide what's called Go kits.
• So wherever let's... security division. We provide what's called Go kits.
• So we have the secure portal now. But let's say, to your point, Mr.
• Republican commission, Democrat clerk...

Bills: SB264 , SB261

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico has taken many steps to protect and secure the right to vote.
• As part of our election security division, we provide what's called Go kits.
• So wherever let's... security division. We provide what's called Go kits.
• So we have the secure portal now. But let's say, to your point, Mr.
• Republican Commission, Democrat clerk, Republican Commission, Democrat clerk, Democrat deputy clerk,

Bills: SB264 , SB261

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms

Summary: The committee heard two election-related bills. SB 264, sponsored by Sen. Duhigg and others and presented by the Secretary of State, would add definitions and new offenses to New Mexico election law to prohibit interference with elections, including the presence of troops or armed persons at polling places or ballot drop boxes, attempts to impose election rules contrary to state law, and intentional obstruction of access to polling places. It also would create civil enforcement options, strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language, and include emergency voting procedures for voters displaced by natural disasters. Supporters, including Common Cause, the Center for Civic Policy, and the League of Women Voters, said the bill protects voters from intimidation and outside interference. Several county clerks and rural legislators raised concerns about late changes, lack of consultation, rural logistics, and possible litigation. The committee adopted the Rules Committee substitute and advanced SB 264 on a 5-3 roll call vote. SB 261, presented as a companion election measure, would remove the existing exception that allowed law enforcement to carry firearms at polling places, but the sponsor offered an amendment to allow armed law enforcement to respond when called by the presiding judge, county clerk, or Secretary of State. Supporters said firearms do not belong in or around polling places because they can intimidate voters and poll workers, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary because existing law already covers law enforcement response and that the amendment created confusion. After a recess caused by members leaving the room, the committee returned, adopted the Rules Committee substitute including the amendment, and advanced SB 261 by unanimous voice vote.