Transcript Highlights:

• This is to award fees to attorneys appointed for indigent appellants in criminal appeals.
• It is supported by tuition fees and insurance reimbursements.
• going to pay for the total project and how much is ultimately going to come out of the tuition and fees
• going to pay for the total project, and how much is ultimately going to come out of the tuition and fees
• manager, their workers, the rental for the facility, for the computer technician, and then some other fees

Summary: The committee heard a series of appropriation requests and contract reviews across multiple sections. In Section B, members approved temporary appropriations for the Court of Appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics, and Insurance-related payments and refunds. Section C ARPA requests from DHS were approved to return unused federal funds. Section D infrastructure-related appropriations, including wildfire preparedness, broadband BEAD funding, forestry support, recycling, and oil and gas sample preservation, were approved after questions about broadband audit controls and performance safeguards. Section E DHS reallocations were approved, including large transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical to private and public nursing home lines, along with smaller transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services; members asked about the source and purpose of the medical services transfer. Sections F and G were reviewed, covering cash fund requests, federal grants, and miscellaneous grants, including community college storm repairs, corrections commissary and maintenance, 911 enhancements, maternal health, disability determinations, state police equipment, digital newspaper archiving, and CDL data improvements. In Section H, the committee reviewed pay plan appropriations and performance fund transfers tied to the new Class and Comp pay plan. Section I reviewed three methods of finance for UA Little Rock, UAMS, and the University of Arkansas system. In Section J, the committee reviewed discretionary grants, including a $1.4 million HIV services grant and nine tobacco prevention subgrants through UAPB. Members questioned the effectiveness, metrics, and addresses of some tobacco-cessation arts-based grantees, especially Arts Absolutely Inc.; after discussion, Representative Kavanaugh moved to expunge the vote on J2 and refer it back for review at a later ALC meeting, and that motion passed. J3, a Department of Energy and Environment grant for propane safety training and e-waste recycling services, was then reviewed. The committee also reviewed contracts in Section K. K-1 ratified emergency management nuclear planning work performed during a transition between agencies. K-2 construction contracts included architectural and engineering services for corrections, National Park College signage, a Razorback Road parking facility, and UAMS cyclotron installation. K-3 intergovernmental contracts covered health, education, autism waiver, stroke, newborn screening, Medicaid evidence review, and radiation testing services. K-4 out-of-state contracts included staffing, IT, tobacco prevention, audit, marketing, planetarium, recruitment, and janitorial services; Senator Irvin noted one contract appeared to belong in the out-of-state list rather than intergovernmental. K-5 in-state contracts covered staffing, cleaning, re-entry and treatment services, foster care and disability services, hearing officers, asbestos abatement, campus IT support, and janitorial work. The meeting ended after a brief personal update from Senator Irvin about tornado damage in Stone County and thanks to members for their concern, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• APD SINCE THE AGES FEES FOR PRETZELS DISABILITY TO THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS.
• HAS THERE BEEN A SIMILAR ABILITY OR TO TEST OUT DIFFERENT VALUE-BASED AGREEMENT VERSUS FEE-FOR-SERVICE
• OR IS THE MAJORITY OF THE STILL FEE-FOR-SERVICE. VERSUS FEE-FOR-SERVICE IN THIS PILOT AS WELL?
• OR IS THE MAJORITY OF THE STILL FEE-FOR-SERVICE. >> CAROL, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE?

Transcript Highlights:

• They raised taxes and fees by $10 billion and left us with a $6 billion deficit.
• They raised taxes and fees by $10 billion and left us with a $6 billion deficit.
• They raised taxes<00:03:56.159> and<00:03:56.400> fees<00:03:56.720> by<00:03:57.040
• > billion<00:03:57.920> and<00:03:58.159> left<00:03:58.400> us taxes and fees
• by 10 billion and left us taxes and fees by 10 billion and left us with<00:03:59.360> a<00:03

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this has a taxing component, but there's also fees, right?
• A MUD has taxing as well as levying fees. Does that sales tax? I didn't get that far into it.
• And this has a taxing component, but there's also fees, right? You could be, yes.
• A mud has taxing as well as levying fees. Does that sales tax? I didn't get that far into it.
• The district would not have the authority to impose taxes, charge fees, or exercise eminent domain.

Bills: HB1532, HB2731, HB3483, HB4308, HB4580, HB4582, HB5509, HB5663

Keywords: Lake Houston, dredging, maintenance district, flood control, environment, public works, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code, unincorporated areas, right-of-way, public highway, parking lot, livestock sales, live animals, vendor regulation

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several local-government-related bills, mostly with committee substitutes. House Bill 2731 would let certain border counties regulate roadside vendors selling live animals in unincorporated areas and along public rights-of-way; the substitute narrowed the bill to live animal sales only and excluded livestock and other roadside commerce. House Bill 3483 would streamline TCEQ review of special utility district revenue bonds by removing tax-bond requirements that do not apply to SUDs. House Bill 4308 would create a county industrial development district framework, limited in the substitute to certain counties including Fort Bend County, to help finance industrial sites and related infrastructure. House Bill 5663 would create a Wood County Hospital District memory-care-focused district with no taxing power, intended to help pursue grants and other funding for a new facility. House Bill 4582 addressed attainable housing in Dallas and Tarrant counties, allowing local reimbursement tools for developers under a uniform, optional framework. House Bill 5509 would let municipalities suspend or revoke a hotel’s certificate of occupancy if law enforcement and a criminal court both find probable cause of human trafficking, with the substitute adding due-process protections. House Bill 1532 created a Lake Houston dredging and maintenance district funded by revenue from dredged material sales and revenue bonds, with no taxing authority or eminent domain. House Bill 23, heard as pending business, would revise the process for local governments to rescind development documents and adjust third-party reviewer liability and eligibility rules. House Bill 4580, concerning property tax exemptions for charitable organizations such as the Houston Rodeo, was amended to remove language about exempting revenue from property use and instead focus on land used for agricultural, youth, and educational support. Public testimony was generally supportive on the bills heard, with witnesses including county officials, utility and water association representatives, hotel industry representatives, and housing developers. Several speakers emphasized the need for faster financing or permitting tools, flood mitigation, housing affordability, anti-trafficking enforcement, or local economic development. Some members raised concerns about scope, precedent, consultation with affected senators, and due process, particularly on House Bill 4582 and House Bill 5509, but the committee largely accepted the committee substitutes as improvements. No public testimony was offered on several bills, and most measures were left pending before later being voted out. The committee took recorded votes on multiple pending bills and reported them favorably, often with committee substitutes adopted in lieu of the filed versions. House Bills 1532, 2731, 3483, 5509, 5663, and 4580 were reported out, with 1532 and 5663 passing unanimously and 3483, 2731, and 5509 also receiving favorable votes despite one present-not-voting on 3483. House Bill 23 and House Bill 4582 were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until adjournment or later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most utilities pay a franchise fee; 3% is a common number, maybe as much as 5%.
• If you're paying... ...franchise fee, 3% is a common number, maybe as much as 5%.
• This was done so that there would not be a perceived fee increase in the bill.
• construction of public facilities, including public schools, must be exempt from concurrency, provides a fee
• credit for education impact fees to a developer who enters into a contract with a school to provide

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several bills and amendments related to traffic safety, utilities, schools, and motor vehicle administration. Senator Pizzo’s SB 1782, as amended, expanded reckless driving per se to include certain high-speed behaviors; the late amendment removed impound language but kept mandatory court appearance, and the bill was reported favorably. Senator McLean’s SB 818 on utility relocation was amended to include an important state interest finding; after testimony from county groups opposing the cost shift to local governments and Charter Communications supporting the bill, it was also reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1644 on emergency vehicles, after a delete-all amendment broadened warning-signal use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and related vehicles. Senator Trumbull’s SB 1348 on DHSMV services was amended to streamline local delivery of motor vehicle services and remove certain fines, waiting periods, and CDL retesting provisions; it passed favorably with support from Florida Tax Collectors. Senator McLean’s SB 1188 on local governing authorities and charter schools drew the most debate, with supporters arguing local governments were using traffic and site-plan rules to block charter schools and opponents warning the bill would tie the hands of local governments and create a blanket preemption; it was reported favorably. The committee then passed SB 636, which limits use of the far-left lane on high-speed roads except for passing, exiting, move-over compliance, or traffic conditions, and requires FDOT signage. Senator Arrington’s SB 1152 increased the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee from $15 to $25 to raise more money for wildflower research and habitat programs; it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of multiple appointments to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and Florida Transportation Commission, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Subcommittee on County and Regional Government, HB 3733 relates to the fees charged by county
• It authorizes fees, administrative and civil penalties, and creates criminal offenses for violations,
• HB 3848 by Hernandez relates to the electronic submission of inspection reports and filing fees for the
• 164 by Low proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a vehicle mileage tax or fee
• and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products, requiring registration and imposing fees

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Y'all, they pay out a lot of fees, a lot of fees. Those fees need to be lessened.
• A lot of fees. Those fees need to be lessened. They need to go away.

Bills: SB2, SJR36, SB2, SB2, SR29, SB2

Keywords: Maverick County, recognition, economic development, Texas Senate, community celebration, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, because currently they charge 40% fees on their tickets.
• And it's why the bill explicitly allows for fees to be charged so that there is a business model.
• No, because currently they charge 40% fees on their tickets.
• But is there is there a fee percentage that would be?
• There's issues of fees and venues and their role with artists.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1988, which would require AI companion chatbots to respond to credible self-harm or violence-related crisis expressions by displaying the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, warning users, and pausing the chat for human review after repeated crisis signals. The author and supporters said the bill is a measured safety standard to redirect vulnerable users to human help, citing research and cases where chatbots worsened suicidal ideation or violent behavior. Support came from crisis and medical advocates, while no opposition testimony was offered. The chair and members expressed strong support, and the bill was held pending quorum before later action on the agenda. The committee then took up AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for users to create or maintain accounts on social media platforms with harmful addictive features and would create an E-Safety Advisory Commission in the Attorney General’s office. The author argued the bill targets product design, not speech, and is intended to curb compulsive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds while allowing safer or non-addictive platforms to remain available. Supporters, including a psychologist and the Organization for Social Media Safety, described cyberbullying, predation, compulsive use, and mental health harms; opponents, including EFF, ACLU-Cal Action, TechNet, and youth advocacy groups, warned about privacy, First Amendment, and access-to-community concerns, especially for LGBTQ youth and other marginalized groups. Committee members debated whether the bill is a ban or a delay, how age assurance would work, and whether the proposal would be effective or could push youth to less safe spaces. Several members said they would support the bill as a first step, while others raised concerns about enforceability, privacy, and constitutional issues. The author emphasized that the bill is limited to specific harmful design features, not content or general internet access, and that the new commission would monitor evolving technology and recommend future updates. No final vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are water fees that do not cover the full cost of water, but there are permit fees for that.
• > directly<01:30:44.440> the example, air fees cover directly the example, air fees cover
• Uh but there are fee cost of water.
• Uh but there are fee permit<01:30:54.880> fees<01:30:55.280> for<01:30:55.480> that.
• Um there's the permit fees for that.

Bills: HF3426, HF3896, HF1426, HF3793, HF4061, HF4246

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, wild rice, watercraft regulation, environmental protection, aquatic ecosystems, HF1426, product stewardship, extended producer responsibility, EPR, electronics recycling, e-waste, battery recycling, circuit boards, printed circuit boards, electrical products, covered products

Transcript Highlights:

• funds and attorney fees if they're successful.<00:36:10.079> Um<00:36:10.400> and<00:36
• So, we're talking here about being liable for the cost of the litigation fees, etc.
• And I don't know litigation fees, etc.
• Are they entitled to receive the fees and costs of litigation?
• And um we enforcing tax law and fees.

Bills: SF0087, SF0088, SF0092

Keywords: felony, law enforcement, police officer, criminal penalties, public safety, sex offender, child care facility, residency restrictions, criminal law, sex offenders, child care facilities, legislation, false claims, civil penalties, state accountability, whistleblower protection, fraud prevention, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:00:40.960> for<01:00:41.200> service for them separate as a fee for service for
• schedule amount for a service was fee schedule amount for a service was $100<01:13:11.639> we
• schedule, the inpatient fee schedule, and the physician fee schedule when they expect to have greater
• um uh fee schedule the inpatient<02:13:20.840> fee<02:13:21.199> schedule<02:13:21.520
• inpatient fee schedule and the physician fee<02:13:22.440> schedule<02:13:22.920> when

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division III held an informational hearing on Medicaid, Medicare, Choices for Independence, and related financing, while postponing nursing facility financing and the county cap discussion to a later date. DHHS officials Ann Landry, Jonathan Ballard, and Medicaid Director Henry Litman provided an overview of Medicaid’s role, noting it is a federal-state partnership with state-specific eligibility and benefits, and emphasizing that Medicaid is a major funding and programmatic support for other DHHS initiatives. They also distinguished Medicaid from Medicare and explained that Medicaid funding is not the same as grant funding, though some providers may also receive federal grants through other channels. The presentation focused on New Hampshire’s relatively small Medicaid program and why it differs from national averages. Officials said about 184,000 residents are covered, roughly one in seven Granite Staters compared with one in five nationally, and attributed the difference largely to the state’s higher per-capita income and older population. They highlighted that about 65% of Medicaid-enrolled adults in New Hampshire are working, that only 22% of births are covered by Medicaid versus 42% nationally, and that the state’s uninsured rate is lower than the national rate. Members asked about covered services, income limits, federal matching rates, and the names of optional eligibility groups; staff explained that New Hampshire offers the optional groups discussed, with matching rates varying by category, including 90% for Granite Advantage and certain other groups, and 65% for children above the required level. A substantial portion of the hearing covered eligibility rules and recent policy changes. Officials reviewed the history of Medicaid, including HCBS waivers, the CFI program, Katie Beckett, the Olmstead decision, the ACA, and the end of continuous enrollment after the public health emergency. They also discussed the 2023 legislative expansion of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and child eligibility changes. In response to questions, DHHS said it is tracking utilization and costs for the postpartum expansion and reported that many maternal deaths occur after the prior 60-day coverage period, often involving substance use disorder or suicide; they said the longer coverage is intended to improve access to treatment and prevention. The committee also walked through household-income examples, clarified that Medicaid eligibility is based on household income and categorical rules, and confirmed that Granite Advantage ends at 138% of the federal poverty level unless another categorical basis applies. No votes were taken, and the hearing remained informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a fee that goes along with that.
• And then there's also a fee related to updating the revalidation, which is required by CMS.
• Um<00:09:23.519> there's<00:09:23.760> a<00:09:23.920> fee<00:09:24.160> that
• <00:09:30.240> related Um and then there's also a fee related Um and then there's also a fee
• Um, there is a fee. I think it's $44 right now to complete those background studies.

Bills: HF729

Keywords: human services, provider enrollment, medical assistance, healthcare, housing stabilization, substance use disorder, vulnerable adults, fraud prevention, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For some increases in the recognition that fees might need to go up to account for inflation.
• So it allows a municipality to increase fees and utility rates, but only by the increase in inflation
• But what they can't do is significantly increase their utility rates or fees without getting approval
• the underlying measure so that we can have real protections for taxpayers, for ratepayers, and for fee
• House Bill 2946, amending Section 9-463.05, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to development fees.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who have been convicted of felonies and have satisfied all terms and conditions, including fines and fees
• And in terms of acting willfully, go back to the current fee, which is $250.
• So essentially, we are returning the fee and finance structure to its format.
• This bill cuts petition time frames and fees, friends, people with criminal charges and it is based upon
• I don't know if your bill contemplates this, but if publishers impose an additional fee on Florida's

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS BILL REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH A OUT-OF-STATE FEE FOR NONRESIDENT OUTLINED STUDENTS THIS ENSURES
• THIS LEGISLATION SHIFTS ALLEGATIONS OF FINANCIAL FEES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS
• THIS PROVIDES TUITION AND FEE WAIVERS FOR ACTIVE FLORIDA STATE HEART GUARD MEMBERS SIX CREDIT HOURS PER

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For context, New York's renewal fees are $170 every three years.
• California's fees are now the equivalent of $900 every three years. Thank you.
• This increase in my license fee is part of AB 144.
• This increase in my license fee is part of AB144.
• I'll speak to the Home Care Services fee structure proposal next.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are the mineral fees, the fees that get paid?
• Through the fees that we pay to NDIT, for those computers to sit on our desks and the desktop support
• And then during session, I believe the request was to increase their fees.
• Our holding company had to do it, and we had to pay fees, and we went through that fee structure every
• you It's trying to figure out, and there's the state's paying for the administrative fees, right?

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• > to<00:25:50.559> have<00:25:50.799> my<00:25:51.120> $1<00:25:51.600> fee
• >> And I please I beg to have my $1 fee >> And I please I beg to have my $1 fee waved
• So, as I was saying, this is a very simple technical cleanup to last year's junk fees bill.
• , or class action exposure under fees, or class action exposure under other<00:38:23.520> laws.
• large fee to the secretary of state. large fee to the secretary of state.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:27:17.360> dollars<00:27:17.760> in<00:27:18.159> legal<00:27:18.480> fees
• thousands of dollars in legal fees thousands of dollars in legal fees challenging<00:27:19.919><
• or no answer from counsel here, would that activity—spending tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees
• 28:34.080> legal tens of thousands of dollars in legal tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees
• to remove citizen signatures from a fees to remove citizen signatures from a petition<00:28:38.640><

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally, he gives you a set fee. Like, hey, I'm again mentioning on the building side.
• We'll say his fee is going to be 5%.
• So you already know what his fee is, and you can see where his bids and where his subs are.
• The toll system in Harris County has paid user fees for 25 years, and those user fees are going toward
• No administration fees should be taken from these funds.

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government