Transcript Highlights:

• Like, how are you evaluating if it's effective or not relating to the level of employment?
• Without good data, it's difficult to create public policy, and without good data, it's impossible to evaluate
• Those three properties represent $75 million, or 14 percent of my total tax evaluation.

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

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• signs of a serious intestinal malformation and immediately called in a medical team for an urgent evaluation
• Children on Oahu, as no pediatric surgeon is available on Hawaii Island. a medical team for an urgent evaluation
• . a medical team for an urgent evaluation.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes accommodations, substantiated instances of misconduct, and evaluations.
• The misconduct that's been proven, evaluations, accommodations, things of that nature.
• different files, that's the type of information that would probably not necessarily show up in an evaluation

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard a series of bills focused on criminal procedure, public safety, victim protections, and law enforcement administration. SB 1537 would require criminal-proceeding interpreters to meet the same appointment standards used in the Government Code, and SB 993 would let the Comptroller’s Criminal Investigative Division seek mobile-tracking warrants directly in motor fuel theft and related tax-fraud investigations. SB 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notaries who notarize documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add continuing education for notaries. SB 1610 would tighten rules for civilly committed sexually violent predators at the Texas Civil Commitment Office, including penalties for new crimes and assaults on staff, sex-offender registration requirements, and removal of certain provisions from the filed version; the substitute reduced some of the harsher penalties and preserved parole/community-supervision eligibility. SB 836 would expand privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of certain trials, allowing pseudonyms earlier in the process, and protecting forensic exam evidence and invasive recordings under protective orders. SB 1563 would require county jailers to receive training on interacting with veterans, with testimony emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails. SB 906 would give the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo authority similar to other Texas tribes to commission peace officers under state law to enforce Texas laws on tribal land. SB 781 would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officers’ personal information and create a confidential departmental file system modeled on Chapter 143 civil-service practices, though members raised concerns about whether the bill could affect disciplinary records and existing disclosure rules. Testimony was largely supportive for the bills, especially from prosecutors, law enforcement representatives, victim advocates, and agency officials. Supporters of SB 693 described widespread deed fraud tied to improper notarizations; supporters of SB 836 stressed survivor privacy and the harms of livestreamed sexual-assault proceedings; supporters of SB 1563 said jailer training could help prevent veteran suicides and improve treatment; and supporters of SB 906 said state commissioning would improve public safety and coordination on tribal lands. SB 781 drew support from police and TCOLE witnesses who said the bill would extend confidentiality protections already used in civil-service departments, while some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing law or could be read to shield misconduct information. Public testimony included opposition to SB 1610 from a civil-rights advocate who urged waiting for Sunset review, and opposition to SB 781 from a family member of a person killed by police, who objected to expanding confidentiality for officers. Several bills were left pending after testimony because the committee lacked a quorum or chose to hold them for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• helpful for medical cannabis patients if they were able to go directly from their certification evaluation
• helpful for medical cannabis patients if they were able to go directly from their certification evaluation
• helpful for medical cannabis patients if they were able to go directly from their certification evaluation

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 205 HD1 and HB 480 HD1 on workers’ compensation. Testifiers from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Department of Human Resources Development supported the bills, with DLIR saying HB 205 would codify and regulate nonprescription over-the-counter drugs at a reasonable rate, and DHRD saying HB 480 would encourage timely and accurate assessments of injured workers’ physical abilities. No opposition was raised on those measures, and the committee moved on without votes or amendments noted. On HB 331 HD1 relating to permits, the University of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Education, and the Hawaii School Facilities Authority supported the bill, while the Board of Water Supply and Greg Mikan opposed it. Supporters did not elaborate much beyond standing on written testimony, but the School Facilities Authority asked that renovations be added to the definition of repeatable projects. Opponents argued the Department of Planning and Permitting is understaffed and that bypassing or speeding the permitting review process could create problems, especially for projects requiring proper engineering review. No action was taken beyond hearing testimony. The committee also heard HB 72 HD1 on pharmacy technician regulation, with the Board of Pharmacy offering comments and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association, Walgreens, and Mōʻiliʻili Drugs supporting the measure. Supporters said pharmacy technicians already perform essential duties such as vaccinations, compounding, inventory, and dispensing, and argued Hawaiʻi is the only state without an active managed list of practicing pharmacy technicians. On HB 139 HD1 regarding insurance, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and the Hawaii Society for Clinical Oncologists supported the bill, arguing fertility preservation coverage should not conflict with federal law or the prepaid health care system. On HB 32 HD1 relating to cannabis, the Attorney General and Department of Health raised concerns about allowing purchase before certification is approved, while the Hawaii Cannabis Industry Association supported the bill and suggested lowering the purchase limit from 2 ounces to 1 ounce; the Department of Health said its average turnaround is two to three business days, with about 20% of applications returned for incompleteness and an internal expedited process for certain cases. Later, the committee heard HB 470 HD1 on noise, with the Department of Health supporting the goal of reducing noise pollution but cautioning that regulating intermittent noise like string trimmers is complicated, while the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi opposed the bill as a hardship for small businesses and questioned the practicality of battery-powered equipment. Ted Bolan supported the measure, saying it would not ban gas leaf blowers but would require quieter models over time. The committee then heard HB 534 HD1 on labeling requirements, where DLNR and the Department of Agriculture offered comments and several fishing and consumer groups supported the bill. Testimony focused on seafood origin labeling, especially raw tuna used in poke and sushi, with DLNR explaining the bill was being narrowed to avoid federal preemption and to avoid unintentionally covering canned tuna or other processed products. Finally, the committee heard H47 HD1 on aquaculture, with the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation supporting the measure; no votes were taken on any bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• provisions that within 5 days of returning to the U.S., a veterinarian in Mexico is supposed to evaluate
• Additionally, when they land at customs, there should be another checkpoint there where they're evaluating
• ><01:04:59.200> is<01:04:59.440> supposed<01:04:59.599> to<01:04:59.760> evaluate
• <01:05:00.240> the in Mexico is supposed to evaluate the in Mexico is supposed to evaluate
• the animals and and they're evaluating the animals and and the<01:05:10.720> people<01:05:10.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• our local facilities, we are housing people who are in a big long waiting list for mental health evaluations
• And so my question really is around whether this is to support those evaluations actually occurring because
• <01:33:33.280> And<01:33:33.520> so<01:33:33.840> my mental health um evaluations
• And so my mental health um evaluations.
• <01:33:37.760> actually support those evaluations actually support those evaluations actually

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's not regulation, but it is a third-party evaluation of the ability of a reinsurer to deliver
• 44:16.239> ability<01:44:17.040> of<01:44:17.280> a<01:44:17.600> a evaluation
• of the ability of a a evaluation of the ability of a a reinsurer<01:44:18.719> to<01:44:19.760
• So there is no... and it creates some trickiness when we do this evaluation.
• We are we are trying to evaluation.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees held an informational briefing on efforts to expand insurance capacity in Hawaii’s property market, especially for condominium and homeowners coverage. The Insurance Commissioner reviewed the background: a legislative task force, the governor’s emergency proclamation in August 2024, and Senate Bill 1044 in May 2025 led to new condo insurance products. He said the work over the past two and a half years was producing positive results and introduced representatives from HPIA and HHRF/HHR to provide updates. HPIA’s board chair and its administrator described the organization’s history, structure, and current products. HPIA said it was created in 1991 as a residual market for homeowners insurance, now writing four residential products: HO2 homeowners, renters, HO6 condo unit owners, and dwelling fire. They reported policy counts have grown again as admitted-market carriers tightened underwriting, and they discussed financial pressure from reinsurance costs, though those costs had declined in 2025 after different purchasing decisions. They also said the market has become more favorable overall, with some capacity returning and deductibles beginning to ease. Members focused much of their questioning on HPIA’s proposed higher dwelling limits. HPIA explained that the current $450,000 limit for homeowners and dwelling fire was set in 2023, but agents are now asking for a higher limit in the $650,000 to $750,000 range because construction costs have risen and many policies are not being submitted when the limit is too low. HPIA said it has the authority to raise the limit through a filing with the Insurance Division and expects more submissions if the cap increases. They also discussed the shift in the book of business from roughly 70% lava-zone coverage to closer to a 50/50 split between lava and non-lava risks. HPIA outlined strategic initiatives: a new policy administration system that went live October 1 and now allows online payments, online claims reporting, and electronic notices; a filed request to raise the homeowners and dwelling fire limit to $650,000 effective March 1 for new business and April 1 for renewals; an increase in the HO6 condo unit owners limit from $5,000 to $100,000; and a planned commercial property all-other-perils-excluding-hurricane condo product targeted for filing by January 31. No votes were taken, and the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• some analysis, you know, when a project would be submitted and the Department of Education would evaluate
• some analysis, you know, when a project would be submitted and the Department of Education would evaluate
• funding being available, the DOE did not accept application because it would have been pointless to evaluate
• funding being available, the DOE did not accept application because it would have been pointless to evaluate
• funding being available, the DOE did not accept applications because it would have been pointless to evaluate

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting on retained education funding bills, focusing on HB 366, which concerns school building aid for eligible projects, and HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing. The chair framed the discussion broadly around whether school building aid should remain a state program, how to address limited revenues, and whether the current system should continue to prioritize debt service and the existing formula or move toward a different model such as per-pupil allocations, a dedicated fund, or a split between new construction and renovation. He also raised questions about whether leasing should be included and how to manage any new fund under current law and the school building authority structure. Representatives and department staff discussed the current backlog of applications, the age and condition of school facilities, and the possibility that large projects can consume available funding for a year while other districts go unsupported. Tim Carney of the Bureau of School Facilities introduced himself and provided technical context on the program and current debt levels. Representative Luneau argued that under the ConVal decision, the state’s responsibility includes school buildings, construction, and renovation, and that the program also serves an equity function by helping districts with less property wealth. He noted that construction and renovation have long been recognized categories and asked about leasing, which staff said is already supported in statute for charter schools and possibly CTE, with a cap of 30% of annual lease cost or $50,000. The discussion also covered CTE facilities: staff explained that capital funding for CTE centers is state-funded, that federal Carl Perkins funds cannot be used for construction, and that the current rotational capital model means only a few centers are funded each year, which may not match changing program needs. A committee studying CTE capital needs was referenced, along with concerns that the report from that work had not yet been received. Representative Papich urged the subcommittee to focus on policy, principles, and structure rather than just numbers, saying the current system produces a few winners and many districts that never receive aid. He favored a simpler, more equitable per-capita or formula-based approach, while acknowledging the need for a transition plan for projects already in the pipeline. The chair later cautioned against mixing maintenance and operations with construction and renovation, noting that operation and maintenance are already part of the adequacy formula and should not be confused with capital funding. No votes were taken during the meeting; the discussion was exploratory, with members and staff laying out competing approaches and identifying issues for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, first they have to do the annual evaluation for 2025 because that's one of the five years that's
• And then after that annual evaluation is complete, then they can use it with the prior four years to
• <00:53:52.079> for have to do the annual evaluation for have to do the annual evaluation for
• And then after that<00:54:08.079> annual<00:54:08.480> evaluation<00:54:09.280> is
• c><00:54:09.599> complete<00:54:10.000> then that annual evaluation is complete then that

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with a quorum call, the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and approval of the prior meeting minutes. The first presentation was from Bo Craycraft of the Judicial Form Retirement System, who gave an update on investment performance, asset allocation, cash flow, and projected employer costs. He reported strong fiscal year 2025 investment results, with both the legislative and judicial retirement plans outperforming their actuarial assumed rates of return and benchmarks, driven largely by U.S. equity performance. He also noted the plans remained near their target asset allocation and continued to experience negative cash flow, though he said that was manageable in context of strong asset growth. Craycraft then discussed a recent experience study and actuarial assumption changes, especially a revised salary growth assumption and a higher cash balance interest credit rate. He said these changes increased projected employer costs, with contributions rising from about $700,000 to a projected $2 million in later years, though he expected the eventual 2025 valuation and investment gains to reduce that estimate. Members asked about mortality assumptions, the impact of the experience study on liabilities, and the sharp increase in the judicial plan’s projected employer cost. Craycraft explained that the increase was driven mainly by the updated assumptions and that no other major plan changes were involved. At the chair’s request, Craycraft also addressed the recent rise in Medicare Advantage premiums for the plan’s health coverage, saying the 2025 increase was largely tied to Part D changes and the Inflation Reduction Act and had been about 45%, but that future growth was expected to be under 5%. After his presentation, the committee moved to the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority update, where the next speaker began by saying the funds had exceeded actuarial assumed returns for the fiscal year.

Transcript Highlights:

• There'll be a number of districts that do it, and then we can evaluate the results.
• <00:29:46.320> then<00:29:46.480> we<00:29:46.720> can<00:29:47.600> evaluate
• <00:29:48.159> the do it and then we can evaluate the do it and then we can evaluate the results
• through the special education process because there's a process that they have to go through to evaluate
• through the special education process because there's a process that they have to go through to evaluate

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• made a lot of good progress with the Department of Commerce to develop a straightforward process to evaluate
• 00:07:03.680> to develop a straightforward process to develop a straightforward process to evaluate
• evaluate equivalent plan applications. evaluate equivalent plan applications.
• Um, when we didn't meet those, we had a process for evaluating why we were above or below our threshold
• Um, when we didn't meet those, we had a process for evaluating why we were above or below our threshold

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• protections against highway pollution and the resulting health hazards with this new process to evaluate
• <00:59:17.520> cumulative this new process to evaluate cumulative this new process to evaluate
• The process of evaluating alternatives has led us into the EIS process with the purpose and need for
• . the uh the atgrade intersections. the uh the process<01:07:02.559> of<01:07:02.799> evaluating
• <01:07:03.520> alternatives<01:07:04.319> that process of evaluating alternatives that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the paid leave law as enacted in 2023 required an actuarial analysis evaluating the activity,
• enacted in 2023 required an actu Law as enacted in 2023 required an actu analysis<00:09:28.399> evaluating
• <00:09:29.000> the<00:09:29.600> activity<00:09:30.480> and analysis evaluating
• the activity and analysis evaluating the activity and that<00:09:30.720> was<00:09:30.839>
• that point there would be an evaluation that point there would be an evaluation of<01:36:27.480>

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, our evidence collection kits were evaluated here in New Hampshire and then subsequently sent
• evidence collection kits were evaluated evidence collection kits were evaluated here<01:39:35.360
• safety expedite and address public safety concerns<01:45:58.560> while<01:45:58.840> evaluating
• <01:45:59.679> the<01:45:59.880> pilot concerns while evaluating the pilot concerns
• while evaluating the pilot program<01:46:01.199> we<01:46:01.360> want<01:46:01.639>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you to extend the hold harmless period and carefully re-evaluate the repercussions of the revenue
• the whole harmless period and extend the whole harmless period and carefully<01:19:20.880> re-evaluate
• <01:19:21.639> the<01:19:21.760> repercussions carefully re-evaluate the repercussions
• carefully re-evaluate the repercussions of<01:19:22.480> the<01:19:22.560> revenue<01:
• their effects on our students evaluating their effects on our students today<01:26:27.159> I<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• resources, delivers wide-ranging educational programs focused on research-based crop production, evaluation

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met with a quorum present and heard testimony on House Bill 5085, which would create a report on the impacts of seed banks and seed preservation, especially as they relate to food access, biodiversity, disaster recovery, and education. Representative Gervin Hawkins presented the bill, citing examples such as the Bastrop wildfire and the role of seed banking in restoring ecosystems and supporting food security. No one testified against the bill, and the author closed after questions. The committee then voted to report HB 5085 favorably to the full House without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion passed on a 6-3 vote. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1035, with a committee substitute adopted that made a minor wording change from "or" to "and." SB 1035, which creates a legal pathway for agricultural operators to challenge unlawful local regulations and recover court costs and attorneys' fees, was reported favorably on a 9-0 vote. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2155, which implements TDLR recommendations to modernize the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners by improving licensing, complaint resolution, and enforcement processes. The bill was reported favorably to the full House without amendment on a 9-0 vote. After disposing of these items, the committee adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• It evaluates technologies and environmental stewardship, which impacts our measured economic. economically

Bills: HB5085

Keywords: seed banks, food access, environment, biodiversity, agriculture policy, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We still have a number of bills that we're evaluating and reviewing.

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and took up one bill, Senate Bill 182, the Home Away from Home Tax Credit Program. Senator Kalata explained that the bill would create a tax credit to encourage business donations supporting charitable health and hospitality homes that house families of children receiving long-term medical treatment away from home. He described the program as a way to help families avoid sleeping in cars or hospital lobbies and said it was modeled after Florida’s Strong Families Tax Credit. Senator Gates asked who could contribute and how the credit would work; the sponsor said it would apply to corporate insurance premium tax contributions and would be capped at $2.5 million. Gates noted the need was significant and said he would support the bill, though he questioned whether the cap was enough to start. No one appeared in opposition and there was no debate. The committee then voted on SB 182, and it was reported favorably. Afterward, the chair said the committee was taking a measured approach to reviewing bills with financial impacts, citing a tightening fiscal outlook and the need to consider budget effects before advancing additional proposals. With no further business, the committee moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• medication were intending to evaluate medication abortion<00:29:18.559> reversal<00:29:19.200
• The evaluation was uncomplicated.
• > the<00:34:39.119> woman<00:34:40.240> uh An evaluation revealed that the woman
• uh An evaluation revealed that the woman uh had<00:34:40.720> severe<00:34:41.119> pelvic<
• An evaluation um scarring. An evaluation um was<00:35:10.720> uncomplicated.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from