Transcript Highlights:

• Initially, I took a teaching position in the Ramsey Medical School program at Montana State University
• You will note that our organization's name has changed since we last appeared before this committee.
• name has changed since we last appeared name has changed since we last appeared before<00:44:45.119
• So initially, usually, we start off by watching videos.
• So initially, usually, we start off by watching videos.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• else's benefit, we will be moving through the bills with testimony that's been invited by the author initially
• We initially got pushback on the type of testing we used, but I don't want to exaggerate the numbers,
• And I'm sorry for the initiative that put you into this arena. Your child...
• If I've appeared before your committee, you understand that about me.
• It was a $200 setup fee at $10K or $25,000 that they were bribing people with initially.

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB 5, SB 11, SB 12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Non-citizens can donate directly to ballot measures and initiatives, and this loophole was created in
• If you if you read federal election laws, it would appear. that the federal government says you can't
• I had spent an additional $10 after the initial fee to get another one.
• In my initial election— I think they call them maybe the next uniform election. Go ahead.
• My initial hesitation here is it is optional.

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Um maybe in the initial drafting that wasn't something that I initially considered.
• Um maybe in the initial drafting that wasn't something that I initially considered.
• Um maybe in the initial drafting that wasn't something that I initially considered.
• Contrary to the initial card, um, for a number of reasons, we appear today in opposition.
• And welcome to take any questions. number of reasons, we appear today in number of reasons, we appear

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it looks like to me is that we're shifting these payments past the forecast period to create the appearance
• ><00:15:36.800> to<00:15:37.120> create<00:15:38.160> the<00:15:38.399> appearance
• forecast period to create the appearance forecast period to create the appearance of<00:15:38.880
• So each subsequent, relative to what would be assumed currently, every single week after the initial
• So each subsequent, relative to what would be assumed currently, every single week after the initial

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hill noted that, in the material provided, it appears that 12 initial Tier 3 licenses
• 27:53.840> material<01:27:54.560> provided<01:27:55.480> it<01:27:55.679> appears
• provided it appears that uh 12<01:27:57.920> initial<01:27:58.480> tier<01:27:58.840><
• c> tier<01:27:59.080> three<01:27:59.360> licenses<01:27:59.920> have 12 initial
• tier tier three licenses have 12 initial tier tier three licenses have been<01:28:00.320> issued<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:08:34.640> most and infrastructure initiatives, most and infrastructure initiatives,
• infrastructure projects, and initiating infrastructure projects, and initiating plans<00:09:54.320
• <00:35:09.359> that organizations and initiatives that organizations and initiatives that
• It appears. Absolutely.
• It appears. that situation. It appears.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:51:14.880> So,<01:51:16.000> um, um what initiated this uh bill.
• So, um, um what initiated this uh bill.
• Um, so it appears from what you said that department staffing there was no division that oversaw this
• Um, so it appears from what you said that department staffing there was no division that oversaw this
• While states like Ohio, Tennessee, and Minnesota have already established task forces and initiatives

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am honored Breast Cancer Initiative.
• In 2025, the initiative served 21 counties.
• In 2025, the initiative served 21 counties.
• The Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative The Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative serves<00:37:37.359>
• In 2025, the initiative great state.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This reduces that $2 million to just $1 million at OSCE, and then we'll see the other $1 million appear
• Chairman, Representative Pettigrew, you did not vote to include these in the initial recommendation,
• They just were not in that initial scenario.
• Chairman, Representative Brown, the ad item is because this reauthorization was not initially included
• Again, this is not an all-in cost for this initiative. This is just year one.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anybody wishing to speak before the committee should complete an appearance form and hand it to a member
• The crux of the federal entitlement law is that that initial medical screening is required, and that
• The initial approach would have been a state plan amendment just to increase the income limits.
• The program received an initial appropriation for fiscal year 2024-25 of $500,000.
• Initially, the department planned to issue approximately 3,500 vouchers based on available funding.

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed members back for the first committee weeks, and heard brief personal updates from several senators before moving into agency implementation updates on recently enacted health care laws. The Agency for Health Care Administration reported on Senate Bill 64 creating rural emergency hospitals, explaining that AHCA adopted the required rules effective June 1, 2025, but that no hospitals have yet been designated. Members asked about possible hospital conversions, accreditation and survey responsibilities, and whether Florida would apply for federal rural health transformation funding; AHCA said it intends to apply and has already been working on the issue with federal officials. AHCA also reviewed the non-emergent care access plan requirement under Senate Bill 7016. The agency said hospitals with emergency departments must submit plans that help redirect non-emergent patients to appropriate care settings while complying with EMTALA, and that 83 plans had been received and 63 approved as of September 30. Members asked about data collection, managed care coordination, and the state’s health information exchange; AHCA said it has moved to a new HIE vendor and will continue monitoring implementation and possible care gaps. AHCA then updated the committee on the TEACH program, saying $6.8 million was spent in 2024-25 across 59 parent organizations and 229 facilities, with more than 1,800 students and nearly 380,000 clinical hours reimbursed. The agency said rulemaking is nearly complete, a new nursing student category and expanded facility eligibility were added, and a federal 1115 workforce waiver remains stalled after CMS signaled it will not approve new workforce demonstrations. AHCA also reviewed House Bill 121 on KidCare eligibility, explaining that implementation of the 300% poverty-level expansion remains blocked by federal litigation and waiver issues tied to premium nonpayment rules; members and public speakers urged action to close the coverage gap. Public testimony on AHCA’s presentation came from representatives of health centers and advocacy groups, who said the non-emergent care access plan has improved hospital-health center coordination and reduced repeat emergency use, and who urged implementation of KidCare expansion for children in the coverage gap. The Department of Health then presented updates on FRAM, the Sanadi screening grant program, the Health Care Innovation Revolving Loan Program, telehealth maternity care, swimming lesson vouchers, and House Bill 159 on pharmacist dispensing of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. DOH reported strong participation in FRAM and the telehealth maternity program, 24 Sanadi grant awards in 42 counties, 4,945 swimming lesson vouchers issued last year and 2,371 so far this year, and three approved certification courses with five pharmacist certifications issued under HB 159. Committee members asked about recruitment of dentists and other providers, telehealth maternity outcomes, and why participation in the maternity program remains below expected levels; DOH said outreach and regional referral networks are expanding and more detailed outcome data will be included in the upcoming legislative report.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, we will give an opportunity, as we've done before, if you'd like to make some initial comments
• Thank you, that helps remind us of the realities of ramping up new initiatives, new programs, and the
• Our initiative to put money into high-need schools for National Board Certified Teachers has multiple
• There was a federal initiative, and there have been many state initiatives for redesigning schools to
• , youth behavioral health initiative folks who are on the campus and available with some of their own

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• group because they over a initiative group because they over a initiative group because they over a
• But when could be appear to be nothing. But when could be appear to be nothing.
• This bill appears to have two subject. This bill appears to have two subject.
• But I'm initial intent of the bill. But I'm initial intent of the bill.
• that as soon as something go appears that as soon as something go appears that as soon as something

Bills: HB 1535, HB 123, HB 111, HB 180, HB 342, HB 1027, HB 1178, HB 610, HB 1277, HB 1615, HB 1620, HB 5342, HB 4885, HB 4751, HB 4689, HB 4530, HB 4488, HB 2149, HB 2041, HB 2071, HB 1813, HB 2282, HB 2248, HB 2243, HB 2522, HB 2310, HB 2513, HB 2300, HB 1902, HB 3719, HB 4284, HB 4327, HB 3743, HB 3778, HB 3801, HB 5153, HB 5147, HB 4877, HB 4850, HB 3158, HB 3261, HB 3005, HB 3033, HB 3138, HB 3099, HB 2849, HB 2967, HB 3488, HB 3477, HB 3466, HB 3396, HB 3469, HB 2594, HB 2776, HB 2564, HB 2298, HB 5331, HB 5646, HB 5247, HB 5323, HB 2015, HB 4384, HB 3896, HB 4014, HB 3627, HB 3594, HB 2524, HB 510, HB 561, HB 5111, HB 5446, HB 1181, HB 3963, HB 2785, HB 1661, HB 2460, HB 24, HJR 138, HB 3800, HB 42, HB 129, HB 677, HB 668, HB 2128, HB 2038, HB 2316, HB 3686, HB 2563, HB 1160, HB 3883, HB 2788, HB 2663, HB 3305, HB 3474, HB 1105, HB 3490, HB 3597, HB 1295, HB 3512, HB 3783, HB 2017, HB 3010, HB 3112, HB 4215, HB 3223, HB 3464, HB 3120, HB 4214, HB 4081, HB 4783, HB 4063, HB 2783, HB 5085, HB 2510, HB 3426, HB 4361, HB 1169, HB 2516, HB 4700, HB 3560, HB 3860, HB 3146, HB 184, HB 198, HB 247, HB 367, HB 449, HB 1778, HB 514, HB 632, HB 2582, HB 766, HB 2715, HB 2712, HB 3069, HB 3505, HB 1269, HB 4224, HB 5032, HB 2240, HB 5180, HB 3348, HB 4668, HB 4665, HB 3395, HB 3157, HB 4395, HB 4325, HB 4386, HB 4273, HB 2760, HB 2820, HB 1828, HB 1579, SB 2349, SB 1268, SB 610, SB 1577, SB 1369, SB 2032, SB 2034, SB 1057, SB 1044, SB 922, SB 1759, SB 1143, SB 1506, SB 1403, SB 2361, SB 870, SB 372, SB 72, SB 1583, SB 2314, SB 1267, SB 1273, SB 765, SB 552, HB 2145, HJR 112, HB 1804, HJR 110, HB 1194, HB 1531, HB 5008, HB 3421, SCR 27, HB 5398, HB 1407, HB 426, HB 1535, HB 123, HB 1773, HB 1871, HB 2035, HB 2448, HB 2492, HB 1411, HB 4753, HB 4666, HB 4529, HB 1499, HB 1610, HB 2028, HB 1506, HB 886, HB 3546, HB 796, HB 223, HB 1475, HB 3556, HB 4638, HB 111, HB 180, HB 342, HB 1027, HB 1178, HB 610, HB 1277, HB 1615, HB 1620, HB 5342, HB 4885, HB 4751, HB 4689, HB 4530, HB 4488, HB 2149, HB 2041, HB 2071, HB 1813, HB 2282, HB 2248, HB 2243, HB 2522, HB 2310, HB 2513, HB 2300, HB 1902, HB 3719, HB 4284, HB 4327, HB 3743, HB 3778, HB 3801, HB 5153, HB 5147, HB 4877, HB 4850, HB 3158, HB 3261, HB 3005, HB 3033, HB 3138, HB 3099, HB 2849, HB 2967, HB 3488, HB 3477, HB 3466, HB 3396, HB 3469, HB 2594, HB 2776, HB 2564, HB 2298, HB 5331, HB 5646, HB 5247, HB 5323, HB 2015, HB 4384, HB 3896, HB 4014, HB 3627, HB 3594, HB 2524, HB 510, HB 561, HB 5111, HB 5446, HB 1181, HB 3963, HB 2785, HB 1661, HB 2460, HCR 98, HCR 92, HCR 126

Keywords: Trinity River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, board of directors, governor appointment, public water authority, regional water authority, water resources, local government, natural resources, board training, ethics, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, complaint procedures, public comment, director removal, governance reform

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the girls that were initially evacuated in those first...”
• You’ll notice that the proximity of the guardhouse to the Guadalupe River appears at the top.
• It appears from all of the witness interviews that they were completely starved of information.
• It appears long on the map, but again, getting back to the senator's point.
• That you may want to ask of all the different people who will be appearing before you.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I can say is that some appear to own the establishment directly as a nonprofit corporation with
• I'm appearing on behalf of the North Dakota League of Cities.
• I love appearing in front of this committee. I miss you all. Well, any questions for the counties?
• I mean, when you get... ...compel you to appear and testify.
• They have maybe appeared before them or they've seen them in court or in the hallway.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• According to Florida Constitution, it appears that the governor has vast powers, including keeping us
• It appears that under the Commissioner of Agriculture, it basically says that It appears that under the
• Senator Angolia: It appears to me that the language in here is recreating the roles.
• Because it appears to me there's no mechanism to get them removed. Senator Gruters: Thank you, Mr.
• It appears that your bill does nothing to help.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It appears to me that the language in here is recreating the roles.
• Because it appears to me there's no mechanism to get them removed. Senator Gruters. Thank you, Mr.
• It appears that your bill does nothing to help. ...ones that come over in four years.
• Does that appear in any executive orders that President Trump has put out? Senator Angolia.
• In the 2023 special session, while I was across the street making a court appearance, over here was a

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anyone else who wishes to appear on Senate Bill 146?
• <04:22:41.239> unsolicited<04:22:42.239> charged initiate unsolicited charged initiate
• So the initial marketing thing website.
• are way past the children age who appear are way past the children age who appear to<04:39:33.680
• Um it appears we're of the um committee.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 146, which would remove the requirement that a medical examiner physically view a body before issuing a cremation certificate. The prime sponsor, Sen. Suprentice, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jenny Duval explained that the bill would not change the death certificate process or the existing waiting period before cremation; it would only eliminate the in-person viewing step. They said the current review of death certificates already catches the vast majority of cases that should be reported to the medical examiner, and that the physical view changes outcomes in less than 1% of cremation cases. The witnesses emphasized that the bill is intended to improve efficiency and reduce delays for families and funeral homes, while freeing deputy medical examiners to focus on homicides, suicides, accidents, and unexpected natural deaths. Dr. Duval cited an example where review of a death certificate, not the body, uncovered a long-ago strangulation-related homicide, arguing that the key safeguard is review of records and cause of death, not the physical view. She also said the change would save travel time and some costs for the department. Committee members asked about how death certificates list primary and contributing causes of death, whether the low percentage of findings means the current process has a deterrent effect, why cremation is treated differently from burial, and whether identification concerns are adequately addressed. The sponsors responded that identification is handled earlier by hospitals, families, and funeral directors, and that any questionable identification would already fall under medical examiner jurisdiction. They also said the bill would not alter the two-day cremation delay or other existing safeguards. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand that ethics board member Jessica Roberts will be appearing by Zoom and will not be in person
• Outlook, and when you do that it removes all of the redline, so all of that information does not appear
• the way it appears in the book for you.
• Is the decision that appears at Exhibit 217 an example of one of the decisions that you relied upon?
• You're referring to the initial donation, correct? Yes.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The hearing resumed on day two of the Legislative Ethics Board fact-finding matter involving Representative Tara Simmons. After opening remarks and confirmation that board members had not engaged in outside research or ex parte communications, Simmons’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she improperly combined a legislative proviso for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and private conduct were intertwined and that the board had enough evidence to require a defense. After deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss and proceeded to hear defense testimony. The first defense witness, Sharon Navas, testified that she met Simmons through advocacy work, later hired her at the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC), and maintained written employment policies intended to separate Simmons’s legislative role from her work for EEC. Navas said Simmons was never compensated for lobbying or legislative acts, that EEC paid her from unrestricted funds, and that Simmons did not work on the AEJG dashboard project or participate in the contract dispute with Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley. Navas described the proviso request and later contract issues as separate from Simmons’s legislative duties, and said she continued to pay invoices while the project was being completed. Simmons then testified about her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics advice before taking outside employment or pursuing provisos. She said she repeatedly consulted House ethics counsel and reviewed prior board decisions to ensure her outside work and legislative actions were separated. Simmons described her relationship with Anthony Powers, the dashboard project, the proviso process, and her understanding that the work was distinct from her legislative role. The hearing paused for lunch after part of Simmons’s direct examination, with testimony set to continue after the break.

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand that ethics board member Jessica Roberts will be appearing by Zoom and will not be in person
• Outlook, and when you do that it removes all of the redline, so all of that information does not appear
• the way it appears in the book for you.
• Is the decision that appears at Exhibit 217 an example of one of the decisions that you relied upon?
• You're referring to the initial donation, correct? Yes.

Summary: The hearing resumed in the Legislative Ethics Board matter involving Tara Simmons after the board confirmed no ex parte communications had occurred overnight. Respondent’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she violated ethics rules by combining legislative support for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and personal dealings were intertwined. After a recess for deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss, and the hearing moved into the defense case. The first defense witness was Sharon Navas, executive director of the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC). Navas testified that she met Simmons in 2018, later hired her, and took steps to separate Simmons’s legislative duties from her work for EEC. She said Simmons was never paid for lobbying or legislative acts, that her compensation came from unrestricted funds, and that the organization used written ethics-compliance language and a formal scope of work. Navas also described the proviso-funded dashboard project involving Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley, testifying that Simmons was not involved in the project’s day-to-day work, did not attend the meetings about the dispute, and was not part of the alleged contract disagreement. On cross-examination, staff focused on the contract documents, the dashboard work, and whether the scope of work matched the parties’ understanding. Tara Simmons then testified in her own defense. She described her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics guidance from House counsel and board-related materials before taking outside employment or supporting provisos. She said she relied on prior ethics advice when separating her legislative role from outside work and when seeking provisos for AEJG and EEC. Simmons also addressed her relationship with Anthony Powers, describing it as a friendship rooted in criminal justice reform work and prior collaboration. The hearing was still in the middle of Simmons’s direct testimony when the transcript excerpt ended, with no final ruling on the merits or disposition of the allegations.