Transcript Highlights:

• What do you imagine might be the next generation of legislation that would follow this?
• What do you imagine might be the next generation of legislation that would follow this?
• So I don't know if that answers the question." in general this would be moving New in general this would
• Could you comment on the fiscal impact in general?
• Generic small molecules and biosimilars are similar, but not exactly the same as generics.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Track processes and track key performance measures.
• You’ve seen the Nebraska Attorney General sue them.
• The Nebraska Attorney General found that fraudulent.
• Chair, members, House Bill 2352 appropriates $2,385,900 from the general fund to the Auditor General
• , and the Attorney General will maintain a registry of it.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that took chunks out of our general fund budget.
• So, we did have our general possible.
• <00:22:51.039> Um, general fund budget. Um, general fund budget.
• So, we were prepared to launch the performing arts grants program.
• being taken more out of the general being taken more out of the general funds.<00:50:58.720>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “You were speaking specifically to appliances in general?”
• SFMO investigations perform law enforcement duties that align...
• General, real quick question. So, 100% in support of the bill.
• I'm General Counsel with Southwest Service Life.
• I'm General Counsel with Southwest Service Life.

Bills: HB 106, HB144, HB145, HB252, HB1732, HB2221, HB2467, HB2468, HB2517, HB2518, HB2963, HB3016, HB3689, HB3960, HB4386, HB4490, HB4751, HB5247, HJR175, HB2213

Keywords: HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection

Summary: The committee first handled pending business, including reconsidering SB 715 and then voting out several measures. The committee substitute for SB 1978 was reported favorably, and HB 431, HB 1522, HB 1922, HB 3228, HB 3229, HB 3803, HB 3804, HB 3805, HB 3806, HB 4219, HB 4238, HB 434, HB 1584, and HB 4739 were all reported favorably, many with objections sent to the local and uncontested calendar. HB 1522 and HB 4238 were adopted as committee substitutes before passage. The committee then moved into public testimony on HB 2963, a right-to-repair bill for consumer electronics. Supporters argued it would reduce waste, lower costs, and help independent repair shops by requiring manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information on fair terms, while opponents said the bill was too broad and the automotive MOU exemption was problematic. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 2467, which would align State Fire Marshal Office investigators’ pay with other commissioned peace officers at TDI; testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the office’s arson-investigation role, and the bill was left pending. HB 252, a bill allowing certain state agencies flexibility to pay Schedule A employees twice monthly, was laid out and left pending after limited testimony. HB 2468, dealing with public improvement district notice in real estate transactions, would let buyers terminate within seven days if required PID notice was not provided before contract execution; it drew no public testimony and was left pending. HB 4386, an annuity exchange and surrender process bill, was presented as a consumer-protection measure with deadlines and penalties for insurer delays; it received support from industry witnesses and was left pending. The committee then heard HB 4751, creating the Texas Quantum Initiative within the Governor’s Office to coordinate quantum research, workforce, industry partnerships, and possible future grant funding. Witnesses from universities and industry supported the bill, while several senators questioned whether a new state structure was necessary; the bill was left pending. HJR 175 proposed a constitutional amendment protecting Texans’ right to use mutually agreed forms of exchange, including cash, bullion, digital currency, or private script, and was discussed at length in the context of central bank digital currency and barter; it was left pending after testimony. HB 2221, updating insurance anti-rebating laws to allow wellness and value-added services, drew supportive testimony from the insurance industry and discussion about incentives versus monitoring; it was also left pending. Finally, the committee heard a series of utility wildfire and infrastructure bills: HB 106, requiring oil and gas operators to maintain certain electrical infrastructure near well sites; HB 144, requiring electric utilities to submit pole inspection and management plans to the PUC; and HB 145, requiring wildfire mitigation plans and allowing self-insurance under certain conditions. Utility, insurance, and cooperative witnesses generally supported the wildfire-related bills while asking for clarifications and less burdensome reporting, and the bills were left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's supported by special and general revenue.
• maintenance, supported by general revenue.
• So generally, we get one year of E-Rate.
• This is supported by the Attorney General Opioid Grant.
• Generally speaking, gotcha.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll hit it on a general tax a little bit later.
• If you look at the executive program, my program, which includes general counsel, inspector general,
• Right now, finally, there's general tax. General tax causes a little pause.
• And it's not general revenue funding, okay?
• General tax is funded not only from general revenue, but also from our operating trust fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair lays out SB527 by Swertner as pending business, relating to health benefit coverage for general
• SB1643 is very broad and generic, and I don't think that's a great system because it doesn't need to
• Please proceed. ...concerns regarding TDI's efficiency and efficacy, as well as lack of general regulatory
• lowest score ever in TDI's history; 27.7 percent of consumers were satisfied with the job being performed
• And in general, I don’t think this is the right solution to an acknowledged problem.

Bills: SB1642, SB1643, SB2530

Keywords: Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance, commercial automobile insurance, rate approval, consumer protection, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, administrative penalties, coastal counties, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :18.079> they generators the generators yep yeah they generators the generators yep yeah they
• The bill that Representative Erer is referring to would take electric generators, or utility generators
• estimates were if we performed what the estimates were if we performed quite<01:18:09.360> well
• <03:30:09.800> education yeah so that's your general education yeah so that's your general
• motion on me sure the general motion on me sure the general population<04:12:21.920> that

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee received a Department of Revenue Administration update from Commissioner Lindsay Stepp focused on revenue estimates for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She explained the department’s forecasting method, which uses five scenarios based on the first seven months of actual collections and different assumptions for the remaining months, then selects a reasonable high and low range for FY 25 and applies projected growth rates for FY 26 and FY 27. Members asked several clarifying questions about how the scenarios are chosen and how the estimates relate to economic growth and taxpayer behavior. For business taxes, Stepp reported FY 25 year-to-date collections of $110.3 million, 18.2% below plan and 17.2% below prior year. She said the shortfall reflects both economic conditions and a resetting of estimated payments after unusually strong pandemic-era profits, and noted that the department cannot fully separate changes in taxpayer liability from changes in estimated payment behavior. She said approximately just under $72 million was refunded in FY 24 due to the CCO cap, and that FY 25 year-to-date refunds are at 41.7%. For business taxes, the department’s FY 25 range was based on either continued underperformance versus plan or a return to prior-year levels, with FY 26 and FY 27 growth projected at 3% to 8%. The committee also reviewed meals and rooms tax, tobacco tax, and related trends. Meals and rooms revenue was $6.9 million, or 3.3%, ahead of plan and prior year; the FY 25 gross estimate was $475.894 million, with a net range of about $331.82 million to $335.259 million after municipal transfers and school building aid. Stepp said recent monthly results suggest some fluctuation tied to disposable income, weather, and travel patterns, but no clear sustained decline. Tobacco tax was $18.1 million, 14% below plan and 4.8% below prior year; she said cigarette stamp sales are declining while e-cigarettes and other tobacco products are growing, with FY 25 tobacco revenue projected at $182.5 million to $185.3 million and FY 26-FY 27 growth ranging from -5% to flat. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:33.279> being functions that are generally being functions that are generally being
• >> It went into the general fund. >> It went into the general fund.
• Those reverted to the general fund. Those are largely from the general fund initially.
• those would remain in the general fund. those would remain in the general fund.
• largely from the general fund initially. largely from the general fund initially.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He went on to work with the state's next generation of leaders through the Bob Graham Center for Public
• Senator Mayfield was attempting to improve my performance in the Senate by explaining something to me
• A billion dollars annually would have to come from general revenues.
• after Because we believe that a welfare culture that is repetitive generation after generation is bad
• Even when I was in the House, you have been generous with your wisdom.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several introductions and memorials, including a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with several bills substituted with House companions and adopted by voice vote or recorded vote. Early measures included a tax conformity bill tied to federal Internal Revenue Code changes, which passed 34-0, and a Medicaid/public assistance bill that drew extensive debate over work requirements, fraud reduction, behavioral health services, and SNAP/EBT reforms. Amendments offered by Senators Berman and Osgood to condition or soften the work and photo-ID provisions were rejected, and the underlying bill was placed on the third-reading calendar after lengthy questioning about implementation, exemptions, and eligibility effects. The Senate also passed bills on computer science education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry public-records exemption and registry update, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the legal-tender sunset for gold and silver, public-records protections for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, and local government budget transparency/spending measures. Most of these measures were adopted after minor amendments or technical substitutions, with votes generally ranging from 31-3 to 34-0. The chamber also recognized the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Later, the Senate approved a digital voyeurism bill expanding the reasonable-expectation-of-privacy definition to include private fenced yards, and an insurance customer representative licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework and later qualify for licensure. The final major item was a medical freedom bill that would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption to immunization mandates, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition; two amendments clarifying anti-kickback rules and requiring vaccine information to include risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy were adopted, while questions from Senators Smith and Massullo focused on public-health impacts and the content of the required materials. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM. >> THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM. >> THE
• THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA THE HONORABLE JAMES UTHMEIER.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So a group like this has a performance improvement responsibility.
• <03:18:14.720> the not be we may not be able to perform the not be we may not be able to perform
• So I can speak generally about services.
• That was not general public too.
• <05:28:05.840> uh say that um harm reduction in general uh say that um harm reduction in general

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And next, we'll go to General McBurnett. Mr.
• We worry about generations.
• data through performance measures.
• Generating for surface transportation.
• The FY26 amount for the general fund is 176.8 million. 176.8 million, that's what's going to the general

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires elections for municipal offices to be held on the same date as the general election
• So under this bill, that would be in the general election. Okay. Follow up, Mrs. Just, yes, sir.
• I'm not even talking about the general.
• My hope is that we are going to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in the utility industry
• Solar comes in second, and nuclear right behind that, and then a whole mix of other energy generation

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and first considered SB 1416, which would move municipal elections to coincide with the general election and extend incumbent terms until the new schedule takes effect. Senators discussed whether the bill would affect runoff elections, with the sponsor explaining that runoff timing would shift to the August primary/general election framework. The Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties were noted as opposed, while members cited potential taxpayer savings and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 766, as amended by strike-all, which would require agents of certain “countries of concern” to register with the Division of Elections when engaging in political activity. The amendment narrowed the bill’s focus and aligned terminology with existing state law. After no opposition or debate on the amendment, the committee adopted it and then reported the bill favorably. Members next heard the reappointment of Mike LaRosa to the Public Service Commission. Questioning focused heavily on PSC transparency, the sufficiency of commission orders, Supreme Court criticism of PSC decisions, storm protection plans, utility rate cases, and how the commission evaluates evidence and consumer impacts. LaRosa said the commission had changed its procedures to produce more detailed orders and more robust discussion, and he described ongoing work on rate cases, public engagement, and emerging energy issues such as small modular reactors. Despite concerns raised, the nomination was reported favorably to the full Senate. The committee then approved a block of additional appointments in tabs 4 through 27, also reporting them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is your grace of their forebearers, mothers and fathers, grandparents and Generations before whose
• Her impact will be felt for generations to come. May she rest in power. and her legacy lives on.
• Angelo State University. by general Ronnie D Hawkins jr. serves over 11,500 and has the state's first
• I would also like to recognize in the gallery, Lone Star. our College Assistant General Counsel, Sonia
• Bush, the band performed at Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• healthiest citizens on the planet, a model of efficiency and effectiveness, and the healthiest, highest-performing
• healthiest citizens on the planet, a model of efficiency and effectiveness, and the healthiest, highest performing
• And so the very first thing that we did is we did have listening sessions, which ultimately generated
• From there, the funding will be contingent upon performance.
• From there, the funding will be contingent upon performance.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's more, we'll have some grace, but that's our general aim so that we can keep things moving and
• c><00:01:47.119> our have some Grace yes but that's our have some Grace yes but that's our general
• :48.719> we<00:01:48.840> can<00:01:49.040> keep<00:01:49.320> things general
• Aim so that we can keep things general Aim so that we can keep things moving<00:01:50.320> and
• information about student performance information about student performance until<01:15:09.960><

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools. The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources. Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We must ensure future generations learn of the inhumanity of the Ottoman Empire's actions in order to
• We must ensure future generations learn of the inhumanity of the Ottoman Empire's actions in order to
• stolen, the passion and activism of the years stolen, generation stolen, the passion and activism of
• Their performance was a masterclass in defensive intensity and offensive poise.
• Their performance was a masterclass in defensive, intensity, and offensive poise.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:46.559> 6.9 and culture industry, generate 6.9 and culture industry, generate 6.9 billion
• President, one in three Kentucky adults attend a visual performing arts event every year.
• In fact, 44% personally create or perform works of art.
• In fact, 44% personally create or perform works of art.
• He fell in love with my mom, who was a third-generation pianist.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. During second reading, several bills and a joint resolution were reported to the Rules Committee, including measures on trauma center provider coverage, cremation, public library trustees, local occupational license fees and taxes, and a food-is-medicine resolution. The House also communicated passage of House Bills 176, 178, and 280 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced Senate Bill 39, Senate Bill 181 with a committee substitute, Senate Bill 17 with a committee substitute and title amendment, and Senate Bill 34. The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 13, which would allow military installations to have ex officio representation on nearby planning and zoning bodies to improve communication about land use near bases. It passed 37-0. Senate Bill 46, concerning school transportation, was amended by committee substitute to require background checks and drug testing for drivers of school vans and to extend van use to 10-passenger vehicles; it passed 37-0 after a brief clarification about the amendment’s display in the system. Senate Bill 22, expanding the dual credit scholarship program to support a teacher apprenticeship pathway, was amended to require a 2.75 GPA and then passed 36-1 after questions about employment status and liability; the sponsor explained it would help address teacher shortages and reduce student debt. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 90, which extends the behavioral health conditional dismissal pilot program from 2027 to 2031 to continue offering treatment-based alternatives to incarceration for eligible low-level offenders; it passed 37-0. Senate Bill 51, a proposed constitutional change to freeze property tax assessment increases for homeowners age 65 and older on their primary residence, also passed 37-0. Senate Bill 30 was passed over but retained its place in the orders of the day. The rules committee later posted Senate Bills 27, 40, and 76 for the next day, and the Committee on Committees referred Senate Bill 109 to Licensing and Occupations, Senate Bill 68 to State and Local Government, and Senate Resolutions 45 and 46 to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• simple bill, maybe the most simple bill you deal with this year, which essentially says that for general
• I think everybody experienced the incredibly high voter turnout, a record turnout in the last general
• I think everybody experienced the incredibly high voter turnout, a record turnout in the last general
• I went around on the day of the general election, um, I saw the lines, I saw the lines moving, uh, I
• fine in the pre-count but not perform fine on Election Day.”

Keywords: 1191, senate, all