Transcript Highlights:

• It's just a one-line technical amendment where he's printing it out, and then we'll give it to him.
• Okay, it's a one-line technical amendment. Any questions on the one-line technical amendment?
• So it could technically follow that you can have a local state of emergency declared and then at the
• encourage, before an emergency, everybody go online, find a gun store around you that offers classes, training
• something that we should talk about on the state level as far as actually encouraging people to be trained

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several criminal justice, public records, nuisance, and firearms bills. SB 1168, by Sen. Leak, would create a second-degree felony for aggravated installation or use of a tracking device or application when done in furtherance of a dangerous crime; it passed unanimously. SB 1054, by Sen. Garcia, would increase penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices, require immediate revocation of pretrial release for tampering, and bar further pretrial release on the current charges; after testimony raising concerns about unintended consequences and proof issues, it was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1198, by Sen. DeSigley, addressing fraudulent use of gift cards, was substantially revised by a delete-all amendment and a technical amendment, then reported favorably with support from retail and industry groups. SB 710, by Sen. Osgood, would create a public records exemption for personal identifying and location information of current and former Crime Stoppers employees, board members, and volunteers; it was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1022, by Sen. Wright, would strengthen nuisance abatement enforcement by raising fines, allowing tax-collector collection and special assessments, and authorizing foreclosure on unpaid liens; it was reported favorably after support from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. SB 716, by Sen. Martin, would impose mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses by registered sexual offenders or predators and bar early release; after an amendment to tie the penalty to prior convictions rather than registration status, it passed favorably. SB 878, also by Sen. Martin, would extend probation supervision for certain misdemeanor controlled-substance offenses and align them with existing alcohol-related probation rules; it passed unanimously. Finally, SB 952, by Sen. Guglia, would repeal the statute allowing firearm and ammunition sales restrictions during certain declared emergencies; after extensive testimony from gun-rights advocates and debate about local emergency ordinances, it was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• to give more training.
• to give more training.
• too taking away a required paid training too taking away a required paid training prior<00:59:59.200
• <01:27:10.880> the able to set up programs for train the able to set up programs for train
• > done<01:27:11.840> that<01:27:11.960> in train model so we've done that in train

Bills: HF6, HF52, HF53

Keywords: education, literacy, science of reading, school performance, funding flexibility, innovation zones, equity and inclusion, HF52, New Germany, wastewater treatment, wastewater facility, sewer infrastructure, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, municipal infrastructure, water quality, sanitation, sewage treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's a short jump train of thought.
• It's not a ceiling for training.
• It's a minimum standard training, right?
• that they can do all sorts of training that they can do all sorts of training with<00:52:30.480>
• We have safety training for that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It raises a significant technical,<00:21:19.360> constitutional<00:21:20.480> uh<00:21:
• 20.640> and<00:21:20.880> policy technical, constitutional uh and policy technical, constitutional
• not believe that. hearing, I was planning on asking some hearing, I was planning on asking some technical
• questions about how this would technical questions about how this would work.<00:27:07.520> Um,
• And it is one where my local library has received grants to be able to help do the sort of training around

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4138, a bill aimed at limiting harmful social media practices for minors by requiring verifiable parental consent for accounts and restricting addictive features and targeted advertising for youth users. Chair Scott offered an A2 amendment, with an oral clarification striking specific language and two commas; the committee adopted the amended A2, and the bill was then discussed as amended. The bill author described social media as addictive by design and said the measure would use age-estimation technology to identify users 15 and under, require parental consent, and provide a different, less addictive experience for youth. Supportive testimony came from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, parents Jerry and Giana Cox, and a Minnesota high school student, all arguing that social media harms youth mental health, encourages excessive use, and exposes children to manipulation, cyberbullying, and addictive design features like infinite scroll and autoplay. They said the bill would help parents, protect children, and reduce exploitation of minors’ data. Several committee members also spoke in favor, saying the bill addresses corporate negligence, youth mental health, and the need to act even if the proposal needs more work. Opposition testimony came from industry groups including the Computer and Communications Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, and NetChoice. They argued the bill is vague and narrow in scope, could create uneven coverage, and may push platforms toward intrusive age-verification or digital-ID-like systems that raise privacy and data-breach concerns. They also said restrictions on personalized or algorithmic features could weaken safety tools and make it harder to protect young users. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the excerpt, but the amended A2 was adopted and the bill remained under discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• All Texas-licensed dentists receive extensive training in injection techniques and safety protocols as
• education programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.
• training needs.
• Should this S.J.R. affirmatively pass, the Technical Institution Infrastructure Fund and the available
• Funds to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College

Summary: The Senate took up and passed Senate Bill 945, which concerns political shareholder proposals by insurers and insurance holding companies. Senator Hughes argued the bill would protect Texas-based insurers from activist shareholder pressure, especially proposals aimed at limiting insurance coverage for oil and gas companies for ESG or political reasons. The motion to suspend the regular order was adopted over objection, and SB 945 passed to engrossment on a 20-10 vote with one present not voting. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 1117, allowing any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin in oral or maxillofacial regions for aesthetic purposes, and House Joint Resolution 98, renewing Texas’s application for an Article 5 Convention of States to propose amendments on fiscal restraints, federal power limits, and term limits. Both measures advanced after debate and roll-call votes; SB 1117 passed unanimously after suspension of the three-day rule, and H.J.R. 98 was adopted on a 17-14 vote. Members then approved several other measures, including the committee substitute for House Bill 142 on HHSC’s Office of Inspector General and Medicaid overpayment recovery, Senate Bill 2373 on AI-enabled financial fraud and deepfake/phishing schemes, Senate Bill 2221 on fraudulent UCC financing statements, and Senate Bill 2681 on the basis for third-party voter-registration challenges. The Senate also adopted a resolution authorizing a Texas Life Monument replica at the Capitol complex, and passed S.J.R. 59 creating funds for Texas State Technical College capital needs. The body debated and passed Senate Bill 946, which would bar credit discrimination against organizations based on social, political, religious, or similar value-based considerations and require credit decisions to rest on creditworthiness. Senators raised concerns that the bill could create a special protected class for non-human entities or conflict with existing state policies, but the bill advanced to engrossment on a 20-11 vote. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2477 to ease office-to-residential conversions in large cities after adopting an amendment negotiated with municipal stakeholders, and began consideration of Senate Bill 715 on ERCOT reliability requirements for generators, including existing generation, with extensive debate over impacts on renewables, power purchase agreements, and grid reliability.

Transcript Highlights:

• levels comparable to ophthalmology residency training.
• For this bill, we are looking at what's called a foreign trained or international trained physician This
• They have substantially similar training to the U.S.
• I trained at UNM.
• We're technically neutral on this bill.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some counties do have clear training standards.
• Counties lack clear procedures for 5150 designation and training.
• The second is more of a technical nature in Section 1526.1.
• Furthermore, family members are not trained diagnostic experts.
• Yeah, this is for technical support. Sorry. Go ahead. So it would.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 16, which would require county behavioral health directors to create clear pathways for clinicians to be authorized to initiate 5150 involuntary holds. The author and supporters argued the bill would reduce reliance on law enforcement and create more consistent crisis response standards statewide, while county behavioral health directors opposed it as an unfunded mandate that could increase law enforcement involvement and create implementation burdens. Members raised questions about county costs and funding, but the author emphasized the bill’s role in building a more clinical response system. SB 561 would require public guardians to acknowledge conservatorship referrals, make determinations within a reasonable time, and provide status updates on request. Supporters said the bill would reduce delays that leave vulnerable adults in limbo, while the opposition from public guardian representatives was removed after amendments. SB 381 drew extensive public testimony in support; it would allow California-born adoptees, and descendants of deceased adoptees, access to original birth certificates, with a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents. Supporters framed the bill as a matter of dignity, identity, and health, and there was no formal opposition on the record. The committee also discussed SB 880, which would give tenants and prospective owner-occupants notice and a first opportunity to make an offer when institutional investors sell certain homes. Supporters said it would expand homeownership opportunities and preserve neighborhood stability, while opponents warned about conflicts with federal law, bundled-sale restrictions, and impacts on build-to-rent and affordable housing projects. Members and the author discussed possible amendments to address those concerns. SB 1238 would impose a duty of care and additional transparency requirements on HOA managers and boards; supporters said it would protect homeowners from mismanagement, while the main opposition argued the duty should remain contractual and could increase litigation. Finally, SB 423 would require disclosure of emergency-service records related to private detention facilities, and SB 28 would make changes to the CARE Court process, including a statewide ombudsperson and expanded oversight; both drew support and opposition, with concerns focused on transparency, privacy, implementation, and the balance between treatment and coercion. SB 574, discussed at the end, would require disclosure and human oversight for AI use in courts and legal practice and create a complaint process for ADR providers, with the State Bar noting requested amendments related to complaint handling and confidentiality.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe people were trained like that in the old days; we don't do that anymore, which may be all great
• And I do want to point out that Chair Liebling reached out to us over the weekend with some technical
• Maybe people were trained like that in the old days; we don't do that anymore, which may be all great
• And I do want to point out that Chair Liebling reached out to us over the weekend with some technical
• <00:04:04.959> like about it maybe people were trained like about it maybe people were trained

Bills: HF2371, HF2147, HF2557, HF1165, HF2466, HF2465, HF2482

Keywords: informed consent, sensitive examinations, healthcare, patient rights, anesthesia, hot water pools, rental properties, public health, safety regulations, Minnesota Statutes, health care access, hospital surcharge, fund allocation, medical assistance, health funding, health care, education, bonding capacity, financing, Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority

Transcript Highlights:

• The JD, this is your writer for the Cameron County Technical Training Facility in TJJD.
• The JD, this is, um, your writer for the Cameron County Technical Training Facility in TJJD.

Summary: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles 14 and 5 met first and adopted its report on budget recommendations by a 4-0 vote, with three members absent. The chair said the report finalized prior decisions and could not be changed at that stage. Notable additions discussed included increased appropriations for the Office of the Attorney General, DPS driver’s license offices in Hays and Montgomery County, TJJD facilities and programs, Texas Facilities Commission funding for SCIF projects in Lubbock and San Antonio, THC funding for the Juneteenth Museum, an alcohol tourism study, and a TDCJ statewide reentry services pilot program. Members thanked staff and the meeting adjourned after the vote. The Article 3 subcommittee then presented its report for the committee substitute for Senate Bill 1, describing it as a procedural step that incorporated prior discussions, member writers, and changes made with Chairman Bonin. The chair noted that most items had been moved to Article 11 and that rejected riders were duplicates or conflicted with general law. The report was adopted unanimously, 6-0, and the subcommittee adjourned. The Articles 6, 7, and 8 subcommittee followed with its report for Senate Bill 1. During consideration, a member raised a point of order arguing the subcommittee had violated House rules requiring audio and video recording of formal meetings and public availability online. The chair rejected the point of order and proceeded to a roll call vote. After extended debate over the recording issue and the chair’s handling of the point of order, the report was adopted, with the transcript reflecting 6 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 absent. The subcommittee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because rural governments are small and lean, they sometimes lack the personnel and technical training
• We need folks on the ground in these communities with the skills and technical expertise to bridge the
• resources to the construction of new practice facilities, hospital capital improvement, and innovative training

Summary: The committee heard and advanced four bills. SB 110, by Senator Simon, proposed a broad rural communities package creating a state Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for declining-population counties, higher SHIP housing allocations, new rural road funding, additional support for rural schools, and expanded rural health care resources. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, chambers of commerce, and rural advocates, with senators praising its local control and economic-development focus. It was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 218, by Senator Arrington, which would increase the ad valorem tax exemption for disabled ex-service members or their surviving spouses from $5,000 to $10,000. An amendment was adopted clarifying that the change applies beginning with the 2026 tax roll. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably. Next, SB 384, by Senator Burton, would require written notice to each member of the local legislative delegation when a municipality annexes state-owned land, and it also clarified related annexation language. After a brief question about the amendment, the bill as amended was reported favorably. After a recess, the committee took up SB 68, presented by Senator Trumbull for Senator Martin. The bill would allow not-for-profit organizations such as hospitals to bond for debt service and related purposes, including construction and refinancing projects. With no amendments, no opposition, and no debate, SB 68 was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:57.160> individuals we we have highly trained individuals we we have highly trained
• them in this industry because we train them in this highly<00:40:05.760> technical highly technical
• Not training them in a classroom and sending them home, training them on the equipment in the field so
• WaterStep has been training water WaterStep has been training water operators<01:02:02.760> across
• . training. training.

Bills: SB8

Keywords: utilities, public service commission, energy regulation, appointment, emergency declaration, tax increases, consumer protection, Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:51 Approval of Minutes 00:02:07 Legislator Comments 00:02:18 LIHEAP Public Hearing 00:04:19 PSC Update on RS 26 SB 8 00:32:18 WaterStep Presentation 01:04:08, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recruiting at lower levels and training recruiting at lower levels and training them<00:31:09.159
• However, we do operate and run training programs that train local kids to get them certified off the
• <02:08:51.559> and that you're going to try to train and that you're going to try to train
• DHS because they do the CNA training DHS because they do the CNA training they<02:09:35.679>
• national park services and technically national park services and technically the<02:52:11.200><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer associate degrees, certificates, opportunities to partner with CTE career technical education
• I think it's going to be a challenge on the business side as well as the technical side, but I have a
• An actual training room that we can use for our law enforcement divisions, partner agencies, and even
• It's a little scary to me, but I'm sure that Bill could give you the technical terms.
• The Lancaster Armory, again, a renovation, would provide additional office space, training space, and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing reconvened with testimony from several agencies on their capital budget requests. The Department of Environmental Services requested a little over $38 million, with major emphasis on dam repairs and design work for aging state-owned dams, including a $5.25 million match for possible FEMA BRIC funding at Pawtuckaway/Tuckaway and other projects such as Milton Three Ponds, Murphy Dam, and Lakeport Gates. DES also requested funding for state revolving loan fund matches, a Superfund match for the Savage Well site, IT and air-monitoring upgrades, and a new $750,000 cybersecurity request for water and wastewater systems. Committee members asked about FEMA eligibility, the distinction between design and construction money, and the timing and risk of banking funds if federal grants do not materialize. The University System of New Hampshire requested $20 million in state support, primarily $15 million for a major Diamond Library renovation at UNH to create a student support hub and reduce/repurpose collection space, plus $2.5 million each for deferred maintenance at Plymouth State and Keene State. The Community College System requested about $16.6 million across seven projects, led by critical maintenance, campus safety/security upgrades, IT infrastructure, parking and site improvements, HVAC replacement at White Mountains Community College in Littleton, a building management/energy system, and modernization of NHTI’s dental clinic and radiology spaces. The Department of Education requested $29.5 million, including a $4.9 million internal management platform to replace paper-based and siloed systems, plus career and technical education capital projects; Milford’s CTE project was described as being revised after repeated failed bond votes, while ConVal said its revised project would focus on modernizing existing CTE space and adding a security vestibule. Fish and Game requested $1.075 million for three facilities: Sewall Falls in Concord, the Lancaster Armory, and the Bunker Lane Barn in Durham, focusing on structural repairs, security, reconfiguration, and in one case replacement of a failing barn with a new 40-by-60 building. The department also said hatchery work is ongoing but that it is taking a cautious approach because of the planned New Hampton Hatchery and future capital needs. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources requested $9.26 million for eight projects, including campground electrical upgrades at Ellacoya and Lake Francis, White Lake water system replacement, Mount Washington fuel tank and safety work, Odiorne Point visitor center work funded through parks revenue, roofing and parking lot repairs, Fox Forest office safety upgrades, and historic site repairs at White Island and Fort Constitution. Members asked about revenue-based capital, the stability of the parks fund, and flexibility in choosing projects as bids come in. The Department of Transportation began its presentation at the end of the transcript, but its detailed requests were not yet discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we became aware of that, there was a lot of concern that the bill had not been used technically
• You know, it does take a number of years of training, and so it will take us a number of years to scale
• And members of the commission could not be here technically.
• We asked the cities for their public information, reflecting their trainings and interactions with TML
• We asked the cities for their public information reflecting their trainings and interactions with TML

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first took up several pending and uncontested bills. It favorably reported SB 1405, SB 1762, SB 1977, SB 2077, SB 2148, and SB 1968, and also moved SB 2321 to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard SB 819, which would change how the Public Utility Commission reviews proposed utility-scale solar and related interconnection projects. The committee substitute would shift the default so interconnection is allowed unless the PUC affirmatively prohibits it within 180 days, limit denial to cases where harm substantially outweighs benefits, remove public meeting requirements, retain setback and financial assurance provisions, add optional application materials such as national security and environmental information, and restore local control over county tax abatements. The substitute was adopted and SB 819 was favorably reported to the full Senate on a 7-3 vote. The committee then took up SB 231, focused on CenterPoint’s use of large emergency generators after Hurricane Beryl. Senator King explained that the original bill was intended to prevent customers from being charged for non-mobile generators that were leased at great cost and did not match the bill’s emergency-response purpose. CenterPoint’s Jason Ryan apologized for the company’s communication failures and said the company would make customers whole through a combination of rate reductions, foregone storm-cost recovery, and a donation of the 15 large generators to ERCOT for about two years to address a San Antonio-area reliability issue, with the company absorbing the associated costs. PUC Executive Director Connie Corona said the commission could enforce the agreement through its contested-case process. Public testimony included consumer and reliability advocates, one of whom argued utility-scale microgrids should be preserved as a policy option. SB 231 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 986, which would create an alternative process for routine Public Information Act requests so local governments can make initial redactions without sending every routine exception to the Attorney General, while preserving an appeal path and training requirements. Supporters said it would reduce backlog and speed access to records; opponents argued it would shift the burden to requesters and encourage delay. The AG’s office testified that the process could improve efficiency and still fit within current timelines if used promptly. SB 986 was left pending. Finally, SB 584 was briefly laid out to require consumer reporting agencies that buy data from others to ensure the information complies with Texas law on excluded items such as bankruptcies, judgments, and tax liens, and SB 600 was heard on heir property. SB 600’s substitute would strengthen notice, require an attorney ad litem, add an heir’s bill of rights, allow settlement conferences, and require fair-market-value sales protections; supporters said it would curb predatory partition practices, while opponents warned some provisions could burden or diminish minority heirs’ property rights. SB 584 and SB 600 were left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• it into their existing sexual harassment training.
• incorporating it into their existing sexual harassment training.
• I just want to thank the author, and I appreciate you including the POST training.
• Additionally, the bill makes a technical change.
• our... ...staff are also trained to administer naloxone.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How do you intend to get out to the rural school areas to do the training?
• Part of that would be training them in CPR, how to use AEDs, and basic skills before EMS arrives.
• The appropriations in this bill should cover training and AEDs.
• We can also provide training free of charge, and you know AEDs.
• these AEDs as part of the training?

Transcript Highlights:

• If you keep going down, we have differences in school board training and LEA administrative burden reduction
• put forward because it not only provides engagement-type activity but also provides workforce... training
• Daniel's point, are his actual money that's going directly to schools specifically for career and technical
• Some of that support for career and technical student organizations, like FFA and Educators Rising, those
• such to push STEM out, which are critical pieces for graduation and making sure that we've got a trained

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you keep going down, we have differences in school board training.
• we put forward because it not only provides engagement-type activity, but also provides workforce training
• to Daniel's point, are actual money that's going directly to schools specifically for career and technical
• Some of that support is for career and technical student organizations like...
• such to push STEM out, which are critical pieces for graduation and making sure that we've got a trained

Transcript Highlights:

• We already have a career technical education master. Listen.
• We expect about 12,000 graduates coming through, whether it's the high school level or technical college
• So, you know, recently the U.S. a United States space force relocated this space training in their space
• training and readiness command into Florida as as previously decide upon.
• We bring our small partners in there who wouldn't be able to put a train together on their own.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recruitment, training, and support of teachers are probably my strongest focus. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
• She also is like the head secretary of the committee secretaries and trains all of the other ones, making
• The mobility data is pretty messy; it's reliant on school secretaries being trained on how to code those
• We won't get into all of the technical nature of that, but a couple of important notes on that.
• It fits into a continuum of Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding.