Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on State Affairs will come to order.
• This bill harmonizes disparate sections of the state election code.
• There's an advisory from the Secretary of State, and that's on page 7.
• Please state your name, position. You have two minutes. Yes, Dr.
• It's the VFW bill, where they can't be closed in a state of disaster.

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills, with most measures left pending after testimony and later taken up in a batch of votes. Early in the meeting, HB 5624 on liability protections for motocross/off-road vehicle tracks, HB 223 on requiring competitive procurement for municipal lobbying contracts, HB 3709 on post-election audit procedures, and HB 5081 on protecting personal information of judicial officers and court staff were all discussed and left pending after testimony. Witnesses on HB 223 supported greater transparency in municipal lobbying contracts. HB 3709 drew sharp opposition from an election integrity advocate who argued the bill would reduce precinct-level granularity and make it harder to detect ballot errors, while a Secretary of State resource witness said the bill would simplify and standardize the audit process by location. HB 5081 received strong support from court administration and a district judge who described prior threats and an attack tied to publicly available personal information. The committee also heard HB 3546 on allowing school districts to move elections to November, HB 493 on barring certain felony offenders from serving as poll watchers, HB 5115 on increasing penalties for election fraud and related conduct, HB 4081 on trade secret filing procedures, HB 3909 on limiting restrictions on wireless devices at polling places, HB 2702 on limiting gubernatorial closure authority for certain veterans organizations during pandemics, HB 119 on foreign adversary lobbying, and HB 5138 on the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes. Several of these bills were explained with committee substitutes and then left pending before final action. Testimony on HB 493 and HB 5115 came from an election integrity advocate who supported both bills, saying the poll watcher restriction was appropriately narrowed and that the election fraud bill would help address invalid votes and refusal to count valid votes. Later, the committee took up pending business and voted out a large number of bills, generally along party lines or with broad support. HB 186 on minors’ social media use, HB 229, HB 2885, HB 3909 as substituted, HB 4285, HB 1661, HB 2820, HB 3181, HB 4157, HB 223, HB 521, HB 640, HB 1234, HB 2253, HB 2294, HB 3053, HB 3697 as substituted, HB 4281, HB 4463, HB 4995, HB 5081 as substituted, HB 5624 as substituted, HB 119 as substituted, HB 3225, HB 5138 as substituted, HB 5115, HB 481 as substituted, HB 3546, HB 493, and HB 4145 were reported favorably to the full Senate, with several also placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted committee substitutes for multiple bills, including HB 3909, HB 5081, HB 5624, HB 119, HB 5138, and HB 481. At the end, the chair noted another committee meeting would likely be needed before deadlines, possibly on a weekend, and recessed the committee subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the FSU College of Social Work in collaboration with other unit university affiliates across the state
• So we are collaborating with Florida State University to build an interactive learning lab adjacent to
• We recently procured a new learning management system after the first one was not necessarily meeting
• State experts are partners from the department and Cbc's to talk about a particular topic each season
• First are those totally state dollars as we use in our larger group homes.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing is establish a fund for procurement of long establish a fund for procurement of long
• How many states currently have NIL legislation?
• I think we're somewhere around the high 20s to 30... 38 states. So it's growing.
• So I got to send him out of town to another state. But I'm not asking for a vote.
• We're representatives of the state of Alabama. What does it have to do with...

Bills: SB311, SB322, SB304, SB313, SB315, SB316, HB489, SB90

Keywords: electric transmission, public highways, permit processing, economic growth, infrastructure, rural development, condemnation actions, state regulations, community development district, CDD, annexation, municipal annexation, wet municipality, dry county, wet county, Sunday alcohol sales, ABC Board, alcohol licensing, on-premises consumption, golf course

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• State of Arizona legislative proclamation, the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence Day.
• And whereas the successful establishment of an independent Greek state stands as a historic testament
• , State Route 87; 1398, CCF determinations; 1455, procuration, State Route 24.
• SB 1398, CCF determinations; SB 1455, procuration, State Route 24; SB 1457, our mobility for 14161 allied

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• procurement procedures.
• procurement procedures.
• procurement procedures.
• We're the first state. And how first. We're the first state.
• but everywhere in our state. but everywhere in our state.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• We got to start somewhere, and I think this is one of the areas where we as a state can start looking
• especially as it may relate procurement especially as it may relate to<00:20:27.520> small<00
• I've added a member of the state I've added a member of the state conservation<00:23:57.600>
• <00:27:15.279> about<00:27:15.679> landfill but across the state about landfill but

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and talking about the benefits of state and talking about the benefits of state employment.<00:12
• The state state big part of the picture.
• The state state EMS<01:29:43.199> as<01:29:43.360> well. >> Thanks.
• operations have for our entire state. operations have for our entire state.
• you actually have is state-of-the-art. you actually have is state-of-the-art.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the United States.
• Talk to any state agency: it takes up a lot of time, so if you can reduce procurement time, that's a
• Talk to any state agency: it takes up a lot of time, so if you can reduce procurement time, that's a
• full uh State full uh State procurement<01:13:37.639> uh<01:13:37.920> process<01:
• ><01:14:13.440> agency<01:14:14.440> um procurement talk to any state agency um procurement

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh the Office of Procurement Services. uh the Office of Procurement Services.
• As a state agency. >> Okay.
• those procurement rules. >> Okay, very good.
• those procurement rules.
• those procurement rules. >> Okay, very good.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Report of KCNA Board Meeting 00:00:09 KCNA Transition to COT 00:35:55 KCNA Request for Proposals 00:42:00 Kentucky Wired Operations Company 00:42:30, 958, all

Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met, approved the January 12, 2026 minutes, and then heard testimony from KCNA Chair David Couch, KCNA Director Jim Barnhart, and KCNA General Counsel Adam Adkins about the ongoing dispute involving KCNA, Excelacom, and the implementation of House Bill 314. Couch said the board and vendor had recently shown some willingness to work toward a settlement, and he emphasized the importance of KCNA’s broadband service to K-12 schools, noting that litigation had already cost about $1.4 million and could cost another $1.4 million if it continued. He also said the board had identified five immediate goals, including reconnecting 38 K-12 sites, de-escalating disputes, better understanding KCNA finances, protecting the state’s bonding rating, and examining whether duplicate networking hardware could be consolidated. A major portion of the discussion focused on whether House Bill 314 changed KCNA’s authority and how much control the Finance and Administration Cabinet and KCNA’s legal counsel have over operations and contracts. Senator Williams argued that the board now has authority to set policy, implement policy, and approve budgets, and questioned why the cabinet appeared to be exercising operational control. Adkins responded that HB 314 changed the reporting chain from the general government cabinet to the finance cabinet but did not alter the board’s authority, and said budget work on the Ice Miller contract predated HB 314. Couch and other members disputed that interpretation, saying the board had not been properly informed about a recent extension or increase in legal spending and that the board’s directives were not being followed. Representative Hodgson asked why the board could not terminate a contractor if it was not carrying out the board’s wishes, and Adkins replied that Ice Miller was not a party to the board’s contract and that the Finance and Administration Cabinet signs such agreements. The exchange ended with committee members and KCNA representatives agreeing to disagree on the meaning of the statute and the extent of board authority. No formal action was taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state could use its procurement power to incentivize this kind of AI use.
• could use its private sector the state could use its procurement<00:09:58.279> power<00:09:58.600
• workers uh State ethics for the state workers uh State work<01:13:55.080> work<01:13:55.239><
• What we'll likely also have to do is address some of the usage in the state procurement process, as well
• > well<01:14:49.639> as the state procurement process as well as the state procurement

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:51.200> Hospital opportunities at Hawaii State Hospital opportunities at Hawaii State
• So I'm embarked on a procurement yet.
• there, get the word out that the state there, get the word out that the state is<00:54:43.520>
• barriers to entering state government. barriers to entering state government.
• So last year that state government.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor held an informational briefing on August 22, 2025, to receive an update from DEH on statewide recruitment efforts aimed at reducing vacancies across state departments. Director Hashimoto, joined by DEH staff, presented on two hiring initiatives: Wikiwiki Hire and Operation Hire Hawaii. The committee focused on how each program works, how quickly applications are screened and referred, and how the programs differ from standard recruitment procedures. For Wikiwiki Hire, DEH described it as an accelerated recruitment pathway used mainly for classes with multiple vacancies. DEH screens applications every two weeks, then sends qualified applicants a list of participating departments and recruiter contact information so applicants and departments can connect directly. Committee members asked about effectiveness data, timelines, and whether the process aligns with the merit principle. DEH said the program is intended to speed hiring, that departments are not required to interview every person on a list, and that applicants can be hired as vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so long as all qualified applicants have the same opportunity. DEH also said it could provide data later and that it is working through a backlog of screenings. The committee then discussed Operation Hire Hawaii, an executive-order-based hiring effort launched in February to expedite hiring, including for displaced federal workers but open to all applicants. DEH reported more than 6,000 applications, 127 recruitments, 81 closed recruitments, and 142 hires, with a goal of conditional offers within two weeks. DEH said it turns applications around daily, while departments do the initial screening, interviews, and hiring decisions, with DEH completing final qualification screening and suitability checks at the end. Members asked about the program’s duration, its low conversion rate, and what happens to applicants who are not hired; DEH said it can refer qualified applicants to other vacancies and that the pilot was originally intended to run about a year, with possible extension if departments want it to continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• <06:00:57.920> to for pretty much State um procurement to for pretty much State um procurement
• The current language of the law in reference to procurement states the contract shall be awarded with
• <06:02:13.000> States<06:02:13.400> the reference to procurement States the reference
• to procurement States the contract<06:02:13.958> shall<06:02:14.120> be<06:02:14.200><
• c> department state procurement office the department state procurement office the department of<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:23.000> have So, what what these other states have So, what what these other states
• Is that typically what's done in other states at this point, or what do you see in other states doing
• And the reason why we are trying to do this as a state, to have a better public procurement process,
• with 48 other states.
• One or two state with 48 other states.

Bills: HF4456, HF4544, HF3698

Keywords: data broker, data brokerage, consumer privacy, personal data, data privacy, Minnesota attorney general, registration, public registry, civil penalties, enforcement, special revenue fund, privacy rights, data sales, data collection, consumer protection, chapter 325M, controller, processor, data broker registry, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is a model for using state funds as collateral for a HUD loan. Do other states do this?
• please Dean do we have any other state please Dean do we have any other state agencies<00:27:43.519
• So there is a model for using state funds as collateral for a HUD loan. Do other states do this?
• <00:28:12.440> do loan do other states do loan do other states do this<00:28:14.440> I'm
• live me land travel Upstate down state live me land travel Upstate down state like<01:30:56.520>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing and moved quickly through a long agenda, beginning with HB 606 on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. DHHL and several community testifiers strongly supported the bill, describing it as a way to fulfill long-standing promises to Native Hawaiians, reduce the DHHL waitlist, keep families in Hawaii, and support housing production and the broader economy. Testifiers emphasized the cultural and economic importance of stable housing and noted the large number of people still waiting for DHHL homes. The committee then heard HB 1086, also relating to DHHL, which would allow the department to use a $75 million appropriation from the dwelling unit revolving fund as collateral for loans. DHHL, HHFDC, and other supporters said the measure would help DHHL obtain better loan terms and preserve trust funds for other uses. Members asked detailed questions about how the collateral would work, whether other agencies use similar structures, and what would happen if the collateral were drawn upon; staff explained that the funds would be encumbered for the loan and that a similar model had been used for a HUD-backed project. The committee also heard HB 739, which would create the COM homes program to fund counties to buy voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or buyers. Supporters said the program could help keep local workers in Hawaii by using existing housing stock and cited examples from places like Aspen and Vail. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to remove duration requirements to avoid right-to-travel concerns, and the Tax Foundation suggested clarifying the conveyance tax exemption so it also covers the instrument imposing the restriction. Members asked whether tax dollars would be used to buy homes, who would be eligible, and how enforcement would work; supporters said the program is voluntary and income-blind, with restrictions tied to living and working in the state. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• At a state-by-state basis, as insurance is regulated at the state level, not the federal level.
• <00:09:47.519> of all Insurance buyers in the state of all Insurance buyers in the state of
• In every other state, they chip in; not every, but in many other states they chip in.
• In every other state, they chip in; not every, but in many other states they chip in.
• In every other state, they chip in; not every, but in many other states they chip in.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• procurement in terms.
• procurement in terms.
• procurement in terms.
• Please state your name, who you represent, and your position on the bill.
• If you would state your name as well. I'm Jeff Hahn.

Summary: The Committee on Veterans Affairs heard several bills related to veterans and military installations. Senator Birdwell presented SB 1197, which would extend existing drone restrictions over military bases and airports to Texas spaceports, with exceptions for authorized operators; there was brief supportive testimony and the bill was left pending. Chairman Hancock presented SB 1271, allowing Texas to accept concurrent jurisdiction over military installations to improve handling of juvenile offenses through state and local involvement; no public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. SB 390, by Senator Middleton and explained by Senator Menendez, would expand the definition of historically underutilized businesses to include veteran-owned businesses certified by the SBA, regardless of disability rating, to increase veteran participation in state contracting. The bill drew extensive supportive testimony from veterans and business advocates, while Senator Eckhardt raised concerns that broadening the category might not satisfy the disparity-study basis typically used for HUB programs. The committee also took up pending bills later in the meeting. SB 651 was advanced after adoption of a committee substitute and received a unanimous committee vote to do pass and be recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 897 likewise had a committee substitute adopted and was reported favorably by a unanimous vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1814 was reported favorably and recommended for the local and uncontested calendar by a unanimous vote. SB 1197 was also voted out favorably and recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1271 and SB 390 were left pending at the end of the meeting, and the committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to a drafting oversight, TWC is not authorized to procure goods and services necessary to operate
• Generally, House Bill 2791 would authorize the commission to procure vocational rehabilitation goods
• constitution and our state Declaration of Independence.
• And this includes plans to open a state of the art Alamo visitor center and museum.
• Unemployment insurance in the state. So I, I can qualify for it.

Transcript Highlights:

• the rest of the state.
• only state that has its own grid?
• >> Potentially. >> So most of the other states are, most of the other grids are multi-state.
• NASEO, which is the group of state energy offices, and NARUC, which is the state PUC group, have put
• >> They will follow the state law. >> State law?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE DO NOT HAVE A STATE AGENCY FOR THAT, WE HAVE A STATE AGENCY OR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT THERE'S CERTAIN
• WE HAVE SENT OUTSIDE OUR STATE TO 18 STATES SINCE 2019 WE'VE RESPONDED TO 28 INCIDENTS, 92 MISSIONS WITH
• SO IF WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE STATE FUNDS, STATE LEGISLATURE MAY REQUIRE STATE THEMES TO RECEIVE STATE
• SOME OF THE SMALLER STATES DO.
• IT'S A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.

Transcript Highlights:

• the state already has?
• They would see a response from the state-to-state system. ...of record was the state of California.
• As with most systems, as is with state-to-state, there are layers of access controls.
• And so we're only uploading what is required by the state-to-state agreement that all states have agreed
• State would be risking having their Real IDs be not compliant in that state.

Keywords: 988, house, all