Transcript Highlights:

• It's actually a ban on lawful speech, lawful commerce from a particular group of professionals.
• It's now common for synagogues, churches, and mosques to have armed security, often using professional
• They've gone to levels where it's really made it very difficult for these developers to do their job.
• I had some conversations with some individuals who were responsible for development in their respective
• They've gone to levels where it's really made it very difficult for these developers to do their job.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part; supporters said it would expand provider options amid a shortage of certified programs, while opponents raised concerns about government speech and mixing religion with court-ordered programming. After debate, the bill was reported favorably 7-2. The committee also considered CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction preventing licensed insurance agents from marketing or selling health care sharing ministries; supporters framed it as restoring choice and free speech, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, commissions, and lack of insurance protections. It was reported favorably 8-2. The committee next approved CS/SB 502, via a strike-all amendment, to give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in state juvenile court rather than federal court; the amendment and bill both passed unanimously. CS/SB 52 also passed unanimously after testimony from church leaders and security personnel supporting an exemption from Class D/G licensing for unpaid armed security volunteers at places of worship. Supporters said the bill would clarify legal gray areas and help churches afford security, while members noted the broader concern that houses of worship need armed protection at all. Finally, the committee reported favorably SB 840, which revises last year’s emergency/local planning law by narrowing its application after storms from 100 miles to 50 miles of the storm track and exempting certain water, flood, and state/federal planning matters; local government representatives supported the clarification, and the bill passed 9-0. CS/SB 758, as amended, updated the membership of the Justice Administration Commission to better reflect the entities it oversees, and it also passed 9-0. The meeting ended with a recorded affirmative vote from Senator DeSigley on SB 624.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the actual title of this professional association.
• What happens if we don't develop as expected?
• This amendment recognizes that development puts out the... ...that development puts out the implementation
• First, it directs the CCHE to develop policy and procedures for... ...develop policy and procedures for
• Um, the next one has to do with capital development committee and cash-funded projects.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research and development contributes over $200 billion. 6.8%.
• Tiffany Mock on behalf of CFT, a union of educators and classified professionals, in support.
• Mark McDonald on behalf of the Consortium for the Development of Leadership and Science in support of
• And, of course, as you continue to get different medications, you don't want to develop some type of
• And I want to share, to connect ancient science with cutting-edge research and development, the kind

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Property owners or developers must navigate a maze of zoning changes, often requiring costly consultants
• No oil and gas development means less high-paying jobs in Texas, and it means a higher cost of living
• because of their race, Membership or access in a professional trade association because of their race
• Senate Bill 2782 would require TEC to develop rules requiring agency staff and the respondent to agree
• Unfortunately, many mothers who would like to breastfeed struggle to find affordable and professional

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:

• through, uh, the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Commerce and Economic Development
• Um, so that would have required the ACA to develop, um, they're, they're called SNAP outreach plans,
• And what this would do, um, oh, and, and most importantly is that um these professionals are um required
• , um, as you know, a lot of those professionals, um, A master's or a PhD is not required, but um, you
• So like, if you apply for a gun license or any of the professional licenses, you would, uh, have an option

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 308 is a proposal about targeted case management and the way the payment methodology is developed
• um and certified public developed um and certified public expenditures. expenditures. expenditures.
• education loan forgiveness professionals education loan forgiveness program. program. program.
• at 80% of the rate that is paid to doctoral-prepared professionals.
• And again, she's writing this as an insurance professional.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The council has been given the authority to establish an industry-financed program to develop, promote
• These men and women who raise cattle and beef in Arizona develop an annual marketing plan and budget
• We also partner with retailers and food service professionals to provide information about beef, including
• One is our gate-to-plate tour series for future nutrition professionals, which provides a firsthand experience
• These tours allow nutrition professionals to ask tough questions and see firsthand how cattle are raised

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas volunteer blood donors and the dedicated professionals who support blood collection and distribution
• HB 2615, parenting time supervision, professional supervisor; Judiciary.
• HB 2692, procurement professionals construction service; Commerce.
• HB 2692, procurement professionals construction service; Commerce.
• HB 2775, foreign organization and government resources; Rural Economic Development and Appropriations

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• center in North childhood development center in North Minneapolis.
• And this care and compassion and professionalism is what I choose to surround myself with.
• learning and healthy development. learning and healthy development.
• . development. development.
• . professionals. professionals.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:46:07.280> of yst supports the development of yst supports the development of Partnerships
• Nonprofit organizations require professional development, infrastructure, and shared services to thrive
• development tools that ensure nonprofit professionals have the resources necessary to serve the communities
• Eospace offers a range of critical services, including IT support, professional development, and shared
• including it support professional including it support professional development<01:35:29.159>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:39.560> development<00:15:40.560> uh<00:15:40.680> especially professional
• development uh especially professional development uh especially in<00:15:41.199> reading<00:
• , professional development, or classroom discussions provided such activities to comply with existing
• , professional development, or classroom discussions provided such activities to comply with existing
• , professional development, or classroom discussions provided such activities to comply with existing

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first considered two concurrent resolutions. SCR 76, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, would create a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine the school’s future governance and its relationship with the Kentucky Department of Education. Bledsoe described the school’s long history and said the task force would give the small deaf-school community more voice. The committee adopted the resolution unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then took up SCR 131, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, to continue the Efficient and Effective Districts Task Force from 2024. Wise said the prior task force met about 10 times and focused on student achievement and district policy, and the new version would continue that work as a legislature-only task force. The resolution passed unanimously with favorable expression. Members next considered HB 240 on primary school promotion. Rep. Truitt explained that the bill would require students who are not ready in kindergarten to repeat kindergarten, while a committee substitute softened the approach by allowing a school to hold a child back in kindergarten but requiring action in first grade. He said the bill aligns with existing reading-screening efforts and is intended to strengthen early literacy foundations. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression; Sen. Williams briefly explained his support as favoring performance-based advancement. The committee also approved HB 298, which would change the identification of schools for comprehensive support and improvement from every three years to annually, require KDE recommendations during management audits, add professional development in reading and math, and require effective instructional resources. The committee substitute also allowed districts with multiple CSI schools to contract for a turnaround vendor. The bill additionally carried employee-misconduct provisions from prior sessions, including disclosure requirements for applicants; the only change discussed was removing the word “investigation” from one disclosure section. HB 298 passed unanimously with favorable expression, and the committee also adopted a title amendment. Finally, the committee heard HB 424 on employment at public postsecondary institutions. Rep. Tipton said the bill would require performance and productivity reviews for faculty at least every four years, clarify appointment and removal authority for presidents at certain institutions, and expand “cause” for dismissal to include failure to meet performance and productivity requirements. Dr. Ray Horton, speaking for faculty groups, proposed a small substitute that would tie any performance measures to existing employment contracts to preserve academic integrity and avoid unintended changes to tenure processes. Members discussed how tenure works at Kentucky universities, and the committee was still in the middle of considering the proposed substitute when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the executive director, he provided strong mentorship to many Hmong professionals that came through
• Born and raised in Jalisco, Mexico, Gustavo began working in the fields at a young age, developing a
• Born and raised in Halisco, Mexico, Gustavo began working in the fields at a young age, developing a
• Developing a strong work ethic that would stay with him throughout his life.
• Yet beyond his professional achievements, Yet beyond his professional achievements, Rob's greatest joy

Summary: The Assembly met on March 6, 2025, after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then made a series of guest introductions recognizing Vaisakhi celebrations, nonprofit leaders from San Joaquin County, immigrant and refugee advocate Liu Yang, students from Somerdale Elementary School, Trustee Sylvia Leong, and a Leadership Torrance delegation. The chamber also took up several procedural motions, including a successful motion to withdraw SB 100 from Budget Committee and send it to the second reading file, and unanimous consent to re-refer several Assembly bills to different committees. On the floor, members considered a number of bills and resolutions. AB 238 on wildfire relief, providing up to a year of mortgage forbearance for fire-impacted homeowners, passed with urgency. AB 373 on client-directed representation for non-minor dependents in foster care passed unanimously, as did AB 287 requiring accessible parking for curbside voting at vote centers. AB 628, requiring new residential leases to include a working refrigerator and stove, passed 49-8. ACR 15 designating April 15 as California Propane Day was adopted by voice vote after adding 55 co-authors. AB 483, requiring disclosure and limiting fees for early termination in fixed-term installment contracts, passed 43-11. AB 234, an urgency bill allowing the Assembly Speaker and Senate Pro Tem or their designees to sit on the Fair Plan governing committee, passed 60-0. The Assembly also heard several adjournment-in-memory tributes, including for Gustavo Camacho Lopez, retired firefighter William Brett Potter, and Rob Ashley. The day concluded with announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session schedule, followed by adjournment until April 10, 2025, at 9 a.m. A later vote change noted Assembly Member McKinnor changed her vote on AB 483 from aye to not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Getting this UL listing is a first step, in my opinion, to go to the NEC, the group of professionals
• That money would go out to the developer.
• That money would go out to the developer.
• Thank you. developer. We would then earn both of developer.
• ,<00:37:09.040> as meeting with every project developer, as meeting with every project developer

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was that he has developed his own mousetrap. Yeah, now I totally get it. All right.
• <00:28:22.440> his And that was that he has developed his And that was that he has developed
• we have a one-year professional services we have a one-year professional services contract<00:33:33.720
• And this was sole professional service, I think. Okay. The second one is Neel Shafer.
• sole professional service, I think. sole professional service, I think. >> Okay.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes ensuring reimbursement rates for mental health and physician and professional services
• Our professionals are burnt out and are leaving the field, which is further decreasing capacity.
• taking Insurance altogether and develop taking Insurance altogether and develop private<00:29:51.840
• <01:10:30.719> more um we risk um them developing more um we risk um them developing more
• requirements uh recruiting professionals requirements uh recruiting professionals especially<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a lack of professionalism on our part.
• Aside from my professional titles, the one that is most important to me is mom.
• You know, it was used to really develop and strengthen the importance of fatherhood.
• and layered it is to develop an effective program.
• and layered it is to develop an effective program.

Summary: The joint Assembly Health and Select Committee on Native American Affairs held an oversight hearing on AB 988, California’s 988 crisis line and mobile crisis response system, followed by a discussion of suicide prevention and intervention in California Indian communities. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that AB 988 was intended to create a true alternative to 911 for behavioral health crises, with “someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go,” and that Native communities continue to face disproportionately high suicide rates and barriers to culturally responsive care. The first panel of call center and stakeholder witnesses largely argued that implementation is falling short of the law’s intent. They said 988 call centers are underfunded, text/chat answer rates remain far below call answer rates, staffing is strained, and the system still lacks meaningful statewide interoperability between 988 and 911. Several witnesses said mobile crisis teams are not being dispatched through 988 as envisioned, and that funding formulas and governance are too opaque. San Joaquin County was presented as a local success story, with integrated 988, access lines, and mobile crisis handoffs that have reduced reliance on emergency departments and involuntary holds. Witnesses also discussed the need for better tribal outreach, the role of CCBHCs, and the importance of culturally competent services. State officials from CalHHS and DHCS described the five-year 988 implementation plan, the current governance structure across multiple agencies, and efforts to support training, public awareness, and referral tools. They reported growth in 988 contacts, ongoing training with the Trevor Project, a statewide resource directory, and a tribal awareness campaign. DHCS also outlined proposed trailer bill language that would create a formal designation process for 988 centers, set statewide standards, and require existing centers to obtain designation by 2029. Officials said current funding includes SAMHSA grants, block grant dollars, and an expected $67.3 million from the 988 fund in the next budget year, with a large share earmarked for Medi-Cal mobile crisis services. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is what professional judgment looks like.
• I teach human learning and development and assessment.
• Um, I think we need to invest equally in professional professional development so teachers know when
• And I also think that developed an unhealthy... also think that developed an unhealthy relationship and
• Um, and there was a period, I would say from 2010 to 2017, it felt like every single professional development

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 752 updates state law to support the development of child care centers across California.
• Yes, and it is critical to have it in multifamily, especially when we develop affordable housing with
• multigenerational housing, having seniors commingle with senior centers in mixed-use development, so
• Participating in regular physical activity can lower the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as
• As chair of the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and House of Impact, someone who

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a long Daily File with several major policy bills and multiple commemorative resolutions. The most debated measure was AB 379 on human trafficking and child exploitation. The bill was presented as a stronger, more comprehensive version that increases penalties for adults soliciting minors, adds a loitering offense tied to purchasing commercial sex, raises fines for businesses that facilitate trafficking, creates a Survivor Support Fund, and establishes grants for victim services and vertical prosecution. Several members spoke in support, while Assemblymember Sharp-Collins raised concerns that the loitering provision could be vague and disproportionately enforced against Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ people. The bill passed after debate, with the clerk reporting 72 noes and the measure still passing. The Assembly also passed AB 1415, which expands the Office of Health Care Affordability’s authority to review more health systems, private equity and hedge fund acquisitions, and managed service organizations in order to better track cost drivers and medical debt. Other policy bills approved included AB 711 on coordinating court reporters for motion hearings, AB 1142 on horse event entry fees, AB 309 on preserving access to sterile syringes for HIV and hepatitis prevention, AB 358 on allowing victims to consent to searches of hidden surveillance devices like AirTags and spy cameras, AB 592 on outdoor dining for restaurants, AB 1341 on clarifying contractor licensing violations, AB 752 on easing child care center siting, AB 1166 on extending debt-settlement rules to commercial financing, AB 806 on mobile home resident cooling rights, AB 972 on explicit sex discrimination protections in higher education, AB 416 on emergency room 5150 authority, AB 632 on expedited collection of penalties for serious local code violations, AB 672 on PERB notification and intervention rights, AB 876 on CRNA scope of practice, and AB 760 on temporary mobile home housing after disasters. Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though AB 672 drew sharp opposition from Assemblymember DeMaio over concerns about PERB and state bureaucracy. The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing May observances and public service groups. These included ACR 63 designating May as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month, ACR 69 for California Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Month, ACR 76 for California Small Business Month, ACR 77 for Drowning Awareness and Prevention Month, HR 36 for Lung Cancer Action Week, HR 39 for National Public Works Week, and HR 41 for National Hospital Week. Members used the resolutions to highlight local institutions, public health, and community services, and each was adopted after co-author rolls and voice votes. The session ended after the Assembly completed the day’s file and moved through a series of routine procedural motions and adjournment-related business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning to our professional staff. We're so glad that you're here.
• Just very quickly, our work follows professional auditing standards and seeks to identify what should
• And they’ve developed the Safe Scams Accord. So what needs to be done across all sectors?
• It's been so long since I've talked to you, and they develop this connection.
• Congress, to develop a model.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• For professionalism. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here. Thank you.
• One of those policies—there were many policies developed.
• peace officers' personal and professional information from unnecessary and potentially harmful public
• peace officers' personal and professional information from unnecessary and potentially harmful public
• "Could you also just quickly tell us what the process was for developing this model policy?

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

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

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