Transcript Highlights:

• And again, because I fully admit I'm not a community engagement specialist, the first thing I would do
• And again, because I, again, fully admit, I'm not a community engagement specialist.
• Another example is one we do for Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Foundation, where we look at the health
• So, basically, the core is one, eight is the reactor shielding, so the top of the reactor.
• I believe it's called shielding. I can't remember anymore.

Summary: The committee met to review advanced nuclear energy issues in North Dakota, beginning with approval of the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon presented an overview of the advanced reactor landscape, distinguishing light-water SMRs, advanced Gen 4 reactors, and microreactors. The presentation emphasized that light-water SMRs are the most near-term deployable and use familiar low-enriched uranium fuel, while many Gen 4 designs may require high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALU), which is not yet supported by a mature U.S. supply chain. Nucleon also noted that advanced reactors are being developed primarily for industrial heat applications, while microreactors are niche, higher-cost systems for remote or mission-critical uses. Committee members asked about fuel availability, safety, recycling, and whether large reactors such as AP-1000s were evaluated; the presenter said fuel development is proceeding in parallel but remains a bottleneck, and that siting and grid capacity often make SMRs more practical than gigawatt-scale plants in North Dakota. Representatives from the National Association of State Energy Officials described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, regional coordination, grants, tax incentives, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and pilot programs. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and said states are focusing on multi-state coordination, demand aggregation, regulatory coordination, waste management, workforce readiness, and community engagement. They also discussed affordability tools such as construction work in progress (CWIP), financing incentives, and consumer protections, citing examples from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Tennessee, and others. In response to questions, they explained that pilot programs often involve site-readiness and feasibility studies, and that the federal Nuclear Innovation Campus process is moving forward with multiple submissions while broader waste and recycling policy may require congressional action. The Public Service Commission said it would likely have a major role in any North Dakota nuclear project through certificate-of-public-convenience-and-necessity review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted gaps in current law for small reactors, co-located facilities, NRC coordination, and long-term site stewardship. The commissioner said the commission has no authority over a private, self-contained reactor not connected to the grid. The Department of Environmental Quality explained that the state regulates radioactive materials under its agreement-state authority, but NRC retains primacy over fission reactors; DEQ would likely assist with emergency planning and could have a larger role if fusion reactors emerge. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, requiring a dedicated radiological emergency preparedness program, training, drills, public outreach, and likely additional funding and staffing, with industry expected to bear much of the cost. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota’s water laws and prior-appropriation system are adequate for nuclear siting, that the Missouri River is the best likely source, and that no statutory or budget changes are currently needed from a water perspective. The committee recessed for lunch after these agency presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• They protect our workforce, and they ensure that we're doing what we can to protect and shield and, where
• c><00:03:13.760> protect<00:03:14.640> uh<00:03:14.800> and<00:03:15.120> shield
• <00:03:15.840> and<00:03:16.159> where to um to protect uh and shield and where to
• um to protect uh and shield and where we<00:03:16.720> can<00:03:17.040> stop<00:03:17.280
• Shields and protects people. In this case, I mean, this has only been 80 cases, right?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas if we asked for an exemption from the entire 61B, that would shield ourselves from a civil rights
• impact on Massachusetts environmental justice communities, who do not have the resources necessary to fully
• Knowing this, we intentionally drafted the language. ...fully prepared.
• CLA fully supports the Ahead Act, S. 1973, H. 3194, and respectfully requests a favorable report out
• We have communicated our willingness to revise the minimum wage for farm workers to align fully with

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• ENTERING THE ANTENNA LIVE LOCAL IS FULLY REALIZED AND SUCCESS CONTINUES TO GROW.
• MELISSA JACKSON AND SUPPORT, LATOYA SHIELDS AGAINST. LOGAN IN SUPPORT, SEAN DONNELLY AGAINST.
• LATOYA SHIELDS WAIVING AGAINST, MATT FORREST WAIVING IN SUPPORT.
• A TENANT MIGHT NOT FULLY GRASP THE CRITICAL LEGAL NOTICES CAN BE COMING VIA EMAIL, PERHAPS YEARS DOWN
• DIGITAL, FULLY ONLINE, FULLY EMAIL I SHOULD STILL GET A PAPER COPY BECAUSE IT RISES TO A HIGHER LEVEL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During the prosecution phase, my identity was fully exposed, unbeknownst to me.
• We are fully committed to meeting TCOLE's training, certification, and accountability standards.
• We are fully committed to meeting TECO's training certification and accountability standards.
• As a police chief, I fully support accountability and transparency, but I also believe that officers
• Do not let 781 shield bad actors that do not adhere to their sacred duty.

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 committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOIA has also been used as a shield against Congressional oversight, specifically my oversight.
• outsized impact in improving government improving public health and safety or helping citizens be fully
• effective, Congress should also amend the statute to make clear that district courts have the power to fully
• House and it's generally managed by career civil servants, but there certainly are challenges with fully
• I actually fully agree and I would point out that there's a mechanism in the FOIA statute currently where

Transcript Highlights:

• Health Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in<00:50:36.319
• option that we might offer to a fully option that we might offer to a fully insured<00:53:20.400
• offer this package with within our fully offer this package with within our fully insured<01:01:
• package as part of a fully insured plan. package as part of a fully insured plan.
• it's included as part of our fully it's included as part of our fully insured<01:08:41.600> package

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force opened with a moment of silence for the Louisville UPS plane tragedy, approved the October 15 minutes, and reminded members to submit policy recommendations before the December 16 meeting, when the group will discuss its report to LRC. The first informational presentation, from the Department for Public Health, focused on youth vaping. Elizabeth Good and Julie Brooks cited a recent Surgeon General report warning that youth vaping can harm brain development, mental health, lungs, asthma, and hormones, and noted Kentucky survey data showing 8.7% of students reported daily vaping and 19.7% used vaping products in the prior 30 days. They described prevention and cessation resources including Catch My Breath, I Can End the Trend, Not on Tobacco, My Life, My Quit, Quitline services, and the Kentucky TRUST retailer education program, which trained 3,371 individuals in 2024 and distributed 253 Tobacco 21 toolkits. The next presentation came from Kentucky ABC on implementation of SB 100, which created the division of tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing. Commissioner Scotty Tracy and Jamar Carter said all retailers selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products must be licensed, regulations were filed October 31, 2025, and the online application portal is live. In response to questions about sales to minors, they said violations carry escalating fines for clerks and owners, with a fourth violation resulting in no license renewal for two years and unpaid fines also blocking renewal. They said complaints can be submitted through the portal, by phone, or on the ABC website, and enforcement investigates tips and may use underage compliance checks. The committee then heard from Kim McKenna Johnson of One Cross Community Health, who argued for a “deficiency-first” and holistic approach to care centered on nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation. She said her clinic serves more than 7,000 patients in Taylor and Marion counties and described a model that includes primary care, behavioral health, functional medicine, addiction recovery, and chronic care. She cited Kentucky health rankings, claimed nutritional deficiencies cost the state billions, and said many children are overprescribed while undernourished. She urged broader insurance coverage for nutritional testing and supplements, rural demonstration grants, and Medicaid pilots for clinically prescribed supplements. Members asked about testing costs, dietitian support, long-term cost savings, compliance, and whether medications are often used to prevent damage from noncompliance; the presenter said the lab tests are generally covered, supplements are the main cost barrier, and seeing lab results can improve family buy-in. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica, and Quartz currently.
• So we have Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica, and Quartz currently.
• They're both in fully insured markets. They're not self-insured plans.
• <01:02:07.240> of Blue Shield of Blue Shield of Minnesota.
• <01:02:14.680> of<01:02:14.760> Minnesota Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Blue

Bills: HF3766, HF3972, HF3437, HF4118

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• Our current leadership team is fully committed to protecting victims of sexual assault and ensuring are
• Although we do not yet have funding or staffing to fully implement our new statutory duties, we have
• To fully ensure, wardens, that you have the resources that you need to not only do the training, but
• I think it's something that we need to fully consider.
• but again we have to get the staffing in place, get them hired, get them trained before they can be fully

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Putting incredibly punitive teeth or engaging the AG or whatnot, which I will note would fully reopen
• That fix in 1985 didn't fully solve the problem because what you had was then the...
• It should not become a shield that allows governmental acts to deprive citizens of property without notice
• original panel, but my understanding of what you're asking us to do is to create another liability shield
• Municipalities have no liability shield for proprietary functions, and as the law currently... ...shield

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that power dynamic can mean that parent doesn't understand their rights or they don't know how to fully
• , Doug Viridian, John Moranty, State Shield, Doug Kagan, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, Ainsley Fellers
• We fully support LB878 as it is crucial legislation that supports our troopers that are wanting to be
• So I fully support LB 933 with AM 2855 and FA 1187. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Kids' brains are not fully developed, actually until they're 25, but this bill covers 19 and under to

Bills: LB815A, LB838A, LB912A, LB972A, LB1126A, LB962A, LB1114, LB921, LB937, LB803, LB803A, LB1032, LB1032A, LB1075, LB1075A, LB889, LB878, LB933, LB304, LB304A, LB1096, LB1096A, LB1165, LB1165A, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB743, LB745, LB749, LB778, LB787

Keywords: LB815A, LB815, appropriation, appropriations bill, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Motor Fuel Tax Enforcement and Collection Cash Fund, motor fuel tax, gas tax, fuel tax, tax enforcement, tax collection, cash fund, budget, state spending, per diem, salaries, fiscal year, enrollment and review, final reading, Nebraska

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's why we need the shielded rooms; they need their own bathrooms as well.
• June, a really exciting initiative took place in which all Medicaid health plans—Blue Cross Blue Shield
• They're calling to chat with the counselor or to get some information before they're fully ready to enroll
• These are plans that aren't fully fleshed out at the moment, and that's why I hadn't really mentioned

Transcript Highlights:

• The New York judge dismissed the case because New York's shield law shielded her from New York having
• from New York's shield law shielded her from New York's shield law shielded her from New<03:25:26.399
• New York's shield law stopped Paxton's first lawsuit cold.
• stopped<03:31:34.479> Paxton's New York's shield law stopped Paxton's New York's shield law
• So, are we because we'll be shielded?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then veterans of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
• will update it for everything kind of post-Vietnam, the war on terror, and the Desert Storm, Desert Shield
• will update it for everything kind of post-Vietnam, the war on terror, and the Desert Storm, Desert Shield
• And then Veterans of Desert Shield and Desert. friendlies and allies in Afghanistan be relocated, and
• will update it for everything kind of post-Vietnam, the war on terror, and the Desert Storm, Desert Shield

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• written says at the time of execution of a contract, we clarified that to say within 30 days of a fully
• That means 39 months of the last 46 months we have not been fully staffed.
• And we haven't been fully staffed.
• c> staffed<00:29:58.440> and Despite not being fully staffed and Despite not being fully staffed
• governmental interest of shielding governmental interest of shielding matters<01:14:22.720> of

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills. On SB 2530, relating to campaign contributions, the State Procurement Office suggested clarifying that contractor disclosure information be submitted within 30 days of a fully executed contract, while the Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill but asked that the restriction on contributions by officers be expanded beyond compensated officers. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action supported the measure and urged keeping the Senate language, arguing it better addresses contractor influence, while no other testifiers appeared. On SB 2970, relating to standards of conduct, the State Ethics Commission supported the bill and proposed amendments to consolidate the new language into existing Chapter 84 contract provisions and use “department head” instead of “director.” The State Procurement Office supported the measure but recommended closing a perceived loophole by limiting the covered contracts to those under $10,000. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee then heard SB 2919, which would fund one full-time Deputy Public Defender position focused on immigration-related advice under Padilla v. Kentucky. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, explaining that the position would help public defenders advise clients about immigration consequences of criminal cases, not provide immigration representation. Members asked several questions about the scope of the position and whether it could assist with citizenship; testimony clarified that it would not handle civil immigration matters. The bill was also described as creating a statewide consistent resource for the public defender system. Finally, on SB 2446, relating to the judiciary, the Intermediate Court of Appeals supported adding a seventh associate judge position but noted the court has only recently been fully staffed at six judges and has improved output through internal changes. The chair emphasized that the bill authorizes the position without funding and encouraged the judiciary to return later if appropriations are needed. The committee also began hearing SB 2730, a criminal justice reform bill on warrantless arrests and citations. OHA supported reducing unnecessary arrests but objected to making citations visible on criminal records; the Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing law enforcement flexibility, identification concerns, and possible litigation costs; and the Judiciary requested a later implementation date and suggested changes to citation-resolution language. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 2730 was still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• I cared for another child who took a bullet to the back while shielding his friend.
• I CARED FOR ANOTHER CHILD WHO TOOK A BULLET TO THE BACWHILE SHIELDING HIS FRIEND.
• needed to confirm the blood was not from their own wounds but from the classmates they had tried to shield
• NEEDED TO CONFIRM THE BLOOD WAS NOT FROM THEIR OWN WOUNDS BUT FROM THE CLASSMATES THEY HAD TRIED TO SHIELD
• I condemn it fully and completely.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They can rely on the permit shield as a defense.
• undermine default, it could actually undermine their<00:20:50.080> permit<00:20:50.480> shield
• > they<00:20:51.440> can<00:20:51.520> use<00:20:51.760> as their permit shield
• <00:20:58.080> as<00:20:58.240> a they can rely on the permit shield as a they can
• rely on the permit shield as a defense.<00:20:59.360> But<00:20:59.600> if<00:20:59.840

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:24 SB 52 discussion: 01:28 SB 52 voting: 25:08, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met with a quorum and adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 52. The sponsors, Senators Rawlings and Elkins, explained that the substitute narrowed the bill to state public agencies, exempted cities and counties, extended the basic decision deadline from 30 to 60 days, added an additional extension for safety, health, and public welfare concerns, removed an earlier jury-trial provision, and exempted Kentucky State Police exams. They said the bill is intended to require clear permit criteria, timely agency decisions, and meaningful appeal rights for permits tied to constitutionally protected activity, without eliminating existing licensing or permitting requirements. Senators supporting the bill described long agency delays and uncertainty in permitting as costly for contractors, schools, landfill projects, and energy development. Senator Elkins gave a detailed example of a landfill permit process that took years, and other members said agencies should be held to timelines or at least provide reasons for delay. Senator Boswell and Senator Clemens raised concerns that the safety/health/welfare extension could remain subjective and that hard deadlines might pressure agencies and risk public safety. Senator Thomas also said he supported the goal but was voting no because he wanted a safer middle ground. Audrey Ernsburger of the Kentucky Resources Council testified in a neutral-to-cautious position, saying the group agreed that complete applications should be reviewed in a timely and predictable way, but objected to the default-approval mechanism and some burden-shifting provisions in the original language. She warned that deadlines could begin before an application is complete, that deficiencies might not toll the clock, that automatic approval could create public-health risks in some licensing contexts, and that KRS Chapter 13B already governs administrative hearings and judicial review. She said KRC would prefer a statutory process without a hard deadline. After discussion, the committee voted 9-2 to report Senate Bill 52 favorably, as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We feel like we have good momentum to ensure that we're going to get the funding in order to fully build
• The ambulatory clinic was never fully staffed.
• I was there for seven years, and only two years were we fully staffed with medical providers.
• Because after the Atoma Shield, Atoma stays very... very aware of what's happening in that area.
• We were lucky to get the shield back. We were lucky to get the stop act enacted to try.

Transcript Highlights:

• let's put it this way I would I'm fully let's put it this way I would I'm fully confident<00:55:
• I think to put this set rate on just the fully insured market, I don't think that's fair.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 297 with a non-germane amendment proposed by the Insurance Department to create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Commissioner DJ Beton explained that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce rising insurance premiums and avoid surplus lines coverage by funding proactive home and property improvements such as roof fortification, exterior and foundation work, flood protection, and tree removal. He said the proposal was developed after leadership asked for more statutory detail and for the idea to be vetted through policy committees rather than handled only in the budget process. Beton said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. He described the program as modeled on similar efforts in other states, with means testing tied to the Department of Energy’s weatherization/home heating assistance criteria. He also said the department would administer the program using one existing staff position, with coordination through Treasury, and that unspent funds would roll over for several years before reverting to the general fund. Members asked about the unusual use of a non-germane amendment and how the bill would be handled procedurally, since the underlying bill and the new insurance proposal were unrelated. The chair explained that the amendment was being used as a vehicle to move the department’s proposal through the committee process and that the committee could later accept one part, both parts, or neither. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting shown; the discussion ended with questions about administration, staffing, and the relationship between the underlying bill and the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This initiative is fully funded, and with that, members, I'll be happy to answer any questions you might
• people whose surface use or their ranches have that product running through it, and the liability shield
• shouldn't be able to rely on just saying, well, I... complied with these 10 steps, even though it was fully
• They should be responsible for that, and that's what we're asking for. ...Fully understand the need for
• with the traffic control study, then it shows as an affirmative defense, and they can use that to shield

Bills: HB48, HB49, HB 1169, HB1971, HB2584, HB2663, HB2890, HB48, HB49

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft