Transcript Highlights:

• Because then in the high school, we have the requirement that if you're teaching a primary subject area
• Then in the high school, we have the requirement that if you're teaching a primary subject area, that
• The actual costs for special education are close to a billion dollars, $977 million.
• And some of them got close. So was a high of 44%.
• So was a And some of them got close. So was a high<04:31:25.120><c> of</c><04:31:25.359><c> 44%.

Committee: House Education Funding

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Online, the support was something like getting close to 300 in favor.
• </c><02:29:58.960><c> responsibility</c> provides but the primary responsibility provides but the primary
• </c> 12,37 of them in New Hampshire closely 12,37 of them in New Hampshire closely making<03:06:33.600
• Seeing no one, I am going to close the public hearing on this bill.
• </c><03:48:52.800><c> a</c><03:48:52.880><c> little</c> bit close a little bit close a little closer<

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs heard testimony on House Bill 606, as amended, a bill aimed at preventing physicians from denying medically necessary sterilizing or fertility-affecting treatment based on a patient’s age, number of children, marital status, or a doctor’s speculation about future reproductive intentions. Representative Ellen Reed, the sponsor, described the bill as a response to her own long experience with PCOS, heavy bleeding, and repeated refusals by doctors to perform a hysterectomy despite her clear wishes. She said the amendment narrows the bill to medically necessary care, adds definitions for “medical condition” and “appropriate reproductive care,” and removes earlier provisions about voluntary sterilization referrals. She also said the bill does not target religious objections, and that doctors could still refuse for medical, payment, or existing religious reasons not addressed by the bill. Committee members asked about religious freedom, informed consent versus waivers, and the scope of the new definitions. Reed responded that religion was not added to the list of prohibited reasons for denial, and that the amendment is intended to protect doctors when patients sign informed consent or waivers. She explained that “appropriate reproductive care” includes procedures such as hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orchiectomy, salpingectomy, and endometrial ablation, and that the bill now focuses on medically necessary treatment rather than elective sterilization. She said the change was intended to make the proposal narrower and more tailored after earlier concerns. Several witnesses supported the bill with personal accounts of being denied hysterectomies or other procedures despite serious symptoms. Representative Lauren Selig described a decade-long effort to obtain a hysterectomy after years of cycle problems and migraines, saying doctors dismissed her concerns and treated her symptoms as normal. Jade Flad also testified in support, saying she had long been told to simply endure her cycle problems and noted that her husband was offered a vasectomy without similar barriers. The sponsor said online support was strong and that there was little or no written opposition testimony. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They approximately very close in cost.
• Do you share those notes with their primary physicians?
• Um, but yes, I do like closing statements.
• Um, but yes, I do like closing practice.
• &gt;&gt; Thank you for that closing statement and &gt;&gt; Thank you for that closing statement and the

Keywords: 1. Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 2. Approval of Minutes – 00:01:32 3. Getting to Know the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky – 00:02:26 4. Healthy Kids Clinic – 00:26:58 5. Pharmacy Payment Parity – 00:56:36 6. Ibogaine – 01:17:37 7. Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 01:53:05 8. Adjournment – 01:53:19, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized Eric Clark for his service, noting this may be his last meeting before he leaves state government. The main presentation was from Allison Adams, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who described the organization’s history, nonpartisan mission, and focus on health equity, prevention, and upstream policy solutions. She said Kentucky’s poor rankings in chronic disease, preventable hospitalizations, and life expectancy show the need to shift resources toward prevention and community-driven strategies rather than relying mainly on treatment after people become sick. Adams emphasized leading health indicators, arguing that lawmakers should track actionable measures such as quit attempts and smoke-free policies instead of only lagging indicators like disease rates and mortality. In response to questions, she said accountability should be shared across communities and systems, with possible incentives and disincentives tied to outcomes, and she supported creating a public data utility or dashboard, ideally with university partners, to help legislators and communities monitor progress. She also cited examples of accountable health community models and said Kentucky could adapt similar approaches. The committee then heard from Meade County Schools Superintendent Mark Martin and district health coordinator Karen Kotche about the Healthy Kids Clinic partnership with Cumberland Health. They described a seven-year effort that led to full implementation in the district, which now has a nurse in every school and a nurse practitioner, allowing services such as sports physicals and other clinic functions to be provided on campus. They said the program has been a strong investment for students and the community and began explaining how the district built the partnership after earlier efforts and delays, including the pandemic.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Volk will be explaining his vote for three minutes at the close.
• Representative D, has any closing comments? Yes, sir. Mr. Chair, this is a... Yes, sir. Mr.
• Any opening or closing comments? Yes.
• Any closing comments? No, thanks.
• Any closing comments?

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our application period that recently closed for the next round, which starts in 2026, has over 8,000
• And then, really working closely with major water users and enhancing tribal engagement in the Middle
• It's all the water rights within the district that have the primary sort of surface water rights.
• We're getting close to an Elephant Butte right now.
• We are close to a requirement; we don't have the water there to release.

Transcript Highlights:

• Folks, I'm going to close with this.
• This process should not be done quickly; it should not be done behind closed doors.
• I would like to close with a quote.
• Jordan was close to Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes, and he supported her effort to get that new seat.
• This idea of doing redistricting behind closed doors with lawyers, under attorney-client privilege in

Bills: SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB4 , HB1 , HB3 , HB20 , HB22 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , HB4 , SB2 , SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• many of the services and programs that uh people living with DD may be eligible for, um, are very closely
• My own staff at the DD Council works very closely with, um, UNMCDD.
• Primary resource for employment support for people living with disabilities. Many of you know DVR.
• So we do hold to those, uh, standards very closely.
• Um, Director Goldman, Director Trapp, and I work really closely together on accessibility issues.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So I hope that judiciary will look at this very closely too. Thank you. Thank you so much.
• I just want to say this really addresses access to primary care as well.
• But certainly, I feel like if there is a loophole to close, that I would be very open to it.
• But certainly, I feel like if there is a loophole to close, that I would be very open to it.
• But I am very encouraging to try to figure out what loopholes we need to close.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, I close.
• Sir, we'll reserve your right to close.
• Chairman, members, and I close. Thank you, sir.
• reserve your right to close.
• I reserve my right to close.

Bills: HB1784 , HB2088 , HB3062 , HB3475 , HB3741 , HB4279 , HB4763 , HB5154 , HB5294 , HB5508 , SB1401 , HB232 , HB232

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: students, homeless, foster care, higher education, liaison officer, housing assistance, transition support, law school, Rio Grande Valley, legal education, public university, accreditation, fentanyl prevention, drug poisoning awareness, mental health resources, substance abuse education, El Paso, university system, funding, public education

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kaladeud, you're recognized to close on the bill as amended. We've closed.
• Seeing none, Senator Simon, you're recognized to close. Waive close.
• President Gates, you're recognized to close. Waive close, sir.
• Seeing none, Senator Trumbull, you recognized to close. I'll waive close.
• Senator Yarborough, you are recognized to close. Wave closed, sir.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with SB 1434 on infill redevelopment. A late-filed strike-all narrowed eligibility to certain properties in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, added environmental and zoning criteria, and included exemptions for agricultural land, parks, military-adjacent land, and other areas. The amendment was adopted without opposition, and the bill was reported favorably 8-0. The committee then heard SB 212 on sexual offenders and predators, as amended to add public swimming pools and related child-centered locations to residency and presence restrictions. Testimony was sharply divided, with supporters emphasizing child safety and opponents arguing the bill lacked empirical support and would worsen homelessness and impose retroactive burdens. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably 8-1. Members next approved SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after adopting an amendment allowing certain enclaves adjacent to interstate highways to be developed for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential uses while clarifying protections for critical areas, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and military installations. The bill drew opposition from a county Republican committee representative who argued it would weaken zoning and comprehensive planning and encourage urban sprawl, while homebuilders and industry groups supported it. The committee also reported favorably SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, a Florida Bar-backed update intended to modernize and harmonize nonprofit corporate law, and SB 1338 on charitable giving, which would create donor remedies for endowment restrictions and limit state reporting burdens on certain charitable organizations; members noted the latter would need further work on cy pres and related issues. The committee then approved SB 532 on court fees after a strike-all that would let clerks retain all collections above revenue projections rather than splitting excess with general revenue, with clerks’ groups supporting the change and members citing long-standing funding shortfalls. SB 218 on land use regulations was also reported favorably; it would restore normal land-use authority to counties unaffected by the 2024 hurricanes while keeping SB 180 protections in place for damaged areas. SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability passed 9-2 after debate over whether the bill created enough compliance incentives and whether its liability presumption was retroactive; supporters said it would encourage adoption of cybersecurity frameworks and reduce class-action litigation, while opponents wanted stronger compliance requirements. Finally, SB 1138 on qualified contractors was amended and passed unanimously as a process-reform measure allowing licensed professionals to conduct pre-application reviews, and SJR 1104 on religious expression in public schools was reported favorably 8-3 after extensive testimony and debate over whether it would protect free expression or invite coercion and litigation. The committee also began consideration of SB 1106 on requiring state agencies and instructional materials to use “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank,” with the sponsor framing it as historical accuracy and opponents arguing it erased Palestinian identity; the transcript cuts off during that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there Senator Houschield any<00:21:24.120><c> closing</c> any closing any closing comment<00:21:26.240
• </c> being uh following closely behind. being uh following closely behind.
• The red colors are closed forests. Those are prohibited to OHV use.
• The red colors are closed forests. Those are prohibited to OHV use.
• ><c> around</c> Our primary interests revolve around Our primary interests revolve around motorized<01

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you like to close? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Assembly Member Lee, would you like to close?
• Would you like to close? Yes, Mr.
• Would you like to close? Yes, Mr.
• Would you like to close, Assembly Member Burr?

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we want to make sure that we close that loophole.
• Do we have any primary opposition witnesses who wish to testify on this bill?
• Close. Okay. Do you want to close, Senator Weiner? Okay. Great.
• I'll turn it back or read a close. Thank you.
• I'll turn it back or read a close. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you want closing comments before discussion, or—? I would like that.
• All students who are qualified must be eligible to enroll in a public primary or secondary school.
• The primary beneficiaries of this are public school students.
• The primary beneficiaries are public school students.

Bills: SB1142 , SCR1028

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: scholarships, tax credit, education funding, nonprofit organizations, Arizona Revised Statutes, constitutional amendment, state revenue, tax policy, legislative approval, two-thirds vote, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things I'll just close by saying is that Mr.
• house closed before the law even took effect.
• house closed before the law even took effect.
• to my grandma's the liquor stores close to my grandma's house<01:20:20.040><c> closed</c><01:20:20.480
• Closing comments from Senator Frentz. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, those are the numbers, more.
• Had they really close to the vest.
• We cooperated very close to the vest.
• We cooperated very close to the vest.
• Attorney General, and I appreciate your closing statement.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Padilla, you may close. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman.
• We ask that you close the loophole as soon as possible. Thank you.
• And, you know, using an investment to help rebuild, you know, their primary structure.
• I'll give you the opportunity to close, Senator. Yeah.
• Wicks, if you have a close.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My entire life has been dedicated to this process, and I'll close with that.
• Now that's a way to close testimony. Yeah, right.
• Hearing none, public testimony is now closed.
• Hearing none, public testimony is now closed.
• I have followed our local ESD closely, like— I have followed our local ESD closely for over a decade.

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government considered and voted on several bills, adopting committee substitutes on Senate Bills 1237, 1708, 1844, 1454, 2520, and 2541. In each case, the committee substitute was explained as narrowing or clarifying the filed bill, and the committee voted to report the substitute version to the full Senate, usually with a recommendation that the filed bill not pass. The committee also recommended each of those measures for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1237 concerned property tax exemption eligibility for charitable organizations; SB 1844 addressed annexation and disannexation limits tied to city services; SB 1454 clarified housing authority tax exemptions and agreements with districts; SB 2520 dealt with a school district tax ceiling comparison; and SB 2541 reduced the unused increment period from three years to two years. The committee then heard extensive testimony on SB 2354, which would allow developers to hire qualified third-party professionals for plat review, permit review, and inspections if local governments are delayed. Supporters included affordable housing providers, builders, Pew Charitable Trusts, housing advocates, and legal groups, who said the bill would reduce permitting delays, lower costs, and help housing production. A Corpus Christi representative testified as neutral, asking for amendments to preserve city final inspection authority, document sharing, and floodplain enforcement. Urban counties opposed the bill as written, arguing it removed too much local oversight, though they acknowledged work on a committee substitute. SB 2354 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2703, which would clarify that condominiums are not subdivisions for local platting purposes. Builders and a land use attorney supported the bill, saying it would reduce confusion and duplicative regulation; the bill was left pending. SB 777, dealing with firefighter collective bargaining and impasse procedures, drew support from Austin and Texarkana firefighter representatives and the City of Austin, who said the committee substitute reflected stakeholder agreement and preserved voter-approved local procedures; it was left pending. SB 2965, concerning annexation and emergency service district response obligations, drew support from ESD and fire association witnesses who said it would prevent service gaps after annexation, and opposition from local officials who argued it gave unelected ESD boards too much power and lacked neutral review; it was also left pending. The committee then recessed subject to call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've closed three.
• And, yeah, I think that's the primary way...
• Yeah, I think that's the primary way that, you know, that is the primary language that these systems
• Another youth, I can speak really closely to this one.
• Holmes, and then we’ll close it up.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on responding to federal immigration enforcement in Massachusetts, with opening remarks from Sen. Liz Miranda and Rep. Bud Williams emphasizing fear in immigrant communities, recent ICE operations, and the need to learn from advocates and affected residents rather than debate individual bills. The hearing was organized around three topics: detention, arrests, and surveillance, with members repeatedly asking what the legislature can do to improve transparency, legal access, and oversight. On detention, Leah Hastings of Prisoners’ Legal Services said most people end up in ICE custody through contact with the criminal legal system and argued that state carceral systems are deeply intertwined with immigration enforcement. She described conditions at Plymouth County House of Correction and Burlington ICE holding as concerning, citing limited medical care, disability accommodations, solitary confinement, retaliatory transfers, and poor attorney access. Hastings said Massachusetts should reduce funding for sheriffs and the Department of Corrections, ban intergovernmental service agreements and 287(g) agreements, and invest instead in housing, treatment, and other community supports. Members also discussed ICE reimbursement, the immigrant legal defense fund, and the need for more immigration attorneys. On arrests and enforcement tactics, David Albright of JALSA said federal immigration enforcement has been expanded by major new funding and incentives, including higher payments for 287(g) and bed contracts, and he noted that most ICE detainees nationally do not have criminal records. He said Massachusetts has one 287(g) agreement with the Department of Corrections and one IGSA with Plymouth County, and that ICE also uses Burlington, Hanscom, and informal local collaboration in places such as Milford and Auburn. Danny Tampona of Neighbor to Neighbor and the LUCE Rapid Response Network described more than 10,000 hotline calls from 46 cities and towns, with arrests often involving masked agents, surveillance of workers and families, traffic stops, broken windows, and arrests at check-ins or schools; he said the network is concentrated in places including Everett, Chelsea, Lynn, New Bedford, Milford, Marlboro, Framingham, and Springfield. He urged legislation requiring clear identification for law enforcement, limits on surveillance technologies, and stronger legal defense resources. On surveillance, Joshua Dancoff of Citizens for Juvenile Justice argued that current state policies allow broad sharing of fingerprints and surveillance data with ICE, including through BRIC, the Massachusetts Fusion Center, and municipal police policies. He cited cases in Chelsea and Everett where children were taken from police custody into ICE custody and said many departments automatically share arrest fingerprints and other information with federal authorities. He recommended limiting fingerprint sharing, restricting surveillance databases and task-force participation, and curbing police and sheriff collaboration with ICE even where no formal 287(g) exists. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for more immigration lawyers, possible bar advocate-style funding for immigration defense, and legislative action to prevent further collaboration and deportation infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• funds that help us really close those big deals for New Mexicans.
• And then are you also working closely with, I don't know... ...address them?
• Main Street being the primary one. Okay, just two final—I mean, just my final question.
• We've expanded primary care in some of our public health offices.
• Chair, as to how close we are to finishing the Texas v. New Mexico settlement.

Summary: The committee first recognized Mark Roper of the Economic Development Department for his long service and retirement, with members and the secretary praising his work on economic development across the state. Secretary Rob Black then presented EDD’s budget and special appropriation requests, describing strong recent job and income growth and outlining the department’s strategy around science and technology, site readiness, workforce development, foreign direct investment, and rural/community programs. He highlighted wins in advanced energy, quantum, space and defense, and biosciences, and asked for funding for quantum/DARPA matching funds, additional site readiness work, LIDA closing funds, JTIP training support, New Mexico Partnership, and healthy foods and other community programs. Members asked detailed questions about the quantum proposal, site readiness, the new mapping tool for industrial sites, workforce participation, trade missions, foreign investment, tariffs, water and produced water, tribal site evaluation, and public engagement on major projects. Black said the quantum request was intended to match federal dollars and build a workforce pipeline, that the site-readiness software would be a set enterprise license, and that the department was working with tribes and local partners on future site evaluations. He also said tariffs have created uncertainty but New Mexico’s infrastructure and foreign trade zones could help attract manufacturing, and he acknowledged concerns about transparency and community input while noting that some projects, such as Pacific Fusion, had gone through extensive public processes. The committee also discussed specific projects and funding balances, including Mantis Space’s move to Albuquerque, the status of Virgin Galactic’s spaceport lease, and the current LIDA fund balance and encumbrances. Black and Deputy Secretary Isaac Romero said the department was trying to use State Investment Council-backed venture funds to attract companies and that the new investments were already producing deals and jobs. Members generally supported the department’s direction but pressed for more targeted expertise, faster deployment, and stronger community involvement in future economic development decisions. Later, Secretary de Blassie of the Department of Health presented the department’s budget request and progress report. He said DOH had improved revenue cycle management, reduced old Medicaid-pending cases, increased census at facilities, improved budget and contract timeliness, and responded effectively to the measles outbreak. The department requested additional base funding for epidemiology and response, the DOH helpline, the Vital Records Virtual Vault, state labs, and the veterans home, along with special requests for respiratory vaccinations and marketing and lab equipment replacement. He also noted progress on MOUD and the medical psilocybin program, and said the department was not seeking to launch new programs given the limited time left in the administration.