Transcript Highlights:

• Get to 2026 in terms of making us a little more stable.
• with farmers or contracts with the.
• with farmers or contracts with national security.
• Do you go into a little detail in terms of the amendments.
• That would be a contract that'd be dictated by the parties involved.

Bills: HJR1088, HJR1090, HJR1091, HB1370, SB2154, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1095, HJR1099, HJR1100, HB3021, SB893, SB206, SB248, SB259, SB423, SB563, SB604, SB633, HJR1077, SB667, SB1224, SB1257, SB1264, SB1319, SB1360, SB1437, SB1531, SB1543, SB1806, HB3004, SB1572, HB4342, SB1618, SB2, SB237, SB1632, SB1687, SB1726, SB1859, SB1894, SB1461, HB4432, SB1948, SB1589, SJR52, SR46, HCR1030, SB2071, SB2182, SB1451, HJR1088, HJR1090, HJR1091, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1095, HJR1096, HJR1099, HJR1100, SB2185, SB893, HB3021, SR46, SB206, SB237, SB248, SB259, SB423, SB563, SB604, SB625, SB633, SB667, SB1224, SB1257, SB1264, SB1319, SB1360, SB1378, SB1437, SB1531, SB1543, SB1572, SB1618, SB1632, SB1687, SB1726, SB1806, SB1859, SB1894, SB1948, SB2071, SJR52, HB1370, HJR1077, SB2, SB1451, SB2182, HCR1030

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:

• time limit so that we can make it through our agenda today and get to the House floor.
• of a six-year term, and the expiration has been changed to ending on odd-numbered years.
• of landowners or farmers, and frankly, in terms of investor-owned utilities.
• If this goes on for 60 days, in terms of investment on utilities.
• Okay, so if they're staying within the limits, it shouldn't be a problem.

Bills: HB4530, HB4931, HB5559, HB5560

Keywords: water rights, Texas Water Trust, water bank, environmental conservation, water quality, instream flows, aquifer, water injection, Edwards Aquifer, environmental regulation, groundwater, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water conservation, drought, utility regulation, water use restrictions, Public Utility Commission, civil penalties, drought contingency, environmental protection

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources met with a quorum present and first took up several pending bills for reconsideration and committee substitute adoption. House Bill 2692, relating to codification and clarification of local laws concerning the San Antonio River Authority, was reported favorably to the full House and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by an 11-0 vote. House Bills 1407, 1520, 1535, 2970, 4153, 291, 3663, and 3915 were also reconsidered or laid out as pending business, with committee substitutes adopted where needed and each bill reported favorably, generally by unanimous vote, to the full House and then to Calendars or Calendars/Calendars-related referral as applicable. The committee then heard House Bill 4530, which would expand the Texas Water Trust framework to include groundwater rights, require Texas Water Development Board review and approval of groundwater dedications, and notify local groundwater districts when groundwater rights are placed in the trust. The bill’s author and witnesses from the Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Chispa Texas supported the measure as a conservation tool and a way to create a clear process for voluntary donations; a Texas Water Development Board witness testified neutrally. The bill was left pending. House Bill 4931, relating to an aquifer storage and recovery project in Medina County, drew support from the author, the Medina County judge, and a regional water alliance witness, who described severe stress on the Edwards Aquifer, low levels at Medina Lake, and the need for a local water-supply tool. The bill was left pending. House Bill 5559, which would clarify enforcement of drought contingency plans for investor-owned water utilities and involve the PUC in model plan development, received support from groundwater district representatives but also concerns from water company and utility witnesses about enforcement authority, approval procedures, and potential conflicts with existing obligations to provide continuous service; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. House Bill 5560, which would raise the maximum civil penalty for certain groundwater conservation district enforcement actions from $10,000 to $25,000 per violation, prompted debate over whether current law is already sufficient; supporters said the higher cap would better deter overpumping, while opponents argued existing penalties are already severe. That bill was also left pending, and the committee adjourned subject to call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would ask that you limit your testimony.
• So MIRA does not provide English language services to limited English proficient communities.
• These immigrants want and need... ...is limited English proficiency.
• We have 480,000 working-age adults with limited English proficiency.
• It's about smarter public policy and long-term cost savings.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development heard testimony on several workforce-related bills, with most of the hearing focused on ESOL and apprenticeship legislation, followed by testimony on a four-day workweek pilot and paid prenatal leave. On ESOL, witnesses including the Boston Foundation, Skillworks, MassINC, MIRA, JVS Boston, Eastern Bank, immigrant advocates, employers, and legislators supported H.2080/S.1326, arguing that Massachusetts has a large backlog of limited-English-proficiency residents waiting for classes, that ESOL is essential to economic mobility and immigrant integration, and that the state needs a coordinated, statewide strategy with more vocational and workplace-focused English instruction. Testifiers cited long waitlists, fragmented delivery across agencies, labor shortages, and examples of workplace English programs helping immigrants gain jobs, advance careers, and support businesses. Committee members asked questions about how vocational ESOL differs from standard classes, and witnesses explained that it focuses on job-specific language and workplace scenarios. The committee also heard strong support for H.2085/S.1303, which would require more use of registered apprentices on public construction projects over $1 million. Labor leaders from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and Massachusetts Building Trades, along with electricians and apprentices, said the bill would help apprentices complete training by ensuring enough job-site hours, expand access to good union careers, and strengthen the construction workforce for housing, infrastructure, and clean energy work. Several witnesses defended existing apprenticeship ratios and electrical licensing standards, warning against deregulation and emphasizing safety. Committee members asked about project thresholds and apprenticeship ratios, and witnesses said the bill’s phased apprentice-hour requirement was intended to cover most public projects under current cost conditions. The committee then heard testimony on S.1330, a four-day workweek pilot program. Senator Dillon Fernandez and Representative Shirley Arriaga described the proposal as a response to burnout, affordability pressures, and changing workplace norms, arguing that a pilot would let Massachusetts study whether shorter workweeks improve productivity, retention, and worker well-being. Witnesses said the model could help families balance caregiving and commuting while maintaining or improving output. Finally, the committee took testimony on S.1361, establishing paid prenatal leave. Parents, health advocates, March of Dimes, and others said paid leave would help pregnant workers attend critical prenatal appointments, reduce missed care, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Several speakers shared personal stories about high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy loss, and the financial strain of taking unpaid time off. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked a limited number of questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, in terms of state revenue losses, we shifted... April.
• Canada's retaliatory tariffs were limited to a smaller number of products.
• That found its way into the terms and conditions that govern all of our grants.
• of disaster declarations, In the nation in terms of disaster declarations.
• But I understand the use of the word and the term and the reason why.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:17.720> that contract that contract that happened<00:33:19.480> last<00:33:19.720
• has to make sense we have such limited has to make sense we have such limited resources<01:44:15.080
• longer term longer term Solutions<02:16:50.519> since<02:16:51.000> the<02:16:51.080
• Federal contracts have match.
• diabetes and have long-term diabetes and have long-term consequences<02:48:40.600> when<02

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on several bills and announced at the outset that no votes would be taken because the measures would go to divisions later. The first major bill, HB 197, would require the state to pay 7.5% of political subdivision employer pension contributions for teachers, police officers, and firefighters. Representative Mike Edgar, the prime sponsor, argued the state had repeatedly reduced and then eliminated its promised share of retirement costs, shifting the burden to municipalities and property taxpayers. He said the bill would partially restore that commitment and provide relief to local governments, businesses, and taxpayers. Several witnesses testified in support of HB 197, including Representative John Cluder, Bradford selectman Marlene Fryer, the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s Margaret Burns, and Epping representative Mark Fone. Supporters said the bill would help with property tax pressure, school budgets, and municipal hiring, and they emphasized that much of the retirement cost reflects unfunded liability decisions made at the state level rather than by local governments. Committee members questioned whether the bill would change local incentives to control costs and how it would affect hiring and compensation. Burns said the state contribution would function as property tax relief because it offsets existing municipal expenses, and she noted the state is already on a long-term schedule to pay down the retirement system’s unfunded liability. After closing the hearing on HB 197, the committee opened a hearing on HB 97, introduced by Representative Tom Buco. He said the bill would continue funding for delayed and deferred wastewater projects and help municipalities finance expensive wastewater infrastructure, which he tied to housing development and local debt planning. No action or votes were taken on either bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Push us to go beyond our limits.
• circumstance, limited case, limited number of cases.
• education policy based on a limited education policy based on a limited circumstance,<02:27:36.720
• , limited case case, limited circumstance, limited case case, limited number<02:27:38.960> of<
• funds to stabilize the perdm long-term funds to stabilize the perdm long-term rates<05:19:23.360

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The pilot program, there is limited data on the pilot program.
• As I said before, there is limited data on that.
• They have, they've done the managed care for years and had their contracted company that is doing it,
• They have, they've done the managed care for years and had their contracted company that is doing it,
• Traditional coverage is just non-existent, pre-existing conditions before that, limits and services.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard six bills, all of which were reported favorably. HB 1567, relating to insulin administration by direct support professionals, was amended to clarify the type of insulin that may be administered and to allow supervision of self-administration of an insulin pen. Supporters described the bill as a way to keep people with developmental disabilities in group homes rather than forcing institutional placement; the amendment and bill both passed unanimously, 17-0. PCS for HB 1103, on services for persons with disabilities, would expand the APD managed care pilot statewide in phases, require more transparency on waitlist data, create a statewide family care council, and address transition services for young adults leaving foster care. Testimony was mixed: supporters emphasized the long APD waitlist and the need for a voluntary option, while some witnesses and members raised concerns about the accelerated rollout, limited data, and preserving consumer-directed care. The committee adopted the bill 17-0. CS for HB 127, on exceptional student education, would create micro-credentials and coordinate with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA to support students with disabilities transitioning to work; it passed 17-0 after testimony from a parent and advocates. HB 989, concerning licensure of family foster homes, was amended to streamline license transfers for foster parents moving within Florida while maintaining oversight and directing DCF rulemaking. A teacher and other supporters said the bill would reduce bureaucracy and help children remain in stable homes; it passed 17-0. PCS for HB 1091, on substance abuse and mental health care, updates processes related to the 988 crisis line, methadone treatment needs assessments, and forensic evaluators, and adds data/reporting requirements for DCF managing entities. After one amendment and testimony from supporters and one opponent, it passed 16-0. Finally, HB 633, on behavioral health managing entities, was amended and then approved 17-0; it requires more structured data and reporting from managing entities to increase accountability and transparency in the behavioral health system.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the number of witnesses who have registered to testify, there will be a time limit of two minutes
• What part of your bill talks about where there's going to be transparency in terms of the pricing?
• The third-party administrator would set up a website and it would be limited to certain procedures that
• I serve seven... terms in this body, and I appreciate very much that this committee is finally here to
• I did a quick web search, and now 75% of the private sector plans are using direct contracting models

Bills: HCR141, SB438, SB1495, SB1964, HB 1225

Keywords: HCR 141, House Concurrent Resolution, NASA, Houston, Space City, Johnson Space Center, Mission Control, Apollo 11, moon landing, aerospace, commercial space, space exploration, Texas Space Commission, space policy, federal resolution, memorial resolution, Congress, Washington D.C., headquarters relocation, space industry

Transcript Highlights:

• So previously it was limited to academic and student housing facilities.
• limits.
• About going forward with term limits. We're going to have new people here.
• And so, as we get it, my concern personally is getting into term limits where half of you are gone next
• It's a long-term interview.

Summary: The committee met to discuss higher education funding and capital building policy. Members first heard an update from NDUS Deputy Commissioner Lisa Johnson on low-producing academic programs. She described a proposed board policy using a five-year rolling window and thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, with programs flagged for three consecutive review periods going to the board. Possible outcomes would include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the review would account for program costs, service to other students, workforce demand, and the difference between inactivation and termination. Johnson said the board would consider broader factors and that campuses already do detailed program analysis. Several members also asked about cost savings and staffing impacts from program terminations, and Johnson said the board would try to provide more information later. The committee then received a report on the Capital Building Fund from Jamie Wilkie. He reviewed the program’s history, matching requirements, and recent uses, noting that about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with most going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Members discussed whether the program is reducing deferred maintenance and requested updated systemwide data on deferred maintenance and campus space utilization. Wilkie said the board is considering a new study to update deferred maintenance figures, which are based on information more than 12 years old. He also reported that several institutions have used current biennium funds for projects such as residence hall renovations, health sciences housing, generators, and building repairs. Later, the committee began a detailed walkthrough of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and also revise the capital building fund structure. The draft would use fall enrollment FTEs, add completion incentives for degrees in in-demand fields, and create a separate research funding component for UND and NDSU tied to doctoral completions and external research expenditures. Members raised concerns about the use of older data in the formula, the treatment of waivers, the weighting of professional and health sciences programs, and the use of CIP codes to define CTE and education incentives. The bill draft would also combine capital building fund tiers, broaden eligible uses for deferred maintenance and legislatively authorized projects, change matching requirements, repeal the old formula chapter and the capital pool, and transfer funds from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund into the capital building fund. No final votes were taken during the portion provided; the meeting was primarily discussion and review.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESSES A PERSISTENT PROBLEM IN THE STATE'S MANAGED CARE SYSTEM LIMITING ACCESS TO
• IT'S SAYS VOTING POWER IN AGREEMENT OR A CONTRACT.
• SOME ARE NOT AND ALLOWS THEM TO BE EITHER IN THE MANAGED CARE CONTRACT OR STANDALONE.
• SO IF YOU WANT UNIFORMITY USE TERMS ACROSS DOES UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF CONFUSION WITH THE BILL.
• BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS IT DOES NOT EXPAND THE SCOPE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And GLP-1 firms remains limited.
• It's easier to assess the short-term It's easier to assess the short-term cost<00:57:55.200>
• Um, not only in terms of quality of life, but in terms of the expenses that follow.
• reducing long-term health care costs. reducing long-term health care costs.
• 01:24:58.680> contract contracts are regulated under contract contracts are regulated under contract

Bills: HF4493, HF3133, HF4595, HF4143, HF4142, HF3756, HF4289, HF1724, HF2291, HF4568, HF4547

Keywords: opioid use disorder, OUD, medication-assisted treatment, MAT, pharmacist prescribing, pharmacy practice, controlled substances, Schedule III, Schedule IV, Schedule V, DEA registration, Board of Pharmacy, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, buprenorphine, naltrexone, harm reduction, prescription authority, pharmacist intern, Minnesota pharmacy law

Transcript Highlights:

• classrooms um the summer term classrooms um the summer term unemployment<00:22:36.279> I<
• I'd say Cloquet, I'm talking about the between-terms unemployment.
• competition for those same limited competition for those same limited resources<00:46:05.559>
• leaves us nothing left for contract leaves us nothing left for contract settlements<01:14:00.120
• <01:42:00.840> facility uh the uh um ltfm or long-term facility uh the uh um ltfm or long-term

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That we're under right now in terms of our economic national security.
• I'm only talking about the contracts that have been finalized.
• That's the only contract I'm talking about. Will you honor them?
• Again, these commitments were made as part of final grant contracts.
• And they have to get the benefit of that contract, which they signed.

Transcript Highlights:

• These products have begun to replace payday loans as a preferred short-term financing product, often
• Our proposal brings these transactions under the small consumer and small and short-term loans statutes
• I'll turn now to some of the contracts I'll turn now to some of the specific specific specific proposals
• financing product often used short-term financing product often used by<00:04:48.080> motans<
• ><00:05:28.720> and the small the consumer small and the small the consumer small and short-term

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All testimony comments are limited to the bill at hand.
• Is that now, does that stay with the manufacturer who we're contracted with?
• One of the questions that I had was really around kind of like the age limit.
• Is there an age limit for who would be eligible for these treatments?
• of this budget. but ...behind what we all voted on last night in terms of this budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, in the long term, that is not sustainable.
• If you look at our long-term vacancies, we have 183 vacancies over 180 days.
• Right now, they have zero long-term vacancies.
• If you look at child support, they have 42 long-term vacancies. over 180 days.
• of a state contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. services for long-term care. And so I services for long-term care.
• That is one of the have a time limit.
• :18:40.000> funding<01:18:40.320> through limit the amount of funding through limit the
• <01:45:17.600> of<01:45:18.080> having um in terms of having um in terms of having
• Thank you. our um long-term care providers so that our um long-term care providers so that they<01:58

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've spent over a year negotiating most of the terms and iteration.
• of wildfires and disasters, but in terms of our housing market.
• through that contract is where that duty of care lies.
• That contract is where that duty of care lies.
• both interim and long-term housing solutions.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will promote greater transparency and fairness in public construction contracting and prevent
• Speaker, as a reminder, HB 331 makes clear that when a person has successfully completed all terms and
• The Senate amendments are technical changes to align with terms used in House Bill 964, which we just
• The Senate changes occur on line 23, where we change the more general term “locality” to “county” to
• The Senate changes occur on line 23, where we change the more general term “locality” to “county” to

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:34.279> are to mental or physical limitations are to mental or physical limitations
• term term whenever<01:09:56.280> we<01:09:56.440> sat<01:09:56.719> there<01:09
• the program and harving its long-term the program and harving its long-term solvency<01:49:57.440
• However, the other body's bill merely exchanges the income limitation under current law for limitations
• merely exchanges the income limitation merely exchanges the income limitation under<01:55:23.159

Keywords: 1189, house, all