Transcript Highlights:

• in place to guard against those types of activities, mud flows and things like that.
• To how much has to go towards each activity, there are limitations in that regard.
• All of the activities are happening at the same time, so it's sort of virtually guaranteed that there
• will be a mix of the money going to the different activities.
• We need to monitor speculative activity, flagging trends that indicate price manipulation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also actively attending all of the Torch-related conferences and activities to ensure that we're
• physical education and physical activity.
• physical education and physical activity.
• in moderate to vigorous activity.
• Than the HB 18 activities.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This will include our new active duty currently serving.
• Today's service members may be deployed overseas, activated here at home, and I wanted to underscore
• Today's service members may be deployed overseas, activated here at home, and I wanted to underscore
• Today's service members may be deployed overseas, activated here at home, and I wanted to underscore
• Oftentimes, we're called to very short-notice active duty. Very much in support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits a linkage institute from entering into an agreement or participating in activities with
• So just to clarify, there's no prohibition in any election activity around a group like CARE, we just
• the soft underbelly of our democracy, where they have fewer resources to block and resist malign activity
• , and they have a more open playing field in order to engage in this sort of activity.
• They are only required to register for their federal activities.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act. Senator Grohl explained that the bill expands state restrictions and disclosure requirements related to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including foreign-agent registration, gift bans for public officials, ethics training, procurement limits for IT and critical infrastructure, restrictions on sister-city/sister-state affiliations, changes to linkage institutes and in-state tuition provisions, and new criminal penalties for certain offenses committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist organizations. Senator Polsky raised questions about higher education, election technology, federal FARA overlap, and whether the bill would affect candidates or events involving CARE; the sponsor responded that the bill focuses on foreign countries of concern, ownership/control, and gifts, and does not prohibit speaking at events. An amendment clarifying definitions, willful violations, and ethics-training content was adopted, and after supportive testimony from Kelly Curry and Robert Pierce, the committee reported CS for SB 1178 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure if the filing is made before the maximum fine accrues and the filer has not previously received such a waiver or accrued the maximum fine in prior years. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified that the bill supports transparency and makes the fine and appeals process more efficient, noting it was a commission recommendation. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee held confirmation hearings on appointments in Tabs 3 through 26. No senator requested separate votes on any appointee, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointments was approved and recommended favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• does not provide a date of birth or social security number, and so providing an indicator that an active
• It defines military status to include... active-duty military service members, reservists, honorably
• This bill is for active duty, reservists, state military forces, and veterans.
• So this bill extends not only to active-duty reserve military forces and veterans but also to active-duty
• He was called to active duty and was deployed to Iraq.

Bills: SB2007, SB2104, SB2543, SB2545, SB2926, SB2938

Keywords: military status, vehicle registration, veterans, Texas transportation, state records, discrimination, employment rights, spouses of service members, labor code, SB 2543, Texas veterans cemeteries, state veterans cemetery, Texas Veterans Commission, Veterans Land Board, Natural Resources Code, veterans land fund, veterans housing assistance fund, veterans burial, burial eligibility, cemetery location

Transcript Highlights:

• As of December 31, 2024, our two procurement bureaus have competitively procured more than 733 active
• vendor contracts and adopted 277 agency active vendor agreements for alternate contract sources.
• This brings the total number of our active enterprise-wide agreements to over 960 contracts, and that
• As of December 31st, 2024, our two procurement bureaus have competitively procured more than 733 active
• This brings the total number of our active enterprise-wide agreements to over 960 contracts, and that

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum present and first took up SB 268, a public records exemption bill for public officers. Senator Brodeur explained the bill on behalf of Senator Jones, saying it would protect partial home addresses, phone numbers, and certain family information for the governor, cabinet members, and other elected officials because of threats and harassment against public servants. An amendment narrowing and clarifying the definition of public officer and the process for claiming the exemption was adopted without objection. Chair Fine and Senator Brodeur both spoke in support of the bill, citing personal experiences with threats and the need to protect officials and their families. CS for SB 268 was then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard a presentation from Brandon Spencer, Director of State Purchasing and Chief Procurement Officer at the Department of Management Services, on state agency procurement and contracting practices, including IT procurements. He described the state’s procurement structure, including state term contracts, alternate contract sources, and agency procurements, and said the division now manages more than 960 enterprise-wide agreements, with that number continuing to grow. He also highlighted that roughly 21% of purchase order spend is on IT services, discussed statutory requirements for IT procurements, and said the division is working with Florida Digital Service to improve oversight, training, vendor accountability, and procurement options. No committee action followed the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such activities not only result in financial losses for consumers and businesses, but also undermine
• That's not a lawful activity. It's not lawful to dump chemicals in a stream.
• He said those had proper remedies and, of course, those examples were not lawful activities.
• It applies only when the conduct involves lawful activities, activities subject to statutory authority
• And those types of activities are happening every day to our constituents. Right.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, recognized a Karnes County Day delegation and the Texas Association of Museums, received a governor’s message on Texas Diabetes Council appointments, and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber then took up several resolutions, including SR 388 honoring the Texas Association of Museums, and adopted SRs 380, 382, and 387 by voice vote. Senator King was excused due to a family death, and the journal reading was dispensed with. The Senate then moved through a series of bills, most of them on expedited suspension of the regular order and three-day rule. Measures passed included SB 868 on Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program funding for high-wildfire-risk areas; SB 264 exempting certain family motor-vehicle transfers from tax; SB 2112 on oyster mariculture penalties; SB 1484 on catfish labeling and marketing; SB 660 on bollards near hospital emergency rooms; SB 1809 creating offenses for gift card fraud; SB 32 and SJR 81 providing business personal property tax relief and a related constitutional amendment; SB 1267 modernizing boat titling and adding disclosure for hidden hull damage; SB 1470 allowing DPS data sharing for voter list maintenance; SB 2406 and SB 2407 implementing Sunset recommendations for the Sabine River Authority and Lower Neches Valley River Authority; SB 609 on school district compliance with legally required policies; SB 921 on ex parte Medicaid eligibility renewals; SB 2320 increasing DWI penalties; SB 1822 requiring disclosure and oversight of AI-based utilization review algorithms; SB 693 on notaries public and deed theft prevention; and SB 664 setting statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and related judicial officers. One of the most contested items was SB 779 on common law public nuisance claims, which drew extended debate over whether the bill would limit lawsuits against lawful, regulated activities and whether it would preserve private nuisance and other existing remedies. Despite objections, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment by a 17-12 vote, holding it there. Another debated measure was SB 1008 on state and local authority over the food service industry; after a perfecting amendment, it was passed to engrossment and then to final passage. Several bills were adopted or passed with near-unanimous support, while others, including SB 1267, SB 1470, SB 1822, and SB 2320, saw some opposition but still cleared the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, your primary activity should be agriculture.
• privilege again your primary activity privilege again your primary activity should<00:21:59.280>
• We're very, very active in managing our lands.
• So I guess active in managing our lands.
• Thank you. active crop production or livestock active crop production or livestock farming.<00:47:54.319

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• > any<01:03:07.920> other prevent activation for any other prevent activation for any other
• statute chief leader of the active statute chief leader of the active military<01:33:18.880>
• the National Command Authority activates the National Command Authority activates troops,<01:36:
• And there's an active duty have that.
• <01:42:24.000> your says, "I want you to activate your says, "I want you to activate your

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For active members across all institutions, about 8,200 members. Their average age is 58.
• For active members across all institutions, about 8,200 members. Their average age is 58.
• So fairly close in terms of new actives and new annuitants.
• of actives is growing somewhat on par with the, The number of actives is growing somewhat on par with
• So fairly close in terms of new actives and new annuitants.

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on June 23, 2026, for a work session that began with an overview of the Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and a 2025 accounting valuation of that plan. Staff explained that the SRP is a closed defined benefit supplement for higher education employees hired before the 2011 closure, with employer contributions currently pre-funding benefits in institution-specific trusts while institutions still pay benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The State Actuary’s office reported that the plan’s accounting position has improved, with combined market assets of about $245 million against $377 million in accrued liability, and that strong market performance since 2022 has increased the asset-to-liability ratio. The office emphasized that this was an educational accounting valuation, not a funding valuation for rate-setting. The council then received the 2025 actuarial valuation report for the state retirement systems. Actuaries reviewed the recent demographic experience study, noting updated assumptions for mortality, retirement, termination, and salary growth, and said the net impact on most plans was small. They reported that most plans’ funded ratios improved, with all plans at least 94% funded and several at or above 100%, and that contribution rates for the 2027–2029 biennium are generally lower than current rates. They also noted that future rates could be affected by market volatility as deferred gains are recognized over the next few years. During public comment, a representative of the Association of Washington Cities urged the council to consider rate reductions to help local governments facing budget pressures. In executive session, the council first approved a motion directing the Office of the State Actuary to perform an actuarial evaluation and analysis of each institution’s Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan, including institution-specific contribution rates, asset sufficiency, and funding policy options, due by July 1, 2028. The council then adopted the 2027–2029 pension contribution rates based on the 2025 actuarial valuation report. Both motions passed 5-0, with one member excused. The meeting concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes through human activities like our greenhouse gas emissions that are modifying our climate
• management area, rather than an initial active management area, the right to annually withdraw up to
• We're basically updating this from the initial active management areas to include the new subsequent
• In the spirit of achieving consistency with our active management areas, I vote yes.
• In the spirit of achieving consistency with our active management areas, I vote yes.

Bills: SB1005, SB1202, SB1278, SB1279, SB1280, SB1287

Keywords: cosmetics, animal testing, prohibition, manufacturers, sales regulation, state preemption, groundwater, water conservation, Arizona water resources, drought management, water quality, solar radiation management, environment, regulation, Arizona Revised Statutes, weather modification, licensing, environmental impact, public safety, cloud seeding

Transcript Highlights:

• surge, the framework consisted of court rules, local administrative orders, and recently enacted active
• And if a case has no activity, it is closed by court order or by requesting voluntary dismissal of the
• However, another judge actively case managed and set case management hearings all day long to try to
• I think you are demonstrating what active case management can result in.
• Yes, for us to clear more cases, yes, with active case management—that's the goal in mind again.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• between both committees by agency, and talk about historical projected spending growth by budget activity
• The entities included at the activity level are MA basic care for elderly and disabled, MA long-term
• The entities included at the activity level are MA basic care for elderly and disabled, MA long-term
• entities um included at the activity entities um included at the activity level<00:04:49.840>
• <00:14:11.639> at the central office uh budget activity at the central office uh budget activity

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When it comes to physical activity in this country, the statistics are staggering: 93% fail key metabolic
• health markers, and 80% fail to meet physical activity guidelines.
• Physical activity should never be used as punishment.
• as part of the physical activity requirement. education curriculum.
• So, we began to encourage people to be active and healthy, and since then, we've been able to work in

Bills: SB 25, SB25, SB314

Keywords: attorney ad litem, indigent parents, parent-child relationship, legal representation, Texas Family Code, court procedures, nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the activity is moving north.
• The activity is moving.
• It's very active.
• They just put a pause on their drilling and completion activity.
• You are seeing some activity in Texas, in the Eagle Ford a little bit.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum present and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity, which described North Dakota production as holding steady around 1.1 to 1.2 million barrels per day despite lower prices and market volatility. The presentation emphasized that efficiency gains, longer laterals, and improved completion technology are allowing operators to sustain output while activity shifts north in the Bakken. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, flaring, and enhanced oil recovery; the witness said gas is taxed by volume, most liquids are handled through oil lines or gas processing, and the state’s EOR pilot projects and new gas infrastructure are intended to help hold production flat and expand future recovery. The committee then received a presentation from the Tax Department on the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. The department explained that most of the federal changes were extensions of existing Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions, but several items — including the larger standard deduction, senior deduction, tip and overtime exclusions, auto loan interest deduction, and business expensing changes — affect state collections. Revised estimates showed a smaller-than-expected impact on individual income tax, with the department suggesting a net cash effect in the range of roughly $30 million to $35 million when business and individual effects are combined, plus a possible one-time distortion from large oil-field transactions in fiscal year 2025. Members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns, and the department clarified that most of the individual provisions apply broadly, while the SALT-related item is itemizer-specific. OMB then reported on major capital projects and facility funding. Updates included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, augmented reality displays for the Rough Rider Hall of Fame, tree management and lighting studies, and restroom and parking reconfiguration in the tower. OMB also described security upgrades at the governor’s residence, where human remains were discovered on site and are being handled with historical and legal review. The state hospital project in Jamestown remains on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028, with costs currently estimated a little over $292 million and a line of credit expected to be drawn in April 2027. The North Central State Office Building in Minot is under construction, with a $5.6 million line of credit already accessed. OMB also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, noting about $1.1 million spent so far on projects such as the Liberty Memorial Building roof and foundation work, Capitol window replacement, boiler replacement, and kitchen remodeling. Finally, Legislative Council staff reviewed the interim compliance report on legislative intent and state trust funds. The report highlighted the status of multiple lines of credit, including those for the state hospital and Minot office building, and noted that the executive budget will likely need to include repayment planning for about $350 million of expected outstanding balances. Other updates included the Bank of North Dakota profit transfer schedule, litigation pool spending, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, the Missouri River Correctional Center planning effort, HHS items such as FMAP and child care assistance, Job Service’s unemployment insurance modernization project, and DPI school aid turnback estimates. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, well, if at any point you're able to activate your microphone or video, say hello, H.J.
• Without them, you know, we have a lot less active populations.
• There was a lot of, you know, activations that weren't necessarily...
• They were involved in the use of force and they didn't activate it.
• Let's not worry about all the activations, etc. There was that piece.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met with a new member from Prisoners’ Legal Services and approved the July 11 minutes. The main presentation came from Department of Correction Commissioner Sean Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Mitzie Peterson, who gave an overview of DOC facilities, population trends, and the department’s broad mission, including sentenced prisoners, pretrial detainees, civil commitments, Bridgewater State Hospital, and the Section 35 program. They noted the custody population has fallen from about 10,000 in 2016 to roughly 6,000–6,600, while the share serving first- or second-degree sentences has increased. They also reviewed the department’s facility footprint, including Souza-Baranowski, MCI Norfolk, MCI Framingham, Bridgewater, and the planned transfer of the Section 35 program to Health and Human Services by the end of 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on programming, education, health care, and reentry. DOC described tablet access for all incarcerated people, free phone calls, email, and more than 330,000 hours of educational, vocational, and reentry use. They highlighted partnerships with colleges and universities such as Tufts, Boston College, Emerson, and others, along with HiSET completion, vocational training, and programs like The Last Mile and Persevere. Health care spending was discussed in detail, including a total annual health-related contract cost of about $300 million, with separate contracts for prison health care, Bridgewater State Hospital, MassAQC, and MAT services. DOC said it has nearly eradicated Hep C and MRSA and now offers all three FDA-approved MAT medications, including long-acting injectables when clinically indicated. Commissioners also asked about specialized programming, language and disability access on tablets, and how programming is distributed across facilities. DOC explained that nothing is mandatory, but program participation is encouraged and can affect parole consideration. Staff described assessments using COMPAS, criminal thinking interventions, trauma-related treatment, and specialized units for emerging adults, mental health, and substance use. The department said programming costs were about $101 million in fiscal year 2025, or roughly 12% of the operating budget, excluding health care. Members praised the elimination of restrictive housing and the rollout of body-worn cameras, while DOC said the cameras required new policy and union negotiations but are now used for training, accountability, and de-escalation. The meeting ended with a plan for DOC to return in September with more detailed information on SAUs, programming statistics, and facility structure, and the commission voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• activities some of these activities activities some of these activities could<00:09:59.920> include
• FFA member then as an active FFA member then as an agricultural<00:11:41.360> education<00:11
• There aren't many extracurricular activities available that most schools don't already offer.
• And in the back it talks a little bit about the activities and location. So welcome, S.
• <00:31:57.639> um<00:31:58.320> and activities um and activities um and location<00:32:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, we're actively preparing it, but don't have a date to open it yet.
• And we're actively working on that now.
• We actively hear about them. We take every one of them seriously.
• In the Bear unit, we are actively using direct supervision. We have altered.
• So it is actively used there.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did I have to activate the amber lights?
• , says when the red lights are activated, says when the red lights are activated, obviously<00:17
• approaching it, I have to activate approaching it, I have to activate lights.<00:18:13.280> I
• cuz the red lights are not activated. cuz the red lights are not activated.
• Scenario, are amber lights activated?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The core goal of IGRA is to promote lawful and protected gambling activities for the purposes of promoting
• framework in which tribes and the state can negotiate Class III gaming on Indian lands to include activities
• the tribe and the state can negotiate into the compact, which includes such items as the gaming activities
• We host cultural activities and lessons on cultural food preparation and gathering for our children in
• That will provide for a finer level of detail in regulating all manner of gaming activities on tribal

Summary: The joint House and Senate committee meeting heard public testimony on tentative tribal-state gaming compact amendments for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Staff from the Washington State Gambling Commission explained the compacting process, the role of ex officio legislative members, and that the amendments would next go to the Gambling Commission for a January 8, 2026 vote before possible governor review. The Port Gamble S'Klallam presentation emphasized how gaming revenue supports tribal government services, health care, housing, education, language revitalization, natural resources work, and community investment projects in Kitsap County. For Port Gamble S'Klallam, the proposed changes include expanded credit and wager limits, more gaming stations and player terminals, language for a second facility, and adoption of an electronic table games appendix similar to other tribes. Members asked about pre-screening for high-limit tables, including how the tribe would define problem gambling and self-exclusion; tribal counsel said internal minimum control standards were still being developed and more detail would follow. A question about green crab removal in Port Gamble Bay was deferred for follow-up because the natural resources director was not present. The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe described its history, sovereignty, gaming operations, and how gaming revenue supports member programs such as nutrition assistance, education aid, homeownership down payment help, and charitable giving in Skagit County. Its amendment would allow electronic table games after the tribe removed traditional table games due to staffing and cost pressures, with the goal of remaining competitive. Committee members also asked about air quality and smoking-related provisions in the compact; the tribe said it maintains separate smoking and non-smoking areas and supports smoking cessation efforts. Chairs from both chambers closed by thanking the tribes for their contributions to members, local communities, and natural resource protection.