Transcript Highlights:

• . school. school.
• sustainability a program needs to have. sustainability a program needs to have.
• <00:15:50.160> partners' sustain their local program partners' sustain their local program
• <00:16:09.279> to creative to support local programs to creative to support local programs
• this program. this program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Senate Joint Resolution 54, sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, was heard in committee on expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Kentucky. Testimony came from Libby Settles, Bill Shy, and Lindsay Westerfield, who described the program’s impact on early literacy and family reading habits, and outlined ways to increase enrollment. Proposed expansion ideas included automatic enrollment for children in foster care, outreach through WIC and health departments, and exploring enrollment through the birth certificate process. Witnesses also highlighted related efforts such as bilingual books, Braille Tales, and a prison-based reading space program tied to Imagination Library books. Supporters emphasized the program’s low cost and broad educational benefits, citing statewide coverage, 52% enrollment of eligible children ages birth to five, and a goal of reaching 65%. Members asked about sustaining local matching funds and handling children who move between counties. Witnesses said local partners use a five-year cost estimator, diversify funding through grants and foundations, and rely on postal change-of-address systems to transfer enrollments seamlessly. Senator Chambers Armstrong also noted that about 2,200 foster children eligible for the program were not enrolled and said the resolution would help address that gap while protecting confidentiality. The committee adopted a small oral amendment removing the word “is” from line 19 on page two, then approved the resolution as amended on a 10-0 vote with favorable expression. Members spoke in support of the measure, praising the program’s literacy benefits and bipartisan history, and the committee then voted to roll the amendment into the committee report. The resolution was reported favorably and was said to be expected to pass the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have educational programs. ...programs where we learn and teach community health workers, neurologists
• And an assistant professor at Dell Medical School.
• The wife was a school teacher, first grade.
• These experiences have all informed my own research program.
• Our research program partners not only with physicians and other clinical researchers.

Bills: SB5, SJR3, SB 5, SJR 3

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, district apportionment, legislative rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Walters urges and requests the city of Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program
• Representative Walters urges and requests the city of Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program
• We've got lunch coming today, so if you want to hang around and eat a sandwich.
• We've got lunch coming today, so if you want to hang around and eat a sandwich.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee heard and advanced a series of local and statewide measures. SB 430 would renew, every 12 years by voter approval, the Shreveport-Bossier hotel occupancy tax that supports tourism and sports-related entities; SB 286 updates the New Orleans Downtown Development District statute by clarifying its status as a political subdivision, streamlining tax collection, removing staggered board terms, and clarifying bond-election boundaries; SB 198 requires government projects in historic districts to follow local historic district guidelines for new construction; and SB 172 expands a planning-commission provision so smaller municipalities can waive certain subdivision formalities and costly studies in limited family land-split situations. Each of these bills was described as largely technical or permissive, with supporters emphasizing efficiency, local control, or reduced costs. The committee also advanced SB 439 to add pre-screening for esophageal/Barrett’s esophageal cancer for firefighters and fire service employees, with firefighters’ representatives explaining the test can detect pre-cancerous cells and prevent later, more serious cancer. SB 458 would allow a local tax for a proposed St. Tammany Parish Inspector General/ethics entity to be allocated and, if excess remains, transferred to the district attorney’s office; members discussed the parish-wide referendum process and the connection to state-required funding obligations. SB 447 changes Bossier City Police Department promotional seniority and civil service classification from competitive seniority to promotional seniority, and SB 281 expands the Baker Economic Development District boundary to include additional commercial areas near the airport and support blight removal and growth. Additional measures moved favorably included SB 385, which changes appointments to the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association board and allows City Park to opt out of certain state insurance coverage because it carries private insurance; HR 84, which urges Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for TSA agents at the regional airport during federal shutdowns; and SB 417, which adds two members to the St. Mary Parish Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2A board. In each case, the committee heard brief testimony from sponsors and local officials or advocates, asked clarifying questions, and then approved the bills without objection. One member, Representative Murray, recused himself from the City Park bill because of his board membership. The committee then took a short recess, noting a few remaining bills would be deferred if sponsors did not appear.

Transcript Highlights:

• program and they come back to the school program and they come back to the school district<00:19
• <01:12:13.400> um<01:12:13.679> so school that had a swimming program um so school
• <01:18:45.840> with<01:18:46.120> 500 schools under the EFA program with 500 schools
• <01:44:00.280> I'm<01:44:00.400> not program in the school district I'm not program
• The district is going to have to run that program, plus charter schools, plus this other program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• the prenatal screening programs.
• Finally, program participation is stable.
• The screening program, yeah, primarily due to caseload.
• lunches by 2032.
• I would also note that schools have access to, I believe, the care register. school.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Subcommittee on Health heard an overview of the California Department of Public Health budget and several budget change proposals, including environmental health, healthcare quality, healthy communities, lab sciences, and family health programs. CDPH said its $5.1 billion budget is split between state operations and local assistance, with major estimates showing WIC participation essentially flat but food costs rising due to inflation, and the Genetic Disease Screening Program remaining relatively stable as birth-related caseloads decline slightly. Members and public commenters raised concerns and support around WIC continuity during federal shutdowns, the California Reducing Disparities Project, lead poisoning prevention, school nutrition implementation, prenatal vitamin testing, vector-borne disease work, and the hospital bed capacity registry. Dr. Erica Pond presented the 2026 State of Public Health report, highlighting improvements such as record-low all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality, an all-time high life expectancy, and the first decline in overdose deaths in 14 years. She also noted continuing problems, including rising behavioral health-related deaths among younger adults, persistent racial disparities in maternal and infant outcomes, and major geographic health gaps. She emphasized the importance of prevention, the Behavioral Health Services Act, and public health preparedness for emergencies, fires, and other environmental threats. Members discussed the need to invest upstream in prevention and to address social drivers of health, environmental hazards, and mental health. In a separate update on California’s response to federal public health actions, CDPH described efforts to preserve vaccine confidence and public health coordination through new partnerships such as the West Coast Health Alliance, the Governor’s Public Health Alliance, and the FACT Coalition. CDPH also explained how it is implementing AB 144 by posting and updating immunization and preventive service recommendations based on evidence and consultation with medical organizations, while declining some federal changes it found unsupported. Members asked about measles outbreaks, vaccine uptake, and how quickly the new initiatives might affect outcomes. The committee also reviewed the AIDS Drug Assistance Program estimate, which CDPH said would decrease because of lower caseloads and the expiration of one-time funds. Public commenters urged reinvestment of ADAP rebate funds into HIV prevention, PrEP, testing, disease intervention staff, and related services. The final and most contentious item was public health information technology systems: CDPH said Sapphire and CalReady are funded, but CalConnect, CARE, and the vaccine management system are not proposed for funding while the administration evaluates utilization and costs. Members and local health officials strongly opposed defunding the systems, arguing they are essential for disease investigation, vaccination tracking, outbreak response, and avoiding a return to manual spreadsheets and phone calls. The hearing ended without votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Municipal Program of Cultural Affairs Committee. It is 10:34.
• Today we've got lunch provided, so it won't be the day. I thank you all for showing up.
• Okay, lunch is served in the anirub.

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has nearly 700,000 public school employees who serve 5.5 million students every day.
• I am a public school employee with Dallas ISD.
• I have been a public school educator for almost 20 years.
• I can't imagine who would be asking for this bill as a public school employee.
• If I understand correctly, public school teachers have contracts with school districts. don't they?

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid pays for services in schools.
• Um, we also did rate increases on line 7 for program, for the program for all-inclusive care, and on
• Those are kind of our really big programs.
• Is it poor schools? Is it drugs and crime in the street?
• Um, programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the Senate portion of the program.
• Chair: Can schools potentially acknowledge and host?
• So her original idea was to establish a Students and Survivor Grant program for students in school to
• I graduated number one out of my school year cohort.
• Actually, he's a high school dropout.

Transcript Highlights:

• which works with education program which works with schools<00:13:24.720> and<00:13:24.959>
• , aquatic education program, and a variety of non-game and endangered wildlife programs.
• > and<00:24:06.000> a program aquatic education program and a program aquatic education
• to different schools high schools trying to different schools high schools trying to encourage
• <01:42:16.880> Middle<01:42:17.280> School um um Elementary School Middle School um

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I teach at two Texas law schools. Um, I'm also a former assistant DA in two large Texas counties.
• is a highly competitive program.
• Um, well, if you look at our capital program, our capital program, you know, it fluctuates from year
• The legislature bought down so much of the school maintenance and operation rate.
• School property tax revenue declined by 10.1% due to the state's reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• tribal schools.
• So to reach high schools and the other middle schools that are not currently being surveyed.
• In 2023, the survey was distributed to 121 middle schools and 99 high schools, with over 12,000 student
• I knew you in high school. Go ahead, Speaker.
• Boyd School of Law at UNLV.

Bills: AB102, AB108, AB117, AB213, AB220, AB221, AB251, AB259, AB331, AB336, AB375, AB379, AB409, AB475, AB476, AB550, AB575, AB594, SB466

Keywords: emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district, paramedic, training requirements, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, special license plates, vehicle registration, custom plates, state revenue, transportation, public works, prevailing wage, custom fabrication, nonstandard materials

Transcript Highlights:

• Several middle schools are participating in the youth. Thank you.
• From the Harrison County middle schools.
• Several middle schools are participating in the Youth and Government program.
• school needs.
• during the school year.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , that our schools are high quality.<00:49:27.599> Um,<00:49:28.160> and<00:49:28.480><
• districts getting some assistance school districts getting some assistance with<00:49:52.880> the
• So we know that schools have to on that?
• So we know that schools have to file<00:51:05.280> it<00:51:05.440> by<00:51:05.599>
• State criminology major in my free school. >> No. >> Yeah.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While I do have a terminal degree, I did not go to school for this because you can't.
• terminal degree I did not go to school terminal degree I did not go to school for<00:19:18.280><
• <01:20:24.120> and committed to seven years of school and committed to seven years of school
• <01:37:34.840> or Minnesota veterans assistance program or Minnesota veterans assistance program
• He and I probably had lunch passing each other's shoulders, and we never knew it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• lunch programs.
• Is there a schools.
• <03:58:09.640> and schools in general, charter schools and schools in general, charter schools
• > EFAS programs adequacy charter schools EFAS programs adequacy charter schools EFAS and<04:21
• This is just the tail remaining, including people who leave the program this school year.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's still not well implemented in programs because of the lack of billing, so the programs that are
• the um the most dependency programs the um the most successful<00:17:42.240> program<00:17:42.640
• it's well integrated into the programs it's well integrated into the programs when<00:18:45.960>
• <00:19:14.000> that or less and then there are programs that or less and then there are programs
• The schools, a lot of them came to me so they could get the acupuncture, which the school system wouldn't

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate everybody being back here on time and for being really quick in their lunch break.
• You caught us after lunch and after a very heavy numbers morning, so I appreciate that.
• The Transportation Project Fund is a local government infrastructure grant program that we manage.
• Some states have rolled out programs like delivery surcharge calls.
• We can provide all the social service programs we want to them and help them out there.

Transcript Highlights:

• state school board is dealing the state school board is dealing the state school board is dealing with
• Secondary School elementary school Secondary School elementary school Secondary School building or on
• and ask those schools that are schools and ask those schools that are schools and ask those schools
• one school I'm not what I'm school one school I'm not what I'm school one school I'm not what I'm saying
• school to learn they should be in a school to learn they should be in a school to learn they should be

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1568 on the Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program by Senator DeSantis?
• It tightens the payment stablecoin criteria for the pilot program. ...program and scope to existing stablecoins
• But lunch is more important. Go ahead. Yes. Sure.
• Folks, we know the My Safe Florida program, the pilot program, was incredibly popular, even if the rollout
• That's where the condo pilot program will be targeted going forward.

Bills: S0158, S0314, S0618, S0684, S0838, S0990, S1000, S1082, S1452, S1494, S1500, S1568, S1706

Keywords: pet insurance, consumer protection, insurance regulation, policy disclosure, agent training, payment stablecoin, financial regulation, anti-money laundering, state oversight, digital currency, financial services, workers compensation, Florida statute, commercial insurance, insurance board, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard and advanced a wide range of insurance, financial services, and probate bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program for emergency out-of-network claims. After extensive discussion about the relationship between the state and federal No Surprises Act processes, an amendment was withdrawn due to concerns about clarity and scope, but the bill itself was supported by providers and insurers and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels, CS/SB 158 on pet insurance consumer disclosures and agent education, SB 1494 expanding breast cancer screening coverage, CS/SB 314 on digital assets and stablecoin issuers, and CS/SB 1500 on uncontested probate procedures and small-estate administration. SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance was amended to raise the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ compensation policies from 10% to 20% and then reported favorably, with supporters saying it would help keep higher-risk employers in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 creating a Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin and limit the program to existing stablecoins, then passed. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 838 on electronic payment convenience fees for retail installment contracts, with the sponsor emphasizing that a fee-free payment option must still be offered. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it covered My Safe Florida Home administration, insurance and licensing changes, unclaimed property updates, and other DFS-related provisions. The committee also passed SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting owner-occupied condominiums at or below 80% of area median income, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which supporters said would modernize Florida’s captive insurance laws and encourage more competition. The meeting ended with all listed bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.