Transcript Highlights:

• THE OBJECTIVES ALLOW THE DEALER TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION THEY CAN THEN BE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER THIS
• IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, DID YOU DISCUSS POSSIBLY HOW MUCH OF THIS WOULD BE PASSED ON TO US AS CONSUMERS
• IT IS REALLY FOR THE CONSUMER TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT.
• SENATORS, AGAIN THIS IS A CONSUMER TRYING TO MAKE A MORE CONSUMER FRIENDLY PROCESS FOR SOMEONE REPLACING
• CONSUMERS CAN RECYCLE BUT HOW ABOUT PREVENTING THE ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Technical College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley prepare students for careers in technology
• Technology healthcare and other crucial industries in addition.
• transportation HB 768 by Bernal relating to the credit services organizations and extensions of a consumer
• Programs for Certification in Marketing Education and Certification in Health Science Technology Education
• In the position classification plan, regarding state information technology positions, refer to the Committee

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• educating the consumers educating the consumers call.<00:17:46.320> But<00:17:46.400>
• I'm technologically handicapped. right. I'm technologically handicapped.
• . consumer. consumer.
• to consumers. to consumers. >> Thank<02:07:51.360> you. >> Thank you.
• there and then sell it to consumers there and then sell it to consumers there.<02:40:38.560>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm having some difficulty with technology. I am not able to have my... on. I apologize.
• In addition, a major majority of our students learn to utilize assistive technology and online programs
• To utilize assistive technology and online programs to support their learning, our school provides a
• is not simply something to be consumed, but rather that technology tools are opportunities for them
• is not simply something to be consumed, but rather that technology tools are opportunities for them

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on February 5, 2025, to hear testimony from representatives of Minnesota’s Catholic and other nonpublic schools, focused on state nonpublic pupil aid, transportation, counseling, nursing, and related support programs. Meg Forette of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis argued that Catholic schools serve more than 30,000 students across many districts, educate a diverse population, and achieve strong academic results while operating at far lower per-student costs than public schools. She urged lawmakers to reject proposed cuts to nonpublic funding, saying they would be inequitable and harmful to lower-income families, and also raised concerns about state teacher-licensing requirements conflicting with Catholic values. Trisha Menshu, principal of St. John Paul II Catholic School in Northeast Minneapolis, described a student body with high levels of poverty, learning needs, and academic gaps, and said state-funded nurse and guidance-counseling services are essential to keeping students safe, healthy, and on track for high school. She said the school absorbs many costs itself, including medical supplies and significant staff time, and credited the support programs with helping students make strong academic growth and graduate on time. In response to a senator’s question, she clarified that the school uses the nursing aid for limited nurse time and pays other medical-related costs from operating funds, with no billing back to public school districts. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the relationship between teacher licensing and Catholic values, and about how medical needs for nonpublic students are funded. Forette said the concern was not with welcoming all students but with how DEI-related trainings and language are presented in ways that conflict with Catholic teaching. The committee then moved on to the next testifier, Andrew Hiliker of Stella Maris Academy in Duluth, who began by describing his school’s growth and the state’s role in supporting all students, regardless of school choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• through administrative regulations so that the system can be more adaptive and fluid to modern technology
• That the system can be more adaptive and fluid to modern technology.
• This bill is about good government and responsible administration, keeping up with current technology
• This bill is about good government and responsible administration, keeping up with current technology
• More than a technological milestone, this partnership represents a powerful fusion of private innovation

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is important life-saving technology. Other states are deploying Next Generation 911.
• . ...subject to CEQA review and C, require best available technology in order to restart operations.
• But if you had up-to-date technology, we wouldn't be here. And I wouldn't be here right now.
• So what we're asking for is... ...currently in law requires best available technology, but it's limited
• I'm concerned about the best available technology definition as well, because it's very vague, right?

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public safety, emergency response, wildfire prevention, and environmental protection. AB 2152 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would streamline CEQA litigation for new fire station projects and add best-practice requirements; supporters, including firefighters, said it would help communities and firefighter safety, while opponents argued the project labor agreement requirements would raise costs and limit participation for small and nonunion contractors. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo would expand reporting related to 911 dispatcher pre-arrival medical instructions; after amendments and stakeholder agreement, opposition groups said they would remove their opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2101 by Assembly Member Gipson would require human trafficking notices and training at disaster sites and for disaster response workers; supporters said it would protect vulnerable workers, while broadband, city, and county representatives raised implementation concerns, especially in rural disaster areas. It passed to Appropriations despite a no vote from Vice Chair Hadwick. The committee also considered AB 1805, which would require an audit and stronger oversight of the state’s Next Generation 911 project after concerns about major spending and delays. CalNENA supported the bill’s transparency and accountability provisions, and the measure passed to Appropriations. AB 1536 by Assembly Member Addis would tighten safety and public review requirements for offshore oil pipeline restarts and require decommissioning of certain spill-prone pipelines; environmental and coastal government groups supported it, while the Western States Petroleum Association warned it would threaten fuel supply and pipeline operations. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1964 would direct the State Fire Marshal to survey home hardening in fire-prone areas and estimate costs; it passed to Appropriations with broad support. AB 1960, also by Assembly Member Bennett, would use a portion of wildfire prevention grants to encourage community-level home hardening certification. The author said the bill would create incentives and broader public awareness, while the vice chair argued it would favor communities that can already afford hardening and divert resources from higher-need areas; the bill still passed to Appropriations. AB 1863 by Assembly Member DeMaio would clarify that people cannot be charged simply for calling 911 or when no services are rendered, while preserving fees for actual services and allowing billing for legitimate emergency response costs; it passed to the Assembly floor. The committee also took up consent item AB 2517, which passed to Appropriations. After add-on votes for absent members, the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor had proposed, including one for upgrading technology and especially utilizing AI technology
• And then we should move on. spent and technology is uh improving at spent and technology is uh improving
• And again, technology like a bank does.
• <00:47:40.560> support program, and the consumer support program, and the consumer support
• Um, assisted technology and grants.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the Health Committee to the Judiciary Committee; SB 1015, Strickland, from the Privacy and Consumer
• I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 56 to allow the Privacy and Consumer Protection
• At a time when very few women worked in technology, she taught herself computer programming in the 1970s
• At a time when very few women worked in technology, she taught herself computer programming in the 1970s

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a series of procedural motions to re-refer bills, suspend rules, and remove items from the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions recognizing family milestones, a youth leadership program from Assembly District 13, a delegation of Japanese business leaders, and a Michoacan delegation. Later, members adopted several resolutions and consent items, including California Craft Beer Week, the Freedom Flag as a 9/11 remembrance symbol, Probation Services Week, and California Wildfire Week, along with other consent-calendar measures. The main floor debate centered on SB 417, a $10 billion housing bond for the ballot, with supporters emphasizing the state’s housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and funding for multifamily housing, supportive housing, homeownership, farmworker housing, student housing, tribal housing, infrastructure, and preservation of existing affordable units. Opponents criticized the proposal as adding debt without enough reform and objected to the use of veterans in the measure’s messaging. The Assembly passed SB 417 on urgency and on the measure, 54-7, and sent it to the Senate. Members then adopted ACA 20, which would expand and modernize the state Rainy Day Fund by increasing its cap and changing deposit rules; it passed 54-8 and was transmitted to the Senate. The Assembly also approved SB 623, a transportation-related bill addressing rideshare safety and medical lien practices. Supporters said it would curb abusive billing, restrict attorney conflicts and kickbacks, require stronger background checks for TNC drivers, and allow women riders and drivers to request women-only matches. The measure passed unanimously, 67-0. Later, the House adopted ACA 21, which removes ACA 13 from the November ballot, by 62-0, and ACA 22, which amends a ballot measure affecting taxation and local fiscal resources, by 64-0. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Dr. Dorothy Viola Calvin, followed by announcements, recesses, and final adjournment until the next scheduled floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the public body participating in the all-virtual public meeting and, when audiovisual technology
• We include, just in case you are not aware, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• legislation was updated this year with some new participants, including the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
• Some of it might be to shift because newer technologies might be out.

Keywords: Virginia Commission to End Hunger, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We use them in the Consumer Protection Act, Medicaid fraud, the new residential lease rent stabilization
• So the general fund at the AGO covers things like the civil rights units, consumer protection, some of
• We also have the Health Technology Clinical Committee, which was implemented in 2005 as part of Governor
• I mentioned the Health Technology Clinical Committee guidelines, for example, and the Murray decision

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Attorney General’s office on a new workers’ rights unit and two request bills. The office said the unit will focus on wage theft and civil rights enforcement, using existing resources for a small staff. It also described a bill to expand civil investigative demand authority for labor, wage theft, prevailing wage, and discrimination investigations, and an Immigrant Worker Protection Act that would require employer notice when federal immigration authorities request employee records, limit access to nonpublic work areas without a warrant, and restrict disclosure of employee data without proper legal process. Senators asked about costs, funding sources, and the scope of the proposed authority, and the office said it would follow up with more detail. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Washington’s workers’ compensation system from Labor and Industries, including how claims are filed, how the medical provider network works, and how treatment authorizations and utilization review are handled. L&I said the network was created to improve care quality and return workers to work, and explained that most routine care is automatically authorized while certain procedures require prior approval or review. A question from Senator Conway focused on the role of the medical director and the appeals process; L&I said decisions can be protested and reconsidered, with exceptions reviewed through a complex treatment unit and medical staff. An experience panel followed with testimony from labor representatives, physicians, and an injured-worker attorney, who argued that the medical provider network and treatment guidelines can delay or deny needed care, especially in complex cases such as PTSD, brain injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries. They described long appeals, utilization review barriers, provider shortages, and the impact on injured workers and families, while L&I’s presentation emphasized the system’s structure and review safeguards. The committee then heard a report from the Underground Economy Task Force in the construction industry. L&I summarized the task force’s findings on worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums, and outlined consensus and majority recommendations, including better interagency communication, stronger penalties for repeat offenders, more authority to address successorship, possible contractor notice requirements, and further study of cash payments. The Attorney General’s office, labor, and business representatives generally supported the report’s goals but differed on some recommendations, especially those affecting independent contractors, contractor liability, and administrative burdens. The chair and Senator Conway thanked participants and said the report would inform future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• These traditional forms of communication are not only very time consuming, but also lack the efficiency
• and reach that modern technology offers.
• The process of drafting, submitting, and publishing an ad is time consuming.
• You know, one of the things we're having with all the technology issues, be it AI or anything else, is

Bills: HB 33, HB 45, HB 48, HB 1261, HB 1465, HB 1778, HB 2596, HB 5238, SB 2969

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Bot technology, which is defined generally as a program that's designed to mimic human behavior and content
• So this is just kind of a consumer information bill that puts the onus on social media platforms to disclose
• So this is just kind of a consumer information bill that puts the onus on social media platforms to disclose
• I do know we have the most gifted minds in technology that are monitoring these things.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB 1130

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several bills, mostly on alcohol regulation, ethics procedures, the Alamo, and free speech in professional associations. SB 2633 would let the City of Garland hold local option elections on alcohol sales within designated zones and use zoning/land-use rules for alcohol-selling businesses; Senator Johnson and Garland officials said it would reduce the burden of the petition process and support economic development. SB 2637 would require social media platforms to disclose when posts are made by bot accounts and allow Attorney General enforcement; supporters framed it as consumer protection against misleading automated content, while members raised questions about how platforms would identify bots and how enforcement would work. SB 2334 would allow airlines with passenger transportation permits to store sealed alcoholic beverages within five miles of an airport in the same county, which the sponsor and an American Airlines witness said would improve logistics without changing permits, taxes, or alcohol sourcing. The committee also heard SB 2781 and SB 2782, both related to Texas Ethics Commission procedures. SB 2781 would cap civil penalties tied to certain campaign contribution violations by former legislators who later lobby, and SB 2782 would require TEC to adopt discovery control plans and align discovery rules more closely with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to limit costly, open-ended discovery. Both bills were left pending after no public testimony. SB 3059 would transfer oversight of the Alamo from the General Land Office to a new Alamo Commission beginning in 2027; Senator Campbell said it would provide long-term stewardship and transparency, while Senator Birdwell questioned the need for a change and the commission’s structure, and GLO witnesses said they were not aware of any problem prompting the shift. HB 1130, a House companion to a previously passed Senate bill, would provide liability protections for cavern entities that post warning signs, and it was also left pending. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 2713, which would bar professional or trade associations from denying membership or access based on protected characteristics or lawful speech and assembly. Senator Middleton and invited witnesses described disciplinary actions by realtor associations against members for social media posts, sermons, or political speech, arguing that the National Association of Realtors’ ethics rules were being used to punish private expression and threaten livelihoods through loss of MLS access. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the bill should be narrowed to avoid affecting religious organizations, how association discipline works, and whether the measure should address existing penalties or only future conduct. The bill was left pending after extensive invited testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before launching our farm, I spent years in information technology managing global projects across all
• Our land grant universities have done an outstanding job, um, advancing industrial agriculture technologies
• Um, research has shown that consumers are willing to pay 30% more for products that have sustainability
• As you said, Representative Davis, that people, uh, are, are more interested in what they're consuming

Transcript Highlights:

• Launching our farm, I spent years in information technology, managing global projects across all sectors
• Our land-grant universities have done an outstanding job advancing industrial agriculture technology.
• and that consumers are willing to pay 30% more for products that have sustainability. or regenerative
• As you said, Representative Davis, that people are. are more interested in what they're consuming now

Bills: HB3032, HB3434, HB3574, HB5339, HB5646

Keywords: nursing education, clinical sites, health facilities, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, legislative study, healthcare training, tuition, financial assistance, higher education, public institutions, student support, nonresident students, Texas Education Code, resident tuition, scholarships, regenerative agriculture, grants, sustainable farming, soil health, bioremediation

Transcript Highlights:

• The technology is proven, cost-effective, and far less expensive than developing new surface roads.
• the amount of groundwater moving. through Vista Ridge from the folks sitting in Lee County to the consumers
• And I know you all have a lot of technology that's being deployed to deal with this issue of water loss
• I think as users and consumers, as you guys are, resources to deal with these leaking pipes.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• drug dealers and cartels that are actually saying we love legalization because it brings us more consumers
• No DNA technology, a great that particular study, sir.
• We have 900,000 people in the state of Florida who are unlawfully consuming cannabis.
• A centralized technologies is is DUI case.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The experience for a consumer when a consumer returns leftover paint, there's absolutely no charge.
• Um, it can be a consumer fee, but then we could tack a consumer fee onto everything that we do.
• fee, but then we could tack a consumer fee, but then we could tack a consumer<01:48:32.560> fee
• consumer fee onto everything that we do. consumer fee onto everything that we do.
• You... consumer. consumer. Okay.<01:59:04.560> All<01:59:04.639> right.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I yield myself such time as I may consume. >> Member is recognized.
• such time as I may consume. such time as I may consume.
• I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr.
• it may consume. it may consume.
• , workshops in science, technology, workshops in science, technology, engineering,<02:19:12.559><

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I yield myself such time as I may consume.
• yield myself such time as I may consume. yield myself such time as I may consume.
• , arts, and technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.<02:17:58.399> Women<02:17:58.719><
• I yield to her such time as she may consume. righteousness, a member of this Congress righteousness,
• to her such time as she may consume. to her such time as she may consume.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, September 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been working with the North Dakota Information Technology Department to try to help provide these
• We've been working with the North Dakota Information Technology Department to try to help provide these
• Do you know if other states have gone to this approach of really changing the technology so that it's
• We can leverage technology where all of these programs can be interlinked.
• But you also want to know from a consumer point of view, was the service satisfactory?

Summary: The task force approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, striking language about contracting with a security vendor. Members then reviewed a draft bill on concessions procurement (LC 27.0161), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, update language for vending and merchandising machines, and clarify where concession proceeds are deposited. OMB explained the bill and said it was open to further changes, including language to address artificial fragmentation, clarify which government entities are covered, and possibly set contract-length limits. Members raised questions about whether the bill would apply to school districts, park districts, airports, and other political subdivisions, and about whether concession agreements could direct proceeds to nonprofits or other secondary recipients; OMB said the statute is intended to require proceeds to go to the government entity’s operating fund or general fund. OMB also reported on other survey suggestions. It said a proposed general authority for agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is best limited to high-volume agencies. On legal notices, OMB said it had made progress with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernizing online notices, improving ADA compliance, and discussing rate and definition changes. On click-through agreements, OMB and the Attorney General’s office concluded no statutory change was needed after revising internal guidance; the $20,000 threshold was described as a practical cutoff for adhesive, nonnegotiable software terms. OMB also said issues raised by the Center for Distance Education on alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures had been resolved through policy clarification. The University System gave a brief update on its collaboration with OMB and said it was continuing to review concessions, surplus property, and capital project statutes with all institutions involved. The task force then discussed a draft bill on requirements for new or expanded spending, intended to require agencies to identify program purpose, needs, alternatives, success measures, and budget details, and to report on outcomes over time. Members and staff debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how much should be real-time versus periodic, and whether the bill should include full implementation costs for pilot programs. Legislative Council staff said the new program evaluation division is still being built out, that staffing remains limited, and that the office plans to continue working with OMB and the executive branch to refine the proposal before the next meeting. No final action was taken on the draft bills beyond directing further work and follow-up for the next meeting.