Transcript Highlights:

• me when a constituent of mine, Christy Lamarck, who's sitting here, reached out about a bill that Texas
• Texas passed a very similar law last year and actually put $100 million of their own state funds behind
• Texas passed a very similar law last year and actually put $100 million of their own state funds behind
• You can in Texas, and you can in Florida.
• You can in Texas and you can in Florida.

Bills: SCR37, SB145, SB237

Keywords: informed consent, healthcare, medical procedures, patient rights, surgeon general, regulatory review, adult residential care, generators, emergency power, health safety, Louisiana Department of Health, compliance, regulations, child welfare, Department of Children and Family Services, mandatory reporting, abuse prevention, investigative teams, child ombudsman, forensic interviews

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 28 with a quorum and took up several health-related bills. SB 113, concerning the local health care provider participation program in Calcasieu Parish, was amended with a technical set and reported favorably with amendments after the author explained it would shift the local sponsor from the parish to the city. SB 23, which exempts certain assisted living facilities from the definition of food service establishment, was reported favorably. SB 150, allowing LDH to scan and return supporting documents for vital records changes, was also reported favorably. SB 221, which would allow EMS providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for treating patients on scene without transport, drew questions about billing, coding, and implementation but was reported favorably, with members noting it could reduce unnecessary ER use and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas developed their strategic plan. the advisory board provides some some the advisory board provides
• <00:21:36.080> Um<00:21:36.720> Texas<00:21:37.280> developed land loss issues
• Um Texas developed land loss issues.
• Um Texas developed their<00:21:38.880> their<00:21:39.840> strategic<00:21:40.400> plan
• <00:21:41.440> they've Their strategic plan, they've got a lot more coastline than we do in Texas

Keywords: Ports and Marine Resources - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2263, which would require Department of Marine Resources law enforcement officers to have probable cause before boarding or stopping a vessel or conducting a search at a marina. The bill sponsor said current law does not require probable cause for DMR stops, and members discussed complaints from constituents about boats being stopped and searched without cause, including checks for life jackets, fish measurements, whistles, and flares. Questions also raised whether the bill should be consistent with wildlife officers and other law enforcement standards; the sponsor noted a separate bill addressing freshwater officers was in another committee. The committee ultimately moved the bill forward with a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2264, a coastal restoration and conservation planning bill. The sponsor explained that Mississippi receives multiple streams of restoration-related funding, including RESTORE Act, GOMESA, tidelands, and other federal funds, but lacks a coordinated science-based plan for how those dollars should be deployed. The bill would create a technical advisory board with representatives from state agencies, universities, and an NGO to develop a strategic plan and annual report on priorities such as water quality, habitat loss, and Mississippi Sound restoration. Members confirmed the bill would not change executive branch control over the funds and that GCRF economic damage funds were not included. The committee adopted the bill and reported it out. Next, Senate Bill 2370 was taken up to allow airport authorities to remove abandoned vehicles using the same procedures available to municipalities and private landowners. The sponsor said airports were dealing with vehicles left in parking areas for long periods and needed authority to begin the abandonment process. The bill was reported out. Senate Bill 2618, which would authorize airport authorities to enter public-private partnerships for property on airport-controlled land, was amended with a reverse repealer so it could be studied further; the committee then adopted the amendment, passed the bill as a committee substitute, and reported it out. Finally, Senate Bill 2634, which would let DMR create and pay reserve officers for special events and other staffing needs, was also approved and reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a test and launch site out in West Texas.
• we do all of our vertical integration for our New Shepard launch vehicle, which launches from West Texas
• Other states like Florida and Texas... ...age and who want to pursue those ideas right here in Washington
• Other states, like Florida and Texas, have dedicated funds to attract business, including so-called deal-closing
• We are competing with states like Colorado, Texas, Florida, and California.

Summary: The committee first heard a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks from the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillon. DFI described crypto kiosks as licensed money transmission terminals that allow cash purchases of virtual currency, and said the main concern is fraud: scammers often pressure victims, especially older adults, to deposit cash into kiosks and send it to wallets controlled by organized crime. DFI cited a sharp increase in kiosk volume, nationwide fraud complaints and losses, and said Washington currently has licensing and disclosure rules but lacks transaction and fee limits. The department said it is seeking stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and removing existing ones after local scam reports, and members asked about how the machines work, whether the fraud is in the hardware or the transaction, and whether stronger warnings or screening could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs, based on a report by Mariana Amaram and testimony from DFI and industry representatives. The report found that CHISAs provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but that consumers often struggle to understand the products and settlement calculations. The report said the market has grown quickly in Washington, that costs can be hard to predict, and that early uncapped contracts could produce very high settlement amounts, especially during periods of rising home prices. DFI said it views these products as mortgage loans and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures, while industry witnesses said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based and asked for tailored regulation. Members discussed the need for better consumer education, clearer payoff schedules, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages or a separate category. The final panel focused on Washington’s space economy, with presentations from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major in-state investments in satellite manufacturing, launch systems, and workforce training, including Amazon Leo’s Redmond and Kirkland facilities, Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters, and Stoke Space’s Kent manufacturing and Moses Lake test site. Space Northwest presented data showing the sector’s growing economic footprint, high-wage jobs, and regional clusters in Kent and Redmond, and urged more workforce programs, incentives, infrastructure support, and a state space commission. The companies emphasized local hiring, apprenticeship and certification programs, and the role of Washington’s aerospace supply chain in supporting the broader space industry. No votes were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the third largest state, and only California and Texas have a charter school sector that is higher
• Now, one solution to this, and I know that it's costly, I know that Texas does it, is if you have daily
• Commissioner, you mentioned the Texas daily average attendance program and that it's expensive.
• I can certainly have a conversation with Commissioner Mike Morath in Texas and get some details on it
• I know that the positive of it is, Texas is a very large state, and so the cost will probably be in the

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lauren Ashley Simmons of Harris County to lead us in the pledges of Allegiance to the United States and Texas
• Now for the Texas pledge.

Summary: The House convened, quorum was established, and the chamber heard an invocation by Rep. Gio Capriglione followed by the Pledges of Allegiance led by Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons. The chair excused members absent because of inclement weather. The only formal action noted was the signing of SCR 7 in the presence of the House. Rep. Bell also made an agency announcement reminding members and staff about agency information sessions taking place that week. With no further announcements or business, the House adjourned by motion until 2:00 p.m. the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas, as you see, I didn't put Texas up there as a border state because they don't use a combined gross
• I know Texas is one of them that does something similar.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met to conduct the statutorily required four-year review of Oklahoma’s child support guidelines, which DHS said had not been reviewed on schedule in recent years. Deputy Director Don Zellner of DHS Child Support Services presented data on the number of children served, child poverty, rising costs of raising a child, wage trends, and the volume of child support orders handled by DHS. He also explained how the current guidelines work, including income withholding, shared overnight deductions, daycare, medical, transportation, and self-employment adjustments, and noted that the guidelines are based on gross combined income and currently cap at $15,000 combined income. Committee members, especially Senator Boren, questioned whether the current model fairly reflects modern family economics, including the cost of housing, the impact of shared overnights, and whether visitation issues should be addressed alongside child support. DHS said the guidelines are over 25 years old, that other states generally use similar gross-income models with shared-overnight deductions, and that Oklahoma’s administrative courts have been more receptive than district courts to DHS’s lower-income deviation approach. Zellner said DHS has also updated its practices to better account for low-income obligors, including allowing zero orders in some cases and reducing imputed minimum-wage assumptions, which DHS said has improved collections. Members also asked about transparency and public access to the calculations. DHS said the formula and income chart are in statute, the calculator is available on the DHS website, and the Excel-based tool applies the statutory chart and deductions. A public commenter asked where parents could see how amounts are calculated, and DHS explained that the statutory chart and calculator are the main sources. The committee discussed possible future reforms, including higher income caps, possible changes to shared overnight rules, and whether extracurricular or special child-related expenses could be considered through judicial deviation. No vote was taken; the meeting ended with the chair noting it was the last Judiciary meeting of the 60th Legislature and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it borders Mexico and El Paso, Texas, as well as Mexico. State.
• Texas does things in its own way and, in some ways, very impressively.
• Also, though, some things about Texas are not so great.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• -19 state and local recovery funds to arrange for a group of Venezuelan. migrants to be flown from Texas
• legislation. that would change where illegal immigrants were sent and not have them sent in mass numbers to Texas
• The fact that I represent Texas and our state has seen firsthand the suffering that Democrat open border

Keywords: oversight, subpoena, illegal immigrants, Massachusetts Port Authority, O'Hare Airport, legislative practices

Summary: The meeting was convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where robust discussions were held regarding the need for improved oversight within the Senate. The chairman emphasized the historical decline in oversight activities and proposed motions to authorize subpoenas related to an ongoing investigation involving the Massachusetts Port Authority and allegations of illegal immigrant sheltering at airports. This prompted a detailed examination of the current practices and measures needed to address such issues effectively, particularly in light of recent reports from O'Hare Airport. The committee engaged in deliberations that highlighted the importance of maintaining legislative oversight to safeguard national interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• What purpose does the gentleman from Texas seek recognition?
• southeast Texas into a national<00:19:07.039> energy<00:19:07.440> hub.
• Today, my district is Texas Gulf Coast.
• For what purpose does the gentleman from Texas seek recognition?
• 3rd, 2025, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. 3rd, 2025, the gentleman from Texas, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, January 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also clarifies that the foreclosure sales must be conducted according to the statutory process in Chapter
• Texas contemplated requiring photo IDs, but found that there were way too many barriers to this requirement
• the appointment process and authority of the Auditor General, and makes several changes relating to Chapter

Summary: The Appropriations Committee considered a large agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and a trust for Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, and CS/CS/SB 1266, which creates a cybersecurity experiential learning and clearance-readiness program through the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida. The committee also approved SB 532 on clerks of court funding, allowing clerks to retain all excess Article V revenue rather than returning half to the state and clarifying foreclosure sale procedures. In addition, the committee passed CS/CS/SB 1602 and CS/CS/SB 1604 to create and fund a pilot housing program for veterans through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and CS/SB 1110 to expand Medicaid and private insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including testimony from affected families and advocates. The committee also adopted an amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/SB 1012 on inmate services, removing the bill’s medical-services compensation provisions while retaining changes to the inmate welfare trust fund and related facility uses. It also adopted a delete-all amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/CS/SB 1614, which was narrowed to remove a provision allowing local governments to use excess fees to construct new buildings. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 17, a Medicaid oversight and transparency bill. The sponsor said the measure would create a joint legislative Medicaid oversight committee, authorize the Legislature to retain its own actuary, modernize Medicaid statutes, strengthen managed-care performance standards, and increase accountability for pharmacy benefit managers and related entities. After amendment, the committee adopted changes removing several PBM-related provisions while retaining the broader oversight framework. Testimony from supporters emphasized transparency, fraud prevention, and cost control, while a PBM trade association asked to continue working on affiliate-manufacturer, network, and payment issues. The bill was reported favorably. The most extensive discussion centered on CS/SB 1758, which proposes major changes to Medicaid and SNAP. The sponsor described five reforms: stronger fraud and overpayment recovery authority, a Medicaid work requirement for certain able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral-health services through Medicaid waivers, pharmacy-program changes to obtain rebates and reduce institutional costs, and SNAP/EBT reforms including photo IDs and work requirements. The committee adopted two amendments: one adding a transitional “glide path” for people who gain employment but risk losing Medicaid, and another exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fraud, improve accountability, and encourage work, while opponents warned it would increase administrative burdens, push eligible people off coverage, and conflict with federal law or guidance. The bill remained under debate with extensive public testimony from advocates, providers, and affected families, and the transcript ends before final disposition on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Fallon, for five minutes.
• For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Texas seek recognition? >> Mr.
• Jackson of Texas. >> Gentleman from Texas is recognized. >> Thank you, Mr.
• <04:32:16.800> 13th which are assembled in Texas 13th which are assembled in Texas 13th Congressional
• Fallon<04:59:50.400> of<04:59:50.638> Texas. Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She mentioned her family in Texas.
• She mentioned her family in Texas.
• She mentioned her family in Texas.
• She mentioned her family in Texas.
• She mentioned her family in Texas.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any provider of medical services, including physicians, facilities licensed under this chapter, and nursing
• :20:22.320> licensed<00:20:22.720> under<00:20:22.960> this<00:20:23.120> chapter
• , facilities licensed under this chapter, facilities licensed under this chapter, and<00:20:23.600
• In 2025 alone, Arizona, Maryland, Nebraska, and Texas all enacted laws addressing AI-driven insurance
• all enacted laws Nebraska, and Texas all enacted laws addressing<03:59:11.040> AIdriven<03:59

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speak, then, into the tragedy that has unfolded in Kerr County and the surrounding areas of Texas.
• AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF TEXAS.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The last positive case detected in Texas was on. January 10th, 2025 in Brown County.
• Memorandum of Understanding, an MOU, with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And those revisions have taken place with so many different conversations, including a legislator in Texas
• who works on who Texas has a statute that's very similar to this, including Texas property managers
• There's a provision in this document, for instance, that, you know, we learned in Texas that vouchers

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• EVEN THIS LAST YEAR WE SOUGHT THE SUPREME COURT PULLED TEXAS RIGHT TO OBJECT MATERIALS THAT HAD TO DO
• >> Chair Trabulsy: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I JUST CITED IN JULY WE SAW THEM ROLL DOWN AGAIN THAT TEXAS
• WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FREE SPEECH COALITION VERSUS PAXTON IN TEXAS, THAT WAS RECENTLY UPHELD IN 2025 AND
• IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS AND IOWA, FEDERAL JUDGES BLOCKED MAJOR PARTS OF LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT BECAUSE THEY

Transcript Highlights:

• [Applause] Madam President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Texas seems to be regular
• vote of the certificate of the electoral vote of the State<01:33:10.760> of<01:33:10.960> Texas
• c> seems<01:33:12.080> to<01:33:12.199> be<01:33:12.360> regular State of Texas
• seems to be regular State of Texas seems to be regular inform<01:33:12.960> form<01:33:13.320

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, January 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Poisonous, illegal pills are being sent illegally into Texas. Thank you, Senator King.
• this side of the rail is with Katriona Corker, who served in the Senate and has served the people of Texas

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• .: That the Senate agreed to, relative to the death of George Foreman of Houston, Texas, Senate Resolution
• THAT THE SENATE AGREED TO, RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE FOREMAN OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, SENATE RESOLUTION

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 17, 2025, 1012, house, all