Transcript Highlights:

• It also goes to shared services, so we have HR, like all the very basic things that make an agency go
• It also goes to shared services, so we have HR, like all the very basic things that make an agency go
• It also goes to shared services, so we have HR, like all the very basic things that make an agency go
• It also goes to shared services, so we have HR, like all the very basic things that make an agency go
• board in in part because they're shared board in in part because they're shared services<00:47:18.839

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To TJJD facilities and share their stories.
• Thank you all for taking time to share these difficult examples today.
• Cartels operate like foreign intelligence services.
• and information about their use of that service.
• Thank you very much, and thank you for your service. Thank you, sir.

Summary: The committee heard and laid out a series of criminal justice bills, with public and invited testimony on restitution, juvenile justice, child abuse reporting, public-safety protections, organ trafficking, property fraud, disaster-response worker protections, fentanyl exposure, emergency data disclosure, insurance-fraud investigations, blood warrant execution, human smuggling, and TJJD advocacy access. Several measures drew support from prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, utility companies, and victims who described real-world harms and delays in current law; opposition or caution came from civil-rights and advocacy groups on bills involving expanded criminal liability, data disclosure, and juvenile-facility access. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with the committee later voting out SB 127 favorably and placing it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1666 would streamline restitution payments for parole or mandatory supervision cases by requiring TDCJ to include victim information when forwarding payments, shortening the period before unclaimed funds go to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, and clarifying confidentiality and contact procedures; county clerks supported it as an efficiency measure. SB 2776 would let TJJD disclose certain information, with written consent, to support the Credible Messengers Program, and SB 127 would extend limitations periods for failure-to-report child abuse and concealment offenses, with testimony emphasizing delayed discovery of abuse and the need for accountability. SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting or interfering with peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers, and SB 456 would raise penalties for organ purchasing/trafficking and create a more specific criminal framework for the offense; both drew strong support from law enforcement and victims. The committee also heard SB 2611 on real property theft and deed fraud, which would create separate offenses for real property theft and fraud, add a ten-year limitations period, require criminal judgments to be filed in county property records, and expand restitution and title-clearing remedies. Witnesses described forged deeds, stolen church and family properties, and long, costly efforts to restore title; county clerks and prosecutors said the bill would help victims and streamline civil remedies. SB 482 would increase penalties for offenses against utility workers during declared disasters or evacuation orders, prompted by reports of threats and assaults during Hurricane Beryl; utility representatives said the bill is needed to keep mutual-aid crews coming to Texas. SB 1234 would add fentanyl to the endangerment statute for vulnerable people, while SB 816 would allow providers to disclose electronic data in immediate life-threatening situations; both drew support from prosecutors and criticism from civil-rights advocates concerned about overbreadth and liability protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, is civil commitment the only pathway to those types of services?
• A civil commitment is not the only pathway through those services.
• I would be happy to share with you where those beds are located.
• We would be happy to share that with you after the presentation. Thank you.
• I would be happy to share with you where those beds are located.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committees held an informational meeting focused first on the Oregon State Hospital (OSH). OHA Director Sajal Hathi introduced the hospital’s incoming permanent superintendent, Sean Murphy, and praised interim superintendent Jim Deagle for stabilizing operations, restoring CMS compliance, and helping drive a culture change centered on safety, accountability, and transparency. Deagle and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amit Bavon described OSH’s role as the state’s highest-level forensic psychiatric hospital, the patient populations it serves, its partnerships with courts, counties, jails, hospitals, and advocates, and recent leadership changes across the hospital. They also reported improved accreditation and regulatory status, including Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and said the hospital is now using daily safety huddles, incident review meetings, stronger escalation procedures, and revised seclusion/restraint practices to reduce risk and improve oversight. Members pressed hospital leaders on past seclusion practices, asking how prolonged seclusions could have occurred under federal standards. Leaders said they could not explain past decisions but emphasized that current leadership has changed processes, training, reporting, and oversight so that seclusion and restraint are reviewed in real time and cannot be normalized. Questions also covered staffing, falls, and future planning. OSH said it is generally staffed to budget, though it still has RN and mental health technician vacancies and is working on recruitment, training, and better staffing distribution. Hathi said the hospital is building a public dashboard with key performance and safety metrics, including workforce data, and described the long-term goal as a consistently safe, disciplined, high-functioning institution that responds quickly to mistakes and remains accountable to the public. The committee then shifted to an informational overview of civil commitment. Oregon Judicial Department representative Chanah Newell explained the civil commitment process, including who can initiate it, the role of community mental health providers and courts, the five-day timeline to hearing, and the standards for danger to self, danger to others, and inability to meet basic needs. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised statutory language and new provisions allowing a second diversion period, but cautioned that the data are too early to show clear trends. Testimony from NAMI Oregon’s Chris Bonif and psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Lopez argued that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospital commitments because the broader community system lacks enough treatment, housing, and less restrictive alternatives. They urged the legislature to focus on upstream services, supported housing, and possible outpatient commitment tools so people can receive treatment before reaching crisis. The meeting ended with acknowledgment that additional reports and follow-up discussions are expected, including on residential treatment capacity and related behavioral health system reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it is a trade secret, those kinds of things usually aren't shared.
• I don't know there's still passenger service up there, is there? Mr.
• Chairman, it all Also has rail service. It is in pristine condition now.
• It shares an area with a papermaker. Paper manufacturing is happening.
• We share your concern of just wanting to get it right. Okay, very good.

Transcript Highlights:

• These indicators include recidivism, retention, sobriety, and units of service.
• I'm looking forward to being here and sharing, as my friend said, "boots on the ground."
• And so I wanted to come and share with you some information about what I'm seeing.
• I could share many stories.
• You shared a lot of your observations, but what do you think we should keep in mind?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He then asked her to define “fair share.”
• He said, “I think you said five times fair share. Could you please define fair share?
• He said, “I think you said five times fair share. Could you please define fair share?
• available for essential Public Services available for essential Public Services like<01:07:35.559
• <01:12:43.080> data businesses pay their fair share data businesses pay their fair share data

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to share the impact of the Mary C.
• I'm here to share the impact of the Mary C.
• I'm here to share the impact of the Mary C.
• Well, I I share Yes. Senator Pratt.
• laboratories do service laboratories do service to<01:25:54.680> have<01:25:54.880> that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and sewer services.
• services.
• So those three tax credits they share So those three tax credits they share the<00:08:56.399>
• services was enacted in 1979. services was enacted in 1979.
• the heating fuels and utility services. the heating fuels and utility services.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• repair by local government and property owners before they get their CEB eligible for state cost sharing
• repair by local government and property owners before they get their CEB eligible for state cost sharing
• as a crucial point of eligibility of a shoreline area for federal adoption, including 50-year cost-sharing
• Federal adoption, including 50-year cost-sharing appropriation.
• As one of the largest park services in the country, in fiscal year 2024-25, the Florida Park Service

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard and approved several bills. SB 636 by Sen. Leek would create additional pathways for counties and municipalities to obtain critically eroded beach or area of critical state concern designations, with the sponsor and supporters describing it as a forward-looking beach management approach that could improve access to state and federal funding. Questions focused on whether the bill imposed an unfunded mandate and how it would affect existing designations; the sponsor said it was voluntary and not retroactive. Pepper Uchino of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association supported the proactive concept but stressed that funding remains the central issue. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered CS/SB 544 by Sen. Truenow, which transfers the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Program from DEP to FDACS. The sponsor said the move would improve continuity and encourage more golf courses to enroll in BMPs, while maintaining existing environmental requirements and enforcement through DEP if problems arise. Senator Smith and an opponent from the Florida Springs Council questioned whether golf courses are truly agricultural and raised concerns about water quality protections and possible tax or land-use implications; supporters from the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association said the bill does not change taxation or existing nutrient reporting requirements. After a technical amendment, the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. CS/SB 848 by Sen. Truenow, dealing with stormwater treatment and water quality enhancement areas, was also amended and reported favorably. The sponsor said the bill clarifies the difference between permanent, secured water quality credits and stormwater allocations, and the amendment would allow WQEAs to address new stormwater rule requirements until rulemaking is complete and make public-land reviews forward-looking only. A representative of Resource Environmental Solutions supported the measure and said it would help create a reliable market for water quality credits. The committee then approved CS/SB 546 by Vice Chair Mayfield, which strengthens public notice requirements for the sale or exchange of state conservation lands and extends similar notice requirements to water management districts; conservation groups and Sen. Smith supported the bill as a transparency measure. Finally, DEP presented its State Park Amenities Report, estimating nearly $759 million in repair and maintenance needs over 10 years and $1.39 billion in contemplated new construction and development across the state park system. The committee took no further action and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Legislative Counsel Service.
• those services.
• I mean, whether it's share.
• We not only shared it with the state, but the state actually shared it with 51 other states.
• You don't have to go into it, but there's also the data sharing—the data sharing agreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we obviously want to deploy all of our paid services, which are our ancillary services, our emergency
• response services.
• Also, with some ancillary services backed up behind that, regulation services will still be there.
• And so that's why our group urges any type of service-oriented, contracted service-oriented response.
• I agree, and yes, I share your concern.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• typically will prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and cutting state government services
• first real test of the power sharing first real test of the power sharing agreement<00:03:52.159
• There's also forecast growth in health and human services.
• You could say the power-sharing agreement protects the value of Republicans in the House.
• Senate booked money for debt service in the tails, which we did not.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Democratic leaders and House Republican leaders announced a compromise set of budget targets reached Friday night, describing it as a numbers-only deal that leaves policy issues aside. They said the targets are the first step in the budget process: House committee chairs will write bills to fit the targets, those bills will go to Ways and Means, and later leaders will negotiate global targets with the governor and Senate. Leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects compromise rather than either party’s ideal budget, and that they will continue talks with Governor Walz and the Senate over the next several weeks. The speakers highlighted what was not included in the deal, saying it does not target paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, reproductive rights, or universal school meals. They said the House priorities that did make it in include housing, education, pensions, public safety, and transportation. On education, they said the compromise provides $40 million in new money in the first biennium for the READ Act and no cuts in either biennium, contrasting that with larger cuts in the governor’s and Senate proposals. They also said schools could still choose to fund unemployment insurance for school workers from existing resources, though it was not earmarked in the targets. Leaders said the agreement leaves room for committee chairs to make choices within the targets, including in health and human services, where they described the target as a reduction in projected growth rather than a cut to existing appropriations. They said the budget plan sets aside discretionary inflation adjustments in the first biennium while preserving inflation indexing for items like the K-12 formula. They also said the deal improves the state’s long-term balance, with a projected $1.6 billion balance in the first biennium and a $1.3 billion deficit in the second, and that the House’s numbers do not include the same revenue assumptions as the governor’s and Senate’s plans. In questions, leaders said conference committees will require majority support from both House and Senate conferees, and that the House will send equal numbers of Democratic and Republican conferees. They said the bonding bill size is still under discussion, but the adopted numbers would allow for roughly a $700 million general obligation bill. They also said large state spending for professional sports facilities is likely over, and explained that the press conference was held without Republican leaders for logistical reasons after the deal was reached late Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to share those with you.
• I'd share that with Amanda and hopefully everybody.
• Because there could be some contracts that are direct services, right?
• I'm the Executive Director at Abrazos Family Support Services.
• I echo the same sentiments shared by Ms.

Bills: SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• certified service certified service providers<00:15:41.519> six<00:15:41.839> and<
• definition of certified service definition of certified service providers<00:15:46.399> to
• <00:40:29.599> my and both my Senators to share my and both my Senators to share my concerns
• thank you for the opportunity to share thank you for the opportunity to share our<00:41:29.040><
• <00:49:12.799> here thank you is the is Human Services here thank you is the is Human Services

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just sharing that with you.
• I'm just sharing that with you.
• Families continue to share that once they see enforcement at schools or service sites, it changes everything
• And I'll defer to our witness, who has a shared lived experience to share with all of you.
• It's a passion that I share.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took testimony on each, with members often noting amendments and continuing negotiations. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require juvenile courts to find that less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable before ordering detention, and would require periodic review of continued detention and consideration of alternatives at disposition. Supporters argued it would reduce unnecessary youth detention and improve transparency; probation, judges, and police groups opposed it as an undue limit on judicial discretion and potentially unsafe in serious cases. The chair said he would recommend an aye with amendments, but the bill was held pending quorum and later remained on call. SB 1130 by Senator Gomez Reyes would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses, requiring consent before recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and banning devices or accessories designed to defeat recording indicators. Supporters said the bill addresses secret recording and invasive surveillance; opponents from tech and hospitality groups sought clarification to avoid unintended liability for businesses and exempt workplace communication devices. Members discussed those exemptions, and the chair recommended an aye, but the measure also remained on call. Senator Blake Spear presented SB 99, which would let courts consider military protective orders in domestic violence proceedings and require better communication between civilian law enforcement and military authorities. Supporters from the Department of Defense, local officials, and military representatives said it would close protection gaps for military families; the ACLU opposed it on due process grounds because MPOs are issued without judicial process. The chair and author emphasized that the bill only allows consideration of MPOs and does not require civilian enforcement of them. The bill passed out on a vote, though it remained on call for additional members. The committee also heard SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, restricting flashbang use for crowd control and banning flashbangs and explosive breaching charges in immigration enforcement, and SB 1022, creating a statewide anti-trafficking task force. SB 937 drew support from civil rights and community groups and opposition from police and sheriffs over the use-of-force standard and limits on tactics; it passed out on a vote but remained on call. SB 1022 was supported by survivor and faith groups and opposed by public defenders and sex worker advocates who raised concerns about racial disparities and enforcement harms; it also passed out on a vote. Later, SB 1395, extending criminal protective orders for certain felony sex offenses against minors up to 20 years, and SB 1230, increasing penalties for repeat illegal dumping, were both heard with mixed testimony and were held on call after committee votes. The committee also adopted a consent calendar and several bills were moved forward with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're providing this service to them, correct? You're providing this service to them, correct?
• No information is ever shared.
• Before I get going here, I do want to share. Before I get going here, I do want to share.
• There are 20 field service agents.
• Services District No. 1.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Harrell, and thank you to all our guests that are with us today to share.
• That is my goal, and I hope you all share that with me.
• It is truly a delight to be here with you all this morning and to share some exciting data points that
• So we're looking I look forward to sharing that with you all today.
• We also have automotive services that have been there, HVAC, firefighters, first responders, and even

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• services and quality. services and quality.
• Then you have, you know, I'll provide this service across the streets, providing that service.
• what we've really seen is that services what we've really seen is that services are<00:43:48.800
• I' I've shared this with >> Yes.
• , in care, reduce duplicative services, in care, reduce duplicative services, and<00:59:56.240>

Keywords: 00:00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:25 - Discussion of 26RS HB 689 00:15:15 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 689 00:17:02 - Discussion of 26RS HB 407 00:45:40 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 407 00:49:25 - Discussion of 26RS HB 713 00:55:50 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 713 00:56:54 - Discussion of 26RS HB 676 01:06:42 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 676 01:08:43 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 689, which would authorize Kentucky to seek federal approval for a Medicaid state-directed payment program for physician and non-physician professional services delivered through qualifying hospital-affiliated groups, beginning in 2026. Rep. Amy Neighbors and witnesses from Owensboro Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare said the bill would bring in about $29 million in new federal Medicaid dollars without using general fund money, help retain physicians, support rural and underserved access, and tie payments to quality metrics. Witnesses described staffing shortages, rising costs, and the need to sustain services such as OB care, primary care, and preventive outpatient services. After questions about how the funding would work and whether private practices were included, the committee voted on the bill and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then moved to House Bill 407, as substituted, which would streamline Kentucky’s certificate-of-need process. Rep. Marianne Proctor and supporters from the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Institute for Justice said the bill would not repeal CON but would modernize a system they described as outdated and overly restrictive, citing national trends toward reform and arguing that Kentucky’s process has changed little since the 1970s. They said the substitute added language requiring the cabinet to contact a dominant provider when needed for data to make CON determinations. Mark Gilfoil, speaking in opposition for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, argued that CON is not a barrier to care in Northern Kentucky and said the bill would weaken the process by limiting who can request hearings, present evidence, and appeal decisions, effectively giving applicants control and making approvals nearly automatic. He said St. Elizabeth serves as a safety-net hospital for low-income and publicly insured patients and warned the bill could harm that role. Members questioned both sides about the appeal process, the definition of safety-net hospitals, and whether the bill could increase facilities and create waste or abuse. The discussion was still ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I'm, listen, I share your concerns, Senator.
• But what we recently shared were a few things.
• Share with me, how are we selecting the— Share with me, how are we selecting these venues and opportunities
• So I just want to thank you for coming and sharing that.
• I’d like to share a little history about the park.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• facility services experience. facility services experience.
• major share of their payments. major share of their payments.
• . service. service.
• So,<02:57:28.560> cost<02:57:29.080> sharing So, cost sharing So, cost sharing for<02:57
• no cost share. no cost share.

Keywords: 916, all