Transcript Highlights:

• It's based on the historical split.
• Second, additional LCFF COLA, which begins to address longstanding challenges for the base grant.
• Second, additional LCFF COLA, which begins to address longstanding challenges for the base grant.
• of communities through survey mapping tools, and honing my data analysis skills.
• of communities through survey mapping tools, and honing my data analysis skills.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs are strategically designed to prepare graduates for high demand fields ensuring Texas has the skill
• renamed SHSU Polytechnic College or we call SAMPoly under this legislated authority to offer research-based
• this state, we would first like to thank you for the dollar. increase in our formula funding in the base
• We focus on skills, trades, crafts. as well as the academics for those who want to transfer to university
• , millwrights, maritime, truck drivers so that they can all have a livable wage and a professional skill

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the base. That base goes back to cities, counties, special districts.
• Gaming has been estimated to support 73,000 jobs.
• That's coming from the American Gaming Association.
• Gaming has been estimated to support 73,000 jobs.
• at the future of the gaming system here in the state and provide and look at the future of the gaming

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those exemptions are now removed based on the new federal law, and we have updated our policy rule to
• There is job search training, supervised job search, volunteering, basic skills instruction, career or
• provide job retention, job search training, supervised job search, volunteering, basic foundational skills
• They also offer basic and foundational skills instruction, general studies, and GED.
• So we are also prepared to have to change some of that based on the actual full guidance that we get

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we do a lot of work for Joint Base San Antonio.
• Joint Base San Antonio recently issued a dormitory project. ...required a PLA.
• We've built over 30 dormitories and have rehabbed across the five bases in San Antonio.
• So, for example, Chris, who came up and testified on the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
• There's actually, this is a calculated number based on what we have seen energize on.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• She's losing language skills she once had. Something isn't right.'
• That is asking to bar school-based health centers from making condoms available.
• In high school, I accessed reproductive health services through my school-based health center.
• CSHA supports 450 school-based health centers and wellness centers in K-12 schools in California.
• Madden said, both our opposition positions are based on the bill in print.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 331 by Sen. Menjivar, which would require large-group health plans to cover hearing aids for children. The author and supporters described the bill as a long-running effort to address a developmental emergency and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families, while opponents were absent. Testimony from parents, advocates, medical experts, and organizations emphasized the importance of early access to hearing aids; committee members voiced strong support, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The committee then heard SB 608, also by Sen. Menjivar, to expand access to condoms in school-based health centers and related settings and to prevent barriers such as ID checks. Supporters, including students and school health advocates, argued the bill would improve sexual health and reduce stigma, while opponents from family and faith groups argued it would undermine parental authority and normalize early sexual activity. The bill was supported by committee members and moved forward on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Next, SB 971 by Sen. Choi proposed community-based healthy aging partnerships for older adults, with testimony from the California Senior Legislature and supporters from aging and dementia organizations. The measure was described as voluntary and focused on connection, independence, and local collaboration; there was no opposition, and the committee moved it on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 869 by Sen. Weber Pierson, which would require warning icons and statements on chain restaurant menus for beverages with very high added sugar content. Supporters framed it as a transparency and public health measure, while restaurant and beverage industry representatives opposed it unless amended, citing cost and menu-space concerns; the bill was nevertheless moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations after a roll call vote, with some members voting no and the measure placed on call. The committee also considered SB 950 by Sen. Weber Pierson, aimed at ensuring timely coverage of FDA-approved, medically necessary treatments for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on commercial plans. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association and a patient advocate, said the bill would reduce delays and barriers to care, while health plan representatives opposed it over step therapy and utilization-management concerns. Members discussed the limited treatment window and the need for early access, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. In addition, SB 490 by Sen. Umberg would set timelines for DHCS investigations of unlicensed sober living homes and allow counties to assist if the department cannot act in time; supporters from Anaheim and a patient-brokering survivor described serious abuse and oversight gaps, while county behavioral health representatives opposed the county role as an unfunded and potentially liability-creating burden. After discussion, the bill was also moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1037 by Sen. Weber Pierson on health insurance affordability and rate review, with supporters arguing it would tie premium increases more closely to affordability targets and public reporting; the transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and building a creative skill set.
• </c> wide variety of valuable skills wide variety of valuable skills including<00:01:51.640><c> creativity
• Um so integrating creative skill set.
• something derogatory based on the licensee's history.
• </c> derogatory based on the lency's history. derogatory based on the lency's history.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The Senate Committees on Economic Development and Tourism and on Transportation, Culture, and the Arts heard HCR 142, which urges the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Department of Transportation to expand the airport greetings program to display art in all neighbor island airports. Testimony from CARES supported the measure, emphasizing that public art and youth art competitions help educate keiki, strengthen cultural understanding, and support economic development through Hawaii’s creative industries. No one testified in opposition, and members raised no questions. Both committees recommended passage of HCR 142 unamended. The measure was adopted by voice vote in each committee, with some members excused. Later, the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard HTR 102, which concerns translating the real estate salesperson exam into Japanese for timeshare-related sales. Supporters, including DBEDT and ARDA Hawaii, argued the change would help Japanese-speaking applicants, improve workforce recruitment, and support Hawaii’s timeshare industry and Japanese visitor market. A representative from APAC Hawaii supported the idea but suggested considering additional languages such as Korean, Chinese, and Filipino. Some senators questioned whether the proposal adequately addressed continuing education and long-term English proficiency, and the Real Estate Commission explained it does not currently issue a limited timeshare salesperson license and that the proposal would not restrict licensees from selling other real estate products. The committee also heard HCR 156, which asks the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to increase its focus on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity to support economic diversification, high-wage jobs, innovation, and national security. HTDC and the Hawaii Military Affairs Council supported the resolution, citing the recent federal discontinuation of the local Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, Innovate Hawaii, and the loss of related staff positions as reasons to reinforce state support. Testimony and discussion stressed cybersecurity, supply-chain resilience, automation, and the need to sustain manufacturing momentum in Hawaii. Both HTR 102 and HCR 156 were recommended for passage as is and were adopted by the committee, with some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:16.240><c> that</c><00:05:16.479><c> were</c> have been base funding that were have been base
• </c><00:10:07.600><c> Um</c> evidence-based instruction. Um evidence-based instruction.
• So, we set a $40,000 base and then did a per-pupil amount on top of that.
• </c> and tried to figure out um what base and tried to figure out um what base would<00:14:56.480><c>
• were some of the same skills that he had to use at night when he was a bouncer at a bar.

Bills: HF1049

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a broad-based tax. If That's it. That's a broad-based tax.
• system, why eliminate this structure and instead adopt a one-size-fits-all approach that reduces gaming-based
• </c> approach that reduces by 30% gaming approach that reduces by 30% gaming based<01:35:16.560><c> fundraising
• I think tax base. Instead, we're tax base.
• than games of different than games than games of chance,<01:52:08.080><c> poker,</c><01:52:08.400><c

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a results-based program.
• This is about keeping Minnesota in the game. We all love the games.
• We have a results-based program.
• This is about keeping Minnesota in the game. We all love the games.
• We all love the Minnesota in the game. We all love the games. games. games.

Summary: The committee took up House File 4949, as amended by the adopted H4949A2 and H4949A3 amendments. The bill would create a sports and events reimbursement program intended to give Minnesota a more reliable funding mechanism to compete for major sporting and entertainment events. Representative Lislegard and supporters argued that events such as the Super Bowl, NFL Draft, Final Four, World Juniors Hockey, and Olympic trials generate substantial economic activity, tax revenue, and statewide visibility, and that Minnesota has lost opportunities because it lacks a standing competitive fund. Testifiers from the Minnesota Business Partnership and Minnesota Sports and Events strongly supported the bill, describing it as a performance-based, closed-loop model that reinvests tax revenue generated by events into securing future events. Jess Graba, Cheryl Lindsey, and Dr. William Campbell emphasized community benefits beyond economics, including youth inspiration, school improvements, inclusion, and positive local engagement tied to events like the Olympic trials, the Women’s Final Four, and WWE appearances. Several testifiers cited specific figures, including roughly $71.5 million in economic impact and $4.7 million in tax revenue for World Juniors, about $74.8 million and $5.7 million for the gymnastics trials, and more than $430 million in lost economic impact from events Minnesota did not secure. Members raised concerns about the funding mechanism, especially the use of revenue that would otherwise go to the general fund or other accounts. Representative Huot said he supported bringing events to Minnesota but was uneasy about diverting general fund money and suggested stronger legislative oversight, possibly through a formal sports committee. Representative Youakim asked how the bill’s revenue capture would work and noted concerns about taking money from transportation-related accounts; staff explained that the amended bill affects seven state taxes and a fee, including motor vehicle rental taxes and the retail delivery fee, with some revenue directed to non-general fund accounts. Members also requested more information on the methodology behind the University of Minnesota Extension economic impact studies, and staff said those studies could be shared. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that it addresses the gaming regulation for games.
• There are games that are gray. There are games of different varieties.
• illegal games out there.
• “Lottery game, it’ll be a type of regulatory game, but it will be a type of lottery game.
• That’s subject to those lawsuits, but it’s a game. It’s a gaming device.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal by roll call vote, 115-6. Members then used points of personal privilege to honor Redd Foxx for Black History Month and to remember former Mayor Frank Klipsch, followed by the introduction of a first-grade special guest page for the day. The chamber also received first readings of three bills on mental health efforts in public schools, public labor organizations, and state contracts with certain telecommunications companies, along with committee reports recommending passage of several bills. The House then debated and passed several measures. A large vehicle-inspection bill, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1838, 1692, 1695, 1983, 2036, 2662, and 2743, drew extended debate over whether inspections improve safety or impose unnecessary costs; it passed 104-43. House Bill 1917, a Jefferson County water district bill aimed at removing a local obstacle to a long-planned development, passed 148-2. House Bill 261, as amended, was approved 109-21 to require Missouri schools and universities to adopt nondiscriminatory policies protecting Jewish students from antisemitic harassment, using the IHRA definition as a guide while stating it would not limit First Amendment rights. Members also passed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2384, 92-61, which would limit local energy-code mandates and reduce housing construction costs, despite objections that it would preempt local control and roll back newer codes. The chamber then moved into perfection and took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2989, a major gaming-regulation bill intended to legalize and regulate video lottery terminals and crack down on illegal machines. Multiple amendments were adopted, including a $250-per-terminal fee dedicated to developmental disability services, local opt-out and operating-hour provisions, a shorter grace period for existing machines, property-tax language, a 21-and-over restricted area requirement, a larger warning label, and a historical funding provision for the steamboat Arabia. Debate continued on the bill and its amendments, with supporters emphasizing regulation, local control, and new revenue, and opponents warning about gambling expansion, enforcement problems, and social harms.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, we are up to. 14 gaming tribes and 22 gaming facilities.
• The internet gaming.
• Internet gaming.
• gaming coordinator.
• Is internet gaming...

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• had to say it wanted to see what you had to say it would<00:14:34.560><c> be</c><00:14:34.759><c> based
• on the commissioner board would be based on the commissioner board that<00:14:37.600><c> oversees</c
• bridge program so each military skill bridge program so each military organization<00:16:27.720><c>
• has</c><00:16:27.920><c> a</c><00:16:28.079><c> skill</c><00:16:28.319><c> bridge</c><00:16:28.600><c
• > program</c> organization has a skill bridge program organization has a skill bridge program where<00

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 219, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Raymer. The bill requires emergency services to provide mandatory training for emergency medical staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, with the training developed in collaboration with the Sexual Assault Response Team advisory committee. Testimony from Jenna Cassidy of the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and WN Stevens of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky explained that the training would help emergency department staff properly respond to sexual assault patients, preserve evidence, and connect patients to needed resources; the committee also clarified that the bill is training-focused and not a certification requirement. HB 219 received favorable expression and was reported to the House floor. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 20, also from Representative Raymer, which directs the Legislative Research Commission to study gaps in sexual assault nurse examiner coverage, why those gaps exist, and what hospitals do when no SANE nurse is available. Raymer said the study was intended to gather data for future legislation, and members noted the importance of documenting current practices and supporting efforts to expand SANE coverage. The resolution was adopted with 16 favorable votes and recommended for passage on the House floor. Next, the committee took up House Bill 303, sponsored by Representative Steve Bratcher, which creates a pathway for military medical personnel to translate their training into civilian Kentucky credentials through colleges and universities. The committee substitute broadened participation beyond KCTCS to any Kentucky institution with accredited programs, and Bratcher explained that schools would evaluate military experience, award applicable credit, identify gaps, and still require the relevant licensure exam. Members asked about university participation, credentialing standards, and how prior military radiology training would transfer; Bratcher said the program is voluntary for institutions and works with existing SkillBridge and veterans’ programs. HB 303, as amended by committee substitute, passed unanimously and was recommended for passage. At the end of the meeting, the committee briefly reviewed administrative regulations. Representative Fleming asked about a behavioral regulation that had previously been found sufficient, and staff indicated it had been deferred, later found deficient again in the Senate Health Services Committee, and may be addressed through Senate Bill 65. The chair then allowed members to record additional votes before adjourning and announced the next Health Services meeting would be February 20 at noon in Room 149.

Transcript Highlights:

• or next to an existing base.
• It's the density of all these cyber skills that we plug into.
• And so we're trying to provide those skills here in this process.
• But at the end of the day, when you look at the cyber skills, the density of those skills, the level
• I'm the founder of State Armor, based here outside of Austin, Texas.

Bills: HB146 , HB150 , HB1500 , HB1545 , HB1562 , HB2067 , HB2520 , HB2818 , HB3214 , HB3250 , HB3466 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB4063 , HB4395 , HB4464 , HB4668 , HB4690 , HB5331 , HB3833 , HB146 , HB150

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee took up several pending business items and reported a series of House bills out of committee, including HB 2467, HB 2468, HB 2518, HB 4310, HB 4386, HB 4490, HB 5323, and HB 149. Most of these were advanced on committee substitute motions and sent to the local and uncontested calendar or reported favorably to the full Senate. HB 2467 drew one nay vote, while the others were approved without opposition. HB 4310 and HB 4386 were described as committee-substitute versions with changes narrowing disclosure requirements and preserving attorney-client privilege in certain circumstances. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 149, an AI governance bill. The substitute was explained as addressing biometric identifier capture and storage, exempting certain AI uses for security and fraud prevention, clarifying definitions, restricting AI systems that simulate explicit child sexual content, adjusting Attorney General investigative authority, refining sandbox program waivers, reducing Texas AI Council powers and membership, and adding DIR coordination provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 1500, the DIR sunset bill. The author said the bill would continue DIR for 12 years, restructure its board, update advisory committees, require regular cybersecurity assessments and penetration testing for state agencies, improve IT procurement training, and transfer the e-grants program to the Comptroller. A Texas 2036 witness supported the bill as a way to strengthen governance, procurement, and cybersecurity. Members asked detailed questions about the bill’s structure and then left HB 1500 pending. The committee also heard a lengthy presentation on HB 150, which would create the Texas Cyber Command as a component of the University of Texas System, administratively attached to UTSA and located in San Antonio. The author argued the command would centralize cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and digital forensics, and would be able to support state and local entities, with optional services for local governments. Members raised concerns about university mission drift, governance, security, chain of command, procurement authority, gifts and donations, and civil liberties implications of proactive cyber monitoring. Witnesses from UTSA/NSCC and SecurityScorecard testified in support, emphasizing the security of the downtown San Antonio facility, the existing cyber ecosystem there, and the need for a dedicated cyber capability. The bill remained under discussion with no final committee action announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> going into build those leadership skills going into build those leadership skills things<00:04:47.120
• c> things like employment skills prepared things like employment skills prepared public<00:04:49.400>
• </c> public speaking and taught me the skills public speaking and taught me the skills to<00:05:16.680
• So, with those things, they get to develop more skills, whether that's soft skills or hard skills, outside
• </c> operational challenges that vary based operational challenges that vary based on<01:21:36.280><c

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that it addresses the gaming regulation for games.
• And we know there are illegal games out there. There are games that are gray.
• illegal games out there.
• So there's two gaming provisions, right? There's gaming, casinos, and there's lottery.
• Lottery game, it'll be a type of regulatory game, but it will be a type of lottery game.

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, Texas faces a growing workforce skills gap.
• It allows the Polytechnic College to offer occupational skills.
• and up-skilling through education programs starting in the fall of 2025.
• to take that workforce credit that doesn't usually come from the government and align it with the skill
• We would like to be told, "Hey, these are the skill sets and competencies that we need and would like

Bills: HB173 , HB184 , HB484 , HB678 , HB 1211 , HB1507 , HB1705 , HB1868 , HB2290 , HB2851 , HB2856 , HB3041 , HB3204 , HB173 , HB184

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Fish and Game. ...is the science-based wildlife management led by the Idaho Department
• First off, the Fish and Game—well, it wasn't the Fish and Game Commission back in the...
• The Fish and Game, well, it wasn't the Fish and Game Commission back in the day.
• Now, I get it, Fish and Game, it's kind of... ...doing with Fish and Game and Parks and Rec.
• Those two things are Fish and Game, Parks and Rec.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:46.799><c> on</c> And allow them to come in with based on And allow them to come in with based
• Next up is Fish and Game. Next up is Fish and Game, HB 2548.
• </c> Hampshire Fish and Game. Um, thank you. Hampshire Fish and Game. Um, thank you.
• </c><00:42:46.560><c> catch</c> that fish and game has i.e. catch that fish and game has i.e. catch perunit
• </c><00:45:59.119><c> on</c> the data and if necessary uh based on the data and if necessary uh based

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, approving the consent calendar and the minutes. It then took up a Department of Employment Security rule, 24193, where the only issue was that a form had not been incorporated by reference. The department submitted an oral conditional approval request with revised language, and the committee approved the rule conditionally. A second Employment Security rule, 195, raised concerns that the notice language was too broad and vague and could amount to oral rulemaking; because the agency had not yet finalized revised language, the committee granted a one-month waiver so the rule could return next month with a conditional approval proposal. The Department of Safety’s contact person notification program rule, 24237, drew comments about Social Security number collection, unclear drafting on one section, and ambiguity about which application needed a signature. The agency agreed to remove Social Security number references from the rules and forms and to adopt the suggested clarifying language with minor edits. After discussion about why the identifiers were needed, the committee approved the rule conditionally with the oral changes. The committee then moved a previously consent-calendar item, OPLC rule 2547, off consent after Representative Maguire objected that the renewal application form was too health-care-focused and user-unfriendly for other professions; the agency said it would revisit the form, and the committee postponed action until next month without needing a waiver. The final major item was Fish and Game’s HB 2548, which changes licensing and permit rules for taking deer, bear, moose, turkey, and furbearing animals. Staff noted extensive public testimony, including a coalition submission, and said the main dispute was over what data the agency should rely on in setting seasons and take limits. Fish and Game explained that declining trapper participation made capture-per-unit-effort data less reliable, so it also uses hunter surveys and UNH research projects funded in part by federal money; the agency said current trapping removals are very low and do not appear to threaten populations. Committee members and public witnesses questioned whether the agency’s responses to comments were sufficiently specific under the new public-comment law, but no final vote on the Fish and Game rule was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first biennium, and then remove funds from the base in the second.
• This includes provisions relating to dual-language immersion programs and foundational reading skills
• We set a $40,000 base and then added a per-pupil amount on top of that.
• His skills were something...
• The skills he used during the day with his kids were some of the same skills that he had to use at night

Bills: HF1049

Committee: House Taxes