Transcript Highlights:

• Would you like to close?
• Would you like to close? Yes, thank you. Any questions from committee?
• Would you like to close? Yes, thank you.
• You can, you are presenting SB 450, closing us out.
• You can, you are presenting SB 450, closing us out. Oh, can you turn on the mic?

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on July 2, 2025, to consider 25 bills. After opening remarks and quorum, the committee approved a consent calendar of unanimously supported measures, including several Senate bills and committee bills, and then moved to individual items. SB 391, which would authorize the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to charge reasonable fees for data requests from research partners, drew support from the author and the California Teachers Association, which withdrew its opposition after amendments; the bill passed on a roll call. SB 251, an annual appropriations bill to pay three state claims totaling a little over $1.2 million, was supported by the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Finance and also passed. The committee then deemed the suspense calendar approved, covering SBs 748, 329, 388, 439, 458, 454, and 563, and took public comment on suspense-file bills. Commenters voiced support for SB 88 on biomass and SB 80. The committee next heard SB 477, which would clarify the Fair Employment and Housing Act to help the Civil Rights Department investigate and prosecute discrimination and harassment cases more efficiently; the author described changes to deadlines, complaint definitions, and venue rules, and the bill passed. SB 831, which updates the definition of geological hazards to reflect climate-change-related risks and clarify the California Geological Survey’s duties, received support from industry and passed without recorded opposition. Finally, SB 450, which clarifies California’s jurisdiction over adoption proceedings, including confirmatory adoptions for families who have moved out of state and requires all legal parents to be listed on adoption orders, was presented with support from Equality California and related groups. The bill was described as having no significant state cost and passed on a roll call. Several measures were approved with Republicans not voting, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to pay close attention to the rural critical access hospitals and the effect of these types of
• We've also implemented a 15% discount for close to 3,000 small businesses across New Mexico.
• That was at the close of the fiscal year.
• Senator, so the primary person involved with this, Dr.
• But the two primary things that get tracked are job numbers and investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Persons-Mullica, you're recognized to close. Voice vote.
• Representative Mollica, you are recognized to close. Voice closed, Mr. Speaker. The question.
• Representative Persons-Mullica, you are recognized to close. Voice closed, Mr. Speaker.
• The state's budget has grown at an exponential rate, and the sales tax is the primary driver of that

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then approved the journal and received a Senate message transmitting SB 2510, the pre-K through grade 12 education conforming bill. The House waived rules, read the bill by title, and heard brief explanation that the Senate version contained budget-related funding and policy changes, including adjustments to acceleration course weighting and CAPE funding. Members adopted a blank strike-all amendment to place the bill in the proper posture for conference, then advanced it to third reading and passed SB 2510 on final passage by a vote of 88 yeas to 10 nays. After passage, the House agreed to accede to the Senate’s request for a budget conference. The Speaker then delivered extended remarks criticizing the Senate for breaking a prior budget deal and arguing that state government spending has grown too much. He said the House remained committed to reducing state revenue and spending, discussed possible budget and tax-cut approaches, and emphasized that property tax reform and state revenue reduction were separate issues. He also noted that the House select committee on property taxes would continue its work and rejected the idea of mailing $1,000 checks as a substitute for tax relief. Finally, the House took up HCR 1633, a concurrent resolution extending the 2025 regular session until 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2025. The resolution was read by title, explained as identical to a prior extension resolution except for the new end date, and adopted. The House then approved a motion to adjourn subject to the call of the chair for committee and subcommittee meetings and other House business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Burgess: WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair Trumbull: SHOW THAT AMENDMENT ADOPTED, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE UNDERLYING
• CALL INTRODUCING THE BILL. >> Chair Trumbull: ANY OTHER DEBATE, SEEING NONE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE
• Burgess: I WOULD WAIVE CLOSE BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BILL.
• WIDENING THE GAP, FLORIDA IS ALREADY FACING A PRIMARY CARE ACCESS AND PLACING THE STATE BEHIND NATIONAL
• SEEING NONE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're very close to getting rid of the STAAR test. ...continue to strengthen the A through F
• Okay, then we will close public testimony on House Bill 8.
• We will close public testimony.
• 3.3 million, is required to hold the election for a reduction of funding or resources for certain primary
• Closed public testimony.

Bills: HB8 , HB26 , HB192

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so, uh, I think we've got a, we're very close to getting rid of the SAR test, continuing to strengthen
• OK, then we will close public testimony on House Bill 8, and Senator Betancourt moves that House Bill
• OK, we'll close public testimony.
• For reduction of funding or resources for certain primary law enforcement agencies and probits the county
• No close public testimony.

Bills: HB8 , HB26 , HB192

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll close witness registration at 2 p.m.
• With no public testimony on Senate Bill 2847, public testimony will close and we'll leave.
• The primary reasons are the grade that the student received and the... ...applicability to the degree
• Chairman, just in closing, as I think about this, I'd like to...
• Okay, with no public testimony, public testimony will close.

Bills: SB2847 , SB3039

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: higher education, bachelor's degree, core curriculum, general education, semester credit hours, credit hours, degree acceleration, time to degree, workforce-aligned credentials, workforce readiness, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public universities, community colleges, transferability, curriculum reform, academic requirements, degree completion, transfer students, education transparency, academic credit

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we'll close witness registration at, uh, 2 p.m.
• With no public testimony on Senate Bill 2847, public testimony will close and we'll leave the measure
• Sure, the primary reasons are the grade that the student received and the applicability to the degree
• Chairman, just, uh, in closing, as, as I think about this idea is that currently there's, there's no,
• With no public testimony, public testimony will close.

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• loopholes in the citizen's initiative petition process and whereas the loopholes need to be immediately closed
• Over the last few days, I've closely reviewed the executive orders signed by President Trump regarding
• President Trump received resounding support in both the primary and general elections of 2024, and thus
• Senators, please consider going to the lounge; regardless of where you go or what you do, please stay close
• Going to the lounge, but regardless of where you go or what you do, please stay close.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Secretary then read Governor DeSantis’s proclamation calling the Legislature into special session from January 27 to January 31, 2025, limited to five subjects: combating illegal immigration, condominium regulation, agricultural relief after natural disasters, replenishing the My Safe Florida Home Program, and changes to the citizen initiative petition process. The chamber read the filed bills within the call, including several Senate bills on illegal immigration and petition process issues, all referred to Fiscal Policy. A motion was adopted to send any bills filed outside the call to the Rules Committee to determine whether introduction was warranted. The Senate President then discussed President Trump’s immigration executive orders and said Florida would align with federal efforts while preserving the Legislature’s constitutional role. He announced that Senator Gruters would sponsor legislation to implement Trump’s border and immigration plan, including funding to reimburse law enforcement costs and incentives to recruit more officers. He said the bill would be posted, referred to Appropriations later that day, and heard on the floor the next day. The session then adjourned sine die by motion without objection, with senators told the chamber would reconvene momentarily for the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of our churches have already closed, and they will continue to close because their purpose in that
• We will close House Bill 1859. We will move into our work session.
• We will close House Bill 1859. We will close House Bill 1859.
• And I... ...people are eligible but not claiming, and how can we close that take-up gap?
• And then we worked with both agencies to figure out how to close the take-up gap.

Bills: HB1717 , HB1859

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, sales tax, housing programs, tax incentives, economic development, religious organizations, development, housing opportunities, land use, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'm happy to take any questions and request the right to close. Thank you.
• We're not even close to having it funded, right?
• Harris to close. Quickly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members. I appreciate your...
• So with that, I close and request favorable consideration for the general calendar.
• We'll give you the right to close. Members.

Bills: HB341 , HB791 , HB1564 , HB1695 , HB1722 , HB1729 , HB1772 , HB2003 , HB2954 , HB2989 , HB3084 , HB3134 , HB3135 , HB3309 , HB3611 , HB3679 , HB3727 , HB3832

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, would you like to close? Mr.
• I close. Does anyone else wish to testify on for or against House Bill 685?
• Very close. Alright, how do you say it? You, J is like a Y. York.
• If not, the chair recognizes Representative Weiner to close on the committee sub in the bill.
• Thank you respectfully request that the right to close. Sure, members, any questions? All right.

Bills: HB 29 , HB 685 , HB 1633 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 1918 , HB 2010 , HB 2500 , HB 2608 , HB 2626

Committee: House Natural Resources

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:

• With that, I close.
• It's not our primary concern in this committee, but it is important.
• Otherwise, I'd like an opportunity to close when appropriate. I recognize you to close.
• And here's what I learned: the primary intent was to ignore.
• Kirk, closing time, OK? All right. I'll be brief.

Bills: HB207 , HB235 , HB324 , HB449 , HB463 , HB502 , HB 1121 , HB1445 , HB1465 , HB1778 , HB1977 , HB2000 , HB2066 , HB2596 , HB207 , HB235

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: child protection, sexual offenses, obscenity laws, visual material, anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, robots, criminal offenses, sexually explicit material, minors, artificial intelligence, sexually explicit, doll, mannequin, robot, law enforcement, healthcare, insurance, affordable care, access

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:38.959><c> would</c> presidential nomination primary would presidential nomination primary
• </c> costs of running that uh that primary. costs of running that uh that primary.
• It's actually running closer to primary.
• Obviously, that presidential primary.
• Um, so those are presidential primary.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alverson to close on the measure.
• And the chair will reserve your right to close.
• You can't; you have to close it to everybody.
• I hate to do this to you, but do you have a closing statement? I'll close with that, Chairman.
• Closing statement. Sure. Thank you for that.

Bills: HB26 , HB73 , SB 14 , HB46

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: HB26, law enforcement contracts, sheriff, constable, county commissioners court, commissioners court, private security, special law enforcement district, property owners association, POA, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, local government, contract policing, supplemental police services, large counties, population over 3.3 million, Texas Local Government Code, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• He was well aware of these sorts of teachings, but we give our students this sort of primary material
• I just, once again, wish there was one close to us, and we could send our son there, and I could relieve
• I just, once again, wish there was one close to us, and we could send our son there, and I could relieve
• have people get jobs and wield tools and have artificial intelligence, but if they don't have that primary
• And if a child cannot read and write proficiently, then their educational opportunities are often closed

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Ed Kates, headmaster of Kootenai Classical Academy, describing the Hillsdale College charter school model and its emphasis on classical education, virtue development, Socratic discussion, phonics, limited technology use, constitutional history, and sports. He highlighted the school’s rapid growth, strong waitlists, spelling bee success, and student achievement, and answered questions about how new schools are founded, why some districts have declined the curriculum, the role of music, the purpose of education, and the school’s per-student cost. Committee members generally praised the school’s approach and discussed broader concerns about education focused too narrowly on jobs or testing. The committee then heard from Dr. Sally Brown of the Idaho Higher Education Literacy Partnership (I-HELP), joined by colleagues from NNU and Boise State. She explained that I-HELP works across Idaho’s higher education institutions to strengthen teacher preparation in the science of reading, revise literacy standards and assessments, and support literacy initiatives statewide. She described the partnership’s concept and competency guides, reliability and validity work on assessments, and a literacy learning lab at the College of Idaho that trains pre-service tutors and supports first-grade reading intervention. Members asked about collaboration with BYU-Idaho, whether the effort is improving teacher readiness, and how the state’s K-3 reading investments are working; Brown said the state is moving in the right direction but emphasized the need for continued teacher preparation, mentoring, and instructional coaching. No formal votes or committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was well aware of these sorts of teachings, but we give our students this sort of primary material
• I just, once again, wish there was one close to us, and we could send our son there, and I could relieve
• I just, once again, wish there was one close to us, and we could send our son there, and I could relieve
• have people get jobs and wield tools and have artificial intelligence, but if they don't have that primary
• And if a child cannot read and write proficiently, then their educational opportunities are often closed

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Looking more closely at the division's 3% general fund rescission, $185,900 is tuition assistance for
• Afghanistan, and I think the one you may be referencing in particular, I had the great honor of doing a close
• air support mission in Iraq in 2003 to support what we call an ODAT... ...doing a close air support
• The Miscellaneous Revenue Fund is the division's primary dedicated fund and is highlighted in pink.
• PERSI's two primary funds are its administrative fund, which funds the Retirement Administration Program

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard budget presentations for the Idaho Military Division, the Division of Veterans Services, and the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). For the Military Division, analysts and Major General Tim Donnellan reviewed the division’s structure, recent transfer of emergency medical services into the division, and the fiscal year 2027 request. The request included a small general fund amount for hazardous materials response, a pay-parity adjustment for state employees tied to federal military pay scales, and a dedicated-fund enhancement for overhead recovery, offset by rescissions including vacant positions and reduced tuition assistance. Members asked about the 3% rescission, EMS transition costs, and why certain CEC-related positions appeared in and out of the budget; the general said the division had absorbed the cut but that further reductions could affect education assistance for Guardsmen. He also described the EMS transition as smooth and said the division was modernizing its Army and Air components. The committee then reviewed the Division of Veterans Services budget and heard from Administrator Mark Champal. The analyst outlined the division’s homes, cemeteries, veteran assistance programs, and fiscal year 2027 requests, including one-time equipment and replacement items, an ongoing reduction for expiring software fees, and reductions for long-vacant positions. Questions focused on nursing shortages, contract labor, the miscellaneous revenue fund, and memory-care capacity. Champal said the division is using a temporary nursing pool to reduce reliance on contract nurses and expects to save nearly half a million dollars, while continuing to struggle with staffing. He said the Boise home currently meets memory-care needs and that the new Boise facility could expand if needed. He also highlighted outreach efforts, claims assistance, cemetery services, and the division’s efforts to connect veterans with outside support. Finally, PERSI’s budget was presented and discussed with Director Mike Hampton. The analyst described the retirement system’s defined benefit and defined contribution plans, the ongoing pension software upgrade, and one-time requests for the final software phase, disaster recovery planning, and IT replacements. Committee members asked about administrative growth, who participates in PERSI, software maintenance costs, and why there was no general fund rescission. Hampton explained that PERSI is fully funded by employer and employee contributions, that the software project is nearing completion, and that the annual maintenance increase reflects licensing costs. He also discussed post-retirement allowance adjustments, saying the board recommended a retroactive catch-up through 2022 and that future increases depend on fund performance and legislative action. The committee also discussed the merits and risks of defined benefit versus defined contribution plans, and Hampton said PERSI remains well funded, with strong investment returns and broad participation across Idaho public employers. The meeting ended with adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• turnover, more than what we would like, but we're doing better, I think, this year, and we're going to closely
• We're funded basically through two primary sources: either federal money or state fund sources.
• They served over a thousand customers in just a few weeks and then closed the office after the May deadline
• Kootenai County, north-south, in each community that we're working, almost everyone, we're working closely
• When we do urban projects, it's for the primary benefit of the traveling public, but we do the whole

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee received an agency update from Idaho Transportation Department Director Scott Stokes. He described ITD’s role in highway construction and maintenance, DMV services, and aeronautics, emphasizing public accountability, employee expertise, and the department’s operating priorities of operating, preserving, and expanding the system. He highlighted major projects and emergency responses, including road washouts, bridge repairs, and the reopening of an overpass after a truck crash, and said growth and revenue availability remain the department’s biggest challenges. Stokes also reviewed ITD’s budget picture, noting most funding comes from dedicated state and federal transportation sources, and outlined governor-recommended enhancements for equipment, Highway 16 operations, and roadside tree removal, while saying future project pacing will depend on available funds. Committee members asked about whether lane-mile growth is keeping pace with population growth, how ITD is planning for a new north-south route in the Kootenai County area, the effect of a 2025 law limiting pedestrian and bicycle spending, and how expected budget cuts might affect the department’s five-year project plan. Stokes said congestion is often a local-network issue as well as a state highway issue, that planning for future routes is being done with local communities, that the pedestrian/bike law has had little effect on ITD’s own projects, and that new project bidding will be scaled to available funding while design work continues. The committee then heard a JFAC budget discussion from Chairman Grow, Keith Bybee, and Brooke Dupree on the statewide fiscal outlook and transportation funding. They explained that the state faces a tighter general fund picture than in recent years, with possible 3% governor holdbacks and an additional 1% to 2% reduction being discussed, and that the legislature’s revenue forecast and tax conformity decisions will affect the ending balance. Bybee said the budget stabilization fund remains strong compared with 2009, but the legislature must decide whether to use one-time cash or make deeper ongoing cuts to restore structural balance. Dupree reviewed transportation revenue sources and prior legislation, including gas tax and registration fee increases, TECM bonding authority, and general fund transfers to ITD and local governments, and noted the governor did not recommend the full $275 million general fund transfer requested by ITD. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• turnover, more than what we would like, but we're doing better, I think, this year, and we're going to closely
• We're funded basically through two primary sources: either federal money or state fund sources.
• They served over a thousand customers in just a few weeks and then closed the office after the May deadline
• We're working closely with them on what the future holds.
• When we do urban projects, it's for the primary benefit of the traveling public, but we do the whole

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 989, all