Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for taking care of the fiscal portion of this bill.
• Our schools target child care centers.
• </c><00:14:19.000><c> impact</c> local businesses, has a direct impact local businesses, has a direct
• </c> child care centers being shut down. child care centers being shut down.
• </c> well, there's a there's direct well, there's a there's direct appropriation.<00:25:52.120><c> Uh

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there, do we know if there's ever movement in that direction?
• And I don't care whether the schools do it or whether health and welfare does it.
• This also directs you to do that. You're going to reward people that do have success.
• I think it's the right direction to help us work with our communities and lead our districts.
• We are moving in the right direction with strategic plan.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1288, which would create a high-cost special education student fund to reimburse school districts for extraordinary special education expenses above $30,000 per student. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is a response to constitutional and federal obligations to educate students with disabilities, and that the initial $5 million appropriation would provide limited relief while the fund is expected to be sustained later through internal department funding, donations, and interest. Testifiers from school districts, parent advocacy groups, and special education services described very high costs for staffing, therapies, transportation, equipment, and related services, especially in small and rural districts, and argued the bill would help districts avoid cutting other programs to cover these expenses. Members raised concerns about whether schools are being asked to absorb health-care-like responsibilities, the growth in high-need student costs, and the role of the federal government in underfunding mandates. The sponsor and other supporters responded that districts remain legally required to provide these services and that the bill reimburses costs after Medicaid, insurance, and district contributions are applied. After discussion, the committee voted to send Senate Bill 1288 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1339, which would replace the current continuous improvement plan framework with strategic performance plans for districts and charters, with goals tied to academic outcomes, annual review, stakeholder input, and possible oversight for underperformance. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would encourage long-term planning, reduce redundant reporting, and give high-performing schools more flexibility while helping lower-performing ones improve. Testimony from district leaders generally supported the approach, though one witness questioned the lack of new funding and whether districts already have similar plans. The committee approved the bill and sent Senate Bill 1339 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, then approved the March 12 and 13 minutes before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• care issues.
• Complaints that come in standard of care, yeah. OK.
• Standard of care. Right.
• Particularly in long term care. OK.
• Take care of um. How far along are we? It it seems like we're.

Transcript Highlights:

• The medical review panel assesses whether care is deviating from the standard of care.
• What we really care about is the care of our most vulnerable patients and their long-term well-being,
• If I may say that when we are not taking care of our students, we are not taking care of our students
• How many patients in this state are going without care, delaying care?
• Forward direction. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that we move in that direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's supposed to be 49% or less on other expenditures, so 51% must be going toward their direct mission
• using that direct Aid to funnel<00:09:00.200><c> that</c><00:09:00.360><c> to</c><00:09:00.680><c> a
• We're looking at direct appropriations to a specific organization who's then using that money outside
• House File 66, however, marks a small step in a positive direction.
• </c> these are our issues our families care these are our issues our families care about<01:03:32.359

Bills: HF72, HF66, HF69, HF73

Keywords: campaign finance, state funding, political activity, nonprofits, government transparency, HF66, Minnesota second-degree murder, unintentional murder, protective order, order for protection, harassment restraining order, domestic violence, victim protection, cross-jurisdictional orders, out-of-state restraining order, tribal court order, Canadian protective order, public safety, criminal law, homicide

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also in the vocational and, and they're moving, uh, in a direction that, uh.
• Universities's infrastructure is a direct determinant of student success.
• Our former foster care students have a graduation rate well over 50%.
• If you think about it, those kids when they're in foster care.
• One, is participation in the My Texas Future, uh, direct admissions program.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a licensed health care professional or mental health professional who through a direct professional
• It's a licensed health care professional or mental health professional who through a direct professional
• It's a licensed health care professional or mental health professional who through a direct professional
• It's a licensed health care professional or mental health professional who through a direct professional
• It's a licensed health care professional or mental health professional who through a direct professional

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Give him direction and protection.
• for those who selflessly care for us.
• And it was really, really tough for me because I care for you. I care for you.
• I care for you so much.
• We don't care. They didn't care so bad. You know what they did?

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of the day’s doctor of the day, an intern, and a resolution honoring the late Bob Graham and firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also adopted a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day. After routine announcements, the Senate moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, many of them with House companion bills substituted in place of Senate versions. The first major floor action was passage of a tax-related bill conforming Florida’s Internal Revenue Code to federal changes while excluding certain provisions from H.R. 1; it passed 34-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 1758 on public assistance and Medicaid, which proposed stronger fraud enforcement, a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services, pharmacy and drug rebate reforms, and SNAP fraud reduction measures. A Berman amendment to require Medicaid expansion before work requirements was rejected, as was an Osgood amendment to add photo-ID protections and exemptions for certain SNAP users. The bill remained on the calendar for third reading after extensive debate and questioning about implementation, exemptions, and potential impacts on beneficiaries. The chamber also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on gold and silver legal tender, public records exemptions for financial institutions and custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government finance transparency, digital voyeurism, and insurance customer representative licensing. Most of these measures were adopted after brief explanation, minor amendments, or substitution of House companions, with votes generally in favor and several passing unanimously or by wide margins. Later, the Senate took up CS/SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin access, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition. The bill’s first amendments clarified anti-kickback rules for vaccine manufacturers and required informational materials to address risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy; the transcript ends during consideration of this bill, before final passage is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I think again, we want to be careful I think again, we want to be careful that<00:36:57.119><c>
• So, I care or CFI or things like that.
• Do we care?"
• Um, so what are the Do we care?"
• But unlike Medicare, unlike care.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We should care about family.
• . and direct contact is satisfied by meeting at least two days per week.
• Also, I care about, yes, I care about the teachers. I love that.
• They would actually be taking us in the opposite direction.
• So now we're saying, yeah, local governments, we don't actually care what you think and we don't care

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum calls, and several recognitions before taking up a series of Senate messages and House motions. Members also recognized House Sergeant at Arms staff, visitors in the gallery, and family members. The chamber approved the journal and then moved into message lists and concurrence motions on several bills. On CS/CS/SB 1668, relating to the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), the House concurred in a Senate amendment that clarified that if the NICA plan lacks adequate cash flow, the Office of Insurance Regulation may authorize a cumulative transfer of up to $20 million over the life of the plan and removed a proposed time limit on provider assessments. The bill then passed 96-2. The House also concurred in a Senate amendment to CS/CS/CS/HB 905, the foreign influence bill, after debate over a proposed strike-all amendment that would have removed surrogacy-related language; that amendment failed. Supporters said the bill still retained key foreign-influence restrictions, while opponents objected to the surrogacy provisions and other remaining restrictions. The bill passed 83-17. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1279 on education. The Senate amendment added provisions on tuition residency for certain military and State Department families, a one-year deferral option for Benacquisto Scholarship recipients, virtual school notifications, educational emergency authority for persistently low-performing schools, epinephrine flexibility, VPK and New Worlds Reading changes, math pathways, dance credit, IEP service notifications, charter school safety officer options, and FEFP adjustments for Florida advanced courses, while removing several House provisions including the 95% Florida resident requirement for preeminent universities, the 5% cap on undergraduate international enrollment, and DEI-related provisions. Debate focused heavily on the educational emergency and collective bargaining language for persistently low-performing schools, with supporters saying it would help districts improve student performance and opponents warning it would weaken unions and affect schools that are not truly failing. The bill passed 81-16. Finally, the House considered CS/CS/CS/HB 399 on land use and development regulations. An amendment to repeal portions of last year’s SB 180 was ruled not germane. The House then took up a Senate amendment on compost facilities that would bar local governments from conditioning compost-facility approval on the purchase of additional property to expand a privately owned road and would limit local revocation of permits when facilities comply with state or regional environmental regulation; debate began on that motion as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I'm directed... Thank you. Welcome in the gallery. This is our 139th of 140 days.
• President, I'm directed by the House to inform the Senate Mr.
• toward indigent health care in our counties.
• toward indigent health care in our counties.
• physician in the state of Texas, which is the gateway to your health care.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several recognitions and memorial resolutions, including honoring retiring Senate staffer Kelvin Bass and Secretary of the Senate Patsy Spaw and her staff. Members also adopted a series of local and honorary resolutions, including designating Rockport as the Redfish Capital of Texas, San Antonio as Military City, Texas, and Bridge City as the Corn Dog Capital of Texas, along with memorial and medal-of-honor resolutions for Texans and service members. The chamber also received messages from the House reporting passage of various measures and conference committee actions. The bulk of the meeting focused on conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions. The Senate adopted reports and/or out-of-bounds resolutions on SB 293, SB 1610, HB 46, HB 145, HB 1545, SB 650, SB 1660, HB 40, SB 2217, HB 119, HB 493, HB 3642, HB 2963, SB 2024, SB 2972, HB 2516, HB 2885, and SB 2753, among others. Topics included the Texas Civil Commitment Office, the T-Cup prescription program, wildfire mitigation and utility liability, sunset scheduling, alcohol ID swiping at retail and package stores, business court jurisdiction, election administration and data consistency, foreign adversary lobbying, poll watcher qualifications, road naming, right-to-repair, disguised vape pens, and campus expressive activity rules. Several measures passed with near-unanimous votes, while others drew more opposition, including SB 268 on medical board enforcement and SB 2753 on election procedures. There was extended debate on SB 268, which would shift enforcement authority for scope-of-practice complaints to specialty boards rather than the Texas Medical Board. Senators raised concerns about whether the bill would weaken the Medical Board’s ability to stop unlicensed practice of medicine, while supporters argued that specialty boards should police their own licensees and that criminal referrals remain available for unlicensed practice. The Senate also discussed SB 2972 on expressive activities at public universities, with questions about content-neutral restrictions, who counts as the university community, and whether the bill provides a mechanism to challenge campus time, place, and manner rules. Both bills ultimately passed their conference reports, and the Senate later adopted a large package of resolutions by voice vote before adjourning further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And be, if at the direction of the Majority Leader, that would be part of a calendar for tomorrow.
• President, I am directed to inform the Senate that the duly enrolled engrossed copies of Senate Bill
• So I just want us to really be careful with what we're doing here.
• It's common sense oversight and assurance for our state in today's health care sector.
• President, the Health Care Authority doesn't—this is not their business to do this.

Transcript Highlights:

• care.
• County Commissioner's Court approval, they are only offering premium assistance and not delivering care
• The work group will study accessibility, gaps in care, workforce capacity, interest lists, and funding
• . ...build out a full continuum of care for this vulnerable population.
• I just want to add that we are trending in the wrong direction in this state.

Bills: HB50

Keywords: constitutional amendment, ballot language, fiscal note, fiscal impact, cost estimate, savings estimate, Legislative Budget Board, LBB, secretary of state, Election Code, Government Code, voter information, ballot proposition, state budget, election administration, Texas, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4145 regarding health care changes to access the changes to access proposed here make health care
• Increasing access to preventative care and primary health care is the right choice to make us and our
• As I said, we have a duty to care.
• They don't care if they have $700 million. They don't care if they have $600 million.
• Chair, a question for Vince: that child care program, where there's a deduction for child care.

Summary: The joint appropriations committee met on April 28 to review the FY 2027 budget package, including the general appropriations feed bills (HB 4138 and SB 1831) and related budget reconciliation measures. Staff described the budget as including about $17.96 billion in general fund appropriations, a one-time transfer of state monies to increase revenues, a 5% lump-sum reduction to most agencies’ discretionary general fund budgets, and several one-time restorations or continuations for items such as school facilities, child care, child safety, corrections stipends, and public safety operating costs. Members spent much of the meeting debating how the across-the-board cuts would be implemented, which programs might be affected, and how fund sweeps from prior-year appropriations and special funds would work, including questions about universities, public safety, rural hospitals, transportation grants, the Corporation Commission, and health insurance costs for state employees and troopers. A major point of discussion was the impact on universities and higher education. Arizona Board of Regents representatives said the proposed reductions and fund sweeps would affect already obligated dollars, research, staffing, and student aid programs, and could force difficult decisions about programs such as the Promise Program, Teachers Academy, and other pass-through funds. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the cuts could lead to tuition increases or reductions in services, while majority members emphasized that agencies and the executive branch should decide how to absorb the reductions. Another major topic was health care and the state employee health plan: staff explained that the budget includes a $228 million general fund infusion to stabilize the plan, while a separate reconciliation bill would raise employee premiums over three years. Members also discussed whether the budget’s changes to AHCCCS/Access and hospital eligibility rules could increase costs for hospitals and reduce coverage. Public testimony largely opposed the budget. Speakers from Opportunity Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents, and local governments argued that the proposal would shift costs onto working families, reduce support for education, housing, SNAP, health care, and rural infrastructure, and protect tax benefits for data centers and higher-income taxpayers. A mayor from Globe asked for state help after severe flooding damaged roads, water lines, and homes, while a motorcycle safety advocate asked the committee to review a DPS motorcycle safety fund appropriation. Committee members and staff repeatedly clarified that some items discussed were one-time appropriations not continued into FY 2027, that some fund sweeps were from unspent or unencumbered balances, and that the committee planned to take a mass roll-call vote on the budget bills at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Colorado Pregnancy Care...
• They are doctors or other specialists in health care who provide health care the same as everyone else
• I want to be direct.
• Reaction if this bill passes is going to be, 'We don't care. We don't care what you think.
• We'll take care of that. We won't do We'll take care of that. We won't do that.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> my care. my care.
• </c> health care is already here. health care is already here.
• </c> access to care. access to care.
• We are more prepared than ever to deliver care via direct access.
• Direct access means that I and others like me can get the right care we need quickly without a delay

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And make sure that people actually still have the medical care that they need.
• Typically, the reimbursement that we get is based on who is providing the care.
• I don't know that it'll have much effect on providing additional access to care.
• At the end of the day, the hospital is still liable for the care in that setting.
• that's where the form should be taken care of by the doctor.

Summary: The General Laws Committee met without a quorum and heard House Bill 2749, sponsored by Rep. Davidson. The bill would allow hospital systems, rather than only individual physicians, to sign and maintain collaborative practice agreements for physician assistants in hospital settings. The sponsor said the measure is intended to reduce administrative burden and paperwork without changing scope of practice, supervision requirements, or liability, and noted it has a $0 fiscal note. Committee members asked about how the bill would work in practice, including what happens when physicians leave a hospital system, whether the collaborating physician relationship would still be meaningful, and whether the bill could affect liability or accountability. Supporters, including a long-time PA with BJC and the Missouri Hospital Association, said large hospital systems already use credentialing and chart-review processes, and that centralizing the paperwork would help hospitals, physicians, and the Board of Healing Arts while freeing physician time for patient care. They emphasized that the bill would not change clinical oversight or reimbursement arrangements. Opposition came from the Missouri State Medical Association and the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. Their witness argued that collaborative practice agreements are personal physician agreements, not mere paperwork, and warned that shifting them to a hospital-level document could weaken physician accountability and potentially increase liability. The hearing concluded after testimony, with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Morning, Chair Ormsby, Ranking Member, Court Care, and committee members.
• Morning, Chair Ormsby, ranking member, court care, and committee members.
• Taking care of our loved ones.
• Taking care of our loved ones.
• I think that that's going in the wrong direction.

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• such information are not required to produce any record, but must respond within five business days directing
• Was that direct at me, Representative Walsh? For the record, yes. Yeah, thank you.
• And it directs experts and agencies to identify what exists and what can be preserved.
• And it reflects the shared belief that people with disabilities deserve dignity and care...
• Belief that people with disabilities deserve dignity and care and remembrance.

Bills: SCR8406, SB5892, SB5863

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, voter registration database, election security, public records exemption, Secretary of State, county elections office, election infrastructure, cybersecurity, ballot signatures, ballot return envelopes, signature correction forms, voter privacy, personal identifying information, Social Security number, driver's license number, state ID number

Transcript Highlights:

• We should be focused on taking care of our communities.
• But that's our federal delegation that needs to take care of ICE, not us.
• At CV&M, we believe it is our responsibility to care for our land, air, and water, because we care deeply
• Joanna was a nurse, and she was requesting the care that she needed.
• They did not care. All those employees got other jobs or left.

Bills: SB100

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights, 996, all