Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2936 by Olsson of the House and Hamilton of the Senate, an act relating to children.
• Third reading of the bill, House Bill 2936 by Olsson of the House and Hamilton of the Senate.
• House Bill 3627 simply adds the State Committee of Blind Vendors to the list of acceptable committees
• House Bill 3721 by Kelly of the House and Fris of the Senate and act relating to retirement.
• The clerk will read House Bill 4227 by Kennedy of the House and Weaver of the Senate.

Bills: HB2936, HB2967, HB3627, HB3721, HB4132, HB4303, HB4478, HB4322, HB4227

Keywords: HB2936, children, child protection, adoption, Oklahoma Adoption Code, gestational carrier, gestational agreement, surrogacy, intended parent, preplacement home study, home study, prospective adoptive parent, foster placement, child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, lewd molestation, sex offender registry, Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 16, House Bill 23, House Bill 25, House Bill 26, House Bill 192.
• Tuesday, September 2nd, 2012, pending the receipt of messages and committee reports and the reading and
• Tuesday, September 2nd, pending the receipt of messages and committee reports, and the reading and referral

Bills: SB 2, SB 5, SB 10, HB17, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB17, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB5, SB10

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what this committee has done.
• There were many questions by many members from the House, our colleagues from the House.
• That's what makes this a great piece of legislation.
• This legislation and other legislation that we have before us in this special session.
• That courage has inspired this legislation.

Bills: SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 1, HB4, HB4, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SB2, SB5

Keywords: school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments, through-year assessment, diagnostic reports, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plans

Transcript Highlights:

• President, there's a message from the House. Mr. Messenger, thank you Mr. President.
• I am directed by the House to inform the Senate that the House has taken a vote. Thank you.

Bills: SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 1, HB4, HB4, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SB2, SB5

Keywords: school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments, through-year assessment, diagnostic reports, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plans

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, during the. regular legislative session, I proposed and passed House Bill 969 relating to local
• And with House Bill 1, Chair calls up House Bill 166.
• House Bill 1353.
• House Bill 328, Senator King moves that House Bill 328 be passed.
• I do have a committee substitute. Didn't think I did. And the committee substitute.

Bills: HB166, HB2000, HB3248, HB3513, SB155, SB1659, SB1730, SB1778, SB1790, SB1848, SB2017, SB2105, SB2794, SB2917, HB2756, HB353, HB166

Keywords: child endangerment, controlled substances, penalty group, elderly protection, disabled individual rights, child grooming, sex offender registration, criminal justice, reportable conviction, law enforcement, defense, peace officers, local government, security, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation, dangerous dogs

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder to the, to the committee and our visitors and witnesses today under House Rule 4, Section
• 13, House committees are subject to the same rules of decorum that govern House proceedings under those
• To lay out House Bill 5200, and with your favorable consideration, I would beseech the committee the
• House Bill 5200 also complements the important work this committee has already championed this session
• Chair offers up committee substitute to House Bill 1378, recognizes Representative Burdell to explain

Bills: HB 551, HB 1281, HB 1378, HB 1617, HB 2868, HB 2881, HB 3374, HB 4439, HB 4726, HB 4732, HB 4878, HB 4914, HB 4921, HB 4958, HB 5200, HB 5318, HB 5360, HB 5402, HB 5568, HB 5573, HB 5623, HJR 218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee substitutes are withdrawn. If there's no objection, House Bill 5623 will be left pending.
• The Chair offers the committee substitute to House Bill 4732 and recognizes Representative Gámez to explain
• The Chair lays out House Bill 5573. The Chair offers up a committee substitute to House Bill.
• My name is Andy Hopper, and I'm honored to present the committee substitute for House Bill 4914, a bill
• Committee substitute House Bill 2868...

Bills: HB551, HB 1281, HB1378, HB1617, HB2868, HB2881, HB3374, HB4439, HB4726, HB4732, HB4878, HB4914, HB4921, HB4958, HB5200, HB5318, HB5360, HB5402, HB5568, HB5573, HB5623, HJR218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder to the committee and our visitors and witnesses, today under House Rule 4, Section 13,
• house committees are subject to the same rules of decorum that govern House proceedings.
• House Bill 5200 also complements the important work this committee has already championed this session
• The Chair offers up a committee substitute to House Bill 1378.
• I respectfully urge the committee to reconsider House Bill 1378 and work toward a balanced framework

Bills: HB551, HB 1281, HB1378, HB1617, HB2868, HB2881, HB3374, HB4439, HB4726, HB4732, HB4878, HB4914, HB4921, HB4958, HB5200, HB5318, HB5360, HB5402, HB5568, HB5573, HB5623, HJR218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Committee on Okay. Senate committee. Is it working? Yeah. No.
• There is a new committee substitute.
• There is a committee substitute.
• The committee substitute adds.
• Good morning, Chair Schwertner and members of the committee. committee.

Bills: SB 438, SB 512, SB 647, SB 648, SB 1495, SB 2121, SB 2145, SB 2154, SB 2167, SB 2184, SB 2211, SB 2268, SB 2349, SB 2443, SB 2629, SB 2702, SB 2902

Keywords: SB 438, Texas, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative law judge, ALJ, public information act, open records, confidentiality, privacy, home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, social security number, family members, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Tax Code 25.025, public records, government transparency

Summary: The meeting of the committee commenced with the establishment of a quorum, where members discussed and voted on five significant bills related to energy efficiency, insurance regulation, and public utility governance. Notably, Senate Bill 2717 was presented, incorporating feedback to foster collaboration among various state agencies for improved energy efficiency performance. This was followed by a detailed discussion on Senate Bill 1642, which proposed changes to the Texas Department of Insurance's executive structure to optimize management and consumer focus. Each bill saw active participation from senators who moved to adopt committee substitutes for clarity and responsiveness to stakeholder concerns, indicating a proactive approach to legislative issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Calls that vote and lays out the committee, and then Senator King lays out the committee substitute for
• Tell the committee what those are.
• the committee substitute.
• There is a committee substitute.
• Workforce out to work quicker. Thank you, Senator. There is a minor committee substitute.

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 799. We're sorry for the delay so the committee will just kind of stand at ease.
• And so then we will follow and we do that in House Bill 75 and 76 with legislation that is designed to
• That has to be done. through legislation in the form of a House bill or Senate bill.
• The House Committee substitute by Representative Moody included substantial changes. that would have
• I urge the committee to refrain from passing legislation that addresses. real issue, and that could have

Bills: HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HB799, HB 1135, HJR15, HJR16, HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HJR15, HJR16

Keywords: family violence, global positioning monitoring system, victim resources, electronic monitoring, protective orders, magistrate, criminal procedure, probable cause, written findings, law enforcement, bail bonds, bail fund, charitable bail fund, nonprofit bail organization, public funds, local government spending, political subdivision, county, city, taxpayer lawsuit

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to order.
• Thank you, and I look forward to today's hearing on the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
• through ESOL, and ask that this legislation be reported favorably out of committee.
• Next up, no stranger to the committee. Welcome to the State House for the first time.
• The Labor and Workforce Committee is adjourned.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development heard testimony on several workforce-related bills, with most of the hearing focused on ESOL and apprenticeship legislation, followed by testimony on a four-day workweek pilot and paid prenatal leave. On ESOL, witnesses including the Boston Foundation, Skillworks, MassINC, MIRA, JVS Boston, Eastern Bank, immigrant advocates, employers, and legislators supported H.2080/S.1326, arguing that Massachusetts has a large backlog of limited-English-proficiency residents waiting for classes, that ESOL is essential to economic mobility and immigrant integration, and that the state needs a coordinated, statewide strategy with more vocational and workplace-focused English instruction. Testifiers cited long waitlists, fragmented delivery across agencies, labor shortages, and examples of workplace English programs helping immigrants gain jobs, advance careers, and support businesses. Committee members asked questions about how vocational ESOL differs from standard classes, and witnesses explained that it focuses on job-specific language and workplace scenarios. The committee also heard strong support for H.2085/S.1303, which would require more use of registered apprentices on public construction projects over $1 million. Labor leaders from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and Massachusetts Building Trades, along with electricians and apprentices, said the bill would help apprentices complete training by ensuring enough job-site hours, expand access to good union careers, and strengthen the construction workforce for housing, infrastructure, and clean energy work. Several witnesses defended existing apprenticeship ratios and electrical licensing standards, warning against deregulation and emphasizing safety. Committee members asked about project thresholds and apprenticeship ratios, and witnesses said the bill’s phased apprentice-hour requirement was intended to cover most public projects under current cost conditions. The committee then heard testimony on S.1330, a four-day workweek pilot program. Senator Dillon Fernandez and Representative Shirley Arriaga described the proposal as a response to burnout, affordability pressures, and changing workplace norms, arguing that a pilot would let Massachusetts study whether shorter workweeks improve productivity, retention, and worker well-being. Witnesses said the model could help families balance caregiving and commuting while maintaining or improving output. Finally, the committee took testimony on S.1361, establishing paid prenatal leave. Parents, health advocates, March of Dimes, and others said paid leave would help pregnant workers attend critical prenatal appointments, reduce missed care, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Several speakers shared personal stories about high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy loss, and the financial strain of taking unpaid time off. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked a limited number of questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to just welcome the Senators, the House E&E Committee. We have two budgets.
• I want to just welcome the Senators, the House E&E Committee. We have two budgets.
• I want to just welcome the Senators, the House E&E Committee. We have two budgets.
• In 2003, the North Dakota Legislature in House Bill 1018 authorized funding for workforce housing slum
• In 2003, the North Dakota legislature in House Bill 1018 authorized funding for workforce housing slum

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what drives that is people entering the workforce and leaving the workforce.
• people in the workforce.
• The Workforce Council? Yeah, Mr.
• Members of the committee, I'm John Bjornson, Legislative Council director and aspiring king of the world
• Our thought would be to also look to the Legislative Management and Fiscal Review Committee at times

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help. Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.

Transcript Highlights:

• Primarily, the fund funds workforce housing.
• With workforce housing, we're a little over 50%.
• So when we look at all of these... ...workforce housing.
• workforce housing.
• in New Mexico, primarily those for workforce housing.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair lays out, uh, House Bill 20 have to get used to saying that House Bill 2791 and recognizes
• Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, committee members, Tammy Martin with the Texas Workforce Commission,
• Good morning, committee.
• House Bill 3698.
• Chairman and members of this committee, House Bill 1397 is a commitment to honoring our state's past

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair offers a committee substitute to House Bill 5092. OK, Mr. Tepper left.
• The chair lays out House Bill 5092. The chair offers a committee substitute to House Bill 5092.
• Representative Howard offers a committee substitute to House Bill 3976.
• The committee will come to order The chair lays out House Bill 5333.
• Representative Howard offers the committee substitute House Bill 5333.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hussein moves House File 30004 to bring that before the committee.
• them, connecting with legislators and hopefully getting them passed throughout the legislative season
• connecting with legislators pursue them, connecting with legislators and<00:03:33.280> hopefully<
• <00:03:49.200> I access to workforce opportunities. I access to workforce opportunities.
• do not have access to equal workforce do not have access to equal workforce opportunities<00:03:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• recalled from the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy and be
• direct appropriations in our workforce direct appropriations in our workforce committee<00:02:03.840
• But again, it would help future legislators in the workforce committee to do a better job vetting a lot
• the<00:08:50.640> workforce<00:08:51.440> committee in the workforce committee
• Committee, you Workforce and Labor Committee, you missed<00:28:03.760> a<00:28:03.919> chance

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House debated a motion to suspend the rules so House File 3843 could be recalled from committee and given second and third readings for final passage. The bill, carried by Representative Baker and supported by Representative Niska, would create a subcommittee of the governor’s workforce development board to vet nonprofit and other applicants for workforce development dollars, with the legislature retaining final authority. Supporters argued the proposal would add an extra layer of scrutiny, reduce fraud risk, and help prevent problems like those highlighted in recent reporting and past nonprofit funding scandals. Supporters repeatedly tied the bill to concerns about fraud in state grantmaking, citing the Feeding Our Future scandal and other nonprofit cases as examples of why more oversight is needed. Representative Baker said the committee process can be overwhelmed by many direct-appropriation requests at the end of session, and that a board-based vetting process would help identify red flags. Representative Enen and Representative Schultz also backed the motion, saying the bill would improve accountability and protect taxpayer dollars. Representative Pinto opposed the urgency motion, saying he supports moving toward more competitive grants but not adding another layer of bureaucracy without a fiscal note or fuller committee process. He argued the bill would not do what supporters claimed and that the legislature already makes funding decisions. After debate, the House took a roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules. The motion failed by one vote, 67 yeas to 66 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Committee on Administration has established an electronic public comment process for all Texans
• education and workforce.
• The community college funding model, part of the historic House Bill 8 legislation last session, has
• It was a I think it's in House Bill 20 where you have this process to submit. a meaningful workforce
• The Workforce Commission is also funded for years workforce advisors.

Keywords: 1184, house, all