Transcript Highlights:

• I THINK A LOT OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE SHARED HAS BEEN VALIDATED BY YOUR VISITS.
• THAT IS A VALUABLE TOOL TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, if there's not a valid or sufficient network of instructors in a particularly rural area or in
• rehabilitation, education, mental health care, and reintegration, giving young women like Denise the tools

Bills: HB1967, HB3442, HB5525, HB5561, HB5653, HB5667, SB1171

Keywords: juvenile justice, correctional facilities, reform, rehabilitation, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, alcohol awareness, court-ordered programs, substance misuse education, deferred disposition, youth, parole reform, inmates under 18, mental health, educational achievement, reintegration, foster youth, behavior intervention, community services, diversion policies, HB 5653

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about validation. It's a message to grieving families that we see you, we support you.
• effort to build a pro-life... ...of Texas to serve these families, to serve these babies with all the tools

Bills: HB18, HB742, HB754, HB1644, HB2187, HB1887, HB 1275, HB37, HB1503, HB1699, HB1700, HB2735, HB1741, HB1731, HB1675, HB18, HB37

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, trafficking prevention, medical assistant training, health care facilities, hospital compliance, clinic compliance, anti-retaliation, whistleblower protection, employee reporting, good faith report

Transcript Highlights:

• PrEP is one of our most powerful tools for preventing HIV transmission, and the introduction of these
• long-acting injectable forms has made this tool even more powerful.
• These tools are especially important in prescription drug coverage given the potential for misuse and
• Gaps or uncertainty about the scope of required screening may cause local governments to hesitate in
• experience worse cancer outcomes, and my work seeks to understand why, so that we can develop better tools

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we don't have the tools. ...and we don't have the tools or the authority to really be able to inspect
• my team and the Bill Authors have worked really hard together to make sure we're provided with the tools
• So having those flexibilities and tools is essential.
• give this benefit to those who need it, but those we somehow need to, you know, figure out how to screen

Bills: SB 1, SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a tool, right? Your cell phone's a tool. I mean, social media is a tool.
• Social media is a tool.
• Like I said, social media is a tool.
• Like I said, social media is a tool.
• Tools, right? All three.

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to get the screen so that we can get our viewers online.
• One tool that sellers have in order to make sure that the inputs that they're buying, whether they're
• Another tool is Another tool is the multiple points of use, or MPU, exemption.
• Another tool is the multiple points of use or MPU exemption.
• Taxpayers may use tools like the reseller permit and MPU exemption on services just like they can on

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from Dr. Reich on the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC), including how the council’s joint executive-legislative forecasting process works, the main state revenue sources, and recent economic conditions. He said Washington’s economy is slowing, with weak employment growth, softer taxable sales, and uncertainty from tariffs, federal spending, and the federal shutdown. He also noted that the September forecast was reduced, mainly because of lower sales tax and real estate excise tax collections, and that the state still expects modest growth rather than a recession. Members asked about whether Washington tends to lag national downturns and how forecast information should affect budgeting; Dr. Reich said the forecast is a revenue tool, not a budgeting decision, and that spending choices remain with elected officials. The Department of Revenue then presented on Washington’s sales and use tax structure and the implementation of Senate Bill 5814, which expands retail sales tax to several services effective October 1, 2025. Steve Ewing explained how sales and use tax are sourced, how reseller permits and the multiple points of use exemption work, and how the new law applies to live presentations, temporary staffing, investigations and security services, IT services, custom website development, advertising services, and custom software. He said DOR held listening sessions, issued interim guidance, and set up a centralized landing page and outreach efforts to help taxpayers understand the changes. He also described a six-month grace period for certain pre-existing contracts through March 31, 2026, but said penalties and interest still apply under the statute. Committee members raised concerns about how businesses and individuals will know when a service is taxable, who is responsible for collecting and remitting tax, and how sourcing will work for services delivered across multiple locations or online. DOR staff walked through examples involving accounting services, live lectures, virtual events, advertising campaigns, and search engine marketing, including the use of reasonable allocation and pool codes when exact sourcing data is unavailable. Members also questioned the administrative burden on small businesses and professionals newly subject to tax, and whether additional legislative fixes or relief from penalties and interest may be needed. No votes or formal actions were taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this piece of legislation aims to simplify that process. really give folks a valuable tool to ask
• I think it is incumbent upon the legislature to provide the... public with the tools necessary to investigate
• I don't know if a similar dynamic exists here in Texas because we don't have the tools to uncover that
• This targeted investment will validate our model, deliver faster closing, stronger fraud protection,
• Their governance is typically encoded through digital tools, such as smart contracts, allowing decisions

Bills: HB111

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If confirmed, I will bring this perspective to every aspect of the job, ensuring that our trade tools
• Having said that, the current policy baseline is a tool for members of Congress to evaluate the merits
• So it's a tool to evaluate and make decisions, but ultimately members of Congress have to make the judgment
• you support incorporating pollution intensity or carbon benchmarking into a trade enforcement as a tool
• why we are killing ourselves to find a half a trillion dollars for non-pro-growth tax policy. the validity

Keywords: Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.

Transcript Highlights:

• sphere of influence, not just in the South China Sea, but as you correctly pointed out, using every tool
• And we can think creatively about some new technological tools that could be brought to bear.
• Government has taken important steps to, you know, identify novel tools and make funding available.
• Yet when President Trump raised valid concerns about Greenland's security, NATO talked about protection
• collaboration effort pact known as the Ice Pact, very creative, to build more icebreaker ships, essential tools

Keywords: Greenland, acquisition, national security, Arctic, geopolitical, China, Russia, icebreakers, trade routes

Summary: The meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation focused on the potential acquisition of Greenland by the United States. This issue, first raised by President Trump in 2019, has gained renewed significance amidst shifting global dynamics and the strategic importance of Greenland in relation to transatlantic trade routes and national security. The members discussed the geopolitical implications of Greenland's position, especially given the increasing influence of China and Russia in the Arctic region. Notably, the urgency to address military presence and icebreaker capabilities in the Arctic was a major point of contention, with a call for a new fleet to counter foreign dominance in the area.

Transcript Highlights:

• C-PACE is a proven tool that helps businesses finance energy- and water-efficiency upgrades with long-term
• From the Chamber's perspective, this is about making sure New Mexico's financing tools work as intended
• And then they would have to have a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign
• and... ...trauma, and lifelong harm, and also provides law enforcement and prosecutors with better tools

Bills: HB99, HB38, HB165, HB127, HB72, HB151, SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• We plan to update and validate 20% of the state every year, which is essentially a five-year cycle.
• And I think this tool, the TexasFlood.org site, is a very, very good tool.
• I was messing around with that tool back in Kerrville to see the rise and fall, and it also shows you

Summary: The House Committee on Natural Resources met to focus on flooding issues across Texas, with particular attention to South Texas and the recent catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. Chair Harris and Vice Chair Martinez emphasized that flooding is a statewide problem requiring continued legislative attention. The committee heard invited testimony from Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes and Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 General Manager Raul Sassine, who described the March flood event in Hidalgo County, including more than 20 inches of rain, six deaths, over $100 million in local damage, widespread road flooding, and repeated shutdowns of Interstate 2 and its frontage roads. They argued that existing drainage systems are under capacity, that TxDOT projects must account for downstream drainage impacts, and that local governments have already invested heavily in mitigation through bonds and partnerships. Fuentes and Sassine also described the county’s long-term flood mitigation and water-reuse efforts, including the Delta region water management project, which would capture stormwater, runoff, and treated effluent, reduce flooding, and create potable water supply. They said the drainage district manages about 780 miles of channels and 1,100 acres of detention facilities, has used prior Flood Infrastructure Fund and GLO grants, and has ongoing applications for additional state and federal assistance. Members discussed the need for TxDOT coordination, emergency access on frontage roads, local “skin in the game,” and the possibility of combining flood control with aquifer recharge and water supply projects. Texas Water Development Board Executive Administrator Brian McMath then presented an overview of the state’s flood planning and funding framework, including the post-Harvey legislative changes that created the Flood Infrastructure Fund, the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund, and the regional/state flood planning process. He summarized the first state flood plan adopted in 2024, noting that about one in six Texans live or work in known flood hazard areas and that regional plans identified 4,609 flood risk reduction solutions with an estimated cost of $54.5 billion. He also reviewed TWDB programs for flood grants, community assistance, flood insurance compliance, stream gauges, TexMesonet, flood mapping, and the TexasFlood.org viewer. Members asked about drainage fees, technical assistance, gauge placement, the relationship between flood maps and FEMA FIRMs, and whether flood mitigation funds could support aquifer storage and recovery or recharge projects; TWDB staff said such projects can be eligible if they include flood mitigation components, but direct technical assistance cannot be paid from Flood Infrastructure Fund dollars. The committee concluded by expressing interest in further study of combining flood mitigation with aquifer recharge, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the cognitive dissonance of knowing that I did what was medically best for the patient, given the tools
• LBM, so there are lots of concerns because I mean, just, just speaking in general some of these are tools
• So it's just something to make sure that another tool there to make sure that we can make sure no abuse
• good thing for the market to ensure that the underlying data that's being used to price people is valid

Transcript Highlights:

• To allow cities to keep this tool, this committee substitute returns the stricken language in subsection
• was designed to pump up the reserve and then take that reserve money and use it as a... financial tool
• It gives them one more tool in the toolbox without mandating anything.
• Plans will remain valid and complete during the process of legal challenges if they include the required

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• us first and foremost we have to kind of internally acknowledge California does not have that many tools
• too that we've got some natural advantages here that you know when you say you don't have as many tools
• Audit of every awardee at least once and usually more than once to validate the information that they
• company did not achieve the milestones or FDB discovers any form of. of malfeasance, they have the same tools

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not attempt to adjudicate the validity of those suits and does not in any way limit the
• It's about equipping them with the tools to uphold justice more effectively.
• reflective of our societal norms, and so Allowing our judiciary, our lawyers, our judges to have the tools
• Passing this bill will ensure that lawyers and judges have the information and tools to increase the

Transcript Highlights:

• And they screened 2,183 per month. We've gone from two-week screening down to six days.
• And they screened 2,183 per month. We've gone from two-week screening down to six days.
• that we give is really tied to the tools that we give them. them. them.
• <04:35:07.400> that So, let's not take away the tools that So, let's not take away the tools
• And [snorts] uh educational tool for our children. educational tool for our children.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, it represents an important economic development tool.
• Importantly, it represents an important economic development tool.
• Importantly, it represents an important economic development tool.
• This is about ensuring we have the validation mechanisms in place to ensure the rule of law.
• But here in Congress, we have tools to fight back.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, June 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Counties have already demonstrated the value of this procurement tool approach.
• Counties have already demonstrated the value of this procurement tool approach. A.B.
• Counties have already demonstrated the value of this procurement tool approach.
• AB 2110 gives us a tool designed specifically to help our workforce housing issue.
• a tool designed specifically to help our workforce housing issue.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, our agenda this morning focuses on improved tools to ensure that our highways and streets are
• The tools exist; they just must be employed with urgency.
• We've been looking for tools and trying to get this through for a long time. So good luck.
• Our courts use all the tools they can to rehabilitate those convicted of their first DWI.
• Thank you, Senator, for another important tool in preventing future abuse.” “Thank you.

Bills: SB476, SB664, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1080, SB1171, SB1320, SB1437, SB1727, SB1809, SB2289, SB2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several criminal justice bills, with most of the discussion focused on oilfield theft, DWI enforcement, juvenile justice, reentry licensing, jail transparency, and court/judicial standards. SB 1320 would create a DPS oilfield theft unit headquartered in the Permian Basin; supporters from industry, law enforcement, and a district attorney described increasingly sophisticated, organized theft tied to cartels and multi-jurisdictional criminal networks, while DPS said it currently has only two officers working the issue. The committee voted SB 1320 out unanimously and placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 826, which would enhance DWI committed in a school zone to a state jail felony, also passed unanimously after brief explanation and no testimony. SB 1171, adding juvenile justice OIG peace officers to Schedule C salary, was reported favorably on a committee substitute, and SB 1080, which would allow incarcerated people to obtain occupational licenses effective upon release, also passed on a committee substitute after testimony from formerly incarcerated advocates and reentry supporters. The committee also considered several bills aimed at tougher DWI penalties. SB 476 would increase intoxication manslaughter penalties when the offender violates an ignition interlock restriction; the bill was supported by the author, victims’ family members, Galveston officials, and law enforcement, but opposed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued treatment and prevention would be more effective. After discussion about possible amendments, the bill was left pending. SB 745 would create a new first-degree felony option for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, and it was reported favorably after testimony from a prosecutor supporting the need for a stronger sentencing option. SB 2320 would broadly increase penalties for DWI offenses, including first-time DWI, DWI with an open container, high-BAC DWI, and repeat offenses; it was supported by a grieving family member and a sheriff, and the committee voted it out favorably. On juvenile justice, SB 1727 would expand tools to address assaults on staff at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities by lowering the age for transfer to adult prison in some cases, allowing earlier transfer of determinate-sentence youth, and restricting release when a criminal case is pending. Juvenile probation officials supported the bill as a public safety and victim-rights measure, while the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed it, arguing it would send children to inappropriate adult facilities and conflict with juvenile justice principles; the bill was left pending. SB 1437 would expand the juvenile justice do-not-hire registry to include non-certified positions, and it passed unanimously after supporters said it would help close loopholes that allow predators to move between child-serving jobs. SB 2289, requiring counties that house inmates out of state to report that information and any deaths to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, also passed unanimously. Finally, SB 989, requiring criminal background checks for court personnel who determine bail, and SB 664, establishing statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and associate judges, were explained and discussed as transparency and public-safety measures, with SB 989 reported favorably and SB 664 under committee consideration at the end of the transcript.