Transcript Highlights:

• We’re experiencing rapid load growth across our system. Capacity shortfalls.
• during times of system stress, and the economic efficiency of the system.
• , kind of long distances during times of system stress.
• We looked at the economic efficiency of the system.
• We're seeing really significant flows of power across the system.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Energy Supply, Energy Conservation, and Energy Resilience opened by electing Senator Shoemake as chair and Representative Alex Ibarra as vice chair. Members then moved into a series of work sessions focused on data centers, transmission, and workforce needs tied to Washington’s clean energy and grid planning challenges. Kate Bruns and Glenn Blackman presented preliminary findings from the governor’s Data Center work group, created under Executive Order 25-05. They said the group met for six months, received more than 1,000 public comments, and included representatives from agencies, industry, tribes, labor, utilities, environmental groups, and research institutions. The presenters emphasized that data centers are expected to be the largest source of load growth over the next five to ten years, creating concerns about grid capacity, ratepayer impacts, forecasting, water use, backup generation, and compatibility with Washington’s energy and climate laws. They described nine recommendations, including protecting existing energy and climate policy, improving forecasting, seeking more clean power and transmission, and encouraging flexible data center operations. A proposed tax incentive change that would have expanded eligibility while tying the exemption to new clean electricity sources narrowly failed in the work group. Members asked about tribal consultation, cooling technologies, and local benefits from data centers; the presenters said tribal consultation was ongoing and a final report would follow. Keegan Moyer of West Tech then outlined a regional transmission study showing major strain on the Western grid from load growth, electrification, resiliency needs, and limited transmission capacity. He said the 10-year study identified about 12,000 line miles of needed projects across the West, with roughly $56 billion in estimated costs, including planned projects, reliability upgrades, and new interregional transfer projects. He stressed that many projects are upgrades within existing rights-of-way, but new corridors are still needed, and he previewed recommendations on permitting, equipment procurement, cost allocation, and project sponsorship. In response to questions, he discussed the difficulty of crossing jurisdictional “seams,” the role of federal coordination, landowner compensation, eminent domain as a last resort, and the limited role of public financing beyond a federal GRIP grant. Stephanie Scott of Commerce presented the transmission workforce study, which focuses on substation technicians, line workers, and line clearance tree trimmers. She said current workforce levels are far below what will be needed under a clean energy expansion scenario, and that active projects are essential because apprenticeship training depends on thousands of hours of hands-on work. She highlighted barriers such as high upfront CDL and pre-apprenticeship costs, the need for wraparound supports, and the importance of expanding access for women, people of color, and tribal communities. Members asked about tribal utility apprenticeship programs, utility-run training pipelines, and whether the study included funding sources; Scott said the report would include an inventory of apprenticeship programs and tribal considerations, but revenue ideas were outside the study scope. Finally, Brant Johnson of Grid United described the North Plains Connector as a case study in large transmission development. He said the project, a 420-mile, 3,000-megawatt HVDC line connecting Montana and North Dakota, has relied on early stakeholder engagement, route changes, tribal consultation, and coordinated federal and state permitting to reduce risk and shorten timelines. He said the project aims for permits by the end of 2026 and construction beginning in 2028, with an earliest commercial operation date of 2032. In response to questions, he discussed the challenges of crossing regional seams, interconnection queues, land acquisition and compensation, eminent domain, and financing, noting that the project is primarily privately financed with a $700 million federal grant covering a portion of costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• This represents a systemic failure, not an isolated case.
• voucher system to the new GATOR system, what we experienced with the old voucher system to the new GATOR
• system, what we experienced with the old system...
• To the new GATOR system, what we experienced with the old system, every single person that was in the
• GATOR, as it was a new system and new people were operating the system, we saw that some families, some

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes once they're in the system, it's harder to get out of that cycle.
• We have a justice system that is flawed and broken.
• We have a justice system that is flawed and broken.
• Our legal system relies on police reports. They're not just paperwork.
• But wherever they enter our system, we want to care for them.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills, with testimony split between supporters who framed the measures as targeted fixes and opponents who warned about overcriminalization and unintended consequences. SB 701, by Senator Wahab, drew support from law enforcement and local government groups, who said state law lacks a tool to address the conduct at issue; the ACLU opposed it as duplicative of existing law, while public defenders said they may withdraw opposition after amendments. Because there was no quorum at that point, the bill was held open without a vote. SB 834, by Senator DeRazzo, was presented as a technical cleanup bill to improve California’s automatic record clearance system by preventing outdated “pending” charges from blocking relief, requiring local court records to match DOJ records, and creating a way for people to obtain proof of relief. It received broad support from criminal justice reform and defense organizations, with no opposition, and the chair indicated support, but no final action was taken during the hearing. SB 248, by Senator Rubio, would require DOJ to send new gun purchasers educational materials during the waiting period about safe storage, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and related resources; supporters called it common-sense education, while one opponent argued the information is already available. The committee voted the bill out on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, but it remained on call pending one additional vote. Senator Rubio’s SB 19, the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act, would create a new offense for credible threats against schools or houses of worship even when no specific individual is named. Supporters, including law enforcement and Jewish community advocates, said current law leaves a loophole and that the bill would help prevent panic and resource-draining lockdowns; opponents from civil liberties and youth justice groups argued existing law already covers threats and that the bill would worsen the school-to-prison pipeline. After a motion and second, the committee voted due pass to Appropriations, with the measure also left on call. Later, SB 759 by Senator Archuleta, prompted by the killing of Whittier Officer Keith Boyer, would require a court hearing after a third supervision violation or new offense for people on post-release community supervision; supporters said it adds accountability, while opponents said it removes probation discretion and could increase jail and court burdens. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was reported as passing. The committee also heard SB 6 by Senator Ashby, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance while preserving veterinary use. Supporters, including veterinarians, law enforcement, and a parent who lost a son to a drug-related death, said the drug is increasingly present in fentanyl mixtures and needs to be controlled; opponents from drug policy and civil liberties groups argued scheduling would criminalize users, hinder research, and repeat failed drug-war policies. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out due pass to Appropriations, and it passed. Finally, SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, was introduced to regulate AI-generated voice, image, and video replicas, with supporters emphasizing protection against deepfakes and nonconsensual images; the California Chamber of Commerce opposed unless amended, seeking narrower definitions and limits on consumer warnings. The hearing ended while SB 11 was still under discussion, with no final vote reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> care system. care system.
• </c> financial strains on the health system. financial strains on the health system.
• </c> this also results in our health system this also results in our health system being<01:10:39.040
• </c> unique to our health system. unique to our health system.
• </c> $30 million as a system. $30 million as a system.

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :35.960><c> strand</c><00:05:36.360><c> vehicles</c> seen system outages that strand vehicles seen system
• </c><00:05:41.200><c> when</c> struggle to manage these systems when struggle to manage these systems
• </c> the authorized operator for system the authorized operator for system integrity.<00:10:53.680><c
• </c> is the permit system. is the permit system.
• </c> system either. system either.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and a lot about what that system looks like.
• </c> and it's become a really complex system and it's become a really complex system for<00:36:39.760
• So under the current system, it really depends on how a person receives nursing.
• So I know the system on the inside and the outside. Kylin requires 24-hour care.
• </c> experiences to improve the system experiences to improve the system without<01:37:10.199><c> yanking

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh of the state retirees system. uh of the state retirees system.
• </c> when they age out of the system. when they age out of the system.
• </c> can't get at the PER system, y'all. can't get at the PER system, y'all.
• is everybody's in the same our system is everybody's in the same system.
• The retirement system is paternalistic. The retirement system is paternalistic.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:35:30.560><c> which</c> members of the judicial system, which members of the judicial system
• ,</c> vehicle without alcohol in his system, vehicle without alcohol in his system, and<01:14:13.679>
• </c> data downloaded. um for the DVS system. data downloaded. um for the DVS system.
• We failed to build out the system. We failed to build out the system.
• We started the system and we just didn't build out the system. My concern is I agree.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• distribution system for THC.
• It has found its way into those delivery systems.
• system.
• The impact system of the current DFPS case management system was built in 1996.
• It is essential for stabilizing the system.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

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

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called our real-time threat identification system and real-time victim identification system.
• So that's the crux of the system.
• He was in our system.
• Very interesting system. Fantastic. Seeing none, very interesting system. Thank you. Thank you.
• My brother fell through every gap in the mental health system and was failed by the jail systems.

Bills: HB2134, HB2253, HB2270, HB2402, HB2404, HB2673, HB2941

Keywords: critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, law enforcement, disciplinary action, administrative appeals, investigative files, due process, retaliation, county seal, law enforcement authority, sheriff's posse, public safety, county governance, ambulance services, certificate of necessity, emergency medical services, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much. and transforms them into a permanent statewide system for distributing abortion
• I'm also a person formerly incarcerated within the Washington State prison system.
• And therefore, why would they be treated any less than the criminals in our system?
• It should be good enough for the rest of the system as well. That's just normal.
• So I think that... ...rest of the system as well. That's just normal.

Bills: SB5917, SB6080, SB6085, SB5940, SB5945, SB5957, SB5966

Keywords: abortion medications, reproductive health, mifepristone, misoprostol, abortion access, medication abortion, early pregnancy loss, miscarriage management, Department of Corrections, Department of Health, health care providers, health care entities, Indian health care providers, pharmacy distribution, wholesale distribution, reproductive rights, women's health, emergency clause, immediate effect, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about removing barriers that lead people right back into that system.
• To bring home this need in our system, one particular case we prosecuted.
• The concern instead is whether it is the criminal system or the civil system which should make the decision
• And that's not how our system should work. Anyone could wake up annoyed.
• And that's not how our system should work. Anyone could wake up annoyed.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Summary: The Corrections Committee first took up pending business and reported several previously heard bills favorably to the full House, including HB 1515 and SB 2405, the TDCJ Sunset bill and its Senate companion, HB 5639 on the veteran housing program, HB 2854 on hospital visits as a parole or mandatory supervision condition and related hospital liability, and SB 1080 on occupational licenses for people with criminal convictions. The committee also heard and advanced SB 1080 without amendment, then moved into new business. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3618, which would limit invasive group strip searches of female inmates in TDCJ facilities. Formerly incarcerated women and advocates testified in support, describing humiliation, trauma, barriers to programming, and arguing that searches were often ineffective and that contraband more often comes from staff. TDCJ’s resource witness said the agency has looked at technology such as millimeter scanners and is in the process of placing them in facilities, while the bill sponsor said the measure would preserve searches in emergencies and require female officers when women are unclothed. HB 3618 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4515 on expanding orders of nondisclosure, with the author saying the committee substitute would narrow the bill to marijuana possession only; supporters from Alliance for Safety and Justice and Right on Crime argued it would improve reentry and public safety, while members asked about eligibility and related offenses. HB 1826, requiring depression screenings for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women, drew support from women’s health advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses; the bill was left pending. HB 1969, to help people leaving prison renew or obtain driver’s licenses, and HB 2708, expanding nondisclosure eligibility for certain misdemeanor convictions, were also laid out and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 2729, which would bar hearsay evidence in hearings on violations of release conditions, and SB 1021, which would make stalking convictions ineligible for community supervision and add related victim-protection provisions; both were left pending. SB 1610, addressing civil commitment facility safety, sex offender registration, and penalties for assaults on staff, drew strong opposition from civil commitment residents, family members, and civil rights advocates who argued it was punitive and raised due process concerns; the resource witness said assaults had increased and explained the civil commitment process and existing legal safeguards. Finally, HB 4764 would require TDCJ to report detailed annual data on restrictive housing; supporters said the bill would improve transparency around solitary confinement, and the committee left it pending before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I know like homeless kids school kind of avoid the system because the system breaks them even more
• It's occasion systems taken away from you.
• And I am always in favor of whatever we can do to help parents understand our systems, navigator systems
• But 2, 2, allow our laws to stay allow systems to stay in place.
• It was systems in people. That's so it up at that time to do so.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Andy, there's this lack of, you call it a glitch. in the system.
• They are further harmed by the very justices... the system meant to protect them.
• This bill is about creating fairness and equity in our legal system.
• The adult system.
• Senate Bill 1021 prevents these short sentences. in our system.

Bills: SB251, SB608, SB487, SB535, SB761, SB955, SB957, SB958, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120

Keywords: criminal law, magistrates, Bell County, judicial authority, legal framework, evidence collection, sexual assault kits, reporting, law enforcement, transparency, confidentiality, victim protection, stalking, indecent assault, invasive visual recording, criminal justice, privacy rights, SB 535, Texas criminal procedure, rape shield

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:38.040><c> And</c><00:15:38.160><c> this</c> implemented similar systems.
• And this implemented similar systems.
• There are a number of into the system.
• The system must be able to integrate with existing contractor software.
• </c> system that is functional and efficient. system that is functional and efficient.

Bills: HF4364, HF4821, HF4543, HF3945

Keywords: Central and Eastern European Affairs, ethnic council, advisory council, Minnesota state government, immigrant communities, refugees, humanitarian parolees, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Russia

Transcript Highlights:

• , financial services, energy services, and transportation systems.
• , financial services, energy systems, transportation systems.
• say electromagnetic spectrum for hardening electrical systems and modernizing electrical systems.
• , including health care and financial systems.
• It's the entire system that will be looked at to see what is needed to be done.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills. SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives. The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending. The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the systemic issues that child.
• </c> we might utilize our multi-tiered system we might utilize our multi-tiered system of<00:37:55.880
• And first and system of support.
• . systems. systems.
• </c> the school system? the school system?

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:11.799><c> so</c> also puts on our our school system so also puts on our our school system
• One is in Albert Lea, four in Hopkins, and one in North Mankato. system grant system grant program<00
• </c><01:10:36.719><c> is</c> areas how the Health Care system is areas how the Health Care system is
• </c> rent is broken there are so many systems rent is broken there are so many systems are<01:10:58.440
• </c><01:16:35.320><c> are</c> to I'm so frustrated these systems are to I'm so frustrated these systems

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill, as it was originally drafted, proposes a large systemic change to the health care system for
• forward with that, will provide the information that will allow us to design an actuarially sound system
• the administrators and boards to have the information that we all need to be able to design a good system
• forward with that, will provide the information that will allow us to design an actuarially sound system
• the administrators and boards to have the information that we all need to be able to design a good system

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> system that is fair to all of us. system that is fair to all of us.
• </c> new system for state aid. new system for state aid.
• . systems. systems.
• </c> have equality throughout the system. have equality throughout the system.
• . system. system.

Keywords: 926, house, all