Transcript Highlights:

• Or contracts with other states.
• Last year, we passed a number of amendments to the State's Competency Act, and one of those amendments
• My question is, in committee you talked about the amendments.
• There was another amendment that was then taken off.
• The compact is a contract that's entered into by states.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I would be more than happy to work on an amendment to change that for the one student I think
• their staff or contracted person to provide<01:10:05.199> that<01:10:05.520> service.
• were saying that you may want to amend were saying that you may want to amend on<03:59:38.479>
• <04:15:41.600> it, Representative Lad wants to amend it, Representative Lad wants to amend
• to their comments in the amendment to their comments in the fiscal<04:35:24.240> note.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions on the amendment? Too many public testimony in the amendment?
• Members were in debate on the amendment. Representative, you're recognized to close the amendment.
• The amendment has been adopted. We're back on the bill as amended.
• So it's a great amendment. Thank you. Further debate on the amendment.
• Members were in debate on the bill as amended. Anyone wishing to debate the bill as amended?

Summary: The State Affairs Committee met with a quorum present and took up several measures. It first considered HJR 1215, an ad valorem tax exemption for farmers and agricultural lands. The committee adopted an amendment making technical changes and removing a requirement that implementing language be set by general law. Several agricultural and business groups supported the measure, and it was reported favorably by a vote of 22-4. The committee then heard CS for CS for HB 1169, a bill revising water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and business practices, including restrictions on lobbyist expenditures and additional budget disclosures. An amendment removing the statutory section on management review teams was adopted after debate over whether those teams were still useful. The bill was reported favorably 19-8-7. Members then debated PCS for CS for HB 1221, which would redirect local option tourist development tax revenues toward property tax relief and give counties more control over certain local taxes. County, tourism, beach preservation, and hospitality groups opposed the bill, warning it would weaken tourism marketing, beach renourishment, and local services, while supporters argued it would provide property tax relief and accountability. The bill passed 14-12. Finally, the committee considered HB 4079, which would dissolve the town of White Springs. The sponsor and supporters described years of mismanagement, intimidation, and illegal conduct, while opponents argued dissolution was an extreme step and pointed to the ongoing election and other remedies. After extensive public testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 19-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:10:12.240> Amendments. officer. Amendments. officer. Amendments.
• We have amendments. First amendment, second reading amendment to Senate File 45.
• amendment number one. amendment number one.
• Third reading amendment amendment?
• against the amendment. against the amendment.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• second session, submission of a bill bearing Legislative Council Drafting Number 232239, a bill amending
• providing powers and duties, establishing selection criteria and eligibility requirements, providing for contracts
• providing additional award criteria, adding definitions, allowing fees to be assessed upon breach of contract
• , amending the Health Professional Loan Repayment Fund, concluding the provision of loans made pursuant

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second Session, submission of a bill bearing Legislative Council Service Drafting No. 232329, a bill amending
• Providing powers and duties, establishing selection criteria and eligibility requirements, providing for contracts
• Allowing fees to be assessed upon breach of contract.
• Amending the health professional loan repayment. Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• The floor amendment simply adds health science centers into the institutions that can be contracted with
• There is an amendment following amendment. Secretary, read the amendment.
• Hearing none, amendment is adopted. There is an amendment. Secretary, read the amendment.
• This amendment is a clarifying amendment.
• Following amendment, the Secretary read the amendment: Floor Amendment No. 1 by West.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Jim Harris of Tilden Baptist Church, followed by remarks from Senator Zaffirini recognizing his service and retirement as an agricultural teacher. The chamber also received a message from the governor on appointments to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors. Senators then adopted SR 434 honoring Goodwill Industries of San Antonio’s 80th anniversary, with Senators Gutierrez, Menendez, and Zaffirini praising its workforce training and second-chance employment mission; SR 435 recognizing Dr. Christine Ramos Camacho as Doctor of the Day; and a group of additional resolutions adopted by voice vote. Senator Zaffirini also introduced the McMullen County Day delegation, and Senator Gutierrez introduced the Doctor of the Day. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1951 addressed penalties for late property rendition filings and removed a financial incentive for appraisal districts; SB 1261 related to financing water supply projects in the state water plan; SB 1620 created a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program; SB 530 updated higher-education accreditation rules; SB 2183 standardized fireworks sales periods statewide; SB 2368 strengthened the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act and added foreign-affiliation safeguards for electricity market participants; SB 1398 limited children without placement (CWOP) practices and added community-based care transparency; and SB 1960 established digital replication rights for voice and visual likenesses. Each of these bills advanced through suspension of the regular order, passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few measures. The chamber also debated SB 825, which would require an annual study of the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration. Senators Middleton, Hinojosa, Gutierrez, and Eckhardt debated whether the study should include positive as well as negative impacts; an amendment to require that broader analysis failed, and the bill was left pending after passage to engrossment. Other measures passed included SB 2010, prohibiting political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs; SB 546, requiring reporting and continued implementation of school bus seat belts; SB 586, establishing the Historical Texas Cemetery designation program; SB 1150, requiring inactive oil and gas wells to be plugged or returned to production under a compliance plan; SB 1184, lowering the minimum age of wine eligible for sale by wine collection sellers; SB 2185, clarifying bilingual education allotment funding; SB 1923, making child support follow the child in certain temporary placements; SB 2252, expanding early literacy and numeracy supports and screening tools; SB 1870, barring local decriminalization of drugs; and SB 2405, the major TDCJ sunset bill, which included facility planning, parole and rehabilitation reforms, and an amendment protecting parole board discretion. Most of these bills were adopted after floor amendments and passed with recorded votes, often along party-line or near-party-line divisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• and we have no objections to amendments and we have no objections to those<00:11:53.519> amendments
• impetus and why we bid for the contract impetus and why we bid for the contract and<00:28:48.679
• is now um so our proposed amendment is now um so our proposed amendment simply<00:28:54.039>
• c> all Amendment with amendments noting all Amendment with amendments noting all members<02:01:38.880
• <02:10:04.679> suggested also adopting the Amendments suggested also adopting the Amendments

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health heard testimony on several bills. On SB 1441, which would repeal the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System from HHSC to the Department of Health, the Department of Health said it strongly supports the measure and requested clarifying amendments. HHSC/Oahu Region also supported the bill and said it had no objection to the department’s amendments. In response to questions, witnesses said the agencies have been working on an MOU to support transfers of long-term care patients to Leahi, with the current goal being about 10 to 15 patients, but transfers would occur only as space and staffing allow; one patient was reportedly being admitted at the time, and the process was described as slow and case-by-case. The committee then heard SB 1443 on payment rates for state hospital patients and related Department of Health services. The hospital administrator said the bill would allow rates above Medicaid for community or foster-home placements if patients cannot be placed at Leahi or elsewhere, and would set Medicaid-level reimbursement for outside medical services used by state hospital patients. He said at least one provider was interested in offering services at that rate and that the population involved is largely non-ambulatory long-term care patients. Members asked about availability and training, and the witness said special training could be provided. SB 1322, a broad mental health bill, drew mixed testimony. The Department of Law Enforcement supported giving crisis-intervention-trained officers more discretion to transport people to medical care instead of arresting them. The Attorney General supported the bill but recommended revisions to emergency-transport language and restoring liability protections. HHSC and Queens Hospital supported the overall goal but sought amendments to preserve the mental health emergency worker role in decision-making and to avoid negative impacts on emergency departments. The Disability Rights Center and ACLU opposed parts of the bill, arguing that it weakens due process, reduces protections in involuntary treatment and transport, and should retain a three-person treatment panel rather than reduce it to one. A Queens representative said the current program works well and reported that more than 90% of MH1 cases once went to hospitals, but that figure has dropped to about 60-70%, with about 20% now diverted to community settings or the behavioral health crisis center. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, half the presentation will focus on independent contracts.
• Second is the existence of a written contract.
• He was also applying for independent contracting to do that as well.
• It's hard to convince someone to make a non-refundable contract.
• Amendments that we did to our return to work rules last year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charters have increased dramatically through amendment and replication.
• I didn't see clear authority to contract the function out, so we limited our analysis. to what it would
• It was not a forensic audit, but what it was, was the first time we had actually used a contract that
• to contract.
• It was in the middle of the school year, because they're not contracted, right?

Bills: HB1540, HB3837, HB5571, SB370, SB2425

Keywords: government review, Texas Sunset Act, regulatory oversight, agencies, sunset provisions, autonomous vehicles, regulation, safety, criminal offense, Autonomous Vehicle Commission, registration, regulations, Level 4 automation, Level 5 automation, self-driving technology, traffic laws, permit system, collision reporting, safety standards, Automated Vehicle Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• APRN Direct contracting with HMOPPO, 2017 SB 654.
• We actually have a contract with the University of... It's under y'all's contract.
• Y'all have contracted. Yes. Someone redacts all the private... Redacts all of it.
• The bill allows the state to contract with local authorities. I guess I’d be...
• How does this avoid violating the First Amendment?

Bills: HB1106, HB3284, HB541, HB713, HB1403, HB1586, HB1942, HB2070, HB2844, HB2851, HB3151, HB3749, HB3940, HB3963, HB4454, HB4466, HB4795, HB5154, HB5394, SB1357, HB1052, HB4099, HB4638, HB5147

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• signed their contracts signed their contracts we<01:55:52.960> have<01:55:53.159> told
• Could you speak to your amendments, please? Sure, I can speak to all of that.
• work with us um through the doe contract work with us um through the doe contract or<04:26:55.399
• Oh, sounds like the amendments you're suggesting would be helpful. Thank you. Further questions?
• <04:31:32.279> you're like this the Amendments you're like this the Amendments you're suggesting

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SEEING NO QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT I DO HAVE TO APPEARANCE FORMS, DOCTOR DIANE ZUKOWSKI?
• >> THANK YOU, MY COMMENTS ON THE AMENDMENT ARE I GUESS INFORMATIONAL.
• THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE AMENDMENT. IS THERE DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
• WITHOUT OBJECTION SHOW THAT AMENDMENT ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
• THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE IN OUR 14TH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 16.
• amendments.
• Let me tell you some of the issues with the amendments. So the amendments from the amendments.
• We're going to amend amendment set 5502, which the committee just adopted.
• the amendments.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a workers’ compensation overhaul creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and setting up confidentiality, rulemaking, and penalties. Senator Myers said the bill was meant to modernize a paper-based system, speed injured workers back to care and work, reduce disputes through a more predictable fee schedule, address outliers and abuse, and generate reliable data for future fee-schedule decisions. Representative Melarine then offered a large amendment package combining portions of House Bills 780 and 1101 into SB 408, adding preliminary-determination procedures, changes to benefit durations, fraud language, and a deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached. Supporters said the package would create a more complete reform; opponents argued the additions were rushed, not germane, and would harm injured workers, especially those without lawyers, by adding technical filing burdens and stricter fraud consequences. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment package, then adopted a follow-up amendment removing the word “potential” from a fines provision and deleting the fraud section, and finally reported SB 408 with amendments on a divided vote. Testimony on SB 408 was sharply split. Proponents, including Alton Ashy and Trey Mustian, argued the bill’s transparency and data-collection provisions were the most important part, that the system needs a modern fee schedule, and that the added reforms would help control costs and speed payment. Opponents, including Shannon Lindsay and another injured-worker advocate, said the original bill was a good compromise but the added provisions changed its character and would disadvantage pro se claimants, remove materiality from fraud law, and reduce benefits for seriously injured workers. Committee members also questioned the timeline for the database and fee schedule, the effect of historical data gaps, and whether the reforms would help employers and injured workers alike. The committee ultimately agreed the bill still contained its core goals of faster care, predictable fees, anti-abuse measures, and modernization. The committee then moved to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, a workplace-violence/safety measure for small-box discount retailers. Chasson explained that the bill had been narrowed to require retailers to submit an existing written workforce safety plan, or develop one if they do not already have one, with no penalties attached. The committee adopted a substitute bill incorporating prior amendments. Representative Glorioso noted continuing concerns about civil-liability implications and the duty to protect against third-party criminal acts, but the bill was advanced from committee after the substitute was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE CAN HELP THEM GET INTO MORE MARKETS AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND HELP THEM WITH GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING
• WE HELPED OUR SMALL BUSINESSES GETTING 575.9 MILLION IN CONTRACTS. AND 336.2 MILLION IN CAPITAL.
• IT USED TO BE THAT IT WAS HELPING A COMPANY REGISTER OR GET A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT BUT NOW IT IS MORE
• SO YOU SEE THE POOL AND THE PRELIMINARY IMPACTS ARE 2024 IS 566 MILLION AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.
• THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS. >> Chair: THANK YOU SENATOR GAETZ. MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The owners turn around and put that money in the contract, and the owner is basically paying for the
• <00:15:26.639> $10<00:15:26.800> million,<00:15:27.199> and of the contracts
• Is there an amendment too, or is that just the amendment?
• Are you planning on putting that cap on there through an amendment?
• We've just got to be very careful about how an amendment may be worded.

Bills: HB268, SB279, SB304, SB303, SB298

Keywords: lottery winnings, lottery prize, state lottery, income tax exemption, tax exemption, gambling, games of chance, prize proceeds, Alabama Department of Revenue, state income tax, tax relief, winnings, jackpot, lotto, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building

Transcript Highlights:

• So support the bill, and thank you for the amendment.
• So support the bill, and thank you for the amendment.
• So support the bill, and thank you for the amendment. Representative Wilson.
• So support the bill, and thank you for the amendment. Representative Wilson, thank you.
• <00:42:48.319> rate contract rate the normal contract rate contract rate the normal contract

Keywords: The live stream for this meeting cut off before the end. This is the complete meeting pulled from back ups. Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:05 HB 38: 00:02:42 HB 206: 00:29:22, 958, all

Summary: The committee began with roll call and introductory remarks, including recognition of new members and guests. It then took up House Bill 38, sponsored by Representative Tipton, which would increase penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection. Under the committee substitute, a third violation involving the same order and same individual could be elevated from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Tipton and domestic violence survivor Maryanne Pratt testified in support, with Pratt describing repeated abuse, protective-order violations, and ongoing fear despite arrests and jail time. Several members spoke in favor of the bill and praised Pratt’s testimony. Members and outside witnesses raised concerns about the substitute’s language, especially the requirement that the same victim be involved and whether the bill could leave gaps for repeat abusers with different victims. Representative Burke and others questioned whether the conduct was already covered by stalking or assault statutes. Scott West, speaking for the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the bill could allow technical contempt findings to be used as predicate offenses and noted that existing assault and stalking laws already address much of the conduct. Sponsor Tipton said the language was not final and that further changes might be considered in the Senate. Despite the concerns, the committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 38 with favorable expression by a 19-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 206, sponsored by Representative Nemes, on wrongful conviction compensation. Nemes introduced exonerees and representatives from the Kentucky Innocence Project, and the substitute was adopted without objection. Testimony came from Paul Herd, who spent 20 years wrongfully convicted and described the difficulty of reentry, and Jon Acar, who said he was wrongly convicted as a teenager and spent years in custody and on parole. Both urged passage of the bill as overdue support for people exonerated after wrongful convictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if that is the case, then it should be amended.
• Transportation is a key amendments.
• <01:42:32.560> I amendments. Chair and vice chair. I amendments. Chair and vice chair.
• amendments. Chair and vice chair vote I. amendments. Chair and vice chair vote I.
• <01:52:58.880> and And that's it for the amendment and And that's it for the amendment and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1783, which would expand public-private partnership options for charter school facilities. The Department of Education offered comments, the Charter School Commission and SFA supported the bill, and Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii Kids, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, HGA, Aloha Project, and several individuals testified in support, while UPW opposed it. Supporters said charter schools need faster and more flexible ways to address severe facility shortages and high costs, and SFA described the bill as a pilot model that could leverage developer partnerships and state contributions, citing Maryland as an example. Members asked whether the bill was limited to charter schools; DOE said the language could be read to include other public school facilities, but if focused only on charter schools, DOE was less concerned. The Charter School Commission also described an existing public-private preschool model through Parkway Village Preschool and PACTED. The committee then took up HB 1778, which would establish a CIP database for school facilities. SFA supported the bill, saying it would create a more disciplined, transparent basis for funding decisions by documenting facility condition, needed repairs, classification, and timing. DOE initially said it rested on its comments, then responded to questions by saying it already maintains deferred maintenance lists, uses systems such as Maximo, CPT, GIS, and finance software, and sends legislators project-status letters twice a year. DOE said it is working on improving its outward-facing dashboard and integrating its systems, but questioned whether the bill would add value beyond existing tools. Members emphasized the need for a publicly accessible, real-time transparency tool, while DOE said it was still evaluating its current systems and was not yet seeking funding for a new IT program. For HB 2344, creating an Independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission, DOE said it wants to remain part of any consolidation process to keep students and education central, while SFA said the bill is timely and framed it as a restructuring response to changing conditions and possible federal funding cuts. SFA compared the proposal to the federal BRAC process for military base closures and said Hawaii has the same enrollment as in 1961 but many more schools, arguing that the state needs a more deliberate approach to school closures and land reuse. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about several sections, including unclear references to administrative support, a governor-approval sequence, a possible conflict with existing statutes governing closed-school disposition, and a missing section number. Testimony on HB 2345, which would establish a geographic CIP district, began with DOE in opposition; DOE said the bill would duplicate existing work, add confusion by creating two agencies doing the same thing, and spend money inefficiently because district project coordinators and project lists already exist.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also amends 24A-1-7 by...
• Madam Chair, Representative, it amends several sections of our state law.
• Madam Chair, Representative, it amends several sections of our state law.
• Section 2 similarly amends that act.
• Section 2 similarly amends that act.

Keywords: 996, all