Transcript Highlights:

• In August 2025, the commission is expected to take action to expand digital tagging across all license
• The Cenel 1247 simplifies and consolidates non-resident hunting license to make the system more efficient
• Currently, Texas offers multiple types of non-resident hunting hunting license, including separate permits
• fixes this by giving Texas Parks and Wildlife Department the same flexibility it has with other licenses
• To adjust fees and categories as needed, this change will streamline the non-resident hunting license

Transcript Highlights:

• and a massage therapy license.
• and a massage therapy license.
• and a massage the proprietor license and a massage therapy<00:25:14.480> license.
• So, we would require a license for those individuals that require a license for walk-ins.
• So, we would require a license for those individuals that require a license for walk-ins.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a letter from the Department of Labor and Licensing.
• This is to pay administrative costs for their interposed licensing platform and supported by license
• , consolidating IT tools and assessing executive branch applications in an effort to consolidate licenses
• consolidating IT tools, and assessing executive branch applications in an effort to consolidate licenses
• The first one, F1, is a letter from the Department of Labor and Licensing, Division of Labor, Wage and

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, and then worked through a series of appropriation and transfer requests. In Section B, it approved a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing. In Section C, it approved two Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support Arkansas BEAD broadband grants, including an extra help position. Members questioned the broadband awards, provider amendments, buildout timelines, accountability, and the status of unawarded locations; the broadband director said no provider had requested speed changes, awards would be monitored with milestone-based payments, and remaining locations would be addressed later as federal guidance is received. The committee also approved transfers in Section D, including $458,000 for the Department of Correction, $25 million for Department of Education programs such as declining enrollment and teacher incentive funding, and $229,000 for Shared Administrative Services project management support. In Section E, the committee considered a $4.7 million budget stabilization trust fund loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization, cybersecurity, and governance tools. Members pressed agency officials on repayment, cost savings, and whether the loan would simply roll over existing costs; officials said repayment would come through agency rates over a five-year period and that the new payment would be lower than the current loan being retired. The committee voted to give favorable advice to the Governor on the loan request. In Section F, the committee reviewed cash fund requests for wage and hour claims, unclaimed property, and a heritage grant; in Section G, it reviewed a $1.1 million federal grant to expand college and career coaching in rural districts; in Section H, it reviewed pay plan and performance fund requests totaling millions across multiple agencies; and in Section I, it reviewed budget manual formatting changes. The latter part of the meeting focused on reports, especially the Medicaid trust fund. DHS and DFA officials reported the fund balance had declined from prior years and was down to about $394 million after seven months, with further decline expected by year-end. Senators and representatives asked about the appropriate reserve level, the impact of pending Medicaid rules and legislation, FMAP changes, and whether additional funding would be needed in the upcoming budget. Officials said projections are updated regularly, more than 10 rule packages remain pending with CMS, and the governor and legislative leaders will discuss additional capital needs during budget development. Members also discussed the importance of balancing Medicaid spending with new federal funding and maintaining flexibility for critical areas such as labor and delivery. The committee then adjourned without further action on the reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a 211 hotline that also serves as the 988 hotline with licensed clinical social workers or people
• the first part of my question about duplicative services, that you're not calling someone with a licensed
• fees, or other extraordinary collection actions, and the debt buyer will return the debt to the licensed
• just for their workforce, for their employees' children or grandchildren to go, that they can be licensed
• License-exempt providers: the teachers still have to be level two background screened.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard and passed several bills. HB 293 would codify the Office of Faith and Community in the Executive Office of the Governor, create a liaison and advisory council, and was supported by faith-based and nonprofit groups; some members questioned possible duplication with existing services and the source of any future funding, but the bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 547 would create an exception to the 30-day notice requirement before hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers sell medical debt when the debt buyer agrees not to use interest, fees, or extraordinary collection actions and must return charity-care-eligible debt; it passed unanimously after brief support testimony. CS/HB 1553 would require reporting of uterine fibroid data to the Department of Health to create a de-identified public database and reauthorize funding for implementation; it also passed 24-0, with members noting the earlier database mandate had not been carried out. The committee then took up CS/HB 1195, “Gage’s Law,” which would require hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments to test for fentanyl in urine drug screens for suspected overdose or poisoning cases. The bill was presented as a response to overdose deaths and the need to better detect fentanyl, and emotional testimony from a parent described a son’s death after a hospital did not test for fentanyl. Members from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing stigma, the need for better treatment and data, and the potential to save lives; the bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 47 on child care and early learning providers would streamline inspections, speed background screening, offer free online training/testing, update definitions, protect certain family child care homes from insurance issues, and create a license-exempt category for employer-provided child care; after questions about parent notice, database listing, background checks, and insurance, an amendment was adopted and the bill passed 24-0 as amended. Finally, CS/HB 647 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to sign death certificates in hospice settings, addressing delays that can leave families waiting to complete burial arrangements. Support testimony came from advocacy and hospice groups, and members cited the bill’s importance for families and religious burial timelines. The bill passed 23-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the exemption from continued education for building professionals licensed 10-plus years.
• It will keep all licenses, regardless of experience, knowledgeable and accountable.
• It aligns licensing with expertise.
• Yes, and for the reason being, a lot of people, when they see licensed and insured, think, all right,
• The FHBA fully supports any effort to further deter bad actors from contracting without a license.

Summary: The committee began by postponing SB 1742 on condos until the following week, then took up SB 1298 on building construction. Senator Simon said the bill would require continued education for long-licensed building professionals, clarify interagency sharing of building officials, limit residential inspectors to one- and two-family homes, revive a paid internship for residential planning examiners, modernize permit signatures, and clarify contractor responsibility when work changes hands. The bill drew supportive waivers and was reported favorably. Members then considered SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms. A delete-everything amendment was adopted to target bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations, while preserving direct restaurant-platform relationships and requiring consumer contact information when reservations are made through noncontractual platforms. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the measure, and CS/SB 940 was reported favorably. SB 638 on home inspectors also passed after the sponsor explained it would raise education requirements from 120 to 200 hours, add instruction on building code, wind mitigation, four-point and insurance inspections, and require $300,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage; it was reported favorably. The committee next approved SB 960 on elevator accessibility, allowing additional shorter support rails while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was amended to address mRNA language and cosmetics safety standards, with the committee adopting amendments and then reporting the bill favorably. SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was amended to clarify the definition of heated tobacco products and exclude other forms such as hookah; it also passed favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees. Finally, SB 1262 on construction contracting was amended to add contractor continuing-education topics, strengthen penalties for unlicensed activity, create a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and require timely refunds and project completion standards; it was reported favorably with support from the Florida Home Builders Association. SB 1304 on solar facilities was then approved after extensive testimony from rural county commissioners and local officials who argued that utility-scale solar on agricultural land has grown without sufficient local oversight and that decommissioning rules are needed to protect farmland and communities. The bill would repeal the current by-right treatment of solar facilities on ag land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances; it was reported favorably after a technical amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes four points to suspend a license. SB 953 does not overreach.
• It requires four to have your license suspended. It requires four to have your license suspended.
• And to state that in the case of a driver's license that's suspended, and some of them lacking.
• Driver's license that's suspended, and some of him in Lacki, rightfully pointed out, this doesn't do
• I've been a California licensed bail agent for 42 years.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contractor licenses.
• Then they want us to use or get certain licenses.
• On page 4, real quickly, here are the federal and licensed spaceports.
• But we are FAA licensed for both vertical and horizontal launch, and we're working on a reentry license
• cool, as well as their private pilot license up there.

Transcript Highlights:

• provisional licenses this year. provisional licenses this year.
• Has autism centers that got licensed.
• uh authorizing services or licensing uh authorizing services or licensing HCBS<00:33:07.280>
• use of restraints in 144G licensed use of restraints in 144G licensed settings. settings. settings
• something whether it was a licensing something whether it was a licensing violation<02:14:04.080

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:14.160> to who are renewing a teaching license to who are renewing a teaching license
• <00:52:59.720> teacher ensures that every licensed teacher ensures that every licensed teacher
• licensed licensed teacher<01:02:50.760> um<01:02:50.960> thank<01:02:51.079> you
• For a Tier 1 licensed teacher, um, it's easier if you're out of state to get that Tier 1 license.
• <01:05:31.720> and can't believe when I got my license and can't believe when I got my license

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm looking at the cost of this contract per license: 682 licenses, $97,240 in contract with the
• That's $142.58 per license. What is your license fee? >> 300 every two years.
• It was $31 per license.
• Knight, I'm just asking your per license. license. license.
• It was $31 license C. Four and contract. It was $31 license C.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, much like licensed clinical ... family separation. Improving court family separation.
• Much like licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage and family therapists, who are already
• So, of course, as you mentioned, licensed mental health counselors in this instance would be licensed
• as far as you know um are our licensed as far as you know um are our licensed mental<00:36:12.880
• mentioned the lack of licensed mentioned the lack of licensed professionals<00:37:28.079> here

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The HHS committee met in Room 224 and announced the hearing was being streamed live, with a one-minute limit on testimony. The chair explained that written testimony had already been reviewed and that speakers should either add new comments or stand on their written testimony. The committee first heard SB 2211, an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including DHS, Aloha United Way, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Catholic Charities, and many individuals. Supporters emphasized the importance of maintaining SNAP-related food assistance and emergency food delivery, while Catholic Charities raised a question about whether the bill’s language would also reach food banks serving food-insecure households that are not on SNAP. No opposition was heard and the bill was moved on without questions from members. The committee then heard SB 2025, which would exempt actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses from jury duty. Testimony was broadly supportive from nursing and health organizations, including the Hawaii American Nurses Association, the Hawaii affiliate of the College of Nurse Midwives, the Hawaii State Board of Nursing, and others. One witness from Kaiser Permanente requested an amendment to include physician assistants, and a committee member asked the Board of Nursing to review that request. The bill otherwise drew no opposition and no further member questions. SB 2038, relating to medication labeling, drew the most extended discussion. The measure would change labeling requirements for certain abortion medications, and testimony was split between supporters who framed it as a privacy and access issue and opponents who raised patient safety, ethics, and transparency concerns. The Department of Health supported the intent but requested an amendment to allow quicker access to private information during investigations without a subpoena. The Board of Pharmacy said it supported the written comments but noted operational challenges and possible cost impacts, while Kaiser said compliance would likely require manual workarounds and could slow pharmacy processes. The chair and members questioned whether patients could simply remove labels themselves, but witnesses said there could still be safety and access issues if the patient is not the one receiving the prescription. The committee then moved on to SB 2050, relating to chiropractic, which received support from the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association, with no substantive opposition noted. The hearing later turned to SB 201, relating to insurance, which appeared to be a new mandated-benefit measure tied to infertility/IVF coverage. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission provided comments, while Hawaii Family Forum opposed the bill, arguing it went beyond medical infertility and raised ethical and public policy concerns. Kaiser and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans both asked for a study or audit, saying the measure could create new insurance mandates and increase costs for residents and employers. Private Work Hawaii strongly supported the bill as an equity issue. The committee noted there was no quorum for decision-making and deferred action on the measure to a later hearing, then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the cannabis licensing fee.
• ><00:03:21.440> a<00:03:21.680> the<00:03:22.000> cannabis<00:03:22.840> licensing
• Um this is a the cannabis licensing fee. Um this is a the cannabis licensing fee.
• broker's license and states that<00:14:10.560> a<00:14:10.720> broker<00:14:11.120>
• for and it amends the broker's license for and it amends the definition<00:14:19.120> of<00:14

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , were licensed.
• And when you're licensed, were licensed.
• Licensed professionals can absolutely Licensed professionals can absolutely not<00:20:32.880> ignore
• ,<00:31:32.480> you licensed.
• And if you're licensed, you licensed.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• does is expect establish a licensing does is expect establish a licensing structure<01:09:56.080
• willingness, it is the current licensing willingness, it is the current licensing structure. structure
• The<01:15:36.120> dual<01:15:36.400> license The dual license The dual license framework
• <01:18:05.120> uh and what the existing licensing uh and what the existing licensing uh frameworks
• > into easier to get this license put into easier to get this license put into place<01:18:34.640

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there is only at this time, to my knowledge, one, licensed birth center that's operating in New Mexico
• Um, then House Bill 116, um, it would have required DOH to pay licensed boarding homes about $200 per
• So this was kind of like a carrot and stick approach to get the boarding homes uh licensed.
• Um, and this bill actually, um, I guess you could say speaks to, um, licensing and scope of practice
• So like, if you apply for a gun license or any of the professional licenses, you would, uh, have an option

Transcript Highlights:

• And actually, this next bill we have will be of interest to you as well in that regard, licensing in
• Since 2019, military spouses are allowed to practice in Texas if they hold a license that is substantially
• equivalent to one in another state and that license is in good standing.
• Senate Bill 1818 would implement a six-month temporary licensing and certification process for military
• to the Texas economy and mitigates the lack of urgency by non-Texas licensing authorities in providing

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard a briefing from the Texas Veterans Commission on its major programs and outreach efforts. TVC described its claims assistance, health care advocacy, education oversight, employment services, entrepreneurship support, mental health and suicide prevention work, women veterans services, grant funding for nonprofits and local governments, and support for veteran treatment courts. The agency also highlighted its communications strategy, including media outreach, events, newsletters, social media, and the Texas Veterans State Benefits Booklet, and noted that less than 58% of veterans were aware of TVC in the latest needs assessment. A committee member asked about performance metrics, and TVC said each appropriation has associated measures and that it could provide recent results. The committee then took up Senate Bill 651, which would allow a county veterans service office in a large county to report either directly to commissioners court or to a designated county executive official. Senator West explained the bill as a cleanup of current practice, and Dallas County testified in support, saying the change would streamline internal management. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 897 would reduce the non-state matching requirement for the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program in larger counties from 100 percent to 75 percent in the committee substitute, rather than the 50 percent reduction in the filed version. Supporters from MetroCare and Emergence Health Network said the lower match would help sustain and expand veteran mental health services, citing increased demand and program growth. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also adopted its rules. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1814, which would create an interagency database to collect and coordinate contact information for transitioning veterans so agencies could proactively connect them with services. Senator Hancock said the goal was to better use information already being collected, though he noted the bill had a significant fiscal note. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1818, which would create a temporary six-month licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas while they wait for letters of good standing from other states. VFW testified in support, emphasizing the importance of employment for military families. Both bills were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• regulation of cannabis establishments; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license
• Referred to the Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures.
• 1234, by Gehan, relating to certain procedures required for the denial of certain applications for a license
• HB 1237, by Gehan, relating to the renewal of certain expired occupational licenses or registrations
• HB 1337, by Isaac, relating to the recognition of a handgun license issued by another state, referred

Summary: The House met to read a large slate of newly filed bills and resolutions and refer them to committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including health care and insurance, public education, elections, criminal justice, public safety, taxes, transportation, agriculture, environmental regulation, higher education, housing, and local government. Several proposals focused on abortion and reproductive health, firearms, voter registration and ballot access, school curriculum and accountability, property tax and homestead issues, and state contracting and agency oversight. A number of constitutional amendments were also filed, including proposals on initiative and referendum, veto override authority, vaccination refusal, parental rights in education, gun rights, Medicaid expansion, and various tax exemptions. No substantive debate, testimony, or votes occurred during this portion of the meeting; the clerk simply read the bills and resolutions and announced their committee referrals. The list included both general legislation and joint resolutions, with many items sent to standing committees and several to subcommittees. The House then adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:03:06.560> in emergency departments are licensed in emergency departments are licensed
• It does affect the licensing. No, this is the regulation.
• It's a And that's a licensing one. Yes. It's a licensing<03:06:46.320> one.
• This is hospital licensing.
• Okay, so this is relating to home health licensing.

Bills: SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB1515, SB2835, HB2282, SB3083, SB2031, SB2519, SB2667, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB2861, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: salvage vehicles, vehicle title transfer, electronic signatures, insurance, administrative efficiency, bribery, corruption, statute of limitations, public servant, criminal justice, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, biological evidence, DNA analysis, post-conviction, evidence retention, court approval

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a 172-acre... farm winery that's licensed under farm winery that's licensed under 340A.315 340A
• a product of the farm is that's licensed a product of the farm is that's licensed under<00:02:44.120
• our specific licensing requirements are in<00:07:30.240> statute.
• We don't go check game and fishing license down at the river because that's not our role.
• We don't go check game and fishing license down at the river because that's not our role.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the second phase, once you get into the combined operating license, license to construct, license
• Switzerland is in the licensing process.
• Obviously, you've got to get a license to have the used fuel, but it also plays into your social license
• , or else it would not get licensed by the NRC or the DOE.
• or else it would not get licensed by the NOC or the OE.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.