Video & Transcript Research : 'Senate rules'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development May 7th, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm sorry, there is a Senate companion to... I got a five o'clock.
  • This is the Senate companion to HB4196 by Representative...
  • The Senate Bill 264 by Chairwoman Button, the chair recalled Senate Bill 264 from the Subcommittee on
  • I'm testifying in support of the Senate bill.
  • Senate Bill 264 will provide TDI oversight during the process.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Carroll, Senator Givens, Senator Higdon, Senator Meredith, Senator Neal, Senator Rawlings, Senator
  • Reed, Senator Thomas, Senator Williams, Senator Wilson, and Senator Wise.
  • Senator Thomas here. Senator Williams here. Senator Wilson here. Senator Wise here.
  • Senator Higden hi Senator Senator Higden hi Senator Meredith<00:30:25.120> Senator Meredith Senator
  • Senator Carroll. Senator Givens. Senator Higdon. Senator Meredith. Senator Neal. Senator Reed.
Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and heard a presentation from Parker Keys, Northern Kentucky State Vice President for Kentucky FFA, on the value of career and technical education (CTE). He highlighted enrollment of more than 143,000 secondary students in CTE, work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and the role of student organizations such as DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, Educators Rising, TSA, and SkillsUSA. Senators praised CTE as important for workforce readiness and resume building, and encouraged continued engagement with the committee. The committee then considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, sponsored by Senator Steve West, supporting a Southern Regional Education Board initiative to expand crisis counseling and recovery support for schools and colleges after tragedies and disasters. Dr. Steven Puit and Linda Tyrie described a regional network of trained counselors modeled on Kentucky’s response after Marshall County, emphasizing long-term recovery, psychological first aid, and deployment support for up to a year after an event. Members spoke in strong support, citing the lasting impact of Marshall County and Heath, and the resolution passed 13-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 77, a cleanup bill relating to the Education Professional Standards Board. Senator Matt Deneen and Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities representative Mr. Dyer explained that the bill clarifies that small independent colleges and universities may designate a qualified education department representative, not only a chief academic officer, to serve on the board. The committee adopted a committee substitute by voice vote, and the substitute was approved.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Carroll here. Senator Givens here. Senator Higdon. Senator Meredith. Senator Neal.
  • Senator Rawlings. Senator Reed here. Senator Thomas. Senator Williams here. Senator Wilson.
  • Rawlings Senator Reed here Senator Rawlings Senator Reed here Senator Thomas<00:01:33.920> Senator
  • <00:05:34.199> declaring<00:05:34.639> an Senator Wise knows the rules.
  • Senator Neal, Senator Rawlings, Senator Reed, Senator Thomas, Senator Tier, Senator Williams, Senator
Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met and first handled introductions of guests and visitors from several school districts and education groups. The committee then took up Senate Bill 3, which relates to student athletes and includes an emergency clause. The bill sponsor and invited witnesses, including athletics directors from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, said the measure is intended to update Kentucky’s NIL laws in light of the House v. NCAA settlement and other national changes in college athletics. Supporters said SB 3 would let Kentucky universities directly compensate student athletes, help them secure third-party NIL deals, require reporting of deals over $600, and create guardrails and fair-market-value review to reduce pay-for-play concerns. They emphasized that the bill is meant to keep Kentucky institutions competitive, align with expected national standards, and prepare for changes expected around July 1, 2025. Witnesses also discussed the need for more uniform rules nationally, the role of the Power Four conferences in developing governance and clearinghouse systems, and the desire to preserve both athlete mobility and continuity in college sports. Several members raised concerns about the transfer portal, NIL incentives, and the broader effect on college athletics, with one senator saying NIL and the portal have damaged the sport but acknowledging Kentucky must compete. Witnesses responded that tighter portal windows and clearer national rules would help, while still preserving student-athlete transfer rights when needed. After discussion, the committee moved to a vote on SB 3; the roll call was taken, and the bill advanced out of committee, with at least one senator explaining a reluctant yes vote because of competitive pressures on the Commonwealth.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Rocky Adams. Senator Chambers Armstrong. Senator Haron here. Senator Maiden here.
  • Senator Mabledo here. Senator McDaniel here. Senator Mills here. Senator Tishner here.
  • Senator Haron here. Senator Maiden here. Senator Mabledo here. Senator McDaniel here.
  • Senator McDaniel. Senator Mills. Senator Rawlings. Senator Tishner.
  • Senator Elkins. Senator Heron. Senator Maiden. Senator McDaniel. Senator Mills. Senator Rawlings.
Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, with testimony from McDaniel and Deputy Secretary Robert Long of the Personnel Cabinet. They described the bill as a cleanup measure for personnel law that would, among other things, add interns to the definition of employee while excluding them from full-time employee status, remove the Personnel Cabinet secretary as an ex officio member of the KERS Board, clarify personnel board membership and grievance rights, limit appeals of satisfactory-or-above evaluations, address layoffs and reemployment rights, allow leave donation in certain resignations or retirements, restrict remote work from outside Kentucky without approval, permit deductions for unreturned state equipment, and make DJJ facility supervisors non-merit positions. The committee voted on SB 79 and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 67, presented by Chair Nemes, an elder property tax bill. The bill would freeze the assessed value of a primary residence for homeowners age 65 or older until the property is no longer their primary residence, while still taxing at the current rate. Nemes said the measure was intended to help seniors on fixed incomes and noted a fiscal analysis showing little to no direct revenue loss, though it could reduce projected budgeted growth in property tax revenue. Committee discussion noted a local impact and a statewide budget impact estimate of about $4 million for the first two fiscal years. SB 67 also passed with favorable expression, and the committee adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Adams, Senator Chambers Armstrong, Senator Haron here, Senator Armstrong, Senator Haron here,
  • Senator Maiden here, Senator Ma Bledo here, Senator McDaniel here, Senator Mills, Senator Rawlings,
  • Senator Maiden here, Senator Ma Bledo here, Senator McDaniel here, Senator Mills, Senator Rawlings, Senator
  • Senator Rocky Adams? Senator Chambers Armstrong? Yes. Senator Elkins? I. Senator Haron?
  • Senator Rocky Adams? Senator Chambers Armstrong? Yes. Senator Elkins? I. Senator Haron?
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up two bills. Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s pardon power during the final 60 days before a gubernatorial election and through the transition period, with the stated goal of giving voters more time to learn about executive clemency decisions. McDaniel said the measure was intended to increase accountability and noted it would need approval by both chambers and then placement on the 2026 ballot. Senator Haron raised concerns about whether the proposal could chill pardons and asked about the timing; McDaniel responded that 60 days was chosen because of early voting and the need for public notice. The committee adopted a substitute and then passed the bill with a favorable expression; several members voted aye, Senator Haron passed, and Senator Adams later asked to be recorded as voting aye before adjournment. The committee then considered Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Elkins, which would amend Kentucky law on indigent burials to allow cremation as an option instead of requiring burial, and would require consultation with the county coroner before a decision is made. Elkins described it as a local control measure and said he was working with Rabbi Litman on a possible accommodation for Jewish indigent decedents, since the Jewish community strongly prefers burial and has offered to assume costs in those cases. Questions focused on how long officials must make a bona fide effort to notify a spouse or next of kin and whether the bill would affect current practices; Elkins said it would not change existing policy on that point and suggested a possible floor amendment for additional issues. Rabbi Litman testified in support, explaining the religious importance of burial and the community’s concern about cremation. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed with a favorable expression, though Senator Herron and Senator Tichenor expressed reservations and voted no or passed, citing constituent concerns and the possibility that family members may later seek a burial place to visit.