Bills: SB174 , SB174

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, SB174, alternative energy, alternative energy wells, alternative energy facility, geothermal, geothermal energy, subsurface energy, energy storage, energy capture, energy generation, hydropower, solar energy, oil and gas well conversion, well conversion, plugging and abandonment

Transcript Highlights:

• Tribal gaming provides tribal governments the funds necessary to build and sustain strong governmental
• including those related to claims for medical, auto, and property services, procuring or handling funds
• As Senator Lovick stated, fraudsters have innovated a lot over the last 20 years, and we need our laws
• the insurance commissioner to dedicate a portion of the premium tax surcharge that insurers pay to fund
• the OIC to also fund insurance fraud investigations.

Bills: SB5831 , SB6031 , SB6178 , SB5928 , SB5919

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime prevention, penalties, SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured

Transcript Highlights:

• The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board provides funds to high-priority transportation
• Previous legislatures have also authorized general obligation bond sales for the purposes of funding
• Funds were appropriated for this work in 2019 and again in 2021. In 2023, WSDOT and ODOT were...
• And the program award will fund the integration of WSDOT's and... ...WSDOT's and ODOT's STPs to create
• Our office noticed that the interest was going to the general fund.

Bills: HB1823 , HB2092 , HB2111 , HB2114

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation improvement board, TIB, transportation improvement account, motor vehicle fund, arterial streets, local match, private match, grant funding, transportation grants, county roads, city streets, transportation benefit district, urban county, small city program, active transportation, pedestrian, bicycle, bike routes, transit, public transit

Bills: SB90 , SB255 , SB268

Committees: House Tourism , House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: Green County, racing, pari-mutuel wagering, gaming regulations, commission appointments, historical horse racing, local tax, SB255, cannabinoid, hemp, hemp-derived THC, THCa, delta-8 THC, HHC, CBD, THC, novel cannabinoid products, hemp products, intoxicating hemp, delta-8

Transcript Highlights:

• The program is privately funded, it's relying on support. from the public through donations, merchandise
• fishing license of any type to make a donation of $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the Operation Game Thief Fund
• So including the option to donate to the fund on license applications will make a significant difference
• . impact on the amount of donations that the fund receives.
• It is a completely different animal than this brand registration that we're receive no funding for.

Bills: SB384 , SB503 , SB565 , SB616 , SB740

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: hunting license, fishing license, donation, operation game thief fund, wildlife conservation, livestock, electronic registry, marks and brands, Texas Animal Health Commission, animal identification, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water and Agriculture and Rural Affairs convened under the leadership of Chairman Kelly Hancock, who opened the meeting with a prayer in remembrance of Chairman Perry, who was absent due to a personal loss. The session focused on the discussions surrounding SB384, which aims to support the longstanding initiative known as Operation Game Thief. Senator Flores presented the bill, emphasizing its essential role in the fight against poaching through public support. The operation has a successful track record of convictions but is currently dependent on donations and merchandise sales for funding. The committee aimed to vote on multiple bills during this session, contingent on achieving a quorum. Notably, discussions also revolved around fiscal notes on two bills that were set aside for later consideration, indicating the committee's intention to carefully manage their legislative decisions. The meeting showcased a productive atmosphere, with committee members actively engaged in the review and potential advancement of key legislative measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• The funds currently, whenever a future damage award is awarded...
• This simply ensures that the funds are being used for their intent.
• Is it all funded at one time? Yes. Yes. Okay. Is the account interest-bearing?
• it would be the contact point, and then the funds would revert back to the person that funded it, that
• Where it says that the funds will revert to the judgment debtor.

Bills: HB79 , HB437 , HB646 , HB1089 , HB1099 , SB173 , SB180 , SB260 , SB424 , SB476

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: expert witness, expert testimony, witness fees, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, civil procedure, evidence law, Louisiana evidence code, Louisiana civil litigation, expert report, discovery, pretrial disclosure, litigation transparency, settlement, damages award, treating physician, medical expert, forensic expert, civil court, criminal court exception

Transcript Highlights:

• So to be clear, this is a fund that every year you said there's $5 million that's placed into the fund
• All right, members, there is a self-insured fund that dollars, state general fund dollars, are appropriated
• But there's a consistent rollover of millions of dollars in that fund.
• But there's a consistent rollover of millions of dollars in that fund.
• What all is this fund used for?

Bills: HB82 , HB143 , HB145 , HB160 , HB222 , HB430 , HB445 , HB490 , HB603 , HB619 , HB670 , HB672 , HB763 , HB773 , HB781 , HB810 , HB874 , HB981

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: DWI, driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, penalties, criminal justice, inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, firefighters, law enforcement, medical expenses, dental expenses, disability benefits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, battery of a dating partner, domestic abuse battery, strangulation

Transcript Highlights:

• No general fund impact, okay, because this is all fee-based.
• No general fund impact, okay, because this is all fee-based.
• No general fund impact, okay, because this is all fee-based.
• No general fund impact, okay, because this is all fee-based.
• ,</c><00:29:15.000><c> if</c> um since they have a joint fund, if um since they have a joint fund, if

Bills: HB163 , HB344 , HB163 , HB344 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, property improvement, private financing, energy efficiency, capital expenditure, local government, volunteer fire departments, federally insured financial institutions, fund management

Transcript Highlights:

• an employer for workers' compensation premiums; it may not have a significant impact on the general fund
• Significant impact on the general fund. Are there any questions?
• A fiscal note is available and shows a cost of $436,000 for PERC from the general fund for the remainder
• A fiscal note is available and shows a cost of $436,000 for PERC from the general fund for the remainder
• We act as an employer rep on state fund claims. I'm here in support of SB 6128.

Bills: SB6053 , SB6134 , SB6147 , SB6106 , SB6045 , SB6135 , SB6128 , SB6282 , SB6068 , SB6303 , SB6290

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Transcript Highlights:

• This will expand access to businesses with 100... ...that funding is shared equally between the small
• This is a revolving fund, so the money is going right back into the state, and I think it's going to
• misused to silence different viewpoints. ...strengthens our industries, fostering open dialogue and innovation

Bills: SB1361 , SB2105 , SB2690 , SB2713 , SCR38 , SB2637 , SB2881

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• No housing, no small businesses, No housing, no small businesses, no funding for schools, police, fire
• Our cities are places of growth, innovation, and development.
• municipal services, to fund education?
• They are even exempt from the state overseeing their trust fund. They get to control that.
• Exempt from the state overseeing their trust fund. They get to control that 100%.

Bills: HB447 , HB897 , HB993 , HB2673 , HB3671 , HB3680 , HB3897 , HB4506 , HB4753 , HB4812 , HB4894 , HB5148 , HB5437 , HB5650 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5656 , HB5661 , HB5665

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the creation of emergency service districts, it has created the local solution for funding and
• This bill seeks to ensure that bond-funded road reimbursements are tied to current and localized traffic

Bills: HB447 , HB897 , HB993 , HB2673 , HB3671 , HB3680 , HB3897 , HB4506 , HB4753 , HB4812 , HB4894 , HB5148 , HB5437 , HB5650 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5656 , HB5661 , HB5665

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• with an annual allotment that index is facilities funding to student attendance growth.
• We're providing the funds from the state without any sort of input from the public.
• Additionally this provides the legislature the opportunity to allocate funding to address funding losses
• Essentially what this does is allow them to do a self-funded option for their students.
• Fund was built from land gifted by Texans for Texans to provide a sustainable source of funding for our

Bills: SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a large agenda and repeatedly recessed for floor activity and other committee conflicts. The committee heard and left pending several higher education bills, including SB 2361 to transfer University of Houston-Victoria from the University of Houston System to the Texas A&M System and rename it Texas A&M University Victoria; testimony from university officials, local leaders, and industry representatives strongly supported the move as a way to better align degree programs with regional workforce needs in engineering, agriculture, and STEM. SB 530, which would align Texas accreditation statutes with federal rules allowing institutions to choose among nationally recognized accreditors, also received supportive testimony and was left pending. SB 1085, allowing Sul Ross satellite campuses to offer lower-division coursework toward bachelor’s degrees, was laid out and left pending as well. The committee also took up a series of education policy bills. SB 1241 would expand the standardized tests Texas public universities may accept for admission beyond the SAT and ACT, with supporters from the Classic Learning Test, homeschool advocates, and student-choice groups arguing it would increase access and competition; it was left pending. SB 769 would require a TEA/Higher Education Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education, and testimony from The Arc of Texas and others emphasized the need for better data and accessibility; the bill was left pending. SB 2231 would designate the second week of October as Free College Application Week, and SB 1878 would modernize terminology and support workforce-oriented programs at the Josie School; both were laid out and left pending. The committee reported several bills favorably after adopting committee substitutes. SB 605, concerning charter school expansion applications while under conservatorship or a management team, passed on a 9-0 vote. SB 1871, SB 1873, and SB 1874, all related to school discipline and teacher immunity/placement review provisions, were adopted and reported favorably, with members noting the need for further discussion on some language. SB 762, dealing with flag displays in public schools, passed on a 7-1 vote. SB 1962, relating to public school accountability and challenges to school system operations, passed 7-1 after a corrected vote. SB 1750, replacing a $60 million statewide charter facilities cap with an attendance-growth-based allotment, passed 7-1 with one member voting present not voting. SB 2252, supporting kindergarten readiness and early literacy/numeracy, SB 2253, concerning educator preparation and certification, SB 2365, on student use of wireless devices during instructional time, and SB 1924, restoring local peace officer citation authority for school offenses and adding reporting and parent-notification requirements, were also reported favorably. The committee additionally heard SB 37 on higher education governance and compliance oversight, which passed 7-1 after a substitute that refined curriculum review, governing board authority, faculty senate rules, and a new compliance office within the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I couldn't find a School Security Fund.
• Members, this JCR appropriates funds. from the General Revenue Fund to establish the Cybercrimes and
• them there to fund COLAs in the future.
• But the other part of this is where a pension fund is adequately funded as long as you have employees
• We want to see the pensions fully funded, so if you hit a 100% target, you'd have the best-funded systems

Bills: SB1365 , SB2139 , SB1595 , SB1303 , SB2180 , SB2072 , SB1772 , SB1209 , SB137 , SB1944 , SB372 , SB1636 , SB1256 , SB1827 , SB2104 , SB1226 , SB1876 , SB1966 , SB80 , SB1148 , SB1147 , SB1149 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1164 , SB1159 , SB1165 , SB1174 , SB1156 , SB1158 , SB1163 , SB1175 , SB1176 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1157 , SB1146 , SB1481 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SCR20

Keywords: SB1365, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, procurement exemption, competitive bidding, state purchasing, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, tourism department, merchandise for resale, gift shops, lodges, golf pro shops, state parks, restaurant contracting, retail outlets, public procurement, purchasing flexibility, Title 74, emergency clause, restrictive covenants, discriminatory covenants

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund and four accounts within that fund.
• funds to account for the bond security redemption fund, interest earned, money remaining in the fund
• So they do receive some funding, but that funding also goes to the current training.
• It authorizes them to receive funds from any sources available, including from federal funds.
• where you can get a hold of some federal funds, matching funds.

Bills: HB316 , HB549 , HB646 , HB752 , HB824 , HB873 , HB1129 , HB1157 , HB1170

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Bills: HB568 , HB499 , HB433 , HB568 , HB499 , HB433

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: voting rights, restoration, pardons, Parole Board, re-registration, conviction, states' voting laws, Lawrence County, Sheriff, credit card, debit card, government purchases, discretionary fund, financial accountability, tax distribution, Talladega County, economic development, public safety, rural infrastructure, child labor

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature intends to make the funding ongoing.
• It's really important that we fund the Auditor General.
• We have no definite way of tracking these public funds.
• These funds provide it.
• These funds provide it.

Bills: HB2352 , HB2388 , HB2418 , HB2499 , HB2500 , HB2579 , HB2584 , HB2804

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: funding, auditor general, county treasurer, procedural reviews, state appropriations, HB2388, Arizona Commerce Authority, ACA, small modular reactor, SMR, nuclear energy, advanced nuclear, data center, data centers, economic development, study, appropriation, general fund, jobs, wages

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not own those funds.
• Chair, would this be a new general fund appropriation? Mr.
• Chair, Representative, the Industrial Commission does not take any funds from the general fund.
• We get our funds through other sources, and as such we would not need anything from the general fund
• So, yeah, it's not a general fund-funded agency.

Bills: HB2174 , HB2496 , HB2744 , HB2863 , HB2910 , HB2938

Committees: House Commerce , House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Keywords: insurance regulation, modeling organizations, financial disclosure, rate-making, predictive models, revitalization districts, construction contracts, infrastructure, municipal services, intergovernmental agreements, user fees, landowner agreements, overtime, wages, employee rights, industrial commission, complaints, adjudication, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• Those tolls are conditioned on full funding being identified in a bi-state agreement on tolling.

Bills: HB2307 , HB2374 , HB2379 , HB1823 , HB2111

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: commute trip reduction, definitions, transportation, environmental impact, urban planning, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation, vehicle classification, tolling, emergency suspension, public access, state highways, transportation improvement board, TIB, transportation improvement account, motor vehicle fund, arterial streets, local match, private match

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the provisions in the bill is a resilience loan fund, and that's a fund that would be used by
• Are those currently funding other funds and other projects? When it comes to resilience needs.
• Are those currently funding other funds and other projects? Yes, sorry, thank you.
• professionally directed funding.
• than there is available funding.

Bills: S2542

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste