Transcript Highlights:

• This approach harms both those who want to live a car-based lifestyle and those who would prefer alternatives
• A toll road that is on a road already can simply arrange for the alternate routes not to be maintained
• This creates the impression that the alternative routes are inadequate to convince the people of Texas
• Please preserve the flexibility for TxDOT and local governments to design safer, more efficient alternatives

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• they're not a election alternative they're not a election official<02:36:26.840> but<02:36:27.120
• It might be good to have the notary as an alternative to these other things if the other things cannot
• you know directly with the Alternatives you know directly with the local<02:48:29.760> state<
• alternatives alternatives um<02:50:19.239> Dan<02:50:19.800> Healey<02:50:20.520> who's
• um and I I to offer another alternative um and I I guess<02:50:57.560> I<02:50:58.479> will

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and that was just to support my own habit and because the other alternatives might be theft or they
• And the result is less transparency, fewer cases tested in court, and sentencing outcomes driven more
• <01:06:10.480> in transparency, fewer cases in tested in transparency, fewer cases in tested
• automatic suspension rather than a one-year automatic suspension for refusal to take a breathalyzer test
• I think it should be a year, same as if you take the test and fail.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker said that for cost transparency, EBT costs do not seem to pass the common-sense test in the
• The speaker said that when EBT was moved into this group, it did not pass the common-sense test for cost
• The alternative, and just to clarify, so it's $102,000 in each state fiscal year.
• <01:12:10.639> if<01:12:11.000> this back in August um alternatively if this back in
• dependent on some of the ad alternates dependent on some of the ad alternates that<04:51:21.920>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: House Finance Division III convened a work session on the DHHS budget, with the chair noting there would be no votes and that the committee would spend the day hearing from the commissioner’s office. Nathan White, DHHS Chief Financial Officer, opened with the Division of Finance/Office of Business Operations, explaining that the unit supports the department through daily financial management, AP/AR, audit work, expense projections, transfers, and procurement functions such as contracts, amendments, RFPs/RFAs, and grants management. He also described the division’s revenue and reporting work, including federal draws, CMS-64 reporting, and the public assistance cost allocation plan, and said the department had centralized rate-setting work and a small team handling Medicaid rate analysis and nursing facility rebase work. Members asked about vacancies, turnover, and budget changes. White said the division had 18 positions unfunded in the governor’s budget, reducing personal services from about $10.8 million to $9.9 million, and estimated the division’s vacancy rate at about 11 percent, below the department average. He said turnover was relatively low, with one retirement at the manager level and higher turnover mainly at lower AP-level positions. He also explained that some budget lines reflected reallocations rather than new spending, including fringe benefits centralized elsewhere and an EBT card contract moved into this unit because the staff member overseeing it works in Finance. When asked about a rent/lease increase, he said it was due to higher copier leasing costs under a statewide DAS contract. White highlighted several management and technology improvements. He said a business intelligence tool procured in 2022, using Salesforce and Excel-based data, helped DHHS better track federal revenue and maintenance-of-effort spending, reducing FY24 General Fund lapse by about 70 percent and federal/other revenue lapse by 88 percent compared with FY23; he warned that the tool is not funded in the current budget. He also described Lean Six Sigma efforts in the contracts team, training for vendors and nonprofits on procurement and indirect cost rules, and a Finance Academy to standardize policies and procedures. On the contracts side, he said the department uses Smartsheet for project management and DocuSign for electronic signatures, which cut contract execution time dramatically, but noted DocuSign is also not funded in the governor’s budget. The session ended as the committee prepared to move on to the Employee Assistance Program presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate amended the bill to include compliance with ADEQ's non-point source management plan as an alternative
• Madam Chair, members, HB 4001, alternative nicotine products regulation, has passed the House.
• It structured regulation guidelines for alternative nicotine products.
• refunds and defines, or I'm sorry, nullifies the refund requirement if the seller provides any alternative

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if we were to look and say, okay, we are going to try to find third alternatives.
• So, if we were to look and say, okay, we are going to try to find third alternatives.
• So, if we were to look and say, okay, we are going to try to find other alternatives.
• He said they want to get individuals with alternative educations into the profession and feel they have
• , individuals with alternative educations, individuals with alternative educations, but<00:38:06.960

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability. Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality. The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.

Transcript Highlights:

• see as a result of improving fuel economy, improving diversification of the energy supply, and alternative
• What steps has CARB been taking to identify alternative sources of funding so that we can?
• That program didn't work very well, and so we're looking for some other alternatives, technology solutions
• This could include potential changes to the ACF rule or alternative means.
• So we’re recommending that the department report both on some other alternative options that could be

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 305 also allows courts to retain alternate jurors after deliberations begin.
• This bill prevents that by allowing alternates to be retained with safeguards requiring deliberations
• to restart if an alternate replaces a juror.
• > uh<01:06:03.200> alternate to retain alternative uh alternate to retain alternative uh
• <01:06:20.559> replace to restart if an alternate replace to restart if an alternate replace

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increase uh the amount of alternative increase uh the amount of alternative energy<00:09:47.120>
• non-aps fund um funded by alternative non-aps fund um funded by alternative compliance<00:45:41.480
• way to comply, and that alternative way to comply is to make payments called alternative compliance
• took the average uh cost of alternative took the average uh cost of alternative compli<01:00:31.160
• rexs which then reduces the alternative rexs which then reduces the alternative compliance<01:02

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money from New Hampshire’s renewable energy fund back to electric ratepayers. The bill sponsor argued the measure would lower energy costs, noting recent utility rate increases and estimating annual savings of roughly $2.5 million to $7.3 million for ratepayers. Supporters said the fund has accumulated money that should be returned to customers rather than used for subsidies, and they emphasized that the state has already rebated similar funds from RGGI for years. Opponents, including Rep. Kat McGee, argued the renewable energy fund is a successful, nonlapsing dedicated fund that supports local clean-energy projects, energy resilience, emissions reductions, and private investment. McGee said the fiscal note overstated the benefit of rebates and understated the loss of investment, claiming the average annual rebate would amount to less than $10 per customer while the program has helped leverage significant private dollars and nearly 10,000 projects. She urged the committee to reject the bill as a poor deal for the state and ratepayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal note, the size of the rebate, whether the bill would set a precedent for other dedicated funds, and whether the program’s incentives amount to picking winners and losers. The Department of Energy testified neutrally, explaining how the renewable energy fund works, including renewable energy credits, alternative compliance payments, and the fund’s use for renewable energy initiatives. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a proven, practical alternative to guardianship that allows people with disabilities to retain
• Foster families offer this alternative, and they are cost-effective.
• Chair, this is an alternative plan that I had that doesn't make sense now, so I want to thank Mr.
• Um, we're going to use it for alternative response.
• But those alternative response units are a social worker and a community paramedic.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next I'd like to welcome Emmanuel de Barros from Alternatives for Community and Environment.
• Next I'd like to welcome Emmanuel de Barros from Alternatives for Community and Environment.
• Next I'd like to welcome Emmanuel de Barros from Alternatives for Community and Environment.
• Next I'd like to welcome Emmanuel de Barros from Alternatives for Community and Environment.
• I am with Alternatives for Community and Environment. We have served Roxbury for the past 30 years.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of transportation bills focused on rural microtransit, commuter rail fares and service, rail electrification, climate alignment, and safety. Several speakers supported H. 4054 and related microtransit proposals, arguing that rural communities need stable, permanent funding for services like the Tri-Town Connector and Quaboag Connector, which have strong ridership, high satisfaction, and measurable economic and health benefits. Testimony also supported a commission bill to study microtransit funding and definitions, with witnesses emphasizing that current grant programs are helpful but short-term and insufficient for long-term service planning. A major theme was commuter rail equity and expansion. Boston-area officials and advocates backed bills to make all Boston commuter rail stations Zone 1A, citing large fare disparities between nearby stations in Hyde Park, Roslindale, and Readville. Related testimony supported studying an Orange Line extension from Forest Hills to Roslindale Square and expanding The Ride to Foxborough, as well as restoring commuter rail service to Cape Cod via Middleborough to Buzzards Bay and beyond. Speakers said these projects would improve access, reduce car dependence, and better serve neighborhoods and regions that currently face limited rapid transit options. Multiple panels urged action on electrification and climate-focused transportation planning, including H. 3726, the Freedom to Move Act, and bills to electrify commuter rail, buses, school buses, and public fleets. Advocates from environmental, transit, and public health groups said transportation is the state’s largest emissions source and argued that statutory goals, coordinated planning, and streamlined permitting are needed to speed decarbonization while improving safety, affordability, and reliability. The committee also heard support for a bill to streamline rail electrification permitting, a bill to exempt certain transit projects from MEPA review, and a bill to improve commuter rail pedestrian safety with gates, fencing, and warning devices at at-grade crossings. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But there are a ton of other alternatives that can be used, uh, that work just as well as paraquat.
• But there are a ton of other alternatives that can be used, uh, that work just as well as paraquat.
• But there are a ton of other alternatives that can be used, uh, that work just as well as paraquat.
• Uh, it is something that has alternatives that can be used that are significantly safer and people who
• Uh, it is something that has alternatives that can be used that are significantly safer and people who

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on two Parkinson’s-related bills in Minnesota: one to ban paraquat and another to create a state Parkinson’s research trust fund. Rep. Christy Purcell said the research bill would create a dedicated pot of money to coordinate and fund Parkinson’s research in Minnesota, with Sen. Mann as the Senate author. Supporters said Minnesota should act because Parkinson’s is growing rapidly, there is no cure, and state institutions could serve as a research hub. Several people living with Parkinson’s testified about the personal and family impact of the disease, including early-onset diagnoses, loss of work, mobility challenges, and the burden on caregivers. Speakers from the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation supported both bills, arguing that paraquat is strongly linked to Parkinson’s, that exposure can affect farmers and nearby residents, and that prevention and research are both needed. The paraquat bill was described as especially important because alternatives exist and the chemical is reportedly used very little in Minnesota. During the discussion, Rep. Hansen said the paraquat bill would be held over and not voted on that day because a fiscal note was requested. He said the committee would hear the bill later that day and urged colleagues to keep an open mind. In response to questions, supporters said they anticipated little opposition beyond chemical-industry interests, and they emphasized that the bill was aimed specifically at paraquat rather than other chemicals. The research bill was discussed as a possible $25 million request, though no vote was taken on that proposal in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• "Easier for these companies to use alternative ingredients that are better for us and healthier.
• Reformulating a product using an alternative color source is not only possible, it is already being done
• And when companies say change will cost more, the reality is natural alternatives already exist, including
• REFORMULATING A PRODUCT USING AN ALTERNATIVE COLOR SOURCE IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, IT IS ALREADY BEING DONE
• AND WHEN COMPANIES SAY, CHANGE WILL COST MORE, THE REALITY IS, NATURAL ALTERNATIVES ALREADY EXIST INCLUDING

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, who offered remarks about gratitude, diversity, and support for Kosovo’s independence. The Journal was approved, and the chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Resolution 1516 commemorating the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence and Resolution 1317 honoring the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya for winning the NYSPHSAA Class C state championship. Both resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors were authorized to seek additional co-sponsors. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures on environmental conservation, education, public health, civil service, penal law, public service, labor, and a retroactive real property tax exemption for the Silver Lake Foundation. Most bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from a small group of senators. Senator Fahy explained her vote on a bill renaming an OASAS scholarship in honor of Father Peter Young, emphasizing his work on addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. Two items drew extended debate. On Calendar 141, Senator Walczyk appealed the chair’s ruling that an amendment to a public service bill was nongermane; the Senate voted 21 to overrule the chair, so the ruling stood, and the bill then passed 52-6. On Calendar 213, Senators Kavanagh and Borrello debated a food-safety bill concerning disclosure of certain food ingredients and chemicals; supporters said it would improve transparency and protect children’s health, while opponents argued federal action was already underway and a national standard would be preferable. After the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar, it passed 56-2. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alternative aviation fuels is another opportunity that we want to bring up with the committee.
• Alternative aviation fuels is another opportunity that we want to bring up with the committee.
• Alternative aviation fuels is another opportunity that we want to bring up with the committee.
• > another Alternative aviation fuels is another Alternative aviation fuels is another opportunity
• development um around alternative development um around alternative aviation<01:49:07.040> fuels

Keywords: This meeting was recovered from a back up copy and uploaded after the original meeting took place., 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on the FY 2025 road fund. Officials reported road fund revenues came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but were down about $11 million from FY 2024, largely because a motor fuels tax rate reduction took effect at the start of FY 2025. Motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and the cabinet said the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus, which the budget bill directs to state highway construction. Members also discussed how the motor fuels decline affects formula distributions to cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads, with officials saying about $122.8 million had been planned for revenue sharing but was not distributed because receipts were lower than forecast. Members asked about broader revenue trends, including fuel efficiency, electric vehicles, and the removal of a hybrid fee. Cabinet officials said improved fuel efficiency and CAFE standards reduce gasoline consumption and therefore fuel tax receipts, while EVs and plug-in hybrids are subject to a user fee. They also said toll revenues from the Louisville bridges are covering bills and commitments, though they did not have detailed figures at hand. On project delivery, officials said delays are often caused by right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the highway plan, and that much of the work happens behind the scenes before construction begins. The committee also reviewed the cabinet’s cash management approach, which was adopted after 2000 to avoid setting aside full project costs all at once and to keep the road fund cash balance above a required minimum. Officials said the balance typically rises in winter and falls in summer as project bills come due, and that the current balance was about $166 million. They also reported that project awards for the year were nearing $998 million and expected to exceed last year’s total. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have alternates that we look at in order to best define the route to take and the safety aspect of
• with and needing to do the environmental documentation on the alternate that resulted from our value
• <00:49:55.080> that fresh look at it and the alternates that fresh look at it and the alternates
• and so that resulted in a new alternate and so that resulted in a new alternate which<00:50:03.600
• <00:50:08.440> that documentation on the alternate that documentation on the alternate that

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 10 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of contract reviews, including a deferred Kentucky Transportation Cabinet item tied to Louisville bridge tolling and RiverLink. Transportation officials explained that the contract was part of a bi-state arrangement with Indiana: Indiana Finance Authority held the main contract with HNTB, while Kentucky needed a mirror contract to pay its 50% share under the bi-state management agreement. Members questioned why the work was treated as effectively no-bid, how much input Kentucky had in vendor selection, RiverLink’s collection performance, and when tolls might end. Transportation said Kentucky had equal representation in selection, HNTB served as a toll services advisor, collections and customer service had improved, and tolls are expected to remain until debt obligations are paid off in 2058. Several members criticized the company’s past performance and voted no as a statement of concern, but the contract still moved forward. The committee then deferred a Kentucky State University item because the vendor was not registered with the Secretary of State. It also approved the overall agenda and contract review lists. A Board of Optometric Examiners contract drew significant discussion: board representatives said they had previously relied on the Public Protection Cabinet for legal services, but that office lacked staff and advised them to seek outside counsel. Some members argued the committee could not approve a contract that appeared to conflict with statute, while others said the board should not be left without legal counsel and that the Attorney General should be brought in to resolve the issue. The committee ultimately voted to defer the optometric contract for one month and requested the Attorney General appear at the next meeting. Finally, the committee reviewed an Administrative Office of the Courts amendment for the Court of Appeals building project. Staff explained that the General Assembly had authorized the project, the design contract had already gone through multiple approved phases, and the current item was only an administrative correction to a prior modification amount. Members approved the amendment, with one member noting appreciation that the project costs had been reduced when an error was found.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:52:01.520> to<01:52:01.760> find<01:52:01.920> out test to find out test to
• I open four of my own recovery houses, and I have to spend money on test strips to test for kratom.
• strips to test spend money on test strips to test forratom. forratom. forratom.
• It can be tested for, but it's not in standard hospital tests.
• We can't test We can't test for purity.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a free, hosted gender-affirming hormone prescription clinic and hosted electrolysis services, HIV testing
• AB 2235, the Judicial Home Security Act, allows judges to use an alternate mailing address in public
• During childbirth, Zoe's mother tested positive for opiates because of Tylenol with codeine that was
• During childbirth, Zoe's mother tested positive for opiates because of Tylenol with codeine that was
• It will allow for chatbots to be accessible, but will require that for children they are tested, vigorously

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They felt for genetic data escaping the control of the direct-to-consumer genetic testing company or
• 19.600> genetic uh of the uh direct to consumer genetic uh of the uh direct to consumer genetic testing
• 22.320> the<01:34:22.560> company<01:34:22.800> that<01:34:23.040> was testing
• company or the company that was testing company or the company that was dealing<01:34:23.440> with
• Assembly by January 15, 2027, on the taxation of tobacco products and tobacco substitutes and alternatives

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's the test. Not in a campaign speech, not on a W card, right here, right now.
• Here's the test.<00:58:55.920> Not<00:58:56.160> in<00:58:56.319> a<00:58:56.480
• :58:56.880> speech,<00:58:57.280> not<00:58:57.440> on<00:58:57.520> a test
• Not in a campaign speech, not on a test.
• creating a commission to study transferring ownership of the Winnabasaki River Basin program to an alternate

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm curious how that determination was come to and if there's an alternative plan from the agency. >>
• So you're where most of the study and the testing will be done.
• /c><00:55:22.319> study<00:55:22.559> and<00:55:22.800> the<00:55:22.960> testing
• <00:55:23.359> will most of the study and the testing will most of the study and the testing

Bills: SF0101

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearm regulation, state legislation, public safety, civil penalties, 916, all