Transcript Highlights:

• 37:37.839> that<00:37:38.160> reduces<00:37:38.800> if<00:37:39.040> the<
• bill goes<00:37:39.680> through<00:37:40.240> the<00:37:40.800> a<00:37:40.960><
• ><00:37:43.440> our<00:37:43.680> testimony<00:37:44.480> we<00:37:44.800> would
• c> to<00:37:50.720> stand<00:37:50.960> up<00:37:51.119> this<00:37:51.359><
• So<00:37:53.680> I<00:37:53.920> noticed<00:37:54.240> the<00:37:54.640> bill

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a title-off bill right now. You are correct. It's a work in progress. You are correct.

Bills: SB137, SB1216, SB1226, SB1238, SB1255, SB1256, SB1258, SB1325, SB1460, SB1543, SB1730, SB1733, SB1921

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB 1216, drug court, drug courts, Oklahoma drug court, eligibility, substance abuse treatment, addiction, diversion program, criminal justice reform, probation violation, revocation, intermediate revocation facility, plea agreement, speedy trial waiver, preliminary hearing waiver

Bills: HB489, HB545, HB555, HB583, HB670, HB672, HB797, HB814, HB913, HB952

Keywords: transfer on death, TOD, beneficiary designation, investment accounts, brokerage accounts, securities, nonprobate transfer, estate planning, succession, probate, community property, forced heirship, financial advisor, broker-dealer, custodian, transfer agent, banking, wealth transfer, inheritance, Louisiana Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• the legislation because, in our analysis, there are also corresponding provisions in the Education Code
• Code that deal with the placement of students with disabilities in residential treatment centers, and
• provisions with this important amendment to the Human Resources Code.
• , and it's just our observation that there needs to be a correspondence Agencies and multiple codes,
• and it's just our observation that there needs to be a corresponding revision in the Education Code.

Bills: HB136, HB451, SB425, SB466, SB905, SB1986, SB2311, SB2450, SB2805, SB2826, SB2919, SB3001

Keywords: Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and announced it would vote on pending bills at 10:30, with public testimony limited to two minutes. It first took up Senate Bill 905, a TDLR cleanup bill on licensing regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Senator Zafferini said the committee substitute would streamline advisory board consultation, remove obsolete provisional licenses, and allow any licensed physician to authorize hearing instruments for minors; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 451, which would require universal screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk for children in DFPS conservatorship and youth under TJJD jurisdiction. The author and witnesses from Children at Risk, the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective, and Texas CASA supported the bill as a prevention tool with existing infrastructure and training; the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee next considered Senate Bill 466, which would clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate at any gestational age, while keeping existing filing requirements for physicians. A constituent father testified about losing his 11-week-old daughter and being told he could not obtain a certificate, which he said prevented funeral arrangements; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. Senate Bill 2311 followed, requiring residential treatment centers to have a written agreement with the school that will educate resident children before becoming operational. The author cited a local dispute where an RTC and school district lacked communication, and witnesses from Texas CASA and Disability Rights Texas supported clearer educational planning while suggesting the Education Code may need conforming changes; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2826, known as Alyssa’s Law, which would create a statewide education program on medical child abuse for medical students, health care professionals, and CPS caseworkers. The author and Sheriff Bill Weyburn described Alyssa’s case as involving repeated unnecessary surgeries and argued the bill would improve awareness and early identification, while several witnesses and members raised concerns about false accusations, impacts on medically fragile children, and the need for scientific, peer-reviewed training and safeguards. After extensive discussion, the chair left the bill pending. The committee also heard House Bill 136, which would add certified lactation consultants as Medicaid providers to expand breastfeeding support; witnesses from lactation and nutrition fields said the bill would improve access, maternal and infant health, and long-term savings, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2805, a surprise-billing/arbitration measure that would clarify provider identifiers and shift arbitration costs to the losing party. The author said the substitute was a legislative counsel draft with no substantive difference, and witnesses from the Texas Medical Association, Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, and U.S. Anesthesia Partners supported the bill as a modest improvement that would reduce administrative confusion and make arbitration fairer without weakening patient protections. Members discussed how arbitration costs affect settlement behavior and how to define the “winner” in close cases. The bill was heard but not voted out during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends Section 404.105 of the Insurance Code and basically requires that a license holder take at
• least one hour... training period on state and local building codes.
• What we found is that in zip codes with higher costs, more people were likely to get ticketed and go
• No, it's a salvage car on the title. Correct. Then devalue the car if you went to sell it?
• Good to be here and to be able to lay out HB3960 in the Insurance Code Chapter 705.

Bills: HB712, HB722, HB946, HB1687, HB1809, HB1899, HB2528, HB2583, HB2741, HB2750, HB3021, HB3150, HB3265, HB3658, HB3812, HB3960, HB4392, HB4432

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• The insured's insurance policy under the code so that way, you know, young people today seem to be more
• This is the portion in 559.054 of the code. We have two concerns.
• Currently, under the occupation code, there are six licenses and two permits.
• The code explicitly prohibits insurers from discriminating against consumers. ...on the basis of several
• We've just had a good discussion about the loophole in the Texas insurance code that allows insurance

Bills: HB712, HB722, HB946, HB1687, HB1809, HB1899, HB2528, HB2583, HB2741, HB2750, HB3021, HB3150, HB3265, HB3658, HB3812, HB3960, HB4392, HB4432

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• But it could be as little as $37 a client, and again, it ranges depending.
• I'm imagining at $37 a client if they're working 35 hours a week, maybe about 50,000. Okay.
• House Bill 1630 amends the Government Code to make social workers eligible participants in the Homes
• They both have an entire chapter in the Texas Penal Code. I came here with an empty toolbox.
• Corruption is a term of art, and that's why it's in Chapter 36 of the Texas Penal Code.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Plan that is currently required under Chapter 395 of the Local Government Code.
• In other words, as an example, most cities are now adopting the 2021 plumbing code.
• The code does require lower flush toilets and certain kinds of applications.
• We don't really want to give incentives for developers just to meet code.
• The time is 2:37.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 255. verifies the definition of farm products under the tax code to ensure. fair and consistent treatment
• is when you You don't have a, when you have a constitutional amendment that really doesn't have a code

Bills: HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR2, HJR4, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34, HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34

Keywords: school district, ad valorem tax, local revenue, tax collection, education funding, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure, Texas-Mexico border, ad valorem taxation, farm products, livestock, timber, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• However, their neighboring rural communities to the north in Georgia and Alabama have states focused
• It's in the Panhandle, or affectionately known as Lower Alabama.
• Affectionately known as Lower Alabama, it's hard to get recognized in my own county, so a regional planning

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and favorably reported several bills. SB 1672 removed duplicative state provisions related to labor pools; CS/SB 940 prohibited third-party sale of restaurant reservations without the restaurant’s consent; and CS/SB 1820 made changes to motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer franchise law, including disclosure of performance measures, anti-retaliation protections, and limits on franchise termination or nonrenewal. The committee also approved CS/SB 324, creating a revolving loan program to help small businesses affected by prolonged public works construction, and SB 936, which creates a recurring three-year study of the effects of AI, robotics, and automation on Florida’s workforce and economy. SB 1322, the Florida Rural Jobs Act, was amended and reported favorably to encourage private investment in rural small businesses through a state tax credit program. The committee also reported favorably on CS/SB 910, which regulates for-profit veterans’ benefit assistance services, and CS/SB 656, which extends protections from extraordinary collection actions to all bill-of-care payment actions by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 1264, a broad Department of Commerce agency bill. The strike-all amendment added or revised provisions on Secure Florida, the RISE venture capital tax credit program, data center tax exemptions, business development classifications, military land transfers, and other economic development matters, while also repealing regional planning councils from statute. That repeal drew extensive opposition from local officials and regional council representatives, who argued the councils are important for emergency management, grant writing, planning, and support for small and rural communities. Supporters of the amendment said the councils could continue locally without state statutory involvement. After debate, the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, though Senators Davis and Smith voted no. The committee also considered CS/SB 1238, which would tighten reemployment assistance rules by disqualifying claimants who fail to meet job-search requirements or refuse work, and by adding verification and reporting requirements. Supporters framed it as adding guardrails and preventing fraud, while opponents argued Florida’s unemployment system is already difficult to access and that the bill would add unnecessary barriers and costs. Despite opposition from labor and advocacy groups, the bill was reported favorably, with Senators Smith and Arrington voting no. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of Alexis Yarborough and John Gilbert to the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:37:37.760> would<00:37:37.920> imagine<00:37:38.320> that<00:37:38.640>
• :40.320> that<00:37:40.640> I<00:37:40.880> acted<00:37:41.119> as<00:37:
• :37:44.800> request<00:37:45.119> from<00:37:45.280> a<00:37:45.440> law
• :37:47.040> uh<00:37:47.119> that<00:37:47.359> would<00:37:47.520> require
• to<00:37:48.079> go<00:37:48.160> to<00:37:48.320> the<00:37:48.560>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:50.040> 12<00:37:50.400> and<00:37:50.640> 17<00:37:51.640> being<
• <02:37:16.600> person<02:37:16.920> that<02:37:17.080> did<02:37:17.240> not<
• 37:51.000> we<05:37:51.360> uh<05:37:51.718> we<05:37:51.920> enjoy<05:37
• H.R. 695, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of the special pension payable
• providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:01.599> you<00:37:01.760> have<00:37:02.000> jurisdiction<00:37:02.640>
• and that's the<00:37:03.280> state<00:37:03.520> building<00:37:03.920> code.
• <00:37:04.400> And the state building code. And the state building code.
• :37:08.160> game<00:37:08.480> the<00:37:08.720> system<00:37:08.960> and
• buy a<00:37:09.680> bunch<00:37:09.839> of<00:37:10.800> southern<00:37:11.200>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• UNH<00:37:23.359> is<00:37:23.680> already<00:37:24.160> navigating<00:37:24.960
• > that<00:37:28.880> students<00:37:29.280> have<00:37:29.440> had<00:37:
• The fiscal<00:37:33.760> note<00:37:34.320> tells<00:37:34.640> us<00:37:34.880>
• implementation<00:37:36.880> to<00:37:37.200> be<00:37:37.359> studied<00:37:38.079
• c><01:37:03.119> to<01:37:03.360> we<01:37:03.600> spoke<01:37:03.760> to

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:37:06.960> this<00:37:07.200> today<00:37:07.680> will<00:37:08.000> be
• process we<00:37:12.960> want<00:37:13.119> to<00:37:13.280> make<00:37:13.440>
• <00:37:15.920> Um<00:37:16.240> the<00:37:16.480> other<00:37:16.640> big
• our<00:37:20.640> our<00:37:21.040> broader<00:37:21.839> um<00:37:22.079><
• > be<00:37:26.000> able<00:37:26.240> to<00:37:27.040> uh<00:37:27.200>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Senate File 4612, a state government bill affecting the Department of Health, Human Services, and Children, Youth, and Families, was taken up with a House language amendment adopted at the outset. The bill’s authors gave sharply different perspectives: one described it as a limited, reactive measure tied to federal Medicaid changes and said it fell short of needed health care improvements, while the other argued it would avoid large federal penalties, add Medicaid work requirements, save taxpayer money, and help certain rural and disability-related services. Members then debated several amendments. A technical House research amendment was offered, followed by a contested amendment on the all-payer claims database. Supporters of that change argued the bill expanded data access and could allow sensitive health data to be sold or used outside the United States, raising privacy and jurisdiction concerns; opponents said the data would remain deidentified, access would be limited to researchers, and the fee structure was a cost-recovery mechanism rather than a sale. The amendment to the amendment failed on a 67-67 tie, and the underlying amendment was not adopted. The committee also adopted an amendment updating mortuary science rules for natural organic reduction and another that would automatically enroll certain people into medical assistance if they did not choose a program themselves. A later amendment creating a therapeutic psilocybin pilot program for mental health and PTSD treatment drew strong bipartisan support, especially from members citing veteran suicide, trauma, and promising research; it was adopted after discussion. The transcript ended while discussion continued on how the program would be administered, including questions about using the Office of Cannabis Management rather than the Department of Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:36.880> Are<00:37:37.119> there<00:37:37.359> staff<00:37:37.839>
• Yes, that that<00:37:46.960> is<00:37:47.359> that<00:37:47.599> has<00:37:47.760
• > been<00:37:47.920> an<00:37:48.079> issue<00:37:48.800> um<00:37:49.440
• <00:37:51.440> They've<00:37:51.760> slowly<00:37:52.160> over<00:37:52.400>
• <00:37:53.760> have<00:37:53.839> been<00:37:54.000> able<00:37:54.160> to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• matter who we are, where we come from, the language we speak, regardless of party, regardless of zip code
• Senate Executive Message Number 37. President Pro Tem Stewart and members of the Senate.
• Senate Bill 163, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the Senate Tax,
• Senate Bill 164, having been read twice by title is ordered printed and referred to the Senate.
• Senate Bill 166, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the Senate Tax,

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 23 of the policies eligible under title 23 of the US<01:10:05.520> code.
• Code, which is highways, and Title 49, which is transit.
• not<02:37:04.880> just<02:37:05.120> sort<02:37:05.280> of<02:37:05.439>
• <02:37:08.720> We<02:37:08.960> have<02:37:09.120> 93<02:37:09.680> and
• 37:34.720> like<02:37:34.960> that,<02:37:35.760> you<02:37:36.000> know?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second one got misplaced and had the wrong title on it, S. 395, over at the Education Committee.
• The title of the bill references wipes; in the industry, we tend to call them rags, so please forgive
• that, we export about 2 million tons, much of it to environmental justice communities as far away as Alabama
• We are currently exporting 45% of our waste out of state, as far away as Alabama.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a heavily attended hybrid hearing focused primarily on plastics reduction bills, along with a few local and related waste-management measures. Chair Rauch and Chair Barber outlined strict testimony rules because of the large number of speakers. Before the plastics docket, the committee heard support for a local Sharon sewer-extension bill for a Sunrise Senior Living project, and the bill’s proponents said the project would help address senior housing needs and would still require MWRA and local approvals. The chairs also noted a separate local matter involving Sharon and the MWRA. A major portion of the hearing centered on the Plastics Reduction Act and related bills addressing single-use plastics, including plastic bags, polystyrene, black plastic, plastic beverage bottles, non-flushable wipes, skip-the-stuff provisions, and truth-in-labeling. Sponsors and supporters said the bills would reduce litter, microplastics, greenhouse gas emissions, and municipal waste costs, while creating statewide consistency and supporting environmental justice communities. Several speakers cited local bans already adopted by many Massachusetts cities and towns, and many urged the committee to advance comprehensive statewide action. The committee also heard testimony on a boat wrap recycling bill, a mattress recycling bill, and a bill to prohibit hotels from providing small plastic toiletries. Municipal officials and waste professionals supported extended producer responsibility for paint and labeling for non-flushable wipes, saying these measures would shift costs away from cities and towns and reduce strain on wastewater systems. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, Mayor Ruth Ann Fuller of Newton, and a Franklin County waste official all backed paint EPR and wipes labeling. Fire Chief Brian Nardelli testified for the Fire Chiefs Association in support of lithium-ion battery legislation, citing fire safety and disposal concerns. Other speakers, including environmental groups, local activists, and business representatives, supported bag and polystyrene bans, though the Retailers Association of Massachusetts urged any bag policy to be truly statewide and said any bag fee should be retained by retailers. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:08.160> So<00:37:08.560> if<00:37:08.800> this<00:37:09.119> if
• /c><00:37:10.480> bit<00:37:10.640> longer<00:37:10.880> of<00:37:11.040> a
• > I<00:37:11.920> think<00:37:12.000> it<00:37:12.160> would<00:37:12.320
• > a<00:37:13.680> little<00:37:13.839> bit<00:37:14.079> I<00:37:14.400><
• there's<00:37:23.280> still<00:37:23.520> a<00:37:23.839> number<00:37:24.079><

Keywords: 1183, house