Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides for unprecedented transparency and unprecedented...
• We're going to have the government creating this test, and the government currently is intended only
• He said that government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.
• You can't be for small government in Washington and big government in Austin.
• Government programs, once launched, never disappear.

Bills: HB8 , HB12 , SB 3 , HJR1 , SB 11 , SB 16 , SB 14 , HB 8 , HB 12 , SB 3 , HJR 1 , SB 11 , SB 16 , SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• Say the federal government has more expertise in some emergency situation, and the local folks might
• And then the federal government would have to get permission. Thank you for the question.
• I think, as Oklahomans, and I think, as a state government, we need to Step in and fund that so that
• It's simply a forward-looking bill creating a revolving fund for the future, which would provide transparency

Bills: HB1002 , HB1250 , HB2710 , HB3008 , HB3045 , HB3086 , HB3595 , HB3678 , HB3695 , HB3831 , HB4107 , HB4408

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act, emergency communications, public safety radio, statewide radio systems, land mobile radio, interoperability, Project 25, P25

Transcript Highlights:

• Say the federal government has more expertise, say, in some emergency situation, and the local folks
• Does that still mean Oklahoma local would take charge first, and then the federal government would have
• I think as Oklahoma and I think as a state government, we need to step in and fund that so that we make
• It's simply a forward-looking bill creating a revolving fund for the future, which will provide transparency

Bills: HB1002 , HB1250 , HB2710 , HB3008 , HB3045 , HB3086 , HB3595 , HB3678 , HB3695 , HB3831 , HB4107 , HB4408

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act, emergency communications, public safety radio, statewide radio systems, land mobile radio, interoperability, Project 25, P25

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met and first held House Bill 3045. It then heard and passed several bills, beginning with HB 1250, which creates a public safety technology revolving fund for Attorney General grants to support the Blue Jay pilot program, a voluntary traffic-stop safety app. Members questioned whether the fund would actually be financed this year and how municipalities would be selected; the author said no funding source was yet identified and the bill was only creating the fund. HB 1250 passed 8-0. The committee also passed HB 2710, creating the Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act and a 15-member board to develop a strategic plan for improving emergency radio communications among state, local, and tribal agencies. The author explained the bill was meant to address communication gaps and interoperability problems, with no fiscal impact. HB 3831, dealing with Oklahoma Task Force One, drew extensive discussion over its funding structure and blank appropriations language. The bill would place the urban search and rescue team in state law and seek a reliable funding source; members discussed the team’s statewide disaster response role, its Tulsa and Oklahoma City bases, and a carve-out excluding wildland firefighting. It passed 8-0. Other measures approved included HB 4408, which sets a protocol for calculating and directing savings from State Questions 780 and 781 into the proper drug diversion account; HB 1002, requiring law enforcement to inform stalking victims about certified domestic violence program advocates; HB 3008, extending the sunset date for the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence to 2031; HB 3086, requiring the Department of Corrections director to keep the Board of Corrections informed about budgets and inmate deaths; HB 3595, creating a DPS revolving fund for counties and municipalities to buy vehicle-barrier equipment to prevent crowd-vehicle attacks; HB 3678, expanding electronic-harassment protections for public officials to include municipal officials and school board members; HB 4107, establishing penalties for unauthorized activation or misuse of emergency warning sirens; and HB 3695, revising the definition of great bodily injury in a DUI-related context. HB 3595 passed 6-1 and HB 4107 passed 6-2; the other bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief questioning and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee.
• It increased transparency by making Public Integrity Commission reports available on the commission's
• Good morning, Senator Crusoe, members of the Elections and Government Affairs Committee.
• I'm here today to talk in support of HB 444. ...of the Elections and Government Affairs Committee.
• When can consumers trust government spending? That $1.5 million is our money.

Bills: HB344

Committee: Senate Elections & Government Affairs

Keywords: campaign finance, elections, transparency, political committees, reporting requirements, enforcement

Summary: The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee heard several election- and campaign-related bills. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 155 would make Public Integrity Commission reports publicly available on the commission’s website, add a specific travel-expense reporting category, and remove the FOIA requirement for accessing reports; Senator Richardson said he supported the transparency measure and asked to be added as a co-sponsor. The committee also took up House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would create state protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, expand language access, prohibit intimidation and deception, and allow court remedies for violations. The bill drew strong support from advocacy groups including YWCA Delaware, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and the Legal Defense Fund, and several senators voiced support and interest in moving it quickly. House Bill 430, a constitutional amendment proposal, would make explicit that only natural persons may vote in Delaware elections, including municipal elections, in response to concerns about corporate or other artificial-entity voting in some towns. The discussion focused heavily on Fenwick Island, where the mayor testified that the town’s charter has long allowed certain artificial entities to vote in local elections and said the system is limited and has worked for years; other speakers argued the bill was needed to prevent corporate dilution of residents’ votes. Senator Richardson expressed concern about restricting entities with a local stake, while Senator Hoffner and others emphasized the principle of one person, one vote. Senator Townsend presented House Bill 344, which would tighten campaign finance rules by requiring Delaware bank accounts for candidates and committees, recurring training, better documentation of candidate loans, longer record retention, automatic filing extensions, and inactive status for noncompliant committees; one public commenter opposed the bill on cost grounds. He also presented House Bill 448, which would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security expenses for candidates and elected officials, with guardrails, and a commenter suggested allowing electronic security systems without a cap. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 472, a local de-annexation measure for Noble’s Pond in Cheswold to remove scattered residential lots from town boundaries and resolve uneven tax treatment; Senator Hoffner noted local law enforcement supported the change. The committee adjourned after hearing no further public comment on HB 472, and the vote to adjourn was unanimous.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I guess it's Through the companies or through the federal government, uh, it would seem to me
• This could provide a lot of good transparency on, um, what mandates could cost for, uh, employers, insurers
• As rep Paul has said, given us tools and being transparent.

Bills: HB138

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: voter registration, application rejection, transparency, election integrity, state law

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply provides transparency.
• of this project, because local government corporations enable local governments to deliver highly com
• Enhanced governing board oversight and public reporting would address transparency concerns without restricting
• While I support transparency.
• The first is that We ought to remember that Texas state government is governed by a constitutional debt

Bills: HB19 , HB30 , HB851 , HB1663 , HB1681 , HB1769 , HB1937 , HB1979 , HB2428 , HB2433 , HB2825 , HB3159 , HB3424 , HB3486 , HB3487 , HB3504 , HB3605 , HB3879 , HB3994 , HB4382 , HB4752 , HB5444 , HB5446 , HB5447 , HB3199 , HB4847 , HB19

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: local government debt, property tax, ad valorem tax, bond election, certificate of obligation, anticipation note, school district tax rate, voter-approval rate, debt service cap, municipal finance, county bonds, flood control district, hospital district, public works, tax transparency, property tax notice, November uniform election date, general obligation bonds, local debt reform, taxpayer notice

Transcript Highlights:

• state government can look and make sure that they have appropriate oversight and transparency.
• Common Cause was founded on the principles of open and transparent government.
• Madam Chair, Representative Hall, the impetus was that I really value good governance and transparency
• Having transparency in our government processes is a tool that we all use.
• The other is that we don't rank very well as a state in terms of transparency and good governance.

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• And Common Cause was founded on the principles of open and transparent government.
• Good governance is among our priorities, and we thank the sponsors for addressing this matter of transparency
• Madam Chair, Representative Hall, the impetus was that I really value good governance and transparency
• organizer for 20 years, having transparency in our government processes is a tool that we all use.
• And then the other is we don't rank very well as a state in terms of transparency and good governance

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 99, which would make changes to the Medical Malpractice Act, especially around punitive damages. The chair and sponsor said the bill would not be voted on that day and that public comment would wait until Monday, when a fuller presentation and any recommended substitute would be considered. Dr. Brooke Baker, a physician-lawyer, gave a long presentation on physician wellness, malpractice stress, and the effect of litigation on staffing and burnout, while also discussing hospital ownership structures, private equity, and rural hospital vulnerability. She argued that punitive damages are often pled too broadly in New Mexico, that the amendment language was unclear about which entities would be capped, and that better oversight and internal quality systems—not punitive damages—are the better tools for addressing bad actors and unsafe care. Committee members from both sides asked extensive questions about the patient compensation fund, indemnification, corporate structures, the effect of caps on insurance and recruitment, and whether the bill would protect physicians’ personal assets. No vote was taken on HB 99, and the committee recessed before moving to the next bill. The committee then returned to House Bill 49, a public safety measure increasing penalties for felons who possess firearms. The sponsors and law enforcement witnesses said the bill is aimed narrowly at serious violent felons who are already prohibited from having guns, and that it would align state sentencing with federal law and give police and prosecutors a stronger tool against repeat violent offenders. An amendment was offered to narrow the bill further, add destructive devices, and make the offense a second-degree felony rather than escalating to first degree on repeat offenses. The amendment was adopted without opposition. Public testimony on HB 49 was largely opposed. The Law Office of the Public Defender argued the bill criminalizes possession without a new act of violence, that current law already punishes felon-in-possession conduct, and that New Mexico has repeatedly increased penalties without evidence of reduced gun crime. The ACLU of New Mexico also opposed the bill, saying increased penalties are not a proven deterrent. The transcript cuts off as additional online opposition testimony was beginning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and reporting. ...a basic safeguard of health care integrity, transparency, and reporting.
• When reporting is eliminated, lawmakers are asked to govern without information and potential risks or
• Senate Bill 30 goes too far by erasing transparency entirely.
• So for the sake of responsible governance and health care integrity, I respectfully urge you to vote
• Lowering statutory expectations shifts risk and liability from the state to local governments, often

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: Senate Judiciary began by announcing that Senate Bill 136 would be rolled over because the sponsor was unavailable. The chair then addressed criticism from the floor over how a prior bill had been handled, defending the committee’s practice of using committee substitutes and amendments without waiting for a new version from council, and emphasizing his authority to set hard stops and limit debate when he believes discussion is repetitive or dilatory. Several members responded, with some supporting the chair’s approach and others arguing that contentious bills deserve more time and fuller committee vetting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 30, which would repeal New Mexico’s requirement that induced abortions be reported to the state registrar. The sponsors argued the reporting law is outdated, unnecessary for public health, and potentially dangerous because provider information can be disclosed under broader vital statistics statutes; supporters from the ACLU, League of Women Voters, Bold Futures, and NOW echoed privacy and safety concerns. Opponents argued the reporting requirement provides transparency and public health data. After debate, the committee approved SB 30 on a roll call vote. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 43, a bipartisan measure to modernize the Adult Parole Board statute after a prior veto. The bill would update parole factors for life-sentenced inmates, authorize per diem and closed hearings, and prevent parole hearings from being scheduled on victims’ birth or death dates. It received support from corrections officials and victims’ advocates, and the committee passed it without objection. The final major item was Senate Bill 50, which would remove several statutory in-service training mandates for law enforcement and give the Standards and Training Council more flexibility to set curriculum. Supporters said the current requirements are outdated and too rigid; opponents warned the bill could weaken recurring training in domestic violence, sexual assault, crisis intervention, and other high-risk areas. A motion to table failed, and the committee ultimately passed SB 50 on a roll call vote, despite divided member views.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to have all the governance and the funding in place to support innovation.
• But now in AI, coming back to that, we have very strong governance in our organization because when you
• And we train every single one of our leaders in a systematic way with total governance.
• But we've been working on the governance side for quite some time.
• And one thing I want to say is that we have that strategic intent and governance embedded in what we

Bills: SB1786

Committee: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation

Keywords: artificial intelligence, content verification, provenance data, transparency, digital content, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are from the federal government.
• </c> we are separate branches of government we are separate branches of government and<01:26:50.320><
• accordance with the Minnesota Government accordance with the Minnesota Government Data<01:37:14.960><
• We want to be as transparent as possible.
• Of course, as transparent as possible.

Bills: HF3378

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:13:01.760><c> When</c><01:13:01.880><c> government</c><01:13:02.320><c> fails</c> When government
• </c><01:14:58.680><c> for</c> Okay, and I've worked in government for Okay, and I've worked in government
• /c><01:15:06.680><c> United</c> self-governing citizens of the United self-governing citizens of the
• </c> confirm, very happy with transparency confirm, very happy with transparency and<01:31:53.600><c>
• :37:45.120><c> are</c> transparency, and both goals are transparency, and both goals are important.<01

Bills: HF3542

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: data privacy, investigative data, welfare system, public funds, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we believe should govern the law. that we believe should govern the law.
• </c> project and not let the government project and not let the government decide<00:40:26.240><c> that
• </c> wondering what you think of a government wondering what you think of a government putting<00:49:
• So by having that opportunity there gives us the ability, transparency.
• So by having that opportunity there gives us the ability, transparency.

Bills: SF0082

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Bills: SF0082

Committee: Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Bills: SB2069

Committee: House Political Subdivisions

Keywords: legal notices, publication requirements, transparency, state agency, public access, 908, all

Summary: The Political Subdivisions Committee met to reconsider Senate Bill 269, which concerns legal notices and newspaper publication requirements. Representative Motschenbacher explained that a prior version had a mistake in Section 2 and that the revised amendment, worked out with the Public Service Commission and the North Dakota Newspaper Association, would limit the change to state agencies rather than all governmental units because the broader version would have required thousands of affidavits and been too burdensome. The committee also discussed the meaning of “immediate publication,” with the newspaper association stating the intent was to post notices on the website as soon as a print notice is received, even before newspaper publication, so notices would still appear online if the print version was missed. Members raised questions about whether posting notices online before print publication could affect statutory notice periods, such as 30-day notice requirements. The response given was that the clock would begin when the notice is published on the agency website. After discussion, the committee adopted the amendment 11-0, with two members absent and not voting. The committee then approved Senate Bill 269 as amended and further amended on a 11-0 vote, again with two absent and not voting. Representative Motschenbacher agreed to carry the bill, though members noted it would likely go to a conference committee because of differences between the House and Senate versions. The chair thanked those who worked on the bill and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• existing law, we know that we have to file this every year, including those persons that work in government
• But it also provides that for those persons that work in government, if they have already filed a statement

Bills: SB165

Committee: House Ethics and Campaign Finance

Keywords: candidates, economic interests, disclosure, ethics, transparency, public officials, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, the business... ...Organization Code governs the creation and operation of Texas corporations
• Namely, the Administrative Code Chapter 87, the Government Code Chapter 406, and the Civil Practices
• Scams take many forms, with individuals pretending to be government agencies, employers, or heads of
• House Bill 4737 amends the Government Code to require the Board of Law Examiners to process applications
• It adds language to the governing statute for the 15th Court that no civil notice of appeal filed in

Bills: HB5621 , HB4904 , HB5067 , HB5076 , HB5081 , HB5354 , HB4862 , HB3847 , HB4088 , HB4157 , HB2966 , HB2287 , HB4203 , HB4803 , HB4737 , HB5093 , HB783 , HB5411 , HB4281

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: HB 5621, consumer protection, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code, attorney general, consumer protection division, district attorney, county attorney, local prosecutor, civil investigative demand, CID, voluntary compliance, financial institution records, bank records, privacy, protective order, in camera review, trade secrets, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jessica Moore, and I serve as Director of Government Affairs for the Massachusetts Restaurant
• Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation to ensure clear notice requirements, providing transparency

Bills: H5036 , H5138

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: tariff transparency, consumer disclosure, price transparency, vehicle pricing, Monroney label, auto dealer, car manufacturer, retail pricing, shelf tag, receipt disclosure, online storefront, import duties, trade taxes, Chapter 93A, Attorney General enforcement, consumer protection, federal preemption, customs, supply chain costs, tariff surcharge

Bills: HB1851

Committee: House Conference Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Keywords: automatic renewal, consumer protection, cancellation policy, Oklahoma Fair Renewal Act, contract transparency

Summary: In the Conference Committee for Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight, Reverend Shriver presented House Bill 1851. He described it as a consumer protection measure that would give consumers rights regarding auto-renewal on subscriptions. After the bill was introduced, the chair asked for questions, but none were raised. There was no debate on the measure. The committee then moved to open the bill for signature, with no further discussion or recorded vote in the transcript.

Bills: HB1851

Committee: House Conference Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Keywords: automatic renewal, consumer protection, cancellation policy, Oklahoma Fair Renewal Act, contract transparency

Summary: The Conference Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight met to take up Conference Committee Report No. 2 on House Bill 1851. Representative Shriver explained that the bill is a consumer protection measure aimed at giving consumers notice before annual subscriptions automatically renew, so they are reminded of upcoming charges and are aware they agreed to an annual subscription. Shriver also said the bill includes additional consumer protections to ensure people understand what they are agreeing to when signing up for such subscriptions. No questions or debate were raised during the meeting. After discussion, the chair opened the report for signatures, and the committee then adjourned.