Transcript Highlights:

• would say why don't we go with testimony would say why don't we go with testimony first<00:43:01.600
• <00:48:17.760> from and I'm sure you've heard testimony from and I'm sure you've heard testimony
• And I their test of testimony itself.
• . testimony. testimony.
• He gave his testimony as stepped away.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the testimony.
• I appreciate the testimony.
• I appreciate the testimony.
• I appreciate the testimony.
• I appreciate the testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh the committee received a testimony uh the committee received a testimony from<00:27:12.159>
• :14:58.400> from the committee received testimony from the committee received testimony from the
• And sadly, from that list, none of those folks providing testimony offered sample beverages.
• uh reviewed the bill and took testimony uh reviewed the bill and took testimony from<01:16:05.920
• <01:35:28.560> to we did not take specific testimony to we did not take specific testimony

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was so hard to listen to that testimony.
• We've heard testimony over the course of bills over the years, testimony in the House, testimony in the
• And we can talk more about some of these testimonies. They're difficult to read.
• We've heard testimony about that.
• There's been testimony about that, and it is a real problem.

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, prayer, approval of the previous journal, and messages from the House, then moved through several recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the Texas chapters of Blue Star Mothers of America, Fine Arts Education Day, Donate Life Texas Day, Baha’i Capitol Day, County Government Day, Jack County Day, Crockett County Day, and a recognition of Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanik for service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The chamber also heard remarks from visiting doctors, students, county officials, and community groups, with multiple senators speaking in support of military families, arts education, organ donation, and local government service. The Senate then took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2779, relating to the allocation and use of certain hotel occupancy tax revenues. Senator Birdwell said the bill would stop local governments from conditioning HOT funds on race- or class-based priorities and would require Galveston to transfer the full state rebate for beach cleaning and maintenance to its park board. After questions, the Senate suspended the rules, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed it, though the final vote showed significant opposition. The chamber also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2322, described as a cleanup bill removing the compelling-factor test for dispatchable generation from the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. A major debate centered on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2253, which would phase out uncertified teachers in core classrooms and strengthen educator certification requirements. Senator Creighton argued the bill responds to a teacher pipeline crisis, adds parent notification, creates multiple preparation pathways, and provides financial incentives for certification; Senator West and Senator Sparks pressed for rural flexibility and implementation details. An amendment from Senator Gutierrez to add a teacher student-loan repayment program failed on a 11-17 vote, while other technical and fiscal amendments were adopted. The bill then passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2371, updating skimmer-reporting rules to cover electronic terminals beyond fuel pumps, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2351, relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit. Senate Bill 619, a conscience-protection bill for health care workers, drew extended questioning from Senators Cook, Eckhardt, and Menendez about patient abandonment, scope, and whether it could allow refusals of legal services such as vaccines, antibiotics, contraception, or personal care; despite those concerns, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment. Finally, the chamber began consideration of Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1169, which would allow public entities to form public utility agencies to cooperate on water and wastewater projects without eminent domain or cross-collateralization, with Senator Hinojosa explaining it as a tool for small and rural communities facing utility infrastructure problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:01.680> I'm it may come out in the testimony.
• I'm it may come out in the testimony. I'm not<00:08:02.000> sure.
• pleased to have your testimony. pleased to have your testimony.
• record, we welcome your testimony. record, we welcome your testimony.
• . testimony. testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm testimony in support of this bill.
• >> that's that's my testimony. >> that's that's my testimony.
• >> That's your testimony. Okay. >> That's your testimony. Okay.
• <02:42:49.520> that language to my written testimony that language to my written testimony
• It now also addresses requirements for written... with written testimony which I will with written testimony

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• <00:44:07.160> um sample in terms of written testimony um sample in terms of written testimony
• <02:42:13.600> on listening to all of this testimony on listening to all of this testimony
• I've passed around some testimony.
• uniformed also attached to my testimony uniformed also attached to my testimony that<04:39:45.520

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on HB 563, which would revise the education funding formula for pupils receiving special education services by replacing the current single special education amount with three differentiated categories. Representative Rick Ladd, the prime sponsor, said the bill largely tracks a House-passed version from the prior session with minor figure adjustments, and explained that the proposal uses projected FY26 amounts for three categories based on time in general education versus more intensive placements. He also noted that the bill does not address catastrophic aid directly, but that special education aid, CAT aid, and proration all remain issues for later work sessions. Ladd and supporters argued that weighted categories better reflect actual costs and are more sustainable than treating all IEPs the same. Representative Margaret Drye said the approach was one of the best ideas from the education funding subcommittee and urged the committee to support differentiated aid. Representative Ames asked how the category amounts were derived, and Ladd said Category A follows the FY26 base, Category B is a higher weight, and Category C is a still higher weight for more intensive services, though he acknowledged the exact multipliers were developed earlier and could be revisited. He also said the committee would continue discussing whether the weights are appropriate and how they interact with CAT aid. Testimony from Bonnie Dunham strongly opposed the bill. She argued that funding based on placement rather than actual service need would create incentives to move students into more restrictive settings, could stigmatize children with labels such as "Category C," and would undermine the least restrictive environment requirements under federal special education law. She described her son’s experience in inclusive settings as beneficial and said the bill would have penalized the district for serving him there. In response to questions, she said schools and parents should base funding on the child’s actual needs and costs, not on placement, and urged the committee to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, we will go into public testimony for Senate Bill 944. Anybody in favor of 944?
• We will now go into public testimony on Senate Bill 1012.
• And in public testimony, we do limit the witnesses to two minutes. Thank you.
• You all should have in your inboxes my testimony, along with, I think, also submitted online, as well
• as testimony from NetChoice.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, but proceeded with public hearings on two Senate bills. Senate Bill 944, sponsored by Sen. Carla May, would update the statutory salary range for the City of St. Louis sheriff’s attorney, which she said has been unchanged since 1990 and no longer reflects inflation, modern legal demands, or comparable compensation in other jurisdictions. Rep. Fuchs offered supportive remarks, and there was no opposition or informational testimony. No vote was taken on SB 944 during the hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1012, sponsored by Sen. Nicola, a broad artificial intelligence bill intended to clarify that AI is not a legal person, that humans remain responsible for AI-assisted decisions, and that licensed professionals must retain independent judgment. The bill also addressed companion chatbots, election-related AI disclosures, and other consumer protections. Supporters of the bill’s general accountability approach were not present in testimony, but opponents from Americans for Prosperity and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry argued the bill was overly broad, could chill innovation, and contained numerous drafting and cross-reference errors, including unused definitions and inconsistent metadata requirements. Members questioned how liability would apply to end users and noted the need for clearer drafting. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive session on SB 1012. A motion was made for do pass, but the roll call resulted in zero ayes and 11 noes, and the bill was voted failed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now move into public testimony. I have Beth Gearhart. Do you want to just wave in support?
• We have no more public testimony. We are moving into debate.
• We will move into public testimony.
• Seeing no questions we will move into public testimony. We have no public testimony. Debate?

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, is there any public testimony on the bill?
• Seeing none, is there any public testimony?
• Seeing none, is there any public testimony on the bill?
• Is there any public testimony on the bill?
• Is there any public testimony on the bill? Seeing none, is there any debate on the bill?

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee considered four bills and reported all of them favorably. HB 373, by Rep. Duggins, tolls the statute of limitations for the offense of knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected child abuse until law enforcement or another outside agency learns of the violation. Members raised concerns about fairness if the underlying abuse is time-barred while the reporter still faces prosecution, and the sponsor said he would discuss possible changes with his state attorney, but the bill was not amended and passed 13-0. HB 359, by Rep. Anderson, extends the deadline for forensic examination of seized computers and electronic devices from 45 days to 365 days. Supporters from the Florida Prosecutors Association and state attorneys said modern devices are difficult and time-consuming to unlock and analyze, creating repeated requests to extend search deadlines and slowing investigations in cases involving child exploitation, homicide, and other crimes. The bill passed 13-0. HB 703, by Rep. Gentry, preserves a public records exemption for information generated by a state attorney’s conviction integrity unit during reinvestigation of a claim of innocence, with supporters saying disclosure could reveal sensitive information such as alternate suspects, witnesses, or evidence and compromise the review. It passed 12-0. HB 4001, by Rep. Tant, caps inmate health care compensation in Jefferson County at 110% of the Medicare reimbursement rate to encourage preexisting provider contracts and prevent overbilling; it also passed 13-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to rehash what was stated this morning—great testimony from the three gentlemen, including
• I would like to endorse their testimony and the handout that was provided by the Chair.
• Waiting all day to give your testimony. Thank you. Happy to do it. Thank you.
• Thanks for your testimony. All right.
• Thanks for your testimony. Thanks most importantly for your public service and patience.

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We encourage the public to provide written testimony before the hearing by visiting the committee website
• at apro.assembly.ca.gov Please note that any written testimony submitted to the committee is considered
• Testimony on any such bill will be limited to a statement of name, organization, if any, and position
• The committee will allow no... more than 40 minutes of testimony in total.
• In previous committee testimony opposition arguments were definitively rebutted vote minor and absorbable

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Mental Health about the full-blown website and how it will house a lot of content, stories, testimonials
• , and ultimately this was... testimonials, and ultimately this was the wireframes, as we call it, that
• been doing preliminary work on a beginning short list of about 20 individuals that could be our testimonials
• for our stories that... testimonials for our stories that have come from folks affected by opioids.
• identify different individuals that could... different individuals that could be a part of the testimonial

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
• and proceed with your testimony. and proceed with your testimony.
• . testimony. testimony.
• If you could just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
• Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony. He's muted.

Bills: HF4456, HF4544, HF3698

Keywords: data broker, data brokerage, consumer privacy, personal data, data privacy, Minnesota attorney general, registration, public registry, civil penalties, enforcement, special revenue fund, privacy rights, data sales, data collection, consumer protection, chapter 325M, controller, processor, data broker registry, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we stand on our written testimony in full support.
• testimony, but in very very strong testimony, but in very very strong support<00:18:53.159> and
• In very strong support, you have my written testimony.
• Thank you very much. support, you have our written testimony support, you have our written testimony
• testimony? It's John De Parts. testimony? It's John De Parts.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s message nominations to the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s advisory board. The first nominee, Daniel O’Leary, received strong support from HTA leadership and Deputy Director James Kunane Tokioka, who praised his visitor-industry knowledge and work on brand marketing and tourism planning. O’Leary said he hoped to contribute his experience and strengthen the organization’s integrity. Joel Guy was also supported by HTA, Tokioka, and several community testifiers, who highlighted his long work in Hana, his film-industry background, and his role in community-focused tourism planning. During questioning, Guy said the advisory board should still have influence, especially on strategic planning and community concerns, even though its role is advisory rather than decision-making. The committee then considered Linda Wong’s nomination. HTA and Tokioka strongly supported her, citing her long community experience and familiarity with HTA work. Wong said the new advisory board was collaborative, had no conflicts so far, and was trying to balance resident concerns with attracting higher-value tourists. Senator Kim questioned her about the advisory structure, and Wong said she believed the Legislature had reduced HTA’s authority because of past conflicts but that the new board could help turn things around and possibly regain more authority in the future. The committee also heard testimony on Kimberly Algos and Terry Fisher. Algos was described by HTA and Tokioka as a strong leader and solid board member; Tokioka explained that she and another co-chair were selected because of their busy schedules and that the advisory board’s committees were created so members could contribute beyond the single statutory duty of selecting the chair, president, and CEO. Fisher was supported for his tour-operator experience and strategic planning work. In questioning, he endorsed performance-based contracting and accountability for contractors, while acknowledging that external events can affect results. He also said the convention center is critical infrastructure that should be repaired and used to help fill tourism lulls and attract major conferences. The hearing included supportive testimony from industry representatives, but no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, then begin your testimony, please. >> Yeah, I appreciate it.
• testimony and for uh hearing this bill. testimony and for uh hearing this bill.
• Please step to the table and begin your testimony after you introduce yourself.
• If it sounds >> Public testimony is closed.
• Begin your testimony after stating your name, please. >> Uh, thank you.

Bills: HF1323, HF3500

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, funding, storm damage relief, Bemidji State University, reforestation, state appropriations, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no more questions, we will proceed to testimony.
• for your testimony, Mr. for your testimony, Mr.
• Thank you very much for the testimony and for the thank-yous.
• I know testimony and for the thank yous.
• Please introduce yourself and proceed with your testimony. Hello.

Bills: HF2435

Keywords: healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and thank you for your testimony.
• Curious though um as I as I testimony.
• Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. So the final pink card that I have here is from Mr.
• I think with testimony<02:29:07.520> from<02:29:07.680> the<02:29:07.840> municipal<
• /c> testimony from the municipal testimony from the municipal association,<02:29:09.040> the<02

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Appreciate your testimony today. Uh, John Larson, you're up. Come. Thank you.
• <00:53:25.079> today so much appreciate your testimony today so much appreciate your testimony
• Grant, very much for your testimony. I will then close testimony.
• Belton, very much for your testimony. I've got Titus up next.
• Great testimony.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• will um hand it over to uh testimony Mr. will um hand it over to uh testimony Mr. Chair.
• yourself and begin your testimony. yourself and begin your testimony.
• for hearing my testimony. for hearing my testimony.
• for your testimony. Thank you, Mr. for your testimony. Thank you, Mr.
• Chair and testimony. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all