Transcript Highlights:

• current population, as a reminder is over. 23 million residents of those 18 million are licensed drivers
• everybody's aware, you know, Miami-Dade counties massive in size, no larger than 5 states and each each driver

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I tip my Uber drivers and Lyft drivers.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, GM 732, John Kawamura, Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Management.
• identify yourself and let us know why it is you're willing to serve in the operating board of certification
• Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted for GM 736, Board of Certification of Operating Personnel
• <00:19:14.000> of<00:19:14.200> Operating Board of Certification of Operating Board
• of Certification of Operating Personnel<00:19:15.159> in<00:19:15.240> Wastewater<00:19

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard and considered several gubernatorial nominations to state boards and councils. The nominees included Jody Hashimoto for the Honolulu County Subarea Health Planning Council (GM 539), Mary Pat Waterhouse for the State Council on Mental Health (GM 556), Shaun Kanani Apuuni for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council (GM 564), Chrissy Kiamaluhia Doyle for the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission (GM 732), and John Kawamura for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment (GM 736). Each nominee described relevant experience and why they wanted to serve, and supporters from the Department of Health and various community organizations testified in favor of the appointments. Committee members and supporting testimony emphasized the nominees’ experience and the value of their perspectives. Hashimoto was praised for healthcare consulting, management, financial, IT, and organizational expertise; Waterhouse for her lived experience and active service in mental health; Apuuni for juvenile justice policy work and national coalition ties; Doyle for her work in education and community representation; and Kawamura for his long career in wastewater operations and environmental protection. The Department of Health also strongly supported Waterhouse and Kawamura. Because quorum was initially limited, the chair noted that decision-making would occur later in the calendar once more members were present. At the end of the meeting, the committee took up each nomination and adopted the chair’s recommendation to advise and consent on all five measures, with no objections or written reservations noted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE WILL SOON BE DOING THAT CERTIFICATION FOR ADULT HOMES.
• THAT BRINGS US TO CURRENTLY WITH THE ADULT CERTIFICATION RULE.
• SAFE HOUSE CERTIFICATION. THANKS TO REALLY GREAT LEGISLATION.
• WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CONTINUED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION WORK GOING ON WITH THE TEAM.
• DURING THE EVENT PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZED FOR HARD WORK AND RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our advanced certifications are application only intensive offerings intended to provide a deeper dive
• We do have advanced certifications on both of those topics to assist and we're working to build out because
• that our workers are busy and they may not be able to take place, take part in those advance certifications
• We are working with the department right now to integrate our advanced certifications in with the DCF
• We're currently figuring out our relationship between the Florida certification board and the department

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the attorney for the committee reached out to MDLC to, I guess, receive a copy of her certificate
• Senator Hill was looking at the sheet after the discharge certificate, and it's got a bunch of aliases
• but it's the sheet after<00:14:41.839> the<00:14:42.079> discharge<00:14:42.560> certificate
• after the discharge certificate after the discharge certificate and<00:14:44.320> it's<00

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 24 March, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered several suffrage-restoration bills and two nominations. Senate Bill 3394 for Jerene Cummings was explained by Senator Turner Ford, who said Cummings was convicted of false pretense in 1997, has had no further trouble for nearly 30 years, and MDLC records showed no later encounters; the committee approved it. Senate Bill 3400 for Dennis Hopkins was presented by Senator Why, who described Hopkins as a long-time productive community member and church volunteer; it was also approved. Senate Bill 3402 for Cordiero Martin was reviewed in Senator Carter’s absence, with members noting his 2014 felony shoplifting conviction, later controlled-substance conviction while incarcerated, completion of sentence terms, and law-abiding conduct since release; it passed. Bills 3403 and 3404 for Teddy Null and Denise Null were presented by Senator Parks, who said both had completed their sentences, were discharged in 2017 and 2018, and operate a successful business; both were approved together. Senate Bill 3395 for Melvin Jackson and Senate Bill 3396 for Lawrence Daniels were also considered and approved after staff reviewed MDOC/NCIC materials and noted completion of sentence requirements and no outstanding issues. During the discussion of the Jackson and Daniels matters, committee staff noted that MDOC background packets and time sheets had been received, and one member raised a concern about unusual immigration-related entries and aliases appearing on the NCIC sheet associated with the Hopkins file. Staff clarified that the name on the sheet appeared to be different and suggested asking MDOC for clarification or having DPS run a report before the matter reached the floor, to ensure it was not the same person. The committee then moved on without taking further action on that issue during the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the committee considered two confirmations to the Crimestoppers Advisory Council. It recommended advising and consenting to the reappointment of Colonel William R. Bill Allen Jr. of Tupelo for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2025, and to the reappointment of David Jonathan Clayton of Petal to the Polygraph Examiner’s Board for a six-year term beginning October 7, 2025. Both nominations were approved by voice vote. The meeting concluded with a motion to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• date that someone, a current ESE teacher in the classroom now, how long do they have to get the certification
• conversation is, are you willing to allow those current educators a two-year period to gain the certification
• I'm not locking you into the dates because the only thing I have I see right now is like an ESE certificate
• I'm not locking you into the dates because the only thing I have I see right now is like an ESE certificate
• I know that last session there were conversations surrounding certificates of completion and a lot of

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. SB 420, by Senator Burgess, would require George Washington and Abraham Lincoln portraits to be prominently displayed in social studies classrooms and K-5 classrooms, with the Department of Education selecting the portraits. Supporters framed the bill as a patriotic and educational measure tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, while senators raised concerns about exclusivity, precedent, local control, and whether the measure could be expanded politically. Burgess said the bill was intended to be nonpartisan, historically rooted, and not to affect curriculum, and he committed to seeking funding so it would not be an unfunded mandate. The committee reported SB 420 favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 206, by Senator Harrell, which revises teacher preparation and training related to autism spectrum disorder. The strike-all amendment requires teacher preparation programs to include autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, requires ESE-certified teachers to complete an autism microcredential by August 1, 2027, creates an Autism Education Loan Forgiveness Program, authorizes salary supplements and stipends, and requires district professional development to include autism-specific training with local CARD centers. Senators asked about implementation timelines, grandfathering current teachers, and whether the endorsement requirement should include a grace period; Harrell said she was open to further discussion and wanted to make the bill workable. Public testimony was largely supportive, including from an Orange County Public Schools representative and a parent of a child with autism. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for SB 556, by Senator Berman, which allows students with disabilities to satisfy the high school physical education requirement by participating in Special Olympics for one year if included in the student’s IEP. An amendment also clarified that two years of marching band participation satisfies both PE and fine/performing arts credit requirements. Testimony supported the bill as an inclusive option that could reduce administrative burdens and give students more flexibility. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also voted to recommend confirmation of appointees in tabs 4 through 7, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 630 by Representative Vasut relates to certificates of title for certain outboard motors.
• outboard motor that is at least 40 years old, with a capacity of not more than 25 horsepower, from certificate
• municipality may petition the Public Utility Commission to decertify a portion of a retail water utility certificate
• Relating to the certificates of title for certain outboard motors, Chair lays out as a matter of business
• Relating to the certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water service in an area of

Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with no quorum at the start, but later reached quorum and took up several bills. House Bill 2692, codifying the San Antonio River Authority’s enabling legislation and making non-substantive modernization changes, received brief supportive testimony from the River Authority and was left pending before later being voted out favorably. House Bill 685, which would prevent municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities than comparable customers, also drew support and was reported favorably. House Bill 1318, clarifying compensation issues when a municipality decertifies part of a retail water utility’s service area, was heard without opposition and passed out of committee. House Bill 630, exempting certain older outboard motors from title requirements, likewise passed and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 2497, relating to filtration systems for certain public drinking water systems. Senator Zaffirini described the bill as a response to ongoing secondary water quality complaints, while TCEQ testified that such contaminants are aesthetic rather than health-based and that the water remains safe to drink if primary standards are met. The Texas Rural Water Association opposed the bill as written, arguing filtration may not solve most water quality problems and could be costly for small systems, while a consumer witness from Floresville supported it and described repeated rate increases and brown water after a filtration system was removed. Members discussed narrowing the bill through a committee substitute and emphasized the need for flexibility and technical expertise; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Kolkhorst later asking to be recorded as voting no. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2850, which would create a pollinator task force to study habitat loss, public education, and best practices for protecting bees and other pollinators. Senator Menendez and invited witness Erica Thompson of Texas BeeWorks highlighted major colony losses and the economic importance of pollinators to Texas agriculture, and Environment Texas and the Texas Beekeepers Association supported the measure. Members discussed monarch butterflies, native grasses, milkweed, and conservation efforts, and the bill was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. After testimony, the committee also voted out several pending items, including House Bill 5560 with a committee substitute addressing water-loss penalties and infrastructure improvements, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• relates to choice of law and assignment of acquisition. of claims and demands in connection with certificated
• does, HB 175, is it allows for us to create a program I mean, sorry, it'll provide an optional certification
• And so, you can already be a Texas Rising Star, but if you also want to get a special certification,
• you can get that, and that certification will help you get additional funds, and if you need help, give
• disabilities in a way that is a Inclusive way to do that and it does not require people to get the certification

Bills: HB74, HB175, HB460, HB576, HB2271, HB2294, HB2874, HB3016, HB3133, HB3191, HB3458, HB3929, HB4063, HB4115, HB4394, HB74, HB175

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2061 by Parker relates to prior authorization or pre-certification for the repair of complex
• Senate Bill 2136 by Inez of Hidalgo relates to dual certification for water or sewer service in an area
• Senate Bill 2136 by Inez of Hidalgo relates to dual certification for water or sewer service by certain
• Senate Bill 2173 by Parker relates to the effect of a tax certificate on the transfer of certain property
• Senate Bill 2180 by Higginbotham relates to requiring certification for polygraph examinations to Criminal

Bills: SCR8, SCR24, SCR25, SB1, SB65, SB315, SB371, SB372, SB379, SB400, SB402, SB406, SB427, SB487, SB502, SB509, SB535, SB610, SB707, SB740, SB761, SB840, SB875, SB893, SB918, SB925, SB965, SB987, SB990, SB995, SB1006, SB1018, SB1073, SB1106, SB1121, SB1194, SB1253, SB1300, SB1343, SB1362, SB1379, SB1447, SB1532, SB1555, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SCR25, SCR22, SCR12, SCR24, SCR8, SB565, SB372, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB504, SB925, SB1121, SB995, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB815, SB1379, SB1300, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB65, SB241, SB304, SB402, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB1106, SB686, SB112, SB371, SB204, SB400, SB609, SB1447, SB670, SB502, SB427, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1555, SB1362, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB987, SB1539, SB893, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB509, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB24, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1532, SB1302, SB856, SB650, SB583, SB673, SB840, SB213, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB610, SB918, SB1343, SB608, SB487, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB958, SB535, SB761, SB1, SB541, SB315, SB379, SB1018, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB916, SB896, SB1352, SB973, SB785, SB710, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB1547, SB961, SB1038, SB513, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB1198, SB1146, SB763, SB667

Keywords: central bank digital currency, CBDC, Federal Reserve, digital dollar, digital currency, cashless payments, financial privacy, cybersecurity, government surveillance, financial surveillance, money laundering, terrorism financing, illicit finance, banking policy, monetary policy, payments system, commercial banks, Texas Legislature, concurrent resolution, federal reserve digital currency

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the tax certificate process, as you know, has basically a three-year process.
• If you put it on the tax bill, you have a well-established tax certificate sale process for three years
• The home buyers have the normal tax certificate process. buyers have the normal tax certificate process

Bills: HB145, HB311

Keywords: HB145, scrap tires, scrap tire disposal, illegal dumping, ADEM, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, environmental enforcement, Class 2 municipality, municipal court, local enforcement, delegation agreement, primacy, waste management, tire recycling, tire hauling, environmental quality act, misdemeanor penalties, Class A misdemeanor, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:31.840> and national board teacher certification and national board teacher certification
• They're certificates in most cases.
• They're certificates in most cases: welders, truck drivers, and these types of things.
• And it isn't just certifications; it is degrees, two associate degrees.
• degrees,<00:34:21.040> two certifications, it is degrees, two certifications, it is degrees

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ratings in green building certification ratings in green building certification programs<01:39:11.119
• Um, in the in the bigger certification.
• It's it's purely based certifications.
• So we look very stringent certification.
• <04:26:12.319> ction certification and production. ction certification and production. ction

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, exposure once again has been our primary driver in what we're doing, uh, you know, in terms
• Um, you know, exposure once again has been our primary driver in what we're doing, uh, you know, in terms
• Um, you know, exposure once again has been our primary driver in what we're doing, uh, you know, in terms
• Um, you know, exposure once again has been our primary driver in what we're doing, uh, you know, in terms
• Um, you know, exposure once again has been our primary driver in what we're doing, uh, you know, in terms

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:40 Chair Comments 00:02:51 Rep. Nima Kulkarni PFAS Presentation 00:04:35 EEC PFAS Presentation 00:39:36 Rusty Cress PFAS Presentation 01:01:10 Chair Comments on Admin Regs and Reports Received 01:14:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our school superintendent was struck by a distracted driver and nearly lost her life.
• She said the Department of Health was the driver and that they saw a need to align the program with some
• So, they were the<00:47:52.720> drivers.
• 47:54.400> saw<00:47:54.600> a<00:47:54.640> need<00:47:54.920> to the drivers
• They really saw a need to the drivers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we're going to do this, why not include assaults on guests or UPS drivers, Amazon delivery drivers
• maybe there's other words you could use to expand it to make sure that it would include delivery drivers
• make sure that it would<01:26:22.120> include<01:26:22.560> delivery<01:26:22.920> drivers
• ,<01:26:23.840> for would include delivery drivers, for would include delivery drivers, for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The changes are the result of three primary drivers.
• The next slide just summarizes again the major drivers of change in the access fund.
• This chart visualizes one of the drivers of increased expenditures in the healthcare access fund.
• visualizes<00:48:23.200> one<00:48:23.440> of<00:48:23.520> the<00:48:23.680> drivers
• <00:48:23.920> of chart visualizes one of the drivers of chart visualizes one of the drivers

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mostly, these signs are designed to distract drivers.
• 15:36.960> designed<01:15:37.360> to<01:15:37.679> distract<01:15:39.040> drivers
• signs are designed to distract drivers. signs are designed to distract drivers.
• This digital signage is not for drivers, right? It's for pedestrians, right?
• So in terms of there's not going to be distracted drivers. No.

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:

• The second item is a lease modification for PR 5906 for the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Driver
• The second item is a lease modification for PR 5906 for the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Driver
• The second item is a lease modification for PR 5906 for the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Driver
• The second item is a lease modification for PR 5906 for the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Driver
• The second item is a lease modification for PR 5906 for the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Driver

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first received several information items, including University of Kentucky reports on medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts’ planned bond issues, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues. Members then heard and approved an appropriation increase for a federally funded University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. The project will construct a terminal building and is tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school; members asked about the public funding, the role of EKU, and possible aviation expansion, and the item was approved by roll call. The committee next approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for an 85,000-square-foot facility at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead for $6.4 million. UK said the property, formerly the Rowan County Board of Education site, is directly across from UK St. Clair and will be used for multiple purposes; members questioned the quarterly payment structure and why the county preferred not to receive the full amount upfront, but the item was approved. The committee then heard three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Fish and Wildlife pump project at Ballard Wildlife Management Area and two Lake Barkley State Resort Park repair projects. Finance staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies after bids came in close to available funding, and the committee approved the action items. Janice Thomas then presented four pool projects requiring no action: HVAC upgrades at the Future Farmers of America Leadership Training Center in Hardinsburg, geothermal and HVAC work at the Kentucky School for the Blind, a Brady Hall HVAC project at the Kentucky School for the Blind, and a renovation of Shanti Hall at Kentucky State University for the School of Engineering Technology. Members asked no substantive questions on those items. Finally, Natalie Broner presented a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the rent, the lack of other bids, and whether another county location might be preferable; CHFS said it maintains county-seat offices statewide and that the Wayne County site would replace an existing office. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing services with renovation costs largely absorbed by the lessor. Both lease items were presented for action after the discussion.