Transcript Highlights:

• The first update ensures wage theft is not going on in all low-income housing tax credit awards by covering
• </c><00:04:27.600><c> to</c> to reposition and create a new entity to to reposition and create a new
• entity to unlock<00:04:28.240><c> these</c><00:04:28.560><c> resources.
• </c><00:04:53.360><c> It</c> fact public entities, which they are.
• It fact public entities, which they are.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What period does that cover, and does it cover the history of the Texas Rangers?
• That covers right now about 12,000 inmates.
• What percentage is covered? That covers right now about 12,000 inmates.
• Item three covers agency staffing and turnover.
• covered adequately.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• 19, by deleting after the word no and before the word that the word county, and inserting the word entity
• So this just removes the ability for those contracting entities to hire them in a full-time capacity.
• screened, and we anticipate that, you know, even avoiding one extended inpatient stay per year would cover
• Insurance companies and taxpayer-funded health care plans are not required to cover the cost of these

Bills: SB1328, SB1380, SB1436, SB1558, SB1572, SB1651, SB1805, SB1831, SB1836, SB2014, SB2023, SB2044, SB2179, SB933

Keywords: parents' rights, healthcare consent, minors, medical records, protection, legal guardianship, Medicaid, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, eligibility verification, death records, Death Master File, vital statistics, disenrollment, recoupment, improper payments, benefits integrity, public assistance, income verification, residency verification, incarceration status

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee met to consider a series of Senate bills, beginning with SB 2014, which would allow ivermectin to be sold over the counter with FDA approval. After questions about whether a prescription would still be required and how FDA guidance would affect the law, the bill passed 9-3. SB 1805, as amended, barred detention and youth facilities from using temporary agencies or contracting organizations for staffing; the author said the change was intended to address transparency and records issues in a related lawsuit. That bill passed 12-0. SB 2044, also amended, clarified chiropractic-related language regarding serum and multiple vitamins; members discussed whether the bill changed scope of practice, and it passed 10-2. The committee then approved SB 1836, which requires a board-approved mental health screener during routine annual primary care visits. The author said it was meant to normalize mental health screening and noted an updated fiscal impact estimate of $284,000 to $560,000; some members raised concerns about mandates and cost, but the bill passed 8-4. SB 1380 would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify Medicaid eligibility against death records and conduct monthly death-record checks for enrollees; after questions about current practice, costs, and recoupment from deceased enrollees, the author requested title be stricken, and the bill passed 10-2. SB 2179, dealing with not-guilty-by-reason-of-mental-illness cases, adds staff accompaniment for therapeutic visits, requires structured violence-risk assessments before discharge or conditional release, and adds drug screening when substance-use monitoring is ordered; Department of Mental Health staff testified about treatment planning and monitoring, and the bill passed 11-1. Later, the committee passed SB 1436, which requires families to be informed of their right to certification after fetal death or miscarriage, and SB 1558, which clarifies that older youth in OJA custody may be placed in Level E group homes. SB 933, the “Right to Try for Individualized Treatment Act,” passed 11-0 and would allow certain terminally ill patients to seek individualized investigational treatments after informed consent. SB 1651, an Oklahoma Medical Board cleanup bill covering several licensed professions, also passed 11-0. Finally, SB 1328 modernizes parental access to minor medical records with safeguards for abuse situations, and SB 1572 removes the DHS and OJA directors from the OCCY board; both passed 11-0. The committee adjourned after noting a possible interim meeting for a Tier 1 nomination.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said this covers both sides and asked for a yes vote.
• available in a life-threatening emergency, but guardrails are good too, and she thought the bill covers
• The chair noted that, as the maker of the motion, the committee was grateful for the many involved entities
• The chair said the committee was grateful for the many involved entities interested in the best uses

Bills: SB6278

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools

Transcript Highlights:

• I would think it would depend on the entity that is involved with that agency, whether that be the governor
• You cannot do referrals and can't have contact on behalf of a potential patient with outside entities
• But I want to go back to that this covers medication.
• Vice Chair, for covering with that. That concludes this committee meeting.

Bills: HB3620, HB3942, HB3279, HB3378, HB3383, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3420, HB3130

Keywords: 2030 census, complete count committee, census outreach, decennial census, enumeration, population count, hard-to-count populations, hard-to-enumerate areas, State Data Center, Oklahoma Census, multilingual campaign, public outreach, school-based outreach, community organizations, minority groups, ethnic minorities, language minorities, self-response rate, census awareness, federal census

Summary: The committee first handled housekeeping, announcing that House Bill 4276 would be laid over until the third week and moving Representative Lawson’s bill to the top of the agenda. HB 3620, creating a 2030 census complete count committee, was presented and passed by due pass. HB 3942, which updates the state’s tax incentive evaluation process by directing reports to LOFT and requiring comparisons to other incentives and strategic economic goals, also passed due pass after brief discussion about whether all tax incentives, including the parental choice tax credit, would be reviewed. Representative Pfeiffer presented HB 3279, a follow-up public corruption measure that clarifies conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements and sets a $25,000 threshold for certain purchase orders; it passed due pass. After Vice Chair Woolley took over, HB 3378 passed 7-0 to stagger OCAST board terms after all members had expired at once. HB 3383, setting a 14-hour limit on required work in a 24-hour period for state employees with emergency carve-outs, passed 6-1 after questions about law enforcement and emergency-service exceptions. Several transparency and procurement bills from Representative Strom also passed unanimously: HB 3413 requires agencies to report outsourced jobs and consulting outcomes, HB 3414 adds accounting-system reporting for contract type and invoice location for intangible assets, HB 3415 requires subcontractor reporting and post-contract assessments, and HB 3420 requires justification for sole-source purchases and limits pilot or proof-of-concept contracting to 12 months. The most contentious measure was HB 313 by Representative Kevin West, which restricts state agencies, employees, contractors, and public institutions from using state funds to perform, facilitate, refer, or encourage gender transition procedures. Opponents argued it intrudes into private medical decisions, could affect adults as well as minors, and may worsen health outcomes or create vague enforcement problems; supporters said it protects minors from harmful, life-altering procedures and prevents state dollars from supporting them. After extended debate, the committee passed HB 313 by a 7-2 vote. The meeting then adjourned, with one more committee meeting announced for the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• includes repealing HHSC's existing authority and allowing TVC to retain a portion of grant funds to cover
• Is it possible just to handle this with a sticker so that the impounding entity knows that they need
• They should be able to apply for positions or advance their careers without discrimination or the entity
• So it's the view of the VFW that Senator Blanco's bill would augment USERRA and also cover broad ground

Bills: SB2007, SB2104, SB2543, SB2545, SB2926, SB2938

Keywords: military status, vehicle registration, veterans, Texas transportation, state records, discrimination, employment rights, spouses of service members, labor code, SB 2543, Texas veterans cemeteries, state veterans cemetery, Texas Veterans Commission, Veterans Land Board, Natural Resources Code, veterans land fund, veterans housing assistance fund, veterans burial, burial eligibility, cemetery location

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard several bills focused on veterans’ mental health, criminal justice coordination, cemetery expansion, housing, vehicle registration, and anti-discrimination protections. SB 2926 would transfer administration of veterans’ mental health initiatives from HHSC to the Texas Veterans Commission, create a community-based mental health grant program, require a statewide veteran suicide prevention action plan, and add annual reporting requirements. SB 2938 would require county jails to verify and report veteran status at intake, help veteran inmates apply for federal benefits, and provide access to county veteran services and free visitation with service coordinators. Both bills were described as joint or practical efforts to improve coordination and service delivery for veterans, and both were left pending after no public testimony was offered. The committee also heard SB 2543, which would give more flexibility to expand the Texas veterans cemetery system, and SB 2545, which would explore using manufactured homes as another affordable housing option for veterans through the Veterans Land Board. SB 2545 drew questions about how manufactured-home loans would work; a Texas Veterans Land Board witness said implementation would likely require closing at a title company rather than through a retail bill of sale, and the Texas Manufactured Housing Association testified in support. Both cemetery and housing bills were left pending. Members then heard SB 2007, which would let vehicle registration applicants voluntarily designate military status so the DMV could record it and help with benefits and towing/impound issues involving deployed service members. Witnesses from the towing industry and DMV supported the bill, saying the current system lacks enough identifying information to run military-status checks and that the indicator could help prevent vehicles from being sold while owners are deployed. SB 2104 would add military status as a protected class under state anti-discrimination laws for employment, housing, and utilities; the author said it would address ongoing discrimination against service members, veterans, and military families. The Texas VFW supported the bill, citing the Leroy Torres case as an example of why additional state protections are needed. After discussion about overlap with federal law and existing state protections, SB 2104 was also left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also provide expert consultation to schools, hospitals, courts, and other entities.
• We also provide expert consultation to schools, hospitals, courts, and other entities. courts and other
• entities.
• So we will share the videos or the undergrad course with any entity that So we will share the videos
• And the reallotment funds help cover that cost, so that is something that is very critical for us.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was an informational and oversight session of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, with chairs and members hearing agency updates from several commissioners. The Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition described its maternal and child health work, including home visiting, early intervention, WIC, newborn hearing screening, and cross-agency efforts on prenatal substance exposure, respite care, children’s vision, and maternal health initiatives. DPH emphasized that federal grant cuts, layoffs, and the loss of data systems such as PRAMS would weaken services and planning, and members asked about Title V funding and the impact of federal uncertainty. The Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing highlighted communication access services, interpreter and CART referrals, emergency after-hours support, family navigation, and independent living services. Commissioners and members discussed the shortage of ASL interpreters and the need to expand training pipelines, including partnerships with colleges and possible ASL programming for younger students. The Department of Developmental Services reported serving nearly 50,000 people and focused on youth and adult services, transition-age supports, autism services, self-direction, respite, and new high-acuity residential models. Members asked about respite availability, self-direction outcomes, and workforce shortages; DDS said it was expanding clinical capacity and provider rates while monitoring possible federal Medicaid, SNAP, and immigration-related impacts. The Commission for the Blind described services for about 28,000 legally blind residents, most of whom are older adults, including social rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training, children’s services, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 supports. The commissioner discussed a UMass-based effort to build the workforce pipeline for blindness services and said the agency was watching federal restructuring but had not yet seen direct cuts. MassAbility’s leadership then warned about major federal changes affecting Social Security disability determinations, including staff restructuring, office closures, and a new overpayment repayment policy, and said the agency was preparing for possible increases in claims and uncertainty around reallotment dollars that help fund services. The Disabled Persons Protection Commission closed the hearing with an update on its abuse investigations and protective services for adults with disabilities. DPPC reported rising hotline calls and investigations, a growing caseload, its sexual assault response team, the abuser registry, and a new interagency protective services integration system funded by ARPA dollars through 2027. The agency also flagged new federal rules that could affect funding eligibility and said it may need statutory changes to comply. Members asked about funding, reporting pathways, and how complaints reach DPPC, and the commissioner said the agency uses both mandated reporting and proactive outreach to identify and respond to abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• L.A., where there are larger and larger events, international games, and we are an international entity
• A city, a local city, would be an example of a hosting entity, but there will be more information as
• I know different funding has come at different times from different entities.
• So if you could just help us to identify, Funding has come at different times from different entities
• And then, yeah, so that covers that. So, in the interest of time, Mr.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 682 should pass, an act relating to residency requirements for fire protection entities and
• The first thing we started it off with is our known entity. The known entity is alcohol.
• The first thing we started it off with is our known entity. The known entity is alcohol.
• The regulatory license fee is a local fee paid to local entities.
• :45.560><c> to</c> Every government entity required to Every government entity required to collect<01

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pamela and I are both signed in for the same organization, so I'll just cover her testimony.
• was nearly in tears asking his mom how they would afford his care because their insurance couldn't cover
• was nearly in tears asking his mom how they would afford his care because their insurance couldn't cover
• was nearly in tears asking his mom how they would afford his care because their insurance couldn't cover
• We are happy to see that the amendment was passed to defund entities that provided this care, but this

Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee approved the January 21, 2026 minutes and held SB 1208. It then heard SB 1211, which would allow victims of felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence to seek a lifetime injunction against a convicted defendant. Supporters from victim advocacy organizations and a survivor described the bill as an important safety measure that would reduce repeated court appearances and trauma. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1211 a do pass recommendation. The committee next considered SB 1239, which removes the statute of limitations for failing to register as a sex offender or providing false registration information. The sponsor said the bill closes a public-safety loophole and was requested by DPS, while opponents argued existing warrant procedures already address the issue and raised due process concerns. After discussion, the committee voted 4-3 to recommend SB 1239 do pass. SB 1240 would exclude probationers convicted of dangerous crimes against children from the probation incentive payment formula. The sponsor tied the bill to a recent child sexual assault case and said the change would keep those cases separate from probation performance incentives; defense attorneys warned it could discourage treatment and push more people into prison. The committee voted 4-3 to recommend SB 1240 do pass. The committee also heard and approved SB 1095, as amended, which bans gender transition procedures and referrals for minors and restricts public funding and facilities for such care; supporters called it necessary child protection, while opponents said it was discriminatory. The committee then heard SB 1243 and SB 1244, both related to court-ordered mental health treatment. SB 1243 adds notice to guardians and lets them seek continued treatment, while SB 1244 creates a continuing court-ordered treatment process after repeated annual reviews. Supporters, including family members of seriously mentally ill patients, said the bills would close gaps and prevent dangerous lapses in care; opponents raised due process concerns and warned about expanded involuntary treatment. Both bills received do pass recommendations, with SB 1243 passing 7-0 and SB 1244 passing after amendment and roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• That covers the first year.
• </c> from individuals or businesses to cover from individuals or businesses to cover the<01:12:29.360
• This does not cover electronic waste.
• And so, are helping us cover the costs?"
• Retailers shall not distribute covered battery.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• be drones that are housed inside specialty docks at critical or strategic locations, allowing us to cover
• This entity is very unique in law enforcement, as it is non-traditional in how we respond to crime types
• I had one entire shift that was out, and thankfully, the State Police covered for us.
• , like our tribal entities.
• As the only entity that is in the Constitution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the public, you can imagine why we thought it was a good idea perhaps that an entity that
• Members of the public, you can imagine why we thought it was a good idea perhaps that an entity that
• I mean, you can look at the cover letter yourself from the Department of Transportation.
• I mean, you can look at the cover letter yourself from the Department of Transportation.
• I mean, you can look at the cover letter yourself from the Department of Transportation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would like to, you know, if we can continue to talk about it, maybe it's already covered and the
• So I would like to, you know, if we can continue to talk about it, maybe it's already covered and the
• , California has strict relocation benefits for residents everywhere in California that ensure an entity
• the park, we still have that leasehold interest, which, if the park didn't burn, they would have to cover
• down and this doesn't exist, because now they don't have that in-place value that they would be covering

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a separate entity in the process.
• governmental entity without the wherewithal to accomplish that.
• Unrestricted funds are the financial backbone... to cover the shortfall.
• Just 10 full-time staff cover all direct services for a facility that operates... cover all direct services
• Our current DVS award essentially covers one advocate.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The just about every public entity has a process for complaints.
• entity, public entity has a every entity, public entity has a process<01:58:13.199><c> for</c><01:58
• > however cover your towns, however cover your towns, municipalities,<02:05:34.400><c> and</c><02:05:
• </c> the entity that hires them. the entity that hires them.
• </c><05:31:06.240><c> in</c> to the regulatory framework covered in to the regulatory framework covered

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with procedural announcements about report turnaround, amendment submission methods during split operations, a possible January 29 session, the governor’s State of the State on February 5, parking, cafeteria opening, and the plan to finish work by February 10. It then moved into executive session on HB 1123, which would require certain companies to post salary ranges on public job listings. Representative Granger moved ITL, arguing the bill would interfere with negotiations, especially for higher-level jobs, and raise compelled-speech concerns. Supporters, including Representatives Schultz, Sullivan, Cahill, Staub, and others, said salary ranges help applicants avoid wasted time and travel, improve transparency, and are already a common workplace disclosure. The committee voted 10-9 to ITL HB 1123. The committee next took up HB 177, concerning a definition of remote work in labor law. Representative Murphy moved ITL, saying the bill could burden employers, create vague obligations, duplicate existing protections, and potentially require intrusive compliance measures. Representative Sullivan described a proposed amendment that would narrow the bill to a definition of remote work and remove broader requirements, but the committee ultimately voted 11-9 to ITL HB 177. Members also noted that the amendment had not been fully circulated in time and that the issue might merit further review. Finally, the committee opened HB 1352, a workers’ compensation bill focused on repricing and payment practices. The sponsor withdrew an initial ITL motion and moved OTP after amendment review. Members discussed concerns raised at the hearing about delayed payments, third-party administrators, and the need for better accountability. Representative McKenzie’s amendment would define good faith, create a voluntary three-year dispute-resolution pilot, restore fines to prior levels, and add reporting/accountability requirements for carriers that miss the 30-day payment deadline. Several members supported the amendment as a way to help small businesses and providers, while others said repricing needed broader study through the workers’ compensation advisory council. The Department of Labor explained that the amendment would require carriers and related payers to report missed determinations to the department and would increase oversight of payment timeliness.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that USDA covers the producers.
• </c> tank, are those something that's covered tank, are those something that's covered in<04:25:15.680
• And, um, we really have that covered.
• entities? entities?
• </c> clearly covered under the bill's rules. clearly covered under the bill's rules.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environmental Policy Subcommittee took up HB 1621, which would require a baseline environmental impact study before development of certain manufacturing and storage facilities. Members said the concept had merit, but they could not resolve major drafting and implementation issues, including how to define covered facilities, what the study would require, and how enforcement would work at the municipal or county level. Several members expressed concern about unintended consequences and said the proposal was not ready; the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL), and the full committee later adopted that recommendation on a 16-0 roll call vote, placing the bill on consent. The committee then discussed HB 1053, involving electronically submitted pesticide use reports. Representative Comtois presented an amendment creating a department database and protecting confidential information, but said she still needed to check whether it was germane and to review administrative issues with the Department of Agriculture. After hearing from David Russo of the Division of Pesticide Control, the committee agreed to continue work on the amendment and took no action that day. The committee also reviewed HB 1186 on egg labeling and producer exemptions. Representative Comtois offered an amendment exempting small producers from most requirements except labeling, but Commissioner Sean Jasper asked for more time to review the impact and suggested the state might not need the existing egg law at all if federal USDA rules already cover the field. Members agreed to hold action until the following week. Finally, the committee began discussion of HB 1780 on penalties for violations involving seeds, plants, and nursery stock, focusing on labeling rules and germination-date requirements; testimony from industry and department representatives indicated they were working toward a compromise that would allow multiple relabelings, add production dates, and set a 36-month sale limit, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> It says on their websites. >> And it says right there, look, oh, ee, and reporting entities.
• It is the SAU, while the other five entities have completed their audits.
• So to me, the clause clearly says that it is the non-compliant entity.
• In this case it non-compliant entity.
• </c> that we haven't already covered. that we haven't already covered.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've alluded to twice that you don't ship the information out to any other entities, so that means
• Chairman, Senate Bill 1786 requires cover providers that use generative AI to add provenance data to
• The three-page amendment in your name, dated 3/25/26 at 11:29 a.m., includes that covered providers,
• However, I do have some concern: the definition of covered provider is incredibly... ...some concern.
• The definition of covered provider is incredibly specific and exempts quite a few entities that deal

Bills: SB1786

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

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, AI OFFERS STRATEGIC ENTITIES.
• WHERE AI COULD BE DEVELOPED TO ASSIST IN THE CLAIMS PROCESS TO ADJUDICATE CLAIMS THAT ARE CLEARLY NOT COVERED
• I KNOW FOR HEALTH WE HAVE HIPPA AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE TO COVER BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GUARDRAILS
• Catlin: I THINK, IN GENERAL, OTHER PANELISTS HAVE COVERED IT WILL. I THINK MR.
• WE PAY IN A LITTLE BIT SO ALL THE CLAIMS GET COVERED AT THE END OF THE DAY.