Video & Transcript Research : 'student testing'
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CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 035 Feb 18th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- He's a student at Adams 12 and just wanted to give him a warm invite. Thank you all. Wonderful.
- He's a student at Adams 12 Um he is off.
- He's a student at Adams 12 and<00:25:36.000>
just <00:25:36.320>wanted <00:25:36.480> - <00:25:59.200>
I I would like to welcome students from Jefferson Academy Elementary School - Welcome to the students. Representative Ricks. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating Apr 28th, 2026
The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating
Transcript Highlights:
- Everybody makes a hundred on a test when they have the answers.
- You may recall we did a test on April 2nd. Good. In practice, it's not perfect.
- You may recall we did a statewide test on April 2nd.
- I have a heart for college students.
- In a class of 34, about 20 students raised their hands.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Jan 23rd, 2026 at 10:43 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And one of the students, in talking and having a little talk with our kindergarten, I asked him, how
- Grace Margaret Herrera for appointment as the student member of the New Mexico Highlands University Board
- She's a BAMD student from Las Cruces High School.
- We all have to have tests on room numbers because we've all messed them up all week.
- We all have to have tests on room numbers because we've all messed them up all week.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 20, 2026 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- They do this in a number of areas, including interpreting genetic testing results, helping families and
- to solve this critical workforce shortage by establishing an education grant program to support students
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 092 Apr 15th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- we have 11 students uh from Robert F. we have 11 students uh from Robert F.
need <00:41:16.400>more including most students, need more including most students, need- generations of Colorado students. generations of Colorado students.
- /c> students enrolled right now students enrolled right now in<03:24:46.280>
30 <03:24:46.680>< - for 193 students in 30 districts. for 193 students in 30 districts.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Students.
- They have not changed. 6,500 students. 500 students currently enrolled in our institutions of higher
- They were leading their student governments.
- They were leading their student governments.
- -born student who didn't get the spot? That's my question.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee took up SB 2B, a major immigration bill by Senator Gruters, described by supporters as a Trump-aligned package to strengthen Florida’s role in immigration enforcement. The bill would create a grant program for local law enforcement, expand jail-ICE agreements beyond sheriff-operated jails, establish a chief immigration officer and a state immigration enforcement council, require more coordination on E-Verify and detention-bed reporting, allow immigration status to be considered in bail decisions, increase penalties for certain offenses tied to illegal reentry and voting, and repeal in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Much of the sponsor’s presentation and debate emphasized focusing on criminal offenders, improving coordination with federal authorities, and using state resources to support detention and enforcement.
Committee questioning focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, reimbursement for jail costs, E-Verify coverage, and whether the bill could lead to street-level immigration enforcement in schools or churches. Senator Smith, Senator Pizzo, Senator Polsky, Senator Sharief, and others challenged the tuition repeal as unfair to students who were brought to Florida as children and argued for grandfathering current students or studying the fiscal impact first. Senator Fine defended the repeal as ending a state subsidy for people who are not lawfully present and argued the change would save tens of millions of dollars. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified that the bill was limited to jail-based enforcement, said there was no current street-level 287(g) program in Florida, and stated he did not believe the bill raised concerns for law enforcement or schools/churches. A representative of the Florida Supervisors of Elections supported the voting-related section, while a Florida Highway Patrol representative said state agencies would need additional funding if they were expected to take on more enforcement duties.
The committee adopted Senator Gruters’ late-filed amendment correcting a drafting error. Senator Smith’s amendment to require an OPAGA study on the tuition-waiver policy was withdrawn after discussion, and his handwritten amendment to delete the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students failed on a roll-call vote. The bill then advanced as amended, with several members speaking in debate both for and against it. Supporters framed it as a focused public-safety and enforcement measure; opponents criticized the special-session process, the cost, and the tuition repeal’s impact on students already enrolled.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 5th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- they are doing. to serve our students.
- Here's an example of a student packet that students would be assigned.
- Non-classroom based student population.
- 53% of current charter school students in the state of California are black and Latino students.
- and students.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Emergency Management Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Emergency Management
Transcript Highlights:
- The author passed AB 727 last year, which put the Trevor Project contact number on the student IDs.
- The author passed AB 727 last year, which put the Trevor Project contact number on the student IDs.
- And when the tests of the system had been rolled out, there had been such significant issues that the
- So that's going to be the test.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And the reason for that is that it is really important that, as the law indicates, student immunization
- When there are outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in schools, some students who are not immunized
- first day... ...my first day in the Capitol, the governor came out and said we had our first COVID test
- We couldn't get tests. We didn't know how many people had it. Everyone was locked in at home.
Bills:
HB689, HB742, HB926, HB946, HB948, HB1028, HB1095, HB1114, HB1121, HB1155, HB1185, HB1217, HB1220, HB1227, HCR76
Keywords:
public assistance, child welfare, benefit adjustment, DCFS, LDH, fraud detection, household reporting, Medicaid, immunization, healthcare eligibility, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, health policy, vaccination requirements, vaccination status, vaccine mandate, medical freedom, medical autonomy, public buildings, public access, government services
Summary:
The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 with a quorum and first deferred or did not hear several bills, including HB 1093, HB 1145, and HB 946. The committee then quickly advanced HB 1095, which would allow nursing facilities to use alternative power generation sources in addition to fuel-powered backup systems; supporters said it would give nursing homes more flexibility while maintaining existing safety and backup-power requirements. The bill was reported favorably without objection.
The committee then took up HB 926, a bill concerning vaccination status and admission to public buildings and related medical-freedom provisions. After adopting a set of amendments, including exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities and clarifications regarding masks and school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the measure. Supporters framed it as a privacy and bodily-autonomy bill, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures and school immunization rules. After extended debate, HB 926 was reported favorably with amendments by an 8-4 vote.
HB 1220, a cleanup bill concerning the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was amended and then reported favorably. HB 1227, which would require physician peer review before certain disciplinary actions against doctors, drew testimony from the sponsor, a physician supporting the bill, and the board’s executive director, who described the board’s current complaint and review process and raised concerns about practicality and staffing; the sponsor asked for more time to work with the board, and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also reported favorably HB 1217 on pharmacy benefit manager transparency after technical and substantive amendments, and HB 1028 on non-emergency medical transportation reimbursement rates, which was sent to Appropriations. Finally, the committee advanced HB 1185 on rural hospital payment methodologies and HCR 76, which would continue the rural health inequities task force for another year; both were reported favorably.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And the reason for that is that it is really important that, as the law indicates, student immunization
- When there are outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in schools, some students who are not immunized
- “And I, our first day in the Capitol period, the governor came out and said we had our first COVID test
- We couldn’t get tests. We didn’t know how many people had it. Everyone was locked in at home.
Summary:
The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 and first disposed of several items without hearing them, including HB 1093 and HB 1145, and voluntarily deferring HB 946. The committee then quickly reported HB 1095 favorably without objection. That bill would require nursing facilities to have fuel or another alternative power generation source to maintain power, and supporters said it preserves existing backup-power safety requirements while giving facilities more flexibility as technology changes.
The committee then took up HB 926, which concerns vaccination status and admission to public buildings and seeks to prohibit medical mandates. After adopting an amendment set and additional changes clarifying exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities, medical masks, and child welfare/school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the bill. Supporters framed it as a civil-liberties measure limiting vaccine-card requirements for public buildings, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures, school immunization rules, and the ability of health care facilities to protect patients. The bill was reported favorably on an 8-4 vote.
HB 1220, a cleanup bill for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was then reported favorably after a technical amendment set. HB 1227, which would require complaints involving medical judgment to be reviewed by a three-physician panel before formal disciplinary action, drew extensive testimony from a physician sponsor, a doctor describing his disciplinary experience, and the board’s executive director, who said the board already uses practicing physicians, nurses, and experts in its process and warned the proposed panel system could be impractical because physicians are difficult to recruit for such reviews. At the sponsor’s request, the committee voluntarily deferred HB 1227 for further work.
Finally, the committee reported HB 1217 favorably with amendments to a pharmacy benefit manager transparency bill, after supporters said it would expose hidden pricing and rebate practices and opponents argued some provisions were duplicative or unnecessary. HB 1028, setting minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation, was reported favorably and referred to Appropriations after supporters described the need for higher rates and members discussed funding. The committee also reported HB 1185 favorably, with amendments preserving the existing Rural Hospital Preservation Act while extending similar protections to additional rural-lookalike hospitals, and adopted HCR 76 to continue the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force for another year.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- help stem the tide of losing all the physicians that we're losing, we have Catherine Miller, medical student
- wagering; SB 1639, school security deposits, capital finance; SB 1640, marijuana qualifying illness as testing
- Second reading of bills continues: SB 1661, opportunity genetic testing support obligation; SB 1662,
- I had a young student in my district come to meet with me to tell me how she woke up one day with a pain
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine combating the opioid epidemic. Feb 26th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
Aging (Special) Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- .. naloxone, a revolutionary drug to stop an opioid overdose in its tracks, as well as educating students
- schools and help them partner with school districts so these parents can come in and talk directly to students
- to find an attorney who obtained emergency custody, but a few weeks later the parents cheated drug tests
- employees in some of my companies, and people come and say, oh, if you will do, if you'll do this test
Keywords:
opioid crisis, overdose, naloxone, drug trafficking, law enforcement, treatment, prevention, older adults, Medicaid expansion
Summary:
The meeting convened to address the dire opioid crisis affecting communities nationwide, with a particular focus on the alarming rise of opioid use disorder among older adults. Key testimonies highlighted the critical need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses prevention, treatment, and strict law enforcement actions against drug traffickers. Sheriff Dennis Lima from Seminole County outlined successful strategies implemented in Florida, including increased access to naloxone and legislative changes to hold drug dealers accountable for overdoses. Various members expressed a united front on tackling this multifaceted issue, advocating for the expansion of Medicaid and better access to treatment as essential steps to curbing the epidemic.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Fifty Six - Wednesday, April 22
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Macy is an FCCLA student from Versailles.
- student journalism.
- Councils Distinguished Student Leader.
- So we have several medical students visiting.
- So we have several medical students visiting.
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and a long series of special guest introductions. Guests included the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions and coach Jason Colpepper, Clayco executives and a construction career nonprofit representative, FCCLA and FBLA students, Missouri FCCLA members, legislative interns and shadow students, Missouri Rural Water Association members, medical students from Kansas City University in Joplin, and family members of members. The chamber also recognized legislative assistants for their work and noted Earth Day/Arbor Day seedlings available in the rotunda from the Department of Conservation.
Committee reports were received on several measures, and the House then took up multiple bills for third reading. House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049 passed after debate over its broad public-safety contents, including AI restrictions, trafficking training, psilocybin trials, DWI-related provisions, fire and life safety standards, and a disputed anti-trans provision; it passed 117-10 with 17 present. Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral fields and soil analysis for sewage-related purposes, passed 108-34 with one present. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State measure on certificates of good standing for series LLCs doing business in other states, passed 142-0 with one present.
The House then perfected House Bill 1758, a daylight saving time “trigger” bill. Supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, help tourism and outdoor recreation, and avoid the health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents argued the bill was constitutionally problematic, multi-subject, or the wrong policy choice, with some favoring permanent standard time instead. After extensive debate, the House ordered the bill perfected and printed. The session ended with announcements, including committee meeting notices, and a point of order raised over a member wearing tennis shoes.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 7th, 2025 at 01:00 pm
North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- witnessing in our schools, reduce classroom disturbances, address mental health issues, and increase test
- And talking with some of the students who go to the said school, they're very happy with the policy.
- And chatting with some of the students that go to the said school, they're very happy with the policy
- Senator Wabama: On line 8, it changes from a convicted student to a responsible student to further expand
- who's the victim and the consideration of the responsible student as well.
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4.
The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote.
The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Mar 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And so if it's not testing for benzene, It's monitoring for.
- water, or soil, and they've indicated where they're testing, how often they're testing, and they've committed
- water, or soil, and they've indicated where they're testing, how often they're testing, and they've committed
- , soil testing, air testing, and put it publicly and have it be discussed in town halls.
- , soil testing, air testing, and put it publicly and have it be discussed in town hall.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the health impacts of wildfires and the effects on health care systems and access to care. The first panel focused on public health consequences, with testimony from UCLA and UCSF physicians, a community organizer, and an Altadena recovery leader. Witnesses described acute and long-term physical harms from wildfire smoke and ash, including asthma and COPD exacerbations, cardiovascular and stroke risks, pregnancy impacts, infection risk, and possible added hazards from lithium-ion battery fires. They also emphasized mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, “firebrain,” and the need for psychological first aid, trauma-informed community networks, and youth-focused resilience programs. Community advocates stressed that Latine, Indigenous, undocumented, and Black communities face disproportionate harm because of language barriers, unsafe work conditions, lack of insurance, and exclusion from disaster aid, and they called for stronger language access, worker protections, permanent disaster relief, and better outreach.
Committee members asked about air monitoring, masks, wind events, lithium-ion batteries, and how to reach communities with translation and emergency information. Panelists said AQI is useful but incomplete, that N95s help for smoke but P100 masks are needed for ash/asbestos exposure, and that communities should be warned to stay indoors and avoid windy dust-ups after fires. They also discussed the importance of building relationships during non-emergency periods, using text alerts and trusted community organizations, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information. Several members and witnesses highlighted the need for more research on long-term health effects, especially for people with chronic lung disease, workers who cannot stay indoors, and residents exposed to repeated disasters.
The second panel addressed health care system response and access to care. DHCS and DMHC described emergency flexibilities used during the Southern California fires, including federal waivers, extended Medi-Cal renewal deadlines, reinstated coverage for some disenrolled members, suspension of prior authorization and prescription refill barriers, out-of-network access at in-network cost-sharing, and communication through websites, toll-free numbers, and social media. Hospital and community health center leaders described major operational strain: emergency room surges, canceled surgeries, dialysis disruptions, staff displacement, temporary housing needs, and financial losses. Huntington Health and AltaMed reported using incident command systems, temporary care spaces, bilingual and culturally tailored services, mobile clinics, infection control measures, and community health workers to keep care going. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better disaster staffing pools, more flexible facility rules, stronger mental health coverage, child care planning, and statewide coordination for future emergencies; no formal votes were taken.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- uh passes a breath or lizard test. uh passes a breath or lizard test.
- total of 300 and some students total of 300 and some students >> yet<03:40:45.920>
the< - these fees on behalf of that student? these fees on behalf of that student?
- And I can promise you students are getting a better quality of students are getting a better quality
- <04:42:39.040>
are education than from what students are education than from what students
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- , lots of behind the wheel tests that are out there.
- They've done a great job of, you know, testing. It just been really good partners.
- One other thing that they do is all of the testing, the behind the wheel testing of CDL drivers in Florida's
- So they can a test thrown drivers and we over over see that testing those drivers.
- So that's been used to train 366 students in health care.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-28 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- background or zip code, can attend a well-funded public school that prepares them not just to take a test
- These students from Hillsborough County, product of public schools, came up with this idea, and all of
- It makes sure that MOAs and strategic strategies are in place to handle a student transitions and the
- These students from Hillsborough County, Proud. Mr. Sharif said it right.
- It makes the requirement discretionary to perform more than one test for urine screening for fentanyl
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman on Democratic priorities and introductions of military leaders and an intern. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with many bills substituted to House companions, amended, and passed, while several others were temporarily postponed.
Major measures approved included the dangerous dogs/Pam Rock Act (SB 572/HB 593), which tightened penalties and procedures for dog attacks and passed 36-0; local government land regulation (SB 1080), which was amended to remove agricultural enclave language and passed 26-8; vessel/freedom-related legislation (SB 1388/HB 1137), which passed 35-0; blood clot screening and treatment (SB 890/HB 1421), which added registry and training provisions and passed 36-0; fleeing or eluding law enforcement (SB 468/HB 113), which increased offense levels and passed 36-0; concealed carry/licensing for certain officers and service members (SB 490/HB 383), which passed 33-3; timeshare management (SB 496/HB 897), which clarified governance and annual meeting requirements and passed 36-0; background screening education (SB 614/HB 531), which created a public webpage and passed 36-0; utility service restrictions (SB 1002/HB 1137), which preempted local energy-source restrictions and passed 36-0; Medicaid oversight (SB 1060), which created a joint oversight committee and passed 35-0; health facilities authorities (SB 68), amended to make fentanyl urine screening more discretionary, and passed 36-0; and veterans’ nursing home beds (SB 78/HB 797), which authorized veteran- and spouse-designated beds and passed 36-0.
The chamber also passed disability history and awareness instruction (SB 540/HB 447), a highly personal bill honoring Evan Hartzell that drew extended debate about disability language, inclusion, and education; it passed 35-0 after 35 co-sponsors were added. Manufacturing policy bills SB 600 and SB 602 were approved after amendments to add reporting, ranking metrics, and fee-use restrictions, both passing 35-0. Educational opportunities for military children (SB 1528) passed 36-0 after testimony from student sponsors and senators praising the bill’s origin. Several other bills, including Medicaid oversight, mammograms, Parkinson’s disease, condominium/cooperative associations, waste management, human trafficking, and Bright Futures, were postponed or not taken up during this segment.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board (10-22-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- In Kentucky, our in-state students are averaging $310,000 in debt.
- Well, for the provider types listed, for an upper payment limit test to be demonstrated to CMS.
- The annual upper payment limit test that I mentioned, we assist with those.
- The annual upper payment limit test that I mentioned, we assist with those.
- The annual upper payment limit test that I mentioned, we assist with those.
Summary:
The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services.
Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access.
Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access.
The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Finance (Part II) Jan 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- As population growth increases demand for driver license applications and testing, DPS is requesting
- They bring their children there to take the driver's license test.
- The University of North Texas was doing testing. We were outsourcing some of that to them.
- It’s just a test.
- One training course has a cost of $48,000 and it accommodates 24 students.
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools.
Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure.
Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.