Transcript Highlights:

• consultation with colleges and universities to adopt rules that improve transparency in degree and er certificate
• Specifically, higher education institutions will be required to ensure all certificate and degree requirements
• Their rigorous certification programs and on the job training equip them with the core competencies assessed

Transcript Highlights:

• consultation with colleges and universities, to adopt rules that improve transparency in degree and certificate
• Higher education institutions will be required to ensure all certificate and degree requirements are
• Their rigorous certification programs and on-the-job training equip them with the core competencies assessed

Bills: SB800, SB1534, SB2055, SB2310, SB2431, SB2786, SB3039, SB1242

Keywords: sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, higher education, student safety, orientation policies, health physics, workforce development, nuclear energy, radiological safety, scholarship, education, Texas Leadership Scholars Program, student funding, transparency, degree requirements, certificate programs, student transfer, foreign language

Transcript Highlights:

• It's either a birth certificate or a U.S. passport.
• But there are a series of other things, like birth certificates, that are required to demonstrate some
• I have to bring my birth certificate to get my renewal.

Bills: HB3484, HCR112, HCR125

Keywords: border municipalities, agreements, funding eligibility, infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation, REAL ID, travel document, border crossing, Texas, U.S. citizens, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, defense innovation, national security, U.S. Army Futures Command, military technology, economic growth, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, survivors of deceased hospice patients are currently experiencing delays in securing death certificates
• allows physicians to utilize advanced practice registered nurses to certify death and file death certificates
• where the business of death and the families being able to move on cannot begin without the death certificate

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met and reported several bills favorably. PCS for HB 647, which allows physicians to use advanced practice registered nurses under written protocol to certify deaths and file death certificates for hospice patients, passed unanimously after brief supportive testimony from hospice, AARP, and physician assistant representatives. HB 803 on acupuncture updated outdated statutory language, clarified the definition of acupuncture, listed allowable point injection therapy items while prohibiting certain drugs, and affirmed referral authority for imaging and labs; it passed 16-1 amid support from acupuncture stakeholders and opposition from several medical groups. PCS for HB 1545 would create recurring state funding for Parkinson’s disease research at the University of South Florida and a consortium of Florida universities; it drew support from USF, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Mayo Clinic, with concerns raised about limiting participation to universities, and it passed unanimously. HB 901, which clarifies procedures for parents challenging court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, passed 15-1 with support from a witness and no debate. HB 591, the children with developmental disabilities/autism bill, was presented as a broad early-diagnosis and intervention measure to help children enter treatment and mainstream life sooner; it received supportive testimony from the Florida PTA and strong floor support, and passed unanimously. Finally, PCS for HB 1299, the Department of Health agency bill, made multiple changes including preventing the mRNA vaccine from sunsetting in statute, adding vaccination-status protections in the patients’ bill of rights, updating medical marijuana center screening and reporting requirements, revising nurse active-practice requirements, making technical compact changes, and extending sovereign immunity protections to dental students doing charitable clinic work. After a brief note that optician-related provisions had been removed, the bill passed unanimously. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gentlelady, I believe we have a certificate. Mr. Speaker, we have a certificate. Clerk to read.
• for adjunct and contingent faculty at post-secondary educational institutions, providing for the certification

Transcript Highlights:

• As a former engines of our economy.
• From 1995 to 2019, imports of automobiles, engines, and parts rose by 169%, while the U.S. industrial
• capacity in autos, engines, and parts rose 71%.
• and important motor vehicles, engines and parts.<03:28:57.600> From<03:28:58.359> 1995
• and parts rose capacity in autos engines and parts rose 71%. 71%. 71%.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the I'll get to, certification. Okay.
• Question five: How can states seek certification under the Genius Act?
• Step two would be a determination and certification.
• > the certification order recognizing the certification order recognizing the state<00:37:16.880
• They are simply treasury certification.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met on November 12 and first approved the September 17 and October 15 draft minutes unanimously after brief discussion. Members also identified themselves for the record, including a new member from Bumpsk Bank, a staff attorney from the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Securities Regulation, a prior crypto commission participant, and a uniform law commissioner involved in tokenization projects. The main presentation was by UNH law professor Seth Orinberg, who discussed the federal GENIUS Act and the pending Clarity Act and how they affect New Hampshire’s options in the digital asset space. He described the GENIUS Act as governing payment stablecoins/stable tokens, defining them as blockchain-based assets used primarily for payments, redeemable for a fixed amount of national currency, and required to maintain stable value. He said the law creates three possible state roles: hosting federally qualified issuers, becoming a state qualifier for issuers up to a $10 billion threshold, or exploring state-backed issuance as a sovereign. He noted that the state-qualification path would require conforming legislation, examination capacity, and coordination with Treasury, while the sovereign-issuer theory is legally uncertain and may become a test case. Orinberg also outlined the core compliance framework he said applies to covered issuers: 100% reserve backing in high-quality liquid assets, monthly public reserve reporting, no yield or interest-like rewards, segregation of reserve assets, immediate redemption at face value, and anti-money-laundering/know-your-customer obligations. He then turned to the Clarity Act, describing it as a broader market-structure bill that would create categories such as digital asset, digital commodity, digital security, and ancillary asset, with self-certification procedures for issuers. He said the two federal laws together would separate payments from investments, preempt inconsistent state standards for covered payment stablecoins, and likely reshape the boundaries of state authority over digital assets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certificates might be issued in order to allow the credit to be transferred to another who experiences
• We exceeded goals in training and certifications and placement in livable wage jobs: 90 certificates
• earned, 75 industry-recognized certificates, 62 placements on average each year.
• and placement in and certifications and placement in livable<01:38:13.080> wage<01:38:13.560>
• wage jobs 90 certificates earned livable wage jobs 90 certificates earned 75<01:38:17.000> industry

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you don't have a post-secondary certificate of some sort, you will be the first ones that would
• When you don't have a post-secondary post-secondary post-secondary certificate<00:15:43.440> of
• <01:04:04.960> When certificates and graduate degrees.
• When certificates and graduate degrees.
• or a uh have a degree or certificate or a uh credential?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee held its first-ever meeting and first meeting of the session, with Chairman Tipton outlining committee procedures, attendance rules, and the process for submitting committee substitutes. After a roll call confirmed full attendance, the committee heard a presentation from Senator David Givens on the history and purpose of Kentucky’s performance-based funding model for postsecondary education. Givens said the model was created to replace an older “shares” approach that distributed funds based largely on prior-year allocations, and argued the new system better aligns funding with student success and the state’s long-term educational attainment goals. Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and CPE staff then explained the model in more detail. They said the system was designed to address long-standing funding disparities among institutions, reward outcomes such as degrees, credit-hour progression, and completion in high-demand fields, and support the state’s “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of Kentuckians hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. Thompson said Kentucky is now at 56.2% attainment, above the national average, and highlighted gains in graduation and retention rates, lower student borrowing, and improved completion outcomes. He also emphasized that the model is part of a broader strategy that includes affordability, adult learners, low-income students, and wrap-around support services. CPE staff described the work group process that developed and periodically revises the model, noting that the General Assembly created the framework in House Bill 303 and later enacted Senate Bill 153 and Senate Bill 191 to codify changes. They explained that in 2016 the legislature carved out about 5% of institutional budgets, roughly $43 million, to be redistributed through the new model, and that the model has been reviewed every three years with changes made each time. Recent revisions included increasing the student-success weight, adding a premium for low-income students, creating a premium for adult learners, and redefining underrepresented students as first-generation college students. No votes were taken at this meeting, and the committee adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• and 29 years for Raytheon as an electronic warfare engineer and director of engineering.
• warfare engineer and director electronic warfare engineer and director of<05:43:32.480> engineering
• Lopez has been an active of engineering.
• <05:43:46.080> I Academy of Science and Engineering.
• I Academy of Science and Engineering.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• biggest challenges they and the LPN students have is the cost of those examinations and Those certifications
• because while the education is free, the certification is not.
• I would urge you to think about what it's going to cost them to get that certification because that is
• CAs that completed the program but couldn't afford the cost of the certification.
• It will be on their teaching certificate as an add-on.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some degrees and certification programs lack workforce relevance and have low enrollment. that sometimes
• The president of our institution shall review minor degrees and certificate programs once every five
• It also calls for the president to review minor degrees and certificates every five years.
• direction with respect to when you're looking at curriculum, when you're looking at degrees and certificates
• politicians. invites politically motivated censorship and will limit students' choice and freedom, certificates

Bills: HB2476, HB2893, HB4848, HB5062, SB37, SB60, HB2860, HB4930, SB646, SB 37

Keywords: living expenses, higher education, student support, homeless students, financial aid, grant program, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, workforce development, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, competency-based education, baccalaureate degree, cost of attendance, dual credit, computer science, course credit, foreign language requirement, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council

Transcript Highlights:

• We create vital statistics, and then we issue birth and death certificates to applicants.
• Okay, and on your, on all the documentation, once the certificates are issued, and if it's a veteran,
• Death occurs in Texas, it's typically the funeral home who's responsible for filing the death certificate
• And then they work with the family and the medical certifier for completing the death certificate, which
• On one death certificate to DSHS, Department of State Health Services, we register the record.

Bills: HB39, HB227, HB930, HB 1078, HB39, HB227

Keywords: highway designation, veteran recognition, commemorative, transportation, Brazoria County, Texas National Guard, combat duty, military activation, state requirements, emergency response, active combat duty, military service, Congressional action, Governor responsibilities, Congressional declaration, state law, conflict, armed forces, congressional approval, war declaration

Transcript Highlights:

• announcement, FYI 26 PSCOC application for lease assistance for facilities, and the applicable certification
• and, you know, one of the things that I've really started to see is we've brought forward new certifications
• so, the motion, potential motion reads council approval to adopt the resolution, notification, certification
• Um, so the potential motion is council approval to adopt the June 2025 certification and resolution to
• Under certified, so now we will be covering what the full certification should be for that project.

Transcript Highlights:

• I find that hard to understand as a civil engineer and a construction manager, and I think, you know,
• <00:39:25.960> and<00:39:26.120> a<00:39:26.160> construction civil engineer
• and a construction civil engineer and a construction manager,<00:39:27.920> and manager, and
• I've dropped a lot of civil engineering self-promotion in this hearing, but I just want to say that..
• I've dropped a lot of civil engineering I've dropped a lot of civil engineering self-promo-<00:55

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would say it's akin to maybe MD when it comes to engineers or nursing when it comes to nurses.
• You've got a ton of nurses or a ton of engineers in this case, a ton of attorneys.
• <00:36:40.400> it<00:36:40.480> comes<00:36:40.640> to<00:36:40.800> engineers
• maybe MD dot when it comes to engineers maybe MD dot when it comes to engineers or<00:36:41.599>
• in this case, a ton of engineers in this case, a ton of attorneys.<00:36:48.320> And<00:36:48.480

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 13 January, 2026; 1:45 PM, 925, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard first from the Office of State Public Defender, which said its core budget request was essentially level funding, with attorney and investigator pay raises already included because of the DA pay raise linkage. The main discussion focused on two initiatives: a rural public defense pilot in four counties and a Hinds County/Jackson public defense expansion. The pilot, funded last year with capital expense money, has formed a nonprofit, hired a director and staff, opened an office in Kosciusko, and began taking cases on October 1; most of its 44 cases involved day-one jail visits. The office said the project is intended to improve early representation, reduce jail time, and generate data, while not displacing local public defenders. For Hinds County, the office said new data show about 31% of cases originate from state-agency arrests, and it is seeking roughly $525,000 more to fully fund positions, bringing the total request to about $952,972 for five lawyers, an investigator, a legal secretary, and office expenses. Senators asked about funding sources and workload standards; the office said the pilot request had been submitted as general funds rather than capital expense, and that it is using weighted workload measures rather than strict national caseload standards. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office, represented by Deputy Attorney General Doug Miracle, who presented the FY 2027 budget request. The office requested $45.48 million total, including $35.31 million in general funds, which is a reduction from the prior year’s appropriation, but also requested a $1.58 million increase in salary funding. Miracle said the office is losing attorneys to other state agencies and district attorney offices because of salary caps and pay disparities, noting the Attorney General’s statutory salary cap of $150,000 and that more than 18 attorneys left last year. He said HB 1509 created higher pay levels for district attorneys and assistant district attorneys, making retention harder for the Attorney General’s office, and asked for either the salary increase or authority to move funds between budget lines. Miracle also highlighted the office’s work on child welfare and human trafficking, noting that federal HHS officials were visiting Jackson to discuss foster children and that the office administers the state’s human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation fund. He said the office is working to reduce time children spend in state custody and support services for trafficking victims and foster youth. The committee discussed statewide youth court reform as well, with Miracle explaining that the office supports expert recommendations and a plan that could create 25 youth court positions in 20 chancery districts at an estimated $10 million, based on DHS and AOC data and a model using state-employed and contract lawyers. No votes were taken during the excerpted meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, John Paul with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, representing the Minnesota
• Uh, John Paul with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, representing the Minnesota
• Uh, John Paul with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, representing the Minnesota
• Uh, John Paul with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, representing the Minnesota
• pay toward the use gas in their engines pay toward the roads. roads. roads.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The working group approved the prior meeting minutes with one correction to reflect Laura Ziggler’s attendance. Staff then outlined the report due February 13, 2026, which must summarize the group’s activities and include findings and recommendations adopted by the group; the report will go to the governor and legislative transportation leaders. The chair emphasized that the group’s charge is broad and includes analyzing electricity used as vehicle fuel infrastructure opportunities and barriers, developing policy and funding recommendations for sustainable transportation funding, and reviewing other states’ laws and policies. Discussion focused heavily on how to replace declining gas tax revenue as more vehicles become electric. The chair framed the issue as a fairness and implementation challenge, noting that EVs are a growing share of the fleet and that the group should consider both policy and funding, not just one or the other. Members and guests raised several ideas already submitted, including a road user charge, changes to the EV charging tax, ending or modifying the EV surcharge, broadening the tax to publicly owned charging stations, reducing the charging level threshold to level 2, ending sales tax on electricity, addressing off-road use, and expanding the definition of auto parts to include charging equipment. Representative Elkins argued that charging based on electricity used at home is impractical for most vehicles, that public charging is already much more expensive than home charging, and that the current sales tax plus surcharge amounts to double taxation for public-charging users. He said a mileage-based user charge modeled on Utah’s approach is workable, could be phased in, and could preserve privacy by allowing a voluntary or alternative method for home charging estimates. Senator Howe responded that home electricity use can be estimated similarly to mileage deductions on taxes and said the state should tax all electricity used as fuel, regardless of charger level, if it can be identified. Other speakers echoed that all road users should pay a fair share and that the main challenge is implementation. Tony Kis of Quick Trip asked that a late letter be included in the record and urged clarification of the sales, use, excise tax, and collection rules to avoid double taxation and reduce administrative burden, noting the current monthly collection date and suggesting the group should streamline collection methods. No final policy decisions or votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we track is, um, often it will go back to the applicant and the applicant has to go to their engineer
• <00:36:26.400> go<00:36:26.480> to<00:36:26.640> their<00:36:26.880> engineer
• , applicant has to go to their engineer, applicant has to go to their engineer, get<00:36:27.839>
• I do have an amendment that I would like to offer.” the design and engineering work on um a the design
• and engineering work on um a Hampton<01:05:30.799> Beach<01:05:31.440> State<01:05:32.079

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 74, which would require agencies issuing certain real-property-related permits to track and report how many permits they issue and how long the process takes. Representative Carol McGuire introduced the bill and said the goal is to gather data on permit timing and fees, especially for DES and DOT permits involving wetlands, alteration of terrain, driveway permits, and similar approvals. Supporters argued the state needs better visibility into permitting delays and whether statutory deadlines are realistic; they also noted the bill had passed the House on a voice vote with no debate. Adam Crapo of the Department of Environmental Services said DES is generally supportive of the reporting concept but warned that the agency’s data are spread across many separate, partly manual databases. He said DES can already do this for some land resources permits through its new system, but not across all of its more than 90 permit types without additional help. DES estimated it would need two part-time positions to compile the reports, especially for waste management and water programs, and said otherwise existing permitting staff would have to do the work, potentially slowing permit processing. He also said the agency is already working to simplify rules and move more permits onto a new online platform, but could not meet the bill’s 2026 reporting deadline with current staffing and systems. Committee members questioned whether delays are often caused by incomplete applications rather than agency inaction, and Crapo said that is frequently the case. He said DES already tracks timelines to some extent for management and statutory compliance, but not at the individual-permit detail the bill would require. He also said some letters and records are captured in One Stop, but not all are. Members expressed support for the bill’s transparency goals while also worrying about added workload and possible slowdowns. The discussion then moved to DOT, where Susan Clawson said DOT is neutral on the bill because it recently implemented Salesforce and now has good data for reporting; DOT’s fiscal note reflects software-related costs, but the agency can already track the required information in its system.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the cost difference narrowing between internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles,
• is time to increase this fee to be comparable to what people are paying with internal combustion engine
• With the cost difference narrowing between internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles,
• is time to increase this fee to be comparable to what people are paying with internal combustion engine
• With the cost difference narrowing between internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota talented youth mathematics program, which was previously a part of the College of Science and Engineering
• <00:24:47.919> of<00:24:48.080> Science<00:24:48.320> and<00:24:48.559> Engineering
• College of Science and Engineering College of Science and Engineering appropriation<00:24:50.080
• college of previously a part of the college of science<00:25:32.720> and<00:25:33.039> engineering
• science and engineering science and engineering appropriation<00:25:35.440> is appropriation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all