Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation puts the determination of who is at fault during a police interaction where it belongs
• Senator Leak said the bill takes the determination of whether the arrest was lawful or unlawful to the
• Senator Leak said the bill puts that question squarely in the court, where that determination should
• asking questions because the statute he read did not simply say what the bill says. where that determination
• be reckless disregard of human life, and ultimately that's going to be in the hands of a jury to determine

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing guests and visiting groups, including the Challenger Learning Center, the Florida Dental Hygienists Association, school students, and other local officials and organizations. Members also offered remarks about President Allbritton’s recovery and upcoming events, including State of Black Florida Week and a future executive appointments calendar. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 156, which revises criminal penalties involving law enforcement officers. The bill clarifies that resistance to an officer with violence is not justified when the officer is performing official duties, removes language stating an officer is not justified in using force if the arrest or duty is unlawful and known to be unlawful, and adds mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter of a law enforcement officer. Senators offered competing views: supporters said the bill corrects a verdict-form and charging problem exposed in the Officer Jason Rainer case and honors his family, while opponents argued it removes civilian protections, expands police authority, and imposes disproportionate mandatory sentencing. Two amendments were offered and withdrawn, and the bill passed 31-4. The Senate then passed a series of bills, mostly on public records and regulatory topics. SB 168 expanded public nuisance law to include gambling establishments and increased penalties; SB 288 narrowed statutory ambiguity affecting rural electric cooperatives; SB 292 and SB 298 created or extended public-records protections for appellate court clerks and victims of dating violence in the Address Confidentiality Program; SB 296 created the HAVEN initiative to study a secure alert system for domestic violence victims and expanded confidentiality protections; SB 364 modernized CPA licensure pathways; SB 386 created protections for farm equipment purchasers; and several Open Government Sunset Review bills preserved exemptions for emergency shelter information, Department of Military Affairs records, conviction integrity unit records, Public Service Commission and Gaming Commission proceedings, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigatory records, social media platform investigations, and certain economic development loan-program financial records. Most of these bills passed with little or no opposition, and the Senate waived rules so all bills passed that day could be immediately certified to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation puts the determination of who is at fault during a police interaction where it belongs
• Senator Leek said the bill takes the determination of whether an arrest was lawful or unlawful to the
• Senator Leek said the bill puts that question squarely in the court, where that determination should
• be reckless disregard of human life, and ultimately that's going to be in the hands of a jury to determine
• the actions of that particular person that result in the death of the officer met that level... ...determine

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing guests and visiting groups, including Challenger Learning Center representatives, the Florida Dental Hygienists Association, local officials, students, and members of the Florida School Board Association. Senators also noted President Albritton’s recovery and offered remarks honoring the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 156, which revises criminal penalties involving law enforcement officers and other personnel. Sponsor Senator Leek said the bill responds to the Officer Jason Rainer case by clarifying resistance to officers, shifting fault determinations to the courts, changing “lawful performance” to “official duties,” and imposing mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter of a law enforcement officer. Senators Rouson and Bracy Davis offered amendments that were withdrawn. Senators Pizzo, Berman, Smith, Polsky, and others questioned the bill’s effect on self-defense, off-duty conduct, prosecutorial discretion, and the removal of language limiting unlawful force by officers. Supporters argued the bill corrects confusion and honors Officer Rainer; opponents said it removes civilian protections and imposes disproportionate mandatory sentencing. The bill passed 31-4. The Senate then passed SB 168 on public nuisances, expanding nuisance law to include gambling establishments and increasing penalties; SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, narrowing statutory ambiguity while preserving consumer protections; SB 292 creating a public records exemption for appellate court clerks and their families; SB 296 and SB 298 addressing domestic violence and dating violence, including a feasibility study for a secure alert system and expanded address confidentiality protections; SB 364 modernizing CPA licensure pathways; SB 386 creating protections for farm equipment purchasers; and several Open Government Sunset Review bills preserving or extending public records and meeting exemptions (SB 7000, 7002, 7006, 7008, 7012, 7014, and 7016). Most of these bills passed with little or no opposition, though some sunset-review measures drew a few dissenting votes. At the end of the session, the Rules Chair moved to waive rules and immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, and the motion was adopted. The Senate also heard announcements about upcoming executive appointments, State of Black Florida Week events, and a motion to adjourn until the next meeting on February 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• We determined that every student at every level should have the opportunity to learn about AI integrated
• of enrollment growth beyond just what they had the previous year, that was a number that depend determined
• because it put the incentive on well put instead of input and they all were the 10 metrics that determine
• And then the board of Governors makes a determination, their existing fees that in order to be raised
• And this is a very helpful to students and their families when they're making a determination of what

Transcript Highlights:

• So, council can really make that determination.
• Council could determine that a similar arrangement could work Here, I think, though, what we are believing
• Council could make the or maybe not Council itself, but maybe leadership could make The final determination
• duties, what qualifications, experience, education are people bringing, and making that fairness Determination
• And I guess my point is, I think it would be appropriate for leadership to be part of that determination

Transcript Highlights:

• The consultation process determines what is sacred because only tribes can tell you what is sacred.
• So once we complete the inventory, the institutions must consult with the identified parties and determine
• And in our historic sites, we will always defer to Native traditional knowledge when determining cultural
• Affiliation of previously unidentified ancestors and objects must be determined, typically with the tribe
• Once it's determined that it is not contemporary and that it was a natural death, they actually call

Transcript Highlights:

• I have been a really strong proponent of primary care because it is the first stop in determining critical
• They're able to determine the best care models for each family.
• through research that actually our family care primary care providers are better at making these determinations
• And as we hear, we're not going to determine exactly until the next meeting in November.
• Ultimately, we determined that these small employer firms provide over 300,000 jobs in New Mexico and

Transcript Highlights:

• Delta 10, HHC, THCP, all of those derivatives and yet to be determined in the chemistry lab are illegal
• plant and you take a Delta 9 and then you synthesize it to 8 to 10 or whatever, whatever to be determined
• I know for a fact that data shows Because you can have a follicle test on your hair and determine that
• So when did we determine that the bar should be someone died from it before we determine that it's bad

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB9, SB42, SB15, SB5, SB11, SB12, SCR1

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• citizens of our state can sit in judgment, considering the facts, the defendant's background, and determine
• thought this was inappropriate because it takes the authority from the judge to make these kinds of determinations
• portion of that bill that also did a similar early release program that wasn't before a judicial determination
• And our position is, in that situation, it should be a judge making that determination if this legislature
• The consideration that the parole board is supposed to engage in in determining whether or not somebody

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we're not willing to have the conversation to determine if science supports it or not, we've just
• This tomato, this variety, did not exist on the planet Earth. in 1995-96 when these duties were determined
• Under existing law, groundwater conservation districts determine desired future conditions for the aquifers
• they manage and then issue permits based on those DFC determinations.
• Generally, DFCs are determined using a 50-year planning horizon and must be updated every five years.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• has received reports that magistrates have been indiscriminately... making no probable cause determinations
• House Bill 75 requires a magistrate who determines that no probable cause exists to believe that a person
• committed an offense of which they are arrested to enter in the record written findings to support the determination
• However, the House determined that this important provision was not germane to the bill, and thus we
• involves situations where a person pointed a gun but didn't fire, resulting in a 30-year sentence as determined

Bills: HB75, HB108

Keywords: building standards, youth camps, floodplains, safety regulations, environmental policies, drainage utilities, flood management, land use regulation, county authority, drainage fees, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under Rule 702 and 703, I have to listen to the evidence that's been presented and make a determination
• Just as the judge just testified, the judge weighs the facts, they hear the experts, and they determine
• with an abusive partner, especially during a dangerous time of separating from that partner and determining
• Provision in the bill, and it begins at the bottom of page one in the determinate line.
• Anyone determining whether to order a party to participate in counseling, the court shall consider evidence

Bills: HB40, HB1916, HB1973, HB2524, HB2530, HB3180, HB3421, HB3783, HB4170, HB4213, HB40

Keywords: business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support

Transcript Highlights:

• The Arc of Texas promotes, protects, and advocates for the human rights and self-determination of Texans
• The Arc of Texas promotes protects and advocates for the human rights and self-determination of Texans
• existing background checks and allows SBC to revoke temporary certificates if an eligibility is later determined
• SBC to revoke temporary certificates if an eligibility is later determined.
• Under this legislation, local control is preserved, allowing school districts to best determine how the

Bills: HB126, HB121

Keywords: election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, voting integrity, education, property values, school districts, comptroller, funding formula

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met to hear testimony on a full agenda of education-related bills. Several measures were laid out and left pending, including HB 322 to allow JET Grant funds to be used for subscription-based and ongoing technology costs for career and technical education; HB 3062 to require fentanyl and drug-poisoning prevention instruction for entering college students; HB 121 to update school safety laws, including TEA peace officer commissions, annual renewal of certain safety exceptions, new reporting requirements, and special education behavior threat assessment changes; HB 3627 to let the State Board of Education chair employ staff; HB 5515 to curb inflated shipping and handling charges on instructional materials; HB 2674 to prohibit new state regulation of homeschool programs; HB 2310 to require a statewide strategic plan for early learning and inclusion for young children with disabilities; HB 367 to standardize documentation for excused absences due to serious illness; HB 1178 to speed certification for out-of-state educators and military spouses; and HB 1481 to expand cell phone restrictions to the full school day. Testimony was generally supportive on most bills, with some concerns raised on HB 121 about school district police departments investigating misconduct and on HB 2674 about how it would interact with the new ESA program in SB 2. HB 5515 drew support from instructional materials coordinators who described extreme shipping invoices and argued the bill would restore transparency and fiscal responsibility. HB 2310 was supported by disability advocates and early learning groups, who said a coordinated state plan would improve access and inclusion for children with disabilities. HB 367 was presented as a simple clarification to reduce confusion for medically vulnerable students and families, and HB 1178 was described by TEA as a modest pathway that would help bring experienced out-of-state teachers into Texas schools more quickly. HB 126, updating Texas’ NIL law to align with the pending House settlement and allow direct payments and pre-enrollment NIL agreements, received extensive testimony from university counsel and committee questioning about the settlement, recruiting, and future college athletics rules. HB 1481, expanding school cell phone restrictions from instructional time to the entire school day, drew strong support from parents, students, educators, and advocates who linked phones to distraction, cyberbullying, and mental health harms; one teacher asked for flexibility so phones could still be used for limited academic tasks. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending subject to the call of the chair, and the committee then recessed to attend the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• or funds that have not yet been encumbered we also considered historical expenditure patterns to determine
• When determining the general fund solutions the administration looked at one time appropriations with
• The specifics are yet to be determined, but there is an added one-time $125 million place. holder to
• certain amount within our own efforts, the goal is really to rely on these experts who can help us determine
• ongoing issues of non-compliance and unable to remedy those issues the board conducted what is the determination

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I've come here, I want to come here because I'm determined to find common ground about how we
• The strength of an FDA is an important influencing factor in determining where first launches occur.
• There's a process for determining.
• these early career scientists that are really in moments of panic right now, they are going to be determinative
• Commissioner on Monday that they are carefully looking across all of the recent employment decisions to determine

Transcript Highlights:

• impact that we hope the study will have, the administration will look at the study's findings and determine
• selected and approved were done so by a panel, which was able to review applications and make determinations
• These tools, developed in response to Assembly Bill 1363, gather information from parents to determine
• This process involves a four-question survey that determines DLL status and a 15-minute oral interview
• The initial ELPAC is used to determine if a student is designated as EL and to provide EL programs and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this amendment basically, if a district, a water district, through its monitoring well processes, determines
• So that is determined by their address.
• If a school district says no, no participation, then how do you determine what the nearest school is?
• something like that, we'd need to look at the major events reimbursement program and, you know, determine
• trying to do here because I also believe the parents should have the primary seat at the table to determine

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion to move the intent calendar deadline to 4 p.m. and then took up several bills by suspending the regular order of business. Senate Bill 2031, concerning removal of high fences around breeder deer release sites, passed after an amendment shortened the testing period from five years to three, tied visible identification requirements to the date Parks and Wildlife began requiring them, and made the bill effective immediately. Senate Bill 1490, a cleanup to adult charter high school funding, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2227, creating a process for delayed birth certificates and renamed the Charles E. Barton Act, both passed unanimously after floor amendments. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1964, regulating artificial intelligence systems used by state agencies, also passed unanimously after the author described guardrails for high-risk AI and disclosure requirements. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 2877, which increases penalties for election fraud and related attempts; after debate over whether existing law already covers some conduct and whether the bill was necessary given the small number of convictions, it passed to engrossment and later final passage on a 21-10 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2658, on brackish groundwater production and study, passed after four amendments, including one giving water districts authority to stop production if monitoring shows harm to freshwater supplies or subsidence and another returning a portion of transported water revenue to districts. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 648, strengthening recording requirements for real property instruments to help prevent deed theft, also passed on a 26-4 vote. Other measures approved included Committee Substitute Senate Bill 401, making it easier for homeschool students to participate in UIL activities through local district opt-in/nearest-district participation rules; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 407, requiring health care facilities to honor conscience or religious vaccine exemptions for employees, despite extensive questioning about patient safety and immunocompromised patients; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2117, creating a Texas Committee on Foreign Investment to review risky foreign acquisitions; Senate Bill 1718, adding the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program after a failed amendment seeking equal space for gun-control advocacy; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1626, clarifying limits on censorship and interference with digital expression by social media platforms; and Senate Bill 2206, updating the state R&D franchise tax credit and related sales tax treatment, which passed 31-0. The chamber also debated Senate Bill 1395 on school health advisory councils. An initial amendment to restore voting seats for teachers and school employees failed, but a later amendment by Senator West added students back in an advisory, non-voting capacity. The Senate then handled routine motions, committee scheduling, first-reading referrals, and adjourned until April 29, with the session ending in memory of two constituents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oral fluid field screening instruments were used to determine the presence of controlled or intoxicating
• That said, it's still out there, and the single biggest determinant to the number of DWI arrests besides
• and the said, it's still out there and the single<00:13:59.440> biggest<00:13:59.839> determinant
• <00:14:00.880> uh<00:14:00.959> to<00:14:01.120> the single biggest determinant
• uh to the single biggest determinant uh to the number<00:14:01.440> of<00:14:01.600> DWI

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have final determination on the allocation. And have you guys spoken with them?
• responders, and those on the front lines to explore and to evaluate this technology and really to determine
• Still to be determined.
• finite pilot program and a smaller investment so that we can really evaluate the efficacy of that and determine
• assessments should be done in coordination with local emergency responders early in the process to determine

Summary: The Emergency Management Committee met to adopt its rules and hear a series of disaster- and public safety-related bills. Several measures were placed on consent and approved, including bills sending items to Appropriations, Natural Resources, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. AB 262, by Assembly Member Caloza, proposed a California Individual Assistance Act to create a state grant program for disaster-related costs when federal aid is unavailable; supporters cited Rio Dell’s earthquake recovery as an example, while some members raised concerns about eligibility, cost, and whether the bill could aid undocumented residents. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote. AB 549, by Assembly Member Gabriel, would create an interagency coordination framework for major sporting events such as the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics, with supporters emphasizing public safety and anti-trafficking planning. An opposition witness argued the bill could be used to justify prostitution arrests and misuse trafficking funds, but the committee members largely supported the coordination concept, and the bill passed 6-0 to Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism. AB 270, by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris, would establish a three-year pilot for autonomous aerial firefighting helicopters overseen by the Orange County Fire Authority; supporters described it as a way to extend wildfire response into conditions where crewed aircraft are limited, and the bill passed 6-0 to Privacy and Consumer Protection. Later, AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, sought to require Ventura County water districts in high fire-risk areas to top off tanks during red flag warnings, maintain backup generators, and harden critical water infrastructure. Water agencies opposed the bill unless amended, citing cost, flexibility, and liability concerns, while the author argued the requirements were necessary after failures during the Thomas Fire; it passed 6-1 to Utilities and Energy. AB 615, by Assembly Member Davies, required emergency response plans to be submitted with initial applications for battery energy storage and other energy facilities and to be reviewed with local responders; it passed 7-0 to Utilities and Energy. AB 1075, concerning privately contracted firefighters, also passed on consent to Natural Resources. Finally, AB 1143, by Assembly Member Bennett, would create a voluntary statewide home hardening certification program through the State Fire Marshal; supporters called it a best-practices approach to reduce wildfire losses and insurance risk, and it passed to Natural Resources. The committee then completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned after all bills were moved out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dakota public schools were informed that the state of North Dakota would change its allocation determination
• Dakota public schools were informed that the state of North Dakota would change its allocation determination
• Our community eligibility provision for determining free and reduced lunch is 100% in St. John.
• From some preliminary determinations, we've seen at least 23 schools who have seen a decrease of over
• From some preliminary determinations, we've seen 23, at least 23 schools who have seen a decrease of

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear and discuss three education bills and related budget items. House Bill 1214 would revise K-12 transportation funding by replacing the current rider-based formula with a new formula tied more closely to district size, square mileage, building counts, and the weighted student payment. Sponsors and DPI said the change would better reflect actual transportation costs, hold districts harmless overall, and likely increase funding by about $4 million beyond current spending; they also said parent-provided transportation and open-enrollment mileage rules would remain largely unchanged. No opposition was heard, and the committee closed discussion without taking final action in the transcript. The committee then reviewed House Bill 1013, the education appropriations bill, and walked through proposed adjustments to program and pass-through grants. The chair proposed keeping or reducing some items, eliminating others, and moving one-time items to the stabilization fund; examples included leaving free meals at $4.5 million for now, keeping the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, reducing some grant lines, and removing several new or one-time grants. DPI also explained that the student information system would remain a flow-through grant for this biennium but would move in-house after July 1, 2026. The committee also discussed adding an FTE for the School for the Blind and making a small equipment swap at the Center for Distance Education. House Bill 1369 was discussed as the main school aid bill, including a proposed 2 percent and 2 percent per-pupil payment increase, higher construction bidding thresholds, elimination of the 12 percent cap, and a transfer of $75 million from Foundation Aid to the School Construction Revolving Loan Fund, with the chair suggesting $100 million instead. DPI explained that the bill also included a policy change returning placement decisions for students with disabilities in congregate care to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with support from the governor’s office. The committee heard testimony from school officials seeking gap funding for Title I losses caused by a switch from free-and-reduced-lunch to census-based allocations, saying districts with many open-enrolled students could lose substantial funding and staff positions. Later, the governor’s office presented a proposed $1.5 million one-time appropriation to help schools buy secure storage for student cell phones if a statewide device policy is adopted; members raised concerns about cost, local control, and whether the money would be enough. The committee also heard student testimony and then recessed without voting on the amendment in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill aims to eliminate the mandated $3 fee for driver's courses and allow providers to determine
• This repeal increases driver driving safety providers' economic flexibility in determining fees for course
• In 2018, Austin determined the average removal fee to be $150.
• Um, but those rules and bylaws and the determination of fees will be assessed, will be determined in