Transcript Highlights:

• I studied the Texas property tax code.
• something, buckle your seatbelts because behind us of high property tax taxes, and I spent a lot of time studying
• across categories, which then exposes school districts to potentially failing. the property value study
• are not enough people that will actually. want to run from what they've seen and from what their studies
• The bill provides a common-sense check against that, ensuring taxpayer dollars are not wasted defending

Bills: HB1952, HB3258, HB3524, HB3851, HB4478, HB4613, HB4703, HB4742, HB4744, HB4809, HB4864

Keywords: county appraisal district, board of directors, governance, taxing units, public representation, penalty, property report, taxation, timely filing, chief appraiser, appraisal district, ad valorem tax, property appraisal, tax protests, unequal appraisal, property rights, property tax, public employees, protest leave, appraisal review board

Transcript Highlights:

• I, I was a work study in the academic advising program and I know that 70% of our students had to take
• can be expanded to a bachelor of Science and nursing to provide students with continuous course of study
• For example, one compelling area of an emerging field of study is electric vehicles, particularly battery
• Uh, modern, maybe having some apparatus to our, uh, solid waste trucks.
• programs are about to start graduating those new folks, and so that's one of the reasons we suggested the study

Transcript Highlights:

• The things that were worked on was the studying of the buildings that you've referred to.
• that you look at, and it's not the time or place probably to try and do the math—I know other people study
• Our audit also disclosed numerous instances of potential fraud, waste, and abuse.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been studying and volunteering in education for more than 20 years, building up from K through 12
• all been very mature and had wonderful questions, but again, from diverse backgrounds and areas of study
• So why would he waste his time as a board member if those were his hopes?

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider a large slate of gubernatorial appointees, with 127 nominees on the agenda. The committee first approved the grouped nominees in Tabs 1 through 54 by unanimous roll call vote after brief public testimony in support of several appointees. The committee then took up individual University of West Florida and Pensacola State College-related nominations, including noting that Dr. Joel Rudman had resigned from the Pensacola State College board before appearing, leaving no action to take on that tab. Several UWF trustees were confirmed after testimony focused on their qualifications and priorities for the university. Paul Bailey emphasized his local ties, legal background, and interest in UWF’s military connections and pre-law program; Rebecca Matthews highlighted her education and public service background, current role as UWF board chair, enrollment growth, fundraising, and alignment with state directives; Rachel Moyah discussed her education leadership experience, finance role, and positive enrollment and fundraising trends; Ashley Ross described her fundraising and higher education background and stressed workforce, advancement, cyber, and military partnerships; and Christopher Young spoke about his Panhandle roots, business experience, audit and compliance work, and support for military and student opportunity. Each of these nominees was confirmed by roll call and forwarded to the full Senate. The most contentious nomination was Adam Kissel for the UWF Board of Trustees. Kissel described his background in higher education policy, free speech, philanthropy, and federal education work, and said he would focus on free speech, accreditation, military/veteran support, honors programming, and graduation rates. Committee members questioned him closely about prior writings on privatizing public higher education, his views on free speech versus Senate Bill 266, Project 2025, AI in administration, and his fit for UWF. Public testimony was split, with supporters praising his free-speech credentials and reform views, while opponents, including former UWF leaders, warned he was too ideological and not sufficiently grounded in the university community. After debate, the committee voted 5-4 not to confirm Kissel, so his name will not be forwarded to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> If the mandate its workforce and the continue save the taxpayers money and not wasting taxpayer
• affairs, the previous regime would have like if you know, on the Billboard Times Square, the summit like study
• lesser degree, perhaps the Florida Academy over the direction, the proper direction of undergraduate studies

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• really would like to know how where your information is coming from and how accurate it is and what studies
• And all of these steps, all they do is introduce more delays, waste resources. and then hinder enforcement
• in case In this case, the DPS in Texas wants to go off on a hair with people with ADD from some new study

Bills: HB33, HB298, HB 1024, HB 1234, HB 1261, HB1696, HB298

Keywords: electronic monitoring, parole supervision, law enforcement, warrant execution, public safety, handgun license, judgment evaluation, medical advisory board, application denial, gun law procedures, abandoned property, unclaimed property, disposition, handgun, driver's license, commercial driver's license, weapon carry, gun rights, Texas legislature, legislative attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• disclosure of classified information were made for several reasons, one of which was to address gross waste
• I had talked to and I asked you to talk with shared with me was that they thought you were a quick study
• Again, begun under President Obama, it has widely been known, looked at, and studied, that ultimately

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I saw a lot of waste.
• I was volunteering in a ton of waste.
• Um I saw a lot of waste. in from home. Um I saw a lot of waste.
• Food waste has been going on this issue.
• Food waste has been going on even<01:11:49.240> before<01:11:50.240> um<01:11:50.640>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said people talk about waste, fraud, and abuse, and that if he goes back to his district and says
• He said people talk about waste, fraud, and abuse, and that if he goes back to his district and says
• He said people talk about waste, fraud, and abuse, and that if he goes back to his district and says
• Senator Draheim said people talk about waste, fraud, and abuse, and that if he goes back to his district
• Senator Draheim said people talk about waste, fraud, and abuse, and that if he goes back to his district

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• everything's in place and then all of a sudden a place wants to detach, that's a lot of money just wasted
• if they do that. ...place wants to detach, that's a lot of money just wasted if they do that.
• It's burdensome, and quite frankly, I think it's a waste of everyone's time here today because there
• opposition based on water quality issues or water table issues or drought or agricultural needs or waste
• product or whatever it was, or just nuisance... ...or waste product or whatever it was, or just nuisance

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The investigations relate to fraud, theft, waste, and abuse or other misuse of public funds.
• The investigations relate to fraud, theft, waste, and abuse or other misuse of public funds.
• related<00:13:15.519> to<00:13:15.680> fraud,<00:13:16.079> theft,<00:13:16.399> waste
• ,<00:13:16.720> and related to fraud, theft, waste, and related to fraud, theft, waste, and
• :16:24.160> suspicions<00:16:24.639> of Effectively investigate suspicions of fraud, waste

Bills: HF1306

Keywords: education, school policy, teacher training, student health, emergency response, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to require the water systems do a rate study and a capacity study every 5 years and submit
• to the committee for review on these studies.
• We're going to require the water systems do a rate study and a capacity study every 5 years and submit
• to the committee for review on these studies.
• their system and also their rate study. their system and also their rate study.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 4 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then heard several guest introductions, including a minister for the day, visiting school groups, forestry and farm organizations, and members of the Divine Nine. Members also recognized the East Webster Wolverines football team, the East Webster non-tumbling cheer champions, and the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars softball team for state championships. The chamber then moved to the calendar after dispensing with the journal reading. On the concurrence calendar, the House concurred in House Bill 1758 by a vote of 120-0 after members noted the Senate had made only grammatical changes. On the general calendar, the House passed Senate Bill 2126, with a strike-all amendment clarifying that sex-offender registry restrictions on name changes still allow changes for marriage or divorce with notice; the bill passed 118-0. The House also passed Senate Bill 2230, expanding authority for electronic hearings, notices, and certain electronic orders and warrants for justice, circuit, and county court judges on misdemeanors, by 116-0. Senate Bill 2631, creating a Mississippi Grain Indemnity Act to help grain producers recover losses if a buyer goes bankrupt, passed 121-0. Senate Bill 2637, giving the Northeast District livestock shows flexibility to move locations if facilities are inadequate, passed 121-0 after questions about the Verona site and possible improvements. Senate Bill 2648, allowing MSU Extension Service assistance with poultry litter plans and amended to include Alcorn State University in developing comprehensive nutrient management plans, passed 121-0. Senate Bill 2809, concerning ag theft officers’ firearm rights in the event of death or retirement, passed 116-2. Senate Bill 2638, removing a reverse repealer from a meat-labeling bill, passed 119-0. The House also began consideration of Senate Bill 2399, which would authorize DPS security personnel at certain Mississippi Department of Agriculture facilities to respond to security alarms because those facilities were omitted from the Capitol complex security arrangement. The transcript ends during the explanation of that bill, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The direct staff time for certain individuals, they can fill out a time study.
• So this study, so this is the study that was approved for $750,000 for us to look at the state hospital
• So this has been a complex study.
• You've studied that? Yes, we did study that.
• Yes, we did study that.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines. Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do. Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:12.879> drinking<00:02:13.280> water<00:02:13.599> or<00:02:13.840> waste
• <00:02:14.720> Most were drinking water or waste water.
• Most were drinking water or waste water.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, Senate Bill 1908 relates to a study by the Coordinating Board on the feasibility
• This study reflects a recommendation of the board's Texas Healthcare Workforce Task Force, and the bill
• generally would direct the Higher Education Coordinating Board to study the feasibility of developing
• the people of my community knew about the tens of thousands of dollars that my school district is wasting
• in 2022, the SBOE, the State Board of Education, considered major revisions to the state’s social studies

Summary: The Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills focused largely on special education transparency, school safety, and student support services. Senate Bill 1908, by Senator Zaffirini, would direct the Higher Education Coordinating Board to study the feasibility of a statewide system for coordinating clinical training placements, including regional portals for healthcare clinical slots, with a report due by December 1, 2026. A representative of the Texas Nurses Association and the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition testified in support. The bill was left pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then took up Senate Bill 111, by Senator Hall, which in its committee substitute was narrowed to a reporting bill requiring school districts to disclose legal proceedings involving special education due process complaints when legal fees exceed $10,000, rather than capping spending. Several parents and advocates testified that districts spend large sums on litigation against families of children with disabilities and that greater transparency is needed; some senators raised concerns about unintended consequences, including possible pressure to settle cases. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1551 on automated external defibrillators in public schools, Senate Bill 865 on CPR instruction requirements for certain volunteers, Senate Bill 1032 on the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and Senate Bill 571 on school employee misconduct reporting and access to the Do Not Hire Registry; each was reported favorably after committee substitute adoption and roll-call votes. Additional bills discussed included Senate Bill 1884, which would formalize and expand dedicated staff support for the State Board of Education and give the board chair hiring authority over that staff; members questioned whether it duplicated TEA functions, while a witness argued the workload increase justified the change, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 625 would replace the current half-credit economics requirement with a half-credit in personal financial literacy; educators and advocates strongly supported making the course required, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 582 would make TEA settlement agreements in special investigations publicly available when sanctions are imposed, and Senate Bill 2600 would bar transportation fees for students living within two miles of campus unless districts do not receive state transportation funding; both were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2751, which would require TEA inspections of non-public special education programs to consider medical standards of care and crisis-prevention training; testimony from a program operator described severe student behaviors and the need for more flexibility, and the bill was left pending after the substitute was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• teacher at Tartan High School in Oakdale, and a PhD student at the University of Minnesota currently studying
• And when I was in junior high, I remember a social studies teacher telling me we had more horses in Scott
• was in junior high, I remember<00:59:19.440> a<00:59:19.680> social<00:59:19.920> studies
• <00:59:20.319> teacher remember a social studies teacher remember a social studies teacher
• <01:12:39.920> management, buildout, permits, waste management, buildout, permits, waste management

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we fully support efforts to reduce waste of taxpayer dollars and to create policies that would
• regulations, deadlines and requirements for parents and other stakeholders in the effort to address wasteful
• Hicks comment on he he said that he understood that we had to go after wasteful spending.
• This suggests that any money is being wasted.
• But why wouldn't call wasteful spending?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This minimizes the amount of meat that gets donated while maximizing food waste.
• This minimizes the amount of meat that gets donated while maximizing food waste.
• This minimizes the amount of meat that gets donated while maximizing food waste.
• <01:13:19.400> doesn't<01:13:19.679> go<01:13:19.800> to<01:13:19.960> waste
• fresh local protein doesn't go to waste fresh local protein doesn't go to waste but<01:13:20.600

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to study the issue directly, but I would argue that if we all agree that taxes are too high,
• One man's waste is another man's golden calf, you know, and treasure, right?
• And so to some, “Waste is another man’s golden calf, you know, and treasure, right?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to study the issue directly, but I would argue that if we all agree that taxes are too high,
• One man's waste is another man's golden calf, you know, and treasure, right?
• One man's waste is another man's golden calf, you know, and treasure, right?

Summary: The House took up a series of conference committee reports and third-read Senate bills near the end of session, with several members also recognizing House drafters and research staff. The chamber first adopted and finally passed Senate Joint Resolution 87, which drew debate over whether the measure would remove the City of St. Louis sheriff as an elected office; supporters said the change also applied to other charter governments, while opponents argued it reduced local autonomy. The report and final passage both succeeded on 95-46 votes. Members then adopted and finally passed Senate Bill 973, a package combining a wholesaler/real estate transparency measure with a land bank provision. Senate Bill 1421, a broad public safety bill, was also advanced after a motion to exceed the conference differences; supporters highlighted provisions on clean slate, masked intimidation, prosecuting attorney salaries, fentanyl, gift card fraud, unmanned aircraft, and other public safety items. The conference report passed 116-18, the bill finally passed 110-25, and the emergency clause for the drone-related portion passed 136-5. The House also adopted and finally passed Senate Bills 835 and 1111, a combined conference report that included insurance consumer protections, court administration updates, treatment court and judgeship provisions, a St. Louis civil case surcharge, and the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. Senate Bill 1408 was stripped back to a single issue authorizing MoDOT to consider raising rural interstate speed limits from 70 to 75 mph, and it passed 93-46. Senate Bill 913, extending several agriculture tax credits and adding a short line railroad credit, prompted extended debate over tax credits, budget pressures, and whether such incentives should be extended now or later; a proposed child tax credit amendment was withdrawn, and the bill ultimately passed 107-30. The House then began debate on Senate Bill 1553, a critical minerals and pharmaceutical manufacturing incentive bill, with supporters framing it as a jobs and supply-chain security measure and opponents raising questions about tax incentives and local impacts.