Transcript Highlights:

• We are asking for equal footing.
• It simply protects the level of confidentiality and makes it across the board the same for all Texas
• what this does is this takes one provision out of 143—just one provision—and applies it across the board
• And this privilege needs to be extended to all Texas peace officers equally.
• And also a bill for a Civilian Review Board with a subpoena, Mr. Chairman. My freshman year, Mr.

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard a series of bills focused on criminal procedure, public safety, victim protections, and law enforcement administration. SB 1537 would require criminal-proceeding interpreters to meet the same appointment standards used in the Government Code, and SB 993 would let the Comptroller’s Criminal Investigative Division seek mobile-tracking warrants directly in motor fuel theft and related tax-fraud investigations. SB 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notaries who notarize documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add continuing education for notaries. SB 1610 would tighten rules for civilly committed sexually violent predators at the Texas Civil Commitment Office, including penalties for new crimes and assaults on staff, sex-offender registration requirements, and removal of certain provisions from the filed version; the substitute reduced some of the harsher penalties and preserved parole/community-supervision eligibility. SB 836 would expand privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of certain trials, allowing pseudonyms earlier in the process, and protecting forensic exam evidence and invasive recordings under protective orders. SB 1563 would require county jailers to receive training on interacting with veterans, with testimony emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails. SB 906 would give the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo authority similar to other Texas tribes to commission peace officers under state law to enforce Texas laws on tribal land. SB 781 would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officers’ personal information and create a confidential departmental file system modeled on Chapter 143 civil-service practices, though members raised concerns about whether the bill could affect disciplinary records and existing disclosure rules. Testimony was largely supportive for the bills, especially from prosecutors, law enforcement representatives, victim advocates, and agency officials. Supporters of SB 693 described widespread deed fraud tied to improper notarizations; supporters of SB 836 stressed survivor privacy and the harms of livestreamed sexual-assault proceedings; supporters of SB 1563 said jailer training could help prevent veteran suicides and improve treatment; and supporters of SB 906 said state commissioning would improve public safety and coordination on tribal lands. SB 781 drew support from police and TCOLE witnesses who said the bill would extend confidentiality protections already used in civil-service departments, while some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing law or could be read to shield misconduct information. Public testimony included opposition to SB 1610 from a civil-rights advocate who urged waiting for Sunset review, and opposition to SB 781 from a family member of a person killed by police, who objected to expanding confidentiality for officers. Several bills were left pending after testimony because the committee lacked a quorum or chose to hold them for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are asking for equal footing.
• It simply protects the level of confidentiality and makes it across the board the same for all Texas
• And this privilege needs to be extended to all Texas peace officers equally.
• Many of the monitors and boards mentioned were born out of demands from Texas residents for more police
• And also a bill for a Civilian Review Board with a subpoena, Mr. Chairman. My freshman year, Mr.

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• important<02:24:21.439> potentially and equally important potentially and equally important
• <03:12:31.680> that I don't trust some future board that I don't trust some future board that
• Fewer jobs equals fewer people able to qualify for Medicaid.
• Fewer jobs equals need entrylevel jobs.
• But where I can't get on board with is we keep asking and asking and asking.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:32:12.400> of bill was the request of the board of bill was the request of the board of
• and local boards.
• <01:38:36.320> and<01:38:36.800> the board and the board and the local<01:38:39.760>
• local and local boards. local and local boards.
• If this bill building code review board.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:46:36.960> um counting boards um counting boards um you're<00:46:38.800> going<
• that is selected by the canvasing board that is selected by the canvasing board um<01:15:56.480>
• the county canvasing board has selected. the county canvasing board has selected.
• So do I and state canvasing boards.
• :29:27.840> a<01:29:28.080> defined audit boards handc count a defined audit boards handc

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Years ago to convene a task force based on SEG, State Equalization Guarantee, changes.
• This morning, I'm also bringing the voice of the New Mexico School Boards Association.
• And it does say here that local school boards have no veto authority over individual line items within
• I don't believe there's similar language that would prohibit a school board from having input on its
• Is it across the board or is it particularly uneven in one area?

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also was a director, one of the directors on the community mental health board there in Homer,
• there in Homer, Alaska where I board there in Homer, Alaska where I also<00:11:24.399> then<00
• Another may have persons on board.
• And so are there have persons on board.
• <01:04:03.280> because dramatically across the board because dramatically across the board

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission held an organizational meeting under SB 57 to study the cost of special education, with the meeting streamed publicly at the chair’s request. Members introduced themselves, and the chair explained that the bill creates two separate pieces, one dealing with SAU structure and the other with a commission on special education costing. He outlined his background in education and special education and said the commission’s work would focus on understanding and controlling special education costs. The commission reviewed its membership requirements and noted several vacancies or unfilled appointments, including the special education advocate, two governor-appointed parent advocates, and a Department of Health and Human Services representative. The members then elected Representative Rick Ladd as chair, Representative Dick Ames as vice chair, and Representative Megan Murray as clerk. Representative Ames briefly described his legal and policy background in disability and special education work in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The chair then walked through the commission’s study topics, including referral rates by IDEA category, reasons for increases in categories such as autism and other health impairment, post-COVID referral trends, pre-referral interventions, Medicaid and 504-related costs, out-of-district placements, dispute resolution, billing practices, privacy, reimbursement, legal services, graduation rates, attendance, and adult learning. Members discussed how special education costs are distributed, noting that the state spends about $977 million annually on special education, with only part covered by state aid and the remainder largely borne by local districts. Testimony also noted that out-of-district placement costs have risen sharply since rate-setting changes around 2018, and that some categories may reflect changes in identification practices, medical factors, or broader population shifts. The commission agreed to continue reviewing the data and formulas in future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• member for the League of well as a board member for the League of Minnesota<00:26:31.000> Cities.
• of that board, and also served on the board of the League of Minnesota Cities.
• <01:34:52.719> of member including being on the board of member including being on the board
• <01:34:54.800> and metro cities and chair of that board and metro cities and chair of that
• on the board of the league also served on the board of the league of<01:34:56.719> Minnesota<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties
• The chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties
• 00:06:18.960> parties<00:06:19.840> with<00:06:20.120> time<00:06:20.479> equally
• <00:06:21.000> allocated the parties with time equally allocated the parties with time equally
• <00:24:25.919> to people on this water control board to people on this water control board

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Court's purview three co-equal the Court's purview three co-equal branches<03:17:51.399>
• We treat all people and all rights equal under the law.
• treat all people and All rights equal treat all people and All rights equal under<03:43:57.279><
• Attorney Sufor is on our board, and I agree with everything he just said.
• Attorney Sufert is on our board, and I agree with everything he just said.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:45.120> of by the University of Wyoming Board of by the University of Wyoming Board
• boards across the state.
• <01:35:35.440> The citizen boards across our state. The citizen boards across our state.
• <03:11:51.840> save communities, they're an equal save communities, they're an equal save
• Powers Board to come back to the well. Powers Board to come back to the well.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Stefan Ocampo and I am on the board of directors for the California School-Based Health Alliance
• believes handing out condoms to 12-year-olds is a bad idea can say so today through its elected school board
• Local workforce development boards sit at the intersection of education and employment.
• Equally important, this bill gives local educational agencies explicit authority to cover insurance costs
• Those are the specific barriers our workforce board partners, employers, and their LEA collaborators

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• weekend as I led my peers through brainstorming and decision-making during our Florida 4-H executive board
• weekend as I led my peers through brainstorming and decision-making during our Florida 4-H executive board
• Because camp is where I personally flourished, and now, as an alum and on the board, I see youth flourish
• have a $5 million university PICO request for this project that is ranked highly on the University Board
• presumably the most recognized component of agricultural education, but additional components are equally

Summary: The Agriculture Committee took up SB 806, the consumer and agricultural equipment right-to-repair bill by Senator Trumbull. Trumbull said the measure would expand repair options for portable wireless devices and farm equipment while protecting trade secrets. The committee adopted two amendments: one clarifying the bill does not apply to motor vehicles, and a technical staff amendment. Testimony was mixed: an Everglades Equipment representative opposed the bill, warning it could weaken local dealer support, reduce parts inventory, and increase downtime for farmers; the Consumer Technology Association also opposed the bill in its current form, citing concerns about a patchwork of state repair laws, private lawsuits, and inconsistent standards. The bill was reported favorably as CS for SB 806 by a roll call vote of 4-0, with Senator Rouson not voting. The committee then heard a presentation from Florida 4-H state officers Timmy Hawes, Summer Wayne, and Taylor Thigpin. They described 4-H as a youth development organization focused on citizenship and leadership, agriculture, STEM, and healthy living, serving more than 216,000 youth statewide. They highlighted personal stories about how 4-H built confidence, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills, and they outlined goals to grow participation to 300,000 youth and to invest in 4-H camps, especially Camp Cherry Lake and Camp Timpoochee, as year-round learning sites. Senators praised the program and asked questions about how youth get involved and what drives participation. Florida FFA state officers Hope Storder and Isabel Jenkins then presented on agricultural education and FFA. They explained FFA’s three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development, and noted that Florida now has more than 65,000 FFA members and that state funding has allowed all agricultural education students to participate at no cost. They emphasized agriculture’s role in feeding a growing population and discussed how technology, innovation, and urban agriculture can help meet future production needs. Senators commended the organization’s work and its role in preparing future leaders and agricultural professionals. At the end of the meeting, Senator Burton requested a group photo with the students, and the committee agreed.

Transcript Highlights:

• He and local communities serving on the boards of several medical entities and community organizations
• It also has a boarding center. Admission is very unique.
• Jose Joe Vargas, Mission EDC Board Vice President.
• They're in the East Gallery. the board president Melissa Sartain, the board assistant secretary Dan Reinhart
• board member Lacey Gosh and superintendent Mandy Apley.

Bills: SJR1, SB9, SB40, SJR36, SJR1, SJR5, SB9, SB40

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, 1185, senate

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO TO TAB NUMBER THREE WHICH IS A PRESENTATION BY THE STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
• ON CHRIS SPENCER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD ADMINISTRATION OF FLORIDA.
• SECTION 2 15.47 PARAGRAPH 10 FLORIDA STATUTES REQUIRES INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE STATE BOARD OF MINISTRATION
• Fine: I DON'T THINK SO BUT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE AN IDEA FOR ANOTHER BOARD. >> Sen.
• YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE-MINUTE. >> NAME IS JOHN HARRIS AND I IN THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR EQUALITY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Licensed physicians and nurses must complete a one-time, board-approved continuing education course on
• We have Kira Nixon, waiving in support, representing the Equal Ground Action Fund.
• reflect a broader focus on health science workforce needs and to include programs aligned with the State Board
• reflect a broader focus on health science workforce needs and to include programs aligned with the State Board

Summary: The Fiscal Policy Committee met and first adopted a late-filed amendment to SB 774, which expands enhanced workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and others, and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 770 on forensic services for certain defendants, which would allow the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to consolidate secure forensic services for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed after incompetency findings. Members then considered several public safety, family, and workforce bills. CS/SB 86, which declares unauthorized aliens operating commercial vehicles an imminent safety hazard and imposes vehicle impoundment and a $50,000 penalty on motor carriers, was reported favorably after questions about impound procedures and cargo handling; one speaker opposed it. SB 1594, protecting veterans’ benefits for foster youth so the funds are reserved for postsecondary education, training, and after-care services, was reported favorably with supportive testimony from a former DCF attorney. CS/SB 760, creating a new offense for willful violations of no-contact pretrial release conditions in violent crime cases, was reported favorably despite criminal defense attorneys’ concerns about a provision allowing warrantless arrests without officer observation. The committee also approved a complete rewrite of the nonprofit corporations chapter in SB 554, a sickle cell continuing education bill (SB 844) after extensive emotional testimony from patients, advocates, and family members, and SB 1022 adding two children’s initiative programs in Bay County and Broward County. CS/SB 1246 broadened the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to include health science education programs and related workforce needs and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1230 restricting use and sale of certain firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS, and CS/CS/SB 128 directing DEP to mark Red Harris Spoil Island; both passed with favorable votes. Several senators later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific tabs, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Arla Bradshaw, I'm board-certified in family law from Denton, Texas, and I'm here... for the
• Like many of my colleagues here today, I'm a board-certified family law attorney in the state of Texas
• We give equal rights. which has been very helpful. Years ago, Henderson V.
• their staffs and each witness and to the folks, the sergeant at arms and the folks at the preservation board

Bills: SB387, SB1650, SB1838, SB1839, SB1923, SB1940, SB2052

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation

Transcript Highlights:

• The second is equally important, which is actually improving the lives of folks who are experiencing
• Not all services are created equal in this space, and this is a big thing that I am committed to for
• Support groups are highly needed across the board for many areas, especially when you're dealing with
• And I happen to serve as an advisory board member on HopeWorks, which is there in Albuquerque, and we
• Huge increases across the board in childcare assistance since fiscal year 2019 before the department

Transcript Highlights:

• as SBAR, the State Board of Agriculture Research.
• We've got a water board. I was on that water board for six years.
• They're being allowed by water boards, both... ...abused.
• They're being allowed by water boards, both Ramsey and Nelson County.
• You know, the water board is kind of a buddy system.

Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, the blue section represents the State Equalization Guarantee (SEG).
• That equals months of extra learning. This is significant.
• Small school boards everywhere.
• Chair and Secretary, what authority do school boards have beyond that? Mr.
• As a 24-year-old school board member, I just wanted to, Madam Chair, Mr.