Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing is legal advice, as I've mentioned.
• 5,000 requests for advice per year.
• We have in terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud. In terms of... direction.
• We have in terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud.
• In terms of In terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s FY27 H-2 budget proposal, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard testimony from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who described the $1.72 billion budget as a 4% increase over FY26 and emphasized readiness, local partnerships, and support for core operations rather than expansion. She highlighted ongoing work on firearms-law implementation, State Police academy reforms, DOC’s new strategic plan, disaster response, hate-crime prevention, and planning for major 2026 events including the World Cup, Marathon, and America’s 250th anniversary. Members also raised concerns about State Police capacity, DNA backlog reporting, academy boxing/training reforms after a trooper’s death, ICE coordination, diversity in public safety leadership, the disaster relief fund, crime lab funding, reentry programming, and whether OEMS should move from DPH to EOPSS; Kwan said she would keep an open mind on some issues but was not ready to commit to an OEMS transfer. The committee then questioned EOPSS officials and the State Police colonel on several operational matters. The colonel said the academy boxing program remains suspended and likely will not return in its prior form, pending an IACP review, and that future training will likely emphasize jujitsu-style control techniques. He also said the State Police uses the civil service exam, with current advancement scores ranging from 83.72 to 98.78 for the most recent class, and acknowledged the need to improve recruitment, preparation, and diversity. On the DNA and sexual assault kit backlog, EOPSS said it supports extending the statute of limitations and is working with the courts and crime lab to identify and collect lawfully owed DNA. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, is currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, and should be designed to respond flexibly to different regional needs. They also said the crime lab increase is largely to cover core operations and a structural deficiency rather than expansion. Several members focused on public safety coordination and staffing. Questions from legislators from Bristol, Plymouth, Cape Cod, and elsewhere stressed the need for State Police to absorb additional forensic work if county resources shift, and to maintain strong communication with local chiefs and federal partners. Rep. Holmes pressed EOPSS on racial and gender diversity in the department and State Police; Kwan and Colonel Noble said diversity has improved but will take time to show up in senior leadership, and they pointed to internships and hiring practices as ways to broaden the pipeline. The hearing also included discussion of the World Cup security plan, with Kwan saying planning has been underway for about 18 months through 14 working groups and that current staffing and overtime resources appear sufficient for now. After EOPSS concluded, the committee recessed briefly and then began testimony from district attorneys, led by Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden, who said prosecutors are seeking a 10% budget increase to address staffing and salary pressures, especially the widening pay gap between assistant district attorneys and newly hired public defenders after recent CPCS funding increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recent evidence has shown that these firms are basing their advice to clients on factors other than shareholder
• This has led to instances, Madam Chair, where a single proxy firm has given one set of advice to one
• company and then turned around without that company knowing and given another set of advice to a different
• The bill would require firms to disclose whether their advice is based on non-economic factors.
• Or if they're giving conflicting advice to different clients, they would have to disclose that.

Bills: HB2226, HB2269, HB2343, HB2760, HB3621, HB4079, HB4204, HB4518, HB4531, HB4555, HB4850, HB4876, HB4903, HB4996, HB5122

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• to say is That we are integrating and sharing information so that I can provide my best military advice
• Clearly your advice goes to the governor.
• to defer to the Governor to make the tactical decisions as to how best to array based upon y'all's advice
• Continue to give your advice and counsel to the governor because the Legislature is going to defer to
• requests and needs that we're doing with Operation Lone Star, and just keep us posted. give your, uh, advice

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security held its first hearing of the 89th legislative session, established a quorum, welcomed new and returning members, and adopted the committee rules without objection. The chair said the hearing would be limited to invited state agency witnesses and was intended as a status update for new members on current border operations, especially in light of the change in federal administration. Testimony came from the Office of the Attorney General, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Military Department. The Attorney General’s representative said border-related litigation is largely in a holding pattern while the new U.S. Department of Justice awaits additional leadership, and noted prior cases involving concertina wire, buoys, and the CBP One app. DPS described Operation Lone Star’s evolution from filling gaps when Border Patrol was overwhelmed to current operations focused on interdiction, criminal arrests, fentanyl and meth seizures, and national security concerns, while also noting improved morale and more voluntary deployments as border pressure has eased. The Texas Military Department reported more than 5,000 personnel on state active duty, extensive use of barriers, drones, boats, and rapid-response forces, and said Operation Lone Star has resulted in more than 531,000 apprehensions and a 90% reduction in illegal crossings. Members and witnesses discussed whether the state should maintain its current border-security footprint while federal policy settles, with the chair emphasizing preserving institutional knowledge and leaving tactical decisions to the governor. Questions also covered trooper fatigue, Border Patrol training under SB 602, and concerns about cartel-driven commercial trucking and fuel depots near the border. The committee heard that Border Patrol training with DPS has resumed, and the chair asked agencies to keep the Legislature informed as legal and operational circumstances change. No bills were heard and no votes were taken beyond adopting the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any general advice you would give to property owners and the you know, owners out there that
• But the letter of advice that's like a getting a warning instead of a speeding ticket.
• And they give them advice on how to bring their out into compliance.
• engaging in up all there are a number of things that can happen for low-level cases could be a letter of advice
• which is similar to the letter of advice and in agreements case or a letter of advisement that says

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Advice,<00:46:02.960><c> Mr.</c><00:46:03.120><c> President.</c> Advice, Mr. President. Advice, Mr.
• Advice on the Thank you, Mr. President.
• President, advice. >> Senator Osmondson. Mr. President, advice. This amendment is very germane.
• Yeah, advice to the body.
• Yeah, advice to the body.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He often gives me political advice during session that I'm usually like, "Oh honey, you probably shouldn't
• I have seen, and I'll be frank about it, I've seen members increasingly resistant to good advice.
• Being in the bill, and so please take the advice of good lawyers and experienced lawyers.
• So, to get some technical advice from the Commission is just fantastic.
• Certainly, she wasn't about to take advice from all of you. And I see a lot of heads nodding.

Transcript Highlights:

• to go accompany my client and essentially talk to the Department of Enterprise Services, had the advice
• to go accompany my client and essentially talk to the Department of Enterprise Services, had the advice
• I think this is the advice we've been given, giving.
• We could just give general advice based on what we've got, because I think we all have a sense from you

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Legislative Ethics Board met to reorganize its agenda, elect officers, approve prior minutes, review employment disclosure forms, consider rule changes, and discuss a draft annual report. Larry Hoff was nominated and elected chair/president, and Lori was nominated and elected vice chair. The board then approved the December 8 minutes and approved two employment disclosures involving Senate and House security employees whose spouses also work in legislative security roles. Jennifer presented proposed rule updates, described as mostly technical, clarifying procedures for continuances, answers to reasonable-cause determinations, hearings before either the board or an ALJ, and discovery in adjudicative proceedings. The board moved to approve the rule amendments, and the motion passed. The draft annual report was also discussed, with members suggesting edits to bios and noting the report’s reference to 478 ethics inquiries. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on a draft advisory opinion about whether attorney-legislators may represent clients in matters against state agencies. Members debated whether the opinion should emphasize the constitutional reality of a part-time legislature and the need to distinguish legislative duties from private legal work, or whether it would create unnecessary special treatment for attorneys. Several members raised concerns about conflicts of interest and using legislative status to gain advantage, while others argued the existing ethics rules already cover those situations. In the end, the board decided not to issue the proposed advisory opinion. Jennifer also mentioned Advisory Opinion 2019-5 regarding citizen members of the board and their restrictions, including limits on lobbying. No public testimony was offered, and the board adjourned to executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a senior counsel with the Attorney General's office and serve as the section chief for our advice
• I do serve as the primary advice assistant attorney general for the commission.
• please do consult with agency staff, who can then consult with me, and we can provide you appropriate advice
• And we can provide you appropriate advice in the context.

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 7, 2025, with quorum present. The commission approved the October 22, 2024 meeting minutes and then received its annual open government refresher from the Attorney General’s office, which reviewed key requirements under the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, including record retention, response deadlines, exemptions, and meeting notice rules. Staff then provided a 2025 legislative session update, noting that the legislature passed 23 tax-preference-related bills, with several signed by the governor and others pending. Highlights included bills that extended or repealed certain preferences, added reporting requirements for newspaper and digital content exemptions, authorized JLARC to adjust its work plan when data is unavailable, and created a new exemption for zero-emission buses. The commission approved updates to the 2026 tax preference review schedule, which includes eight preferences in seven reviews, and approved unchanged testimony questions for 2025. The commission also received the 2025 expedited preference review report covering 52 tax preferences, presented as an interactive table drawing on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies. Staff then outlined the process for developing the next 10-year review schedule for 2027-2036, including surveying the legislature, incorporating new and repealed preferences, and considering a possible rolling 10-year schedule. No public comment was registered. The meeting ended with acknowledgments of Ron Buing’s long service on the commission and an announcement that the next meeting would be held August 6, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• invasion of privacy of private medical records and private court proceedings to be used for providing advice
• court proceedings to be used for private court proceedings to be used for providing<00:08:28.000><c> advice
• </c><00:08:29.680><c> From</c> providing advice to public policy.
• From providing advice to public policy.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in a room change and first considered two judicial confirmations. It recommended consent for Governor’s Message 767, confirming Kanoi A.D. Jackson as circuit court judge for the Third Circuit (Hawaii County) for a 10-year term, and the motion was adopted with members voting aye and some members excused. The committee then recommended consent for Judicial Communication 28, confirming Sonia H. Toma as district family court judge for the Second Circuit (Maui County) for a 6-year term. The chair noted prior concerns about the nominee, but said staff reviewed court records and found nothing problematic; the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously among those present. After a brief recess, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 55, which asks the judiciary to convene a working group to study the effectiveness of existing laws on domestic violence, temporary restraining orders, protective orders, and harassment by stalking in preventing continued abuse and harassment. Testimony was generally supportive. The Office of the Public Defender asked to be included on the working group and requested representation from the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as well. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence also supported including public defenders and said the effort needs funding to be effective. Other testimony emphasized survivor experiences, privacy concerns, and the need for broader research and protections for injured parties. The chair recommended passing HCR 55 with amendments to include the public defender and a representative from the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, to allow the judiciary authority to add other participants, and to make additional text changes including removing redundant language. The committee voted to adopt the amended recommendation, and the resolution passed with members voting aye and some excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just wanted to ask advice from other third grade teachers.
• What advice would you give to those teachers who will have these students potentially being held back
• If you could share some great advice, I'll address that.
• And just wanted to ask advice from other third grade teachers.
• If you could share some great advice, I'll address that.

Summary: The committee first approved the March 9 and 10 minutes, then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program featuring three third-grade teachers from Poyen, Drew Central, and Cabot, along with Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long collaboration among 23 merit-pay recipients from across the state, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about teacher experience, how the fellowship information is shared locally, the role of merit pay, and how teachers are addressing third-grade reading and retention concerns under the ATLAS assessment system. The teachers emphasized early intervention, relationships with students, small-group instruction, progress monitoring, and communication with families; they also described community supports such as churches, food backpacks, and local donations. Several members raised broader questions about poverty, trauma, social services, DHS involvement, and whether similar professional learning should be expanded to more teachers. Secretary Oliva said the fellowship is a small subset of a larger merit-pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is working to improve literacy supports, clarity, and alignment across grades. He also said ATLAS results are now available to schools and families much faster than in the past, often within 24 to 72 hours, and that the state is using the data to identify at-risk students earlier and support intervention before retention decisions are made. The committee then moved to the adequacy/resource allocation presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research. Staff explained that the report is part of the statutory adequacy review and focuses on state funding sources beyond foundation aid, including categorical and supplemental funds. They noted that districts and charters spent more than $7 billion in the 2025 school year, with roughly 49% from foundation funding and 51% from other sources over the last three years. The presentation outlined the four categorical funds—Alternative Learning Environment, English Learners, Enhanced Student Achievement, and Professional Development—describing their restricted uses, student-based funding formulas, and the ability of districts to transfer some money among categoricals while keeping it within allowable purposes. Staff said categorical funds account for about 4% of total spending, or less than $300 million, and reviewed superintendent feedback on whether those funds met district needs, with responses varying by category and district.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just wanted to ask advice from other third-grade teachers.
• If you could share some great advice, I'll address that.
• So my advice to any educator, number one, is when you get your students at the beginning of the year,
• And just wanted to ask advice from other third grade teachers.
• If you could share some great advice, I'll address that.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Further advice. Representative Niska. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• </c> Further<00:48:56.600><c> advice.</c> Further advice. Further advice.
• I've considered all of your advice.
• I've considered all of<00:51:26.160><c> your</c><00:51:26.280><c> advice.
• </c> of your advice. of your advice.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually think the language here that the superintendent is doing this with the advice of the advisory
• Advice of the board is very different from having the board vote.
• Advice of the board is very different from having the board vote, and the transparency and all of the
• Advice of the board is very different from having the board vote and the transparency and the all of
• The board can advise, but the superintendent doesn't have to follow the advice, and that's why we got

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 61, which would raise aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony in cases involving great bodily harm or a deadly weapon. The sponsor and supporters said the bill fixes an inconsistency in current law, where aggravated assault on an officer can be punished more severely than aggravated battery causing serious injury. Law enforcement representatives, the Chiefs Association, CBRC, and chamber representatives testified in support, and the New Mexico Sentencing Commission was noted as having endorsed the bill by a 6-3-4 vote. After questions about proportionality and plea bargaining, the committee voted due pass on HB 61 without objection. The committee then returned to House Bill 99, a medical malpractice reform bill, and several members made conflict-of-interest disclosures before debating amendments. The discussion focused heavily on the patient compensation fund, surcharge setting, and whether an advisory board or the superintendent should control rates. Amendments to segregate future fund money, require surcharges no lower than the advisory board’s recommendation, and create a commission with more actuarial and financial expertise were debated at length; the committee rejected the first two amendments. Members and witnesses argued over whether past undercharging of hospitals and doctors led to insolvency and taxpayer bailouts, and whether the bill should require more transparency and oversight. The committee also debated amendments on punitive damages. One proposal would have delayed punitive damage claims until after substantial discovery; opponents said it would conflict with civil procedure, prolong litigation, and likely be struck down. Another would have tied punitive damages to a multiple of compensatory damages or a percentage of net worth; supporters said that would better deter harmful conduct, while opponents said it would create uncertainty and more discovery. That amendment also failed. A final punitive-damages amendment would have removed caps in cases involving sexual assault or intoxication by a health care provider and protected the first $5 million of an independent provider’s personal assets; it too was rejected after members said it would shield egregious misconduct and go beyond the bill’s purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was great advice from Mr.
• How do they get good advice? I’ll only say that you refer to the headlines, Senator Brantley.
• And they’ve got the right advice.
• And they’ve got the right advice.
• And they’ve got the right advice.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The advice has been for generations.
• Legal and insurance advice has always been the same thing: don't say anything to the patient.
• That has been the advice for generations in this country when there's been an unanticipated clinical
• And does not follow clinical best advice.
• Think about the advice we've been giving people in the deny and defend mentality.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing is legal advice, as I've mentioned.
• 5,000 requests for advice per year.
• We have in terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud. In terms of direction.
• We have in terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud.
• In terms of In terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing is legal advice.
• in response to over 5,000 requests for advice per year.
• We have in terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud. In terms of... direction.
• We have in terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud.
• In terms of In terms of advice, advice, we don't applaud.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:29:53.080><c> State</c> and I'm prepared to offer advice State and I'm prepared to offer advice
• <c> advice</c><01:29:54.960><c> Madam</c><01:29:55.239><c> speaker</c> your advice uh my advice Madam
• speaker your advice uh my advice Madam speaker is<01:29:56.000><c> as</c><01:29:56.199><c> representative
• Further advice, Representative Nash? Representative Nash: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Further advice?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics gave completely wrong advice.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics gave completely wrong advice to mothers when it came to allergies
• the death of sudden infant death syndrome dropped by 50% in the United States because they gave bad advice
• We took a risk, and we didn't take a risk; we took advice from the courts.
• We took advice from the district attorneys, and we took advice from the public defenders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, I will say that the committee amendments add what's called a tier 2 advice letter requirement
• company would send to the PUC to approve it The bill, as written now, actually requires a tier 2 advice
• letter and the PUC to approve Kohler relinquishment And that tier 2 advice, and I don't want to get
• in the details, I actually have... little sheet here if you'd like to see yourself, but the tier 2 advice
• So the PUC has the authority to deny that Kohler relinquishment via the tier 2 advice letter in well-served

Keywords: 988, house, all