Transcript Highlights:

• It's a nationally recognized health system with numerous hospitals, physician practices, urgent care
• where we've had a tremendous shortage of veterinarians, and particularly those that would start practices
• to deal with large animals as opposed to just the small animal practices.
• But the other thing I want to say, too, about really good family practice physicians coming out of these
• And these physicians come and practice in these markets; it's so different from the urban experience.

Bills: HB42, HB125

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• After one such bad incident, I started practicing the Idaho Stop and have found that the number of incidents
• Additionally, the owners, as a matter of practice, will also call and text the tenants to try to track
• You've contractually agreed to the limit, I think, but I'm curious just in terms of the practice of..
• I know I pay for my storage unit via electronic, and so I think that's a common practice.
• By passing SB 56, New Mexico aligns itself with best practices, reinforcing our agricultural economy

Transcript Highlights:

• number of significant rule changes that the committee members may have heard from either judges or practicing
• But even when you're focused on a particular data set, there are different business practices in our
• There are different business practices in the circuits, and I think that can result in different operational
• And this particular Chief Justice has also prioritized enhancing judicial practices.
• so that an attorney practicing in Pensacola knows where to find the same requirements of that judge

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're focused on the best practices for rate making, and that's a balancing act.
• far outside of that balancing act between all of those different principles and good rate-making practice
• That behavior is different from the historical interconnection practices that we've seen.
• Practically, we are standing by and willing to voluntarily curtail to save the grid in those moments,
• Ultimately, from a practical standpoint, we're also able to use our investments in these communities

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2189 provides a practical solution to this gap.
• So I just wanted to add that point as a practical component because I know that the Assemblywoman was
• Our concerns really revolve around just the practicality and the accessibility for parents.
• The bill strikes a balance by giving districts a clear, practical path to create more focused learning
• For some high schools in the early season, as many as half of all scheduled practices have been pushed

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just trying to understand the practical effect of that because... but I guess if somebody can run
• So let me just make sure I understand the practical effect: for August in the general election, we're
• So can you explain to me just the practical way this happens? Yes.
• I just don't know what the practical impact was.
• speak to the practicality of it.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• of law, um, our constitutes the practice of law, um, our department<00:33:59.760> recommends<
• Seeing none, we'll be moving on to the next bill, HB 2455, relating to employment practices.
• HB 2455, relating to employment practices.
• <01:21:18.880> also unauthorized practice of law. also unauthorized practice of law. also
• practices.

Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251

Keywords: military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR

Transcript Highlights:

• As such, this also reflects a clear directive to me and what I know inherently and how I practice my
• I asked him how agricultural practices have changed.
• Our traditional farming and ranching practices have also been affected.
• Knowledge and practices, supporting cultural preservation alongside climate adaptation.
• It is becoming increasingly difficult to practice that at home. Difficult to practice that at home.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumers are not protected from potentially abusive practices.
• That would be a good safe practice in my case anyway.
• Uh, my practice is only representing groundwater conservation districts all around the state.
• My least favorite part of that practice is having to go to court. Uh, I try to work out deals.
• Uh, one of them is, is practical. I mean, uh.

Bills: HB 1520, HB 1525, HB 1530, HB 1535, HB 2068, HB 2091, HB 2347, HB 2372, HB 2805, HB 2815, HB 2867, HB 3154, HB 3482, HB 3483, HB 3663, HB 3781, HB 3901, HB 3915, HB 4135, HB 4153, HB 4158, HB 4329, HB 4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a private practice that helps people.
• I have a private practice that helps people.
• I practice in the area of domestic violence.
• I practice in the area of domestic violence.
• He said those of you who practice in family court, if I had a hat I’d take it off to you.

Keywords: The live stream for this meeting cut off before the end. This is the complete meeting pulled from back ups. Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:05 HB 38: 00:02:42 HB 206: 00:29:22, 958, all

Summary: The committee began with roll call and introductory remarks, including recognition of new members and guests. It then took up House Bill 38, sponsored by Representative Tipton, which would increase penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection. Under the committee substitute, a third violation involving the same order and same individual could be elevated from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Tipton and domestic violence survivor Maryanne Pratt testified in support, with Pratt describing repeated abuse, protective-order violations, and ongoing fear despite arrests and jail time. Several members spoke in favor of the bill and praised Pratt’s testimony. Members and outside witnesses raised concerns about the substitute’s language, especially the requirement that the same victim be involved and whether the bill could leave gaps for repeat abusers with different victims. Representative Burke and others questioned whether the conduct was already covered by stalking or assault statutes. Scott West, speaking for the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the bill could allow technical contempt findings to be used as predicate offenses and noted that existing assault and stalking laws already address much of the conduct. Sponsor Tipton said the language was not final and that further changes might be considered in the Senate. Despite the concerns, the committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 38 with favorable expression by a 19-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 206, sponsored by Representative Nemes, on wrongful conviction compensation. Nemes introduced exonerees and representatives from the Kentucky Innocence Project, and the substitute was adopted without objection. Testimony came from Paul Herd, who spent 20 years wrongfully convicted and described the difficulty of reentry, and Jon Acar, who said he was wrongly convicted as a teenager and spent years in custody and on parole. Both urged passage of the bill as overdue support for people exonerated after wrongful convictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• unfair labor uh unfair labor practices unfair labor uh unfair labor practices part<01:21:15.360>
• This is to create best legislative practices for appropriating money for grants.
• practices requests. practices requests. um<04:08:37.680> all<04:08:38.800> uh<04:08
• Um, so I think this needs work and it isn't practical.
• <04:32:41.359> it and it it isn't practical. it and it it isn't practical. it would<04:32:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not here to debate the the practice I'm not here to debate the the practice of<00:26:07.680>
• In practice, this bill will not improve safety or fairness.
• In practice this bill law is applied.
• Would eliminate this practice.
• This practice can lead to inefficiency and wasteful spending.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you all to take action to ensure that insurance practices reflect the reality of modern vehicles
• ,<00:21:11.120> and<00:21:11.440> market for rates, claims practices, and market for
• rates, claims practices, and market conduct.<00:21:12.720> Insurance<00:21:13.200> companies
• And even the MDH report says that 2024 data suggests that 340B incentivizes prescribing practices.
• And even the MDH report says that 2024 data suggests that 340B incentivizes prescribing practices.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their confidence um growing their communication<00:02:59.080> skills<00:02:59.879> practicing
• <00:03:00.360> critical communication skills practicing critical communication skills practicing
• those adult roles they also practice those adult roles they also practice<00:05:24.000> a<00:
• a lot of vocabulary development practice a lot of vocabulary development and<00:05:26.120> a<
• In that space, that's where children were really able to practice taking care of someone else.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By implementing guidance in Minnesota, we are aligning with best practices in tax administration and
• By implementing guidance in Minnesota, we are aligning with best practices in tax administration and
• By implementing guidance in Minnesota, we are aligning with best practices in tax administration and
• <01:38:01.520> and<01:38:01.719> Tax with best practices and Tax with best practices
• hearing from the CPAs who are practicing hearing from the CPAs who are practicing and<01:44:19.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He practiced gastroenterology for more than 35 years in Sun City and Sun City West with Banner Health
• She was ordained in 2004 and has been studying and practicing Kadam Dharma for over 25 years.
• Her teaching style is down to earth and practical and shows us how to apply these teachings in our daily

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• gaps between managed care and county specialty behavioral health systems, gaps that function in practice
• Communities of practice where they are engaging with their colleagues and peers in identifying best practices
• So the notice of privacy practices does say that it can be changed at any time, but that’s true for all
• So the notice of privacy practices does say that it can be changed at any time, but that's sure.
• So the notice of privacy practices does say that it can be changed at any time, but that's true for all

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially serious mental illness and anosognosia, a condition described by witnesses as a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they are ill. The chair framed the issue around families cycling through emergency rooms, jails, conservatorships, and short-term stabilization without lasting treatment, and warned that federal changes under H.R. 1 could reduce Medi-Cal funding and worsen access. Dawn Marie Anderson gave a personal account of her son’s long history of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, repeated jail and state hospital stays, and eventual stability when he received sustained medication and coordinated support. She argued that the system often treats the problem as criminal rather than medical and that voluntary programs and short-term services are not enough for people who lack insight into their illness. Other panelists, including representatives from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, agreed that anosognosia is not denial or noncompliance and said the system needs long-term, coordinated care, including assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, medication support, and stronger handoffs between county and managed care systems. They said CalAIM and other reforms have improved some coordination, but significant gaps remain, especially for people with serious mental illness, for those in jail or locked settings, and for people with private insurance, which witnesses said often offers little meaningful coverage for early psychosis or intensive behavioral health services. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to protect Medi-Cal, shore up county safety-net services, and invest in training and family engagement. The committee then turned to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, with a focus on the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, saying the platforms provide free, culturally responsive, early-intervention support statewide and help connect users to higher levels of care when needed. On the fee schedule, DHCS said more than 500 LEAs, colleges, universities, and school-linked providers are participating, 181 LEAs have submitted claims, and $9.6 million has been reimbursed to date, with 41,556 students represented in claims. The chair and several members criticized the pace of implementation and the amount of money spent relative to reimbursement levels, saying the Legislature had requested data earlier and that the return on investment still appeared low. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, that 70% of denials are correctable, that $400 million in capacity grants has been distributed locally, and that reimbursement is increasing rapidly as more districts come online. Public comment included a rural county behavioral health director who said private insurance denials leave counties with significant uncompensated work, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So can you explain to me just the practical way this happens? Yes, so...
• So, can you explain to me just the practical way this happens?
• Yeah, I'm really, my head's kind of wrapped around what the practical impact is in the courthouse.
• I just don't know what the practical impact was.
• speak to the practicality of it.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• States have tried to crack down on this practice, but often the penalties aren't enough to deter the
• practice.
• ,<00:47:25.359> but<00:47:25.599> often crack down on this practice, but often crack
• That's why I led 29 members of practice.
• today as Donald Trump practices today as Donald Trump practices deliberate<01:33:17.440> deception

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a long-standing practice in both bodies that when we're dealing with data practices, it needs to
• It is a long-standing practice in both bodies that when we're dealing with data practices, it needs to
• It is a long-standing practice in both bodies that when we're dealing with data practices, it needs to
• It is a long-standing practice in both bodies that when we're dealing with data practices, it needs to
• It is a long-standing practice in both bodies that when we're dealing with data practices, it needs to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all