Transcript Highlights:

• Those that are small enough to pass through the lung tissue barrier go into the bloodstream and cause

Bills: HB1730, HB1823, HB2048, HB2266, HB2440, HB3333, HB4086, HB4271, HB4413, HB4839, HB4841, HB5151

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• half and company that was helped shape the very foundation of Texas what started in 1950 This is a small
• And the only thing that we can do, and up to this point have done... to touch small businesses would
• HB 9 also eliminates the onerous paperwork. that many of our small business owners have to go through
• Oh, for small businesses, to say?
• And this bill helps... those small businesses, ensure that they can continue to operate those small businesses

Bills: HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392, HB195, HB 13, HB143, HB135, HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• But I did see one common thread that existed throughout the state: small towns with state highways that
• Now, what that told me was small towns shouldn't have to penalize people who are just trying to get from
• better ways to address costs in our statewide transportation system than going after a relatively small
• He said the issue is a pretty small thing, noting that sending tabs to the next location costs about
• thing you know sending tabs pretty small thing you know sending tabs to<00:52:45.559> the<00:

Bills: HF2066, HF340, HF341, HF566, HF2107, HF2130

Keywords: electric bicycles, tax rebate, transportation, environment, local economy, fleeing peace officer, culpable negligence, traffic laws, public safety, motor vehicle offenses, driving violations, penalties, license suspension, traffic enforcement, all-terrain vehicle, ATV, class 1 ATV, class 2 ATV, road rights-of-way, public roads

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, it helps local small governments and local small counties who don't have the capacity to go after
• They come to us with relatively small asks to get these things finished.
• That includes a good amount that are sort of small operators.
• There's also modular homes that are being built in the state.
• We know that we have the manufacturing company that's pushing out modular houses.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's the small I, the double small I, and the triple small I.
• /c><00:07:38.520> I,<00:07:38.760> and<00:07:38.919> the small I, the double small
• I, and the small I, the double small I, and the triple<00:07:39.400> small<00:07:39.840> I
• and premiums in the individual and small and premiums in the individual and small group<01:24:53.520
• to permit aggregation of smaller modular to permit aggregation of smaller modular housing<02:15:

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House resumed consideration of H.606 on firearm procedures and first took up Section 3 and its effective dates. A member from Northfield spoke at length in support, arguing the provision is narrowly tailored, based on actual dangerousness rather than mental illness alone, and is more limited than federal law because it applies only to specific court findings and is temporary, with rights restorable upon recovery. The House then approved Section 3 and its effective dates, approved the remainder of the Judiciary Committee report, and ordered third reading. The chamber then moved through third readings and passed H.385 on remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt, H.556 on exceptions to the state minimum wage, H.559 on the parole board, H.723 on posting of land, and H.757 on manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives. On H.814, relating to neurological rights and AI in health and human services, the House adopted an amendment offered by the member from Burlington that required the advisory council to include proposed definitions for neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and related terms in its report; the House Health Care Committee reported the amendment favorable 11-0-0, and the bill then passed. H.816, regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services, also passed, as did H.927, technical corrections for the 2026 session. The House then took up H.930 on chronic absenteeism. The committee member from Manchester described the bill as an AOE proposal responding to high post-pandemic absenteeism rates and their impact on learning, and outlined provisions adding definitions, updating compulsory attendance language, requiring a state model policy, strengthening notification and truancy procedures, and preserving existing penalties. The member said the Education Committee heard from a wide range of education and child welfare witnesses and passed the bill 11-0. After a brief clarification on the absences section, the House proceeded toward third reading of H.930.

Transcript Highlights:

• from an alumnus of the University of Arizona and a company that grew out of the university called Modular
• We're working on that modular pilot processing plant I just mentioned, and we'll realize 30,000 square
• But the second thing is really how can we attract the startups in mining, the small technology companies
• We have a very small team right now, of about seven employees, full time and part time.
• So we definitely punch above our weight in terms of our small team.

Bills: SB1046

Keywords: telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology heard Senate Bill 1046, which would bar critical telecommunications infrastructure in Arizona from using equipment manufactured or owned by a foreign adversary, require annual certification to the Corporation Commission, impose civil penalties for noncompliance, and cut off state, local, or federal infrastructure funding for violators. Marina Macklin testified in support, arguing the bill responds to real national-security risks from China, citing examples such as Huawei, Hikvision, and other foreign-linked technology concerns, and saying states can act where federal efforts are incomplete or slow. Members raised questions about cost, timing, and whether the bill duplicates federal action; Macklin said the bill targets public procurement and that state action remains appropriate. The committee then voted 5-1 to return SB 1046 with a do pass recommendation. The committee next received a presentation from Craig Luxbacher of the University of Arizona on mining technology and the state’s role as an innovation hub. He described university work on automation, microgrids, critical mineral recovery, tailings remediation, workforce training, and heat-stress protection, and said Arizona can help de-risk new mining technologies through research partnerships, training networks, and policy support. Members asked about microgrids, federal and state law changes, tariffs, workforce decline, AI, and how the Legislature could help; Luxbacher emphasized the need for coordinated training pipelines, incubators for mining startups, and support for pilot projects and processing capacity. Jeremiah Pate, founder and CTO of Lunisand, then presented on subsurface imaging technology using georadiotomography. He said the system can image deep underground from airborne platforms, helping locate critical minerals, aquifers, tunnels, and hidden defense-related threats more quickly than traditional methods. Members asked about archaeological uses, mineral identification, water detection, whether similar companies exist, and defense applications. Pate said the technology is still developing but is unique in its field-practical airborne capability. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the chair and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kolkhorst relating to refund of sales and use taxes or a credit against the franchise tax for certain small
• Senate Bill 1974 by Blanco relating to the authority of the board of trustees of certain small school
• of the Governor and Texas Public Utility Commission to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a lot of small obviously.
• by the way, I own a small by the way, I own a small business.<00:49:39.839> So,<00:49:40.400
• so my point is that these small so my point is that these small businesses,<01:17:58.080> there
• pass all these mandates on these small pass all these mandates on these small businesses,<01:21:
• Um, yeah, when we get to the small Um, yeah, when we get to the small business<01:22:44.159>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, item four, the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor, Texas Nuclear Energy Fund.
• You know others live in small municipalities, but we have a lot of unincorporated parts of the city city
• But we have an instance with a company that was going under. literally, a small utility, the acquiring

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A SMALL SQUARE MODULAR BUILDING ABOUT 6,000 FEET THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE OUR LAB THERE IN A CLASSROOMS
• BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH A MODULAR BUILDING TO START FASTER.
• COLLEGE WITHOUT A LARGE SINGLE INDUSTRY WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A VARIETY OF OCCUPATIONS NEEDED BY SMALL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• provide matching funds to stretch development dollars, encourage new development, and encourage new small
• lot of old school buildings, and some of them They are very sound buildings most of the time, with a small
• We used $79,000 of our own money that we saved and took out a small loan.
• Next, we have Mark Bruner, President of the Manufactured and Modular Home Association.
• We also represent the builders and the plants that build manufactured and modular homes.

Bills: HF1143, HF1548, HF1340, HF2549, HF2559, HF1673, HF2740, HF2507, HF2461, HF2381, HF2695

Keywords: education funding, unemployment aid, special education, Minnesota statutes, appropriations, housing, redevelopment, local government, trust funds, community development, HF1340, housing infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, affordable housing, supportive housing, permanent housing, adaptive reuse, area median income, AMI

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are things like new teachers, reentry training grants, virtual education, modular classrooms
• our system over the last two or three years, both in terms of pay raises, teachers, programming, modular
• state of Florida, and we're going to exceed that capacity. ...so much so that we've had to add 14 modular
• So that is a good problem to have that we've overcome with those modular units.
• Physical space, classroom availability: we're mitigating that, as I mentioned, with modular units.

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, um, these might seem like small things, but collectively they make life harder, more expensive
• That is specifically just saying we don't want people to be able to buy small lots and live.
• So these are your modular, your off-site, so these are your modular, your um, they have uh the prefab
• So these are your modular, your off-site, so these are your modular, your um, they have uh the prefab
• It appears this is a reference to pre-site-built housing, like modular construction, as defined in RSA

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, in 2023 they started giving us a small amount of money, which is that accounting unit 4046 for
• <00:33:18.480> amount<00:33:18.720> of they started giving us a small amount of they
• of the MMIS system and moving that towards a more modular-based approach.
• of the uh the mismis modularization of the uh the mismis system<01:33:47.760> and<01:33:47.920
• based approach so there of a modular based approach so there there's<01:33:52.600> quite<01:33

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• 3010, which established the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery. ...program to provide grants to small
• While each individual project may seem to have a small impact, on a large scale, these strategies can
• Now even small rains flood faster and angrier between storms.
• for the purposes of repairing and maintaining. or rehabilitating dams and reservoirs or building a small
• ALICE is our local cashier, our child care provider, our small business owner.

Bills: HB48, HB 66, HB 68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB 3, SB 18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Transcript Highlights:

• It's no small task to start up a new state agency, but I am inspired to build a lending authority which
• rate of return time we can earn a small rate of return and<00:09:04.440> serve<00:09:04.760><
• <00:12:29.880> rural<00:12:30.279> farming small rural farming small rural farming operations
• I think I'm more asking around the country: do we see any green bank help for small modular nuclear?
• see any green Bank help for small see any green Bank help for small modular<00:47:26.599> nule

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the region and the state with innovative financing... programs that benefit companies, taxpayers, small
• His career spans research in hyperspectral detection, nuclear reactor modeling, hypersonic, and nuclear
• House Joint Resolution 2, introduced by Representatives Small (member_12971), Little (member_14481),
• House Joint Resolution 12, introduced by Representatives Small (member_12971), Little (member_14481),

Transcript Highlights:

• we're very excited about, what we're using a portion of this money for, is we're installing medical modular
• medical model. excited about we're using a portion of this money for is we're installing medical modular
• We also have civil, small claims, county and circuit court.
• No, for a regular county case, if, let's say, you're an attorney and you're filing a small claims case
• No, for a regular county case, if, let's say you're an attorney and you're filing a small claims case

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard an update from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on staffing, overtime, capital needs, and inmate population growth. Dixon said the prison population has risen by about 8,000 since January 2021 while staffing has not kept pace, forcing the agency to open 53 housing units without funded positions and rely heavily on overtime and National Guard support. He cited a $189 million deficit tied to salaries and overtime, noted that most staff have less than three years of experience, and argued the solution is to fully fund posts for operational housing units. He also reviewed the department’s fixed capital outlay projects, including repairs, new housing construction, and medical modular units intended to reduce outside hospital transports, and gave an update on the VINE victim notification system and its expansion. The committee then heard from Florida clerks of court representatives Jason Welty and Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who described clerks’ court-related and county duties and said clerk budgets have not kept pace with the broader justice system. They requested reimbursements for injunctions for protection ($3.3 million), Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator cases ($2.5 million), and juror management ($4.8 million), and said future funding for new judges should include the full courtroom system, not judges alone. Fernandez-Barquin also raised concerns about unfunded mandates, rising retirement and health costs, low court-side pay, and the need to revisit filing fees and trust fund allocations. Members asked about collections, payment plans, license suspensions, and whether some fees or trust fund distributions could be redirected; the governor’s budget had already picked up the $2.5 million request for Baker/Marchman/SVP cases. During public testimony, speakers urged broader criminal justice reforms and additional funding priorities. A prosecutor emphasized that adding judges requires funding for prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks as well. Other speakers called for parole or long-term sentencing reform to reduce prison populations and costs, criticized staffing and conditions in prisons, and raised concerns about inexperienced correctional officers, visitation delays, and lack of air conditioning in some facilities. The committee took no substantive votes on the items discussed and adjourned after hearing the presentations and public comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• years without reoffending is<00:14:24.360> is<00:14:24.560> relatively<00:14:25.120> small
• <00:14:25.839> what<00:14:25.959> is<00:14:26.079> more is is relatively small
• what is more is is relatively small what is more often<00:14:26.600> to<00:14:26.800> happen
• <00:55:58.280> as<00:55:58.440> well<00:55:59.400> represent nuclear reactor
• as well represent nuclear reactor as well represent Hudson<00:56:01.760> thank<00:56:01.880><

Bills: HF1354, HF1901, HF2124, HF2130, HF2260, HF2099, HF104, HF134, HF1769

Keywords: public safety, school safety, active shooter, active shooter drill, violence prevention, threat reporting, anonymous tip line, See It, Say It, Send It, Minnesota Fusion Center, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, officer-involved death, missing person, endangered missing person, criminal background check, national background check, FBI fingerprint check, adult entertainment license, massage license, correctional facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• The Division for Public Health Services, you'll see, has a relatively small amount of general funds,
• The Division for Public Health Services, you'll see, has a relatively small amount of general funds,
• The Division for Public Health Services, you'll see, has a relatively small amount of general funds,
• <00:13:39.200> uh moving to more of a modular uh moving to more of a modular uh procurement
• ,<00:35:02.160> whether amendment, no matter how small, whether amendment, no matter how small

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met after recess to hear a Department of Health and Human Services overview of its contract structure, with CFO Nathan White explaining that DHS currently has 969 active agreements spanning service contracts, grants, data-sharing agreements, use-of-premises agreements, and MOUs. He said contracts are budgeted across multiple class lines and accounting units, often braided with federal funds, which makes the system complex; he also noted that the department’s top spending list was limited to 18 items rather than 20 and included both individual contracts and grouped regional/provider contracts. White emphasized that many contracts support direct services to residents, while others support departmental operations such as software support and staffing. Commissioner Hardy said the listed contracts are essential to serving vulnerable populations and supporting required administrative infrastructure, and she stressed that the department tries to work with providers and families rather than impose changes on them. In response to questions about area agencies and developmental disability services, DHS officials said the agencies’ duties are spelled out in contract and statute, including family support services, billing-related functions, and services tied to the state’s community-based system; they said some billing duties have already been moved outside the contract. They also explained that the department rejected a previously discussed two-tier waiver concept after stakeholder feedback in October 2023 and instead shifted to rate-based work, including CIS assessments, to better align payment with individual need. Members also raised concerns about possible waste, sole-source contracting, and subcontracting. Hardy said she had not seen specific evidence of waste beyond a whistleblower call mentioned by a member, but acknowledged that inefficient execution can occur in government and said the department is trying to improve management. On procurement, she said sole-source contracts require her approval and that competitive procurement is the default when possible. White added that subcontracting is allowed only with written state permission under the standard P-37 terms, and subcontractors must meet the same obligations as the prime contractor. No votes or formal actions were taken.