Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, I ask that you please advance S. 2665. Thank you for your time.
• We've been working hard to close those loopholes, not create new ones.
• We've been working hard to close those loopholes, not create new ones.
• That's why in 2014, this legislation, closed all those loopholes, not create new ones.
• I have a treatment-refractory primary headache disorder for over 12 years.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with the co-chairs introducing House and Senate members and explaining the hybrid format, three-minute testimony guidance, and the deadline for written testimony. The committee then heard extensive testimony on S. 2665, which would require employers to post notice to employees when an I-9 audit or similar federal immigration inspection is underway. Supporters, including immigration attorneys, a pediatrician, a labor leader, and an affected family member, argued the bill would protect privacy, give workers time to gather documents and consult counsel, and reduce fear and wrongful arrests. One witness from Illinois described a similar law there and said it had not caused the problems employers feared, while others said recent ICE enforcement has made notice especially important. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1360, a bill affecting collective bargaining rights for State Police, with the State Police Association arguing that a statutory gap lets departmental rules override their contract and that the bill would restore intended bargaining protections. A separate labor bill, S. 1305, was also briefly supported by the AFL-CIO as part of broader worker-classification protections for app-based delivery drivers. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 2066, which would impose fines on transportation network drivers who refuse rides to people with disabilities using service animals. Testimony from blind and disabled riders, service dog users, advocates, and the Disability Law Center described repeated ride cancellations, drivers pulling away after seeing a service animal, and the difficulty of enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws through MCAD or other agencies. Witnesses said the current system leaves riders without practical recourse because drivers are hard to identify and complaints can take years, and they argued that fines on individual drivers would create a real deterrent. Several witnesses also described the impact on employment, medical appointments, and daily independence. Committee members asked about service-animal verification, whether refusals are ever appropriate, and whether penalties should target drivers or companies; witnesses said legitimate refusals are limited to misbehaving or unsafe animals and that companies already have policies and some training, but enforcement remains weak. The committee also heard from a witness supporting a related bill on rideshare accessibility and from advocates describing broader transportation discrimination issues. One witness discussed a separate proposal to study service-animal denial, and others noted that Uber’s self-identification feature and company policies have not solved the problem. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting ended after the final witnesses on the service-animal bill and a brief organizational discussion about related legislation and committee business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Byrne, do you have any closing remarks? There's no one else signed up. No.
• So they try to contain that story and keep that close. These two, both, CAIR is part of...
• Do you have any closing remarks?
• Senator Lenny, you want to close? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Just a couple of points in closing.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Gehan, and I do reserve the right to close. Members, any questions? Yes.
• The homes are close together. For example, my, my front yard is 20 ft deep.
• There being none, chair recognizes Chairman Cortez to close.
• OK, well then I, I, I, um, I, I do close, Chairman, thank you for the opportunity.
• So, thank you and I yield for any witness testimony and reserve my right to close.

Bills: HB294

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• We like to say that we're stronger together, and our boards over time grow close and are able to rely
• So I work very closely with our executive director.
• And they work very closely with us and our other board members.
• I cannot get my union to close with me right now.
• We work very closely with CareerSource as being part of those advisory boards.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met to discuss the needs of rural school districts and the role of Florida’s three regional education consortia: the Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, and Heartland Educational Consortium. Executive directors and several rural superintendents described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide shared services, professional learning, leadership development, grant support, cooperative purchasing, risk management, IT/cybersecurity help, and back-office assistance that small districts could not afford to provide on their own. They emphasized that rural districts are often very small, have limited staff, and must still meet the same state reporting and compliance requirements as large urban systems. Testimony focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, alternative certification, and the difficulty of staffing specialized roles such as CFOs, MIS directors, IT staff, and content-area teachers. Superintendents said many new hires are career changers or alternatively certified teachers who need consortium-supported training, and several argued for more flexibility in funding so districts can raise salaries and compete with neighboring districts and nearby states. Members also asked about the impact of declining enrollment, homeschooling, and voucher-related school choice; superintendents said those trends are reducing FTE and creating budget instability, while also requiring districts to right-size staff and programs. Several speakers described the financial strain on rural districts, including rising insurance costs, transportation costs, and the challenge of forecasting budgets when enrollment changes after the school year begins. One superintendent recounted major hurricane damage and said consortium risk-management support was essential to recovery. Others said the consortia help districts pool resources for property and health insurance, payroll, student data systems, and procurement, and that this shared approach saves money and improves services. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:14.359><c> this</c> with that I'm going to close this with that I'm going to close this hearing
• </c><01:07:15.920><c> um</c> think in that ballpark that closed um think in that ballpark that closed
• </c><01:17:13.719><c> this</c> with that I'm going to close this with that I'm going to close this hearing
• </c><01:33:09.679><c> to</c> everybody in the same book and close to everybody in the same book and close
• </c><03:55:05.040><c> by</c> smell test at all so I'll close by smell test at all so I'll close by saying

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Savantes, would you like to close?
• My family and close friends are law enforcement.
• My family and close friends are law enforcement. members of my family Family and close friends are law
• In closing, I urge an aye vote. Thank you. Senator Seyarto, you are recognized.
• Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Cabaldon, you may close.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Hines, would you like to close? Clerk, call the roll. Senator Bullard. Clerk, call the roll.
• Senator Woods, would you like to close? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• So you're going to get a lot of would-you-believes, but would you believe that the state vet's primary
• Senator, would you like to close? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• With that, Senator Kern, would you like to close? Thank you, Mr. Chair. And with that, the...

Bills: HB3406 , HB2975 , HB3977 , HB3263 , HB2988 , HB3404 , HB1770

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Keywords: agriculture, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, HB3977, State Veterinarian, Oklahoma veterinary license, food animal veterinary practice, livestock, animal health, State Board of Agriculture, veterinary qualifications, appointed office

Summary: The Agriculture Committee heard and advanced a series of bills focused on burn bans, poultry waste regulation, veterinary qualifications, wildlife, and land management. House Bill 3406, presented by Senator Hines, would make burn bans easier to declare when conditions warrant, require earlier review so bans do not linger unnecessarily, remove certain local fire departments from the decision process, and preserve a prescribed-burn exemption for farmers. After questions about the shortened ban period and the removal of local fire departments, the bill passed 12-0. House Bill 2975, presented by Senator Woods, was amended to restore contact information for poultry litter haulers and to streamline nutrient management plan amendments for poultry waste that is moved off-site and land-applied. Department of Agriculture testimony said the change would reduce duplication for producers who both export and land-apply litter while maintaining tracking of waste management. The bill passed 11-2. House Bill 3977, also by Senator Woods, would add food-animal and veterinary practice experience to the qualifications for the state veterinarian; members discussed whether wildlife experience should also be considered, but the bill passed unanimously 13-0. The committee also passed House Bill 3263, designating the morel mushroom as the state mushroom in honor of David Beyer, and House Bill 2988, which expands harmful woody species to include redberry juniper, ash juniper, and honey mesquite and broadens the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act statewide. Members emphasized the impact of red cedars on water use and wildfire risk. House Bill 3404, a follow-up measure on prescribed burns, passed 12-0, and House Bill 1770, directing OSU and its veterinary college to conduct elk population studies in northwest Oklahoma, passed 10-2 after questions about cost and the role of Wildlife Department studies. The chair then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This measure closes a loophole in the current law, which will prohibit part-time or parish employees
• Item number five: With the extended time between closed party primaries in the spring and the general
• So this just kind of closes that little loop and says that, you know, they have to give written confirmation
• the Louisiana Procurement Code to procure drag contracts, especially when the contract is canceled close

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with Secretary of State Nancy Landry presiding. The board approved the minutes from its March 11, 2025 meeting and then received a presentation from First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd on proposed technical changes for the 2026 elections omnibus bill. The board removed item 7 from consideration before the presentation began. The proposed provisions covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including ROV payroll timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, party affiliation clarification for voters marked “unaffiliated,” registration transfers, assistance for disabled voters, protection of pre-registrant information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee voting procedures, precinct boundary notices, candidate death notice procedures, nomination petitions, ballot design, watcher deadlines, overvote definitions, absentee ballot curing, nursing home voting timelines, procurement authority for voting equipment, and contest procedures for elections and constitutional amendments. Board members asked several clarifying questions, and staff explained the intent of various technical and procedural changes. Two items were specifically discussed as policy concerns. Board member Guidry objected to item 37, which would allow the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official, and staff agreed to remove it from the omnibus bill for separate consideration. Item 38, concerning deadlines and causes of action for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, clarifying that such a contest cannot be filed before election day, were explained as intended to align amendment contests with other election contest deadlines. After discussion, the board approved items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 through 39 for inclusion in the report and eventual omnibus bill. No public comments were submitted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state police are our primary contact regarding security and safety issues concerning legislators.
• not hiring anyone just out of their own choice, but do you know, Director, if we are fully hired or close
• Members of the council, I don't have the exact numbers at the top of my head, but I'm pretty close to
• So close, very close to full. Full employment on that. Got it. Senator Woods?

Committee: House Legislative Council

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'd rather not close the door on that option by including that language.
• the state's primary health policy research<00:34:38.320><c> database.
• This could close rural hospitals. And, um, so, you know, this is a Republican bill.
• This could close rural hospitals. And, um, so, you know, this is a Republican bill.
• </c> that are ready to collapse or close. that are ready to collapse or close. and<00:57:22.720><c> we

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the sub health supplemental budget bill, and moved it to the Ways and Means Committee after a walkthrough of the fiscal spreadsheet and the DE1 amendment. Nonpartisan staff explained that the bill produces general fund savings of about $2.4 million in FY27 for the 2026-27 biennium and about $97.7 million in the next biennium, with most savings tied to HR1-related Medical Assistance changes affecting adults without children. The Department of Health provisions were described as largely cost-neutral, with some increases for implementation, data, and IT work. Staff then reviewed the DE1, which combines several bills into four articles. The bill includes health licensing board changes, Department of Health provisions such as all-payer claims database fees, newborn screening fee exceptions, loan forgiveness and scholarship program extensions, workforce shortage grant changes, and reciprocal licensure and mortuary science provisions. The federal conformity article makes changes related to MA work and community engagement requirements, six-month renewals, retroactive eligibility limits, contact information updates, cost sharing for MA expansion enrollees, and related provider tax and disability-notice provisions. Article 4 and Article 5 were described as forecast adjustments for DHS and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Public testimony focused largely on the federal conformity and eligibility provisions. Legal aid testified that the work requirements and retroactive eligibility changes would be confusing, could expand requirements beyond intended groups, and would increase uncompensated care. The Minnesota Hospital Association said shortening retroactive eligibility would increase uncompensated care and strain hospital finances, and Unidos Minnesota criticized the immigrant eligibility changes as harmful to lawfully present immigrants and Native communities. Blood Cancer United supported the all-payer claims database provisions and urged attention to fertility coverage. Representative Elkins offered an amendment to add $55,000 for the Department of Health to include denied-claims data in the all-payer claims database; Department of Health staff said the idea was useful and provided a one-time setup cost, but the amendment was not acted on in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll allow you to close. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. OK.
• Otherwise, I'd close. Thank you, Chairman Garin.
• Uh, our names, uh, Scott Sasajima, is that close.
• Close. Close. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you. Wait just a minute. OK.
• You close? I close. There's no objective. House Bill 1335 will be left pending. Is there objection?

Bills: HB206

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• That's absolutely the primary concern.
• Chair's preparing to close. Anyone wishing to vote or change their vote?
• Chair's preparing to close. Close the queue. 11 aye, zero nay.

Bills: SB1191 , SB1976 , SB1613 , SB1439 , SB1930 , SB1314 , SB1246

Committee: House Energy

Keywords: SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, oil and gas, surety bond, financial responsibility, environmental compliance, plugging wells, SB1613

Summary: The committee took up several energy and environmental bills, most of them mirror measures or agency-related changes. SB 1976, a mirror of HB 3469, would provide a three-year phase-in for new surety bond requirements adopted in HB 1369 and was reported out do pass on a 10-0 vote. SB 1314 would increase the well drillers fund limits for plugging bad wells that could contaminate aquifers, raising the per-well amount to $25,000 and the fund cap from $50,000 to $100,000; it also passed 10-0. SB 1191 repeals the law creating the Oklahoma Energy Low Carbon Initiative Board, which had never been appointed or met, and it passed 10-0. SB 1613, a mirror of HB 3142, was also reported do pass 10-0 after members noted prior questions had been resolved. SB 1246, from the Department of Environmental Quality, was described as streamlining services while keeping information online and preserving public comment time; it passed 11-0. The committee then spent the most time on SB 1439, the Energy Security and Independence Act, which would bar certain causes of action related to greenhouse gas emissions and alleged climate-change effects. Supporters argued it would protect Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry from costly, speculative lawsuits and preserve the state’s economy, while opponents questioned whether it would shield an industry from accountability and compared it to past tobacco litigation. The bill’s author said it would not affect other pollution claims or federal enforcement, only climate-related civil actions. After extended discussion, SB 1439 was reported out do pass on a 9-3 vote. Finally, SB 1930, the mirror bill to the Brine Development Act, was presented as a measure to speed up development of iodine and other mineral recovery from oilfield wastewater while avoiding conflicts with existing oil and gas operations and Corporation Commission rules. Members discussed Oklahoma’s role in iodine production, possible market growth, and concerns about creating unintended causes of action for surface owners or class-action claims. The author said amendments were still being negotiated, but the bill was nevertheless reported out do pass on an 11-0 vote. The chair closed by noting this was expected to be the committee’s only scheduled meeting, absent any reassignments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that the basic primary, Mr.
• what we're doing at the state compared to maybe some gaps in the federal law that we're trying to close
• The bill, but we do work very closely with our Medicaid partners, so we do have contingency plans if
• It's a situation we're watching closely.

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just hoping a repentant Aggie ex-tax collector senator can get there someday, but I think it's close
• Agriculture, engineering, and medical are the three primary areas that I feel are very important to us
• Hearing none, public testimony is now closed. Let's process and try to get it back.
• Hearing none, public testimony is closed.

Bills: SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio

Transcript Highlights:

• and activities relating to oil and gas in counties where ozone concentrations are in excess of the primary
• introduced by Representative Borrego, is an act relating to disability accommodations, enacting the Closed
• Act, which requires places of public accommodation that display television programming to provide closed
• captioning and requires the Attorney General to enforce the Closed Captioning Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'll be watching closely, but I don't want to be overly prescriptive.
• I've worked with D.I.R. very closely for a long time.
• I would close by saying...
• With that, we're going to close public testimony.
• That's the money, closes the vote.

Bills: HB146 , HB150 , HB1500 , HB1545 , HB1562 , HB2067 , HB2520 , HB2818 , HB3214 , HB3250 , HB3466 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB4063 , HB4395 , HB4464 , HB4668 , HB4690 , HB5331 , HB3833 , HB146 , HB150

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a little add-on and then just a kind of a closing statement.
• Just a little add-on and then just a kind of a closing statement.
• Just a little add-on and then just a kind of a closing statement.
• Just a little add-on and then just a kind of a closing statement.
• Just a little add-on and then just a kind of a closing statement.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's anyone else who would like to talk, I'm going to close the hearing.
• I'm going to close the hearing. You want a motion to move into exec?
• I'm going to close the Bill 1318. I'm going to close the hearing. hearing. hearing.
• With that, I'm going to close the hearing. >> Do you want to go into executive session?
• With that, I'm going to close the hearing. >> Do you want to go into executive session?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You just close by saying this bill is not the best way to address this situation.
• You just close by saying this bill is not the best way to address this situation.
• You just close by saying this bill is not the best way to address this situation.
• </c><02:32:53.040><c> primary</c><02:32:53.520><c> and</c> transport pre um primary primary and transport
• pre um primary primary and secondary<02:32:54.399><c> school</c><02:32:54.960><c> students</c><02:32

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I thank my gentleman here from Jefferson 33 for being a primary sponsor with me on this, and I'll
• sponsor with me on this being a primary sponsor with me on this and<00:24:58.880><c> I'll</c><00:24:
• Ashley Clark: I also want to recognize my colleague, Representative Nemes, who's worked closely with
• </c><00:52:28.640><c> The</c> closely with me on the legislation.
• The closely with me on the legislation.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 958, all