Transcript Highlights:

• and equity-focused, requiring early outreach, language access, accessibility, and reporting on how feedback
• But I think, just for our colleagues, it's a different mechanism that, as Mark eloquently stated, it

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development heard a long agenda focused mainly on housing production, higher education facilities, homelessness, and permitting reform. Early items included AB 6, which would direct HCD to convene a working group on allowing three- to ten-unit “missing middle” housing to be built under the Residential Code rather than the Building Code; AB 48, a higher education bond proposal that would fund campus repairs, modernization, disaster recovery, and student/employee housing; and AB 76, which would clarify a Chula Vista university innovation district exemption so the project can include academic buildings and housing without conflicting with surplus land rules. Supporters emphasized affordability, cost savings, student housing needs, and access to education, while members raised questions about implementation, affordability requirements, and project scope. The committee later took votes on these items, with AB 6, AB 48, and AB 76 all moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Members also heard AB 595, which would create a state homeownership tax credit pilot to support affordable for-sale housing. The author and supporters argued that California’s homeownership rate is at historic lows and that the bill would help close racial wealth gaps by financing homes working families can buy. The committee approved AB 595 and sent it to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including several other housing-related bills, was also approved unanimously. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1165, the California Housing Justice Act of 2025, which would require ongoing state investment and a financing plan to address homelessness and housing affordability. The author and witnesses described the scale of homelessness, the limits of one-time funding, and the need for sustained, accountable funding streams. After testimony from housing advocates and people with lived experience, the committee passed AB 1165 on a 10-0 vote to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard AB 609, a CEQA reform bill that would create a simplified exemption for qualifying infill housing projects in already developed areas. Supporters framed it as a targeted way to reduce delays and costs for housing near jobs and transit, while opponents from environmental justice, labor, and tribal groups warned it could reduce public participation, weaken protections for disadvantaged communities, and create consultation concerns for tribal cultural resources. The author said the bill would not change zoning or affordability tools and would continue to work with opponents on amendments. The bill was moved forward after extensive discussion, with members noting ongoing negotiations on tribal consultation and labor concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• projects under Chapter 2252 of the Government Code while exempting... ...contracts for stakeholder feedback
• HB 4984 is a simple cleanup bill that provides clarity and consistency to Texas mechanics' and materialmen's

Bills: HB2963, HB3005, HB3287, HB3288, HB3289, HB3290, HB3344, HB3712, HB3862, HB3874, HB4196, HB4308, HB4901, HB4984

Keywords: digital equipment, repair rights, manufacturers, maintenance, consumer rights, construction contracts, payment regulations, public works, dispute resolution, audit procedures, construction, trust funds, mechanic's lien, contractor, subcontractor, residential properties, disputes, payment obligations, accountability, payment disputes

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to technology, construction, economic development, and consumer protection. HB 3862 would restrict minors’ access to certain social media apps and limit smartphone use in classrooms; supporters, including Champions for Childhood, argued that smartphones and social media contribute to addiction, distraction, depression, self-harm, and trafficking risks, and the bill was left pending. HB 3712 would change Texas retainage rules so owners could not withhold payment on specially fabricated construction materials once they are delivered, approved, and warranted; subcontractors and suppliers said current retainage practices delay payment for years and create financial risk, and the bill was left pending. HB 2963, the right-to-repair bill, would require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information for independent repair of digital devices, with exemptions for medical devices, vehicles under existing agreements, and trade-secret protections; consumer, environmental, business, and repair advocates supported it, while Safelite asked that automotive manufacturers not be excluded from the bill, and it was left pending. HB 4308 would create county industrial development districts to attract major employers and finance infrastructure through local elections and bonds; Fort Bend County supported it as a tool to add jobs and broaden the tax base, and it was left pending. The committee also heard HB 3344, which would create a licensing system for re-roofing contractors, require insurance and bonding, and establish a public database and complaint process. Supporters said it would help curb storm chasers and protect homeowners after storms, while opponents argued it would add burdens on legitimate small roofers, duplicate existing fraud laws, and potentially restrict consumer choice and contractor pricing flexibility. After extensive testimony and questions, the bill was left pending. HB 4196 would create a task force on modernizing manufacturing through digital integration and automation; Schneider Electric and the Texas Workforce Commission supported it as a way to improve competitiveness and create skilled jobs, and it was left pending. HB 3874 would require contractors to receive copies of incorporated contract documents before signing if requested; subcontractors and construction attorneys said it would improve transparency and prevent parties from being bound by unseen terms, and it was left pending. In pending business, the committee voted out several bills. HB 74, creating the Port Verde Port Authority District, was reported favorably to the full House without amendment. HB 112, relating to a science park in certain counties, was reported favorably as substituted. HB 2214, on floodplain notice requirements for leased dwellings, HB 3016, on rental vehicle damage waivers, HB 3133, on explicit deepfake material on social media, HB 3173, on workforce development program planning and evaluation, HB 3807, on child care waiting list priority for children of certain child care workers, HB 463, on unilateral memoranda of contract for residential property, HB 4115, on shareholder proposals to certain domestic corporations, and HB 5008, on use of the Skills Development Fund by certain entities, were all reported favorably, most without amendment and some as substituted. HB 2652, creating a certified caregiver pilot program in the Borderplex workforce area, was also reported favorably and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.

Transcript Highlights:

• someone kind of that's a third party on the ground in the homes to kind of give them a ground level feedback
• And since we have a mechanism in place to for verification on notarizations, there's no reason why we

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on valuable feedback from DFPS and child welfare stakeholders, the committee substitute strengthens
• The bill does not provide detailed guidelines or an enforcement mechanism. What do you see there?

Bills: SB95, SB268, SB493, SB619, SB660, SB922, SB984, SB1098, SB1188, SB1307, SB1332, SB1822

Keywords: immunization, written informed consent, civil liability, health care provider, vaccine compensation, administrative penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, gag clause, prescription drug pricing, out-of-pocket cost, cash price, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription drug benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would like to thank the School Board Association in particular for their feedback, which resulted
• parents, and you've got others, including SROs, on this Advisory Council who are going to be providing feedback
• parents, and you've got others, including SROs, on this Advisory Council who are going to be providing feedback
• parents, and you've got others, including SROs, on this Advisory Council who are going to be providing feedback
• Going to be providing feedback on the needs of maybe their local school districts or school districts

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents can provide teachers feedback and information to help them better support students and reinforce
• ><c> information</c><01:08:14.119><c> to</c><01:08:14.279><c> help</c><01:08:14.480><c> them</c> feedback
• and information to help them feedback and information to help them better<01:08:14.920><c> support</
• </c><01:15:04.400><c> as</c><01:15:04.560><c> well</c><01:15:05.080><c> so</c> love to see that feedback
• as well so love to see that feedback as well so thank<01:15:05.679><c> you</c><01:15:06.679><c> thank

Bills: HF1124, HF1457, HF1803

Keywords: school calendar, education, school year, Labor Day, state law, school construction, landfill, dump site, closed landfill, contaminated site, pollution control agency, school siting, public school, charter school, environmental health, student safety, brownfield, solid waste, waste disposal site, site contamination

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, I am open to feedback if that's a $3 or $4 million appropriation, something like that.
• So any feedback is welcome. Chair, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for that.
• So any feedback is welcome. Chair, thank you.
• So any feedback is welcome. Chair Kisun, thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for that.
• So any feedback is welcome. Chair Kisun, thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for that.

Bills: HF2078, HF777, HF841, HF1112, HF1098, HF1926

Keywords: child care, day care, child care center, licensing, license requirements, parent access, guardian access, custody order, court order, furnishings, equipment standards, learning materials, early childhood education, infant care, toddler care, preschool, school-age child care, play materials, sensory materials, gross motor equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a separate trust fund and separate funding mechanism.
• Referrals are now up 49 percent, and feedback from referral sources and families has been positive.
• That is why being able to get the automated data, where hospitals would be receiving feedback the same

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're a separate trust fund and separate funding mechanism.
• Referrals are now up 49 percent, and feedback from referral sources and families has been positive.
• And that is why being able to get the automated data, where hospitals would be receiving feedback same

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I often feel out of place in these settings; I'm a career mechanic.
• I'm the only mechanical engineer in the state legislature.
• You need to make the public input process a valid one where you listen and take our feedback into account

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I've had several others that have come in thinking that they were going to be electrical or mechanical
• These are all publicly available documents for everyone to evaluate the data as well and provide feedback
• position that we have active permits that are in place. that handle corrective action, and that is the mechanism

Transcript Highlights:

• Human Services related to medical assistance reimbursement for birth centers. 2.20 incorporates feedback
• :27:58.000><c> 20</c><00:27:59.000><c> incorporates</c><00:28:00.240><c> um</c><00:28:00.640><c> feedback
• </c> centers. 2.2 20 incorporates um feedback centers. 2.2 20 incorporates um feedback that<00:28:01.200
• not<03:37:59.920><c> have</c><03:38:00.000><c> a</c><03:38:00.239><c> legal</c><03:38:00.479><c> mechanism
• by which to not have a legal mechanism by which to host<03:38:01.760><c> a</c><03:38:02.000><c> hot<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn’t—you know, we all have electric bills and we need mechanisms in order to make stuff happen,
• <05:26:59.080><c> in</c><05:26:59.200><c> order</c> mechanisms in order mechanisms in order to<05:27:
• I don't know if that's part of this conversation, but that would be helpful feedback that I could bring
• :17:53.760><c> helpful</c> conversation that would be helpful conversation that would be helpful feedback
• that I could bring back to our feedback that I could bring back to our team<06:17:55.920><c> to</c><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the $2,000 feedback in there was another bill that came over from the Senate that made great sense

Bills: SB65, SB444, SB592, SB640, SB1242, SB1257, SB1304, SB1501, SB1642, SB1946, SB2178

Keywords: SB65, naloxone, Narcan, opioid overdose, overdose reversal, opioid antagonist, emergency opioid antagonist, substance abuse services, harm reduction, public health, overdose prevention, good samaritan, civil immunity, criminal immunity, controlled substances, addiction treatment, fentanyl, opioid crisis, school overdose response, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• We took testimony on the previous piece of legislation, but we've kind of incorporated feedback and are

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee approved the minutes from March 2, March 4, and March 6, then considered a series of RS introductions. Representative Furness presented RS 33665 to clarify that firefighter differential pay bonuses go to the intended frontline workers, and the committee voted to introduce it. Representative Barbieri presented RS 33624C1, a revised version addressing committee work-product accessibility and allowing the committee to determine otherwise by unanimous vote; Representative Rubel opposed it, but the motion to introduce passed with Rubel recorded as nay. Representative Schurz introduced RS 33680, a pared-down industrial hemp regulation measure incorporating prior feedback, and it was introduced. Representative Green presented RS 33631 to update Idaho’s electric-assisted bicycle classifications for road safety, and it was introduced. Representative Furman presented RS 33692, a fix to life insurance lapse notices supported by the Department of Insurance and insurers, and it was introduced. Representative Pickett presented RS 33681, a county waste and trash framework intended to protect county investments, increase transparency, regulate waste streams, and reduce liability; it was introduced. Speaker Moyle presented RS 33678, a concurrent resolution concerning the Bear River Basin and Idaho water use. He said it was not tied to Utah fuel-tax issues, and explained that it would create two reports: an early June snapshot on available water and current use, and a September report to the Natural Resources Committee on future opportunities and projects. Representative Monks said she would prefer a hearing in the Resources Committee, but the committee voted to introduce the resolution. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I worked with all stakeholders and received their feedback on the filed version.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I worked with all stakeholders and received their feedback on the filed version.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this review, along with stakeholder feedback, can better protect churches, charities, and community

Keywords: Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Ethics Commission, recommendations, Angelina River Authority, Natchez Valley Authority, public testimony, legislative session

Summary: The meeting of the Sunset Advisory Commission served as a concluding assembly for the current biennium, where various agencies were reviewed. Notably, the Commission focused on staff recommendations and modifications regarding the Angelina and Natchez River Authority, Lower Natchez Valley Authority, and Texas Ethics Commission. After discussing various modifications, the members voted unanimously on multiple recommendations aimed at improving operational efficiency and accountability within these agencies. The Chair emphasized the collaborative effort of the Commission members and staff, acknowledging their hard work throughout the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• This review, along with stakeholder feedback, can better protect churches, charities, and community organizations

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, approved the December 11, 2024 minutes, and then voted on recommendations for several agencies reviewed earlier in the cycle. It adopted all recommendations for the Angelina and Nettus River Authority, the Lower Nettus Valley Authority, and the Trinity River Authority of Texas, with no modifications offered for those agencies. The Commission then considered the Texas Ethics Commission. Members adopted staff recommendations with modifications, including changes to lobby compensation thresholds and rounding of inflation adjustments. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late-filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be shown, review of the “substantial compliance” standard, review of the “principal purpose” definition, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on filing and lobby-registration requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, saying the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and Sunset staff found 68% of statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The Commission also noted receipt of a January 6 evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission, including a study of potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• As with others, the amended version of this bill reflects feedback from the municipalities.
• As with others, the amended version of this bill reflects feedback from the municipalities.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 25 and March 27, then took up Senate Bill 1359 as amended, which would regulate virtual currency kiosks/crypto ATMs. The sponsor and supporters from AARP, law enforcement, and the Attorney General’s office said the bill was aimed at reducing scams that target older adults by requiring operator registration, money transmitter licensing, fee and exchange-rate disclosures, fraud warnings, transaction records, and cooperation with the Department of Finance. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass recommendation, though one member noted possible Fourth Amendment concerns about blockchain analytics and data retention. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1353 as amended, a housing bill allowing twin homes and duplexes in single-family residential zones in cities over 10,000 people, with limits on local bans, lot-size restrictions, fees, and parking requirements. Supporters argued it would expand affordable “missing middle” housing, help families and older adults stay in their communities, and restore property rights; opponents, including an Eagle city council member, argued it would override local control and worsen density and traffic concerns. After testimony from residents, housing advocates, and local officials, the motion for a due-pass recommendation failed on a 7-7 tie, so the bill was held in committee. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 1254, which would clarify that certain chiropractors with clinical nutrition training may prescribe the limited vitamins, minerals, fluids, epinephrine, needles, and related products they are already authorized to obtain and administer. The sponsor said the change would fix a technical problem that prevents chiropractors from buying these items from pharmacies, while some members raised concerns about scope of practice and noted opposition from the Idaho Association of Chiropractic Physicians. The committee passed the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. Finally, Senate Bill 1313 was heard, expanding Idaho’s dual-licensure naturopathic doctor provisions to include pharmacists who also meet the existing naturopathic licensing requirements. The sponsor said the bill would let pharmacists with the proper additional training practice under dual licensure without violating scope-of-practice or insurance rules, and the committee approved it for the floor with a due-pass recommendation before adjournment.