Transcript Highlights:

• :22.759> 1527, Standing committee report number 1527, Standing committee report number 1527, third
• :47.280> 1528, Standing committee report number 1528, Standing committee report number 1528, third
• :08.879> 1529, Standing committee report number 1529, Standing committee report number 1529, third
• :02.080> 1534, Standing committee report number 1534, Standing committee report number 1534, third
• :58.800> 1641, Standing committee report number 1641, Standing committee report number 1641, third

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• report number 811, 812, 813, 814, top of page six, standing committee report number 815.
• committee report committee report 820<00:28:22.919> representative<00:28:23.600> Amato
• Okay, moving on to Standing Committee Report 822, then Standing Committee Report 823.
• Okay, moving on to Standing Committee Report 822, then Standing Committee Report 823.
• Standing Committee Report 858, number 859. Standing Committee Report 859.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, does that conclude your report? report? report? >> It<00:08:43.800> does.
• Please report<00:11:00.280> those. report those. report those.
• Clerk, please report. Senate Mr. Clerk, please report.
• <01:53:58.800> report would ask the clerk to report report would ask the clerk to report report
• Clerk, please report. Mr. Clerk, please report.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The report that we have sent to you is the heavy text report.
• You know, we're writing this report.
• And that we could utilize the report. all commissioners saw the text of the report and that we could
• utilize the report.
• You know, we're writing this report.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met virtually to review and gather feedback on its annual report covering July 2024 through June 2025. The chair summarized the report’s main themes: five public meetings on employment data, benefit cliffs, developmental services priorities, health care, civil rights, and workforce stability; active work by the Disability Employment, Workforce Support, and new Long-Term Services and Supports/Health Equity subcommittees; and the second annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration with more than 300 participants. Commissioners praised the report and suggested improvements, including shortening it with an appendix, adding charts/graphs, including dates and raw data alongside percentages, and producing a more visual slide deck or presentation version after submission. Commissioners also discussed the need for clearer outcome-focused goals and strategic planning, especially given limited staff capacity. The chair responded that the annual report is a statutory requirement and that a separate strategic planning effort is underway through the executive board. She said the team would continue refining the report, incorporate feedback, and prepare both a text version and a more visual hard-copy version with photos and alternative text. The report was described as due to appointing authorities by October 30, and the commission planned to continue collaborating on presentation materials. Before adjourning, members briefly discussed the 2025 Paul Spooner Generational Leadership Summit, which was described as successful but still in need of funding for future years. The chair also previewed the commission’s first community event on November 4, a hybrid community listening session and resource fair, with about 170 registered participants and roughly 35 in-person organizations. The meeting ended with a motion and second to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've got the report.
• Today's report is for February.
• We need a motion to approve the report as filed, the January and February reports.
• Next is legislative report.
• the budget report do have the report the budget report from<00:02:44.920> January<00:02:45.920

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on March 17, 2025, approved the January 14 minutes, and received staff reports on budget, compliance, and training. Staff reported the January and February budget reports were within spending parameters and were approved. On reporting compliance, staff said about 15 forms were late in January, generating $750 in fines from late employers and lobbyists, but that all reports ultimately came in and the commission ended the month in full compliance. Staff also noted that all annual financial disclosure statements were filed except one, from former Representative Jacob Justice, who has been sent repeated notices and a certified letter regarding a $100 fine. The commission discussed a potential ethics-related bill for the session. Staff said freshman Representative Kim Holloway of Graves County and part of McCracken County agreed to sponsor the bill, but there was little expectation it could advance this late in the session. Holloway met with staff on March 4 and expressed interest in continuing discussions over the interim so the proposal could be ready for next session. Staff also said the commission is nearly fully compliant with certification requirements for legislators who missed or were late to the January 8 current issues seminar. Training efforts were also reviewed. Staff proposed starting a monthly Zoom training for lobbyists, employers, and others who work with them, beginning on a trial basis after session ends. The first session is planned for April 22 at 2 p.m., with notice to be sent through the newsletter and a special email. Staff said the goal is to help with filing questions, reduce late filings, and improve accuracy. The commission then voted to enter executive session under the cited Kentucky Open Meetings Act provisions to discuss confidential complaints and informal opinions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the House agree to the report? Agreed to. House Resolution 571 reported as committed.
• Will the House agree to the report? Agreed to. House Resolution 572 reported as committed.
• Will the House agree to the report? Agreed to. House Resolution 57 reported as committed.
• Will the House agree to the report? House Bill 2559, re-reported as committed.
• bills: House Bill 2226 reported as amended; House Bill 2649 reported as committed; House Bill 2652 reported

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, recognized several guests in the gallery, and then took up a series of committee reports, referrals, and floor actions. Early business included concurrence in committee reports on bills and resolutions from Game and Fisheries, Professional Licensure, Health, and Children and Youth, along with referral of Senate Bill 1377 to Transportation. The chamber also signed House Bill 1344 after the Senate returned it without amendment. Later, members announced caucus and committee meetings, including Rules, Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations, Insurance, and Appropriations, before recessing and then reconvening for floor votes. The House adopted several resolutions, including House Resolution 537 designating Rail Safety Week, House Resolution 449 recognizing the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and House Resolution 568 designating Javei Syndrome Awareness Day. The chamber also considered House Bill 2037 on cryptocurrency corruption, where Amendment A03882 narrowing the bill to public officials and immediate family members was adopted, while two later amendments were tabled or failed. House Bill 2198, repealing the sales and use tax exemption for computer data center equipment, was amended to take effect immediately and to bar KOZ use for data centers, then agreed to. House Bill 2559, concerning a university conveyance and other conveyances, was agreed to after out-of-order amendments were ruled on. A major portion of the session focused on data center policy. House Bill 2496, creating a 180-day pause on data center proposals to give municipalities time to update zoning and planning, drew extensive support from members emphasizing local control, environmental concerns, and the need for time to assess impacts; it passed final passage 201-1. House Bill 2650, creating the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development certification for data centers, also generated lengthy debate over energy use, water, community benefits, and tax treatment; it passed 134-68. The House also passed House Bill 2162 on temporary licensing for drug manufacturers before FDA approval, House Bill 2388 on rounding cash payments when pennies are unavailable, House Bill 2437 on county and municipal bridge repair funds, House Bill 2555 on equine dealer recordkeeping, and House Bill 2621 directing a Department of Health survey on maternal and infant outcomes. Other actions included final passage of House Bill 1006 on milk tester and wearer sampler certification periods, House Bill 2014 on opportunities for minors and emergency service organizations, House Bill 2512 prohibiting ride-share pricing based on device condition, House Bill 2644 authorizing itemized capital bridge projects, and Senate Bill 1058 updating the E85 flex-fuel reference. The House also adopted House Bill 2162, House Bill 2388, House Bill 2437, and House Bill 2555 by recorded votes, and several committee reports were agreed to throughout the day. The session ended with additional committee referrals, a motion to recommit several bills to Appropriations, and adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> report.
• . report. report.
• . report. report.
• report report on<02:08:12.680> the<02:08:12.760> favorable<02:08:13.120> report.
• report as amended. report as amended.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Associate Pastor Justin Wills of Miracle Temple Church in Lothian, followed by remarks recognizing his family’s ministry and requesting that the prayer be journalized. The chamber then moved through several introductions, including Johnston Square Elementary students who were recognized for strong grades, education-related guests, and staff and family members of senators. After the roll confirmed a quorum, the Senate returned to business. On third reading, House Bill 563, concerning emergency response animals, was amended to align the House and Senate versions. The amendment added self-defense as an affirmative defense, included horses used in search and rescue within the definition of emergency response animal, added a definition of law enforcement unit, and adjusted penalties. The bill then passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 159 on EMS vehicle supplies and neonatal care; the chamber refused to concur in House amendments and sent a message asking the House to recede or appoint a conference committee. The Senate introduced House Bill 420 and referred it to Rules. In Judicial Proceedings, Senate Bill 791 on immigration enforcement prohibitions in correctional facilities was reported favorably with three amendments, including technical changes, limits tied to certain convictions, notice requirements for state facilities, and authorization for judges or commissioners to consider immigration detainers in bail decisions. The minority leader and others requested that the bill be special ordered for more time to review and prepare amendments, arguing the issue was controversial and had been fast-tracked; supporters of the committee report said the bill had already been heard and discussed. The debate over the special-order motion was ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sacco, will favor of the bill's report, 10187, Rose.
• In favor, opposed, the bill is reported. 1026, Biden.
• Camry, or the bill is reported. The bill is reported. 10 590s scufus. An act in the public office.
• All in favor, Senator Myrie, all in favor, the bill is reported. The bill is reported. 6.333.
• Mayer, favor, opposed, the bill is reporting. All bills is reporting. Thank you.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to consider a long list of bills, mostly reported out without debate. The measures covered a wide range of subjects, including insurance, criminal procedure, social services, retirement, tax, education, military, civil service, public authority, and local authorization matters. For each bill, a member moved the item and another seconded it, followed by a voice vote; the transcript repeatedly notes that the bills were reported, with no recorded opposition or substantive discussion on the merits. After the bill list was completed, members briefly exchanged remarks about the chair and ranking member’s working relationship and the length and efficiency of the meetings. Senator Lansing offered thanks and praise for the bipartisan partnership, and the chair responded in kind, noting the long-standing friendship and cooperation across party lines. The meeting then adjourned. No amendments, roll-call votes, or other formal actions beyond reporting the bills were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• to report that measure.
• run a report or self-report for themselves.
• Um, I do have the report.
• this report from from the other report this report from from the other report that<01:21:52.600>
• <01:33:28.960> annual report a quarterly report an annual report a quarterly report an annual

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled organizational business, electing Representative Mark Pearson as chair for the coming term, appointing Representative Lucy Weber as clerk, and approving the November 22 minutes with abstentions from members who were absent. Members also noted excused absences for Senator Avard and Representative Jessica Lontine. After the vote, the committee moved to the DHHS commissioners’ update. DHHS associate commissioners Patricia Tilly and Chris Santinello described a process-improvement effort to improve transitions for youth moving from DCF care into adult developmental services and Medicaid. They said the old process was fragmented, dependent on personal relationships, and not sustainable, so staff from DCF, the Bureau of Family Assistance, Developmental Services, and public health used a Kaizen/Lean event to map the workflow, identify bottlenecks, clarify roles, and create a more consistent playbook. Members asked about IT support and whether the process would create new bureaucracy; DHHS said current systems are antiquated, especially DCF’s CWIS, but the goal is to streamline coordination, not add bureaucracy, and future systems like Granite Families may help with reminders and age-based ticklers. Several members praised the work, including a CASA volunteer who said the added attention has improved services for vulnerable youth. The committee then received the annual healthcare-associated infections update from Ctin Hansen of the Division of Public Health Services. Hansen reported that New Hampshire’s HAI program, created by statute, tracks infections in hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, and long-term care facilities. For 2023, hospitals reported fewer infections than predicted nationally, with 135 infections statewide and 174 C. diff infections also below national rates; hospital influenza vaccination was 89.9%. Ambulatory surgery centers reported low infection counts and an 80.1% staff flu vaccination rate; dialysis centers reported fewer infections overall than the prior year but higher local access-site infections, with staff vaccination at 52.6%; and long-term care facilities reported a 50.1% flu vaccination rate, up from 37.8%. Hansen also said the program conducted over 100 investigations, handled 84 antibiotic-resistant organism reports, completed 20 infection-prevention assessments, and operated on a budget of about $348,000 plus grant funding, including an Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity Grant that was later reduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another witness also expressed concern that mandated reporters may not be legally required to report
• the reporter. the reporter.
• and he did not file duplicative report and he did not file duplicative report himself. himself.
• may be legally required to reporter may be legally required to report<00:34:18.960> to<00:34:
• , how to identify alternatives to report, how to identify alternatives to<00:38:18.680> reporting<

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional in honor of Earth Day, then referred three Senate bills to money committees under House Rule 35A: S. 173 to Appropriations, and S. 232 and S. 327 to Ways and Means. The chamber also adopted JRS 50, a joint resolution setting weekend adjournment so the House and Senate would reconvene no later than April 28, 2026. Several members then made announcements recognizing guests and interns in the gallery, including a homeschooling eighth grader, UVM interns, a constituent shadowing a member, family members, and a Civil Air Patrol delegation. The House next took up S. 89, expanding survivor benefits, and passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment. It then considered S. 157 on recovery residence certification. The Human Services Committee described the bill as making permanent a temporary framework for certified recovery residences, placing oversight with the Department of Health, requiring standards, data collection, and annual reporting, and preserving resident protections such as written agreements, notice, grievance procedures, and alternative housing arrangements. The committee also said the bill would modernize definitions and repeal the sunset on the current framework. Human Services voted 9-0-2 to recommend the strike-all amendment, and Ways and Means reported the bill favorable 11-0-0, noting no fiscal impact unless a future fee is proposed and enacted. The House adopted the amendment, ordered third reading, and moved the bill forward. The final major item was S. 239, creating a child abuse and neglect reporting working group. The Human Services Committee said Vermont’s mandated reporting system has not been substantially reviewed in over a decade and that the bill would convene experts to review the law and recommend updates. Committee testimony emphasized that Vermont has a very high reporting rate but relatively low rates of substantiation and referral to supportive services, and members said the working group should examine reporting before, during, and after a report, including alternatives when in a child’s best interests. The committee’s strike-all amendment added findings, narrowed and prioritized the working group membership to people with direct child-serving or mandated-reporting experience, set deadlines for an interim report by April 1, 2027 and final recommendations by October 1, 2027, and required the first meeting by August 15. The committee also heard from a wide range of child welfare, education, law enforcement, and advocacy witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do they get information on how you go about reporting?
• They did give us an incomplete report, but we fully need the whole complete report, and we feel like
• So House Bill 153 seeks to say that we don't report criminal justice-related debt to credit reporting
• Seeing no objection, report House Bill 59 favorably. This moves report House Bill 59 favorably.
• Seeing an objection, report HCR 50 favorably.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our fiscal year 2025 report reflects meaningful progress.
• Our fiscal year 2025 report reflects meaningful progress.
• in the reports in 2025 and '24 is an increase in number of reports from previous years' incidents.
• And what it allows is people who either have filed a restricted report or who have filed a report but
• unrestricted report, but once you file that unrestricted report, then you cannot go back.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:07.680> numbers to 21 standing committee report numbers to 21 standing committee report
• Committee Report 779; Senate Bill 744, Standing Committee Report 780; Senate Bill 841, Standing Committee
• Report 782; Senate Bill 1042, Standing Committee Report 783; Senate Bill 1269, Standing Committee Report
• 841, Standing Committee Report 782; Senate Bill 1042, Standing Committee Report 783; Senate Bill 1269
• , Standing Committee Report 787; Senate Bill 1530, Standing Committee Report 790; and Senate Bill 1197

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, called the roll, approved the previous day’s journal, and heard several introductions recognizing staff, visiting students from Do Middle School participating in Working Families Day, and advocates from organizations including H-CAN, Hawaii Workers Center, Aloha Care, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the American Association of University Women Hawaii. The clerk then reported gubernatorial messages withdrawing several nominations to boards and commissions, transmitting one nomination to the State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision, and House communications sending House bills to the Senate for first reading and committee referral. The chamber adopted multiple groups of standing committee reports, including reports requiring 48-hour notice and one-day notice, and then took up third reading of Senate bills. Several bills passed third reading by unanimous consent or near-unanimous votes, including measures relating to water pollution, spaying and neutering animals, condominiums, marine life conservation districts, mental health, geothermal resources, the University of Hawaiʻi, and aircraft. Senate Bill 841 SD1 and SB 1042 SD1 each passed 22-1, SB 1197 SD1 passed 21-2, and SB 319, relating to marijuana, failed on third reading with 11 ayes and 12 noes. The Senate also granted a waiver of referral for Senate Bill 1621 SD1 to the Committee on Ways and Means so it could meet the first taking deadline, and gave one day’s notice for third reading. The session concluded with a motion adopted to leave the journal open until 11:00 p.m. for additional committee reports and to recess until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• I always enjoy your reports.
• reports column.
• have that documented in our report.
• report, the draft report, is supposed to be published 14 days before submitting it to the President
• Slide 29 says final report.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then shifted to an update from Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith on early childhood education, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. They said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ABC as a large state program with about 23,800 funded slots and roughly $114 million in annual appropriations. Department officials said they are reviewing slot allocations because about 1,000 seats are funded but unfilled, while more than 2,000 families are on waiting lists, and they plan to reduce or reallocate slots from providers that have not filled them over several years. They also said they are examining whether income thresholds, curriculum expectations, daily rates, and summer programming should be updated, and members raised concerns about access, local control, transportation, and whether the program should better align with K-12 choice and school readiness goals. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical data and other information for future discussion. The committee then received a legal presentation from BLR attorney Taylor Lloyd on the constitutional and statutory framework for education adequacy in Arkansas. She reviewed the Dupree and Lake View cases, explaining that the state must maintain a general, suitable, and efficient system of free public schools, and that adequacy and equity are distinct but related concepts. She emphasized that the General Assembly is responsible for defining adequacy, studying whether the system meets that standard, and reacting to the evidence, while the courts ultimately decide constitutional compliance. Lloyd also explained the current adequacy definition, the role of the matrix as a funding tool rather than a spending mandate, and the distinction between unrestricted foundation funding and restricted categorical funding. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum followed with a historical overview of how Arkansas responded to the court cases and developed the current adequacy process. She traced major legislative actions from the 1980s through the Lake View litigation, including the creation of funding formulas, categorical aid, isolated funding, declining enrollment funding, and the 2003-2004 adequacy study that led to the Continuing Adequacy Evaluation Act and the matrix used to set foundation funding. She also described later changes to the adequacy statute, the financial reporting requirements for districts, and the ongoing use of surveys, stakeholder testimony, and consultant studies in the biennial adequacy process. Members asked questions about whether private or homeschool programs could use public funds for expenses like utilities, whether stakeholders should include those groups, the difference between average daily membership and attendance, and whether school board members are surveyed; staff said those issues would need further research or were outside the scope of the presenters’ role.

Transcript Highlights:

• the report.
• The report is adopted.
• the report.
• The report is adopted.
• The report is adopted.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's my report. I move for adoption of the report at the proper time.
• , Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reports, report on annual expenditures of revenues, and the
• I move to approve this report at the proper time. All right, moving to the review report.
• I thought he was asking the question on the report I gave. All good. The report I gave. I'm sorry.
• This would be the review report, Senator.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to report it. It is the appropriate time.
• Seeing none, Senate Bill 114 will be reported favorably.
• I'll move that we report Senate...
• Seeing none, Senate Bill 103 will be reported favorably.
• Hearing none, HCR 63 will be reported favorably.

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on Monday, April 27, and took up a series of Senate bills and resolutions, most of them memorial highway designations or prestige license plate measures. The committee first adopted amendments and reported Senate Bill 122, which directs the Department of Transportation and Development to plan, maintain, and report on bridge conditions statewide, with a focus on proactive bridge maintenance and public reporting. Members also reported favorably SCR 6 supporting an LNG facility at Port Fourchon, SCR 18 directing a study of commercial driver licensing privileges compared with neighboring states, and SB 50 naming the Bayou DeLarge Basque Bridge as the Elwood T. Brady Jr. Memorial Bridge. The committee then approved several memorial and honorary measures, including SB 70 for Officer Mark Brock Memorial Highway, SB 96 creating a Fallen Heroes prestige license plate, SB 460 naming a highway for Hayden Lane Mangum, SB 24 designating Interstate 49 as the Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway, SB 101 naming highways for Daniel Edward Didillo and Bill Blue Evans, SB 160 naming the Speaker Joe R. Salter Memorial Highway, SB 418 naming the Dick and Jacques Schuford Memorial Highway, SB 114 creating a prestige plate for the Foundation for Moral Law, SB 103 and SB 159 naming Franklin Parish highways, SB 412 naming a portion of Highway 13 for Roy Chaffin, SB 182 naming a highway for Mayor Billy Cobb, SB 104 naming the Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway, and SB 2 naming the Falcons Band Highway. Most of these items were reported favorably without objection after brief testimony from authors, family members, or supporters. One measure drew more discussion: SB 19, which changes the name and design of the state employee retired prestige license plate and redirects proceeds to a private nonprofit associated with retired state employees. Representative Schlegelhorn objected, but after testimony that the organization is a tax-exempt nonprofit funding scholarships and that no money had previously gone to LASERS from the plate, the committee adopted a motion to report the bill favorably by a 13-1 vote. The committee also adopted amendments to HCR 69, which urges DOTD to improve Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish with attention to drainage, flood risk, and evacuation resilience, and then reported it favorably. HCR 63, creating a task force to study whether certain active-duty military personnel can operate federally owned vehicles on state highways without civilian licenses, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after the agenda was cleared and a motion to adjourn was made.

Transcript Highlights:

• No one knew how to report this.
• That was also not reported.
• She still did not report it.
• It was reported by the mother immediately.
• It was reported to the TEA within seven days, which was under the law, but not reported to the local

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard several bills focused on school finance, transparency, student safety, and educator misconduct. SB 843 by Senator Kolkhorst would create a centralized TEA database for school bond elections, tax rates, and project details; supporters said it would improve transparency for taxpayers, while members discussed the fiscal note and suggested adding charter schools. SB 1224 by Senator Sparks would require superintendents to report alleged romantic, sexual, or abusive conduct between staff and students directly to law enforcement within 48 hours, with penalties for failure to report; testimony from advocates and survivors strongly supported the bill and urged that it also apply to private and charter schools. SB 747 by Senator Paxton on behalf of Senator King would require school district policies addressing AI-generated sexually explicit images of minors as cyberbullying and direct the School Safety Center to develop guidance; the committee heard emotional testimony from a student victim and discussed school authority to discipline off-campus conduct and the role of cell phones. The committee also heard SB 1636 by Senator Hinojosa, which would limit use of interest and sinking tax revenues to debt service for voter-approved capital projects and not deferred maintenance; school finance witnesses raised concerns that the bill’s language could restrict needed facility maintenance spending and asked for a clearer definition of deferred maintenance. SB 2185, also by Senator Hinojosa, would expand access to the bilingual education allotment for dual-language programs; district officials and educators testified in support, saying it would remove barriers to funding and better support bilingual instruction. SB 604 by Senator West would require the Permanent School Fund Corporation to publicly track bonds backed by the state guarantee program that are downgraded to speculative or junk status, with West arguing the information would provide an early warning sign of district financial distress. Across the hearing, much of the testimony centered on student protection and accountability in schools. Multiple witnesses described educator misconduct cases, failures to report abuse, and the need for outside law enforcement involvement rather than internal district investigations. Committee members repeatedly discussed extending reporting and safety requirements to private and charter schools, and several witnesses urged independent oversight. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee report on HB 2456 continues.
• Read the report. Mr.
• I move on the Committee of the Whole Rises Report.
• Read the report. Mr.
• Majority, I move the committee, the whole rising report.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions recognizing Maricopa County Community Colleges Day at the Capitol, the Doctor of the Day, Glendale Community College leadership, and other visitors. The chamber also received a gubernatorial communication withdrawing Holly Prangman’s nomination to the State Board of Psychologist Examiners. The body then considered multiple bills in Committee of the Whole. Measures advanced included HB 2342 on planned communities/HOA-related provisions, HB 2456 on small modular reactors and energy siting, HB 2457 on power plant and transmission line siting, HB 2752 on Commerce Authority trade offices, and HB 2923 on mental health court-ordered treatment, with several floor amendments adopted. Additional bills were also advanced from later calendars, including HB 2249 on parents’ bill of rights remedies, HB 2482 on school facilities and building renewal grants, HB 2895 on Native American language instruction certification, HB 2661 and HB 2662 on family law/parenting issues, HB 2793 on annexation procedures, HB 2805 on electronic signatures and nomination petitions, HB 467 on voter registration status, HCM 2005 on foreign government property ownership, HCM 2006 on Endangered Species Act reform, HB 2641 on PFAS firefighting foam prohibition, HB 2673 on incarcerated persons and mental illness treatment, HB 2745 on legislative subpoena/contempt, HB 2763 on shooting range closure conditions, and HCM 2011 on Mexican wolf delisting. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several measures. HB 2035 on child welfare and placement passed 17-10, with senators citing concerns about kinship care definitions and LGBTQ exclusions. HB 2109, HB 2189, HB 2244, HB 2440, HB 2594, and HB 2932 all passed by varying margins, and HCM 2007 on renaming State Route 69 also passed. HCR 2059, supporting county sheriffs, passed after debate over the “supreme constitutional authority” language, with some senators objecting to what they described as a conspiratorial framing and others defending sheriffs’ constitutional role. SB 1503 on first responders’ state death benefits passed with the required emergency and supermajority votes, and HB 2342 and HB 2456 later passed on third reading. The Senate also agreed to a free conference committee on HB 2000 and adjourned until April 16, 2026, after announcing several conference committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• card and the commission's report card.
• After we release our state focus report today.
• The Infrastructure Report Card is is the most highly cited infrastructure report in Texas and the country
• the four prior reports and a one notch upgrade over the C minus grade in the ASE's 2021 report card
• To focus on energy we made a content change report adding energy generation infrastructure to the report

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.