Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for coming in. Thank you for testifying today.
• Who sets the agenda for the special sessions? The governor.
• Legislative sessions are legislative sessions.
• is only 30 days long and you guys were gone for two weeks, so that's half of the special session, and
• a regular session and not with any special sessions.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we're back in open session. Uh, thank you all, everyone, for their patience.
• It's a very attractive place for us to be, I think, and for you, too, hopefully.
• It's a very attractive place for us to be, I think, and for you, too, hopefully.
• It's a very attractive place for us to be, I think, and for you, too, hopefully.
• It's a very attractive place for us to be, I think, and for you, too, hopefully.

Keywords: The meeting will take start back after coming out of Executive Session, 958, all

Summary: The commission reconvened in open session and announced it had reached a settlement that would avoid a full adjudicatory hearing. Counsel for Representative Gber waived the hearing and agreed to the settlement, and enforcement counsel recommended acceptance. The commission then voted unanimously to accept the agreed settlement. The matter proceeded to an ethics charge involving a proposed finding of probable cause, an agreed order, and a public reprimand. Representative Gber was sworn in and confirmed that he had seen and agreed to the proposed order, waived the adjudicatory hearing, agreed to the findings of violations and penalties in the agreed order, and waived his right to appeal. The commission accepted the agreement and stated that the matter before it was concluded. After the settlement, the chair noted that pending motions related to the case were dismissed and thanked the witnesses for attending, even though they did not have to testify. The chair and Representative Gber each made brief remarks about the long and difficult process, the complexity of the case, and the hope that it would serve as a learning experience. The commission said signed copies of the agreed order and public reprimand would be available, and then moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• : E-Verify, banning in-state tuition for illegal aliens, requiring local law enforcement to work with
• Michael Schwertner's Senate Bill 8 does that, and I want to thank him for his work to pass that bill
• We must pass these bills this session for us to consider this a win for Texas kids.
• You still have time to make this session count for Texas families and for... ...protecting the innocence
• There's still time for the Texas House Republicans to have a great session, but the window's closing,

Keywords: immigration, children's rights, E-Verify, social transitioning, election integrity, Texas GOP, legislative session, urgent legislation

Summary: The committee meeting was characterized by fervent discussions surrounding critical legislation, particularly regarding immigration, children's rights, and election integrity. Key bills such as HB2258, aiming to ban social transitioning for children, and E-Verify legislation were highlighted as urgent priorities. Several representatives expressed frustration over stalled bills and emphasized the necessity of decisive action to fulfill their commitments made during their campaigns. The urgency was marked by the approaching deadline for bill passage, with only days remaining in the legislative session. Members urged House leadership to prioritize these bills, warning that failure to act would undermine public trust in their capacity to fulfill the Republicans' campaign promises.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hoping we can provide more funding for the arts this year during the regular session or maybe before
• As I reflect on this process of being summoned here this week for a special session after leadership
• Florida and not penalize people for their good work. I'm talking about those young people again.
• Thank you for the time and for having the special session. I want to say for my comments...
• We will start reimbursing them for some of their work.

Bills: SJR36, SR8, SR14, SR15, SR17, HCR54

Keywords: accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, advocacy, legislation, business issues, memorial, law enforcement, sacrifice, tribute, community support, service, community, Holocaust, remembrance, antisemitism, human rights, education, Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorialization, sexual assault

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, guys, for what you do for Texas.
• At the Nuremberg trials, the work was done and the work was done, and the work was done, and the work
• And I thank you all for your hard work. Thank you. Senator King: ...close on the resolution.
• For his family's sake. For his family's sake. For his family's sake. For his family's sake.
• He worked first for the Grimes County Sheriff's Department.

Bills: SJR36, SR8, SR14, SR15, SR17, HCR54

Keywords: accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, advocacy, legislation, business issues, memorial, law enforcement, sacrifice, tribute, community support, service, community, Holocaust, remembrance, antisemitism, human rights, education, Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorialization, sexual assault

Transcript Highlights:

• You deserve a government that works for you. You deserve better.
• When those who need health insurance, who are working Texans, in three months go to sign up for the Affordable
• his crimes, for his corruption, and for his lies.
• Don't forget that Governor Abbott just put this on the call for the special session.
• Don't forget that Governor Abbott just put this on the call for the special session after he called the

Keywords: redistricting, gerrymandering, Texas Democrats, voter suppression, Hakeem Jeffries, equitable representation, minority communities, legislative session, political motivations

Summary: Texas Democratic leaders and members of Congress held a press event in Austin with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to denounce the Republican-led special session and proposed congressional redistricting map. Speakers, including Lizzie Fletcher, Lloyd Doggett, Al Green, Joaquin Castro, Sylvia Garcia, and Greg Casar, argued that the session should instead focus on flood recovery after the Hill Country Independence Day floods, affordability, health care, the energy grid, and other state priorities. They said the new map was a partisan and racially discriminatory gerrymander designed to help Donald Trump and Texas Republicans gain seats, weaken minority voting power, and undermine free and fair elections. Several speakers said the current Texas map is already under legal challenge and claimed the proposed changes would further reduce the ability of Black and Latino communities to elect candidates of choice. They also tied the redistricting fight to broader national issues such as Medicaid, Social Security, tariffs, housing costs, and corruption. Jeffries said Texas Democrats would not “bend the knee” and pledged support for their efforts, while emphasizing that the fight would continue politically, in court, and through public organizing. In the question-and-answer portion, Jeffries said all options should be on the table to protect Texans, but that Texas Democrats would decide their own strategy. Fletcher said the immediate priority was informing the public about the rushed process, noting that many Texans testified before seeing a map and that the hearings were moving quickly. No formal vote or legislative action occurred at the event itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, everybody, for working on it.
• ensuring payment for the work we do.
• calling a special session or for not calling a special session.
• Thank you for working with us on the amendment.
• Secondly, we have FAs working for the universities, for the state, for cities and towns, for the counties

Bills: HB2091, HB2140, HB2320, HB2384, HB2398, HB2502, HB2780, HB2918, HB2939, HB2950, HB2999, HB4020, HB4026, HB4029

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• The request, with that, puts us at a B for the people she works for. It seems like good policy.
• If we were able to ask for rates for a five-year contract, we would also ask for a three-year contract
• All this is for the teachers.
• work.
• As I said, it's currently only for state employees and for education employees.

Bills: SB175, SB195, SB196, SB199

Keywords: aircraft, tax exemption, sales tax, lease tax, maintenance, Alabama, health insurance, Medicare, retirees, public education, contracts, education, high school, community college, dual enrollment, secondary credit, Move on When Ready, parental leave, state employees, local education agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Representative, for holding questions.
• This concludes the voting for today and I'd like to thank the members and their staff for all their hard
• To my fellow commissioners, thank you for your robust discussions, diligent work, and commitment to serving
• We now have a large body of work to support throughout the [89th legislative session](link from function
• We now have a large body of work to support throughout the [89th legislative session](link from function

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:

• Because during the legislative session, this is just for members of the Legislature that are breaking
• Thank you so much for coming and testifying today. Who sets the agenda for this meeting?
• But was it a special session or was it a regular session? It doesn't matter.
• gone for two weeks, so that's half of the special session.
• a regular session and not with any special sessions.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on the discussions surrounding HB18, which aims to prevent legislators from financially benefiting when they break quorum. Chairman Shaheen emphasized that this bill addresses the integrity of the Texas legislature and responds to constituent concerns about lawmakers being absent and raising funds simultaneously. Throughout the meeting, members discussed the implications of enforcing penalties for breaking quorum and the balance between legislative strategy and financial transparency. Various representatives expressed their views, with some supporting the bill for enhancing accountability, while others argued that it imposes unfair restrictions on a constitutional tactic historically used by minority factions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, and appreciate the work Ways and Means was doing on trying to flag this issue out for us.
• We've been working on this for a couple of years.
• </c><00:18:58.240><c> And</c><00:18:58.480><c> so</c> working on projects right for us.
• And so working on projects right for us.
• It's kind of working for state support. It's kind of working in<00:37:44.880><c> reverse.

Bills: SB2064, SB2312, SB2811, SB2662, SB2744, SB2809, SB2862, SB2343, SB2336, SB2075, SB2308, SB2601, SB2397, SB2219, SB2849, SB2449, SB2781

Keywords: state architect, construction projects, design approvals, building codes, state agency oversight, government contracts, transparency, record retention, public oversight, Hawaii Revised Statutes, building permits, task force, state-owned lands, construction, regulatory process, government accountability, external consultants, procurement reform, cost efficiency, in-house expertise

Summary: The committee met for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week and took up a series of government operations, procurement, public records, public meetings, and related bills. Several measures were deferred one week to February 12, 2026, including bills on state construction projects, government accountability, gubernatorial appointments, the legislature, public procurement, and a bill on Hawaiian lei sales, largely so the committee could compare similar measures, address concerns, or integrate related reports. The committee also deferred SB 2449 on public meetings for the year, citing concerns that the proposed business-day definition was overly prescriptive and unnecessary. The committee passed several bills with amendments. These included measures clarifying UIPA applicability to records created or maintained by agencies, with amendments changing “government function” to “agency function” and committee report language noting Attorney General concerns and exempting ERS for now; SB 2811 on state building projects with technical amendments and a delayed effective date; SB 2809 on budget-related reports; SB 2336 on trees, with a Senate draft and removal of “political subdivision”; SB 2308 on small purchase vendor compliance, setting the threshold at $5,000 and adding a delayed effective date; SB 2601 on procurement, reorganizing misdemeanor language and leaving funding/FTE issues to Ways and Means; SB 2219 on a capital visitor center working group; and SB 2849 on public meetings, with technical amendments and a delayed effective date. Bills on neighborhood board concerns and public notice were also adopted, with SB 2929 drawing testimony both for and against. Testimony was generally supportive on procurement and small business measures, especially SB 2928 establishing permanent small business procurement coordinator positions, which drew strong support from the State Procurement Office, DBEDT, the Chamber of Commerce, DOT, the Ethics Commission, and others. On public notice, the County of Maui supported allowing website posting, while another witness raised concerns about accessibility, centralized notice locations, and impacts on kūpuna and people with disabilities. On search and rescue, the committee heard support for creating a statewide coordination structure, along with discussion of where such an office should reside; the Attorney General raised constitutional and placement concerns, while witnesses suggested law enforcement, DLNR, or DoD as possible homes. The committee also heard support for a bill protecting home addresses of covered public servants and candidates, though the Public First Law Center urged broader coverage and a better fit with existing law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm Gordon Wood, public works administrator for DAGS.
• </c><00:32:13.200><c> everything</c><00:32:14.320><c> for</c> it as a flat rate for everything for it
• ><c> if</c><00:32:43.039><c> you're</c> for for everything regardless if you're for for everything regardless
• Thank you for being here for questions.
• Thank you for being here for &gt;&gt; Okay.

Bills: SB2064, SB2312, SB2811, SB2662, SB2744, SB2809, SB2862, SB2343, SB2336, SB2075, SB2308, SB2601, SB2397, SB2219, SB2849, SB2449, SB2781

Keywords: state architect, construction projects, design approvals, building codes, state agency oversight, government contracts, transparency, record retention, public oversight, Hawaii Revised Statutes, building permits, task force, state-owned lands, construction, regulatory process, government accountability, external consultants, procurement reform, cost efficiency, in-house expertise

Summary: The committee heard several government operations measures, beginning with SB 2064 on state construction projects, which would create an office of the state architect within DAGS to oversee design review and approvals for state construction. DAGS said it stood on its written testimony, DECAB supported the bill, DOT supported it, and HGA opposed it. No audience testimony or member questions were taken, and the chair moved on. The committee then took up SB 2312 on government contracts, which would make records held by private contractors performing government functions subject to UIPA. The State Procurement Office, Attorney General, OIP, ERS, DHS, and HGA offered comments or opposition, while the League of Women Voters, Public First Law Center, All Hawaii News, Grassroots, and several individuals supported the bill. Public First Law Center argued the bill closes a loophole and does not expand or reduce existing exemptions, while OIP and others raised concerns about privacy, confidential information, and the need for clearer procedures. Members discussed possible clarifying amendments, including changing “government function” to “agency,” and the bill was left for further consideration. Other measures discussed included SB 2662 on government accountability, which would require justification and caps for external consultants; ERS and DOT opposed it, while the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii and Airlines Committee of Hawaii argued consultants are often more efficient and necessary for major projects. The committee also heard SB 2744 on due process, for which no testimony was received; SB 2809 on budget-related reports, with comments from B&F and the Tax Foundation; SB 2862 on gubernatorial appointments, opposed by the Governor’s Office and the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission and supported by one individual; a bill on continuous legislative sessions, with comments from B&F, LRB, and Hope for Hawaii; SB 2336 on tree management standards, supported by an individual and the Outdoor Circle; and SB 2075 on public procurement local preferences, which drew broad support with comments from SPO and the Attorney General and discussion of simplifying the preference structure. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly moved measures along after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The joint session will come to order.
• , not for the for the insurance companies, not for the people.<01:17:33.440><c> with</c><01:17:33.679
• </c> it for under $500. it for under $500.
• [Applause] We're also working to make it easier for Americans to save for retirement.
• No frontier too vast for us to conquer, no dream too bold for us to chase, no horizon too distant for

Keywords: Presidential address to the Joint Session of the United States Congress on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] [Music] e for e e e for one e e e e for morning The joint session will come to order.
• [Music] [Music] [Music] l [Music] e [Music] [Music] e e for e for for for e e for for Mr.
• let's America for the good of our nation let's work<00:58:54.480><c> together</c><00:58:54.799><c> and
• They will either show up for work in person or be removed from their job. will either show up for work
• in person will either show up for work in person or<01:01:37.000><c> be</c><01:01:37.200><c> removed

Keywords: Presidential address to the Joint Session of the United States Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at the potential for a state income tax credit for certain customers.
• There's been an issue for years.
• at the potential for a state income tax credit for certain customers.
• There's been an issue for years.
• What we do here is make sure that we have the ways and means for everything for those tax credits.

Bills: HR118, HB1039, SB436, SB442

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector, tax collector, prescriptive period, prescription waiver, interest suspension, delinquency penalties, estimated assessment, arbitrary assessment, certified mail notice, audit notice, taxpayer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:48.160><c> directly</c><00:07:48.560><c> for</c> SEAO staff work directly for SEAO staff work
• together to make this work for all and for the foster parents that this bill was addressed to.
• Thank you, Chair Frederick, and thank you for working with Mottans for Open Government, and I think this
• Thank you, Chair Frederick, and thank you for working with Mottans for Open Government, and I think this
• Thank you, Chair Frederick, and thank you for working with Mottans for Open Government, and I think this

Bills: HF3901, HF962, HF4428, HF4478, HF1775

Keywords: foster care, ombudsperson, investigative powers, children's rights, complaint process, HF4428, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, community engagement, work requirement, work mandate, employment requirement, community service, 80 hours, half-time student, income threshold, federal minimum wage, eligibility verification, benefit suspension, benefit termination

Transcript Highlights:

• I've worked at the Department of State Health Services and the Tuberculosis Group for about seven years
• I worked for the Health and Human Services. Joan Barish: My name is Joan Barish.
• I worked for the Health and Human Services Commission in San Antonio with a little over 30 years of credit
• We all are very, very grateful to Senator Eckhardt for her support, for Representative Busey for the
• Representative John Busey: ...are taking advantage of the employees that are doing so much work for us

Keywords: Texas state employees, retirees, compensation, House Bill 343, House Bill 247, Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Representative John Busey, cost of living, workforce, legislative session

Summary: The committee meeting focused on critical issues facing Texas state employees and retirees, highlighting the need for increased compensation and improved benefits. Senator Sarah Eckhardt and Representative John Busey presented new legislation aimed at addressing these longstanding problems, including proposed House Bills 343 and 247, which seek a $10,000 across-the-board pay increase for state employees. Senator Eckhardt emphasized the growing wage gap between public sector jobs and private sector offerings, which has led to high turnover rates and the loss of institutional knowledge. Public testimonies underscored the urgency of the issue as retirees shared their struggles with stagnant pensions amidst rising living costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for the Department of EMS? for the Department of EMS?
• , um, with the cabinet, and I want to thank the Office of Inspector General for working with us.
• I don't know if that's for DMS or for us.
• if that's for for DMS or &gt;&gt; I don't know if that's for for DMS or for<00:43:12.760><c> us.
• &gt;&gt; for<00:56:35.200><c> PDS</c> &gt;&gt; for PDS &gt;&gt; for PDS &gt;&gt; Like<00:56:36.320><c

Keywords: 0:06 - Roll Call 0:30 - Approval of Minutes 0:45 - OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 2:08 - FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION CABINET - OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER 2:55 - BOARD OF DENTISTRY 5:30 - BOARD OF OPHTHALMIC DISPENSERS 7:30 - BOARD OF NURSING 8:32 - BOARD OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 9:30 - EDUCATION AND LABOR CABINET - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPPORT SERVICES 15:35 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH 18:44 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, HEALTH SERVICES AND FACILITIES 23:39 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR MEDICAID SERVICES 1:01:46 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS 1:03:46 - Next meeting/adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up a series of administrative regulations from several agencies. Early items included Attorney General consumer protection rules on removal sales, health spas, liquidation sales, and nonresident sellers of visual aid glasses; Finance and Administration Controller rules on clearinghouse validation and fraud prevention; and Board of Dentistry rules updating exam requirements, controlled substance prescribing, training for neuromodulators and dermal fillers, infection control, sedation/anesthesia continuing education, and required education on pediatric abusive head trauma and controlled substance ingestion prevention. The committee also approved staff amendments on these items, generally to conform to KRS Chapter 13A, and members asked a brief question about the dentistry controlled-substances changes, which was answered as an alignment with statute. The committee next approved regulations for the Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers, Board of Nursing, and Board of Emergency Medical Services. The ophthalmic dispensers package would revise meeting and recordkeeping language, raise renewal fees, set reinstatement and apprentice-license rules, add complaint and hearing procedures, and repeal a duplicative regulation. The nursing regulations would streamline approval of training programs and require notice and documentation of site visits and deficiencies. EMS rules would create five EMS medical director certifications, set expiration and renewal requirements, require publication of disciplinary sanctions, and exempt currently approved directors before October 1, 2026. Staff amendments were adopted without objection on each set. The Education and Labor Cabinet’s school transportation regulation drew extended discussion. The agency explained the changes were intended to implement Senate Bill 46 and update references affected by later legislation, including an oral amendment to delete a subsection reference tied to KRS 160.380. The committee adopted both the agency and oral amendments without objection after brief questions about the scope of the bill changes and van transportation for students. The committee then heard a lengthy package from the Department for Public Health on WIC and related nutrition program regulations, including updates to infant and child certification periods, documentation requirements, vendor criteria, sanctions, hearing procedures, and high-risk vendor standards. Staff amendments were adopted without objection. Finally, the committee considered the Inspector General’s regulation for freestanding birthing centers, which included both staff and agency amendments. The agency changes would require two neonatal resuscitation program-certified staff, set rules for medical director vacancies and appeals, revise facility and staffing terminology, adjust transfer-agreement requirements, and allow waivers when agreements cannot be secured. Mary Katherine DeLodder of the Kentucky Birth Coalition testified in support, saying the parties had worked through concerns and were ready to move forward. The committee then moved on to Medicaid’s 1915C child waiver regulations, where staff amendments were adopted, but Lucy Heskins of Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified against the package because it did not include person-directed services, which she said are required by Kentucky law and important for families using the waiver.

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYObvNrfBcY, 2026-06-21T07:17:09+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:50 KHEAA Presentation – Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship 00:20:47 OEA Presentation – Student Achievement Data 01:02:01 Announcements / Adjournment, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdekyTiC-YU, 2026-06-21T07:17:03+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting Start: 00:00:00 SB 135 Discussion: 00:00:01 SB 135 Roll Call Vote: 00:16:36 Social Work Presentation: 00:18:06, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47