Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the bill strengthens the Department of Health's education program for the care and treatment
• And financing of our own Medicaid program.
• Medicaid program.
• Medicaid program.
• This is the associated public records exemption.

Bills: S0688, S1414, S0186, S0902, S0196, S1574, S0878, S1092, S1032, S1684, S1686, S1760

Keywords: cytomegalovirus, education, maternal health, newborn care, infectious diseases, student health, epilepsy, seizure disorders, school safety, training requirements, medical marijuana, low-THC cannabis, neurofibromatosis, healthcare, state regulations, child care facilities, public safety, grant program, uterine fibroids, health database

Summary: The committee took up several health-related bills and confirmations. It first heard SB 1414 on congenital cytomegalovirus education, which would require the Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials to expectant and new parents through maternity, prenatal, newborn, and OB-GYN settings; an amendment removed a section on required instruction for medical professionals, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee then approved a block of appointees on tabs 2 through 7 and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after her testimony on Medicaid accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, rural health, behavioral health, and the state’s technology modernization efforts. Senators asked Harris about Hope Florida, Medicaid redeterminations, the CORE project, an anti-marijuana ad campaign at DCF, and compliance with a federal Medicaid-related court order; she said she would follow up on some issues. The confirmation was recommended favorably, with Senator Berman voting no. The committee next passed SB 186 on student health and safety, which expands epilepsy and seizure-disorder training requirements to more school personnel, including bus drivers and charter school staff, and requires seizure-first-aid posters and updated Department of Health education efforts. It also approved SB 902 on Department of Health issues after amendments narrowed the bill’s scope and added provisions on medical marijuana regulation, early childhood intervention, practitioner accountability, and autism workforce development; one speaker raised concerns about marijuana dispensary location restrictions and low-THC ratios. SB 196 creating a uterine fibroid research database was also reported favorably after an amendment protecting patient privacy; the bill drew emotional testimony from a patient describing severe symptoms and the need for more research. SB 688 on naturopathic medicine was approved after committee discussion about scope of practice, referral obligations, and whether naturopathic care should be adjunctive to conventional medicine; supporters described complementary care and access issues, while opponents worried about delayed treatment for serious disease. Later, the committee passed SB 1574, “Maddie’s Law,” to add biliary atresia screening to newborn screening using the same blood specimen already collected at birth and to launch an education campaign; parents of a child affected by the disease testified that earlier screening could have prevented severe harm. SB 878 on clinical laboratory personnel was reported favorably to address staffing shortages by allowing Florida to rely more directly on federal CLIA standards for qualified lab workers. SB 1092 on podiatric medicine was approved after an amendment narrowed it to cellular/tissue-based products and podiatrists’ use of certain therapies; the bill also addresses continuing education, informed consent, and advertising disclosures. SB 1032 on medical marijuana was amended and passed, aligning physician certification and card renewal timelines, setting 70-day and 35-day supply limits, and reducing the fee for honorably discharged veterans while preserving funding for FAMU; Senator Harrell opposed it, saying the longer timeframes were too much of an expansion. The committee also heard SB 1760 on Medicaid coverage transparency from Senator Brodeur, who said the bill focuses on accountability and fiscal responsibility, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've spoken about the lack of education, knowledge, and training they have.
• I have been conflicted on this because studies generally lead to pilot programs, and pilot programs lead
• Legislative counsel can only call it a pilot program or a study.
• Ledge Council can only call it a pilot program or a study.
• They are asking for guidance on what to do and how to better educate veterans.

Bills: HB2226, HB2406, HB2663, HB2695, HB2805, HB2976

Keywords: veteran status, veterans court, treatment court, diversion program, initial appearance, arrestee processing, criminal procedure, DD-214, Department of Veterans' Services, prosecuting agency, court notification, military service, armed forces, veterans benefits, reentry, mental health court, drug court, specialty court, Arizona criminal law, pretrial hearing

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2663, which updates military leave protections for state and non-state employees by aligning statutory language with how service members’ orders are described. Representative Pena said the change was intended to remove confusion without affecting benefits, and members noted it would help protect employees called to training, deployment, or state active duty. The bill passed unanimously with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2976, a bill addressing administrative control of justice courts and due process for elected justices of the peace when state or county entities take action affecting their statutory authority. Supporters, including two Pima County justices of the peace, described administrative orders that transferred control of their courts without notice, findings, or a meaningful chance to respond, and argued the bill would require notice, a hearing, written findings, and review before such changes. The Arizona Supreme Court’s government affairs director opposed the bill as unconstitutional, arguing the state constitution gives the Chief Justice administrative supervision over all courts and that the legislature cannot impose those procedures by statute. After a lengthy and at times contentious exchange over constitutional authority and the role of elected JPs, the committee voted 6-1 to give HB 2976 a due pass recommendation. After a recess, the committee considered HB 2406, which requires the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services to study how aware veterans are of available state, local, and federal benefits and to report recommendations for improving awareness. Testimony in support emphasized that many veterans do not know the full range of benefits available to them and suggested surveys, outreach, and other low-cost methods to gather information. Some members questioned whether a study was necessary or how it would be conducted, but several said they would support it for now; the bill received a due pass recommendation by a 5-1-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2226, which requires courts at initial appearance hearings to ask whether a defendant is a veteran and, if so, to consider referral to veterans’ treatment or diversion programs. Supporters said the bill would help identify eligible veterans early in the process and connect them to services, while one member raised Fifth Amendment concerns about asking the question before counsel is present. The sponsor and testifier agreed to work on an amendment clarifying that the answer could not be used against the defendant in later proceedings. The committee moved the bill forward with a due pass recommendation, with members indicating support pending that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jennifer Pratt with the Florida Police Chiefs Association. We have Jessica Hall, waving in support.
• Allie McNair with the Florida Sheriffs Association, waving in support. Thank you for being here.
• We have Fire Chief Tripp Bars, president of the Fire Chiefs Association. Hello, sir. Welcome.
• Allie McNair with the Florida Sheriffs Association, waving in support. Thank you for being here.
• We have Fire Chief Tripp Bars, president of the Fire Chiefs Association. Hello, sir. Welcome.

Bills: S0774, S7028, S7024, S7026

Keywords: mental health, first responders, employment benefits, 911 telecommunicators, nervous injuries, retirement, elected officials, Deferred Retirement Option Program, DROP, cost-of-living adjustment, trade secret, public records exemption, public meetings exemption, open government, sunset review, agency confidentiality, proprietary business information, proprietary confidential business information, confidential records, Florida public records law

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first heard Senate Bill 774, which would extend workers’ compensation medical benefits for employment-related mental or nervous injuries to 911 public safety telecommunicators, even without a physical injury. The sponsor and several dispatchers, a clinician, and communications directors testified in support, describing repeated exposure to traumatic calls, chronic understaffing, and the need for mental health treatment and retention support. Senator DiCeglie and Chair Mayfield praised dispatchers’ work, and the bill was reported favorably by committee vote, with Senator McClain later recorded as voting yes on the bill. The committee then took up SPB 7028, a retirement bill that sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2026, leaves the 3% employee contribution unchanged, allows certain elected officers to receive a DROP payout under specified conditions, and provides a 1.5% alternative cost-of-living adjustment for eligible special risk retirees. Firefighters, police, sheriffs, and chiefs’ groups spoke in support, emphasizing recruitment and retention. The committee voted to submit the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7024 and SPB 7026, both open-government-related bills. SPB 7024 would repeal the current public records and public meeting exemption for cybersecurity information and consolidate agency-specific cybersecurity exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. SPB 7026 would repeal the current public records exemption for trade secrets held by an agency and similarly consolidate specific trade secret exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. Neither bill drew testimony or debate, and both were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program for school district local accountability plans and actions challenging Texas Education Agency
• And I'll show you right here's Mike Morath, a commissioner of the Texas Education Agency. the Education
• Associated with all of those rescores.
• Educators are not afraid of accountability.
• We have leveraged educator input throughout the process.

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• So Good Reason Houston is an organization that focuses exclusively on public education. education and
• This proposal limits parent and educator input.
• An associate principal? An assistant principal?
• HB 8 helps educators and families.
• Educators, and you'll be testifying on behalf of the Texas Department of Education on the bill.

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• You get one shot at a good education.
• OK, then I show you registered as Mike Marra, Commissioner of Education, Texas Education Agency, testifying
• Mike Moath, Commissioner of Education.
• commissioner of Texas Education Education Agency testifying on the bill. Is that correct?
• They're still educating the students.

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Summary: The House Committee on Public Education met to hear House Bill 8, which would replace STAAR with a new assessment and accountability system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The chair described the bill as reducing testing time, limiting benchmark tests, adding beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments, requiring faster score turnaround, involving Texas teachers in test development, and tightening accountability timelines and transparency rules. Members also discussed provisions on A-F ratings, cut scores, CCMR, local accountability plans, and TEA reporting requirements. Committee members and invited witnesses split sharply on the bill’s approach. Supporters, including the chair, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, and Ed Trust’s Nicholas Munyon Penny, argued the bill would reduce high-stakes pressure, provide quicker and more actionable data, limit over-testing, and better align assessments to Texas standards while preserving criterion-referenced accountability. They said the new system would help teachers and parents intervene sooner and would improve transparency, including parent access to student responses and automatic rescoring in some writing cases. Opponents, including Rep. Hinojosa and student witness Ella Moran, argued the bill still increases testing and replaces one high-stakes test with multiple TEA-created tests. Moran testified that STAAR creates anxiety, disrupts instruction, and does not reflect real learning, while Hinojosa said the House had previously passed a better bill based on a nationally norm-referenced model and criticized the new proposal as a concession to the Senate. Questions also focused on AI scoring of writing, rescoring rates, and whether the bill’s new accountability rules would be reliable and fair. The committee did not take a final vote during the portion provided, but the chair said a vote on HB 8 would be called after public testimony later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Association for Bilingual Education, known as TAVE, where I serve as the legislative chair.
• programs?
• What Senate Bill 1679 creates is the Better Building Better Future programs within the Texas Higher Education
• programs.
• Programs like Clemson Life in South Carolina and the Auburn Eagles program in Alabama have programs that

Bills: SB750, SB2995, SB1716, SB2430, SB203, SB1679, SB2683, SB1414

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, public institutions, laboratory fees, education code, financial aid, education, student support, scholarships, nontraditional education, student enrollment, financial assistance, Texas students, foreign adversaries, trade secrets, research integrity, security measures, international agreements, student privacy

Bills: SB 614, SB 872, SB 1199, SB 1212, SB 1278, SB 1573, SB 1588, SB 1602, SB 1660, SB 1704, SB 1723, SB 1833, SB 1858, SB 1946, SB 2009, SB 2146, SB 2177, SB 2373, SB 2460, SB 2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, prisoner death, investigation, county jail, law enforcement, autopsy, trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, coercion, duress, victim rights, child abuse, mandatory reporting, criminal penalties, neglect

Transcript Highlights:

• Pathways to Early Education.
• Early College High School Program, also known as P-TECH.
• education.
• Lastly, the program partners with Texas institutions of higher education. and regional businesses and
• $50 from the New Tech Program.

Bills: HB 1209, HB4746

Keywords: school funding, instructional days, education, public schools, school performance, four-day school week, performance rating, school governance, school calendar, education funding, emergency closures, school district, school operations, Texas education, public school accountability, academic distinction designation, postsecondary readiness, career and technical education, CTE, P-TECH

Bills: SB 128, SB 640, SB 672, SB 904, SB 1141, SB 1263, SB 1525, SB 1528, SB 2041, SB 2306, SB 2308, SB 2357, SB 2446, SB 2695, SB 2857, SB 2891, SB 2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, hearing instruments, licensing, continuing education, patient protection, medical evaluations, parent-child relationship, Department of Family and Protective Services, adversary hearing, protected rights, legal custody, prescription drugs, prior authorization, neurodegenerative diseases, health benefits

Bills: SB 128, SB 640, SB 672, SB 904, SB 1141, SB 1263, SB 1525, SB 1528, SB 2041, SB 2306, SB 2308, SB 2357, SB 2446, SB 2695, SB 2857, SB 2891, SB 2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, hearing instruments, licensing, continuing education, patient protection, medical evaluations, parent-child relationship, Department of Family and Protective Services, adversary hearing, protected rights, legal custody, prescription drugs, prior authorization, neurodegenerative diseases, health benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• whether a different state where they're coming from has lower licensing requirements in terms of education
• As mentioned, the bill subsequently addresses these issues. rather than looking at the education they
• We also work in the education freedom space as well and free speech issues too, but I focus a lot on
• Through this adventure therapy program, I'm getting a chance to still be Gage's dad.
• Members, if you recall, House Bill 1557 relates to a waiver program for certain veterans provided.

Bills: HCR46, HB1389, HB3359, HB5629

Keywords: commemoration, military, navy seal, honor, January 12, Nathan Gage Ingram, military funeral honors, JROTC, veterans, training, grant program, military honors, community engagement, funeral services, education grants, community service, HB 3359, veteran status, Texas Veterans Commission, veterans services

Transcript Highlights:

• Several other states have successfully implemented similar programs.
• would have the most difficulty confronting the costs associated with EPDs.
• I'm testifying on behalf of the Texas Association of Manufacturers.
• One thing I do want to note, quick programming note, sorry, Ron, with next...
• So just a quick programming note for your scheduling purposes.

Bills: HB573, HB1499, HB1768, HB3071, HB3249, HB3866, HB4112

Keywords: environmental enforcement, legislative oversight, inspection, concrete plants, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental product declaration, grant program, ready-mixed concrete, manufacturers, sustainability, concrete plant, concrete batch plant, wet batching, dry batching, central mixing, standard permit, TCEQ, environmental regulation, air quality, construction permit

Bills: SB 34, SB 119, SB 261, SB 532, SB 1035, SB 1245, SB 1247, SB 1267, SB 1442, SB 1930, SB 1948, SB 2078, SB 2112, SB 2143, SB 2155

Keywords: mRNA vaccine, food labeling, health and safety, consumer rights, transparency, consumer information, mRNA, vaccine labeling, food safety, consumer protection, health regulations, vaccine, labeling, public health, cell-cultured protein, lab-grown meat, young farmers, grant program, agriculture, financial support

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll see what the opportunities are and the public education can.
• But in short, the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Program is an infrastructure grant program
• The focus of this grant program is on improving local infrastructure.
• That includes our Justice-Involved Veteran Program, our Homeless Veteran Program provider training program
• The Assistance Program. We want that to start sooner.

Bills: HCR92, HB 114, HB561, HB 1171, HB1894, HB2026, HB2143, HB2337, HB2564, HB114

Keywords: Tuskegee Airmen, commemoration, African American history, civil rights, military recognition, veterans, mental health, Texas Veterans Commission, peer support, suicide prevention, community mental health, grant program, defense, grants, local government, economic support, community development, health and wellness, outdoor recreation, state land use

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also would establish procedures for the National Guard assistant program and various positions

Bills: SB198, SB179

Keywords: Alabama National Guard, National Guard legal services, legal assistance program, judge advocate, staff judge advocate, paralegal, military justice, military law, legal aid, preventive law, notary, notarial acts, Adjutant General, State Military Department, Office of General Counsel, Army Regulation 27-1, Army Regulation 27-3, Air Force Instruction 51-304, Air National Guard Instruction 51-504, Title 31

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires a reporting from the State Department of Education to report to the Adult Education
• educational pathway that supports their goals.
• That's not good motivation to pursue education.
• We also do integrated education and skills training.
• , so they would do the traditional GED program.

Bills: HB266, SB85, SB166, HB266, SB85, SB166

Keywords: education, diploma, adult education, dropout prevention, nontraditional high school program, driver's license eligibility, vaccination exemption, religious exemption, medical exemption, vaccine mandate, testing requirement, public schools, K-12, students, parents, guardians, higher education, college enrollment, university attendance, public institutions of higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• In our county, we have what's called a day program.
• In our day program, employees want to opt in to the state retirement system, so... ...the state retirement
• system, so this bill would allow them, at the expense of the day program or themselves, to opt into
• Because many of them are teachers, we employ them in that program as...
• We just employ them in that program as opposed to them being employed through the school system.

Bills: SB39, HB165, HB189, HB44, HB44

Keywords: board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, state holidays, Juneteenth, Rosa Parks Day, Alabama law, public observance, public works, sealed bids, bidding notice, advertising requirements, newspaper of general circulation, centralized website, electronic mail, U.S. mail, state procurement, county procurement

Bills: HB946, HB1093, SB26, SB29, SB30, SB195, SB219, SB222, SB255, SB314, SCR2, SCR22

Keywords: healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Yes, ma’am. >> Um, well, Senator, I want to thank you and I just got the real Association.
• >> Yes, ma’am. >> Um, well, Senator, I want to thank you and I just got the real Association.
• <00:23:56.320> So<00:23:56.480> the programs run by their city.
• So the programs run by their city.
• And we just think that's programs.

Bills: SB292, HB351, HB141, HB273, SB292, HB351, HB141, HB273

Keywords: education oversight, subpoena authority, investigation, State Superintendent, school misconduct, ad valorem tax, road funding, local government, referendum, Choctaw County, HB141, Alabama, state employees, salary deductions, payroll deduction, State Comptroller, membership dues, voluntary contributions, insurance premiums, financial instruments