Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you, Madam Chair, for sponsoring this important legislation.
• HB 2254 is agency-request legislation. HB 2254 is agency-request legislation.
• As you know, school districts support this legislation.
• We appreciate the work that's been done over this last year and the legislature's legislation.
• We urge you... ...we solve our differences at the bargaining table and not through legislation.

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 5808, a proposal to require nonprofit health carriers with “excess surplus” to pay 10% of that surplus into the state health care affordability account for Cascade Care Savings. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $330 million one time in 2027, while the Office of Insurance Commissioner would have implementation costs. Supporters argued the bill would redirect consumer premium dollars to help people afford coverage, while opponents from health plans said reserves are needed for solvency, claims, and capital needs and warned the bill would destabilize nonprofit insurers. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2254, which would let the Partnership Access Line assessment cover administrative costs; HCA and Seattle Children’s supported it as a technical fix that saves general fund dollars, and a child psychiatrist asked that savings be reinvested in behavioral health services. House Bill 2385, which extends deadlines for the Medicaid Access Program because of federal restrictions on new provider taxes, also drew support from provider groups seeking future Medicaid rate increases. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6286, which would increase fines on private detention facilities that deny Department of Health inspections and dedicate the fines to an account for community repair and assistance to harmed individuals and families. Supporters, including Tacoma’s mayor and family members affected by detention, framed the bill as an accountability measure; fiscal staff estimated Department of Health costs of about $395,000 in the 2025-27 biennium. Senate Bill 6006 would exempt food banks from sales tax on certain services enacted last session, with food bank and tribal representatives saying the savings would go directly to food and operations. Senate Bill 6351 would create exemptions from the new sales tax on live presentations for before- and after-school care, arts and cultural nonprofit classes, and K-12 school purchases; school districts, arts groups, and PTA representatives supported it, while asking for clarifying language and broader nonprofit exemptions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 would let cities and counties create local sales tax remittance programs for affordable housing projects, and housing builders, Habitat affiliates, counties, and city officials supported it as a local tool to lower development costs. In executive session, the committee received briefings on several tax and spending bills and then voted to advance multiple measures. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5949, which narrows a B&O tax exemption related to insurance premiums; a proposed retroactivity-removing amendment failed. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6129 on cigarette, tobacco, and nicotine taxes after rejecting several amendments, including proposals to study the tax policy or replace the bill with illicit-market enforcement language. The committee also passed Senate Bill 6228 repealing a preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers, Senate Bill 6231 repealing data center sales tax exemptions, and Second Substitute Senate Bill 5965, which retained a bag-fee approach rather than a full ban after adopting an amendment. The committee then returned to public hearing and began testimony on Senate Bill 6353, a major Working Connections Child Care bill that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, lower the provider rate target from the 85th to the 75th percentile, and make other program changes; the briefing was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, next up, anyone opposed to this piece of legislation?
• All right, next up, anyone opposed to this piece of legislation?
• So this legislation would impose a 15% cap on the ability to, So this legislation would impose a 15%
• That is not this legislation.
• I'm here to support the legislation today, and I think it's common sense legislation.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, the legislative session just started yesterday.
• So it sounds like you're thinking maybe prepare legislation for the next legislative session.
• , hopefully this legislative session.
• hopefully this legislative session wonderful thank you mr.
• For one, it's our duty at the Legislature to come up with legislation.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, this new piece of legislation...
• You're comfortable bringing this legislation to a vote.
• And you're comfortable bringing this legislation?
• Sir, we actually passed legislation to address that.
• Members on this legislative day who were excused on the previous legislative day, is there any objection

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14, HB 8, HB 12, SB 3, HJR 1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

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:

• determined that, and DMV is here, that there is no real fiscal impact relative to this piece of legislation
• During the 2023 legislative session...
• More than 30 states have already passed similar legislation.
• had our meat trailer out in front of the legislative building and they're serving up state tips.
• And she is in strong support of this legislation.

Bills: AB102, AB108, AB117, AB213, AB220, AB221, AB251, AB259, AB331, AB336, AB375, AB379, AB409, AB475, AB476, AB550, AB575, AB594, SB466

Keywords: emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district, paramedic, training requirements, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, special license plates, vehicle registration, custom plates, state revenue, transportation, public works, prevailing wage, custom fabrication, nonstandard materials

Transcript Highlights:

• You didn't see that legislation coming back again.
• are horrific cases, and I sadly have to say, I'm a legislator.
• And um I appreciate this legislation.
• Uh, legislation and budget. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Uh, there was, there was legislation introduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair and members, in the interim of the 88th legislative session.
• Relevant stakeholders and state agencies developed this resulting legislation.
• This is common-sense legislation.
• It's just an HHSC DOJ piece of legislation.
• Always liking DOJ. streamlining legislative report kind of bills.

Bills: HB163, HB216, HB721, HB2035, HB2038, HB3057, HB3153, HB3233, HB3595, HB3801, HB3812, HB4076, HB4129, HB4377, HB4535, HB4666, HB4730, HB4743, HB4903, HB5149, HB5155, HB1534, HB163, HB216

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• **Greg Owens.** Well, we've been playing the role that we're directed to in the legislation.
• **Andrew Overmyer:** Legislative Budget. Thank you. I will be working off the HEGI packet.
• Andrew Overmyer, Legislative Budget Board.
• My name is **Collin Brock** with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Perfect, okay, then put in place by I think Senator Nichols' legislation.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provisions that are in this legislation provisions that are in this legislation are<00:03:34.480
• ><00:10:44.560><c> uh</c> the communications and legislative uh the communications and legislative uh
• </c> legislation in front of you? legislation in front of you? &gt;&gt; Yes. &gt;&gt; Yes.
• . legislation. legislation.
• do you see this legislation as written do you see this legislation as written meaning<00:45:18.480><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing was on an SP 15 replace-all, non-germane amendment to Senate Bill 15, a proposal to require hard labor for certain serious offenses in the New Hampshire prison system. Representative Jennifer Rhodess, the co-sponsor, said the bill is intended to make incarcerated people productive, help reduce costs, and serve as a deterrent; she also noted a two-year effective date for implementation and said anyone who refuses hard labor would receive a 50% sentence increase. She framed the work as ordinary labor already done by many people in the state and said the committee would later hear related testimony and possible amendments. Committee members questioned how the proposal would work in practice, especially for people already incarcerated, the difference between current prison work and the bill’s “hard labor,” and the impact on prison security and staffing. Rhodess said the bill only applies going forward, not retroactively, and that the Department of Corrections could better address operational details. Members also discussed the terminology, noting that “capital murder” is not a current New Hampshire charge and that the relevant offense is first-degree murder with mandatory life without parole. Department of Corrections officials Jane Graham and Nicholas Duffy testified in a neutral position but raised significant implementation concerns. They said the department would need more resources, vehicles, security equipment, and possibly armed supervision for higher-risk crews, and noted a 47% corrections officer vacancy rate. Duffy described current work programs inside prisons and in the community, including correctional industries, kitchen and education jobs, transitional work crews, and community service projects such as road work and landscaping. He explained that current community crews are limited by custody level, court approval, staffing, and safety, and said C1 and C2 inmates are already in transitional or work-release settings, while C3 and higher inmates would pose greater risks if taken outside the walls. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is not an essential part of the legislation.
• </c><00:13:23.680><c> will</c> impact that this um legislation will impact that this um legislation will
• </c><00:13:32.639><c> down</c> cause trouble for the legislation down cause trouble for the legislation
• I think that was more the legislation.
• And I understand that's the goal of the legislation, for sure.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on SB 145, which would require sexual assault evidence kits to be delivered to the state forensic lab within seven business days and analyzed more promptly. Pamela Kyle of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said the bill was developed after survivor concerns and extensive discussions with the Departments of Safety and Justice. She explained that most agencies already deliver kits quickly, but some kits sit for months, and the bill is intended to add structure without penalties while preserving chain of custody. Members discussed the use of common carriers or courier services for transport, the need for clear rules, and whether carriers would know what they were transporting. Representative Papovich offered amendment 2025-2301H to remove the reimbursement program for police shipping costs, arguing it would add administrative overhead and was unnecessary. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, and the committee then voted OTPA on SB 145 as amended, with members voting yes on the roll call. The committee then opened a work session on SB 295, and the sponsor presented a replace-all amendment intended to simplify and clarify the Education Freedom Account bill without changing its purpose. The amendment would remove income-cap language, define priority enrollment groups, establish an enrollment cap for the EFA program, and create rolling enrollment rules. It would set a 10,000-student cap for the 2025-2026 school year, allow the cap to increase by 25% if enrollment exceeds 90% of the prior cap, and ensure current participants can remain enrolled. The amendment also provides that certain sections would later be repealed once the Department of Education certifies that applications have not exceeded the cap for two consecutive school years. The sponsor walked through the amendment section by section, explaining that the bill is structured in two phases: one while caps exist and another after they are no longer needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, legislative and conservation director, conservation.
• We've heard arguments for and against this legislation today.
• Um, you know, in, in, in 2011, this is the first time we saw any any legislation.
• And, uh, I'm, I'm the legislative chair for that, uh, for the legislative committee there for Texas Rural
• So we can legislate that. It won't happen.

Bills: HB206

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as needed further legislative as needed further legislative implementation<00:10:02.000><c> of</
• It is our belief that the legislation from last year will create clarity and efficiency.
• It is our belief that the legislation from last year will create clarity and efficiency.
• It is our belief that the legislation from last year will create clarity and efficiency.
• It is our belief that the legislation from last year will create clarity and efficiency.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Although I'm new to the legislative process, I'm not even a staff.
• Although I'm new to the legislative process, I'm not even a staff member.
• Although I'm new to the legislative process, I'm not even a staff member.
• Although I'm new to the legislative process, I'm not even a staff member.
• Although I'm new to the legislative process, I'm not even a staff member.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> County is a simple piece of legislation County is a simple piece of legislation but<00:02:31.360
• </c><00:02:59.080><c> as</c> bit about the piece of legislation as bit about the piece of legislation
• It is actually in the legislation.
• We did not change any of the legislation; if you read the legislation, it does have, after the typical
• That is the intent of this legislation.

Keywords: The previous live stream for this committee experienced a technical issue. This is the complete meeting recording recovered from backups., 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 44, “Landon’s Law,” sponsored by Rep. Candy Massaroni. The bill would allow schools to keep anti-choking devices such as LifeVac on hand while limiting liability. Testimony from Equal First Aid and LifeVac emphasized that choking is a leading cause of death for children, that the devices are noninvasive and FDA-registered, and that updated Red Cross guidance allows their use when standard rescue protocols fail or are not feasible. Lauren McCubbins, Landon McCubbin’s mother, gave emotional testimony about her 8-year-old son’s death from choking at school and urged the committee to give schools an added rescue option. Members asked questions about how the device works, whether the Heimlich maneuver remains part of the protocol, and whether the bill is limited to LifeVac or applies to similar devices. The bill was reported favorably, with a roll call vote showing unanimous support from members present. The committee then heard a bill sponsored by Rep. J. Baker aimed at reducing administrative burdens in schools and supporting teacher recruitment and retention. The measure would lengthen the required evaluation cycle for tenured teachers from every three years to every five years, provide teachers a copy of their employment contract upon request, streamline professional development provisions, update continuous school improvement plan filing requirements, restore schools’ ability to use Title II funds for certain programs after an unintended consequence of prior legislation, and require KDE to review reporting requirements and eliminate those not required by law. Rep. Baker said the bill was developed with teachers and administrators through a working group and is intended to reduce “check-the-box” tasks so educators can focus on instruction. Amanda Butler of Spencer County Schools and other educators testified that the changes would save time, preserve funding for mentor and induction programs, and reduce repetitive paperwork. Rep. Fleming asked for clarification on the longer evaluation cycle, and an educator witness explained that each evaluation involves pre-observation, observation, and post-observation time and that districts would still retain flexibility to evaluate more often if needed. No final vote on this bill was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Guns do not make legislators safer or our constituents safer. They simply make more people dead.
• Guns do not make legislators safer or our constituents safer. They simply make more people dead.
• Every single person wanted to be a legislator.
• Every single person wanted to be a legislator.
• </c> why they don't support that legislation why they don't support that legislation um<02:16:59.840>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we need to have legislative oversight. we need to have legislative oversight.
• </c> Um I know where we've had legislative Um I know where we've had legislative oversight<01:19:34.440
• oversight and the legislators actually oversight and the legislators actually participate<01:19:36.440
• So, the legislation<01:35:47.720><c> uh,</c> legislation uh, legislation uh, moving<01:35:48.960><c>
• </c> fine piece of legislation. fine piece of legislation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:38:01.119><c> computer,</c> computer and my legislative computer, computer and my legislative
• </c><00:45:42.000><c> increase</c> ELM, the first legislative increase ELM, the first legislative increase
• The bill has been legislation.
• I guess the more states that pass legislation like this, the more effective the legislation would become
• </c><01:18:10.239><c> chair</c> Library and I am the legislative chair Library and I am the legislative

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> well as the State Legislative well as the State Legislative dollars<00:21:41.679><c> thank</c><00
• </c> there do you have the legislative there do you have the legislative authority<00:30:24.279><c> to
• that the Legislative Auditor looks into, but the Legislative Auditor refers it back to us without providing
• </c> go to the office of the legislative go to the office of the legislative auditor<01:32:14.840><c>
• but the legislative auditor refers into but the legislative auditor refers it<01:32:22.199><c> back<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As you've already heard, I was the prime sponsor of the bill, and enacted that legislation.
• </c> of the bill and enacted that legislation of the bill and enacted that legislation you<00:32:36.200
• This is largely remedial legislation from last session.
• </c><00:53:00.520><c> that</c> large uh piece of legislation that large uh piece of legislation that
• </c><01:48:45.880><c> when</c> to testify on proposed legislation when to testify on proposed legislation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> you have a bill with a legislatively you have a bill with a legislatively directed<00:00:59.280>
• </c> were made during the 2023 legislative were made during the 2023 legislative session<00:25:48.600
• </c><00:42:32.160><c> proposal</c> program was a legislative proposal program was a legislative proposal
• </c> this moment without pursuing legislation this moment without pursuing legislation um<01:37:06.719
• </c><01:46:07.679><c> to</c> other uh States and uh legislators to other uh States and uh legislators

Keywords: 1183, house