Transcript Highlights:

• So, overall, we have some cost savings to our small budget.
• At our overall funding that comes through the agency, but by and large, we get a small appropriation
• So again, I appreciate the small increments you've given me.
• It's printed off too small. Yeah, I can't read that. I tell you the one we have referring to.
• Since then, we kept the increases to small amounts because we also know other agencies are experiencing

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I did start out as a basketball coach and was that for in high school and in small college.
• I did start out as a basketball coach in high school and in small college. And I taught history.
• He's a Transportation Board member, Arizona Transportation Board member, and he owns a small business
• Transportation Board member, Arizona Transportation Board member, and he owns a small business in Nogales
• She's a counselor at Pueblo High School in Tucson, and is also a small business owner, and she does wonderful

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, for a small follow-up, although I may be answering it in my own head.
• They're all small, that tax all services: Hawaii, South Dakota, West Virginia, and New Mexico, I think
• You will notice those four states that I mentioned are extremely small and do not have the same dynamic
• and data around the impacts of 5814, and we were flooded with responses from nonprofits large and small
• From nonprofits large and small, from Aberdeen to Spokane, as well as independent teaching artists.

Summary: The House Finance Committee held a work session that began with welcoming new member Rep. Janice Zahn, who introduced herself as representing the 41st Legislative District. The Department of Revenue then gave an update on the Antio-related legislation following the Washington Supreme Court decision and the 2025 session changes. DOR explained its voluntary disclosure program and the new expanded voluntary disclosure agreement for taxpayers with unreported investment income, including broader eligibility and interest/penalty relief, but said utilization has been minimal so far because additional implementation questions remain unresolved. The committee next received the annual update on the Working Families Tax Credit. DOR reported record participation in 2025, with about $205 million refunded through October and a major increase in applications after TurboTax added the credit to its filing software. Officials said most dollars went to households with children, outreach efforts remained important, and community partners and state agencies helped increase uptake. Members focused heavily on fraud concerns, especially tax preparers allegedly filing claims without applicants’ knowledge or diverting refunds; DOR said it is using fraud detection tools, training preparers, and trying to make applicants whole, but current law does not provide direct penalties against preparers. The final portion covered implementation of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5814, which expanded sales tax to certain services. DOR described the new tax framework, its guidance process, and the large volume of ruling requests and outreach since the law took effect October 1. Committee members asked about fiscal assumptions, the scope of taxable services, and whether the department had revised its implementation estimates; DOR said the fiscal note assumed broad application absent explicit exemptions and that no expenditure revision had been made. In stakeholder testimony, Expedia and T-Mobile argued the law creates complexity and competitive disadvantages for Washington businesses, while a construction training provider said the tax raises tuition for workers seeking required certifications. School and nonprofit representatives said the tax will increase costs for special education services, arts programming, and other public-facing activities, and urged exemptions or further legislative fixes. The chair closed by noting the committee would revisit 5814 in the next session and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are small amounts; they're usually for improvements with maybe access or dry our parking lots.
• It's really small, so they want to improve something around the school, within the school boundary.
• both, meaning that school districts will still be able to come and apply, but what's isolated as this small
• I think a lot of our small rural communities have those same problems, but maybe you can elaborate.
• I think that it's fewer seats than what you mentioned; it's pretty small.

Transcript Highlights:

• After they got up and mentioned that, a small co-op in a forested region stood up and mentioned, "There's
• Last week, actually, we introduced a tool called Pyrokit, which is focused on small utilities and co-ops
• And then every time there's this arc, there's this small probability that if vegetation is nearby, there
• There's a small video on the screen here of one of these trees igniting from the high flux being sent
• Instead of investing in undergrounding that line, they decided the best approach was to build a small

Transcript Highlights:

• Small best practice changes can help increase these numbers of children placed with their families.
• Governments, LICAs are typically small rural properties located on at least two acres with no more than
• Areli lives with me. with her parents, my sister, Perla, and brother-in-law, Ezequiel, and Lindsay, a small
• This small fix will eliminate redundant filings and unnecessary fees.
• As our firefighters worked overtime to protect homes, schools, and small businesses, private fire protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Menendez mentioned the small apartment.
• Bill 2127, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, which was a product of many years of stakeholders, small
• For too long, we had local governments that were working to stop... ...to stifle small businesses and
• to keep a very small minority or one person from stopping a city or county from moving forward.
• Determined to be an appropriate deterrent for an amount of funds that would catch large, medium-sized, or small

Bills: HCR35, SJR59, SJR84, SCR30, SB127, SB317, SB324, SB457, SB506, SB511, SB529, SB547, SB584, SB619, SB636, SB646, SB659, SB715, SB732, SB735, SB771, SB784, SB800, SB801, SB904, SB1026, SB1049, SB1065, SB1181, SB1224, SB1250, SB1383, SB1467, SB1524, SB1528, SB1531, SB1568, SB1585, SB1640, SB1681, SB1754, SB1757, SB1777, SB1972, SB1980, SB2007, SB2041, SB2046, SB2050, SB2055, SB2069, SB2080, SB2119, SB2138, SB2139, SB2154, SB2201, SB2225, SB2268, SB2306, SB2308, SB2310, SB2330, SB2366, SB2375, SB2392, SB2401, SB2422, SB2480, SB2514, SB2530, SB2533, SB2543, SB2544, SB2589, SB2610, SB2615, SB2623, SB2660, SB2662, SB2693, SB2695, SB2707, SB2722, SB2742, SB2753, SB2807, SB2843, SB2844, SB2858, SB2880, SB2885, SB2891, SB2925, SB2938, SB2986, SJR3, SJR18, SB5, SB914, SB963, SB1197, SB1415, SB1437, SB1786, SB326, SB767, SB769, SB783, SB1035, SB1271, SB1619, SB1637, SB1806, SB1, SB260, HB135, HB1109, HCR35, HCR64, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SJR84, SJR59, SCR12, SCR39, SCR48, SCR19, SCR30, SCR3, SB2023, SB619, SB2742, SB646, SB1026, SB2880, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB1502, SB507, SB1434, SB1376, SB1585, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB529, SB209, SB2429, SB1999, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB584, SB1085, SB2046, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB1524, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB517, SB1200, SB1845, SB1863, SB2681, SB2200, SB2199, SB1757, SB2050, SB2458, SB2201, SB2660, SB2662, SB1065, SB801, SB2533, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB1721, SB2366, SB1013, SB2797, SB2383, SB1754, SB2119, SB2448, SB1777, SB1283, SB2392, SB2076, SB2786, SB2876, SB2284, SB2225, SB1540, SB2929, SB1972, SB2540, SB2595, SB2217, SB715, SB2330, SB1383, SB500, SB1640, SB2001, SB2080, SB506, SB2514, SB2753, SB2398, SB1241, SB2927, SB2173, SB2538, SB898, SB1449, SB2529, SB1531, SB2846, SB2476, SB986, SB1181, SB2075, SB2154, SB2864, SB1359, SB2386, SB771, SB2844, SB2550, SB1351, SB1423, SB1931, SB2245, SB2589, SB2707, SB2807, SB410, SB659, SB2776, SB2693, SB2580, SB1980, SB1886, SB1234, SB739, SB456, SB127, SB1666, SB2843, SB2801, SB800, SB2055, SB784, SB2986, SB735, SB1012, SB324, SB2926, SB2938, SB2007, SB2138, SB1242, SB2615, SB1049, SB2310, SB1224, SB2972, SB1568, SB2841, SB2885, SB3016, SB2858, SB2610, SB2139, SB1856, SB2035, SB2308, SB2306, SB2041, SB1528, SB1681, SB1141, SB2401, SB2530, SB2375, SB547, SB1266, SB1373, SB1467, SB2069, SB2269, SB2480, SB2544, SB672, SB904, SB2695, SB2891, SB2422, SB2543, SB1854, SB317, SB2539, SB2532, SB2925, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB457, SB2357, SB2721, SB243, SB1285, SB2568, SB1959, SB1442, SB1454, SB2520, SB2541, SB1708, SB1237, SB1844, SB1586, HB1392, HB22, SB1551, SB3039, SB2819, SB66, SB629, SB1015, SB2342, SB2903, SB2933, SB1965, SB2477, SB3029, SB2605, SB2419, SB1957, SB375, SB250, SB777, SB628, SB2523, SB2367, SB2703, SB2608, SB2778, SB3044, SB2965, SB2521, SB865

Keywords: spaceports, tax-exempt bonds, aerospace investment, Texas space economy, Federal legislation, education funding, Texas State Technical College System, capital projects, infrastructure, higher education, tax exemption, property tax, homestead, fire damage, constitutional amendment, Birding Capital, Matagorda County, wildlife, conservation, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in favor of this bill, and there's um There's a few reasons, um, Captain Small, Commander Small,
• to simply be able to acknowledge that those are education dollars, that that is an extraordinarily small
• We've got a small cemetery in one of our towns, rural towns that, uh, is a perpetual care cemetery.
• The issue is any time you have a small class of folks in the retirement, any retirement system, um, who

Transcript Highlights:

• Because sometimes we have these concepts, but then it's a very small amount that the homeowner even sees
• This would devastate small counties like Nassau County.
• I am a small business... Thank you. I am a small business owner in White Springs.
• couldn't the county overall handle their needs better than simply establishing or keeping up with a small

Summary: The State Affairs Committee met with a quorum present and took up several measures. It first considered HJR 1215, an ad valorem tax exemption for farmers and agricultural lands. The committee adopted an amendment making technical changes and removing a requirement that implementing language be set by general law. Several agricultural and business groups supported the measure, and it was reported favorably by a vote of 22-4. The committee then heard CS for CS for HB 1169, a bill revising water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and business practices, including restrictions on lobbyist expenditures and additional budget disclosures. An amendment removing the statutory section on management review teams was adopted after debate over whether those teams were still useful. The bill was reported favorably 19-8-7. Members then debated PCS for CS for HB 1221, which would redirect local option tourist development tax revenues toward property tax relief and give counties more control over certain local taxes. County, tourism, beach preservation, and hospitality groups opposed the bill, warning it would weaken tourism marketing, beach renourishment, and local services, while supporters argued it would provide property tax relief and accountability. The bill passed 14-12. Finally, the committee considered HB 4079, which would dissolve the town of White Springs. The sponsor and supporters described years of mismanagement, intimidation, and illegal conduct, while opponents argued dissolution was an extreme step and pointed to the ongoing election and other remedies. After extensive public testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 19-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• force of the US Army, and creating specialty license plates commemorating their service would be a small
• So out of the entire claims population, we're talking about a very small sliver of the veteran claimant
• Uh, so I think the private bar offers something that could really benefit veterans in a very select small
• You know, a very small sliver of the cases. So I hope I answered your question.
• Um, whenever you say very small number of complex cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• It did go to the policy committee where they added a small appropriation back into it.
• The concern of your Appropriations Committee was that small appropriation.
• And then our individual small business owners, those employees that are getting their health insurance
• And then our individual small business owners, those employees that are getting their health insurance
• There are also some small technical changes in the amendment.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rio Dell is a small town of 3,400 residents in Humboldt County with a median household income of $36,000
• Rio Del is a small town of 3,400 residents in Humboldt County with a median household income, small town
• All of the weapons we have to keep wildfire small, none are more effective than overwhelming suppression
• Fire is small. None are more effective than overwhelming suppression on initial attack.

Summary: The Emergency Management Committee met to adopt its rules and hear a series of disaster- and public safety-related bills. Several measures were placed on consent and approved, including bills sending items to Appropriations, Natural Resources, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. AB 262, by Assembly Member Caloza, proposed a California Individual Assistance Act to create a state grant program for disaster-related costs when federal aid is unavailable; supporters cited Rio Dell’s earthquake recovery as an example, while some members raised concerns about eligibility, cost, and whether the bill could aid undocumented residents. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote. AB 549, by Assembly Member Gabriel, would create an interagency coordination framework for major sporting events such as the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics, with supporters emphasizing public safety and anti-trafficking planning. An opposition witness argued the bill could be used to justify prostitution arrests and misuse trafficking funds, but the committee members largely supported the coordination concept, and the bill passed 6-0 to Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism. AB 270, by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris, would establish a three-year pilot for autonomous aerial firefighting helicopters overseen by the Orange County Fire Authority; supporters described it as a way to extend wildfire response into conditions where crewed aircraft are limited, and the bill passed 6-0 to Privacy and Consumer Protection. Later, AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, sought to require Ventura County water districts in high fire-risk areas to top off tanks during red flag warnings, maintain backup generators, and harden critical water infrastructure. Water agencies opposed the bill unless amended, citing cost, flexibility, and liability concerns, while the author argued the requirements were necessary after failures during the Thomas Fire; it passed 6-1 to Utilities and Energy. AB 615, by Assembly Member Davies, required emergency response plans to be submitted with initial applications for battery energy storage and other energy facilities and to be reviewed with local responders; it passed 7-0 to Utilities and Energy. AB 1075, concerning privately contracted firefighters, also passed on consent to Natural Resources. Finally, AB 1143, by Assembly Member Bennett, would create a voluntary statewide home hardening certification program through the State Fire Marshal; supporters called it a best-practices approach to reduce wildfire losses and insurance risk, and it passed to Natural Resources. The committee then completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned after all bills were moved out.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the risk of bringing data to a mud fight, the reality is not that a small handful of hand-picked judges
• And what makes the universal injunction different is you have a very small case and a remedy that's for
• I'm just a, I'm a small town lawyer, that's what I was, White River Junction.
• And so, you know, I — that's a small data set, and I don't want to overstate it.
• It's a small number I would I would think it would be a dozen give or take it's not large. 27 actually

Keywords: universal injunctions, legislative reforms, judicial authority, executive power, balance of power, judicial overreach

Summary: During this meeting, the committee focused on the implications of universal injunctions, which have become a significant concern in recent years. The discussion centered around various legislative proposals aimed at addressing the perceived overreach of district judges who issue nationwide injunctions that affect policies across the entire country. Several members expressed the belief that such injunctions undermine judicial authority and disrupt the balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches. Expert witnesses testified about the historical context of universal injunctions and the necessity for reforms that would limit the power of courts to grant remedies benefitting non-parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, as I understand it, it's a small business owner owned an auto automotive repair shop in the city
• If I'm a small, and I am a small business owner, and there are many other people up here that are as
• So like small cities, and we've had several come testify before this committee and other bills, um, would
• fails to provide adequate notice, transparency, and protection for our property owners, developers, small

Bills: HB24

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not unusual in small schools for there to be only one teacher in a grade level, or perhaps one teacher
• Allowing districts to have virtual options is huge, especially for small school districts.
• Small things, but we really do believe that they would make a big difference.
• And in a small school like Grandview... The place that they would probably wind up being is ISS.
• It's such a small number of students. It really is.

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• You have landowners, large, medium, and small, who are farmers.
• We are requesting one small, tiny amendment on page one, line 30, that suggests the plans include or
• We are<00:31:14.159> requesting<00:31:14.880> one<00:31:15.279> small<00:31:15.840
• > tiny<00:31:16.159> amendment are requesting one small tiny amendment are requesting one
• small tiny amendment on<00:31:17.360> uh<00:31:17.840> page<00:31:18.240> one<00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They help small businesses get off the ground. They help first-time homebuyers finance mortgages.
• They help small farmers stay afloat, and so much more, all while meeting the unique needs of the communities
• flow out of community banks into the stable coin market, leaving fewer funds available for lending to small
• This could have a drastic impact on Community Bank's ability to lend to... small businesses, to serve
• to assess. assess the impact of the GENIUS Act on community banks' ability to serve households and small

Bills: SB875

Keywords: banking regulation, federal agencies, reputational risk, financial services, supervision, FIRM Act, bank supervision, depository institutions, federal banking agencies, FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, CFPB, credit unions, Operation Choke Point, financial discrimination, safety and soundness, supervisory guidance, examination manual

Summary: This meeting focused on the markup of the Genius Act and the FIRM Act, two significant pieces of legislation addressing stablecoin regulation and the financial industry's regulatory framework. The Chairman noted the importance of providing clarity to the digital asset community and protecting American consumers, while also promoting innovation and competition within the financial sector. Members of both parties expressed varying viewpoints, with some highlighting concerns related to national security and the potential risks associated with stablecoins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grew up in a small town of Mineral Wells, about an hour west of Fort Worth.
• Galvestonian. generation born on the island and what makes Galveston unique is that actually in our small
• recent audit that was performed. where they found that the entire system, with the exception of one small
• if they have to replace the doors, a large school district can have that done. in a week, where a small
• What percentage we say is below the standard today then a very small portion that are that are below

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're talking about is small-dollar contributions at this point, under $200.
• And so what this would do is say if our concern is we want to make sure that campaigns are fueled by small
• campaigns<00:20:31.000> are<00:20:31.120> fueled<00:20:31.559> by<00:20:31.679> small
• <00:20:32.000> donors<00:20:32.559> in campaigns are fueled by small donors in campaigns
• are fueled by small donors in our<00:20:33.360> communities<00:20:33.880> and<00:20:34.039

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• looking at utilizing those 5 acres is we have amazing programs currently at the department towards small
• > towards currently at the department of a towards currently at the department of a towards small
• 24.159> have<00:03:24.239> our<00:03:24.400> Kentucky<00:03:24.799> proud small
• farmers we have our Kentucky proud small farmers we have our Kentucky proud program<00:03:25.360>
• I've experimented with canola, buckwheat, and other small crops to try to see how they would do, and

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard extended testimony from Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell and several senators about using agriculture economic development funds to make Kentucky farms more profitable and attract related businesses. Discussion focused on expanding markets for corn, soybeans, beef, dairy, and other products through biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel, feedlots, processing plants, transportation, and other infrastructure that would keep more value in-state. Members also discussed the profitability pressures on farmers, high land prices, and the need for small-farm support and aggregation programs such as Kentucky Proud, BCAL, KOAP, CAP, food-is-medicine efforts, LFPA, and farm-to-school initiatives. Senators raised specific ideas and concerns, including raw milk and food-freedom innovation, support for 5-acre and other small farms, and the possibility of a beef processing plant in Kentucky. Shell said raw milk testing is not currently a department function but could be explored with legislative direction, and he emphasized that Kentucky must first prove it can feed cattle at scale before a processor is likely to locate here. He also argued that changing conditions in the West and Midwest, including water limits, workforce shortages, and regulatory pressure, could make Kentucky increasingly competitive for beef processing and feedlot operations. Several senators shared personal farming experiences to underscore the difficulty of making a living in agriculture and the need for off-farm income or value-added businesses. They cited examples such as grain storage, dairy products, chicken and hog operations, and restaurant or rental income supporting farm operations. Commissioner Shell said the fund is intended to fill gaps and attract businesses that need Kentucky agricultural products, creating premium markets and more local jobs. After questions concluded, the committee took up the bill, with a motion by Senator Richardson and a second by Senator Nunn. The roll call was taken, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee then moved to adjourn.