Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2955 of the 86th legislative session, transferred oversight of the specialty court programs at the
• Recommendations do not include the agency's request for $3.9 million in general revenue and one director
• The fifth legislative session, GRD account 5173, or the Texas Forensic Science Commission account, was
• Exemption from the Appropriations Limited to Revenue Collections for the Judicial Branch Certification
• Recommendations do not include this request.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House has been requested. Is there objection? Hearing none, so ordered.
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• The House of consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• The House of Consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Speaker, I request unanimous consent... Mr.

Summary: The House convened with 65 members present, approved the journal, and received Senate Bill 1221, which was referred to the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including House Bills 502, 512, 494, 531, and 542, while House Bill 570 was re-referred to Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The House also introduced a number of new bills and resolutions, including measures on justifiable homicide, copyright/piracy repeals, court-rule review, LLC formation, short-term rentals, unauthorized workers, inspection requirements, the FAST Act, rangeland improvement, virtual education, income tax changes, the parental choice tax credit, indigent eligibility, patient immigration status, and a constitutional amendment on state-owned land. House Concurrent Resolution 26 supporting wildlife crossings was filed for printing. On the floor, House Concurrent Resolution 24 honoring the firefighters and engineer affected by the Coeur d'Alene brush fire incident passed 68-0, and House Bill 515 on school notification procedures for serious bullying incidents passed 68-0 after debate over whether it should also apply to private schools. House Bill 511, which would raise the cap on fire protection charges in the wildland-urban interface, passed 46-22. House Joint Memorial 9, urging Congress to reaffirm FLPMA for federal land exchanges, passed 69-0. House Bill 518, authorizing the Attorney General to take on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions when requested by local law enforcement, passed 68-0 with support from members who said it would strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. The House then returned House Bill 522 to committee due to a clerical error after the sponsor described it as a drone-restriction bill aimed at prison security. House Joint Memorial 10, supporting the use of natural sugar in school meal programs and aligning with the MAHA movement, passed by voice vote. House Bill 504, aimed at stopping lottery syndicates from bulk-buying tickets, passed 62-6. Announcements followed on legislative receptions, an ICAC presentation, Disability Advocacy Day, a Medicaid listening session, and committee meetings, and the House adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consider supporting future legislation Consider supporting future legislation for<00:18:28.240><c> citizens
• </c> legislation as it is currently written. legislation as it is currently written.
• </c> rentals and the measure appropriates rentals and the measure appropriates funds.<01:58:24.560><c
• few</c><02:03:43.679><c> changes</c> respectfully requesting a few changes respectfully requesting a
• ><c> could</c><02:03:48.400><c> be</c> drafted, the legislation could be drafted, the legislation could

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1552, which would make the attorney general the interim chief election officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, saying it could create a conflict of interest if the attorney general were both the state’s lawyer and the chief elections officer in any related litigation. The League of Women Voters supported having some interim backup for the office, but said it was not necessarily advocating that the attorney general fill the role. Several other testifiers, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, opposed the bill, arguing the current law already provides for a prompt commission appointment and warning about partisan bias and concentration of power. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said an interim mechanism is needed to ensure election certification in a crisis. The chair also asked whether any statutory acting capacity already exists, and the attorney general said none was known. The committee then took up House Bill 2125, which would bar corporations operating under state law from engaging in election activity. The attorney general opposed the bill, citing Citizens United and arguing that corporations have First Amendment-protected political speech rights and that the bill would likely be unconstitutional. Indivisible Hawaii supported the measure, saying it would keep elections focused on the will of the people rather than corporate influence. Libertarian Party testimony was mixed: one witness supported the goal of reducing corruption but warned the bill could suppress organized dissent and sweep too broadly by treating many associations as corporations. The bill’s introducer asked whether the legislature could still enact it as a policy matter, but the attorney general maintained federal constitutional law would control. No vote was taken on either bill during the portion of the hearing provided. The committee also heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment, which would set procedures and compensation for people whose convictions are reversed or vacated on grounds consistent with innocence and whose charges are dismissed. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported the bill’s intent but objected to language assigning it responsibility for helping released individuals secure housing, identification, health coverage, and other reentry needs, saying it no longer has jurisdiction after release and suggesting the courts or a community-based contractor handle that role. The Office of the Public Defender strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the harm of wrongful conviction and the need for compensation, case management, and medical coverage after release. No action or vote was reported on this measure in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> protects</c> Nothing in this legislation protects Nothing in this legislation protects negligent
• </c><00:27:49.360><c> and</c><00:27:50.000><c> uh</c> me on the legislation and uh me on the legislation
• </c> KCTCS to develop this legislation. KCTCS to develop this legislation.
• legislative branch of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• </c><01:29:44.480><c> the</c> interdependent and requesting the interdependent and requesting the cabinet

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• assembly in Canada and is legislative assembly in Canada and is legislative assembly in Canada and is
• Appropriations come from either onetime Appropriations come from either onetime Appropriations come
• Appropriations from the supplemental Appropriations from the supplemental Appropriations from previous
• this bill will also appropriation this bill will also appropriation this bill will also appropriate
• will allow the funds this legislation will allow the funds this legislation will allow the the appropriation

Bills: HB 9 , HB 22 , HB 908 , HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c> Senate file 2754 requests the Senate file 2754 requests the flexibility<00:09:13.440><c>
• ><c> looking</c><00:36:50.160><c> at</c> what this legislation is looking at what this legislation is
• ,</c> delivered on everything requested, delivered on everything requested, including<00:45:12.880><c
• </c><00:54:30.640><c> is</c> that total town aid appropriation is that total town aid appropriation is
• 01:14:18.560><c> be</c> legislative audit commission will be legislative audit commission will be meeting

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California is joining those states by moving legislation to protect individuals.
• I rise to present SB 1237, a priority measure for the Legislative Women's Caucus.
• I started ...comments and support this bill as well and request an aye vote.
• Your request is granted. Here we are, folks.
• I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you, Senator.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation responds directly.
• This legislation requires a clear and robust legislative response that balances our short-term and long-term
• For years, we have been told energy legislation wouldn't hurt the consumer.
• The primary flaw of this legislation is that it doubles down.”
• Take a look at the timelines provided in this legislation.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters, including adopting a resolution recognizing the work of Ukraine Forward and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a number of petitions. The chamber also scheduled several bills for later consideration, including measures on unemployment insurance for fluctuating work schedules, the Medical Society mission statement, a youth training wage, bridge and intersection namings, handicapped parking fines, public-way safety, excavation restoration, motor vehicle safety, and a Newton police age requirement. Two engrossed local bills were passed to be enacted: one authorizing retired police officers as special police in Plainville and another allowing Orange to increase its Board of Selectmen membership. The main policy debate centered on House No. 5151, An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness. Supporters described it as a broad affordability and clean-energy package that would cut costs for ratepayers, reform Mass Save, speed clean-energy procurement and interconnection, return a portion of alternative compliance payments to customers, and address biomass and other energy issues. Opponents argued the bill relied too heavily on long-term programs and new administrative structures while offering little immediate relief, and raised concerns about costs being shifted to consumers, impacts on natural gas, and the pace of implementation. Several amendments were debated and rejected, including proposals to shift public benefit charges away from peak hours, pause public benefit charges for a year, require greater utility disclosure before rate increases, and add a forest-clearing penalty for solar development. One amendment to the energy bill was adopted: a consolidated amendment that included budget-billing consumer protections for gas customers, requiring notice and conservation recommendations when usage rises significantly. The House also adopted an amendment to a separate conservation-restriction bill for Hanson, changing a figure in the underlying law, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. The energy bill’s consolidated amendment passed by roll call, while several other amendments failed by roll call votes. The House observed multiple moments of silence honoring Jaden Booker, Thomas Skip Karam, former Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott, and former Representative and Senator William Q. “Biff” McLean, Jr.

Transcript Highlights:

• history and legislative intent.
• We are requesting that legislators establish a minimum guarantee to fund $80 million in state General
• And so we respectfully request your support for that request. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Here to request the committee's support for our budget request, which would establish an ongoing $80
• I'm here on behalf of Raising the Bar to request the committee's support for a budget request, which

Summary: Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration heard two housing-related trailer bill items tied to the Governor’s reorganization plan. The first item would codify the creation of a new Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency structure; the second would further streamline the state housing finance system by creating a Housing Development and Finance Committee and reserving most private activity bond capacity for affordable housing. Administration officials said the changes are intended to reduce duplication, speed awards to construction, and make housing funding more predictable and efficient. Agency leaders described recent housing investments and implementation steps, including work groups, coordination with Finance, the Controller, and the Treasurer’s Office, and development of new guidelines and staffing. Members raised concerns about limited funding, the need for better program-by-program outcome data, youth homelessness, excess sites, and fraud prevention. The Interagency Council on Homelessness presented new three-year action plan metrics, including goals to increase exits from unsheltered homelessness to 70% and move more people into permanent housing, while also noting current performance data and quarterly public reporting. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said it had no concerns with the first trailer bill, but supported the general concept of the second while recommending changes, including removing or revising the proposed 50% bond-cap floor for the new committee and adding attention to 9% and state tax credits. Public commenters, including local governments, nonprofit developers, housing authorities, and advocacy groups, largely supported the reorganization and streamlining goals, but several urged stronger protections for deeply affordable housing, earlier reallocation of unused bond authority, continued access to 9% credits, and more funding for housing programs. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the chair closed item one and moved to item two after member and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• history and legislative intent.
• And so we respectfully request your support for that request. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Second, we're requesting continued investment in the Multifamily Housing Program, which... ...requesting
• I'm here to request the committee's support for our budget request, which would establish an ongoing
• I'm here on behalf of Raising the Bar to request the committee's support for a budget request, which

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, and respectfully request an aye vote.
• So, respectfully, I request an aye vote. Great.
• And I respectfully request your aye vote. Great.
• UL Solutions is neutral on the legislation.
• piece of legislation a week ago or two.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• The appropriation over the years, each biennium, has not kept up with the applications and...
• The legislation itself in front of you doesn't make an appropriation...
• , but it's tied to the passage of this legislation.
• Pattern of our Better Health for Rural Central Texas request.
• So, we have requested...

Bills: HB42 , HB 125 , HB 1233 , HB2853 , HB3148 , HB3326 , HB3701 , HB4066 , HB4361 , HB4762 , HB4909 , HB4912 , HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• By the way, I represent Legislative District 1, if I didn't say that.
• By the way, I represent Legislative District 1, if I didn't say that.
• It's going to be future legislation.
• But this legislation has not been vetted.
• , like requests for higher limits of coverage, requests for additional insureds, third-party questionnaires

Bills: HB2128 , HB2255 , HB2397 , HB2429 , HB2591 , HB2680 , HB2834 , HB2868 , HB2911 , HB2951 , HB2979 , HB2991 , HB2996 , HB2999 , HB4001 , HB4011 , HB4017 , HB4020 , HB4026 , HB4086 , HB4088 , HB2244 , HB2342

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: homeowners associations, condominiums, open meetings, governance, transparency, Arizona Teachers Academy, teacher preparation, education funding, public schools, scholarships, teacher certification, community colleges, HOA, homeowners association, planned community, condominium, CC&Rs, covenants, conditions and restrictions, resale disclosure, association disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also whether UM is the appropriate means or whether more med pay is an appropriate means.
• Means or whether med pay is an appropriate means.
• There are 12 other states that have passed this legislation.
• I said 12 states have passed this legislation.
• I know how hard you guys work on all this legislation.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The committee first took up HB 774, which would extend required hearing-aid coverage for certain individuals up to age 26. Representative Boyer said the bill helps young adults maintain access to hearing aids during school and early work years. The Louisiana Academy of Audiology supported the measure, and the committee adopted technical amendments and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 702, which would require transportation network companies to provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Representative Landry and supporters argued that current law and court rulings have left injured drivers and passengers without meaningful coverage in some cases, especially for riders who do not own cars and therefore lack personal UM coverage. Insurance agents and legal witnesses said they cannot currently find a product to cover the driver in certain ride-share phases, while Uber representatives opposed the bill, warning it would raise fares and noting that drivers already have optional occupational accident coverage and that passengers’ own UM coverage would generally apply. After debate over costs, coverage gaps, and whether the issue should instead be studied further, the committee voted to voluntarily defer the bill. The committee next considered HB 477, as substituted, which would require coverage for prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and associated services. Representative Ebert and witnesses described the bill as a modernization of existing coverage rules so people with limb loss can obtain more than one medically necessary device, including activity-specific prosthetics. Testimony from amputees and a physical therapist emphasized the impact on mobility, work, sports, and quality of life. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably by substitute. The committee also reported HB 76, which updates oral anti-cancer medication parity rules, by adopting amendments that clarify applicability and exempt certain limited-benefit and ERISA self-funded plans. HB 903, which increases the commissioner of insurance’s fine authority, was amended to set higher aggregate caps and then reported favorably. Finally, HB 291, which would prohibit health plans from penalizing hospitals when a member of the care team is out of network, drew support from the sponsor and the Louisiana Hospital Association as a preventative measure against insurer pressure tactics; Louisiana Blue opposed it, citing cost concerns and questioning the need for the bill. The transcript ends during that bill’s hearing, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I was happy to carry the budget request for the CLF funding.
• I meant the request, the budget request that's in through Assemblymember Schiavo, not through DHCS.
• care, and the other services that my county colleagues have requested.
• care, and the other services that my county colleagues have requested.
• We get referrals from and then... and then your request, and then your request is, you want us to reject

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health began with a hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California health programs, focusing first on reproductive health state investments. HCAI outlined five state-funded reproductive health programs created after Dobbs, including uncompensated care, practical support, capital and clinical infrastructure, and workforce programs. Essential Access Health and Planned Parenthood testified that these funds have served hundreds of thousands of patients, but warned that the uncompensated care program is fully awarded and needs renewal, and that Title X and Medicaid-related federal uncertainty continues to threaten access. Members questioned who the uncompensated care program serves, why Medi-Cal covers a large share of abortions, and whether Planned Parenthood could expand prenatal services; public commenters urged continued support for reproductive health access. The committee then took up long-term care services and supports, starting with the HCBA and Assisted Living Waiver programs. DHCS reported large wait lists for both programs and said enrollment is limited by workforce and provider capacity, while LAO noted that increasing slots alone may not increase access without additional programmatic changes. Members pressed the department on whether more slots should be added given the lower cost of home- and community-based care compared with skilled nursing facilities, and public testimony argued that the wait lists should be reduced and that staffing concerns do not fully explain unused capacity. The committee also heard testimony on congregate living health facilities, where providers and a patient family described the homes as critical, lower-cost alternatives to nursing facilities for younger, medically complex people. Witnesses requested short-term bridge funding, while DHCS said it is proposing to transition CLFs into a managed care benefit by January 1, 2028, which would remove caps and expand access statewide. The final long-term care topic was PACE. DHCS explained that it has paused new PACE applications and service expansions for at least two years to reassess oversight capacity and develop a statewide strategic growth framework, while existing programs continue operating. CalPACE supported the pause as a planning measure but asked for four additional state nurse positions to reduce delays in level-of-care determinations and speed enrollment for frail older adults. Members shared personal stories about how PACE has helped family members and asked how the state will meet growing demand; DHCS said stakeholder engagement will begin later in the year and that some existing applications already in process will continue. Public commenters broadly supported PACE, HCBA, and CLF funding requests. The hearing then moved to the Department of Health Care Services’ 2026-27 Medi-Cal budget and related trailer bills. DHCS said Medi-Cal spending has grown due to coverage expansions, higher acuity, rising utilization, and especially pharmacy costs, and it described proposals to extend the current skilled nursing facility financing framework for one year while the state develops a new value-based payment strategy. LAO said most recent Medi-Cal spending growth has been driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload growth, with pharmacy spending growing especially quickly, and recommended better and more timely data to analyze the drivers. Members expressed concern about the rapid rise in Medi-Cal spending and asked for more detail on the largest cost increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• With interconnection requests.
• Or our interconnection requests.
• It would require legislation. To incentivize utilities to do it, it would require legislation.
• We need to pass a piece of legislation.
• That was a really good piece of legislation.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also removes the appropriation.
• It also removes the appropriation.
• </c> one or more legislators one or more legislators write<00:42:21.320><c> a</c><00:42:21.400><c> proposal
• </c> I don't think it's an appropriate I don't think it's an appropriate location<00:47:55.200><c> and
• </c> Madam Chair, I have one final request. Madam Chair, I have one final request.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> [clears throat]</c> requests in, excuse me, [clears throat] requests in, excuse me, [clears throat
• > uh</c><00:10:22.480><c> this</c><00:10:22.800><c> bill</c> the requests in this uh this bill the requests
• To appropriations and resolutions.
• </c> appropriate paperwork. appropriate paperwork.
• Co-sponsorship request. request. request. &gt;&gt; Please<00:57:57.040><c> proceed.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Appropriations Committee will come to order and the clerk will call the roll.
• Members, funding to address essential requests for our regulatory agencies and funding for the requests
• Align appropriations among strategies and methods of finance between years and appropriate bill patterns
• Adjust the employee benefits appropriations accordingly.
• Allocate appropriations from general provisions and general government agencies to the appropriate agency

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've just done an appropriate placement of our direct care staff.
• An area of legislation that I've been working on heavily.
• and Administration, but this legislation died.
• What you all have on slides 23 and 24 is a list of appropriations that you all, as legislators, have
• They are working with a $2.5 million special appropriation.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee