Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, committee.
• We will call the Energy Development and Transmission Committee, Good morning, committee.
• rule, whatever those rules are.
• rule, that has been in place. rule as a mercury emissions control rule.
• Regional haze rule is a rule in federal parks.

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members of this committee.
• Committee, we do have a motion to introduce RS 32947.
• Chairman and committee members.
• Committee, with that, that's all we have on the agenda. I believe we're starting rules tomorrow.
• Committee, we'll be looking at rules.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So would you make a motion to adopt the rules?
• This mirrors previously adopted rules by other Senate committees. And thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Happy to be on the committee. This is my first time in the Senate to be on this committee.
• , the ACS Committee, for formal review.
• Thank you, committee. Committee, any questions for the panel? Senator West.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Higher Education met with a quorum, adopted its interim rules on a 6-0 vote, and heard opening remarks from members and staff introductions. The chair emphasized higher education’s role in workforce development and noted a Legislative Budget Board survey issue that was resolved after a community college initially did not respond because the survey was marked optional. The committee then focused on monitoring implementation of Senate Bill 37, which governs public higher education boards, curriculum review, faculty senates/councils, training for regents, and the ombudsman office. Testimony from Chancellor Brandon Creighton of Texas Tech, Commissioner Wynn Rosser, UNT Chancellor Michael Williams, and Ombudsman Brandon Simmons described how SB 37 is being implemented. They said boards now have stronger authority, faculty senates are advisory, and institutions are reviewing general education curricula and other programs for rigor, relevance, and workforce value. Rosser said the statewide advisory committee is reviewing the core curriculum and board training requirements are being administered, while Simmons reported the ombudsman office has received 73 complaints, opened two investigations, and expects a third, with many complaints outside its jurisdiction or harassing in nature. Members questioned witnesses about transfer credits, board training content, auditing, conflicts of interest, curriculum decisions, and whether any institutions were missing deadlines. Rosser said non-transferable credits have declined since reporting began under earlier law, and that the most common reason is courses outside degree requirements. Witnesses said they were not aware of institutions missing the SB 37 review deadlines. Senators also raised concerns about an appearance of impropriety in a Texas Tech-related matter and about whether a Dred Scott case should be taught in law school, with Creighton saying the curriculum review process did not prohibit teaching Supreme Court cases and that he would follow up. Later testimony from University of Houston, Texas State, UT, and Texas A&M system officials said their systems had updated policies, abolished prior faculty senates, created compliant advisory councils, and completed or were completing core curriculum reviews and related governance changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Legacy and re-referred to the Committee Legacy and re-referred to the Committee on<00:11:17.360>
• </c><00:12:06.480><c> on</c> 3414B withdrawn from the committee on 3414B withdrawn from the committee
• </c><00:13:22.160><c> of</c> to get out of its committee of to get out of its committee of jurisdiction
• </c><00:31:00.159><c> 40.7,</c> to rule 40.7, to rule 40.7, Mr.<00:31:03.360><c> President,</c><00:31
• </c> pursuant to rule 40.7. pursuant to rule 40.7.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That rule has a second part.
• That rule has a second part.
• That rule has a second part.
• That rule has a second part.
• That rule has a second part.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:16 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 25:49 Discussion of Hospital Rate Improvement Plan 58:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee began by reviewing a large slate of administrative regulations and explaining that it does not approve regulations but can find them deficient and send them back for further work. Members then asked questions on several items, including EMS reciprocity, dental hygienist licensure, and interpreter licensure. The EMS board explained that reciprocity would extend to applicants from any state, not just contiguous states, because the underlying statute had been amended. On the dental regulation, staff said the changes mainly clarified licensure requirements, reinstatement fees, and that dental hygienists administering local anesthetic must do so under direct dentist supervision. The most extended discussion involved the Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The board chair said the main concern was that the EIPA is an educational specialty assessment, not a nationally recognized certification, yet the regulation would allow it to support full licensure. Members discussed whether that could let educational interpreters work outside their intended scope and whether a separate educational license or statutory change would be more appropriate. The board said it did not think the regulation could be fixed further at this point and suggested a statute could create a narrower educational interpreter license. After discussion, the committee voted to defer both related interpreter regulations, 201 KAR 39:030 and the companion regulation, for further work. The committee then took up two community mental health regulations, 907 KAR 1:044 and 907 KAR 5:005, which had been found deficient in Administrative Regulations. Department for Medicaid Services staff said the rules would expand and rename the mental health associate role as a behavioral health associate, making the role available in many more facilities, but would also require additional coursework or progress toward licensure. Some members and providers raised access-to-care concerns, especially for rural areas and unlicensed staff already working in the field. Staff said the proposal had been revised through work with CMHCs and licensing boards, but the committee ultimately voted to defer both regulations as well. After finishing the regulation review, the committee heard a presentation from the Kentucky Hospital Association on the ATRIP hospital rate improvement program. Hospital representatives said ATRIP is a Medicaid state-directed payment program funded through a provider tax and federal matching dollars, allowing hospitals to receive payments tied to quality measures. They reported improvements including lower Medicaid readmissions, high sepsis screening rates, reduced infections and opioid prescribing, expanded postpartum depression and suicide screening, and training for more than 1,000 people. They said the program has helped hospitals invest in staffing and quality improvement and warned that without it, many hospitals would face severe financial strain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report... January 22nd, 26, Mr.
• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have read and approved
• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have printed House
• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have had under consideration
• House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee will meet Friday, January 23, at 10:00 a.m. in Room

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re-refer the following bills to committee
• Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re-refer the following bills to committee
• Okay, and I am re-referring the following bills to committee pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2: File item
• Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re-refer the following bills to committee
• And I am re-referring the following bills to committee pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2: File item 22,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Nominations will come to order. The clerk will call the roll.
• I don't know if you've got other committees you have to go to.
• May I ask the rationale for the severing so that the full committee knows?
• When I was in the governor's office, we would review rules.
• When I was in the governor's office, we would review rules.

Committee: Senate Nominations

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations met with a quorum and first took up pending nominations from an earlier agenda. Members severed Douglas McReecken, nominated to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, from the rest of the list and then voted to report the remaining nominees to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote. The committee then voted on the severed nomination itself and reported Douglas McReecken to the full Senate as well, by a 5-2 vote. The committee heard testimony from Brooke Pop, reappointed as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and later from Commissioner Katarina Gonzalez, also of TCEQ. Questions focused on whether TCEQ rules comply with state law, ex parte restrictions, public transparency, concrete batch plant permitting, MUD approvals, water availability, illegal dams, enforcement, and the agency’s role in local environmental disputes. Both nominees said they follow the law as written, described internal legal review of rules, and emphasized transparency, public outreach, and enforcement; Gonzalez said she had already sent back two rules she believed did not comply with legislation. Members also discussed TCEQ’s authority limits and the need for clearer public communication about what the agency can and cannot regulate. The committee also considered Alethea Sullivan, nominated to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents. Questions centered on TSU’s status as an independent institution, the role of HBCUs amid DEI-related legal changes, and student outcomes. Sullivan said she would focus on ensuring taxpayer and student resources produce valuable credentials and noted concerns from her review of graduation and bar passage rates. The committee then heard from Benjamin Barkley, appointed chief executive and public counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel. Barkley said OPUC’s main need is additional funding to recruit and retain attorneys and expert witnesses, reduce turnover, and continue representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility rate cases; he said the office was involved in 73 contested cases and saved Texans $2.2 billion in FY 2024. No final action was taken on the later nominees, and the committee recessed with nominations left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Establish it, the Completely Asinine Rule Termination Act.
• and allows the ADEQ director to adopt rules governing sanitary conditions.
• create the rules for licensed health aides.
• study committee on inmate mental health services.
• HB 2592, Artificial Intelligence State Agency Rules.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of House bills that had returned from the Senate with amendments, with members repeatedly noting that sponsors intended to concur on most items. Topics included public health and vaccination rules (HB 2086, HB 2248), state investment in gold and silver (HB 2140), property records and voter-registration privacy (HB 2327), municipal and county regulation of business property and development fees (HB 2460, HB 2946, HB 2999), legislative subpoenas (HB 2745), cold plunge regulation (HB 2439), nursing-facility complaint timelines and licensed health aide rules (HB 2195, HB 2189), court-ordered treatment review (HB 2923), Access/Medicaid reimbursement and prior authorization for diagnostic services (HB 2932), inmate mental health study committee language (HB 2673), prenatal development instruction in schools (HB 2830), public records requests by legislators (HB 4056), parents’ rights and social transitioning in schools (HB 2249), school district financial compliance and facilities contracting (HB 2481, HB 2482), Native American language proficiency for graduation (HB 2895), advanced math auto-enrollment (HB 2423), special education and military-family procedures (HB 2621), AI rules for state agencies (HB 2592), eviction record sealing (HB 2244), tax filing penalties (HB 2016), shade structures in HOAs (HB 2342), homelessness-related community restitution (HB 2028), medical records timelines (HB 2557), PFAS firefighting foam restrictions (HB 2641), family-court expert testimony and prisoner transition services (HB 2662, HB 2440), address confidentiality protections (HB 2594), guardianship notice attestation (HB 2661), utilities for high-load customers (HB 2756), and nuclear-ready community planning (HB 2456). The committee also briefly moved to Caucus Calendar 19 for additional bills on mobile food vendors, school board training, out-of-state travel and meeting transparency, and a medical-intervention nondiscrimination bill. Several bills drew substantive discussion or criticism. Members debated HB 2932 at length, with staff explaining that Access said the bill would have a high fiscal impact because it would require reimbursement for non-contracted lab services and eliminate prior authorization for a broad range of diagnostic services, potentially increasing costs substantially. HB 2249 also prompted concern from members who argued it could force teachers to out students and create civil liability for using preferred pronouns or failing to notify parents about social transitioning. HB 2830 was criticized as requiring prenatal-development instruction while barring discussion of sexual activity or reproduction. HB 2028, which allows community restitution instead of a $20 probation assessment for people who are indigent and experiencing homelessness, was questioned as potentially punitive. HB 2481 was discussed as a way to help, rather than punish, small rural school districts struggling with financial-record compliance. The caucus also noted that several of the measures were sponsored by Democrats, which was highlighted as notable during the meeting. No formal votes were taken in the transcript. The caucus chair repeatedly asked for questions, and in most cases there were none, after which the sponsor was understood to intend concurrence with the Senate amendments. The meeting ended with adjournment after the caucus moved through the remaining calendar items.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rules and to do the outreach programs. rules and to do the outreach programs.
• Uh Uh Uh Passing<00:18:13.800><c> the</c><00:18:13.880><c> rules</c> Passing the rules Passing the rules
• navigate, you know, the rules.
• </c><00:27:05.520><c> In</c> navigate, you know, the rules. In navigate, you know, the rules.
• </c> through our rules. through our rules. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee on rules of the two branches acts concurrently.
• The committee on rules of the two branches acts concurrently to report several Senate petitions, recommending
• Lovely for the committee. The Senate motion, Mr.
• The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended. The question now comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12.
• The ayes have it, and Joint Rule 12 is suspended.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate met briefly, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several routine matters. It considered final passage of H. 4364, an act authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant certain easements to the town of Bourne, requiring a standing vote for adoption of an emergency preamble. The chamber also adopted a resolution honoring Knights of Columbus Leo Council 508 on its 125th anniversary. The Senate then advanced two Marblehead local bills to third reading: one authorizing the town to amend its parking violations law under Chapter 37 of the Acts of 2004, and another increasing the membership of the town’s board of health from three to five members. The committee on rules reported several Senate petitions and recommended suspension of Joint Rule 12; the Senate also suspended Senate Rule 36 to allow matters to be considered forthwith, and Joint Rule 12 was suspended. The Senate adopted an order to adjourn and reconvene on Thursday at 11 a.m., with the calendar printing dispensed with. Before adjournment, the chamber voted to adjourn in memory of Edward F. Kenney of South Boston, a World War II Navy veteran and retired Boston firefighter, and observed a moment of silence in his honor.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, your Judiciary Committee, to whom has been referred Senate Rules Committee substitute for
• Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 261 do not pass, but that Senate Judiciary Committee
• Senate Bill 261 do not pass, but that Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Rules Committee
• House Joint Memorial 2, having been read twice by title, is referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
• House Joint Memorial 3, having been read twice by title, is referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to Rule 70, committees are granted permission to continue meeting business on the President's
• referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 1308 is referred to the Committee on Appropriations and further referred to the Committee
• The Rules Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 26, in Caucus Room 1.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 26, in Caucus Room 1.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nothing contained in this act, and this act is the Home Rule Charter Act, County Home Rule Charter Act
• My understanding is if they do become a county home rule, If they do become a county home rule county
• they have by being a home rule county?
• But they voted for the home rule charter.
• President, the title was struck in committee.

Bills: SJR47 , SB1491 , SB1579 , SB1806 , SB1552 , SB483 , SB63 , SB137 , SB346 , SB514 , SB1344 , SB1360 , SB1380 , SB1437 , SB1189 , SB1217 , SB1221 , SB1262 , SB1272 , SB1325 , SB1339 , SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, a ceremonial recognition of two Elgin High School students, Clayton Raoul and Leon Anderson, and bus driver Kevin McDonald for their heroic actions during a March 2 bus crash. A citation was read honoring their selfless efforts to evacuate injured students and assist first responders. The chamber also introduced several student pages and recognized visiting groups in the gallery, including Impact Oklahoma and the Ardmore Leadership Group. The Senate then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1491, requiring appointed presidential electors to take the same oath as other electors, advanced and passed. Senate Bill 1579, which requires assessors to mail taxpayers a statement of rights when property valuations increase, also advanced and passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1806, extending foster care eligibility to age 21 for those who opt in and meet program requirements, drew supportive debate about helping youth transition to adulthood; it advanced and passed as an emergency measure. A lengthy debate followed on Senate Bill 1552, which would allow certain large counties to pursue home rule charters through a voter-approved process. Supporters argued it would give populous counties more flexibility and local control, while opponents raised concerns about unequal treatment, population-based governance, rural representation, and possible constitutional issues. The bill advanced and then passed 26-18. Senate Bill 483, authorizing county-run relocation assistance programs funded by private donations for voluntarily relocating individuals, especially homeless persons, also prompted extensive questions about liability, trafficking concerns, accountability, and whether it could shift people between jurisdictions; it advanced and passed 39-6. Finally, Senate Bill 63, raising school board member stipends from $25 to $190 per meeting under permissive language, advanced over concerns about cost and then moved to final passage, with debate beginning at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> resources and legislative committees. resources and legislative committees.
• Um rules that are currently in place.
• </c> resource conservation statutes or rules. resource conservation statutes or rules.
• </c><02:05:50.480><c> So,</c> and maybe for not our committee. So, and maybe for not our committee.
• If they're not, we should committee.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got the chairman and I've got a bill in this committee next week, so I'll make sure I get him taken
• Chairman, committee members. This same bill I brought last year.
• The lower court ruled in Trussville's favor.
• The second court, federal court, ruled in Trussville's favor.
• Um when we get on rules. All right.

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you must take a call, please step outside of the committee room.
• The three-minute rule will be in effect for the rest of the meeting.
• I just want to thank the committee for listening.
• And we even did in local rules address that as well.
• Acting Chair and the committee.

Bills: HCR11 , HB153 , HB278 , HB424 , HB454 , HB455 , HB687 , HB816 , HB833 , HB942 , HB1053 , HB1097 , HB1147 , HB1148 , HB1190 , SB75 , SB85 , SB197 , SB200 , SB217

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules reports for recommending resolutions filed by Representative Puppolo, Springfield
• Rules are suspended. Question now is on adoption of the resolution.
• Report of the Committee on Rules, to whom was referred the order relative to authorizing the Committee
• Padger of Plymouth moved suspension of the rules.
• Rules are suspended. Second reading of the bill.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution honoring Massachusetts veterinarian associations and advocates by recognizing May 2, 2026, as Veterinarian Youth Day in the Commonwealth. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then reported several local and special bills for House consideration, including measures affecting Boxborough liquor licenses, a replacement plans bill, a Chatham housing trust fund, Auburn property tax abatements, a long-term lease authorization for 305 South Street East, town meeting accessibility, and Newton ordinance penalties. The House suspended the rules, took the bills through second reading, and ordered them to a third reading. The chamber then acted on several engrossed bills for final passage, including three Boston Police Department measures waiving minimum age requirements for specific officers, all of which were passed to be enacted. The House also advanced a bill authorizing North Adams to appoint retired police officers as special police officers for paid detail assignments, suspending the rules to take it up and ordering it to a third reading. In addition, the House passed to be engrossed a Marblehead bill establishing a means-tested senior citizens property tax exemption and a DCF sick leave bank bill for Courtney Cochran. The Rules Committee also reported out the North Adams police bill, and the Steering Committee scheduled it for consideration. The session concluded with adoption of an adjournment order setting the next meeting for Thursday at 11 a.m., followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee will come to order.
• This bill is predicated upon that ruling, is that correct? Yes.
• Thank you, committee, for having us here and considering the bill.
• Come and present to the committee, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and committee members.
• Thank you and thank the committee members for the questions.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the rules are suspended following resolution.
• UIL rules continue to prohibit high school students from receiving NIL payments.
• Under the rules outlined in the bill.
• Affirmative to the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
• The following resolutions by Lujan are being referred to the committee.

Bills: HJR5 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HB2143 , HCR64 , HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education