Transcript Highlights:

• Are you just teaming it? Yeah, it's not teaming, I'm sorry, I just put it down. That's what it was.
• We were basing it off of like, oh, any guest that has this, we don't put it down because it's gonna be
• McDermott has transformed the Witte Museum and has given it a modern makeover that achieves the dream
• It does not affect your judges, and it does not come out of the state budget; it's up to your county
• This is taking EDAP back to its original constitution where it is a 90% share.

Bills: HJR99 , HB1399 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HCR35 , SB14 , HB 12 , HB1522 , HB422 , HB675 , HB204 , HB748 , HB912 , HJR99 , HB1399 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HCR35 , HCR123 , HCR124 , HR57 , HR87 , HR111 , HR228 , HR230 , HR322 , HR624 , HR625 , HR626 , HR627 , HR628 , HR630 , HR631 , HR634 , HR635 , HR636 , HR637 , HR638 , HR639 , HR640 , HR645 , HR646 , HR648 , HR649 , HR651 , HR652 , HR653 , HR654 , HR664 , HR665 , HR668 , HR675 , HR676 , HR678 , HR679 , HR680 , HR683 , HR686 , HR688 , HR689 , HR694 , HR695 , HR697 , HR698 , HR699 , HR472 , HR622 , HR632 , HR633 , HR643 , HR655 , HR657 , HR660 , HR661 , HR662 , HR663 , HR667 , HR670 , HR674 , HR681 , HR682 , HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• Good, it says good morning on my talking points, but it's actually good afternoon.
• , and for various different reasons, they don't make it out.
• And then the last thing is we also want to shore up our social safety net as it is threatened by our
• It gets better, Mr. Fong. It gets better. I will say Mr. Fong is one of the best bill packages.
• AB 2653, Lee, Modern Foundation models report, held in committee.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:06.600><c> they</c> cost it could be that it you know they cost it could be that it you know
• c> and help to administer it so it it would and help to administer it so it it would have<00:30:20.840
• it it does sound that's being done and it it does sound like<00:32:52.720><c> a</c><00:32:52.840><c>
• it would would it like this is that it would would it would<00:32:58.679><c> sort</c><00:32:58.880><c
• ><c> it</c> my home um is it not considered would it my home um is it not considered would it not<01:

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> believe it. believe it.
• </c> rates and it doesn't it does two things. rates and it doesn't it does two things.
• I would move unit 5901, IT systems modernization license and product support, a reduction in general
• It is It is out Uh food lockers help.
• And it it would apply to unit 0401.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:15:57.120><c> Uh</c> have it. Uh have it.
• <c> also</c><01:38:46.080><c> um</c> it updates dates but then it also um it updates dates but then it
• PGT is problematic as it can lead to modern-day eugenics.
• Maybe you can work it out. And if you can't work it out, bring it here.
• And if you can't work it work it out.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> thought I got it. thought I got it.
• Let’s keep it up. We’ve got it here.
• It's a federal program, and it's a federal tax reduction. for being awarded it that it it it is it for
• being awarded it that it it it is it is<01:55:30.480><c> creating</c><01:55:30.880><c> that.
• 02:04:12.639><c> nonprofit</c><02:04:13.199><c> or</c> it said it means a nonprofit or it said it means

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you pass this bill, it would make it even worse.
• </c> this bill, it would make it even worse. this bill, it would make it even worse.
• </c><00:56:59.920><c> whether</c> control its costs it may revisit whether control its costs it may revisit
• It just seems like right now without it.
• So it wasn't in this this one. So but it So it wasn't in this this one.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 2694 SD2, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to create automatic adjustment mechanisms for water carriers, including a water carrier inflationary cost index, and to waive certain requirements under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Testimony was sharply divided. The Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and several shipping, harbor, labor, and business-related supporters argued the bill would modernize regulation, reduce the need for large catch-up rate cases, and help keep rates aligned with rising costs. Young Brothers said its current rate-setting process is expensive and delayed, and that annual adjustments with guardrails such as a 5% cap and periodic full reviews would support sustainable operations and the state’s supply chain. Some supporters also said the company’s less-than-container-load service and required inter-island routes create costs that are not fully covered by current rates. Opponents, including the Consumer Advocate, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, restaurant and chamber groups, and other businesses, argued the bill would lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses and should not move forward. Several testified that shipping costs already significantly affect pricing and that automatic increases would worsen the cost of living. The Consumer Advocate said Young Brothers should focus on cost control and implementing its business plan rather than automatic rate increases. The Maui Chamber and others pointed to a recent PUC decision that imposed a two-year stay on rate increases and said the bill would undermine that protection. Some opponents urged the committee to defer to the PUC’s regulatory authority. The PUC explained that it regulates water carriers as public utilities under existing statute and said it had recently approved a temporary rate increase while imposing a two-year stayout period on further increases, with emergency relief still possible. PUC members said they were still examining whether they have authority to adopt the proposed WICI mechanism by rule and wanted legislative clarity. In response to questions, the PUC said it prefers the current two-year stayout as reflected in its order. Young Brothers also clarified that it serves less-than-container-load cargo, that some routes and services are cross-subsidized because they are not profitable, and that an independent observer is being put in place to monitor implementation of its updated business plan. The transcript ended with the committee still taking questions; no final vote or disposition on the bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• given to it as it relates to other properties that's around it.
• All right, let's get it on. It does, it does. It matters.
• , and then spent hours working with it, on it, and through it.
• We must call it what it truly is.
• Is it JEA? Is it DEP? Is it taxpayers?

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:07:15.080><c> ton</c> got reimbursed for it um it wasn't a ton got reimbursed for it um it wasn't
• it and use it how you want.
• it and use it how you want.
• it and recoup it on the back end.
• it and recoup it on the back end.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:14.400><c> stood</c> democracy because it um it it has stood democracy because it um it it has
• But it it seems like a lot. know. But it it seems like a lot.
• Um it it clean air, clean water.
• , it strips it strips And and by the way, it strips it strips each<01:15:55.199><c> citizen</c><01:15
• So if we're going to do it, it should be, I think it should be...

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> and then amended it in 2021 it has and then amended it in 2021 it has helped<00:35:42.480><c> women
• </c> don't trust it I'm not going to buy it don't trust it I'm not going to buy it if<00:57:18.400><c
• it I need it birthday cake can you make it I need it next<01:08:58.839><c> week</c><01:08:59.600><c>
• to</c> safe time is so it it wouldn't have to safe time is so it it wouldn't have to be<01:25:55.560
• It used to be 600 or 3, uh, was it?

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It which is uh framework around it.
• it makes it very difficult for it to be it makes it very difficult for it to be obtained<00:04:58.720
• Um, no, it going to roll with it.
• </c><00:36:47.440><c> It</c><00:36:47.599><c> was</c> Is it just technical? It it is.
• It was Is it just technical? It it is.

Bills: HF2233 , HF1999 , HF1995 , HF1614 , HF2781 , HF1775 , HF1316 , HF2127 , HF2521 , HF689 , HF2380 , HF1273

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• That's how you do it. something. That's how you do it.
• It really And it's worth reading it.
• If it were to have to wait until that fund was so low that it was it.
• It was it.
• </c><01:27:11.840><c> it</c> some people might think about it. it some people might think about it. it

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it big bang, but try to do it in pieces. it big bang, but try to do it in pieces.
• it can be retold for it.
• </c> you see it on the low side, when is it you see it on the low side, when is it bad?
• Uh but finally it it it could.
• It it has. Uh, and it it's a &gt;&gt; Yes, sir. It it has.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:03 Approve Minutes from July 10, 2025- 00:02:41 Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System Testimony- 00:03:38 Investment of State Funds- 00:46:13 Department of Juvenile Justice Update- 1:11:34 Adjournment- 1:54:08, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed a new member, approved the July meeting minutes, and then took up testimony on the statewide emergency responder voice system, also described as the state police radio system replacement project. John Hicks, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet and state budget director, testified that the project is unusually complex because it combines multiple IT replacements, land acquisition, and tower construction. He said the existing system dates to the early 1970s and that the administration is treating the project as a priority, with work proceeding in phases and weekly coordination among the Justice Cabinet, Kentucky State Police, and Finance and Administration Cabinet. Hicks said the project has already spent about $110 million, with nearly 1,900 portable radios acquired, microwave replacement completed at 56 sites and underway at 76 more, and routers, switches, and network upgrades addressed. He explained that because the State Police are not set up to handle real property work, the administration brought in outside real property consulting vendors through an RFP, and three vendors are now qualified to help identify and negotiate sites. He said the goal is to speed up land acquisition and tower construction while the State Police continue the technology work, and he emphasized that the project is intended to close coverage gaps for state police first and later benefit local governments and other first responders. Members of the committee expressed concern about the project’s cost and pace. Representative Petri noted that about $218.8 million has been authorized since 2018 and questioned whether the project could stretch into 2030 or later, asking what more the General Assembly could do to help. Representative Blandon also raised concerns about the long timeline and the risk of the project becoming another costly, delayed infrastructure effort, while asking when the vendor RFP was completed and whether any sites had been acquired since then. Representative Sharp asked whether there was a detailed plan and timeline, and Hicks responded that the technology side is well defined but the property acquisition side must proceed site by site because each location depends on ownership, access, power, and other factors. Hicks said the west-to-east phasing has been a smart approach and that the executive branch should improve performance to beat the current timeline expectations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it it it makes it difficult.
• it and sell it up to 70, then I can dump it and sell it to<00:12:16.720><c> all</c><00:12:16.880><c>
• </c> that's what what it cost to push it up. that's what what it cost to push it up.
• And it makes it difficult.
• </c> it harder than it already is. it harder than it already is. Senator<01:37:58.320><c> Wiklund.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While we applaud the state's efforts to modernize its existing laws and further promote the safety and
• </c><00:43:09.960><c> its</c> state's efforts to modernize its state's efforts to modernize its existing
• It simplifies it for the counties, and it simplifies it to one state plan to be reviewed to make sure
• It simplifies it for the counties, and it simplifies it to one state plan to be reviewed to make sure
• my</c> with intention and it it um it is not my with intention and it it um it is not my normal<01:48

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> know that we mean it and it isn't just know that we mean it and it isn't just something<00:15:08.880
• And that that competitive it is it?
• </c> it for now. it for now.
• It was eight weeks to get it done.
• it. What it does milk is great, right? it.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They want it to be able so that it won't fire.
• </c><03:14:20.800><c> is</c> the modern age that it basically is the modern age that it basically is
• It weakens it. Litigation is a certainty.
• </c> it? Thank you. it? Thank you.
• It means they may be forced to do it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was finance. remember. It was finance.
• </c> &gt;&gt; we'll get to it. We'll get to it. &gt;&gt; we'll get to it. We'll get to it.
• We don't do it anymore, so there it is. It is part of the issue.
• </c> have checked it. My office checks it. have checked it. My office checks it.
• </c> maintain it. maintain it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to review and amend the minutes from its previous meeting, correcting the date, several spelling and wording errors, and clarifying references to a scholarship fund and a member’s title. The minutes were then approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair then turned to the commission’s work plan under SB 57, emphasizing the need to prioritize the statutory topics and identify which issues require additional research, documentation, and possible spreadsheets. Members discussed a broad range of special education cost drivers and policy questions, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, whether referrals increased after COVID school closures, intervention processes before referral, the cost of services required under IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal law, state law, and DOE rules, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, district sharing of resources, dispute resolution, graduation rates, and adult learning outcomes. Several members raised concerns that school environments, mental health, bullying, and possible overidentification may be contributing to rising special education numbers and costs, while others cautioned that some reported district percentages may be inflated or unclear because of how the data are counted. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid when state appropriations are insufficient and require the governor to draw a warrant to cover shortfalls. Representative Ames explained that the bill had been recommended for interim study because the commission is already examining special education costing, and he highlighted the gap between FY24 special education costs of about $977.1 million and state aid of $33.9 million for catastrophic aid, $67.4 million for differentiated aid, and $50.8 million in federal IDEA funds, leaving local districts to cover about $825.1 million. He argued the commission should ultimately make clear that both the federal government and the state should contribute more. The Department of Education, through Melissa White, answered questions about data and oversight. She said special education counts come from IEPs entered into the state system using SASIDs, that DOE monitors districts through both desk audits and on-site visits, and that billing is checked against the services listed in each student’s IEP. She also said DOE’s special education work is largely federally funded, with roughly $56.7 million received through IDEA this year and about $49.1 million flowing through to LEAs, while the department retains a small amount for administration and statewide support activities. Members also discussed how adequacy calculations use special education counts from the state system and how those figures are reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was finance. remember. It was finance.
• </c> &gt;&gt; we'll get to it. We'll get to it. &gt;&gt; we'll get to it. We'll get to it.
• </c> have checked it. My office checks it. have checked it. My office checks it.
• </c> maintain it. maintain it.
• Um it was it was a in the school.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to approve the November 21, 2025 minutes, making several clerical corrections before adopting them as amended. The edits included adding the date, correcting a misspelled name, clarifying references to a scholarship fund representative’s title, removing an incorrect “DOE” reference, and fixing a few wording errors. The minutes were approved with one abstention from members who were absent. The bulk of the meeting focused on organizing the commission’s work under SB 57 and identifying which special education cost issues should be prioritized for research and reporting. Members discussed a long list of topics, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, increases in referrals since school closures, interventions before referral, costs of non-medically necessary services in IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal and state requirements, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, dispute resolution, Medicaid and insurance use, graduation rates, and adult learning participation. Several members emphasized the need to combine or narrow topics and to gather better data before the report due July 1, 2026. Representative Ames highlighted HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid payments when state appropriations fall short, and explained that the Education Funding Committee recommended interim study. He argued that local districts are bearing too much of the cost and that the state and federal governments should provide more support. Other members raised concerns about rising special education identification rates, possible overidentification, school climate and mental health factors, bullying, staffing, speech therapy access, and residential placements. One member cautioned that DOE website numbers may be inflated or at least difficult to interpret because of how students are counted. Department of Education staff then explained how special education data and costs are monitored. They said student counts are tied to IEPs and SASIDs in the state system, districts are checked through both desk audits and on-site monitoring, and billed services are compared against IEP requirements. They also described IDEA funding, noting that most DOE special education staffing is federally funded, with a large share of federal money flowing through to local education agencies and the remainder supporting administration, monitoring, and training initiatives. Members discussed whether more staff and more robust oversight would improve accuracy and accountability.