Transcript Highlights:

• existing liquidated damages cap from 3% to 10%, which would align California with some of the best practices
• And so we're trying to be able to use best practices, industry standards that are going to be able to
• Now that, we believe, is an industry best practice.
• Now that, we believe, is an industry best practice.
• So we're talking about sort of an upper, very upper theoretical limit here for something that in practice

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had an opportunity to do some practicing for next week.
• We'll go ahead and adjourn then and we'll stick around here and do some practice.
• to do some practicing for uh next<00:40:43.040><c> week.
• </c> watching us play uh uh practice games? watching us play uh uh practice games?
• </c> here and do some practice. here and do some practice.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:31.760><c> She</c><00:02:32.000><c> considers</c><00:02:32.400><c> the</c> spiritual practices
• She considers the spiritual practices.
• Chantel Freeman has been a lifelong practitioner of Native Hawaiian cultural practices and ancestral
• and protocol and we strongly um practice and protocol and we strongly and<00:08:32.159><c> happily</
• He was raised with the knowledge of traditional burial practices and has been taught to identify and

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard nominations for several members of the Burial Council and the Hawaiian Homes Commission. For Burial Council nominations, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Historic Preservation Division testified in support of Leimana Abunes, Cyrus Sito, Chantel Freeman, and Chadley Shiml Fenig, emphasizing their genealogical ties, cultural knowledge, experience with iwi kupuna, and commitment to preservation and reinterment. Each nominee also briefly introduced themselves and described their background and motivation to serve. Committee members said they had favorable conversations with the nominees and indicated votes would be taken at the end of the agenda. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 773, Shaylin Ornellas, for the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Testimony in support was strong, including 45 written supports and no opposition, along with oral testimony from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and community supporters. Supporters highlighted Ornellas’ education, real estate and development experience, public service, and connection to Kauaʻi and homestead communities. Ornellas said she was answering a call to serve and discussed her background and commitment to the community. Members questioned Ornellas closely about Act 279, the DHHL waitlist, beneficiary consultation, housing options, and the department’s “paper lease” practice. She said Act 279 was intended to help reduce the waitlist, supported broader housing options and beneficiary input, and acknowledged limited familiarity with the technical details of paper leases. One senator raised concerns that paper leases may not guarantee actual lots and urged further research. The discussion also touched on policy issues such as beneficiaries maintaining their waitlist positions after declining offers or taking rentals, with committee members noting these are commission policy choices rather than statutory mandates.

Transcript Highlights:

• It brings in all of the telehealth practice, all of the practice acts for our boards and commissions
• would be permitted to conduct practice would be permitted to conduct the<03:47:45.040><c> practice</
• </c> allowed to practice medicine in a state. allowed to practice medicine in a state.
• </c> went into all of the relevant practice went into all of the relevant practice acts<03:49:00.640>
• </c><03:49:11.359><c> of</c> here to reference that the practice of here to reference that the practice

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> standards of practice of school nursing. standards of practice of school nursing.
• I have my doctorate in nursing practice, so you can call me Dr. Lear, Dr. Nurse Lear.
• </c><00:07:37.280><c> Lear,</c> practice. So you can call me Dr. Lear, practice.
• </c> students overcome and acquire practical students overcome and acquire practical success<00:37:47.680
• ,</c><01:38:48.960><c> people's</c> data privacy, data practices, people's data privacy, data practices

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The sheeting that's used today is an industry practice, the best practice.
• Chair, well, it might be best practices for government, but it's not best practices for the people that
• Chair, well, it might be best practices for government, but it's not best practices for the people that
• The sheeting that's used today is an industry practice, the best practice.
• Chair, well, it might be best practices for government, but it's not best practices for the people that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:15.440><c> with</c> that aligns governance practices with that aligns governance practices
• </c><00:31:44.000><c> Um</c> Several business practices on there.
• </c> practices directly into K-5 classrooms. practices directly into K-5 classrooms.
• </c> These practices are working.
• </c><00:55:53.359><c> what</c> allow students [cough] to practice what allow students [cough] to practice

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• he is remarkably accessible and practical as well as being visionary.
• Thank you. because he is remarkably accessible and practical as well as being visionary.
• For decades, I repeat, for decades, it's been a standard practice to integrate the cost of repairing
• This bill updates the exempt practice settings.
• Licensed vocational nurses may This bill updates the exempt practice settings.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you kind of walk through a little bit about how that might work practically if you've experienced
• Can you kind of walk through a little bit about how that might work practically if you've experienced
• They work across state lines so they can practice and complete their licensures.
• They work across state lines so they can practice and complete their licensures.
• It will help athletic trainers practice in more states without getting licensed in every single state

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House established a quorum and then took up several bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2189, sponsored by the Jasper member, would allow five-year vehicle registrations, eliminate the old even/odd model-year registration rule, and limit the five-year option to vehicles six years old or newer. Members discussed how the bill would interact with emissions, safety inspections, insurance verification, and county tax collection systems. House Amendment 1, which set the five-year fee at $45, was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1790, a ballot-language measure sponsored by the St. Louis County member. The bill requires clearer ballot wording for local tax levies, including stating levy amounts in dollar terms, alphabetic labeling of propositions, disclosure when a measure would nullify a prior sunset, and a rollback rule tied to reassessment years and voter-approved levies. Members generally supported the transparency goals, and a drafting correction amendment adding a comma was adopted before the committee substitute was perfected and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2178, sponsored by the Pike member, drew the most extended debate. The bill would limit commercial property assessment increases to 15% per reassessment cycle, require a physical inspection if increases exceed that threshold, and require Board of Equalization decisions by the end of September or revert to the prior year’s assessment. Amendments were adopted to add short-term rental protections so assessors cannot reclassify residential short-term rentals as commercial property, to incorporate ballot-language provisions from other bills, and to add taxpayer protections requiring clearer assessment notices, faster refunds, and litigation-cost recovery in some successful appeals. The body adopted House Amendment 1 by roll call, 92-43 with 5 present, and later adopted House Amendments 2 and 3; House Amendment 4 was then taken up for further discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• But in practice, many Texans only learn about tax changes when they open their tax bills, long after
• That is the current practice, but what this bill allows is for our voters, our taxpayers, to have better
• HB16 by Leach relating to the operation and administration of the practices and procedures related to
• The civil practice section of the State Bar, for example, people who have...
• HB 16 by Leach, relating to the operation and... administration of and practices and procedures related

Bills: HB17, HB16, SB 10, HB27, HB23, SB 15, SB 18, HB 17, HB 16, SB 10, HB 27, HB 23, SB 15, SB 18

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support

Transcript Highlights:

• And that has been a problem over the years because a lot of the time, people in a busy practice don't
• Chairman and members of the committee, for 20 For 25 years, my firm has practiced personal injury and
• I am a neurosurgeon. that has been practicing since 1972.
• I'm not talking about prices; I'm talking about practices. That's how they set those prices.
• Because I can't run my practice on it. It's unsustainably low reimbursement.

Bills: HB4806

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But, for the purpose of this bill, those that are here preying upon us, there is a practice.
• There is a practice that if somebody at TDCJ is serving time for, let's say, 10 years, or the 15-year
• It was the only DA's office in the state that was practicing it.
• I think this might be the only panel in which I've practiced 10 years as a criminal defense attorney.
• Sean Dick has practiced over a decade as a criminal defense attorney, and Brian has practiced for 16

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• But the notion that we are restricting religious practices is not just false; it's contrary to me and
• protections—literally zero states in America have a stronger protection than we do for religious practice
• But the notion that we are restricting religious practices is not just false; it's contrary to me and
• protections—literally zero states in America have a stronger protection than we do for religious practice
• </c> legal protection for religious practice legal protection for religious practice and<00:19:04.360

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The practice of law funds legal aid by collecting interest related to the profession and returns that
• Before I got here in the legislature, I practiced real estate law, and I did development work.
• But even in that case, we believe the best practice is not to delete the story, but rather to append
• I teach and practice defamation law.
• The bill has the practical effect of prohibiting out-of-state public officials from usurping the role

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered several bills. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults would allow service of process on scammers through the same nontraditional communication methods they use; it passed 8-0. CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and a private right of action to disqualify noncompliant candidates; it passed unanimously. CS/SB 948 on flood disclosures was amended to extend disclosure requirements to residential leases, condo developer leases, and mobile homes, with tenant remedies if disclosures are not provided and flooding causes major losses; it passed 8-0. The committee also advanced CS/SB 498 on IOTA interest rates after a lengthy debate over legal aid funding and bank regulation. Supporters argued the bill would restore sustainability and fairness to the program by setting alternative interest-rate benchmarks, while opponents said it would cut funding for civil legal aid and that banks participate voluntarily. After testimony from legal aid leaders and bankers, the bill passed 7-2. SB 774, requiring clerks to electronically transmit certain mental health, substance abuse, and risk protection orders to sheriffs within six hours, was presented in response to a fatal Volusia County incident and passed 11-0. CS/SB 752 on defamation and online publication was amended to require removal from a website rather than the internet, then passed 8-2 after testimony from the media, a private attorney, and supporters who said it would help people harmed by false online reports. The committee also heard SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, which would create a narrow defense against strict liability claims if notice and gamma radiation survey requirements are met. The bill was amended to clarify notice provisions and received support from industry and technical witnesses describing radiation surveys and reclamation practices. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 832, so no committee action on that bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can definitely provide into practice.
• </c><00:54:07.119><c> approach</c> expressed to us a practical approach expressed to us a practical approach
• But it's also for those practices to see more patients.
• </c><01:31:22.159><c> medical</c> working with family practice medical working with family practice medical
• Um, outpatient primary care practice.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes from its May 29 meeting and then received an informational update from the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing about the state’s ASL interpreter pipeline. Representative Woods and Associate Commissioner Ann Landry explained that the American Sign Language program at UNH Manchester, the nation’s first fully accredited program, is facing viability concerns because high tuition has left only two of a potential 20 students committed so far. They warned that if enrollment does not recover, the program could face a teachout and eventually be lost, which they said would be detrimental because many state services and legal proceedings require qualified interpreters. Members discussed possible alternatives, including whether community colleges could help, and asked for follow-up research and contact information for UNH officials. The committee also heard that interpreter demand across DHHS continues to rise and that the department must ensure compliance with civil rights and service-access requirements. The committee then turned to Medicaid policy changes tied to Senate Bill 134 and a new federal interim final rule on Medicaid community engagement, or work, requirements. DHHS officials Olivia May and Ann Landry explained that the state law and federal rule align in many areas, but the committee still needed to decide how to implement several remaining policy choices. The department recommended adopting all four short-term hardship exceptions because the federal rule requires states to take them all or none: inpatient or institutional care, federally declared emergencies, high-unemployment areas, and extensive out-of-state travel for serious medical care. Members generally supported the exceptions but raised concerns about how they would be defined and applied, especially the emergency and medical-travel categories. Several legislators asked for more clarity on terms like “extensively” and “serious or complex medical care,” and DHHS said the federal rule does not rigidly define them, though the state could refine implementation through rulemaking if authorized. The department also said the emergency exception would apply only to federally declared emergencies, not state declarations, and would be tied to the emergency event itself. No final vote on the Medicaid policy was recorded in the portion provided, but the discussion indicated the committee was reviewing the remaining decisions needed to implement Senate Bill 134 under the new federal framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> through that impact the data Practices through that impact the data Practices Act<00:36:53.480><
• To know that someone has my back, to know the feeling of going to practice, the tough practices that
• To know that someone has my back, to know the feeling of going to practice, the tough practices that
• To know that someone has my back, to know the feeling of going to practice, the tough practices that
• </c> is not an unfair discriminatory practice is not an unfair discriminatory practice to<02:17:01.559

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• consider it an unfair trade practice and outlawed it in Indiana.
• But this would be an unfair insurance practice in Louisiana if the bill moves forward.
• It's not a practice that's happening. And then you go a little bit further.
• So if it's not happening on both ends, unfair trade practices...
• So if it's not happening on both ends, unfair trade practices.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on May 18, 2026, with eight members present and began by noting the state’s projected REC budget deficit and the need to consider fiscal impacts carefully. The committee first advanced HB 12, which extends the $250,000 surviving spouse benefit to reserve officers killed in the line of duty. Members noted the bill is prospective and that it draws from the same capped fund as other related bills, but it was reported favorable without opposition. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported HB 874 favorable as amended; the bill allows colleges, technical schools, the Louisiana Bar Association, and additional credentials to be added to LA Wallet, with the amendment changing mandatory language to permissive language. HB 951 was then reported favorable, creating an employer-facing workforce unit within Louisiana Works, to be funded through repurposed state and federal funds and existing staff, with a floor amendment expected to rename the unit. The committee also reported HB 979 favorable with amendments after reducing the proposed increase in survivor benefits because members learned several bills were drawing from the same $5 million fund, and HB 1193 favorable as amended, after striking a section that would have extended IDIQ authority to supply contracts for CPR. The committee then heard HB 909, which would require commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services. Representative Spell and LDH officials said the measure is intended to support crisis response centers and steer patients away from emergency rooms when appropriate, and they testified that it should be cost-neutral or absorbed within existing funding. Despite concerns raised by Senator Andrews about premiums, the bill was reported favorable after discussion of its potential savings and a possible pilot in Acadiana. HB 222, requiring Medicaid to cover dental procedures when needed to complete another medically covered procedure, was also reported favorable; LDH said it would absorb the cost within its existing budget and draw down federal matching funds. HB 291, which prevents health plans from penalizing hospitals when an out-of-network physician is involved in an otherwise covered hospital service, generated extensive debate over a disputed fiscal note and the No Surprises Act. OGB officials said any network “leakage” could cost the plan money, while supporters argued the policy is preventative and that the fiscal estimates were speculative. The committee adopted amendment 3941 to exempt OGB from the bill, then reported HB 291 favorable as amended. Later, the committee took up HB 145, which expands the authority of the law enforcement and firefighter survivor benefit board to cover extraordinary medical and dental expenses. Because members learned it also draws from the same fund as HB 12 and HB 979, an amendment reduced the amount from $50,000 to $25,000, and the bill was reported favorable as amended. HB 430, a local bill for Lafayette to continue paying health insurance costs for surviving families of fallen officers until Medicare eligibility, was reported favorable. Finally, HB 821, which establishes the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement Administration and transfers related duties from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, was introduced and discussed as a move with a one-time general fund expenditure already included in HB 1. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have Ruth Silbert Taub, supervising attorney with the workers' rights practice at the Catherine
• We aim not just to recover owed wages for workers, but to change unlawful practices and raise standards
• , declare bankruptcy, often popping up again with another name to continue the same exploitative practices
• We aim not just to recover owed wages for workers, but to change unlawful practices and raise standards
• , declare bankruptcy, often popping up again with another name to continue the same exploitative practices

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finding number two for the Faulkner County District: accepted accounting practices provide that all income
• Accepted accounting practices provide that adequate supporting documentation and approval be maintained
• Accepted accounting practices provide that adequate supporting documentation and approval be maintained
• Accepted accounting practices provide that adequate supporting documentation and approval be maintained
• Camp, under finding two on page nine, it says, per the district, it is their practice not to remit or

Summary: The committee approved the February 12 minutes and then received updates on delinquent municipal water and sewer reports, noting substantial progress in bringing cities back into compliance. Several items were deferred at the request of local officials, including Fargo’s municipal accounting code report, Jericho’s misuse of street funds matter, Biggers, Holly Grove, Gilmore, and several private water and sewer reports lacking proper responses. The committee also filed a number of reports with no questions or with resolved findings. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on repeat audit findings and management responses. The City of Strong’s mayor described corrective steps on undeposited funds, improper use of solid waste funds, unsupported spending, IRS payroll tax issues, accounting controls, restricted fund transfers, and budget overruns; the committee commended the city’s efforts and filed the report. Calhoun County’s report, involving improper county spending for an appreciation banquet and altered receipts in the collector’s office, was also filed after discussion about educating local officials on constitutional spending limits. Other reports filed included Salem, Briarcliffe, Compton Water Association, and Montgomery County Regional Public Water Authority, while several private water reports were deferred or referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The committee reviewed a major regional solid waste management districts report, with significant findings for Pulaski County and Faulkner County involving unapproved payroll items, missing documentation, vehicle and cell phone use, lack of competitive bids, and weak internal controls; Benton County had fewer issues, and several districts had no findings. On motion, the Pulaski County report was deferred so district representatives could answer questions. The committee also heard from Nevada County, where unauthorized withdrawals and interlocal landfill agreement problems were discussed; the county judge said the issues were being corrected, and the report was filed. Later, the committee heard from the City of Grubbs about long-standing IRS debt and from Cross County Rural Water System about overdue audit posting and water quality problems; both witnesses described corrective efforts and ongoing funding or infrastructure projects, and the committee filed the reports after extensive discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you know if the choice is whether Chapter 13 data practices and open meeting laws apply to a choice
• Chair, Representative Greenman, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act does not apply to... if the
• choice is does chapter 13 data practices and open meeting laws apply to a choice.
• Testifier Mister Chair Representative Green Men, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act does not
• So while the Data Practices Act doesn't apply, the HOA side, Chapter 515B does have requirements that

Bills: HF2185, HF1849, HF3719, HF3721, HF3845, HF3720

Keywords: flag display, residential property rights, homeowners association, HOA, covenants, restrictive covenant, deed restriction, subdivision regulation, local ordinance, rental agreement, property rights, patriotic display, United States flag, Minnesota flag, POW/MIA flag, military flags, armed forces flag, Blue Star flag, Gold Star flag, common interest community