Transcript Highlights:

• as a matter of fact, at our board meeting just Friday, just this past Friday, our board actually authorized
• as a matter of fact, at our board meeting just Friday, just this past Friday, our board actually authorized
• , but it costs us a fortune to try to get it because it'll be denied originally or have prior authorizations
• Some of it is administrative just to be administrative because we'll take prior authorizations, for example
• I might catch you a little bit off guard.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Department of Human Services hospital payments in Arkansas Medicaid, with DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks presenting first, followed by Arkansas Hospital Association Executive Vice President Jody Ann Tritt and a brief comment from Arkansas Children’s. DHS outlined the main hospital payment streams: fee-for-service per diem payments, upper payment limit (UPL) supplemental payments, cost settlements, and smaller payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked for plain-language explanations of cost settlements, why per diem rates vary by hospital type, and why UPL applies to private hospitals. DHS said cost settlements and UPL are mechanisms to help offset Medicaid underpayment, with SFY 2025 hospital payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars and no general revenue used for supplemental payments beyond the state share funded through hospital assessments and related financing structures. Committee members focused heavily on whether Arkansas hospitals are adequately reimbursed and why rural hospitals struggle. Tritt explained that critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals operate under different federal and state rules, and said lower per diem rates for some facilities help with cash flow and later cost settlement adjustments. She said Arkansas hospitals are under financial strain, citing a negative patient services margin statewide and noting that Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers all contribute to the problem. She also said the association had just authorized a statewide survey of hospital finances and costs, which she expected would take about a year to complete. A major theme was commercial insurance reimbursement. Tritt argued Arkansas hospitals are paid far less than hospitals in neighboring states even though premiums are similar, and said administrative burdens, prior authorizations, and denials add to the problem. She said hospitals receive about 52 to 53 cents on the dollar for Medicaid costs without UPL and about 78 cents with UPL, still below cost. Members also discussed Medicare wage index issues, Medicare Advantage, and whether hospitals could use technology or alternative arrangements to improve finances. No votes were taken on the hospital presentation. At the end of the meeting, DHS provided a brief update on Living Choices and assisted living reimbursement. Officials said one assisted living facility, Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, with nine waiver clients being transitioned to other settings. DHS said the current cost reporting period was underway and that a new rate study could be ready for review before the end of the fiscal year if reports were submitted on time. Members also asked about the broader waiver plan, and DHS said the next waiver iteration would likely be brought back to the committee in the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• as a matter of fact, at our board meeting just Friday, just this past Friday, our board actually authorized
• as a matter of fact, at our board meeting just Friday, just this past Friday, our board actually authorized
• costs us a fortune to try to get it because it... ...it'll be denied originally or have prior authorizations
• right time, but some of it is administrative just to be administrative because we'll take prior authorizations
• I might catch you a little bit off guard.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Arkansas DHS hospital spending and reimbursement methods, with Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks explaining Medicaid hospital payments. They described fee-for-service per diem payments, cost settlements, and the upper payment limit (UPL) program, noting that SFY 2025 hospital payments included $688 million in inpatient/outpatient claims, $473 million in UPL payments, $248 million in cost settlements, and about $47 million in other payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked about why per diem rates vary, how cost settlements work, why UPL applies mainly to private hospitals, and how assessment fees are structured and funded. DHS said the hospital assessment fee is broad-based and uniform, used as the state share to draw federal funds, and that supplemental hospital payments after federal match totaled $548 million with no general revenue used. The Arkansas Hospital Association’s Jody Ann Tritt then gave a broader overview of the hospital landscape, explaining the different hospital types in the state, including critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals. She said Arkansas hospitals face financial strain, citing a negative 5.18% patient service margin statewide and lower reimbursement than surrounding states. She argued that Arkansas hospitals are paid less than hospitals in neighboring states for similar services, that commercial payer rates and administrative burdens are a major problem, and that Medicaid and Medicare rates remain below cost even with UPL support. She also said hospitals are the backbone of community care, provide emergency and public health functions, and are looking for ways to invest in technology and telehealth but often lack the revenue to do so. Members pressed for clearer data on hospital finances, reimbursement adequacy, and the impact of commercial insurers. Tritt said the association had just authorized a statewide survey to gather updated financial information from hospitals, which she said would take about a year to complete. She also explained that Medicaid pays weekly, Medicare and commercial plans can involve delays and denials, and that hospitals often spend significant resources on revenue cycle work. The discussion ended with a brief update on assisted living reimbursement: DHS said one facility, The Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, nine Living Choices waiver clients were being transitioned, and the updated rate study would be available after cost reports are collected, likely before the end of the fiscal year. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the bill clarifies that a good cause exception to the armed guard requirement has to be
• Does it give them the authority to do...
• It does authorize all the powers and duties, I believe, the way that it's outlined, of a peace officer
• Does it give them the authority to do.
• It does authorize all the powers and duties, I believe, the way that it's outlined of a peace officer

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a quorum and announced a full agenda, including combined public testimony for two bills related to student personal communication devices. The committee first took up Senate Bill 1262 by Senator Nichols, a school safety cleanup bill following House Bill 3. The bill would allow TEA to commission peace officers for school safety purposes, require annual renewal of good-cause exceptions to armed guard requirements, create a new report based on intruder detection audits and vulnerability assessments, and require behavioral threat assessment teams to include someone with specific knowledge of a special education student’s disability. Committee members asked about the difference between TCOLE licensing and TEA commissioning, the scope of the officers’ authority, and how the good-cause exception would work. The committee substitute was adopted, and public testimony included support from school safety and drone-response advocates, Disability Rights Texas in favor of the special education provisions, and a student witness raising concerns about the mental health impact of repeated lockdowns and the need for immediate, reliable school safety responses. The bill was left pending after testimony, then the committee briefly recessed and later reopened testimony to hear the student witness. The committee then laid out Senate Bill 2252 by Senator Creighton, a major early literacy and numeracy bill for kindergarten through third grade. Creighton said the bill builds on prior literacy efforts by funding teacher stipends for literacy and math academies, providing free and clearly administered screeners and assessments, expanding screening options, clarifying how results are used, supporting high-quality pre-K, and increasing the early education allotment. He emphasized low reading performance and the need for early intervention. Members discussed how the bill differs from earlier academy models and whether the assessments are diagnostic or high-stakes; Creighton and witnesses said the tools are intended to identify students needing support, not to serve as punitive testing. The committee adopted the substitute. Witnesses for SB 2252 largely supported the bill. A Uplift Education representative described strong gains from small-group literacy tutoring and said students receiving targeted support can make more than a year of growth in a year. An education specialist explained that the bill aligns general education screening with existing dyslexia and special education practices and helps districts identify students who need intervention before a disability evaluation is required. A Commit Partnership witness cited statewide reading data, the importance of high-quality pre-K, and the need for transparent, consistent progress monitoring and parent engagement. Members asked about the meaning of the growth data, how dyslexia screening works, and how the bill would help identify struggling students earlier. Before finishing all questions, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mya Peterson is here with us today, and then from the Health Care Authority, Dana Flannery, who is the
• And what you will see here is that according to the Healthcare Authority Division of Health Improvement
• So, I'd like to know what enforcement mechanisms or statutory authority does the LFC need to hold the
• We know we're not a coast city; we are geographically isolated.
• We have a Social Determinants of Health ECHO that runs in collaboration with the Health Care Authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We were both in agreement the authority must secure experienced the authority must secure experienced
• </c> Authority to lean on for direction. Authority to lean on for direction.
• As the chair of the Mauna Kea Stewardship Authority, the onus is on Mr.
• Komeiji to demonstrate his leadership and guidance in helping the authority guidance in helping the authority
• For those on the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, you know, please get moving.

Bills: HB1800, HB1860, HB2250, HB472, HB649, HB1391, HB1481, HB1509, HB1511, HB1515, HB1518, HB1541, HB1548, HB1576, HB1618, HB1642, HB1643, HB1661, HB1667, HB1678, HB1682, HB1688, HB1692, HB1707, HB1710, HB1711, HB1713, HB1718, HB1721, HB1728, HB1737, HB1740, HB1741, HB1785, HB1801, HB1802, HB1804, HB1810, HB1815, HB1824, HB1838, HB1839, HB1853, HB1854, HB1864, HB1870, HB1881, HB1888, HB1890, HB1891, HB1894, HB1920, HB1959, HB1960, HB1969, HB1973, HB1974, HB2023, HB2050, HB2078, HB2094, HB2095, HB2104, HB2137, HB2152, HB2158, HB2171, HB2207, HB2218, HB2246, HB2270, HB2271, HB2272, HB2279, HB2282, HB2289, HB2293, HB2297, HB2300, HB2309, HB2310, HB2314, HB2319, HB2329, HB2338, HB2339, HB2344, HB2361, HB2385, HB2395, HB2417, HB2429, HB2443, HB2452, HB2474, HB2475, HB2498, HB2505, HB2547, HB2576

Keywords: supplemental appropriations, state budget, Hawaii budget, biennial budget, capital improvement projects, CIP, general fund, special fund, green fee, special land and development fund, clean energy revolving loan fund, agricultural development revolving fund, community grants, nonprofit grants, Office of Community Services, housing, affordable housing, homelessness, health care, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• National Guard officer serving on Operation Lone Star.
• Tempere has done a great job authoring this bill.
• My question is, have you spoken with the author about your concerns?
• Encourage you to continue working with the author. Yes, ma'am.
• And I want to, again, thank the author for listening and for hearing us.

Bills: HB214, HB626, HB647, HB658, HB668, HB674, HB908, HB214

Keywords: firearm acquisition, gun smuggling, criminal offenses, ammunition, terrorism, public safety, Texas criminal procedure, federal law enforcement, state arrest authority, search and seizure, felony offenses, federal air marshal, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Defense police, military police, Homeland Security, Public Safety, veterans affairs, federal officers, joint law enforcement authority

Transcript Highlights:

• So obviously anything over authority.
• So, um, at as spending authority in 441.
• Uh authorize an additional 5 million.
• We authorize it. It goes into an account, and we authorize its expenditure.
• </c> Commission is charged with authorizing Commission is charged with authorizing by<03:03:30.399><c

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the authority to spend money, and the authority to assess that to the people of New Hampshire, and
• authority</c><01:30:51.600><c> to</c> rulemaking authority, the authority to rulemaking authority, the
• </c> subpoena authority.
• The key guard rail subpoena authority.
• The key guard rail on<02:23:44.080><c> subpoena</c><02:23:44.640><c> authority</c><02:23:45.120><c> power

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask that you reveal yourself to us today by the Holy Spirit as we guard our speech, making the words
• clear legal authority to detect, track, and respond to dangerous drone activity and aligns Missouri
• My apologies for catching you off guard, gentlemen. It was 2808." "All right. Thank you.
• They're the ones that are authorized to do an English proficiency test.
• Okay, for the ultimate authority to do what?

Summary: The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 133-0. The session then included many introductions of interns, guests, and a Teacher Appreciation Day statement. A committee report recommended passage of Senate Bill 903, and the chamber moved into third reading and amendment action on Senate Bill 1421 and related measures. Members debated and adopted a long series of amendments covering public safety, criminal justice, schools, and corrections. Topics included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger school safety program and school bus stop-arm penalties, Clean Slate automatic expungement language narrowed to drug offenses, an Alzheimer’s task force and dementia training for law enforcement, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, banning portable electronic devices in prisons, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure protections, parental accountability for minors’ offenses, fentanyl trafficking, attorney general firearms authority, support for St. Louis and Kansas City police boards, DNA collection on arrest for additional crimes, a 25-foot buffer around first responders, a domestic violence registry, squatter and notary fraud fixes, gift card fraud, and post-conviction death penalty procedures. Several amendments drew opposition over civil liberties, school safety, prison penalties, and death penalty concerns, but most were adopted. The most contested item was the death penalty post-conviction relief amendment, which members argued either would streamline appeals and risk wrongful executions or would provide needed finality for victims; it ultimately passed 75-68 after a roll call vote. Another notable debate centered on the St. Louis Police Board amendment, with members disputing who should pay for police overtime and liability costs. The transcript ends amid discussion of a corrections-related amendment on good-time credit and rehabilitation programming, with the amendment to the amendment being supported by members from both parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• 40% of highway plan funds are dedicated to investments in existing highway pavements, bridges, and guard
• </c><00:21:43.919><c> budget</c><00:21:44.320><c> for</c> for uh currently authorized budget for for
• uh currently authorized budget for this<00:21:44.960><c> project</c><00:21:45.679><c> Ballard</c><00:
• </c><00:38:03.119><c> having</c> because he's a real authority having because he's a real authority having
• So that's my stab at it, but I'm going to let Mike, the real authority on this, comment on it.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill makes a number of changes to the commission's authority, powers, and duties.
• First, the commission's purpose is revised to specify that it is a constituted authority and removes
• Under current law, local jurisdictions have the authority to impose local sales and use taxes.
• The bill also authorizes... ...existing units of affordable housing and related services.
• The bill also authorizes a city or county to enter into interlocal agreements to pool the local sales

Bills: SB6018, SB6026, SB6027, SB6028, SB5937, SB5938

Keywords: housing, finance, commission, state funding, affordable housing, residential development, zoning reform, mixed-use zoning, commercial zones, Growth Management Act, GMA, state preemption, local land use, development regulations, ground-floor retail, ground-floor commercial, permit waiver, waiver process, density, urban growth area

Transcript Highlights:

• The author clarifies just like he said it did. Number two, it is acceptable to the author.
• The district does not have the authority to impose taxes.
• The district does not have the authority to charge fees.
• The district does not have eminent domain authority.
• As the author, Mr.

Bills: HB4, HB20, HB40, HB46, HB101, HB112, HB117, HB121, HB127, HB146, HB150, HB186, HB229, HB426, HB521, HB541, HB549, HB632, HB713, HB796, HB1052, HB1106, HB1135, HB1234, HB1306, HB1403, HB1523, HB1532, HB1690, HB1960, HB2035, HB2217, HB2399, HB2488, HB2517, HB2594, HB2655, HB2686, HB2731, HB2757, HB2820, HB2963, HB3005, HB3053, HB3073, HB3225, HB3320, HB3333, HB3336, HB3441, HB3483, HB3516, HB3520, HB3697, HB3748, HB3793, HB3848, HB4099, HB4134, HB4144, HB4158, HB4233, HB4236, HB4285, HB4350, HB4359, HB4464, HB4580, HB4690, HB4730, HB4848, HB4904, HB4995, HB5196, HB5294, HB5381, HB5435, HB5437, HB5509, HB5606, HB5646, HB5658, HB5661, HB5663, HB5666, HB5672, HCR40, HCR59, SB867, SB2919, SJR5, SJR27, SB4, SB6, SB7, SB9, SB13, SB15, SB23, SB27, SB30, SB40, SB57, SB66, SB140, SB268, SB293, SB331, SB413, SB447, SB457, SB467, SB506, SB510, SB512, SB571, SB650, SB763, SB777, SB785, SB800, SB850, SB863, SB865, SB973, SB974, SB1191, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1494, SB1522, SB1540, SB1567, SB1579, SB1580, SB1610, SB1660, SB1723, SB1760, SB1838, SB1923, SB1946, SB1957, SB1964, SB2018, SB2024, SB2121, SB2167, SB2217, SB2221, SB2321, SB2337, SB2368, SB2373, SB2407, SB2431, SB2477, SB2587, SB2615, SB2753, SB2807, SB2900, SB2965, SB2972, SB2986, SB3039, SB3047, SB3059, SB3070, SB1, SB17, SB21, SB260, SB379, SB509, SB1198, SB1405, SB1506, SB1637, SB1833, SB2155, SB2308, SB2601, SB2778, HB300, HB2011, HB2525, HB5246, HB100, HB101, HB119, HB227, HB252, HB322, HB346, HB654, HB705, HB718, HB721, HB824, HB1094, HB1234, HB1306, HB1506, HB1523, HB1629, HB1690, HB1868, HB1960, HB1973, HB2012, HB2035, HB2037, HB2078, HB2128, HB2213, HB2240, HB2348, HB2520, HB2598, HB2686, HB2694, HB2820, HB3005, HB3057, HB3092, HB3112, HB3171, HB3181, HB3185, HB3333, HB3388, HB3516, HB3546, HB3619, HB3623, HB3629, HB3642, HB3686, HB3697, HB3749, HB3793, HB3812, HB3815, HB3848, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4157, HB4158, HB4170, HB4202, HB4211, HB4214, HB4233, HB4285, HB4350, HB4361, HB4463, HB4464, HB4466, HB4559, HB4630, HB4748, HB4765, HB4848, HB4894, HB4904, HB4995, HB5093, HB5196, HB5320, HB5437, HB5624, HB5650, HB5651, HB5652, HB5654, HB5655, HB5656, HB5658, HB5661, HB5662, HB5664, HB5665, HB5666, HB5670, HB5672, HB5674, HB5677, HB5679, HB5682, HB5689, HB5690, HB5694, HB5695, HB5698, HB5699, HCR46, HCR76, HCR81, HCR83, HCR84, HCR111, HB748, HB5652, HB3395, HB180, HB1306, HB5650, HB4894, HB1629, HB5698, HB3171, HB2694, HB5664, HB4690, HB4464, HB3623, HB2520, HB2213, HB252, HB146, HB5596, HB3619, HB5320, HB5651, HB5670, HB5665, HB5437, HB5679, HB5661, HB5662, HB5654, HB5672, HB5656, HB2035, HB721, HB346, HB5695, HB5694, HB5674, HB3185, HB2348, HB1135, HB101, HB5666, HB5677, HB5682, HB5658, HB4144, HB3642, HB3815, HB2686, HB2012, HB1960, HB227, HB654, HB4158, HB4630, HB1523, HB1973, HB3333, HB3697, HB3546, HB3225, HB2820, HB186, HB119, HB4466, HB4170, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4285, HB4463, HB4995, HB5624, HB1449, HB2598, HB3629, HB4361, HB824, HB1868, HB4848, HB40, HB117, HB3686, HB3793, HB112, HB104, HB718, HB4904, HB4202, HB4765, HB4559, HB4350, HB4214, HB3388, HB3112, HB5196, HB3516, HB3092, HB4233, HB1094, HB2037, HB3005, HB3848, HB121, HB3336, HB5294, HB5646, HB4236, HB1052, HB5509, HB5435, HB3520, HB3320, HB2517, HB2488, HB5663, HB2731, HB3073, HB2655, HB2399, HB541, HB4099, HB111, HB1532, HB3483, HB2963, HB4580, HB3748, HB713, HB632, HB426, HB4730, HB127, HB5690, HB5689, HB5655, HB3385, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB20, HB123, HB549, HB5606, HB2217, HB2594, HB796, HB1057, HB3664, HCR141, HCR40, HCR59, HCR76, HCR81, HCR46, HCR111, HCR83, HCR84, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3045, SB3071, HB40, HB117, HB121, HB426, HB541, HB713, HB1052, HB1532, HB2217, HB2488, HB2517, HB2655, HB2757, HB2963, HB3073, HB3697, HB4099, HB4144, HB4158, HB4236, HB4285, HB4848, HB5435, HB5437, HB5509, HB5646, HB5666, HB14, HB1240, HB796, HB1523, HB5294, SR559, SR587, SR614, SCR53, SJR59, SB10, SB22, SB25, SB34, SB36, SB38, SB261, SB777, SB924, SB1188, SB1318, SB1333, SB1398, SB1448, SB1621, SB1862, SB2405, SB2406, SB8, SB12, SB37, SB441, SB1566, SB2878, HB300, HB2011, HB5246, HB101, HB119, HB227, HB252, HB346, HB654, HB718, HB721, HB824, HB1306, HB1629, HB1868, HB1960, HB1973, HB2012, HB2035, HB2037, HB2213, HB2348, HB2520, HB2598, HB2686, HB2694, HB2820, HB3005, HB3092, HB3112, HB3185, HB3333, HB3388, HB3516, HB3546, HB3619, HB3623, HB3629, HB3642, HB3686, HB3815, HB3848, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4170, HB4202, HB4214, HB4350, HB4361, HB4463, HB4464, HB4466, HB4559, HB4630, HB4765, HB4894, HB4904, HB4995, HB5196, HB5320, HB5624, HB5650, HB5651, HB5652, HB5654, HB5655, HB5656, HB5658, HB5661, HB5662, HB5664, HB5665, HB5670, HB5672, HB5674, HB5677, HB5679, HB5682, HB5695, HB5698, HCR46, HCR76, HCR81, HCR83, HCR84, HCR111, HB1094, HB3171, HB3793, HB4233, HB5689, HB5690, HB5694

Keywords: applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, low-THC cannabis, dispensing organization, Texas Compassionate-Use Program, medical use, patient access, registration, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• I recognize the author, Representative Scott, who will explain the bill.
• The author had mentioned it such in committee.
• Will the author of this bill, Representative Scott, yield to a few questions?
• The National Guard had to accompany her to school.
• I recognize the author of the bill, Representative Scott. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:48.640><c> payment</c><00:10:49.560><c> related</c><00:10:50.400><c> to</c> Authority payment
• related to Authority payment related to the<00:10:51.960><c> sales</c><00:10:52.320><c> tax</c><00:10
• And it authorizes modifications to existing local sales taxes in seven cities and authorizes modifications
• And it authorizes modifications to existing local sales taxes in seven cities and authorizes modifications
• And it authorizes modifications to existing local sales taxes in seven cities and authorizes modifications

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work with Feeding the Gulf Coast to have in-reach to start with SNAP.
• We work with Feeding the Gulf Coast to have in-reach to start with SNAP.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “Do you have the authority to push for those juveniles?”
• Almost always the entity responsible for treatment is the local mental health authority.
• And so after that, their authority ends.
• It’s the people who are providing their treatment at the local mental health authority.
• We are the local mental health authority for Harris County.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As we all know, that required an armed guard on every campus.

Keywords: education funding, House Bill 5419, zero-based budgeting, public testimony, school safety, special education

Summary: State Representative Gina Hinojosa and a group of parents and education advocates testified in support of House Bill 5419, a zero-based budgeting proposal aimed at reviewing Texas Education Agency spending and redirecting more public education dollars to classrooms. Hinojosa argued that public schools are being weakened by chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, delayed special education services, and inadequate school safety funding, and said the bill would help cut bureaucracy, vendor contracts, and other non-classroom spending in favor of teacher pay, safety, and special education. Several witnesses, including self-identified Republicans and former GOP officials, backed the bill as a good-government measure and said they were crossing party lines because public schools need more direct investment. They criticized TEA growth, vendor contracts, public-private partnerships, and what they described as unfunded mandates from the state, including school safety requirements. One witness said rural districts are being forced into four-day school weeks, while others cited campus closures, deferred maintenance, and local tax increases tied to state funding shortfalls and recapture payments. The discussion also focused on the need for a systematic review of TEA spending and the lack of a sunset review for the agency since before 2005. Hinojosa and others said increasing the basic allotment would help districts, reduce recapture pressures, and prevent local tax hikes. The exchange was primarily a public hearing and advocacy session; no vote or formal committee action was described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• , present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding... ...will guard
• providing legislative intent, repealing Section 67-5414, Idaho Code, relating to reports of medical authorities

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the previous day’s journal, and swore in new pages. It then received several messages from the Senate and Governor, including Senate-passed bills being referred to committees and House Bills 514 and 515 being transmitted to the Governor. Committee reports moved a number of bills and memorials to second reading, general orders, or committee referral, including measures on Medicaid managed care review, taxation, public utilities, foster care, and other administrative updates. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 630, concerning aerial shooting of predators such as wolves and coyotes, passed 60-8 with 2 abstentions. House Bill 631, on certificates of free sale for Idaho products, passed 62-7. House Bill 548, requiring reasonable suspicion before stopping and boarding vessels on the water, passed 68-0 with 2 abstentions. House Bill 599, revising the public school digital content and curriculum grant process, passed 68-0 with 2 abstentions. House Bill 731, entering Idaho into a federal tax credit scholarship framework, passed 68-0. House Bill 603, clarifying rules on camping and property handling on state facilities, passed 68-0. House Bills 689 and 690 also passed unanimously with 68 ayes each, and House Bill 698, closing a voting-law loophole related to treason in another state, passed 68-0. The House also passed House Bill 642, creating a catastrophic benefit for public safety officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty, with 68 ayes and no opposition; one member declared a conflict because a spouse is a law enforcement officer. House Bill 563, easing CPA licensure pathways and clarifying practice privileges, passed 67-0 with 3 absent and excused. House Bill 623, requiring a 60-second moment of silence at the start of each public school day, drew the most debate over local control, teacher burden, and whether it should be a mandate; it ultimately passed 51-17 with 2 absent and excused. The remaining third-reading bills were held one legislative day, a committee letter on agricultural rules was filed, the House noted the death of former Representative Bob Geddes Sr., welcomed professional firefighters in the gallery, and then adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on February 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
• providing legislative intent, repealing Section 67-5414, Idaho Code, relating to reports of medical authorities

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and swore in new pages. It then received messages from the governor and Senate, including the governor’s signing of House Bills 514 and 515 and Senate passage of several bills. Standing committee reports moved a number of measures forward, including bills on taxation, utilities, medical neglect, daycare licensing, public assistance, property tax exemptions, mental health detention, blindness reporting, insurer investments, the Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund, and foster care placement. House Bill 692 was sent back to general orders, while House Joint Memorial 17 and House Concurrent Resolution 30 were referred to Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The House also advanced House Bill 751 and House Bill 591 to third reading. On third reading, the House passed several bills. House Bill 630, on aerial shooting of predators, was approved 60-8; House Bill 631, on certificates of free sale for Idaho exporters, passed 62-7; House Bill 548, requiring reasonable suspicion for stopping and boarding vessels on the water, passed 68-0 with two abstentions; House Bill 599, changing the public school digital content and curriculum grant process to a need-based model, passed 68-0 with two abstentions; House Bill 731, entering Idaho into a federal tax credit scholarship program, passed 68-0; House Bill 603, clarifying rules on camping and property handling on state facilities, passed 66-2; House Bill 689 and House Bill 690 also passed unanimously or near-unanimously; House Bill 698, closing a voting-law loophole involving out-of-state treason, passed 68-0; House Bill 642, creating a catastrophic benefit for public safety officers and their families, passed 68-0; and House Bill 563, easing CPA licensure pathways and updating practice privilege language, passed 67-0 with three absent. The most debated measure was House Bill 623, which requires a 60-second moment of silence at the start of each public school day. Supporters argued it would help students focus, reduce stress, and address behavioral and mental health concerns, while opponents raised local control and implementation concerns. After extended debate, it passed 51-17. House Bill 641 was held on the third reading calendar for one legislative day, and the remaining third-reading bills were also held one day. The House later filed a committee letter approving pending agriculture rules, heard announcements including the death of former Representative Bob Geddes Sr. and a welcome to Idaho firefighters, and adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on February 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• These homes are built by the Navajo Housing Authority. We're not rich.
• going to go over on the overpass, have your cell phones on, and start taking pictures of that cattle guard