Transcript Highlights:

• Across for consumers, clean drinking water, fresh water, computers, smartphones, transportation needs
• And advocate for clean water across Texas.
• And to be clear, the needs for clean water and funding, funding in Texas are immense.
• Water SRF or Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
• It's now time to prioritize a statewide clean water plan.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Across for consumers, clean drinking water, fresh water, computers, smartphones. transportation needs
• The industry has already implemented treatment processes to produce what they call a clean brine.
• And Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies where I serve as executive director.
• And to be clear, the needs for clean water and funding in Texas are immense.
• Water SRF or Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee continued work on HB 553, a bipartisan bill to update the child protection act’s definitions, especially around abuse, neglect, psychological maltreatment, and serious impairment. Supporters said the current law is outdated, vague, and too limited to address modern child welfare concerns, and argued the bill is intended to create clearer standards for DCF/DCYF, courts, and parents without adding criminal penalties or expanding authority to remove children. They also noted the bill had been developed over months of bipartisan work and that similar concepts exist in other states; a committee researcher had circulated a comparison of 17 states with prenatal and substance-use-related provisions. A major focus was whether the bill should include a more explicit definition of emotional abuse. Some members argued that the bill’s current language is not specific enough and could leave parents without fair notice, while others said the bill already addresses the issue through definitions of psychological maltreatment, emotional harm, and serious impairment. Office of Child Advocate staff explained that the drafting process intentionally avoided defining every emotional-abuse term separately and instead used a pattern-based psychological maltreatment standard with examples such as threatening, demeaning, humiliating, and belittling behavior. They said those provisions were drawn from other states and were meant to fill gaps seen in cases involving severe emotional harm and injured infants. The committee also discussed trauma-informed language related to substance use disorder and pregnancy. Members said the amendment was intended to avoid discouraging pregnant people with substance use disorder from seeking medical care, while still allowing intervention when a child is substance-exposed; they noted the proposal would include an exemption when a licensed health care provider is monitoring the pregnancy. Several members emphasized that the bill is meant to protect children while also giving parents clearer notice of prohibited conduct, and one member raised concerns about how the bill could affect other legislation dealing with criminal neglect. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the next two are related to claims payments and the updated forecast for fiscal year 2026.
• payment system used by providers and participants to interact with Medicaid and get claims paid.
• You can think of this as their claims payment system.
• It's how the participant claims get paid out. It was aging and in need. paid out.
• If we had a team of PhDs, what they would do is comb through our claims and start to project forward

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation on the Division of Medicaid within the Department of Health and Welfare, including an overview of the division’s five programs, staffing, spending trends, and the large share of the budget that goes to trust and benefit payments. Ms. Williamson explained the difference between ongoing and one-time enhancements, the role of population forecast adjustments, and why the fiscal year 2026 and 2027 numbers change significantly. Members asked about the growth in the budget, the FMAP match rate, the impact of provider rate changes, and the shift of some positions into Medicaid from other divisions after last year’s reorganization. A major topic was House Bill 345 and related budget changes, including the hospital assessment fund alignment, the 4% provider rate reduction, and the effect on Medicaid expansion and other populations. The committee discussed the decline in expansion enrollment, rising costs in traditional Medicaid populations, and the governor’s recommendation to offset part of the 2027 increase with additional reductions. Members raised concerns about access to care, especially for dental, behavioral health, developmental disability, and home- and community-based services, while the deputy director said the department is trying to contain costs through prior authorization, fraud and abuse work, and policy changes. The committee also focused on the MMIS replacement project, which is in year four of a five-year procurement and is funded through dedicated and federal dollars tied to milestones. Another significant item was estate recovery, where the department requested funding to replace an outdated case management system and add contractor support to address a backlog of roughly 20,000 cases; members questioned the return on investment and asked for more detail on the software and staffing split. The deputy director also explained the federally qualified health center reconciliation issue, saying the state had not been properly paying change-in-scope amounts and is now using a new process with interim payments and later reconciliation. In addition, lawmakers asked about program integrity staffing, the use of AI, and whether the department could better target fraud, waste, and abuse investigations. The deputy director said the department is reviewing AI use cautiously and sees opportunities for it in claims review and anomaly detection, but emphasized that the current request is for dedicated receipt authority rather than general funds. No formal votes were taken in the excerpt, but the committee received the presentation, asked extensive questions, and was told that some follow-up information would be provided later.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.

Committee: Joint Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:40 Chair Comments 00:02:51 Rep. Nima Kulkarni PFAS Presentation 00:04:35 EEC PFAS Presentation 00:39:36 Rusty Cress PFAS Presentation 01:01:10 Chair Comments on Admin Regs and Reports Received 01:14:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The inmates are the guards that come to keep the property clean.
• They have a committee, but nobody steps up and cleans it. Nobody keeps it up.
• I’m sure they want it clean. I think we all—it's an eyesore, yeah.
• And different churches come out, as I said, and clean it.
• So this kind of cleaned it up a lot better.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal Committee met at 12:09 p.m. with a quorum present and heard several local government bills. HB 990 by Rep. Lyons, supported by Jefferson Parish, would extend lien/privilege authority for unpaid sewerage and water service charges to Jefferson Parish, including issues involving multifamily properties with master meters. After questions about tenant impacts and administrative burden, the committee reported the bill favorably with no objection. HB 1087 by Rep. Adams, authorizing the City of Zachary to use certain inmates to cut grass in a private cemetery, drew significant concern from members about using unpaid prison labor on private property, the lack of clear ownership/contact with the cemetery board, and whether the property should instead be acquired or otherwise addressed. After discussion, the author withdrew the motion and the committee voluntarily deferred the bill to a later meeting. HB 893 by Rep. Knox, concerning the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, and HB 1007, creating the Foeberg Nouveau-Marine Improvement District in New Orleans Parish, were both reported favorably without objection. HB 1153 by Rep. Coates would allow parishes and municipalities to declare and enforce burn bans. The committee adopted amendments clarifying publication, lifting bans when risk subsides, and adjusting penalties, and then reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 1215 by Rep. Baham, dealing with the disposition of removed historical statues and monuments through the Lieutenant Governor’s Office of State Parks, was amended to require coordination rather than imposing costs solely on local governments, but members raised concerns about fiscal impact, local zoning authority, and the need for the lieutenant governor’s staff; the bill was voluntarily deferred for two weeks. HB 362 by Rep. Newell creating the Regency Park Townhomes Crime Prevention and Security District was reported favorably, while HB 484 on the New Orleans Regional Business Park was deferred after confusion over a proposed amendment and board appointment changes. Several other bills and resolutions were also deferred, and the committee adjourned after announcing the next agenda would include the deferred items.

Transcript Highlights:

• Management of these lands is specifically designed to produce more cold, clean water for summer spawning
• private investment to provide Washingtonians low-cost financing for solar energy, efficiency, and clean
• We will revolve these funds, so this investment will continue financing clean energy projects statewide
• funds a low-interest loan program that's used to provide critical infrastructure, whether that be clean
• funds a low-interest loan program that's used to provide critical infrastructure, whether that be clean

Bills: SB6003

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mason was for what you claim it was. There's a receipt right there. See that? Not a big deal.
• Mason was for what you claim it was. There's a receipt right there. See that? Not a big deal.
• We have claimed expenditures online... ...Commonwealth; we just have line items.
• We have claimed expenditures online, but we don't have the physical documents.
• You're making claims and the auditor's making claims.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with committee chairs explaining the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions’ role under Article 48 and outlining the process for initiative petition 25-14, H5-004, an act to improve access to public records. The first panel consisted of subject-matter experts. William Clark of the National Conference of State Legislatures gave an overview of public records laws across states, noting that all states have some form of open-records law but that exemptions for legislatures vary widely. He discussed common legislative exemptions, legislative privilege, and court cases showing that outcomes often turn on specific constitutional and statutory language. Rebecca Murray, General Counsel for the Secretary of the Commonwealth, described Massachusetts public records trends, saying state agency requests and appeals have risen sharply since the 2017 law update, with 2025 setting a record for appeals. She said the initiative would extend the public records law to the General Court and the Governor’s Office and add exemptions specific to those offices, while also noting resource concerns from the growing volume of requests and appeals.

Transcript Highlights:

• 460,000 job openings in Florida, and there's about 30,000 people that are on Florida unemployment claims
• that were, the number of fraudulent claims that have been done on an annual basis. ...the number of
• claims that were, the number of fraudulent claims that have been done on an annual basis, then they would
• and where they're coming from. ...going forward on these fraudulent claims and where they're coming
• Senator Bracey Davis, question. going forward on these on the fraudulent claims and who where they're

Bills: S0216 , S0246 , S0356 , S0388 , S0470 , S0488 , S0490 , S0528 , S0584 , S0594

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Keywords: reemployment assistance, fraud prevention, eligibility verification, Department of Commerce, benefit disqualification, specialty license plate, specialty plates, motor vehicle registration, license plate fees, annual use fees, Florida DHSMV, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, deauthorization, financial reporting, nonprofit organizations, college license plates, university license plates, veterans plates, law enforcement plates, Fraternal Order of Police

Transcript Highlights:

• The actions that we take are waste discharge requirements and NPDES permits under the Clean Water Act
• It was capped with a clean... It was clean sand.
• So we provided the City of San Diego, for example, with a progressive permit to clean channels so they
• I better understand the comment that you made as the federal government pulls back on clean water and
• So both a combination of non-battery energy storage as well as clean energy production.

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy focused on infrastructure, pollution, climate resilience, public health, access, and economic impacts of sea level rise in California, with an emphasis on San Diego and the Bay Area. Chair Tasha Boerner Horvath opened by describing the committee’s purpose, the state’s sea level rise action planning, and the need for better monitoring and early warning systems. She also referenced her prior bills AB 66 and AB 72, which supported Scripps research on coastal bluff collapse warning capabilities. Assembly Members David Alvarez and Jessica Caloza later joined and emphasized that sea level rise affects not only coastal communities but inland areas as well, and that the issue should inform future legislative and budget decisions. In the first panel, Dr. Mark Merrifield of Scripps Institution of Oceanography described observed sea level rise of roughly 0.8 to 0.9 feet since the early 1900s, with acceleration expected by mid-century and potentially much greater rise by 2100 depending on emissions. He highlighted flooding, groundwater rise, beach and cliff erosion, salinization, and risks to transportation, sewage, ports, and national security. Dave Gibson of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board discussed how sea level rise affects wastewater systems, stormwater, contaminated sites, wetlands, and coastal groundwater basins, and said the board is requiring climate adaptation planning, updating stormwater permits, and seeking more flexible state permitting and mitigation tools. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better mapping, more monitoring, and more state funding, especially if federal support from NOAA and other agencies declines. The second panel addressed public health, equitable access, and local economies. Ramon Chiras of Un Mar de Colores described how sea level rise, pollution, and access barriers threaten the Tijuana River Valley and Imperial Beach, especially for underserved communities and youth programs that rely on safe, welcoming access to the ocean. He stressed the cultural and spiritual importance of coastal access and the need for water safety and environmental education. Jessica Fane of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission explained that the Bay Area faces major economic exposure from sea level rise, citing a regional estimate of $96 billion in adaptation costs versus $230 billion in potential losses from inaction, and said BCDC is working with local governments under SB 272 on shoreline adaptation planning, funding, and regulatory innovation. Members discussed the tension between environmental permitting and the need to move projects faster, including the possibility of planned retreat in some areas and the use of simultaneous permitting and longer-term state authority to streamline adaptation work. In the final panel, Philip Gibbons of the Port of San Diego described the port’s climate adaptation efforts and its vulnerability assessments under AB 691. He said the port manages state tidelands, supports maritime commerce and recreation, and is already seeing flooding at king tides and during El Niño events, including storm-drain backflow and damage to bikeways and parks. He explained that future sea level rise could inundate major port areas and disrupt operations, underscoring the need for continued planning, mitigation, and infrastructure investment. The hearing did not take formal votes, but it concluded with a clear call for more science, funding, coordination, and regulatory streamlining to prepare California’s coast and nearby communities for worsening sea level rise impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• </c><00:51:25.640><c> water</c> he certainly wants you know clean water he certainly wants you know clean

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, based on those standards, we create, for fishable, swimmable, drinkable, as is in the Clean
• Water Act and the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA for short.
• Water Act and the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA for short.
• So just to note, that piece is, of course, cleaning up contaminated properties.
• up pollution, cleaning up pollution is really the most expensive type of work that we do.

Bills: HF276 , HF413 , HF411

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, LTSS, public assistance, application process, eligibility determination, customer service survey, wait times, form complexity, lead agencies, Department of Human Services, Department of Children Youth and Families, streamlining, administrative reform, case management, reassessment, intake system, adaptive eligibility form

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on all the claims. on all the claims.
• </c> premium dollars that went to claims. premium dollars that went to claims.
• Uh so your claims will be people. Uh so your claims will be relatively<02:59:12.440><c> stable.
• Um, so we bring 2024 in claims alone.
• </c><03:09:59.440><c> for</c> resources go directly to pay claims for resources go directly to pay claims

Committee: Joint Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Health care claims data is regularly used in health services research and policy analysis.
• files so that we can... ...claim on behalf of people we always should have been.
• that the people that we serve have Medi-Cal and we can claim on their behalf.
• We think there are more people than we could have been claiming for.
• are claiming everything that we're able to claim.

Summary: The committee heard opening budget remarks from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office on the May Revision for Health and Human Services. Finance said the proposal significantly reduces projected out-year operating deficits through a mix of revenue increases and program cost reductions, while the LAO warned that even with booming revenues the state still faces a structural deficit and should prioritize reserves and avoid new ongoing commitments. The chair and members echoed concern about cuts to vulnerable populations, but also noted the need to maintain the overall level of budget solutions and add to reserves. The hearing then moved through a series of CalHHS and HCAI proposals, mostly held open after presentation. CalHHS requested additional legal support to respond to federal H.R. 1-related issues and a net-zero transfer of positions for a shared eligibility/data-sharing platform. Other items included ongoing funding for the 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Service Fund and a request for EMSA to fund maintenance of its enterprise data management system. HCAI presented proposals for hospital fair pricing implementation, the data exchange framework, the all-payer claims database, CalRx insulin development, the diaper access initiative, distressed hospital grants, opioid settlement fund reversion, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Members questioned funding sources, special fund use, contracting exemptions, timelines, and whether some proposals should be more targeted or supported by alternative funding. A major discussion centered on HCAI’s diaper access initiative and the use of a Public Contract Code exemption to continue contracting for free diapers distributed through hospitals. The chair and some members criticized the optics of the selected vendor and questioned the lack of an income threshold, while HCAI said the program was designed to be universal and administratively simple, with future phase-two direct-to-consumer purchasing to be handled by a different vendor. Another extended exchange focused on distressed hospital funding, where HCAI said the May Revision would provide up to $50 million for hospitals at immediate risk of closure, but members argued the repeated annual need shows a structural problem and asked for broader reforms to hospital payment and care transitions. The final major topic was the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s budget. The Commission opposed the May Revision’s reduction of the Innovation Partnership Fund from $20 million to $10 million and a $6.7 million cut to community advocacy contracts, arguing both are core Proposition 1 tools for statewide innovation and community engagement. Finance responded that the proposal is within Proposition 1’s allowable maximums and that prior unspent appropriations could be redirected if the Legislature wanted to restore the full amount. No votes were taken; items were generally held open for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not serve women in the way they claim.
• </c> not serve women in the way they claim not serve women in the way they claim they<00:45:27.119><c
• </c><01:04:34.920><c> and</c><01:04:35.079><c> said</c> that uh Governor walls claimed and said that
• uh Governor walls claimed and said that that that Minnesota<01:04:37.720><c> was</c><01:04:37.880><c>
• <01:14:30.560><c> to</c> claim to claim to offer<01:14:32.920><c> I</c><01:14:33.080><c> was</c><01:14

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just defunct, and so we're just going to clean this off the books.
• It's just a defunct, and so we're just going to clean this off the books.
• So we're just going to clean this off the books.
• She said SB 1236 was seen as janitorial work to clean up Idaho Code, but she sees it differently.
• I know S1236 was seen as the janitorial work of cleaning up Idaho Code, but I see it differently.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• earlier, both carbon capture and sequestration are permitted within the current structure of the 100% clean
• Within the current structure of the 100% clean energy bill, this is duplicative and unnecessary.
• <00:01:15.759><c> so</c><00:01:16.479><c> this</c><00:01:16.680><c> is</c><00:01:17.280><c> um</c> clean
• energy bill um so this is um clean energy bill um so this is um duplicative<00:01:18.159><c> and</c>
• as it can be I mean again I as clean as it can be I mean again I think<00:02:58.200><c> this</c><00:

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment would add a provision prohibiting the Attorney General from offsetting third-party claims
• It would also specify that any award under 661B is only to settle claims with the state.
• </c><00:15:09.839><c> If</c> only to settle claims with the state.
• If only to settle claims with the state.
• claims against other parties,<00:15:12.200><c> they</c><00:15:12.320><c> would</c><00:15:12.480><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees met in decision-making sessions and considered a long list of Senate bills, with no oral testimony taken. Several measures were advanced unamended, including SB 2178 on industrial hemp, SB 2277 on hospital price transparency, SB 2387 on digital financial asset transaction kiosks, SB 2688 on compassionate release, SB 3132 on syndromic surveillance data reporting, SB 3219 on housing infrastructure growth bonds, and others. Many bills were also advanced with technical or substantive amendments, including SB 2114 on collective bargaining grievance rights, SB 2601 on procurement penalties, SB 2698 on cruise ships/transportation, SB 2757 on digital asset charters, SB 2948 on insurance fraud, SB 2002 on water governance, SB 2022 on state water code penalties, SB 2190 on inclusionary zoning, SB 3294 on wrongful imprisonment compensation, and SB 17, SB 2407, SB 2811, SB 2907, SB 2930, SB 3084, SB 3103, and SB 2808 in the later agenda segment. The committee also discussed SB 2080, relating to the psychology interjurisdictional compact, where one senator objected to interstate compacts as opening local jobs to out-of-state professionals; despite that objection, the measure was adopted. SB 3133 on preventive medicine drew amendment discussion to remove unnecessary language about committee members not being state employees and to delete an immunity subsection, while preserving ethics-code coverage and provider immunity. SB 3000 on insurance was amended to remove a savings clause, and SB 2921 on fund transfers received extensive amendments removing or revising numerous special funds and revolving accounts across agencies. Most votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, often with members present voting aye or with reservations. A few measures drew recorded no votes or reservations, including SB 2080, SB 3133, SB 2921, and SB 2401, where one member voted with reservations and the committee report was to reflect the Attorney General’s comments. In each case, the committee adopted the recommendation and moved the bills forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The President of the United States is claiming authority to take over state elections.
• But claiming authority isn't the same thing as having it, Mr. Chair.
• But claiming authority isn't the same thing as having it, Mr. Chair. ...lawful authority.
• But claiming authority isn't the same thing as having it, Mr. Chair.
• Then, as a voter, you would have standing to bring one of these claims. Okay.

Bills: SB264 , SB261

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The President of the United States is claiming authority to take over state elections.
• But claiming authority isn't the... ...and award any other appropriate relief.
• But claiming authority isn't the... ...from being able to do so.
• But claiming authority isn't the same thing as having it, Mr. Chair.
• Then, as a voter, you would have standing to bring one of these claims. Okay.

Bills: SB264 , SB261

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms

Summary: The committee heard two election-related bills. SB 264, sponsored by Sen. Duhigg and others and presented by the Secretary of State, would add definitions and new offenses to New Mexico election law to prohibit interference with elections, including the presence of troops or armed persons at polling places or ballot drop boxes, attempts to impose election rules contrary to state law, and intentional obstruction of access to polling places. It also would create civil enforcement options, strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language, and include emergency voting procedures for voters displaced by natural disasters. Supporters, including Common Cause, the Center for Civic Policy, and the League of Women Voters, said the bill protects voters from intimidation and outside interference. Several county clerks and rural legislators raised concerns about late changes, lack of consultation, rural logistics, and possible litigation. The committee adopted the Rules Committee substitute and advanced SB 264 on a 5-3 roll call vote. SB 261, presented as a companion election measure, would remove the existing exception that allowed law enforcement to carry firearms at polling places, but the sponsor offered an amendment to allow armed law enforcement to respond when called by the presiding judge, county clerk, or Secretary of State. Supporters said firearms do not belong in or around polling places because they can intimidate voters and poll workers, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary because existing law already covers law enforcement response and that the amendment created confusion. After a recess caused by members leaving the room, the committee returned, adopted the Rules Committee substitute including the amendment, and advanced SB 261 by unanimous voice vote.