Transcript Highlights:

• Events grew by 58 percent.
• And in-person enrollment events more than doubled, with 41 events across 13 new locations.
• So I'm wondering, in terms of the numbers without the subsidies, can you just throw out some samples
• family, for whatever you have at hand, what it would have been in 2025 and what it is now without the subsidies

Summary: The committee reviewed several Idaho Department of Health and Welfare rule dockets under zero-based rule review. For the Idaho Reportable Disease Rules, department staff said the revisions mainly reduce duplication and shorten the chapter, while adding viral hemorrhagic fevers and lowering the lead-poisoning reporting threshold from 5 to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. Members questioned whether stricken language on records access, daycare restrictions, inspection authority, and reporting duties changed policy; staff and the state epidemiologist said the edits were mostly consolidations or removals of language already covered by statute or federal law, and that no substantive reporting requirements were intended to change. Concerns were also raised about limited time to review the large docket, public notice, and trust in the department’s explanations. The committee approved the radiation control rules, which were described as being reduced by about 70 percent, with incorporation by reference removed and a new requirement that out-of-state licensees register within 30 days. It also approved the docket on use and disclosure of department records, which staff said simply removes repeated references to the Idaho Public Records Act, HIPAA, and other governing authorities without changing what records are protected. The reportable disease docket drew the most discussion; after debate over whether the rule changes were merely cosmetic and how statutory changes affect rules, a substitute motion to hold the docket for one week was adopted on a 5-9 roll call vote, with the docket set for reconsideration on February 3. Later in the meeting, the committee received Your Health Idaho’s annual report. Executive Director Pat Kelly said the exchange remained financially self-sustaining, had no state funding, and continued to post record enrollment, with more than 144,000 Idahoans selecting plans during open enrollment 2026. He said most enrollees receive tax credits, but the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits drove affordability concerns, increased disenrollment, and shifted many consumers into lower-cost bronze plans. Members asked about plan changes, enrollment math, assessment fee revenue, and the effect of premium increases versus the loss of enhanced subsidies. Kelly said the exchange’s net premium increases were driven mostly by the subsidy expiration, and the committee adjourned after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Received a prescription for an EpiPen, a potentially life-saving product used in the event of an emergency
• But I do want members to understand that what is coming through Medicaid, we are paying a hidden subsidy
• The only thing, you know, and I get that some organizations would lose this hidden subsidy, but this
• I haven't heard a thing, and as my understanding too is the 340B's hidden subsidy is only on outpays.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You're concerned about losing the ability to charge out the earliest events, and so you've come to the
• that leads to the triggering event that leads to the actions<00:34:30.960><c> that</c><00:34:31.280>
• </c><00:35:43.280><c> that</c> chair Noatne the triggering event that chair Noatne the triggering event
• </c><00:36:50.520><c> Um,</c><00:36:51.520><c> it</c><00:36:51.760><c> can</c> events happen.
• Um, it can events happen.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, Albuquerque hosts the largest major event associated with ballooning in the world.
• Moving to slide six, incident and event management is crucial.
• Weather events are becoming more extreme and are ubiquitous, whether you're in California, upstate New
• Representative Jones, you had some questions earlier for the prior presentation about weather events,
• So let's just pretend that there isn't a major event today. In the state of New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• But in the event that you are not able to, please know you can submit your written testimony; it will
• In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or a meeting for decision
• :14:43.480><c> the</c> the opportunity to testify but in the the opportunity to testify but in the event
• 14:44.519><c> not</c><00:14:44.680><c> able</c><00:14:44.880><c> to</c><00:14:45.160><c> please</c> event
• that you are not able to please event that you are not able to please know<00:14:45.560><c> you</c><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on February 6, 2025, and heard testimony on several transportation-related bills. HB 667 would require DOT or county departments to scan deceased cats or dogs found on public roadways for microchips, record information, and report it to county animal services. DOT said it supported the bill, and the Hawaiʻi Humane Society and others strongly backed it, describing it as important for grieving pet owners. A private citizen also testified in support, saying the measure could help families learn what happened to missing pets. The chair noted there were nine supporters. The committee then heard HB 230 on sending a carbon copy of traffic citations to vehicle owners, followed by HB 77, which would make civil identification cards free to issue or renew. The Attorney General’s office said it had already submitted comments on HB 77, DOT opposed it, and a private citizen supported it as a way to reduce barriers to basic services. HB 668, which would make license suspension mandatory for operating a vehicle without insurance, drew opposition from the Office of the Public Defender and DOT. The Public Defender argued current law already allows suspension and that a mandatory rule would discourage people from obtaining insurance, increase court burdens, and disproportionately affect indigent drivers; the chair emphasized that driving is a privilege and raised concerns about uninsured driving in rural areas. The Public Defender also said it would look into whether state insurance options could help people who cannot get traditional coverage. The committee also took up HB 12, which would bar inspection certificates for mopeds or vehicles modified to increase NOx emissions. DOT offered comments, Citizens Against Noise supported it, and the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed it; the chair noted six additional supporters and ten opponents. HB 169 would raise the minimum age for moped operators from 15 to 16 and increase the helmet requirement age from 18 to 21; DOT supported it, while Moped Doctors, Moped’s Direct, and seven individuals opposed it. HB 220 would require moped operators to carry insurance under motorcycle/motor scooter insurance laws; DCCA offered comments, DOT supported it, and Moped Doctors and ten individuals opposed it. Finally, the committee heard HB 277, which would establish a statewide vehicle pursuit policy for law enforcement agencies. The Policing Project at NYU and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi supported the bill, citing national data on deaths and injuries from pursuits and arguing for a baseline limit on pursuits for minor offenses; the Hawaii Police Department and Maui Police Department opposed it. The committee also heard HB 54, which would make a third or subsequent excessive speeding offense a Class C felony and allow vehicle forfeiture. DOT supported it, while the Public Defender opposed it, arguing the bill was overly harsh, internally inconsistent, and likely to strain courts, law enforcement, and probation systems by turning a traffic offense into a felony with prison exposure and jury-trial rights. No votes or final actions were taken on the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh, public subsidy cards and extract funds off of those public subsidy cards?
• </c><00:58:54.319><c> uh,</c><00:58:54.480><c> public</c><00:58:54.720><c> subsidy</c><00:58:55.200><
• c> cards</c> using subsidy uh, public subsidy cards using subsidy uh, public subsidy cards and<00:58:
• Has that been u a result subsidy cards?
• But I'm assuming if there are subsidies that go into a bank account, then that can be taken out of a

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In that event, please know that your written testimony will be considered by the committee.
• In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting
• In<00:16:00.639><c> the</c><00:16:00.800><c> event</c><00:16:00.959><c> of</c><00:16:01.120><c> a</c>
• <00:16:01.279><c> network</c><00:16:01.759><c> failure,</c><00:16:02.720><c> it</c> In the event of a
• network failure, it In the event of a network failure, it may<00:16:03.120><c> be</c><00:16:03.199><

Bills: HB2425 , HB2596 , HB2573 , HB2017 , HB1931 , HB1736 , HB1594 , HB1828

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: agriculture, sugarcane, permitting process, land use, conservation district, diversified agriculture, economic impact, invasive species, plant sales, weed risk assessment, consumer protection, environmental impact, workforce development, biosecurity, training program, partnerships, tax credit, Hawaiian home lands, investment costs, nonrefundable

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and then took testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 2425 would exempt agricultural enterprises on former commercial sugarcane lands in conservation use districts from certain permitting and site plan requirements. The Department of Agriculture supported the measure and stood on written comments. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but said the bill appeared to cite the wrong statute and suggested amending the conservation district law instead. Other testimony was generally supportive, while some witnesses raised concerns about using the right statutory vehicle. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be redirected through a different chapter. The committee then heard HB 596, which would require retail sellers of plants to disclose invasiveness risk, direct the Invasive Species Council to create a labeling system and weed risk assessments, and establish fines. The Department of Land and Natural Resources strongly supported the bill, saying point-of-sale labels would help consumers make informed choices. Supporters from the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species said the state’s noxious weed and restricted plant lists are outdated or incomplete and that the bill would help prevent harmful species from being purchased and planted. Opponents, including the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, argued the measure was too broad, could stigmatize plants and producers, and might be better implemented through voluntary education or narrower definitions. Committee discussion focused on possible amendments, including using printable labels from a website and limiting the bill to larger commercial retailers. HB 2573 would create a five-year agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program involving the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Leeward Community College, and the Department of Human Resources Development. DHRD said it supported the intent but wanted clearer responsibilities; the University of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, and others supported the proposal. DAB said the program would help build needed biosecurity staffing and training, and that law-enforcement-related curriculum could be incorporated. Finally, the committee began hearing HB 207, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include certain Hawaiian homelands and additional agricultural costs such as orchards, fruit crops, and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Taxation and DAB stood on written comments, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands strongly supported the bill, calling it a potential game-changer for developing agricultural lands and offsetting infrastructure costs; the department also asked that the credit be broadened beyond agriculture alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:05.120><c> from</c> event brought together athletes from event brought together athletes from
• Yes, the a industry is about subsidies.
• This scheme federal subsidy at all.
• Take away their money. the 90% ridiculous subsidy of the the 90% ridiculous subsidy of the able-bodied
• </c> federal grants, student loan subsidies? federal grants, student loan subsidies?

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The map also identifies collection events.
• All counties without a permanent facility hold at least one collection event per year.
• Three other counties hold collection events to supplement their permanent facility collections.
• Three other counties hold collection events to supplement their permanent facility collections.
• Eventually, it gets brought to a collection event.

Summary: The committee held an interim work session focused first on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), then on hazardous waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR). On the CCUS topic, industry and nonprofit presenters described point-source capture, direct air capture, mineralization, and geologic sequestration, emphasizing Washington’s basalt formations and state trust lands as strong candidates for storage. They argued that CCUS can help hard-to-abate industrial sectors, support jobs and investment, and provide a pathway for compliance, while also noting the need for clearer permitting, subsurface rights, pipeline authority, and storage infrastructure. Ecology and Commerce staff explained current state policy touchpoints, including Cap-and-Invest offsets and exemptions for permanently stored CO2, the public comment process underway to define “thousand-year” permanence, and how CCUS might fit within the Clean Energy Transformation Act without counting emitting generation as non-emitting. Some presenters supported more state action and primacy over federal permitting, while others warned about costs, energy use, uncertain capture performance, and the need to ensure real net greenhouse gas reductions and long-term liability protections. Members asked about public meetings, whether mineralized carbon would qualify as exempt under the Climate Commitment Act, the timeline for Ecology guidance, aquifer and water-quality concerns, energy intensity of capture systems, and liability if storage later proves problematic. Responses said Ecology’s guidance process is already underway, public meetings will be virtual, mineralized carbon would likely qualify if it meets the permanence standard, and EPA rules require storage in deep saline formations below drinking water aquifers. Industry speakers said capture energy use varies by source and concentration, and one presenter noted that some states use trust funds funded by injectors to address long-term liability. The second half of the session shifted to hazardous waste and EPR. Ecology staff reviewed existing product stewardship programs for electronics, paint, batteries, and mercury lights, and described moderate risk waste and household hazardous waste management in Washington. They highlighted that E-Cycle and PaintCare are producer-funded, that the battery stewardship program will begin in 2027, and that the mercury lamp program is in transition after its prior stewardship organization exited, prompting enforcement notices and a pending replacement plan. Ecology recommended best practices for future EPR programs, including clear producer and product definitions, full producer funding, convenience standards, annual reporting, and strong agency enforcement and plan approval authority. Local government speakers from King County and Douglas County described rising collection costs, equity and access barriers, rural travel distances, and the need for stable funding and flexible local implementation. King County said it collected over 3 million pounds of hazardous products in 2025 and supports EPR as a way to shift costs from ratepayers to producers, while Douglas County emphasized that rural residents will participate when services are accessible and that future systems should account for geography and local infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• All testifiers may have the opportunity to testify in that event.
• In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule a hearing or schedule a meeting
• In the<00:04:30.080><c> event</c><00:04:30.320><c> of</c><00:04:30.400><c> a</c><00:04:30.639><c> network
• </c><00:04:30.960><c> failure,</c><00:04:31.280><c> it</c><00:04:31.440><c> may</c> the event of a network
• failure, it may the event of a network failure, it may be<00:04:31.759><c> necessary</c><00:04:32.080

Bills: SB2885 , SB2174 , SB2925 , SB2798 , SB2320 , SB2800 , SB1230 , SB2706 , SB3233 , SB2405 , SB2350 , SB2169 , SB3320

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: coconut rhinoceros beetle, invasive species, biosecurity, green waste, environmental management, agriculture, quarantine, pest control, transport regulations, Hawaii Revised Statutes, coconut trees, tax credit, natural management, Hawaii, environment, agricultural enforcement, agricultural theft, farm theft, crop theft, commodity theft

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2885 SD1, which would create mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material beginning in 2027, with penalties and an effective date. Support came from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, DLNR, Maui County Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Testifiers generally said the bill would help reduce CRB spread, though some urged additional science-backed methods, better coordination, and technical or cost-share support for smaller operations. Hawaiian Earth Recycling recommended amendments to align the bill with existing Department of Health/EPA composting rules, add other materials that can harbor CRB, allow future approved treatment methods, and replace the bill’s 60-day turning requirement with existing pathogen-reduction standards. One individual supported the goal but argued the state’s CRB strategy has lacked community and cultural consultation and should include a cultural advisement role. Department witnesses said enforcement would rely on inspection and an educate-before-regulate approach, and they noted the challenge of creating enough drop-off sites, especially in rural areas. The committee then took up SB 2174 SD2, which would authorize the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to declare an emergency quarantine, halt operations in affected areas for 96 hours with possible extension, quarantine suspected pest areas, issue notices and compensation to affected farmers, and adopt interim transportation rules for materials that may harbor high-impact invasive species. The department and DLNR supported the measure, emphasizing the need for fast action in the first hours of an invasion. Hawaii Farmers Union supported the compensation provisions but asked for stronger communication with producers and a post-action report to the Board of Agriculture after about 90 days to evaluate effectiveness and economic impacts. In response to questions, department staff said the bill would be a short-term, department-only quarantine authority distinct from the governor-declared biosecurity emergency authority enacted previously, and that it could serve as an intermediate step. They also said outreach would need to be done through farm organizations such as Farmers Union, Farm Bureau, and Cattlemen’s groups. The final measure discussed was SB 2925 SD1, relating to coconut trees. The bill would recognize coconut trees as a source of food and water and a cultural treasure, require rules for coconut tree seed banks, require signage identifying landscape palms where applicable, set labeling standards for non-consumable landscape palms, and create an income tax credit for consumable coconut trees maintained through natural management practices. The transcript ended before testimony or action on this bill was completed, and no vote was taken on any of the measures discussed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• improves firefighter access and significantly increases the home likelihood of surviving a wildfire event
• structure-to-structure ignition, increased fire spread, and threaten entire neighborhoods during major wildfire events
• the bill and instead includes the value attributable renewable energy credits and the governmental subsidy
• under the income method and the governmental subsidy under the cost method.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $300 million ongoing from the Health Care Affordability Reserve Fund to expand the state premium subsidy
• sustainable communities program to streamline administration and better leverage complementary housing subsidies
• gender-affirming care, putting money into care for seniors and dental care, and Covered California subsidies
• grow enrollments in the hottest summer months and help avoid blackouts if there's an extreme heat event
• Summer months and help avoid blackouts if there's an extreme heat event.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we were at an event yesterday, and he said, I'm so excited what you're doing on modular.
• performance. ...directly incentivize a predictable flow of factory-built housing through its subsidy
• And that was a difference between needing $18 million in public subsidy or not.
• In Oakland, we delivered a first-in-the-state model of middle-income housing with no public subsidy.
• So, in any event, has there been any concept about that and what that means in the field?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we were at an event yesterday, and he said, I'm so excited what you're doing on Majo.
• state itself does not directly incentivize a predictable flow of factory-built housing through its subsidy
• state itself does not directly incentivize a predictable flow of factory-built housing through its subsidy
• performance. directly incentivize a predictable flow of factory-built housing through its subsidy affordable
• In Oakland, we delivered a first-in-the-state model of middle-income housing with no public subsidy.

Summary: The Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation met to examine how industrialized construction, including modular, panelized, manufactured, and 3D-printed building methods, could help lower California’s housing costs and speed delivery. Chair Buffy Wicks opened by describing the committee’s purpose as a cross-cutting effort to address construction costs, drawing on visits to factories in Sweden, Idaho, and Indiana. Members from both the committee and invited participants broadly agreed that California’s housing crisis is driven not only by land use and permitting, but also by high construction costs, labor shortages, and a lack of scalable innovation. Ben Metcalf of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center provided the main policy overview, saying California needs roughly 2.5 million additional homes by 2030 and that multifamily construction costs in the state can be far higher than in Texas or Colorado. He said factory-built housing can reduce hard costs and timelines under the right conditions, but barriers remain in financing, local code and design review, uncertain demand pipelines, and fragmented research and data. In response to committee questions, he discussed possible state actions such as pro-housing incentives, state-backed purchasing or subsidies, more standardized approvals, and better research infrastructure. Members also raised the need to involve labor and building trades in the process. A panel of developers and builders then described projects and cost savings from factory-built and related methods. Caleb Rupp of Pacific Companies said modular construction can save about 20% on average and cited a project where modular delivery reduced the need for public subsidy by $18 million; he suggested incentives such as tax exemptions, state-owned sites, third-party inspections, and limits on local code variation. Lois Kim of Mutual Housing California described a pipeline of more than 660 units across six jurisdictions, saying a predictable factory pipeline can reduce construction time by about 40% and total development costs by at least 10%. Danny Haber of O’WOW said standardized design, componentized construction, and mass timber can cut costs substantially, while also criticizing outdated codes, utility hookup fees, and financing costs. Donna Jamian of Emergent Construction described California’s first code-approved 3D concrete printing projects, including homes in Redding and work on a commercial building and fire-recovery projects in Altadena. She said current codes have not caught up to the technology and asked for participation in local self-certification programs. Committee members asked about the role of state incentives, code alignment, financing support, and how to build developer confidence after failures like Katerra. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further hearings and a forthcoming white paper with policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are going to focus on the southeast and central United States where they get subsidies.
• They are going to focus on the southeast and central United States where they get subsidies.
• It is a subsidy, for sure, but it is a well-worth subsidy for the public at large, because then, as the
• It is a subsidy, for sure, but it is a well-worth subsidy for the public at large, because then, as the
• subsidy for um is a well-worth subsidy for um the<01:01:05.240><c> public</c><01:01:06.040><c> uh</c

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I tracked the events that we do, and last year, we had at least 220 events that we participated
• In January, we had a very successful event in Edinburgh, in South Texas.
• That includes many events.
• That includes many events.
• We also host social and peer network events like our Army versus Navy game watch party every year.

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard a briefing from the Texas Veterans Commission on its major programs and outreach efforts. TVC described its claims assistance, health care advocacy, education oversight, employment services, entrepreneurship support, mental health and suicide prevention work, women veterans services, grant funding for nonprofits and local governments, and support for veteran treatment courts. The agency also highlighted its communications strategy, including media outreach, events, newsletters, social media, and the Texas Veterans State Benefits Booklet, and noted that less than 58% of veterans were aware of TVC in the latest needs assessment. A committee member asked about performance metrics, and TVC said each appropriation has associated measures and that it could provide recent results. The committee then took up Senate Bill 651, which would allow a county veterans service office in a large county to report either directly to commissioners court or to a designated county executive official. Senator West explained the bill as a cleanup of current practice, and Dallas County testified in support, saying the change would streamline internal management. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 897 would reduce the non-state matching requirement for the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program in larger counties from 100 percent to 75 percent in the committee substitute, rather than the 50 percent reduction in the filed version. Supporters from MetroCare and Emergence Health Network said the lower match would help sustain and expand veteran mental health services, citing increased demand and program growth. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also adopted its rules. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1814, which would create an interagency database to collect and coordinate contact information for transitioning veterans so agencies could proactively connect them with services. Senator Hancock said the goal was to better use information already being collected, though he noted the bill had a significant fiscal note. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1818, which would create a temporary six-month licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas while they wait for letters of good standing from other states. VFW testified in support, emphasizing the importance of employment for military families. Both bills were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• But in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50.
• BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE CONTINUE BEYOND 1:50.
• In any event, I'd like to thank my colleague from Washington for bringing this forward. Thank you.
• IN ANY EVENT, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM WASHINGTON FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU.
• And cutting SNAP, Medicaid, and ACA subsidies.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Particularly, you know, obviously we're seeing water contamination events around the state.
• language that's historically been included in House Bill 2 to allow our... seeing water contamination events
• If you recall, the federal subsidies for people on the exchange are ending for people over 400% of the
• contingency language based on the appropriation that we're adding for the above 400% poverty level subsidies
• decides to continue the subsidies, it would—it’s contingent on them not continuing the subsidies because

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll give us greater flexibility and greater certainty in the event we are entering into contracts for
• "I think we need a subsidy for housing.
• If a patient recently received care in my office or hospital and subsequently had a fatal event, it is
• And many times those arrangements actually involve some subsidy of those professional services as well
• So if we could deal with that cross-subsidy, I think, and let the market work, again, managing out the

Bills: SB500 , SB719 , SB912 , SB1232 , SB1467 , SB1777 , SB1864 , SB2023 , SB2119 , SB2458

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Summary: The committee first took up several pending bills and reported them favorably: SB 968, SB 636 as substituted, SB 1137, and SB 1138 as substituted. Each was advanced by roll call vote, and the committee also recommended the approved bills for the local and uncontested calendar. The chair then moved to the posted agenda and heard SB 719, a mental health bed-capacity study bill by Senator Eckhart, with a committee substitute that refined the data collection to distinguish state and non-state beds, child and adult beds, include two point-in-time counts, and capture jail diversion data. Testimony on SB 719 was largely supportive from Integral Care, NAMI Texas, and the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas, all of whom said Texas needs better data on inpatient psychiatric capacity, workforce needs, and future demand. Several witnesses described long waits for beds, especially for forensic restoration, and argued the study would help target future investments. Senator Perry and others noted the state has already made major investments in new beds and urged the bill to account for beds already coming online; the committee ultimately withdrew the substitute and left SB 719 pending after public testimony closed. The committee then heard SB 1864, which would allow small egg producers to sell ungraded eggs more broadly, including to restaurants and retailers, with the substitute increasing the weekly sales threshold and addressing sanitation and labeling. Supporters said grading is about size, not safety, and that the bill would help small farms reach new markets; opponents from the Texas Poultry Federation argued grading and candling help identify cracks and defects that can affect safety and quality. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. It also heard SB 1467, requiring DSHS to share death record information with hospitals for record accuracy and quality review, and SB 912, which would modernize continuing education tracking for health licensing agencies; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2023, which would create an HHSC grant program to help counties pay for indigent burial costs, with county representatives testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clearly, natural gas prices in Texas are insulated from international events such as these, Clearly,
• Where is it now without subsidies?
• Without subsidies, you're probably looking at twice the cost for hydrogen fueling a heavy truck than
• And under the 45V, the subsidy is at $3, up to $3? It's $3 a kilogram, yes.
• By the subsidy is at three dollars, up to three dollars per kilogram?

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all