Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• Twenty percent of Texas' current physician workforce is over the age of 65, and they are expected to
• House Bill 3800 creates an advisory board at the Texas Workforce Commission with members from across
• And sectors, creating the tools needed to grow and support a stronger health care workforce for Texas
• And you're with the Texas Workforce Consortium? Yes, ma'am. And you're neutral on the bill?
• I want to thank Carrie with the Workforce Commission.

Bills: HB 44, HB 2200, HB 1612, HB 2747, HB 2038, HB 3717, HB 1431, HB 3800, HB 3801, HB 3560, HB 3246

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Summary: The meeting of the public health committee focused on the pressing issue of opioid addiction in Texas, with a particular emphasis on House Bill 3717. Chairman Harris detailed the bill's intent to fund a grant program for Ibogaine clinical trials, framing it as a critical response to the ongoing opioid crisis. He shared poignant testimonies highlighting the struggles of families and veterans battling addiction and mental health issues. The conversation underscored the necessity of innovative treatments, like Ibogaine, which showed promising results in studies for reducing symptoms of withdrawal and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Chuck Ross here from the Texas Workforce Commission as a resource.
• Commission to the Texas Historical Commission.
• Peculiarly right now, if the Texas Workforce Commission is looking through ways that they can prevent
• What this bill does, essentially, is allow the Texas Workforce Commission to conduct its fraud prevention
• We have Chuck Ross available from the Texas Workforce Commission as a resource.

Bills: HB1240, HB2768, HB2788, HB3146, HB4850, HB5032, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Chuck Ross here from the Texas Workforce Commission as a resource.
• Peculiarly, right now, if the Texas Workforce Commission is looking through ways that they can prevent
• What this bill does essentially allows the Texas Workforce Commission to do its fraud prevention activities
• Peculiarly, right now, if the Texas Workforce Commission is looking through ways that they can prevent
• We have Chuck Ross available from the Texas Workforce Commission as a resource.

Bills: HB1240, HB2768, HB2788, HB3146, HB4850, HB5032, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met without a quorum, so no votes or formal actions were taken. The chair laid out several bills and resolutions for explanation and public testimony, with each item left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early items included House Bill 1240, a cleanup measure to create a single uniform definition of the Texas-Mexico border region across state law, and House Bill 2768, which would establish an IT apprenticeship credential through junior colleges and technical institutions to help fill state government technology jobs. The committee also heard House Concurrent Resolution 90, which would encourage establishing a Texas trade and investment office in Jerusalem. Testimony on the resolution was sharply divided: one witness opposed it on foreign policy and values grounds, while a Texas Association of Business representative strongly supported it, citing Israel’s innovation and trade potential. Another major item was House Bill 4187, a committee substitute for legislation affecting the Texas Historical Commission; the sponsor described changes expanding use of trust fund money for historic sites, allowing more affiliated nonprofits, clarifying retail operations, and creating a framework for training and consistent interpretation at historic sites. A Texas Historical Commission witness explained that the bill would shift responsibility for maintaining many state-owned historical markers and monuments, including markers on private land, to the commission. Additional measures included House Bill 2788, which would shield Texas Workforce Commission fraud-prevention methods from public information requests; House Bill 5032, directing state agencies to plan for public display of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Texas Constitution, and the Victory or Death letter at the Capitol Complex; House Bill 3146, which would eliminate outdated memoranda-of-understanding requirements for certain State Office of Administrative Hearings arrangements; and House Bill 4815, a cleanup bill modernizing economic development statutes, revising the Made in Texas standard to 51% Texas-origin content, repealing the Governor’s Broadband Development Council, and making other conforming changes. The committee ended by recessing, with members indicating they would likely vote on pending business later when a quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1147 establishes a pilot program in Cameron County, administered by the Texas Workforce Commission
• We show you registered as Mary York, Director of Workforce Development from the Texas Workforce Commission
• We show you registered as Mary York on behalf of the Texas Workforce Commission, Director of Workforce
• We show you registered as Mary York on behalf of the Texas Workforce Commission, Director of Workforce
• We show you registered as Mary York, Director of Workforce Development for the Texas Workforce Commission

Bills: HB322, HB331, HB673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• Similar programs offered by Texas institutions of higher education would enable the Texas Higher Education
• Coordinating Board, in consultation with the Texas institutions, to adopt minimum standards for Texas
• Recent high-profile incidents, including those at Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at
• I am a third-year law student at Texas Law. Texas at Austin.
• I am a second-year law student at the University of Texas, and I'm a big fan of Texas football as well

Bills: SB2972, SB1909, SB2815, SB735, SB2233, SB800, SB1069, SB2683, SB2986, SB2058, SB2310, SB2055, SB1032

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas students and the Texas economy, and it will further strengthen our leader. uh... leadership in
• current Texas law.
• People will. choose not to either come to Texas, or in your case, stay in Texas.
• I'm from Texas, but I was. Desperate to escape Texas.
• State Health Services Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies biannually collects some placement data

Bills: SB2972, SB1909, SB2815, SB735, SB2233, SB800, SB1069, SB2683, SB2986, SB2058, SB2310, SB2055, SB1032

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Bills: SB14, SB217, SB586, SB856, SCR12, SCR24, SB 14

Keywords: regulatory reform, state agencies, efficiency, rulemaking, judicial review, SB 217, Historic Texas Freedmen's Cemetery Designation Program, Texas Historical Commission, Freedmen's cemetery, freed slave burial site, cemetery designation, historic cemetery, African American history, Black cemetery, burial grounds, cemetery preservation, historical marker, medallion, property owner notice, adjacent landowners

Transcript Highlights:

• Space Commission and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium.
• Norman Garza, Executive Director of the Texas Space Commission. I think I've got to...
• So, a lot of conversations are underway currently about the Texas Space Commission.
• Thank you for being here today. registered as Chuck Ross on behalf of Texas Workforce Commission and
• I'm Chuck Ross, Director of Fraud Deterrence and Compliance Monitoring, Texas Workforce Commission.

Bills: HB3146, HB3719, HB3895, HB3923, HB4748, HB4751, HB4936, HB4952, HB4990, HB4991, HB5061, HB5196, HB5238, HB5246, HB5487

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• These include the Texas Campaign for Mothers, the Texas Civil Justice League, the Texas Medical Association
• . the Texas Hospital Association, Texas Right to Life, Texas Alliance for Life, Texans for Life Committee
• in Inouye, Texas and Texas v.
• The Texas Supreme Court.
• in Texas.

Bills: HB44, HB2200, HB1612, HB2747, HB2038, HB3717, HB1431, HB3800, HB3801, HB3560, HB3246, HB44

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Bills: SB 324, SB 1978, SB 2139, SB 2401, SB 2587, SB 2610, SB 2858, SB 3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, Sunset Review, government accountability, Texas Lottery Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Ethics Commission, government agencies, regulatory review

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas. Our citizens, these are Texas citizens, you know, and so this is not tough on them.
• Texas 2036 ran a poll on this question to Texas voters, and we asked Texas voters a very simple question
• Texas Tribune, there was a TDCJ spokesperson that made a comment in the Texas Tribune that of the 85
• and Regulation, the Texas Workforce Commission, a Higher Education Institution on a rotating basis, and
• Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOL.

Bills: HB1826, HB2854, HB3006, HB4614, HB5261, HB5639

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, HB 2854, Pokuaa-Flowers Act, parole, mandatory supervision, electronic monitoring, releasee, parole officer, hospital visit approval, general hospital, law enforcement notification, DSHS, Department of State Health Services, corrections, public safety, liability immunity

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4443 establishes a pilot program through the Texas Workforce Commission to train students and recent
• We have a resource witness from the Texas Workforce Commission for any questions. Any questions?
• CSHB 446 directs the Texas Workforce Commission to create a Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Board.
• Workforce Commission and put in place needed protections to keep Texas workers safe while on the job.
• There is a timeline that is reasonable, which this bill would require the Texas Workforce Commission

Bills: HB446, HB1609, HB4443, HB4464, HB4735, HB5476

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, Texas Workforce Commission, advisory board, employee rights, administrative penalties, training requirements, employee training, occupational health, employer penalties, worker rights, heat illness, volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency responder, emergency medical services volunteer, EMS volunteer, firefighter, fire department, emergency services, declared disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Mary York, and I'm with the Texas Workforce. ...Commission, and I'm here as a resource.
• an online resource through the Texas Workforce Commission, serving as a one-stop shop where employers
• I'm the Division Director of the Child Care and Early Learning Division at the Texas Workforce Commission
• We are asking the Texas Workforce Commission to consolidate these resources into this employer-driven
• Texas Workforce Commission, you already have the Texas Work and Family Policies website.

Bills: SB209, SB529, SB1265, SB1592, SB1728, SCR37, SCR38

Keywords: SB 529, Texas Tax Code, municipality, hotel and convention center, hotel convention center project, tourism development, economic development, tax revenue pledge, revenue commitment, qualified project, municipal finance, local government, special district, hotel occupancy tax, nearby establishments, convention center financing, city population 130000, Section 351.155, Section 351.157, child care

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally, Senate Bill 904 would allow the Texas Commission on Licensing and Regulation to consult only
• I'm with the Citizens Commission on Human Rights Texas and we're for the bill.
• . ...are Texas online programs that are affiliated with Texas brick-and-mortar universities.
• You know, the Texas Transportation Commission... as a rural member.
• I'm from Dallas, Texas. You're from Dallas, Texas. Okay.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Board's Health Care Workforce Task Force. that report.
• The Workforce Commission has data... occupations.
• I'm with Texas CASA.
• At least 100,000 of those deaths were in Texas alone.
• Nora Cox, Texas E-Health.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Bills: HB 1237, HB 2663, HB 3071, HB 4384

Keywords: occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, solid waste, landfill permits, environmental regulation, population density, municipal waste management, gas utilities, cost recovery, regulatory asset, rate making, Texas Railroad Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1078 would amend the Labor Code to require the Workforce Commission to create in collaboration
• The Workforce Commission would be tasked with distributing this poster to each employer who employs at
• House Bill 39 also requires the Texas Veterans Commission to prepare and submit a comprehensive report
• Department, for the Texas Veterans Commission, which includes our Military Veteran Peer Network, our
• So we've got to continue to do this, and we applaud our... partners with the Texas Veterans Commission

Bills: HB39, HB227, HB930, HB 1078, HB39, HB227

Keywords: highway designation, veteran recognition, commemorative, transportation, Brazoria County, Texas National Guard, combat duty, military activation, state requirements, emergency response, active combat duty, military service, Congressional action, Governor responsibilities, Congressional declaration, state law, conflict, armed forces, congressional approval, war declaration

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, my interest in this goes back to the triage Agency Workforce Commission that we established
• To fully realize the return on Texas' investment in education and workforce alignment, we need robust
• investment of the Texas CHIPS Act.
• The Texas TRUE Initiative, the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Initiative, and we put about $50 million
• I'm excited that we can move this bill forward for the good of Texas and our workforce.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees determined to be in targeted occupation fields, as identified and run by the Texas Workforce
• Commission, would be considered a target for the commission.
• The bill amends the Texas Education Code by establishing the Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission
• The commission is administratively linked to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, but it reports
• market demands as identified by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction