Transcript Highlights:

• Law enforcement may seek blood samples from living suspects.
• in the blood.
• of blood results.
• Blood evidence could be: I need your blood evidence because I have blood at a crime scene.
• Obviously, if we increase the amount of blood that is coming into being sampled, and I'll have to separate

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum present and heard a presentation from FDLE Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard on homicide investigations, blood evidence, toxicology, medical records, and mental health records. Pollard explained that autopsy toxicology and medical examiner records are often critical in death investigations, but access to hospital blood tests, medical records, Baker Act records, and substance abuse treatment records is restricted by Florida law, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2, usually requiring subpoenas, court orders, or consent. He also noted that autopsy reports are generally public, while photographs are confidential, and that medical examiners can access relevant prior medical history of decedents. Members questioned Pollard about what toxicology panels include, whether medications can be tested for, and whether medical examiner reviews can help determine if a deceased person had stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication. Pollard said toxicology can include alcohol, drugs, and specific medications when relevant, but routine access to living suspects’ medical information is limited. He also discussed FDLE’s behavioral threat assessment work and said investigators may follow leads involving mental health treatment or facility releases when relevant to a case, though he could not speak to regulatory follow-up. The committee also discussed risk protection orders, with Pollard saying FDLE has used them effectively and that they can help prevent violence and connect individuals to services. The discussion then shifted to FDLE laboratory turnaround times and public safety impacts. Pollard said the average DNA turnaround time was 208 days for some cases, while sex assault kits are prioritized and generally remain under 90 days, with rush cases sometimes completed within 24 hours. He said backlog is tied to staffing and analyst capacity, and that faster processing is especially important in unsolved violent and sexual assault cases because delays can leave offenders on the street. The committee also noted that increased toxicology demands would affect toxicology staffing and workload, though not DNA processing. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Blood testing for military.
• Does it sample at the bases?
• All of the participants who gave a blood sample received their individual results.
• samples and manage those samples.
• And the reason is because we wouldn't be pulling blood samples.

Transcript Highlights:

• produce insulin leading to high blood produce insulin leading to high blood sugar<00:42:38.400><
• <00:42:42.599> sugar includes insulin therapy blood sugar includes insulin therapy blood sugar
• agreeable to that so nhba has a a sample agreeable to that so nhba has a a sample policy<01:16:36.920
• <01:21:41.560> policies than I'm asking if your sample policies than I'm asking if your sample
• contemplated that but our sample contemplated that but our sample policies<01:22:18.239> don't

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and sample submission.
• The critical point of sampling is: call us.
• So we're able to get there to collect the sample.
• We're testing a lot of samples.
• Wei Lee analyzed the blood, we drew blood for 35 consecutive days, that for all of the days following

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture and Livestock Committee met to receive an update on New World screwworm response efforts and hear industry and stakeholder perspectives on possible ways to accelerate eradication. The chair described the pest as an urgent threat to Texas livestock, wildlife, companion animals, and rural economies, noting recent confirmed cases in the state and emphasizing the need for additional options beyond current federal efforts. Testimony focused on two main approaches: expanding sterile fly production and exploring medicated feed options for livestock and wildlife. Charles Maley of the South Texas Property Rights Association urged the state to support additional sterile fly capacity, arguing that sterile flies are the proven tool for eradication and that Texas should help create supplemental production capacity using existing infrastructure and Texas-based research assets. Nathan Moses Gonzales of M3 Agriculture Technologies proposed a modular sterile insect technique program using X-ray sterilization, potentially based in Veracruz, Mexico, as a private-sector complement to USDA efforts. He said a $4 million demonstration phase would be needed first, with a longer-term path to 25 to 50 million flies in about six months and 100 million flies within a year, but stressed that any effort would require close coordination with USDA and Mexican authorities. He also said his company had applied for USDA grant funding but did not receive an award. Charles Echle of Lysian Echle Feed and Tim Acres of Westway Feed Products testified in support of an emergency use authorization pathway for ivermectin-based medicated feed, describing ongoing studies in deer and cattle and arguing that feed-based delivery could provide a practical bridge until sterile fly production is sufficient. They said the feed approach would be voluntary, targeted to infested or surveillance zones, and would need veterinary oversight and state chemist supervision to manage dosing and reduce resistance risks. Committee members questioned the witnesses about timelines, costs, regulatory approvals, and whether the proposals would complement or duplicate USDA’s current work; no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• So we brought on scientists who actually went out and collected... ...those samples, and then those samples
• And so that was for the well samples, the water well samples, which is the appropriate kind of comparison
• We didn't take those samples. Okay.
• But you didn't test any samples?
• It's a lot higher because we sampled so many more, so many more of the samples tested with Johnson County

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• when kids or youth or adults have high levels of blood lead in their blood.
• when kids or youth or adults have high levels of blood lead in their blood.
• when kids or youth or adults have high levels of blood lead in their blood.
• when kids or youth or adults have high levels of blood lead in their blood.
• the rates of of kids with high blood the rates of of kids with high blood blood<01:10:32.800>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Post-sampling. We got to keep that pH adequate.
• samples in an appropriate manner?
• to do some sampling.
• This is the wastewater and solid sampling method.
• So on your soil sampling, what is the rate?

Summary: The meeting focused on the use of biosolids on farm and ranch land, with testimony from Oklahoma State University experts, a conservation official, and an engineering representative about the benefits, risks, and regulatory implications. Dr. Lusk described OSU’s long history of soil fertility research and said biosolids can provide nutrients and organic matter, but also may carry contaminants such as PFAS, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and pathogens. He emphasized that many questions remain unanswered, especially about contaminant uptake into soil, crops, livestock, and humans, and said existing EPA and Oklahoma DEQ regulations address some treatment and application standards but may not fully cover PFAS. Dr. Arnell expanded on nutrient management, explaining that biosolids can function similarly to manure as a fertilizer source, especially for nitrogen and phosphorus, but should be tested, incorporated into soil, and applied under permit conditions to reduce runoff and other losses. He said PFAS testing methods are not yet standardized and that more research is needed to determine sampling protocols, movement in soil, and long-term effects. Committee members asked whether farmers and ranchers should be notified of risks, whether PFAS is currently tested, how many counties use biosolids, and what research would be needed for a dissertation-level study. The witnesses generally agreed that landowners should be informed of known risks and uncertainties, but said the science is still developing. Dr. Arnell said a unified testing method is needed before reliable PFAS monitoring can be done, and suggested that a multi-year study would be required to understand soil movement, crop uptake, and livestock impacts. Greg Scott of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission framed the issue as a waste-management problem, noting that human waste streams contain contaminants and that soil type affects how pollutants move; he said sandy soils pose greater movement risks than clay soils and that current best practice is incorporation, careful timing, and avoiding steep or sensitive sites. He also said PFAS are widespread and not naturally occurring in the way some other compounds are, and that liability and cleanup costs are major concerns. Mary Elizabeth Mock of Garver Engineering focused on the practical and financial consequences of a possible moratorium on land application, saying most of Oklahoma’s biosolids are currently land applied and would otherwise have to go to landfills. She warned that many landfills are nearing capacity, tipping fees could rise sharply, and cities such as Tulsa and Norman could face large increases in disposal costs, which would ultimately be borne by ratepayers and taxpayers. She also said septic system maintenance costs could rise if land application options shrink, potentially leading to deferred maintenance and system failures. Mock urged a tiered, data-driven approach to PFAS regulation and said advanced treatment technologies may help in the future, but they are still emerging and expensive. No votes were taken; the session consisted of presentations and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or if you suspected it was screwworm, you took those samples and you sent them in.
• Uh, or maggots, uh, we'll get those samples and send them off to NVSL for identification.
• What is the, the outcome within the blood serum?
• So you take the, the blood.
• serum, blood plasma, and then ultimately tissue levels would show.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had pretty good success with those samples that we send off to NVSL.
• We'll get those sampled and send them off to NVSL for identification.
• We need to send those samples...
• The blood serum based on X dose compares that to the gold standard of an injectable dose.
• serum, blood plasma, and then ultimately tissue levels would show.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what that means is that there's a lot more metabolites than actual samples.
• And what that means is that there's a lot more metabolites than actual samples.
• Like, do you— a person would then need to go in and give their saliva samples? Yeah.
• So then you have your saliva sample. I don’t know.
• So you have your saliva sample and then it will track your own... Right.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology met to hear a presentation from Ananya Lakaraju, a Hamilton High School junior, on her research project using metabolomics and machine learning to identify potential salivary biomarkers for major depressive disorder. She described using a UCSD saliva metabolomics dataset, statistical methods such as Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U, and PLS-DA, and an ensemble AI model with SHAP and permutation importance to identify metabolites and pathways associated with depression. She said the work suggested several novel biomarkers, with some metabolites and pathways showing stronger associations with depression than others, and noted that her model achieved about 90% accuracy and a 97% AUC in distinguishing depressed from non-depressed samples. Lakaraju also discussed a drug-discovery component of the project, using pathway analysis and molecular docking in UCSF Chimera to identify a target protein and potential compounds that might block a depression-related pathway. She said flupinazine showed the lowest binding energy in her simulations. Members asked questions about what the metabolites were, whether the findings were novel, how the saliva samples were obtained, and how the app she developed would be used. She explained that the data came from an online dataset rather than direct sample collection, that some top-ranked compounds were exogenous and not likely biomarkers, and that the app was intended to supplement AI results with mood and behavioral information because the model is not a doctor and could still be wrong. The committee praised the presentation and discussed the broader implications for AI policy and mental health diagnostics. Lakaraju said she became interested in coding through robotics and later combined that interest with biology, and she emphasized her goal of making mental health assessment more objective and holistic. The meeting ended with members thanking her for the presentation and adjourning without any formal votes or legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're already collecting samples as we receive calls from animal owners and veterinarians.
• Madam Chair, Senator Gonzales, yes, any warm-blooded animal is susceptible to infestation.
• I hear that he takes care of some warm-blooded animals, so I'm just going to give him a prime for the
• If you see something, at least take a picture of it, or here's how you could collect a sample.
• Officers have sample kits to be able to take samples.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a lifelong sentence of high blood pressure, blood sugar issues, vision loss, heart failure.
• One runs one sample at a time, while the other can run five samples at a time.
• Because one has the capability for five samples.
• A sexual assault in the county and there was a sample, a DNA sample taken from the victim.
• And that sample was entered. Yeah, I get it.

Bills: SB614, SB872, SB1199, SB1212, SB1278, SB1573, SB1588, SB1602, SB1660, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2146, SB2177, SB2373, SB2460, SB2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• Inspected, and then samples are taken.
• That's specific to samples.
• To get out samples at farmer's markets.
• And if you've given blood over the past year, your blood has been tested for HIV, so that may not be
• blood. of blood and causing strokes, infections, and extremely painful episodes known as a sickle cell

Bills: HB3000, HB2622, HB2283, HB541, HB1776, HB1803, HB1669, HB2588, HB220, HB3415, HB50, HB1314, HB 107, HB220, HB50, HB107

Keywords: ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so one way or the other, basically it does not, if somebody is drawing blood for purposes basically
• let's say I'm a medical technician and a police officer comes up to me and says, "Draw this person's blood
• been pulled over for DUI or driving under the influence that they're, you know, how do we get that sample
• , that blood sample from them, not a breathalyzer, but a blood sample and... breathalyzer, but a blood
• sample and then, you know, what's the chain of custody there?

Bills: SB210, SB225, HB280, HB287, HB94, HB88, SB157, HB7, HB8, HB42

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, blood tests, DUI, law enforcement, traffic offenses, chemical analysis, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• sample, the person can refuse that.
• Um, and not giving a blood sample does not lead to a criminal penalty. No.
• We don't have the blood tests. And we don't have blood tests.
• We don't have the blood tests. And we don't have blood tests.
• Blood result, right? Sure.

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, on that related note, it takes deer harvest to have CWD samples, since all of these samples are
• sampling there has been very low, like 20 or 30 samples with a goal of 300.
• We rely on hunter-harvested samples throughout, voluntary samples.
• And our samples come from statewide.
• In the very near future, we’ll be able to sample more environmental scrape samples.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from Julie Grenwald of Louisiana Hunters for the Hungry, who described the nonprofit’s protein donation programs, including freezer clean-out days, deer and fish processing partnerships, and a paused feral hog donation program that had collected about 3,500 hogs and 137,000 pounds of pork before funding ran short. She said the group has donated roughly 300,000 pounds of protein over two years, works with food banks and local agencies, and is protected under Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law. Members asked about processor locations, exotic species, signage, sponsorships, and whether the program could expand to other invasive species or mobile drop-off options; Grenwald said expansion is possible if processors and funding are available. The task force then received a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries update from Jonathan Bordelon on chronic wasting disease testing. He reported more than 2,800 samples collected and over 2,300 results returned, with nine positives total: eight in Tensas Parish and one confirmed in Concordia Parish on Richard K. Yancey WMA, which triggered preparation of an emergency declaration and future rulemaking to adjust the control area. He said harvest and sampling remain near record levels, most samples are voluntary, and the agency continues to monitor symptomatic deer reports and public submissions. The final major presentation was from William McKinley of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, who gave a detailed overview of Mississippi’s CWD response. He said Mississippi has 529 detections across 18 counties, with prevalence rising from about one in 500 samples to about one in 80 statewide, and much higher in some counties. He described Mississippi’s surveillance system, targeted tags within three miles of positives, environmental sampling, feeder bans in CWD zones, and research showing contamination at feeders and in scrapes. He also discussed possible multiple strains, including one linked to the Wisconsin whitetail strain and another around Vicksburg/Issaquena, and said the disease appears to be expanding about 3.5 miles per year. Members asked about high-fence enclosures, live deer movement restrictions, baiting and feeding rules, hunter participation, and whether Louisiana should develop similar environmental testing capacity; no votes were taken on these issues, but members discussed possible future legislative or budget action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've completed soil sampling.
• Sampling, so they are not normal monthly monitoring sampling results.
• So those are the results that we actually, well, that's the sampling, the extent of the sampling that
• So I do want to tell you what those samples are very quickly, or the results of those samples.
• It was not for cleanup, but it was just for sampling. Usually they get $96,000 for sampling.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Bills: HJR1088, SB1280, SB1316, SB1433, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1459, SB1461, SB1463, SB1465, SB1466, SB1721

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, excise tax, oil tax

Transcript Highlights:

• And in places like Philadelphia, by 2023, xylazine was present in 99% of street opioid samples.
• have been testing that can't be explained by the number of samples that we're testing overall.
• Well, now we can see metatomidine in a drug supply sample that they've brought.
• Well, now we can see metatomidine in a drug supply sample that they've brought in.
• So their drug samples indicated that they had used xylazine or been exposed to xylazine.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on xylazine held its first meeting, with House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Co-Chair John Keenan outlining the commission’s charge and a proposed work plan. The commission is tasked with studying the public health and safety impacts of xylazine in the illicit drug supply, including whether it should be scheduled as a controlled substance, how to regulate its production and distribution, and how to improve outreach and treatment for people exposed to it. Members were told the report deadline had been extended to March 30, 2026, and staff proposed a series of public hearings and working groups leading to a final report. The meeting also included attendance, packet materials, and procedural planning. The first major testimony came from BSAS Director Deirdre Calvert, who described xylazine’s appearance in Massachusetts drug supply data, the state’s public health alerts, and DPH’s partnership with Brandeis, CDC, and harm reduction organizations. She emphasized four priorities: reducing stigma and discrimination in health care, expanding self-directed wound care support and coverage for supplies, expanding access to drug checking and test strips, and supporting low-barrier services such as mobile vans and drop-in centers. Commission members asked about first responder awareness, medical education, and whether harm reduction services might face federal restrictions; Calvert said misinformation remains a problem and noted ongoing training efforts, including collaboration with public safety agencies. Several other speakers reinforced the need for low-barrier care and drug checking. Dr. Raghini Jala, an infectious disease and addiction medicine physician, said xylazine has become a common component of the unregulated opioid supply and urged support for rapid-response education teams, community-based drug checking, and better hospital and detox protocols for xylazine withdrawal and wounds. Recovery coach Alan Young testified from lived experience, describing severe wounds, fear of inadequate withdrawal treatment in emergency settings, and the value of mobile care vans that can provide methadone, buprenorphine, and wound care in the community. Dr. Sarah Wakeman echoed the need for naloxone, rescue breathing, low-threshold treatment, and non-stigmatizing health care settings, while Sarah Macon of the Boston Public Health Commission described Boston’s harm reduction and drug checking work, including on-site testing, wound care, and a decline in opioid mortality. Tracy Green of the Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream explained that xylazine has declined in recent samples while metatomidine is rising, said drug checking is increasingly used but still not enough, and argued for more funding, staffing, and statewide access to real-time drug checking and harm reduction services.