Transcript Highlights:

• But what the employer community was saying is that it can be an impediment anyway.
• But what the employer community was saying is that it can be an impediment anyway.
• You know, whether it's technology, oh, well, people with autism want to do technology or people should
• And I know they do a lot of work with community colleges and Mass Bay.
• So if you want to communicate that to them, Leo, May 28th.

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee met to approve the prior minutes and then focused primarily on planning a future apprenticeship-related presentation or panel. Members discussed a draft outreach letter and follow-up with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, with the goal of involving state officials, employers, and possibly trade representatives. The group also discussed how apprenticeship efforts could connect to disability employment goals, including opportunities for people with disabilities and service providers to be included in the conversation. A major topic was Governor Healey’s goal of expanding apprenticeships to 100,000 participants and concerns raised at a recent Chamber of Commerce event about barriers to entry, including education requirements and a $250 annual fee for employers. Several members noted that while large employers may absorb the fee, it could discourage small and mid-sized businesses, and they suggested a tiered fee structure or eliminating the fee altogether. Members also emphasized that apprenticeship conversations should include people with disabilities and avoid stereotypes about what jobs they can do. The subcommittee discussed possible focus areas for the event, settling tentatively on child care and home health as practical starting points, with interest in adding behavioral health as a possible model. They also discussed whether to include a representative from higher education or a state apprenticeship liaison. No final decisions were made on speakers or format, but members agreed to continue outreach, propose dates, and likely hold the session on Zoom rather than in person or hybrid.

Transcript Highlights:

• Walrasi Gonzalez, on behalf of the Community Water Systems Alliance, in support. Thank you so much.
• We look forward to working with the broad stakeholder community on this bill as it moves forward.
• So I think those are still important ongoing conversations with the water community, who wants to make
• California Council of Science and Technology, CCST, that's right, and what they'll study is whether water
• Just very quickly, I communicated with the committee staff on this.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• objection, the House will now advance to the 14th order of business: presentation of petitions and communications
• And in meeting with the individuals that work in this community, In meeting with the individuals that
• work in this community, I can tell you for certain these are not girls that want to be in this trade
• House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee will not meet Monday, February 2nd, Barbieri, Chairman
• House Environment Energy and Technology Committee will not meet Monday, February 2nd, Barbieri, Chairman

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, just getting some of the money passed through to communities with rural
• For FY 27, for the Division of Family and Community Partnerships, they are requesting $180,000 ongoing
• issues, again, specifically in rural areas, expanding or enhancing services, and then any sort of technology
• One of the things that we looked at bolstering was rural EMS, making sure that EMS in our rural communities
• also maybe looking at using those rural EMS opportunities to expand health care into those rural communities

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also would turn immediately to the community to find out community priorities because our work is
• about community self-determination.
• Fifth, it creates the Community Reinvestment Program work group to facilitate the transition of the Community
• The Community Reinvestment Program was created to invest in communities hardest hit by the war on drugs
• We need to backfill and support those communities.

Summary: The committee took up executive action on the capital budget, Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, and several policy bills. Staff described amendments to the capital budget that shifted funding among behavioral health, local/community projects, irrigation projects, and juvenile rehabilitation capacity, plus a technical fix to the water pollution control revolving program. The committee adopted Senator Dozier’s budget-neutral amendment and a technical amendment, then advanced the amended capital budget to the Rules Committee. It also moved House Bills 2441, 2124, 2471, 2133, 2610, and 2338 forward with due-pass recommendations, and advanced Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 on Climate Commitment Act accounts to the Transportation Committee after adopting two amendments and withdrawing three others. A major public hearing focused on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer surplus assets, and direct portions to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Staff said the plan is currently about 160% funded and explained the bill’s IRS-review process, statute of limitations, and estimated implementation costs. Testimony was sharply divided: some retirees, firefighters, counties, and cities opposed the bill as an improper use of pension assets and urged benefit enhancements or protection of local medical obligations, while others supported using the surplus for broader public purposes. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2179 on PERS coverage for certain port workers, with ports and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting clarification for railroad employees covered by the federal railroad retirement system. House Bill 1069, allowing Department of Corrections employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and corrections workers, while House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information sharing with bargaining representatives, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. Finally, Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences drew support from labor, local governments, and project proponents, and opposition from contractor groups and environmental advocates over project labor agreement requirements and nuclear-related concerns; Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authorities and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing were also heard, with both receiving supportive testimony from community and housing advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• She had no family, no friends, no community.
• </c><01:25:08.719><c> Minnesota</c> disability Community Minnesota disability Community Minnesota disability
• So, very, very important community and economic impact that we make across the board.
• So, very, very important community and economic impact that we make across the board.
• So, very, very important community and economic impact that we make across the board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this could be applied to any type of threat to our community anywhere.
• and reach that modern technology offers.
• Certified letters take several days, and communication is often delayed.
• Modernizing these communication supports our sustainable business practices.
• Apparently with other... ...micro technology that's come online for cameras.

Bills: HB33, HB45, HB48, HB1261, HB1465, HB1778, HB2596, HB5238, SB2969, HB45, HB48

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• then we will turn to two agriculture bills: Senator Kupec's veterinary medicine and veterinary technology
• But, like I said, I'm not against the technology or the industry. I find it fascinating.
• I find it technology or the industry.
• I think it puts reasonable regulations on the producers of this new technology.
• I think it puts reasonable regulations on the producers of this new technology.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for distributing or creating a private image when found to have solely provided or developed the technology
• c><00:11:10.560><c> used</c><00:11:10.800><c> by</c><00:11:11.040><c> another</c> developed the technology
• used by another developed the technology used by another person<00:11:11.600><c> in</c><00:11:11.839
• It's going to change to say provider of technology that unreasonably designs... and 146 through 147,
• </c><00:29:57.919><c> release</c><00:29:58.320><c> include</c> the community. release include the community

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We take our staff and technology, and we go on the road during... ...the school day and we do cyber camps
• I’m Matt Massie, president of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering.
• We also noticed the need for this in the... ...We also noticed the need for this in the community college
• Community colleges were trying to outsource and hire in different range platforms.
• With that, we were going to pilot one or two community colleges, but that turned into ten.

Bills: SB175, SB195, SB196, SB199

Keywords: aircraft, tax exemption, sales tax, lease tax, maintenance, Alabama, health insurance, Medicare, retirees, public education, contracts, education, high school, community college, dual enrollment, secondary credit, Move on When Ready, parental leave, state employees, local education agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're a good tool for these communities.
• ,</c><00:52:49.920><c> hydrogen</c> capture technologies, hydrogen capture technologies, hydrogen production
• </c> with the goal of empowering communities with the goal of empowering communities and<01:03:23.440
• </c> their communities. their communities.
• :05.120><c> is</c><01:22:05.440><c> being</c> know what new technology is being know what new technology

Bills: SF0050, SF0068, SF0084, HB0087, HB0029, HB0061, HB0090

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, irrigation, water management, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, water development

Transcript Highlights:

• Albritton: MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR OR OTHER EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS. >> NONE ON THE DESK.
• MODELS, STRENGTHENING THE WORKFORCE, EXPANDING SERVICES AND INTEGRATING NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
• SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN THOSE COMMUNITIES IS AT THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE.
• YOUR HEART AND YOUR PASSION FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
• A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY IN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES SO I'M TREMENDOUSLY THANKFUL.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The digital asset community and more importantly the American consumers deserve clarity.
• what the impact will be on community bankers.
• As every member of this committee knows, community banks are the lifeblood of our economy.
• All we're asking for here is a study. to find out what happens to our community banks.
• We recognize the important role that community banks play in our community, but creating a sunset provision

Bills: SB875

Keywords: banking regulation, federal agencies, reputational risk, financial services, supervision, FIRM Act, bank supervision, depository institutions, federal banking agencies, FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, CFPB, credit unions, Operation Choke Point, financial discrimination, safety and soundness, supervisory guidance, examination manual

Summary: This meeting focused on the markup of the Genius Act and the FIRM Act, two significant pieces of legislation addressing stablecoin regulation and the financial industry's regulatory framework. The Chairman noted the importance of providing clarity to the digital asset community and protecting American consumers, while also promoting innovation and competition within the financial sector. Members of both parties expressed varying viewpoints, with some highlighting concerns related to national security and the potential risks associated with stablecoins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lenders that provide credit to Texans in their local communities through our 430-plus brick-and-mortar
• through our 430-plus, lenders that provide credit to Texans in their local communities through our 430
• As communities continue to expand in rural areas, extending transmission services to these new communities
• You know, as dealers, we invest heavily in our facilities and our technology and our training for our
• It's mandated. ...and our technology and our training for our people.

Bills: SB1113, SB1117, SB1206, SB1460, SB1802, SB1906, SB1917, SB2340, SB2455, SB2680, SB2690, SB705, SB748

Keywords: SB 1113, converter's license, converter license, motor vehicle dealer, auto dealer, vehicle conversion, converted vehicles, direct sales, retail sales, trailer, semitrailer, manufactured trailer, chassis, manufacturer's statement of origin, MSO, Occupations Code, Transportation Code, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, dealer licensing, general distinguishing number

Summary: The committee took up pending business first and reported several bills favorably, including SB 2139, SB 2610, SB 1856, SB 2530, SB 2401, SB 2858, and SB 3016, with most of those measures moving out on committee substitutes and being sent to the local and uncontested calendar or to the full Senate. The committee also heard SB 1906 on expanding Chapter 342E consumer lending rates; supporters argued it would modernize Texas law and expand access to safe, regulated credit, while opponents from Texas Appleseed and AARP warned it would raise costs on already expensive loans and worsen debt burdens. SB 1906 was left pending after testimony. The committee also reconsidered and re-voted SB 1856 after a procedural issue, with the substitute ultimately adopted and the bill reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1113, which would clarify that certain vehicle converters, including a Texarkana business, do not need an additional dealer license to sell converted vehicles. The bill’s supporters described a long-standing business model and said the new metal license plate rules had created problems, while the Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill in its current form and said it could be resolved through DMV action or narrower changes. DMV said it was still researching a possible administrative fix, and SB 1113 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2680, a Public Information Act cleanup bill dealing with emergency deadlines, business-day exclusions, and litigation timing; broadcasters and other open-government advocates argued the issues were already addressed by prior law and court rulings, while the Attorney General’s office said the bill would help with catastrophe notices and timing conflicts. SB 2680 was left pending. Other bills heard included SB 1117, which would allow any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin neuromodulators for aesthetic purposes in the oral and maxillofacial region; the author and dental witnesses said it would clarify scope and improve access, and the bill was left pending. SB 2340 would clarify the Attorney General’s investigative authority over Texas corporations, including pre-suit depositions and sworn written questions; opponents raised due process and separation-of-powers concerns, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 705 and SB 748, both TDLR cleanup bills, and SB 1206, which would impose timelines and notice requirements on municipalities reviewing transmission projects; SB 1206 was supported by an electric cooperative and left pending. SB 1460, creating an ethics violation registry tied to licensing consequences, drew constitutional and due-process objections from several witnesses and was also left pending. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1802 on landlord duties to repair mobility assistance devices like elevators and ramps in rental housing, with the author describing prolonged outages affecting seniors; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 2455, creating an Energy Waste Advisory Committee to coordinate efficiency and demand-response programs, drew support from energy-efficiency and environmental witnesses and was left pending, and SB 2690, targeting deceptive business-certification solicitations, was laid out and opened to testimony before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill as a necessary step in protecting student rights and digital safety in this evolving technological
• First of all, Colleen, I really want to thank you for your comprehensive communication over the interim
• types of settings, such as family homes, mixed-use buildings with a shared lobby, and municipal community
• Torres Hernandez: That sort of clear, publicly available policy reassures students, parents, and community
• Chair Taylor, Ranking Member Walsh, members of the community. I'm Michael Shaw.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• analyzed how these changes might disproportionately affect schools in, let's say, lower-income communities
• ...to a lower grading tier that would affect the choice of that school from parents or even the community
• And so, you know, are we talking, you said you're looking at coaches, but I mean, there's technology
• It's about also, you know, my district and Orange County Public Schools communicating with me, and the
• But I was dedicated as a school board member to ensure that the children in my community had a school

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered two bills. The first, PCS for HB 1565, would expand permitted purchases under the Personalized Education Program scholarship to include digital devices, clarify statutory terms, and distinguish between parent-directed part-time programs and full-time instructor-led programs. Rep. Hinson questioned oversight and misuse safeguards, while the sponsor said existing statutory and SFO oversight already applies. Public testimony included support from the James Madison Institute, and the bill was reported favorably by a 12-1 vote. The committee then heard PCS for HB 1483, the SCORE Act, which would gradually align Florida’s school grading scale with the familiar A-F scale used for students over a 10-year transition. The sponsor argued that current school grades are inflated and confusing to parents, and said the bill would also expand early support identification from pre-K through 8th grade. Members raised concerns about the impact on public and charter schools, low-income communities, teacher workload, resources, property values, and whether the bill should be paired with funding and professional development. Public testimony included an ESE teacher asking about funding and class size, one opponent from Orange County teachers, and a proponent from Florida Citizens Alliance. After extensive debate, the committee voted 12-5 to report PCS for HB 1483 favorably. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and accountability for parents and create pressure to raise standards, while opponents warned it could sharply increase lower-rated schools without sufficient resources and could mislead the public about school performance during the transition.

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, our volunteer fire departments... ...departments, especially those in rural communities
• What this bill does is provide them an opportunity to use local community colleges and other institutions
• Do you have any community colleges close to Huntsville? Not in Huntsville? No. Okay.
• Do you have any MOUs with any community colleges in the surrounding area? We do.
• For instance, we have an AI group and a technology group, and we meet with them regularly to ask, "What

Bills: HB173, HB184, HB484, HB678, HB 1211, HB1507, HB1705, HB1868, HB2290, HB2851, HB2856, HB3041, HB3204, HB173, HB184

Keywords: foreign donations, higher education, public institutions, national security, funding, prohibition, Texas law, healthcare, insurance, affordability, access, public health, foreign influence, education policy, student loan repayment, prosecuting attorneys, border prosecution unit, financial assistance, tobacco, cigarettes

Transcript Highlights:

• THE ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
• THIS ALLOWS HOSPITALS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY OUTPATIENT SERVICES FOR HIGHER RATE OF
• TO ENSURE AWARENESS OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WE LAUNCHED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION PLAN ACROSS MULTIPLE
• THIS PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO COMMUNITY BASED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND RESEARCH CENTERS.
• WE ARE WORKING WITH A LOT OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATIONS TO GET THE WORD OUT ON

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So community engagement finished up with that.
• We have Mike, our advance muntean that has a lot of those community.
• We're working with different community-based care agencies.
• They can use our VR technology.
• and bridging that gap and bring our community within the community based care system.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or the efficiency of that communication between those agencies and the bank.
• I oversee our Workforce Services Department, and in that we serve our communities.
• They have a pavilion there, as well as some of our communities. I can look at Grand Forks.
• Fargo, Bismarck has all been involved in that and talking about their communities.
• One of those was a public communications person. We worked with one through the session.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help. Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.