Transcript Highlights:

• And then the Missouri Veterans Commission, and in the bill you'll see it says Veterans' plural possessive
• So I'm aware of the Veterans Commission's funding issues and things that were promised to fund the Veterans
• But I think that's on us to do that, to find ways to fund the shortfalls for the veterans homes and cemeteries
• So I wanted to know, the Missouri Veterans Commission, it states that the Missouri Veterans Commission
• But back to the veterans: I appreciate the fact that you are here to support our veterans and listening

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of abandoned cemeteries has already grown.
• cemeteries.
• I know abandoned cemeteries are a very big problem.
• It actually works with cemeteries, and in some cases they are abandoned cemeteries.
• The cemetery and funeral bureau is more in the activity of the current active cemeteries.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of abandoned cemeteries has already grown.
• cemeteries.
• I know abandoned cemeteries are a very big problem.
• They, LAFCO itself, actually works with cemeteries, and in some cases they are abandoned cemeteries.
• So the cemetery and funeral bureau is more in the activity of the current active cemeteries.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The number of abandoned cemeteries has already grown.
• cemeteries.
• I know abandoned cemeteries are a very big problem.
• It actually works with cemeteries, and in some cases they are abandoned cemeteries.
• The cemetery and funeral bureau is more in the activity of the current active cemeteries.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange County and Humboldt County supervisors, described growing misuse of large nitrous canisters, impaired driving, youth access, and waste and safety problems. There was no formal opposition testimony, and multiple organizations and local governments voiced support. Committee members generally supported the bill but raised questions about enforcement and the role of existing licensing agencies; the author said amendments addressed concerns about balloons and bags. The bill was moved on a due-pass recommendation to Senate Appropriations and left on call. The committee also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1340 on small business procurement reporting, and SB 903 on AI in mental health care. SB 1312 would build on last year’s cemetery workgroup to address abandoned private cemeteries; the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association said the bill is intended to use forthcoming recommendations to improve maintenance and oversight. It was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report contract and payment data involving small businesses to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure, and it was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 903 drew the most extensive debate. The bill would restrict the public offering of psychotherapy services through AI unless a licensed professional is involved, require disclosure and informed consent, and preserve confidentiality rules. Supporters argued that chatbots and AI therapy tools can mislead consumers and create safety, bias, and privacy risks, while opponents from the California Medical Association and TechNet warned the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial clinical tools, triage, research, and FDA-approved applications. Committee members pressed the author on clarity, administrative uses like note-taking, and whether the bill would allow clinician-supervised AI; the author said the intent is to keep a human clinician in the loop and continue refining the language. The bill was moved to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technology, and Consumer Protection Committee and left on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 1271 would collect data on licensed midwives’ capacity to serve as preceptors to strengthen the training pipeline; supporters described workforce shortages, rural access problems, and closures of labor and delivery units. It was moved due pass to the Senate Health Committee and left on call. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would standardize enforcement and better match the agency already regulating EV infrastructure, while county sealers and others opposed the move as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening local consumer protection. The bill was moved due pass to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and left on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• through some of these people, and it's not land grant property, but some of these people have done cemeteries
• We've got a family cemetery in Ontunico where our, or in our. And that takes away some tax burden.
• Veteran, allow me to thank each and every one of you for having a heart for service and a voice to represent
• My grandfather, Ramon Lester, was a World War II veteran in the Army.
• They may be veterans, head of household, things of that nature. We're just getting the tax bill.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• and retired judicial officers, referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans
• Lambert relates to the confidentiality of certain financial information related to perpetual care cemeteries
• HB 3821 by Gerties relates to the implementation of a veteran discount program for the use of certain
• Officer referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs.
• This should be referred to the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Rules, House Joint Resolution 88, expressing support for the establishment of a state veteran
• cemetery in North Alabama, Madison County, receives a favorable report. >> Mr.
• </c> for the establishment of a state veteran for the establishment of a state veteran cemetery<00:12
• North</c><00:12:52.800><c> Alabama</c><00:12:53.279><c> Madison</c><00:12:53.760><c> County</c> cemetery
• in North Alabama Madison County cemetery in North Alabama Madison County receives<00:12:54.480><c> a

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Refer to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, HB 2607 by Wharton,
• And Veterans Affairs HB 2630 by Harristavala relating to the declarant control of Certain Property Owners
• use of deadly force to make an arrest for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans
• system for the transfer of firearms or for the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans
• Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs, HB 2657 by Hopper Ridling to the

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a there is approximately 21<00:17:57.760><c> cemeteries.</c> 21 cemeteries. 21 cemeteries.
• ,</c> time, care for these many cemeteries, time, care for these many cemeteries, according<00:18:47.520
• </c> this committee because a green cemetery this committee because a green cemetery was<00:21:43.280
• :27:26.480><c> actually</c> well and I guess any cemetery actually well and I guess any cemetery actually
• Um worked with cemeteries traditions.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Joplin Cemetery District here in Ada County became defunct through a mass resignation.
• district to be able to pull the cemetery district. with that in allowing a cemetery district to be able
• to pull, the cemetery districts are by zone, either three zones or five if two cemetery districts had
• So anyway. with that in allowing a cemetery district to be able to pull, the cemetery districts are by
• zone, either three zones or five if two cemetery districts had merged.

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 10, 12, and 16, 2026, and welcomed a new page, Allie Silvers, who introduced herself as a 17-year-old from Twin Falls. The committee then took up three bills. House Bill 661, a solid waste measure, would make a one-word change from “county” to “city” so a contractor working for a city could choose its temporary waste container service; it was moved and sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation without opposition. House Bill 715 would change the process for hiring and firing directors of city-owned libraries by requiring city council approval in addition to the library board’s recommendation. Representative Cornilles said the bill was prompted by a problem in one city and would affect 55 cities. Testimony in opposition came from library supporters Heather Stout and Vicki Fadness, who argued the current system has worked for decades, that library boards have the expertise to manage directors, and that the bill would create two bosses and amount to government overreach. The bill’s supporters said elected officials should have oversight of city-paid employees, and the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 658 addressed vacancies on cemetery maintenance district boards when a quorum is lost through resignation, death, or other causes. The bill would let county commissioners fill vacancies, require appointees to be qualified electors and property taxpayers in the district, and allow counties to temporarily handle essential district functions until a board is restored. Sponsors described it as a fix for a gap in current law after a cemetery district board became defunct, and said the measure had support from counties and cities. After brief discussion, the committee voted to send HB 658 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says Zachary Public Cemetery, but it's a private cemetery.
• As the representative said, it's a private cemetery that is known as the Zachary Public Cemetery.
• As the representative said, it's a private cemetery that is known as the Zachary Public Cemetery.
• Public funds could not be used for private... but cemetery? Because it's a private cemetery.
• This all... yeah, the bill says all... yep, the bill says that the cemetery is to maintain cemetery to

Summary: The House Municipal Committee met and first advanced HB 990 by Rep. Lyons, which would extend existing lien/privilege authority for unpaid utility service charges and user fees to parishes, sewerage districts, and waterworks districts, including Jefferson Parish. Lyons explained it was intended to address master-metered multifamily properties and align Jefferson Parish with other parishes. After questions about tenant impacts and administrative burden, the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then heard HB 1087 by Rep. Adams, authorizing the City of Zachary to use inmate labor to cut grass at a private cemetery known as the Zachary Public Cemetery. Members raised concerns about using unpaid prison labor on private property, whether the cemetery was abandoned, and whether the bill should be narrowed. The author and city representative explained the city already contracts with DCI for inmate work and that the bill was meant to clarify legality. The motion to advance was withdrawn, and the bill was voluntarily deferred to a later meeting for further work. Several other bills were advanced, including HB 893 by Rep. Knox on the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, HB 1007 creating the Foeberg Nouveau-Marine Improvement District in Orleans Parish, and HB 1153 by Rep. Coates establishing a clearer local burn-ban framework with amendments on notice, lifting bans, and penalties. The committee also considered HB 1215 by Rep. Baham on the disposition of removed historical statues and monuments; after amendments and extensive questions about costs, coordination with the lieutenant governor’s office, and local zoning authority, the bill was voluntarily deferred. Later, HB 362 and HB 484 by Rep. Newell were handled, with HB 362 advanced and HB 484 deferred after confusion over a proposed amendment to the New Orleans Regional Business Park board. Several other bills and resolutions were announced as deferred or not heard, and the committee adjourned after scheduling a larger agenda for the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for veterans, and this is obviously determined by the VA, but for veterans that have a disability
• They are the quiet hero, the silent veteran. And having earned, in this case, Veteran.
• I today come wearing my veteran advocate hat because I learned very quickly campaigning that veterans
• I kind of thought everybody viewed disabled veterans and taxed. disabled veterans and tax relief the
• I'm a 100% permanently and totally disabled combat veteran, a father, and a veteran service officer who

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where it adopted committee substitutes and voted do pass on House Bills 383, 2940, and 1869 by unanimous roll-call votes. The chair then moved to public hearings and announced shortened testimony times because of the late hour. A large portion of the hearing focused on several nearly identical proposals to provide property tax relief to disabled veterans and, in some versions, surviving spouses. Representatives Jobe, Crosley, Bolerking, Schmidt, and Jones described different approaches: tiered exemptions based on VA disability ratings, homestead-based exemptions, county opt-in or opt-out provisions, sunsets, and in some bills relief tied to assessed value or personal property/vehicle taxes. Committee members raised questions about acreage limits, transfer of benefits to new residences, remarriage of surviving spouses, annual recertification, and whether counties should have discretion. Several witnesses in favor, including veterans and veterans’ advocates, urged broader eligibility, especially for 100% permanent and total veterans and those with individual unemployability, and argued the benefit would help veterans remain in Missouri. A public advocate opposed the bills on fiscal grounds, citing large projected costs to local governments, school districts, and state funds. The committee also heard testimony from veterans and advocates on the importance of recognizing spouses and families, and on the need to avoid burdensome county administration. Representative Schmidt presented two related bills, one offering a percentage-based property tax discount and another creating a homestead tax credit with county participation and a market-value cap; members discussed combining the measures and revising sunset and spouse language. Representative Jones presented bills extending relief to 100% disabled veterans and to personal property/vehicles, emphasizing that counties could opt in and that the credit should not shift costs to other taxpayers. The hearing ended before the final witness finished, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for veterans, and this is obviously determined by the VA, but for veterans that have a disability
• They are the quiet hero, the silent veteran. And having earned, in this case, Veteran.
• I today come wearing my veteran advocate hat because I learned very quickly campaigning that veterans
• I'm a 100% permanent and total disabled combat veteran, a father, and a veteran service officer who works
• closely with veterans.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s a cemetery in the middle of Zachary.
• It says Zachary Public Cemetery, but it’s a private cemetery.
• As the representative said, it’s a private cemetery that is known as the Zachary Public Cemetery.
• Public funds could not be used for private cemeteries. Because it’s a private cemetery.
• Because it’s a private cemetery. That is it.

Keywords: 965, house, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a retired Marine Vietnam veteran. I'm a former state senator and former land commissioner.
• I wish to speak as an individual, also representing myself as a veteran of the United States Armed Forces
• My family has served in the United States Armed Forces since 1989. 1918 as veterans of World War I and
• San Antonio to Hispanic veterans, connecting today's communities to those who came before us.
• I run across many of the veterans that served in the War Between the States that were either from the

Bills: HB370 , HB738 , HB2935 , HB3227 , HB4103 , HB5259 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB2112 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR59 , HCR109 , HCR111 , HCR135 , SCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: HB 370, Events Trust Fund, Texas events funding, sports eligibility, women's sports, girls' sports, biological sex, transgender athletes, sex-segregated sports, athletic competition, event subsidies, tourism funding, site selection organization, anti-trafficking plan, female athletes, public funding, economic impact, sports policy, Rosenwald Schools, historical preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• airspace designate for the Department of Defense Contractors or for the Subcommittee on Defense and Veterans
• and retired judicial officers referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans
• Cemeteries for the Committee on Pensions, Investments and Financial Services, HB 33804 by Lambert relating
• specialty license plates in certain United States Army Rangers for the Subcommittee on Defense and Veterans
• HB 3821 by Gerde's relating to the implementation of a veteran discount program for the use of certain

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:32.800><c> aren't</c> state a lot of cemeteries aren't state a lot of cemeteries aren't permitted
• </c> does for instance Resurrection Cemetery does for instance Resurrection Cemetery one<00:16:27.920
• </c> uh the Minnesota Association cemeteries uh the Minnesota Association cemeteries was<00:19:25.039
• I mean, if a cemetery uses these practices but they don't call themselves out as a green burial cemetery
• </c> the the A3 Amendment uh the cemetery the the A3 Amendment uh the cemetery folks<00:25:38.679><c>

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Joplin Cemetery District here in Ada County became defunct through a mass resignation.
• And we felt that this decision should be made closer to the people served by the cemetery district.
• House Bill 658 provides a process for a board of county commissioners to fill vacancies on a cemetery
• district to be able to pull the cemetery district.
• The cemetery districts are by zone, either three zones or five if two cemetery districts had merged.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Schaeffer, Combat Veterans.
• I remember when I first came in here as a freshman last session as a woman veteran.
• There aren't many of us that are here that are veterans.
• My husband's a Purple Heart veteran, and I'm also a combat veteran."
• Army veteran and a trailblazing civil rights leader in Carrollton.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it will help veteran work placement in Texas, which is home for more of the veterans than any
• Eligible veterans need to meet specific criteria: one, leaving military service within the past year;
• Veterans with a history of misconduct or felony convictions will be excluded from this process...
• It creates a streamlined process that allows the veterans to apply for licenses in Texas if they were
• Eligible veterans need to meet specific criteria, one, leaving military service within the past year

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, perinatal bereavement, healthcare, hospital training, bereavement support, maternal care, fetal demise, stillbirth, neonatal death, parent-child relationship, involuntary termination, family law, child welfare, child protection, HB 388, HB388

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum and took up several House and Senate bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The committee first heard HB 2358, a cleanup bill requested by HHSC that would repeal outdated training and conference requirements for long-term care facility surveyors and certain providers; there were no witnesses, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard HB 18, the rural hospital stabilization bill, which would create financial assessment tools, a rural hospital finance office at HHSC, an academy for rural hospital officers, multiple grant programs, enhanced Medicaid reimbursement tied to average cost, OB/GYN add-on payments, expanded pediatric telehealth connectivity, and a rural pediatric mental health program. Senator Perry and witnesses from TORCH, a rural hospital, AARP Texas, and ARCHI strongly supported the bill as a way to stabilize rural hospitals, improve OB access, and address workforce and financial pressures. Committee members discussed rural hospital closures, low-volume quality metrics, system affiliation, and the need for predictable monthly reimbursement; the bill was left pending after testimony and questions. The committee next heard HB 37, which would create a perinatal bereavement care initiative for families experiencing stillbirth, neonatal death, or intrauterine fetal demise, including counseling, staff training, and access to cooling devices, with possible grants and a recognition program for hospitals. Senator Huffman explained the bill, and several witnesses testified in support, sharing personal stories about infant loss and the importance of time with the baby, trained staff, and cuddle cots or similar devices. A neonatologist also supported the bill while suggesting clarification that hospitals should not be penalized if state funding is unavailable and recommending use of regional advisory councils to help implement training. Public testimony was then closed and the bill left pending. The committee also heard HB 879, which would create a streamlined licensing pathway for veterans with medical or nursing experience to practice in Texas, and HB 913, which would add new state hospitals to statute and split the North Texas State Hospital into two separate hospitals with their own superintendents; both bills had no opposition testimony and were left pending. Later, the committee heard SB 2744, a heart disease screening bill that would update the 2009 Texas Heart Attack Prevention Act to require insurance coverage for coronary CT angiography with plaque analysis, including soft plaque detection, as a preventive screening tool. The author and invited witnesses argued the technology is more effective than calcium scoring alone, can identify patients before symptoms appear, and could save lives at a cost comparable to or lower than colonoscopy. An insurance industry witness opposed the bill, arguing the technology has not been recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for universal screening and that the mandated coverage and payment level would raise costs; the bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard HB 1151, a parental rights bill clarifying that refusing psychotropic medication or psychiatric treatment is not neglect unless the child is harmed. Supporters, including parent advocates and attorneys, said the bill would protect parents from CPS overreach and preserve medical decision-making authority, while one witness urged broader attention to physical causes of behavioral issues. Public testimony was closed and HB 1151 was left pending.