Transcript Highlights:

• Thirteen plus hours of testimony that we heard, and you have a bill.
• First of all, thank you for the hours and hours of work you've put into this legislation.
• Average around three hours, I'm told from the weather folks.
• And we listened, and we were into probably 12 hours by then.
• It had a 7-mile upstream at 17 miles an hour and a 7-mile downstream at 17 miles an hour, and had a 7

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3, SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections

Transcript Highlights:

• So then a two-hour practice, you're paying $70 an hour for personnel.
• So then a two-hour practice, you're paying $70 an hour for personnel.
• County, I think it's $35 an hour to rent County, I think it's $35 an hour to rent a<00:18:00.559>
• So then two-hour fee of $35 an hour.
• We've spent hours on this. The Senate went through it. They spent hours on it, I assume.

Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for an offender to hide out during those 72 hours and then nothing ever happens to the case.
• for an offender to hide out during those 72 hours and then nothing ever happens to the case.
• for an offender to hide out during those 72 hours and then nothing ever happens to the case.
• for an offender to hide out during those 72 hours and then nothing ever happens to the case.
• for an offender to hide out during those 72 hours and then nothing ever happens to the case.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package, and first adopted an amendment to insert House language into the Senate file. Members then heard brief explanations of several included provisions, including a section from House File 3870 that would make Office of Justice Programs research and victim-related data private, clarify privacy for data collected by the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls office and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office, and remove outdated statutory language. Representative Novotny also described the package as combining a number of previously passed stand-alone bills and a few additional provisions. The chamber then adopted amendments A5, A7, and A8. A5 inserted House language and adjusted an effective date related to public employer discretion in hiring; A7 allowed the Office of Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprinting and federal tax information as required by federal rules; and A8 clarified language affecting jail medical services and custody-related safeguards after collaboration among Representative Witty, the sheriffs association, the Department of Corrections, and advocates. Representatives Hansen, Moller, and Witty all urged support for those changes. A proposed A3 amendment from Representative Duran, which would have kept the current age of delinquency rather than implementing the previously enacted change, drew extensive debate. Supporters argued counties, law enforcement, and other stakeholders were not ready for the change and lacked infrastructure, while opponents said the 2024 law was intended to address serious gaps in juvenile justice and child welfare and should take effect as planned. After a roll call, the House rejected A3 by a vote of 66 yeas to 67 nays. The transcript then indicates another Duran amendment, A2, was called up, but the excerpt ends before its disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• we could get an hour in our Sunday school.
• Well, as of a couple of weeks ago, call wait time was 6 hours.
• to let us take advantage of that expanded 1699 hours vile 9 hours so that we can hire seasonally and
• Staffing my overnight hours and other hours don't do that.
• And as people have to wait 8 hours, 12 hours to get through, your chances of getting a 5 out of 5, you

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A person hit at 25 miles per hour is twice as likely to be killed as a person hit at 20 miles per hour
• A distracted driver going 20 miles per hour is safer than a distracted driver going 25 miles per hour
• If it’s not within the hour?
• Because obviously, we know our e-bikes are going 25 miles an hour, up to 28 miles an hour.
• It took me an hour, an hour and a half, to get to and from work.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard a series of bills focused on transportation safety, climate resilience, wildlife connectivity, parking enforcement, and EV charging reliability. AB 605 would create a pilot program allowing certain hydrogen internal combustion cargo-handling equipment at ports; supporters said it could help ports stay competitive while reducing emissions, while South Coast AQMD raised concerns about possible nitrogen oxide emissions and limits on future regulation. The bill passed on an 11-0 vote to the Natural Resources Committee. AB 1132 would require Caltrans to incorporate community resilience indicators, including socioeconomic factors, into climate vulnerability assessments; supporters from Greenlining, AARP, and others said it would better protect seniors, people with disabilities, and transit users during heat waves and disasters, while some members questioned the cost during a tight budget year. It passed 9-0 to Appropriations, with some members not voting. AB 382 would lower school-zone speed limits to 20 mph and give local agencies more flexibility in how the limit is posted and enforced; supporters cited child pedestrian deaths and safety research, and the bill passed 11-0 to Appropriations. AB 902, as amended, would require transportation projects in wildlife connectivity areas to include wildlife passage features where feasible; supporters emphasized reduced collisions and habitat fragmentation, while the California Building Industry Association and COGs moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. It passed 9-1 to Local Government. AB 1014 would give Caltrans more discretion to lower speed limits on state highways based on local conditions rather than the 85th percentile rule; supporters said it would improve safety in rural and tourist areas, and the bill passed 13-0 to Appropriations. AB 1022 would end towing or booting vehicles solely for unpaid parking tickets, with supporters describing the practice as punitive and harmful to low-income drivers, while cities and parking groups argued it would weaken enforcement and create problems for out-of-state vehicles. The bill passed 9-3 to Appropriations. AB 1423 would require publicly funded EV chargers to meet reliability standards and allow enforcement of uptime requirements; supporters said taxpayers need functioning chargers, while charging-industry opponents objected to retroactive standards and possible conflicts with existing agreements. The bill passed 14-0 to Utilities and Energy. The committee also approved a consent calendar of five bills by voice vote and held roll calls open for additional members to add on.

Transcript Highlights:

• to adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing a teaching license to include 2 hours
• The 2-hour professional development being requested in Senate File 1842 will focus on general awareness
• The 2-hour professional development being requested in Senate File 1842 will focus on general awareness
• The 2-hour professional development being requested in Senate File 1842 will focus on general awareness
• About two hours?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not one hour a day, it's not one hour each day, it's one hour a week for a release time program.
• It's not one hour a day, it's not one hour each day, it's one hour a week for release time programs,
• Then an hour of instruction... ...an hour, let's say the drive, that's another 10 minutes.
• Then an hour of instruction. Now we're at an hour and 20 minutes.
• We're only getting one hour.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2266, which would change school district and charter governing board policy from permissive to mandatory for excusing students for religious instruction during the school day. The sponsor and supporters framed it as a parental-choice and religious-liberty measure that preserves release-time programs, while opponents argued it would reduce local control, take students out of core instruction, create peer pressure and bullying, and raise constitutional concerns. After testimony from Secular AZ, a LifeWise Academy board member, and a school board president, the committee voted 7-5 to give HB 2266 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2193, a cleanup measure related to student directory information and parent organizations such as PTOs/PTAs/APTs. Supporters said the bill would restore parent-to-parent communication that had been unintentionally limited by prior privacy legislation, while some members raised concerns about how the information could be used and suggested narrowing the language to prevent political or lobbying uses. The bill advanced on a 10-1 vote, with members generally supporting school-community communication but asking for possible amendments. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2075, which requires public school districts to submit superintendent and other top administrator contracts or attestations to ADE and have the information posted in a searchable database. The sponsor and Goldwater Institute supporters said the bill is a transparency measure because base salary reports do not show total compensation, benefits, or allowances; opponents from school administrator groups and rural districts argued the bill singles out districts while ignoring charters and other publicly funded education providers, and they said superintendent pay is already publicly available in other forms. Discussion also touched on whether the bill should be expanded to charters and private schools. The sponsor closed by emphasizing transparency and the committee continued discussion of the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our top wind that day was 30 miles an hour.
• It's a, I don't remember what the crew day is, but it's more than 8 hours, but 8 hours of actually in
• of flight time, that it can fly, you know, all the daylight hours.
• Uh, the federal contracts are set up for 1 crew per aircraft, 8 hours of flight time, um, 12 or 14 hours
• I think it's 1.1 hour for every hour of flight time which that that size of helicopter is is very low

Transcript Highlights:

• We just had a roadway that was a four-lane highway that was 65 miles an hour in which many people had
• This is to fill the gap if you purchase insurance within that first 24 hours or 12 hours in that insurance
• We're we're looking at basically a twelve-hour gap or a 24-hour gap in this.
• I don't know that time frame, but I'm assuming less than 24 hours. Are there any more questions?
• Is there what you talked about, maybe 24 to 48 hours, but it doesn't seem like that.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For seven hours. That was torture for her. That was utter torture.
• The coroner stated she was dead for 18 and a half hours.
• passed—hours that I could have been there as his mother.
• In many instances, that hearing may not occur for 72 hours, 96 hours.
• In many instances, that hearing may not occur for 72 hours, 96 hours.

Summary: The committee first deferred HB 374 without objection. It then heard SB 46, which creates the crime of unlawful operation of a group home aimed at protecting vulnerable adults living in unsafe, unlicensed residences where operators control residents’ assets. The Attorney General’s office described severe neglect and exploitation in some homes, while the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center opposed the bill over concerns it could create confusion, criminalize legitimate recovery or disability housing, and chill protected housing arrangements. After discussion, including assurances that the bill was narrowly targeted at bad actors, the committee reported SB 46 favorably. The committee next took up HB 276, which sets a statewide minimum bail amount for certain sexual offenses against minors. Testimony from a victim’s mother and an anti-trafficking expert supported the bill as a way to keep dangerous offenders detained and protect children, while members debated whether the original $50,000 minimum was too low and could be treated as a benchmark. The committee amended the bill in committee to raise the minimum to $1 million and to add human trafficking involving a victim under 18 to the covered offenses, then reported HB 276 favorably as amended. Members then heard SB 42 and SB 110, both addressing AI-generated child sexual abuse material. SB 42 expands the definition of child sexual abuse material to include digital and AI-generated depictions, while SB 110 prohibits using a child’s image to train AI to produce such material. The Attorney General’s office and survivor advocates supported the measures as necessary updates to keep pace with technology and protect children; the committee reported both bills favorably. HB 998, dealing with forensic medical exams and reimbursement for domestic violence victims, especially strangulation cases, was also heard and amended to remove human trafficking references and set implementation steps; advocates said the bill would improve evidence collection and reimbursement, and it was reported favorably with amendments. Finally, the committee heard SB 51 on fraudulent representation of military service or awards, which was supported as a tool to address stolen valor and was reported favorably, and HB 323 on notification and reporting of inmate deaths, which was presented as a transparency measure after a family testified about learning of a relative’s death from the news rather than the facility.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:07:10.920> after yet and then try to model hours after yet and then try to model hours
• <03:36:23.399> of so a CPA must complete 40 hours of so a CPA must complete 40 hours of approved
• <04:57:32.320> of accumulate to over 10,000 hours of accumulate to over 10,000 hours of training
• <04:57:53.798> in years we do not have 10,000 hours in years we do not have 10,000 hours in
• a um a 32-hour course the 32-hour<05:31:20.480> course<05:31:20.798> is<05:31:20.920><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 144 and House Bill 145, both related to professional licensing for dietitians and dental hygienists. HB 144 was described as a technical fix to align statute with existing Board of Dental Examiners rules allowing dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide and local anesthesia, with supporters saying the bill would add needed training and examination requirements to statute. A dentist and dental society representative testified that the practice is already being done safely within scope, and committee members discussed whether nitrous oxide is still used and whether the bill was mainly to keep the paperwork and law consistent. The committee moved HB 144 forward on a 12-0 vote and placed it on consent. HB 145 would join New Hampshire to a dietitian licensure compact and add a criminal history check for initial licensure to match compact language. The sponsor and board witnesses said the compact would improve portability, support telehealth, help military families and spouses, and maintain public safety by ensuring qualified practitioners and information-sharing among member states. Committee members asked about withdrawal from the compact, the difference between single-state and compact licensure, and why a background check was included; the witness said the compact is not yet active, with four states enacted and seven needed, and that the background check is required by the compact language. Additional testimony from a private-practice dietitian supported the bill, citing continuity of care, rural access, and workforce mobility, while some members raised concerns about telehealth across state lines and the practical effect of the background check.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, I learned that a short meeting can turn into 2 hours.
• Um, in both jobs, you get called at all hours of the night.
• jobs, you get called at all all<00:01:56.640> over<00:01:56.880> all<00:01:57.240> hours
• <00:01:58.440> You all over all hours of the night. You all over all hours of the night.
• workspace, and then for sometimes hours workspace, and then for sometimes hours or<00:03:47.800>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Novotny delivered a farewell speech on the House floor reflecting on his years of service and announcing his departure from the legislature. He described the job as similar to his 33 years in law enforcement, emphasizing long hours, stress, criticism, and the need for perspective, and he joked about the demands of session life, including caffeine, junk food, and long meetings. He also thanked House staff, especially the clerk staff and Chief Clerk Patrick Murphy, for keeping the chamber running smoothly despite the disruptions caused by legislators working in their space. Novotny offered personal thanks to colleagues and allies, including members of the COP Caucus, Representative Moller, his legislative assistant Mary McNamara, and John Hallquist, whom he credited with helping him remember past ideas and discussions. He singled out Representative Nathan Nelson as a close colleague and hunting partner, and he also thanked former Representative Nick Zerwas for encouraging him to serve. He spoke warmly about his family, including his daughters, his wife Nicole, and a future grandchild expected around July 4. The speech was largely humorous and sentimental, with repeated expressions of gratitude to constituents, colleagues, and staff. Novotny said serving in the House had been an honor and that he was ready to hand the role off to someone else. Speaker Demuth thanked him for his service and for presiding with the gavel, and the chamber responded with applause.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Clerk shall announce the first morning hour order of business, including any clerk's announcements
• Second portion of the morning hour, I'm not aware of any requests, sir.
• Third portion of the morning hour reserved for member requests for legislation.
• Per House Rule 51, the House has returned to the morning hour. That completes today's calendar.
• Per House Rule 51, the House has returned to the morning hour.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Special Session 1, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 2 hours of CLE credit for the attorneys. There's insurance education credits available, too.
• of ethics. >> Yeah, you get 2 hours on— >> Can you send us an email out as a reminder?
• >> hours<00:10:23.720> of<00:10:23.880> ethics. >> hours of ethics.
• >> hours of ethics.
• <00:10:26.080> on >> 2 hours on >> 2 hours on >> can<00:10:26.920> you

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The commission met in open session to take action on several motions related to an adjudicatory hearing. It denied a motion to dismiss, granted a motion to quash, and granted in part a renewed motion to compel and for sanctions only to the extent it continued the hearing that had been scheduled for that day. Two motions in limine, one by Mr. Jenkins and one by Representative Grossberg’s attorney, were denied, with the chair noting that relevance issues would be decided during the hearing and that the focus should remain on the conduct and allegations at issue. The commission then set hearing dates for January 26 and February 2, with hearings to begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude before the General Assembly reconvened. It also approved the financial report/budget for October. During discussion, members noted the need to keep the commission’s work moving despite legislative schedules and the importance of not pulling members away from General Assembly responsibilities. In other business, staff announced a current issues training/CLE event for January 7, the hiring of new general counsel Larissa Pletcher effective December 16, and the start of re-registration. The chair reported ongoing efforts to fill remaining commission vacancies through the Speaker’s and President’s offices, and members discussed a possible tentative special meeting on January 12 at noon if needed. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• 100 miles an hour or more while passing.
• A 24 hour shift on the bulk of the share of the Florida fire service works for a 24 hour.
• Shift on and a 48 hour shipped off meaning we have 56 hour work week today by reducing that to a 42 our
• It's a minimum of $25 per hour and allows the home health aide to work in 12 hour shifts rather than
• It matches up with federal training requirements which requires 75 hours of which 20 hours much be very

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Youth threw their phones in as they arrived and fully logged off for six hours.
• ; it's the after-school hours piece that's a little murky.
• and will drive two hours home to be here today.
• Thirty percent are exposed to porn at some point during school hours.
• Hours a day on social media during school means hours of exposure to harms like bullying, sexual predators

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they worked hours and hours to try to pull together something that they thought they could live with
• necessary schedule adjustments to meet those hours later during a busy after-hour shift.
• necessary schedule adjustments to meet those hours later during a busy after-hour shift.
• away, 6 hours away, right?
• away, 6 hours away, right?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just last week, we went to a PPS backpack giveaway, and we spent probably an hour the first time and
• an hour the second time before we left inside of the fire trucks, just having conversations and taking
• At Social Security, phone calls were put on hold, and several times for over an hour.
• My bill is a common-sense middle ground that says $1,200, the current limit, and the hour limit.
• And what it says is, everybody... $1,200, the current limit and the hour limit.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public employees, retirees, and public safety personnel. Early testimony focused on House Bill 2859, which would make Massachusetts Department of Correction industrial instructors permanent civil service employees after years of provisional status, and House Bill 2995, which would reduce the Boston Fire Cadet Program service requirement from two years to one year. Supporters of the Boston fire cadet bill argued it would improve equity, expand opportunities for Boston residents, and help diversify the Boston Fire Department; committee members asked about the current makeup of academy classes and the effect of a hybrid model, and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association was described as neutral on a separate age-related police bill. The committee also heard several proposals related to post-retirement earnings and civil service rules for police and fire retirees. Testimony supported bills including H. 2903 and H. 2966, which would loosen earnings limits for retired public safety workers returning to work, and related measures affecting civil service exemptions and professional services for retirement boards. Speakers argued the current limits are confusing, discourage experienced workers from filling needed municipal jobs, and can create safety issues on public works and construction sites. One witness from Worcester Police supported raising the police academy age limit from 32 to 39 to improve recruitment, especially in BIPOC communities, while Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata supported a separate bill to raise the Boston Police Academy age cap from 39 to 45. A substantial portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 2812 and S. 1817, which would increase the pension COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and freeze certain retiree health insurance contribution rates, with additional testimony about capping out-of-pocket health costs for some retirees. Educators and union representatives said the current COLA structure has eroded pension value and leaves retirees struggling with rising costs, while one witness described long delays and confusion in navigating retiree health coverage. The committee took no substantive votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after hearing all testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• as software, hardware, tools, supplies, materials, our curriculum, including the eligible employee hours
• that they are donating their time above and beyond their normal school hours to be able to be a Donating
• their time above and beyond their normal school hours to be able to be a coach or a facilitator for
• So that But, Rendered in the form of employee hours donated to such programs.
• I think it's very important that these volunteer hours are protected for employees of businesses.

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard House Bill 3359, presented by Representative Wilson on behalf of Representative Riggs. The bill would create a 20% state income tax credit, capped at $10 million annually beginning in tax year 2027, for donations to registered school robotics/STEAM programs. Eligible contributions were described as cash, equipment, software, materials, supplies, and possibly employee volunteer hours, with a six-year sunset. Committee members asked for clarification on whether the credit applies to individuals or businesses, whether volunteer time by parents or other non-experts would qualify, which state agency would administer reporting, and whether the 20% rate should be higher. Wilson said the bill would need clarifying language, including on volunteer eligibility and the reporting department, and said he was open to revisiting the percentage and other details with the sponsor. The primary witness in support was Sarah Waldron, an 18-year-old Westminster Christian Academy senior and robotics team CEO who said she wrote the bill. She argued the credit would help businesses invest in robotics programs, address unequal access across Missouri, and strengthen workforce readiness in STEM and AI. She said the bill was intended to support business employee volunteer hours, not individual volunteer claims, and noted she had drafted an amendment to provide larger credits for under-resourced schools based on free-and-reduced-lunch percentages. Committee members praised her work and discussed how to target aid toward rural and under-resourced districts. One witness testified in opposition, State Public Advocate Arne C. A. C. Dinoff, who said he supported robotics and the student’s effort but opposed the tax credit because of the state’s budget deficit and the broader cost of tax credit programs. He objected particularly to subsidizing volunteerism and said robotics should be supported locally rather than through a state tax credit. The hearing concluded without a vote or other formal action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I will make a motion that this conference committee is allowed to meet 1 hour past midnight.
• The motion prevails, and we will be meeting 1 hour past midnight. Won't be an hour.
• The motion prevails, and we will be meeting 1 hour past midnight. Won't be an hour.
• The conference committee is allowed to meet 1 hour past midnight.
• The motion prevails, and we will be meeting 1 hour past midnight. Won't be an hour.

Keywords: 1183, house