Transcript Highlights:

• that once the developer gets to the point where they've done all the site work and development and engineering

Summary: The committee first heard CS/HB 69, which would preempt local land-use decisions for presidential libraries to the state. The sponsor said the bill was intended to make it easier to site a presidential library in Florida. Members asked about whether the bill could affect nontraditional uses such as hotels or casinos, and the sponsor said it only addressed land-use and development-order decisions. There was no public testimony, and the bill was reported favorably 16-7. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, “Lucy's Law,” on boating safety. The bill expands boating education requirements, aligns boating penalties more closely with driving offenses, prohibits false information in vessel accident reports, and requires certain nonresidents to obtain boating safety cards. An amendment requiring boating safety courses for those convicted of civil boating infractions was adopted. The committee heard emotional testimony from Lucy Fernandez’s mother, who described the fatal 2022 boating crash that inspired the bill, along with support from industry and local-government witnesses. Members from both parties spoke in favor, emphasizing accountability, education, and enforcement. The bill passed unanimously, 25-0. HB 7003, an open-government/sunshine bill, preserved a public-records exemption for sensitive business information submitted with applications to the Office of Financial Regulation’s financial technology sandbox. It drew no public testimony or debate and was reported favorably. HB 4007, a local bill for Martin County, capped reimbursement for inmate emergency health care at 110% of Medicare, mirroring the Department of Corrections standard; it also passed favorably after supportive public testimony. The longest discussion was on HB 991, which would prohibit creation of new community redevelopment agencies after July 1, 2025, bar current CRAs from starting new projects or issuing new debt after October 1, 2025, and sunset existing CRAs by 2045 or their charter date, whichever is earlier. The sponsor argued CRAs have become long-lived funding vehicles used beyond their original anti-blight purpose and said local governments have other tools. Many members from both parties objected that CRAs remain important for affordable housing, small business support, infrastructure, and redevelopment in blighted areas, and several said the bill would harm ongoing or multi-phase projects. Three amendments were offered: one defining “new project,” one striking the new-CRA prohibition, and one striking the new-debt/new-project language; all were defeated except the first, which was adopted. Public testimony was split, with redevelopment groups, cities, and the Florida League of Cities opposing the bill and Americans for Prosperity supporting it. The committee did not reach final disposition in the portion provided, but the debate showed substantial opposition and concern about the bill’s impact on local redevelopment efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then as the jurisdiction goes through architecture, engineering, construction, and starts doing those

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Then our office, our structural engineers, and architects work with them to give technical assistance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texans, 11 way or another, whether it's directly or it's through continuing to create the economic engine

Bills: HB8 , HB9 , HJR1 , HB 22

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• all too often in terms of producers, but it's all the agri businesses that make our whole economic engine

Keywords: Intro: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 Discussion of SB 122: 02:30 Roll Call Vote on SB 122: 26:47, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee took up Senate Bill 122, a measure dealing with pet stores, breeders, and the scope of local regulation. The chair explained the bill was intended to balance private business rights with local control, and said he wanted to clarify definitions such as qualified breeder, local authority, and where fees and fines would go. He also said he would work on a floor amendment and noted concerns about whether the bill would allow localities to outright ban pet stores or instead only regulate them. The committee first adopted a committee substitute by motion and voice vote. Supporters of the bill, including representatives from Petland and an attorney who had worked on animal-related regulation in Ohio, argued that the bill would create statewide standards, protect responsible pet retailers from what they described as politically motivated local bans, and preserve consumer choice. They said local governments would still be able to inspect, require documentation, and enforce licensing, but not shut businesses down without due process. A senator from Campbell County asked whether the bill would interfere with strong local ordinances; supporters responded that the bill would set standards higher than USDA rules and still allow local regulation, while opposing local bans. Opposition came from the Kentucky League of Cities and representatives of Kentucky animal care and control agencies. KLC said local decisions should remain at the local level and noted that several cities and one county already had ordinances that could be affected; it also said the bill was opposed by its board and might overlap with pending litigation. Animal control representatives said the bill did not clearly define breeder verification or enforcement responsibility, could restrict local authority, and did not address animal care conditions or consumer transparency. After questions and debate, the committee voted on the bill; the roll call ended in a 5-5 tie, and Senate Bill 122 failed to pass out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a retired professional engineer and builder, designer, and builder of buildings to help with the.

Bills: SB26 , SB 26

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, SB 26, Texas Property Code, colonia, colonias, Spanish translation, bilingual contract, real estate contract, executory contract, residential property, border county, international border, economically distressed area, consumer protection, language access, translator certified in Spanish

Transcript Highlights:

• including Social Security numbers and anything that a competent fraudster would need to socially engineer

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's in the engineering world and a good friend from back in Henderson, so I want to welcome him.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:11 Attendance Roll Call: 00:18 Senate Bill 10 (Sen. Mills): 01:47 Senate Bill 65 (Sen. West): 18:47 Senate Bill 104 (Sen. Madon): 25:41 Adjournment: 31:38, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 10, which would revise CERS retiree health subsidies for members who began participating on or before July 1, 2003. Senator Mills said the bill was developed with employee and employer groups to improve retiree health benefits while protecting the system’s financial footing, using a shared-cost structure. Testimony from sheriffs, police chiefs, firefighters, and the League of Cities strongly supported the bill, emphasizing recruitment and retention, affordability of retiree health coverage, and limited taxpayer risk. Members echoed those points, and the committee approved SB 10 with a 9-0 favorable recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Senator West, which would codify the Administrative Regulations Committee’s annual practice of placing certain deficient regulations into statute so they cannot take effect. West explained that the committee’s role is limited to finding regulations deficient or asking for deferral, and that SB 65 is the fifth version of this measure. He described the specific regulation at issue as a Medicaid Services rule that would have required behavioral health associates to hold a master’s degree; providers testified that it would reduce the workforce and harm behavioral health services statewide. West said the committee had deferred the matter eight times before deciding to side with providers. The bill received favorable expression and was reported out. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 104, sponsored by Senator Madon, concerning Kentucky Deferred Comp for state employees. The bill would establish a codified fiduciary standard, authorize fiduciary liability insurance, add self-correcting mechanisms to keep the plan in compliance with federal law, and allow self-directed brokerage accounts. Personnel Cabinet representatives said the changes would align the plan with other public pension plans, reduce risk, and offer participants a useful investment option with strong account growth among users. SB 104 also received favorable expression and was reported to the floor. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and without let-up, so that we don't have a different... ...so that we don't encounter different engineering

Bills: SJR 1 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 36 , SJR 1 , SJR 5 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SR 61 , SR 91 , SR 97 , SR 103 , SR 104 , SR 112 , SR 115 , SR 116 , SCR 16 , SB 26 , SB 26

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, Texas Music Advocacy Day, music industry

Transcript Highlights:

• Educated students, regardless of status, become nurses, teachers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I'm pursuing an engineering degree, what types of courses do I need to take?

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• For civil engineering, I think it is about 1.5%.
• planning in their planning normally normally normally For<02:46:22.960><c> civil</c><02:46:23.279><c> engineering
• ><c> I</c><02:46:24.080><c> think</c><02:46:24.160><c> it</c><02:46:24.399><c> is</c> For civil engineering
• , I think it is For civil engineering, I think it is about<02:46:24.720><c> 1.5%.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on quick-build projects for Title I schools, as in, like, Fington High School, working with the engineering
• Fington High School working with like um Fington High School working with the<01:49:36.800><c> engineering
• </c><01:49:37.280><c> students</c><01:49:37.679><c> there</c><01:49:38.320><c> and</c> the engineering
• students there and the engineering students there and working<01:49:38.960><c> with</c><01:49:39.119

Bills: HB1977 , HB1764 , HB1934 , HB2533 , HB1790 , HB2181 , HB1870 , HB2140 , HB2468 , HB2358 , HB1588 , HB1688 , HB1986 , HB2030 , HB2195 , HB1949 , HB1695 , HB1950 , HB2094 , HB2115 , HB2297 , HB2336 , HB2416 , HB2049

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: maternal health, infant health, mobile application, Medicaid, healthcare access, state programs, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, libraries, education, reading programs, early childhood, nonprofit, community engagement, teacher retention, Hawaiian language education, special needs schools

Transcript Highlights:

• In that same pioneer spirit, engineers and skilled artisans are fortifying it with seismic upgrades,
• In that same pioneer spirit,<00:42:40.240><c> engineers</c><00:42:40.640><c> and</c><00:42:40.880><c>
• skilled</c><00:42:41.200><c> artisans</c> spirit, engineers and skilled artisans spirit, engineers and

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a software engineer by trade. Uh, I would probably take advantage of this program myself.
• I'm a software<00:52:56.800><c> engineer</c><00:52:57.119><c> by</c><00:52:57.359><c> trade.
• </c><00:52:58.000><c> Uh,</c><00:52:58.319><c> I</c><00:52:58.559><c> I</c> software engineer by trade
• Uh, I I software engineer by trade.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say if Alabama State has engineering or Auburn has it, do we need two schools having those programs
• Let's say if Alabama State has engineering<02:31:46.560><c> or</c><02:31:47.040><c> Auburn</c><02:31:
• 47.520><c> has,</c><02:31:48.240><c> do</c><02:31:48.479><c> we</c><02:31:48.640><c> need</c> engineering
• or Auburn has, do we need engineering or Auburn has, do we need two<02:31:49.120><c> those</c><02:31

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that crosscuts everything from logistics, transportation, engineering, health care, security and
• :13.120><c> transportation,</c> from logistics, transportation, from logistics, transportation, engineering
• > healthc</c><03:13:15.279><c> care,</c><03:13:15.760><c> security</c><03:13:16.160><c> and</c> engineering
• , healthc care, security and engineering, healthc care, security and law<03:13:16.640><c> enforcement

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is ostensibly a retired software engineer would do what in order to be credentialed, in order
• ostensibly a retired person retired ostensibly a retired person retired software<03:33:11.120><c> engineer
• <c> do</c><03:33:12.680><c> what</c><03:33:12.920><c> in</c><03:33:13.080><c> order</c> software engineer
• would do what in order software engineer would do what in order to<03:33:14.040><c> be</c><03:33:14.399

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee work session focused primarily on House Bill 115 and a proposed amendment, 114H, which would carry over language from HB 2 into HB 115 and place limits on Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). Representative Murray described the amendment as a way to keep the 350% federal poverty eligibility cap, require students to have attended a charter public school in grades K-12 for the preceding year before entering the voucher system, and add guardrails against universal eligibility. She argued the state was facing a severe budget crisis, that expanding EFAs would divert money from other programs, and that public testimony and local votes showed widespread opposition to expansion. She also cited a letter from former Finance chair Neil Kirk opposing expansion. Other members responded that the committee should not revisit policy already decided by the House, though some said the amendment was fair to discuss because of its fiscal implications and supported it on that basis. The discussion then broadened into a debate over the fiscal impact of universal vouchers and the reliability of enrollment and cost estimates. Representative Luno argued that prior EFA projections had relied on assumptions that could badly underestimate state exposure, pointing to Arizona as a cautionary example and saying New Hampshire should not expand the program without better analysis. Representative Papovich similarly warned that universal eligibility could create a large, unexpected cost, estimating a potential exposure of about $285 million based on school-age children not currently in public, charter, or EFA programs. In contrast, Representative Weyler said EFAs can save money because public school spending is already high and parents using EFAs still pay taxes and take on more responsibility for their children’s education. After discussion, Representative Murray moved to accept the amendment, and Representative Bean seconded it. There was some procedural clarification about voting on the original bill and the amendment. The transcript ends before a final recorded vote on the amendment or on HB 115 itself, though the committee had also been told it would likely reconsider several retained bills later in the week, including HB 129, HB 133, HB 671, and HB 781.

Transcript Highlights:

• allowing independent permitting and inspections and allowing local governments to authorize licensed engineers
• governments to and allowing local governments to authorize<03:10:02.600><c> licensed</c><03:10:03.040><c> engineers
• </c><03:10:03.560><c> and</c> authorize licensed engineers and authorize licensed engineers and Architects

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They call it the minimum climb gradient for an airliner in the event that you have a catastrophic engine
• <01:42:09.440><c> a</c><01:42:09.760><c> a</c><01:42:10.320><c> catastrophic</c><01:42:10.880><c> engine
• </c><01:42:11.239><c> failure</c><01:42:11.920><c> or</c> um a a catastrophic engine failure or um a
• a catastrophic engine failure or something<01:42:12.400><c> along</c><01:42:12.719><c> those</c><01:42

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Water and Land, Hawaiian Affairs, and Housing committees on January 29, 2025 focused on SB 534, with the chairs outlining hearing procedures, public testimony limits, and plans to allow extended presentations from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) before moving to other testifiers. The hearing was presented as a public, transparent discussion of OHA’s plans for Kakaʻako Makai, with committee members noting that decision-making would follow if time permitted. OHA testified in strong support of SB 534. The chair of OHA’s Board of Trustees said the bill was a novel proposal for the legislature and emphasized that OHA was bringing together a broad coalition of partners and stakeholders, including representatives from construction, hospitality, education, law enforcement, civil service, and schools, as well as longtime community advocates who have opposed development in Kakaʻako Makai. OHA’s presentation reviewed the history of the area, the creation and role of HCDA, prior master plans, the 2012 land conveyance to OHA, and the argument that OHA has not been able to realize the full economic value of the lands because desired entitlements were not secured. OHA linked the bill to its constitutional mission to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians and argued that the state’s housing crisis makes additional development, including residential use, especially important. A major theme of the testimony was housing. OHA argued that Hawaiʻi faces severe affordability pressures, out-migration, and workforce shortages, and said that residential development in Kakaʻako Makai would help address those needs while also supporting the value of the trust lands. The presentation described HCDA’s authority over zoning and development in Kakaʻako, the existing reserved housing requirements, and the need for a master plan that could move forward if SB 534 becomes law. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the discussion remained in the presentation and testimony phase.