Transcript Highlights:

• There was 15 million more in lottery insurance—that's what it was, lottery insurance, thank you—yeah,
• Security.
• You're not going to have a court session without security there.
• If we don't security for a court.
• Yeah, I asked lottery start on page six.

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 was called to order, and Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Kaine reviewed the working documents before the committee. He explained the compare report, the detailed change sheet, the HB 1 index, the HB 2 side-by-side, the surplus statement, and a revenue handout, noting that the committee would vote up or down on all detail-change items and that unresolved items on hold would be removed from the final bills. He also identified staff available to answer technical questions and noted that the committee would track the dollar impact of decisions as it proceeded. Members then turned to the revenue outlook, with discussion focused on the gap between the House and Senate budget positions. House members said their budget guidance was based on revenue estimates that were significantly below the governor’s proposal, and they discussed whether additional revenue could close part of the gap. Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner Lindsey Stepp presented updated revenue estimates based on May data, explaining the methodology and the ranges for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She said business taxes were the largest source of uncertainty, with estimates reflecting current economic conditions, recent revenue performance, and a range of possible growth rates. Committee members questioned the assumptions behind the business-tax ranges, including why the low and high scenarios were set at 2% and 8% growth. Stepp said the range was based on historical performance and current economic factors such as inflation, tariffs, and business behavior, and she noted that June is a major estimate-payment month for business taxes. Members also discussed recent revenue trends, including the effect of tariffs and the possibility of federal tax policy changes affecting repatriated profits. The commissioner and House members also discussed other revenue sources, including rooms and meals and real estate transfer taxes, with the House side arguing that lower mortgage rates and home prices could increase real estate transfer revenue. No votes were taken in the portion provided, but the committee discussed possible upward adjustments to House revenue assumptions, including increases of roughly $70 million in total based on the updated outlook and additional insurance-related revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was a fearless. who fought tirelessly to secure women's right to vote in Texas. and across the nation
• Please refer to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs, HB 2753, by
• a firearm by a person convicted of certain felony offenses referred to the committee on Homeland Security
• Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs. HB 2770 by Schatzlein.
• AB 2908 by 7 is related to an attendance of receipt of security deposit refund for the control.

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, we can stop online child exploitation through the Department of Homeland Security.

Bills: HB45 , HB45 , HB755 , HB 1232 , HB1555 , HB2460 , HB2702 , HB2973 , HB3120 , HB3225 , HB3314 , HB3356 , HB3371 , HB3634 , HB3638 , HB4247 , HB4283 , HB4290 , HB4302 , HB4503 , HB4511 , HB4565 , HB4581 , HB4627 , HB4632 , HB4660 , HB4668 , HB4960 , HB5042

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money

Transcript Highlights:

• They are vital advocates for municipalities attempting to secure necessary resources, policy support,
• ...that we pass to make it a more secure environment? That's a really good question.
• Spaceports are not just launch pads; they're economic powerhouses and now national security hubs.
• As many of you know, Texas spent more than $11 billion on border security efforts.
• Congress for reimbursement for border security costs.

Bills: HB45 , HB755 , HB 1232 , HB1555 , HB2460 , HB2702 , HB2973 , HB3120 , HB3225 , HB3314 , HB3356 , HB3371 , HB3634 , HB3638 , HB4247 , HB4283 , HB4290 , HB4302 , HB4503 , HB4511 , HB4565 , HB4581 , HB4627 , HB4632 , HB4660 , HB4668 , HB4960 , HB5042 , HB45

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:09.880><c> uh</c> it's funded um with with Lottery uh it's funded um with with Lottery uh
• </c><04:42:40.760><c> and</c> learn food and nutrition security and learn food and nutrition security
• We rely heavily on lottery commissions' earnings and so on.
• We rely heavily on lottery commissions' earnings and so on.
• We rely heavily on lottery commissions' earnings and so on.

Summary: The committee first heard HB 659, which would establish the New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Program. A Department of Revenue Administration analyst explained technical issues in the bill, focusing on whether the incentive is intended to operate as a rebate or a tax credit, how it would be administered, and how it would interact with the business enterprise tax and business profits tax. She said the bill’s language was unclear on the administering agency, effective tax years, caps, and carry-forward treatment, and noted that reducing BET can also reduce the BET credit against BPT, though not on a one-for-one basis. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the BET/BPT interaction, administrative costs, and whether the Department of Business and Economic Affairs would need additional staffing. Andrew Horn then testified in support, saying the bill is meant to address the large number of New Hampshire college graduates who leave the state after graduation by encouraging them to stay and by incentivizing businesses to hire them. The chair closed the hearing on HB 659 after no further public testimony. The committee then took up HB 770, a bill to establish a program allowing New Hampshire high school students to earn tuition credits at state higher education institutions through community service. Representative Schultz described the bill as a “triple play” intended to increase volunteerism, expand service and internship opportunities for students, and make college more affordable. Ryan Casey, a junior at Bishop Brady High School, testified that the proposal would help students reduce future loan debt while benefiting communities and encouraging young people to attend college in New Hampshire. Committee members asked about eligibility, including why private and preparatory school students were excluded, whether public school students would qualify, whether mandatory service hours would count, and how the bill’s references to education and business eligibility should be read. Schultz said the exclusion of private and prep schools was intended because public school students are more clearly New Hampshire residents, and she noted that mandatory school service hours had been excluded in revisions. The Department of Education then testified that the program would require significant administration, estimating at least three full-time staff, software or tracking systems, and rulemaking to oversee volunteer sites, schools, student eligibility, and tuition credit distribution. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the hearing remained in testimony phase.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to that, we created the Natural Resources Trust Authority, which reviews financial security
• It allows them to participate in the lottery. The lottery draw. All right, we do have questions.
• If they, well, now I guess maybe, if they participate in the lottery and they tag in the lottery, they
• However, landowners with qualifying acreage within open areas can participate in the lottery.
• So they paid the lottery. They win.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Affairs, the Idaho State Historical Society, the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the Idaho State Lottery
• Affairs, the Idaho State Historical Society, the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the Idaho State Lottery
• Affairs, the Idaho State Historical Society, the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the Idaho State Lottery
• It’s dealing with the State Treasurer’s ability to continue certain securities lending investments.
• Legislature to continue consistent funding for that storage and recharge to help us make sure we secure

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Food, and National Security Act of 2026.
• </c> Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Food, and National Security Act of 2026.
• </c> the Department of Homeland Security. the Department of Homeland Security.
• Security.
• </c> keep the homeland security for Mount. keep the homeland security for Mount.

Bills: HB7567 , SCR33 , SB1318 , HR1224

Keywords: agriculture, food security, farm programs, sustainability, conservation, nutrition assistance, budget resolution, fiscal responsibility, government funding, budgetary levels, congressional budget, foreign intelligence, digital currency, privacy, surveillance, FISA, civil liberties, rules resolution, special rule, House Rules Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> people's lives, their economic security people's lives, their economic security was<01:11:42.960
• ,</c> Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA, cyber security, Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA, cyber security, the<01:12:21.360
• But it wasn't until the Security.
• And a $12,000 deduction for a married couple on Social Security means a more secure retirement. get on
• </c> security tax being refunded to them. security tax being refunded to them.

Bills: HR1156 , HB6398 , HB6409 , HR965 , HR1174 , HR1176 , HCR40

Keywords: tax cuts, working families, tax relief, income tax, healthcare, education, overtime pay, child tax credit, environmental regulations, EPA, clean air, reducing duplication, federal projects, Clean Air Act, emissions, air quality, international pollutants, economic impact, temporary protected status, Haiti

Bills: HF4598 , HF4884 , HF3732

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, correctional officer, security counselor, public safety dispatcher, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is House Bill 292 by Representative Boyd, and it provides relative to the return of security
• House Bill 292 is a return of security deposit from tenants that will give the landlords a grace period
• language that would permit the landlord and the tenant to agree in writing a date for the return of the security
• instead will permit the landlord to send the itemized statement accounting for any of the retained security
• deposit an additional 15 days after the date that is one month...” “...security deposit, an additional

Bills: HB135 , HB142 , HB170 , HB194 , HB215 , HB216 , HB226 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB609

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: exemption, motor vehicles, health savings accounts, debt relief, bankruptcy, civil procedure, abandonment, default judgment, court costs, notice requirements, construction contracts, jurisdiction, dispute resolution, public policy, Louisiana law, professional engineer, peremptive periods, construction, architect, real estate developer

Bills: HB2291 , HB2629 , HB2439 , HB1078 , HB1701 , HB2207 , HB2501 , HB2361 , HB1932

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: kratom, consumer protection, regulation, health safety, substance control, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, pet insurance, insurance regulation, animal welfare, claims processes

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety will now come to order.
• And part of the requirement was that this security would be provided by law enforcement. officers.
• Members, securing our border is a top priority for Texas and private land.
• Owner participation in border security efforts.
• Build a stronger, more effective strategy for securing our border.

Bills: HB1583 , HB1775 , HB1832 , HB1836 , HB1837 , HB1866 , HB1983 , HB2029 , HB2217 , HB2318 , HB2363 , HB2486

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

Keywords: mental health, emergency detention, peace officer, mental illness, prevention of harm, border security, private landowners, study and report, General Land Office, participation, controlled substances, opioid antagonists, law enforcement training, substance abuse prevention, Texas-Mexico border, criminal justice, public safety, law enforcement, National Park Service, arrest powers

Bills: SB137 , SB164 , SB165 , SB49

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

Transcript Highlights:

• The first The first one would be the gratis tag, and then, similar to the deer lottery, the landowner
• can pay for and apply in the second lottery if they're not successful on their gratis tag.
• Well, Madam President, Senate Bill 251 deals with our North Dakota Private Investigative and Security
• Board, and that's the board that licenses our state private investigators, our security trainers, and
• Board to provide for a performance audit of the North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Security of the public roads within public road right-of-ways.
• this bill continues to support the balance of access for voters with the needs for election... and security
• We saw in 2024 this particular innovation, if you'd call it, of offering a lottery where you could give
• Musk or any other billionaire can spend or give away a million dollars as a We can't do that with a lottery
• makes it clear that it doesn't matter who you are; you can't buy, bribe, or induce somebody with a lottery

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the next line," "Then the next line dealing with the right-hand side says lottery proceeds fund
• And then help me out: what happened with lottery proceeds?
• Lottery Commission pull tab was a compromise, correct?
• Lottery Commission pull tab was a compromise, correct? And there's a handout with it, I believe.
• The third one down, Senate. 0.07, nonprofit security, House. 0.08, weather radar.

Committee: House Conference Committee on Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Our position Throughout the litigation, we argued that those machines were unconstitutional lotteries
• The security guard was allegedly armed, but he was armed with a fake handgun.
• I mean, there's growing national security concern about foreign influence, especially from countries
• They're taking advantage of that seam in our system where the national security expertise is at a the
• , organizations, and institutions to assist the PRC security and intelligence...

Bills: SB30 , SB517 , SB1313 , SB1314 , SB1316 , SB1541 , SB1698 , SB1845 , SB1860 , SB2420 , SB2429 , SB 30

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the legalization of video Lottery the legalization of video Lottery Terminals<00:14:37.000><c> and
• Revenue so the restricted Lottery Revenue so the restricted Lottery<00:45:45.839><c> revenues</c><00
• </c> added here separating out the lottery added here separating out the lottery going<00:46:35.240><
• </c> on one level and restricted Lottery on one level and restricted Lottery revenue<00:46:41.760><c>
• Lottery revenue, it'll be funded with lottery revenue, so whatever lottery revenue comes in, the difference

Summary: The committee first heard Representative Sweeney present and defend the budget amendment legalizing video lottery terminals (VLTs) and setting a 30% tax rate, with 65% of the tax going to the state and 35% to charities. He argued the lower rate was needed to encourage operators of historic horse racing (HHR) machines to convert to VLTs, saying the higher 45% rate would discourage adoption. He walked through revenue projections for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, estimating significant increases in state and charity revenue as machines transition over time, and said the amendment was designed to expand charitable gaming revenue overall. Several members questioned the assumptions behind his projections and the basis for his analysis, including why his independent research differed from the governor’s and Lottery Commission’s estimates. Sweeney said his figures were based on research into other states and conversations over many years, and he maintained that a 45% tax would likely result in no VLT adoption. Members also debated whether the transition costs for operators would be quickly recouped and whether the state’s share should be larger. One member emphasized that the committee was effectively choosing between a lower operator share and a higher state share, while Sweeney argued the 30% structure would produce revenue for everyone. The committee then moved to other revenue items on the tracking sheet. It voted 7-0 to accept the Lottery Commission’s revised base revenue estimates. Members also discussed an amendment to repeal the local option requirement for Kino games, which would expand Kino availability and was estimated to generate additional lottery profit in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. That amendment drew opposition from members who said local control was an important part of the original Kino policy and that removing it would override municipal decisions. The committee also noted that the VLT/HHR revenue item had already been adopted and was being revisited only to confirm the associated revenue estimates.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is step one of a two-step process setting up the Veterans Lottery.
• lottery trust fund.
• Yeah, I've talked to the lottery commission. They are behind this 100%.
• You said you had communications with the Lottery Commission, and I thought I heard you say that the Lottery
• that the lottery, this lottery game is going for veterans, they might play it.

Bills: HJR1074 , HB3501 , HJR1070

Committee: House Rules

Summary: The committee began with HJR 1074, a proposed Veterans Lottery Trust Fund measure. After adopting a scrivener’s-error amendment, the author explained it would create a veterans lottery game as a two-step process: first establishing the trust fund and board structure, then returning later to authorize the game itself. Members questioned how the money would be appropriated and whether the legislature could direct spending, as well as whether the lottery would compete with existing education lottery revenue. The author said the intent was for the funds to go to the Veterans Lottery Trust Fund and then be distributed by the board, and argued it would create recurring revenue for veterans without relying on annual appropriations. The committee approved the measure 7-1 and reported it do pass. Next, the committee considered HB 3501, which would allow the ABLE Commission to issue multiple manufacturing licenses for one premises. A PCS was adopted as the working draft without objection, and the bill passed 8-1 after brief discussion and no substantive debate. Finally, the committee took up HJR 1070, which would require the Attorney General to be a licensed attorney. An amendment was adopted to change the required practice threshold from 10 years to 5 years to align with requirements for district judges and Supreme Court justices. Members asked about residency, whether the requirement would apply to current candidates, and why the change was needed now. The author said it would not affect current candidates but was intended for future elections so the chief law enforcement officer would be an actual attorney. The resolution passed unanimously, 9-0, and was reported do pass.