Transcript Highlights:

• So, yes, in one side it may prevent that from happening, but to be up front with you, the vending machines
• So, yes, in one side it may prevent that from happening, but to be up front with you, the vending machines

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II work session focused on Fish and Game’s budget-revenue proposals and several statutory changes the department said it needs to support its operations. The department recommended raising the fisheries habitat fee and wildlife habitat fee to $5 each, estimating additional annual revenue of about $640,000 and $144,000 respectively. Members clarified that these are habitat fees added on top of licenses, not reduced by senior or youth license categories, and discussed the need for RSA changes to allow the revenue to be transferred into the Fish and Game Fund. The department also said it would work internally on any broader license fee increases through the commission process. The committee then reviewed proposals to cap several dedicated accounts and transfer excess balances to the unrestricted Fish and Game Fund. Those accounts included the fisheries and wildlife habitat funds and the game management account, with the department proposing a $750,000 cap on each and transfer of amounts above that threshold. The department said the cap was based on several years of expenditures and the fact that dedicated funds are often used as match for federal funds. Members asked for reports on fund activity and questioned whether the cap and mandatory transfer language should be “shall” or “may,” with the department indicating it would prefer “may” for flexibility. The committee also discussed a Pheasant Management Program account, where the department said current law limits use of the money to buying and propagating pheasants and it wants authority to use it for broader program management. A substantial portion of the meeting addressed Fish and Game’s environmental review unit and the transfer of ARPA-funded positions to DEES under the governor’s initiative. The department said four positions are currently ARPA-funded, that DEES supports keeping them in place through the end of the year, and that the transition will require time because environmental review work is intertwined across the agency. The department explained that before the ARPA positions, biologists handled the work and that current staffing has helped eliminate a backlog and meet deadlines. Members also discussed a proposal to expand environmental review fees beyond private developers to state, federal, municipal, and local governments, with the department saying it would need rulemaking and stakeholder input. Additional requests included authority to conduct raffles to raise funds, creation of a revolving account for donations and raffle proceeds, and repeal of the obsolete fish food sales statute because the vending machines are no longer functional and the account generates no revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if it's not about the, the lottery, and if, if, if the lottery goes away, then what happens to the
• Uh, by way of background, I, I've worked with lotteries and for lotteries for almost 15 years now.
• Members, this really is all about a pursuit of offering i lottery, internet, instant lottery.
• They can buy, I mean, their, uh, lottery tickets, and they do business with the lottery.
• Harless, if this bill passes, would you be good with the lottery? Would I be good with the lottery?

Bills: SB 28

Keywords: groundwater, groundwater conservation district, Water Code, Water Development Board, modeled available groundwater, aquifer, water permit, groundwater transfer, export groundwater, out-of-district transfer, management area, desired future conditions, well permit, retail public utility, potable water, emergency interconnect, subsidiary, controlled entity, aquifer management, water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would tell you that pet vending is very expensive to the state coffers.
• have, you know, it's hundreds of thousands of dollars of staff time, and our total income for pet vending
• But I would tell you that pet vending is very expensive to the state coffers.
• have, you know, it's hundreds of thousands of dollars of staff time, and our total income for pet vending
• But I would tell you that pet vending is very expensive to the state coffers.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• company I worked at was needed CNC and needed employees who understood math to be able to run these machines
• understood math to be able to<00:55:06.079><c> run</c><00:55:06.160><c> these</c><00:55:06.480><c> machines
• and</c><00:55:07.040><c> they</c><00:55:07.200><c> would</c><00:55:07.359><c> pay</c> to run these machines
• and they would pay to run these machines and they would pay for<00:55:07.760><c> community</c><00:55
• Nobody even knows who it is except the lottery. So I don't know where that stands.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The lottery is held once a year, correct? So we're just looking at a lottery once a year.
• The lottery is held once a year, correct? So we're just looking at a lottery once a year.
• The lottery is held once a year, correct? So we're just looking at a lottery once a year.
• The lottery is held once a year, correct? So we're just looking at a lottery once a year.
• What it does is it allows for the lottery.

Summary: The House Education Committee first approved minutes from February 18, 19, 20, and 23, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 657, which would change charter school lottery priorities to give charter schools more local discretion while also adding foster children to the sibling category and allowing military-connected students on Title 10 orders to be considered in the lottery. Supporters, including military families, the Idaho Charter School Association, and the Idaho Charter School Network, said the bill would reduce enrollment barriers for military children who move frequently and often miss lottery windows. Opponents, including the Mountain Home superintendent and a retired senior master sergeant, argued it could harm Mountain Home schools and that a simpler fix would be to amend existing military enrollment law. The sponsor moved to hold HB 657 in committee and instead advance RS-33489, which the committee approved for introduction and referral to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 711, an alternate authorization pathway for principals and superintendents. Chairman Hawkins and Superintendent Critchfield said the bill is meant to help rural districts fill leadership vacancies by allowing experienced non-educators to enter school administration with mentoring and training, while not forcing any district to use the option. The Idaho School Boards Association and Idaho Association of School Administrators raised concerns about removing the master’s degree requirement, the breadth of the executive pathway, and the use of training funds for mentorships. A teacher and union leader also opposed the bill, saying educational leadership requires experience in law, budgeting, special education, and curriculum. After debate, the committee passed HB 711 out of committee with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up RS 32862 C1, which would move the STEM Action Center under the Workforce Development Council, require a 50% industry match, reduce overhead costs, and add performance measures for general fund spending. The sponsor said the change would create savings, improve coordination, and strengthen accountability. After brief questions about charitable contribution deductions and governance, the committee voted to introduce the RS. The chair then announced House Bill 712 would be moved to the next morning’s agenda, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are lottery proceeds that are fully dedicated and are inside the $3.5 billion for FY26, but still
• Lottery proceeds are about $180 million.
• The New Orleans Sports Franchise Assistance Fund is about $2.5 million from proceeds from slot machines

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It only extends as far as students can be cogs in a machine.
• legalized, but there's a hope that next year the structure gets completely changed and put into a lottery
• Generates a lawsuit, which we knew was going to happen, which cancels the lottery and delays the whole

Transcript Highlights:

• The authority to require them to vend inspections by rule, that's what it does.

Bills: SB 1493, SB 1598, SB 1895, SB 1919, SB 2039, SB 2226, SB 2243, SB 2425

Keywords: SB 1493, Texas Transportation Code, motor vehicle lighting, vehicle lighting standards, high-mounted stoplamp, center high mount stop lamp, CHMSL, brake light, stop lamp, federal motor vehicle safety standards, 49 C.F.R. 571.108, FMVSS 108, vehicle inspection, automotive compliance, Transportation Committee, Texas vehicle equipment, motor vehicle collision report, crash report, accident report, traffic accident

Summary: The committee meeting focused on two primary bills, SB1598 and SB1493. SB1598, introduced by Senator Hagen Booth, addresses the clarity of collision report information access for law enforcement, aiming to enhance the tools available to police agencies across Texas for solving crimes. The meeting featured strong support from police representatives, including Sheriff Brian Hawthorne of Chambers County, who emphasized the significance of the CARFAX program for police in facilitating access to vital vehicle information, free of charge. Public testimony reflected a consensus on the necessity of the bill for improved investigatory processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Scheible, please open the machine, and members proceed to vote.
• Please close the machine. With 36 aye, 24 no, and five excused, the motion is adopted.
• They look like slot machines, and the kids are sitting there with that dopamine loop triggered trying
• They look like slot<03:51:28.000><c> machines</c><03:51:28.440><c> and</c><03:51:28.560><c> the</c><03
• I mean, gambling addiction comes every year to come visit us here at the Capitol with Colorado Lottery

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our final agenda item this morning is the state lottery. Ms.
• The lottery fund sources of revenue are proceeds from the sale of lottery tickets and licensing fees
• The lottery requested no ongoing enhancements in fiscal year 2026.
• I'm the director of the Idaho State Lottery.
• I'm just kind of curious why the lottery needs to have detectives. Mr.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason why is because of the way the lottery system is currently structured.
• helps provide additional time for those families to be placed on a lottery.
• The lottery is held once a year, correct? So we're just looking at a lottery once a year.
• They would be able to get in line when on the next lottery.
• What it does is it allows for the lottery.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: House Education began by approving minutes from February 18, 19, 20, and 23, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 657, which would change charter school lottery priorities to give military-connected students and foster children greater access, while also allowing charter schools more discretion to set their own enrollment priorities. The sponsor and several military family and charter school witnesses supported the bill as a fairness and stability measure for families facing frequent PCS moves; opponents, including Mountain Home school officials, argued it could significantly harm the local district and that a simpler amendment to the military enrollment statute would address the problem without creating district-level disruption. The committee held HB 657 in committee and then introduced RS-33489, sending it to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation. The committee next took up House Bill 711, an alternate authorization pathway for principals and superintendents. Supporters, including the sponsor and the State Superintendent, said it would help rural districts recruit leaders by creating a “grow your own” and executive pathway with mentoring and board approval, while opponents from school boards, administrators, and educators warned that removing the master’s degree requirement and allowing broader use of training funds could weaken preparation and accountability. After testimony and debate, the committee passed HB 711 to the House floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered RS 32862 C1, which would move the STEM Action Center into the Workforce Development Council, reduce overhead, require industry matching funds, and add annual performance reporting for general fund spending. The sponsor said the change would improve efficiency and accountability, and the committee asked about charitable contribution deductions and governance details. RS 32862 C1 was introduced and sent to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation. The committee also announced that House Bill 712 would be moved to the next morning’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 309, Lottery. Senate Bill 309, lottery deposits into tuition funds.
• Lottery Authority.
• in lottery operations.
• Lottery Authority.
• in the lottery operation.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 246, which would require licensure and inspections for massage therapy establishments. The sponsor and Regulation and Licensing Department said the bill is intended to close a gap in oversight, improve sanitation and public safety, and help address human trafficking and prostitution concerns. Supporters from the massage therapy profession and industry groups said establishment licensing would create accountability and protect legitimate practitioners, while AMTA took a neutral position but supported the rulemaking process. Several senators raised concerns about privacy, home-based businesses, and whether mobile or traveling therapists would be affected; the department said the bill would apply to establishments, not individual therapists, and that home inspections would be governed by rules. The committee voted 8-0 to give SB 246 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 300, an appropriation for CYFD computer hardware and software to improve compatibility with the national child welfare management system. The sponsor said the goal was to reduce delays and improve data sharing, especially in child welfare and ICWA-related cases. Members asked about the current system and how the funding would help, and the sponsor said the bill was aimed at better interoperability. The committee voted 8-0 to send SB 300 forward with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 146, which would amend the New Mexico Civil Rights Act. The bill and committee substitute would align the legal standard more closely with federal deliberate indifference language, reduce damages caps, shorten the statute of limitations, require 90 days’ notice, and bar double recovery under both the Civil Rights Act and Tort Claims Act. Supporters, including county and city representatives, law enforcement, AFSCME, and risk management officials, argued the changes were needed to control rapidly rising claims costs and protect public budgets. Opponents from the ACLU, civil rights, poverty, immigrant, and LGBTQ advocacy groups said the bill would weaken accountability, reintroduce qualified immunity-like protections, and make it harder for people harmed by government actors to seek justice. After a failed motion to table and a 5-5 vote on the committee substitute, the bill remained in committee and did not advance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our final agenda item this morning is the state lottery.
• The last agency that we'll be reviewing this morning is the state lottery.
• The lottery fund sources of revenue are proceeds from the sale of lottery tickets and licensing fees
• The lottery requested no ongoing enhancements in fiscal year 2026.
• I'm the director of the Idaho State Lottery.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first heard the Joint Millennium Fund Committee’s report. The co-chairs recommended one-time or ongoing funding for several programs: $692,200 for the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, $1 million for juvenile safety assessment centers, $3 million for child advocacy centers, $150,000 ongoing for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation, noting prior language against using Millennium Fund dollars to offset Medicaid; the co-chairs said the current recommendation was tied to the governor’s request and intended as one-time funding, with any unused money returned to the fund. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses budget. Legislative staff outlined the division’s structure, growth, fund balances, and fee-setting framework, including the requirement to keep board balances within a range tied to a five-year rolling average of expenditures. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced costs, consolidated boards, and used fee increases, fee reductions, and fee holidays to bring boards into range; he also said the division had improved retention after inspector pay increases. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for DEA license reimbursements, the request to remove a 10% transfer limitation, and whether cash balances should be redistributed among boards. Barron said the transfer exemption was largely a holdover and that cross-subsidizing boards would be possible but unpopular. He also explained that complaints drive enforcement, that a universal discipline bill could improve consistency, and that vehicle replacements were still needed because the fleet is aging despite possible future legislation. Finally, the committee heard the State Lottery budget. Staff reported that the lottery continues to generate dividends for schools and public buildings, with most expenditures tied to prizes and commissions. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts, and expects significant savings beginning in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; the director said detectives investigate theft and other crimes involving lottery inventory, advertising effectiveness depends heavily on jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design and artwork. The meeting ended with adjournment and a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work groups and future hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several container redemption methods in use today, including bag drop-off, reverse vending
• machines, and others. improvements to existing centers and improvements to existing centers and stores
• It sets forth the Department of Liquor and Lottery requirements for redemption of liquor bottles and
• Finally, another small potential fiscal impact of the bill is that the Department of Liquor and Lottery
• Finally, another small potential fiscal impact of the bill is that the Department of Liquor and Lottery

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by utilizing a proactive, scalable, data-driven approach using modern artificial intelligence and machine
• can be leveraged broadly across the executive branch as it relates to artificial intelligence and machine
• I think the licensing lottery or whatever it was just last week was a miserable rollout, but more, you
• the place I think the uh<01:05:03.359><c> the</c><01:05:03.520><c> licensing</c><01:05:04.240><c> lottery
• or whatever it uh the licensing lottery or whatever it was<01:05:05.760><c> just</c><01:05:06.000><c

Bills: HF1470, HF1310, HF1837

Keywords: opioids, substance use, addiction recovery, mental health, state cabinet, HF1310, Office of Cannabis Management, cannabis, marijuana, tribal consultation, government-to-government relationship, Minnesota tribes, Tribal governments, state government, consultation, rulemaking, Indian affairs, cannabis regulation, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations

Bills: HB2073, HB2403, HB2587, HB2607, HB1170, HB1570, HB1710, HB1750, HB1834, HB2441

Keywords: health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, failure to register, criminal justice, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, nonprofit, grant funding, pilot program, financial support, community development, child care, childcare, subsidy rates, rate regions, market rate survey

Bills: SB456, SB826, SB872, SB957, SB993, SB1660, SB2017, SB2611, SB2785, SB2794, SB442

Keywords: human organs, criminal penalties, physician license, medical ethics, illegal trade, SB 826, Texas, DWI, driving while intoxicated, intoxicated driving, school crossing zone, school zone, reduced speed limit, traffic safety, child safety, pedestrian safety, felony DWI, state jail felony, Penal Code Section 49.04, Transportation Code Section 541.302

Transcript Highlights:

• But the good news is they have an ATM machine. And that's their business model.
• Pay cash, but if you don't have the cash, you can go to the ATM machine and get the cash to pay the tab
• So it's pretty convenient, but they make 3% on the ATM machine too.
• That would eliminate $900,000 of cost, and if she puts in an ATM machine for a customer, it could be
• That's the little stripe or that's the little machine that they use to get the credit card. or get the

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first took up several pending and uncontested bills. It favorably reported SB 1405, SB 1762, SB 1977, SB 2077, SB 2148, and SB 1968, and also moved SB 2321 to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard SB 819, which would change how the Public Utility Commission reviews proposed utility-scale solar and related interconnection projects. The committee substitute would shift the default so interconnection is allowed unless the PUC affirmatively prohibits it within 180 days, limit denial to cases where harm substantially outweighs benefits, remove public meeting requirements, retain setback and financial assurance provisions, add optional application materials such as national security and environmental information, and restore local control over county tax abatements. The substitute was adopted and SB 819 was favorably reported to the full Senate on a 7-3 vote. The committee then took up SB 231, focused on CenterPoint’s use of large emergency generators after Hurricane Beryl. Senator King explained that the original bill was intended to prevent customers from being charged for non-mobile generators that were leased at great cost and did not match the bill’s emergency-response purpose. CenterPoint’s Jason Ryan apologized for the company’s communication failures and said the company would make customers whole through a combination of rate reductions, foregone storm-cost recovery, and a donation of the 15 large generators to ERCOT for about two years to address a San Antonio-area reliability issue, with the company absorbing the associated costs. PUC Executive Director Connie Corona said the commission could enforce the agreement through its contested-case process. Public testimony included consumer and reliability advocates, one of whom argued utility-scale microgrids should be preserved as a policy option. SB 231 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 986, which would create an alternative process for routine Public Information Act requests so local governments can make initial redactions without sending every routine exception to the Attorney General, while preserving an appeal path and training requirements. Supporters said it would reduce backlog and speed access to records; opponents argued it would shift the burden to requesters and encourage delay. The AG’s office testified that the process could improve efficiency and still fit within current timelines if used promptly. SB 986 was left pending. Finally, SB 584 was briefly laid out to require consumer reporting agencies that buy data from others to ensure the information complies with Texas law on excluded items such as bankruptcies, judgments, and tax liens, and SB 600 was heard on heir property. SB 600’s substitute would strengthen notice, require an attorney ad litem, add an heir’s bill of rights, allow settlement conferences, and require fair-market-value sales protections; supporters said it would curb predatory partition practices, while opponents warned some provisions could burden or diminish minority heirs’ property rights. SB 584 and SB 600 were left pending after testimony.