Transcript Highlights:

• Commission, or NRC, and planned SMRs in the U.S. are in pre-licensing phase, with none expected for deployment
• Commission, or NRC, and planned SMRs in the U.S. are in pre-licensing phase, with none expected for deployment
• Commission, or NRC, and planned SMRs in the U.S. are in pre-licensing phase, with none expected for deployment
• pre-licicensing phase with none expected pre-licicensing phase with none expected for<00:33:26.480><c> deployment
• </c><00:33:26.960><c> until</c> for deployment until for deployment until 2030<00:33:29.360><c> at</c

Transcript Highlights:

• the system architecture, reduces operational risk for the PSAPs, and accelerates the long-term deployment
• So when it comes to system deployment, over the period of time between 2019 and 2024, Cal OES and its
• We find that that's better suited for maintenance and operation phase rather than deployment phase.
• It's a mischaracterization to think of deployment of the Next Generation 911 system as having an end
• That is an inefficient deployment of economic resources.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Cal OES on disaster response, LA wildfire recovery, federal FEMA reimbursements, security monitoring, and the state’s 911 transition. Cal OES said its budget supports disaster preparedness and recovery, including ongoing work in Los Angeles, where it reported about 700 FEMA public assistance applications totaling roughly $1.2 billion and about $545 million in state wildfire response and recovery funding already allocated under AB 100. Members pressed for more detail on FEMA delays, hazard mitigation grants, federal event planning, and the status of Operation Stonegarden, while also raising concerns about small-disaster recovery, federal shutdown impacts, and the need for more timely reporting. A major portion of the hearing focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES described problems with the current regional deployment, especially call-routing and transfer failures, and said it now plans to shift to a statewide provider as an interim step, then run an open procurement for a long-term vendor. The agency said it expects to execute a bridging contract in the coming weeks, release an RFP in the second quarter of 2026, award a long-term contract in the fall, begin transitioning Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and complete statewide migration by summer 2030. The LAO urged the Legislature to pause further implementation until it has more information on the problems, alternatives, costs, privacy/security issues, and oversight needs, and recommended quarterly and monthly reporting if the project proceeds. Several senators echoed concerns about cost, redundancy, cybersecurity, and whether the statewide model could create new risks, and the chair said she would pursue a joint oversight hearing with the Emergency Management Committee and seek input from the State Auditor. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload and budget pressures. DOJ highlighted its work on fentanyl enforcement, human trafficking, firearms recovery, housing enforcement, consumer protection, environmental and civil rights litigation, and a large federal litigation workload, saying it has filed 59 lawsuits against the Trump administration and won most of them. DOJ said the added federal cases and other mandates have strained existing staff, though 44 additional hires have been made. Members praised DOJ’s work on immigration, housing, and federal accountability, and asked for more information on detention facilities and staffing. The committee also reviewed DOJ’s firearms-related budget proposals. DOJ requested funding for continued firearms IT modernization, implementation of SB 704 on firearm barrels, and a temporary shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO supported the IT modernization request but recommended funding SB 704 from the Dealer’s Record of Sale Special Account, with startup costs covered by a loan from the Firearm Safety and Enforcement Special Fund, and suggested limiting the General Fund shift to one year and treating it as a loan. The LAO also asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 10, 2027, for deciding which firearm and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue rather than the General Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• co-chair of this commission, Senator John Keenan, who is absent as he is currently on active duty deployment
• Who is absent as he is currently on active duty deployment with the National Guard.
• vote on the commission's final report of findings and recommendations due to being on active duty deployment
• leadership of this commission since we began our work last spring, especially since I began my deployment

Summary: The Special Commission on the Public Health Effects of Xylazine held its fifth and final public meeting to review and approve the final draft of its report before submission to the House and Senate clerks. Chair Mindy Domb opened the meeting, noted Senator John Keenan’s absence due to National Guard deployment, approved the prior meeting minutes, and explained the process for incorporating final edits and late votes into appendices. Commissioners then voted to allow staff to make agreed-upon language changes after the meeting, and later voted on the final report itself. Staff walked commissioners through the report’s redlines and substantive updates. Changes included clarifying that xylazine is an active adulterant rather than simply a bulking agent, replacing “non-clinician” with “non-clinical staff,” removing or revising references to “hotspots” in favor of more accurate language about local trends, and refining language on wound care to refer to medical consequences and financial costs. The report also added or strengthened discussion of harm reduction measures such as drug checking, mobile health services, overdose prevention centers, oxygenation and airway support during overdose response, and the importance of naloxone remaining available while recognizing its limits for xylazine exposure. Commissioners also discussed data collection, legal protections for drug checking, and the role of the Attorney General in guidance and coordination on emerging drug threats. The commission then took a final vote, with the members present voting to approve the report. A letter from Senator Velis, who was also absent due to active duty orders, was read into the record expressing support for the report and its recommendations. In closing comments, commissioners and staff thanked one another for the collaborative work and described the report as a useful public health resource. Chair Domb adjourned the meeting at 11:11 a.m., noting that the final report would be submitted and posted online for public access.

Transcript Highlights:

• co-chair of this commission, Senator John Velis, who is absent as he is currently on active duty deployment
• Who is absent as he is currently on active duty deployment with the National Guard.
• vote on the commission's final report of findings and recommendations due to being on active duty deployment
• leadership of this commission since we began our work last spring, especially since I began my deployment

Summary: The special commission on xylazine held its fifth and final public meeting to review and finalize its report before submission to the House and Senate clerks. Chair Mindy Domb opened the meeting, noted Senator John Velis was absent due to National Guard deployment, and the commission approved the minutes from the February 9 meeting. Staff then walked commissioners through the final draft, focusing on edits since the prior review and on appendices that would be completed after the meeting. Commissioners discussed several substantive wording changes, including clarifying that xylazine is an active adulterant rather than a bulking agent, replacing “non-clinician” with “non-clinical staff,” removing or softening references to “hotspots,” and refining language about medical consequences and financial costs of delayed wound care. They also discussed adding or strengthening references to harm reduction measures, drug checking, overdose prevention centers, oxygenation, airway positioning, naloxone use, and language access considerations in educational materials. The report’s main findings and recommendations centered on best practices for oversight and enforcement, outreach and treatment, emergency response, and education/training for first responders, medical providers, non-clinical staff, people who use drugs, and people in recovery. Commissioners emphasized the need for timely, accessible, and tailored training; better data collection and public health surveillance; stronger legal protections for drug checking; and coordination among public health, public safety, and legal stakeholders to address xylazine and emerging adulterants. There was also discussion of a recommendation for the Attorney General to compile guidance for law enforcement in consultation with experts, though staff clarified that this would not be the sole function of the broader public body envisioned in the report. After reviewing the final language, the commission voted unanimously among members present to approve the final report, with one abstention on the earlier minutes vote and absent members to submit written votes within 24 hours for inclusion in Appendix A. Chair Domb then read a letter from Senator Velis expressing support for the report and its recommendations despite his inability to vote in person. Commissioners offered closing remarks thanking staff and one another for the collaborative work, and the meeting adjourned at 11:11 a.m., with staff to submit the report to the clerks and post it online.

Transcript Highlights:

• families to the general list of risk factors currently used for prioritization, and it expands the deployment-related
• prioritization criteria to additionally include military parent deployments within the last 12 months
• This is in addition to the underlying bill that includes current deployments or deployments in the upcoming

Summary: The committee met to brief amendments and then took executive action on nine bills related to child care, DCYF oversight, and services for children and vulnerable populations. Before voting, members reviewed proposed substitutes and amendments for HB 1544, 2099, 2219, 2253, 2319, and 2350, with brief discussion on issues such as child welfare risk assessment tools, military family child care access, child care provider flexibility, licensing and monitoring requirements, and residential habilitation center terminology and notice requirements. The committee then reported HB 2099, HB 2185, HB 2219 as amended, HB 2253 as amended, HB 2317, HB 2318, HB 2319 as amended, and HB 2350 as amended out of committee with do pass recommendations. HB 2253 saw one amendment adopted to restore state monitoring and health/safety reviews at the Washington School for the Deaf, while other proposed amendments were withdrawn or rejected. HB 2319 was amended to correct technical language regarding Eastern State Hospital and Interlake School. HB 2350’s substitute changed notice procedures for residential habilitation center noncompliance to emphasize posted notices, email, preferred language, and plain-language summaries. HB 1544 drew the most debate. Amendments to add domestic violence, define “safe,” require an audit of missing safety-plan data, and prohibit use of an unvalidated risk tool to screen out referrals were considered; only the domestic-violence amendment was adopted, while the others failed. Members discussed concerns about the current DCYF risk assessment tool, cultural bias, and the need to improve validation, but also cautioned against narrowing the study too much. The committee ultimately reported the second substitute HB 1544 out with a do pass recommendation by a 9-0-2 vote, with two members voting no without recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• attention during the initial hearing about the actual act itself and the criminals: these criminals are overseas
• And so, as a result of being overseas, it's really hard for us to go after them and, you know, charge

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• of the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act, this has no impact on any veteran that might be deployed overseas
• canceled, couldn't come in to fix it but they can't sell your stuff if you are a veteran deployed overseas

Transcript Highlights:

• Floridians on their darkest days in the maintain the readiness required to meet America's objectives overseas
• requirements in support our citizens here at home and then the Americas needs on the battlefield them overseas

Transcript Highlights:

• put in place, and a lot of the uh A lot of the equipment or whatever that we've used to receive overseas
• to begin to look at what can we do, how can we replace those items that we used to receive from overseas

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• number of these dollars that they provide the service for wire transfers go to military personnel overseas
• Fiddler, that by and large our military personnel don't file tax returns when they're on assignment overseas

Bills: HB297

Committee: House Financial Services

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• I think even out of country also, if somebody happen to travel overseas. seas and just happened to die
• overseas and need to be transported back to the state.

Bills: HB201 , HB272 , HB618 , HB 1094 , HB 1142 , HB201 , HB272

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, HB 618, Texas insurance code, IVF, in vitro fertilization, fertility treatment, infertility coverage, government employee health benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• understanding of what it's like to be downrange and have community with other individuals fighting overseas
• understanding of what it's like to be downrange and have community with other individuals fighting overseas
• with other and have Community with other individuals<00:02:00.680><c> fighting</c><00:02:01.479><c> overseas
• </c><00:02:02.079><c> we</c><00:02:02.200><c> don't</c> individuals fighting overseas we don't individuals
• fighting overseas we don't have<00:02:02.680><c> that</c><00:02:03.280><c> understanding</c><00:02:04.119

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 733, which would restore electronic pull-tab features such as open-all, free play, bonus games, and similar functions that were restricted in 2023. The bill’s supporters, including representatives of Allied Charities of Minnesota, the American Legion, and a Bloomington school activities foundation, argued that the 2023 changes reduced revenue for charitable gambling operations and, in turn, cut funding for veterans programs, youth sports, food shelves, school needs, and other local community services. Several supporters cited early revenue declines since the new rules took effect, including double-digit drops and one example of a Bloomington site reporting a 29% year-over-year decline overall and a 44% drop in e-tab revenue. They also argued that restoring the features would help charities without meaningfully increasing casino play. Opponents, including Citizens Against Gambling Expansion and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, said the bill would expand slot-machine-like gambling in neighborhood bars and restaurants and increase problem gambling and related social harms. They argued the features in question mimic slot machines, are especially concerning in non-age-restricted locations, and would amount to a major expansion of gambling. The tribal representative also said the 2023 clarification was appropriate, that charitable gambling revenues do not translate efficiently into mission funding, and that tax relief or other policy changes would be better ways to help charities than restoring the disputed features. The chair reminded testifiers to keep comments neutral and not partisan. After testimony, a member discussion began, with Representative Ray Rower thanking the testifiers and expressing support for their work. The transcript excerpt does not show a final vote or disposition beyond the bill being recommended to be re-referred to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the amendments, SB 1215 directs the CPUC to establish deployment targets for EV charging infrastructure
• that installed costs for distribution-scale batteries continue to climb further due to modular deployment
• existing process by which these chargers are regulated does not work and is slowing EV charger deployment
• Every barrier to infrastructure deployment and EV adoption is a barrier to emissions reductions.
• Every barrier to infrastructure deployment and EV adoption is a barrier to emissions reductions.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the amendments, SB 1215 directs the CPUC to establish deployment targets for EV charging infrastructure
• With the amendments, SB 1215 directs the CPUC to establish deployment targets for EV charging infrastructure
• that installed costs for distribution-scale batteries continue to climb further due to modular deployment
• existing process by which these chargers are regulated does not work and is slowing EV charger deployment
• Every barrier to infrastructure deployment and EV adoption is a barrier to emissions reductions.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• portion about government prohibitions, it says, "This section does not apply to the development or deployment
• portion about government prohibitions, it says, "This section does not apply to the development or deployment
• portion about government prohibitions, it says, "This section does not apply to the development or deployment
• portion about government prohibitions, it says, "This section does not apply to the development or deployment
• portion about government prohibitions, it says, "This section does not apply to the development or deployment

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I sought treatment overseas, where I found hope.
• I sought treatment overseas, where I found hope.
• I sought treatment overseas, where I found hope.
• He completed 10 combat deployments as a Special Forces Green Beret.

Committee: House Health

Summary: The Committee on Health heard testimony on several bills. On SB 1441, which would repeal the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System from HHSC to the Department of Health, the Department of Health said it strongly supports the measure and requested clarifying amendments. HHSC/Oahu Region also supported the bill and said it had no objection to the department’s amendments. In response to questions, witnesses said the agencies have been working on an MOU to support transfers of long-term care patients to Leahi, with the current goal being about 10 to 15 patients, but transfers would occur only as space and staffing allow; one patient was reportedly being admitted at the time, and the process was described as slow and case-by-case. The committee then heard SB 1443 on payment rates for state hospital patients and related Department of Health services. The hospital administrator said the bill would allow rates above Medicaid for community or foster-home placements if patients cannot be placed at Leahi or elsewhere, and would set Medicaid-level reimbursement for outside medical services used by state hospital patients. He said at least one provider was interested in offering services at that rate and that the population involved is largely non-ambulatory long-term care patients. Members asked about availability and training, and the witness said special training could be provided. SB 1322, a broad mental health bill, drew mixed testimony. The Department of Law Enforcement supported giving crisis-intervention-trained officers more discretion to transport people to medical care instead of arresting them. The Attorney General supported the bill but recommended revisions to emergency-transport language and restoring liability protections. HHSC and Queens Hospital supported the overall goal but sought amendments to preserve the mental health emergency worker role in decision-making and to avoid negative impacts on emergency departments. The Disability Rights Center and ACLU opposed parts of the bill, arguing that it weakens due process, reduces protections in involuntary treatment and transport, and should retain a three-person treatment panel rather than reduce it to one. A Queens representative said the current program works well and reported that more than 90% of MH1 cases once went to hospitals, but that figure has dropped to about 60-70%, with about 20% now diverted to community settings or the behavioral health crisis center. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 14 establishes the nuclear deployment office.
• This will help fast-track reactor deployments by working hand in hand with nuclear companies and the
• House Bill 14 also establishes a tiered funding mechanism that incentivizes the actual deployment of
• On the other hand, if you look at grid scale deployment of energy, natural gas generators and nuclear
• Public and private investments have several exciting new reactor designs ready for commercial deployment

Bills: HB14 , HB 106 , HB146 , HB267 , HB274 , HB 1127 , HB1359 , HB1393 , HB1584 , HB1640 , HB1710 , HB2152 , HCR101 , HJR8 , HR51 , HB106 , HB146 , HB267 , HB274 , HJR8 , HR51

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• will mineralize into solid rock, not a single field trial or project has been deployed, despite deployments
• will mineralize into solid rock, not a single field trial or project has been deployed, despite deployments
• So I'll quickly run through the current project and policy deployments in the U.S., carbon capture costs
• This graphic shows the deployment of carbon capture projects across the United States, and there's been
• And this is why typically we see the most deployment happening in sectors that are cheap, so natural

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• broadband expansion projects funded by federal dollars through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment
• broadband expansion projects funded by federal dollars through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment
• Chairman, members, this amendment package basically strengthens this bill without slowing broadband deployment
• number one adds a new statement of intent of the legislature not to delay or impair the necessary deployment
• number one adds a new statement of intent of the legislature not to delay or impair the necessary deployment

Bills: HB220 , HB259 , HB463 , HB536 , HB750 , HB830 , HB950

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: child exploitation, online reporting, platforms, cyber crime, PROTECT Act, excavation, demolition, infrastructure repair, BEAD Program, utility damage, construction coordination, contact point, emergency services, telephone charge, wireless service, reporting requirements, communications district, wireless communication, school safety, community permits

Transcript Highlights:

• With the amendments, SB 1215 directs the CPUC to establish deployment targets for EV charging infrastructure
• that installed costs for distribution-scale batteries continue to climb further due to modular deployment
• existing process by which these chargers are regulated does not work and is slowing EV charger deployment
• Every barrier to infrastructure deployment and EV adoption is a barrier to emissions reductions.
• inconsistent for consumers and operationally burdensome for charging network operators, slowing deployment

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and authorize additional funding to support renewable natural gas projects by reducing interconnection costs. Supporters said high interconnection costs and the current tax treatment are major barriers to methane reduction projects; opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, raised ratepayer cost concerns and objected to rate-basing and additional public funding. The author said amended language would remove the rate-basing provisions and instead urge the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Community Impact Mitigation Program for the Diablo Canyon plant through 2030 to continue funding local emergency preparedness, fire protection, public safety, and school district costs. The County of San Luis Obispo and labor groups supported the bill, while TURN opposed it as a statewide ratepayer subsidy that could be funded from existing PG&E revenues instead of higher rates. Members discussed the bill in the context of the 2022 Diablo Canyon extension deal and the possibility of a future longer extension. SB 1215 by Senator Cortese would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing and evaluate progress, with amendments aimed at affordability and limiting system upgrade costs. Supporters said renters are largely locked out of home charging and that prior utility programs proved cost-effective; no opposition testified. SB 1359 by Senator Stern would require more deliberate CPUC review before major gas system investments, emphasizing electrification and non-pipeline alternatives. Gas utilities and several industry groups opposed it, arguing it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and change the regulatory compact. The committee also heard SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Senator Gonzalez, which would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Water agencies, environmental groups, and local governments supported the measure, while one member expressed concern that it lacked a funding source and could not overcome Proposition 218 limits; the bill was moved to Appropriations and the roll was left open. Finally, SB 1098 by Senator Perez would restrict the use of long-running memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities, require exceptional circumstances for new accounts, and add sunset and cost-sharing requirements. Consumer advocates and large energy users supported tighter oversight, while the utilities and business groups opposed the bill as too rigid and potentially harmful to flexibility for wildfire, emergency, and safety-related costs.