Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, AB 460... ...or death will prevent them from caring for the minor.
• You know, I'm taking care of my family, and I just know that You know, I'm taking care of my family,
• Thank you, you guys have a blessed day. Thank you, you guys have a blessed day. Thank you.
• You all bother her all day every day about when meetings are starting and when I am scheduling them,
• all day, every day by the likes of you, wondering where I am, what I'm doing, when are we scheduling

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy Legislative Day! You know what? We're not going to do this anymore. Happy Legislative Day!
• He truly cared for everyone, and he showed that care, Mr.
• I found him to be a humble, unassuming man who cared very deeply For his community and cared about the
• I still remember the day that I met him.
• So, it'll be down to 400 barrels a day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:10.000><c> of</c> analysis over the last several days of analysis over the last several days
• care care providers<00:40:05.560><c> responsibility</c><00:40:06.560><c> and</c><00:40:07.319><c> the
• </c><00:44:12.400><c> for</c> not their responsibility to care for not their responsibility to care for
• </c> list of seeing a a mental health care list of seeing a a mental health care provider<00:45:21.720
• around improving the mental health care around improving the mental health care system<01:05:20.240><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 28 for a Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting, approved the draft minutes from February 21, and then received updates from DHHS on the sudden termination of about $80 million in federal COVID-era funding. Commissioner Lori Weaver and Trisha Tilly said the funding had been expected to continue through September 2026, but an email ending it immediately created a 15-month budget gap. They explained that most of the money supported public health work, especially epidemiology, laboratory capacity, data systems, community health workers, outbreak response, and some behavioral health supports. DHHS said it had notified contractors, was reassessing which activities could continue, and had managed to avoid layoffs for its 20 affected staff by shifting funding sources, though some contract lab staff had to leave and some work would stop or be put on hold. Senators and representatives asked about impacts on labs, staffing, and the state budget lapse, and DHHS said the water lab and testing supplies would be affected and that the department was trying to backfill where possible with other federal funds. The committee then heard a maternal mortality report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Alison Power and Caroline Naami explained that the MMRC reviews maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and make recommendations, and that it had completed one CDC grant and received another five years of funding. For 2023, the state recorded five pregnancy-associated deaths, including three from overdose, two from cardiovascular causes, and one homicide; the share of deaths related to substance use fell from 62.5% in 2022 to 40% in 2023. Over the 2019–2023 period, half of pregnancy-related deaths were due to overdose, most occurred postpartum, and many involved Medicaid recipients, transportation or financial barriers, and deaths at home. The committee said mental health and substance use remained the main drivers of maternal mortality, but that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths in the five-year aggregate were considered preventable. Presenters highlighted recommendations and ongoing interventions, including expanding Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum, strengthening behavioral health access, partnering with the Department of Corrections on care for pregnant and postpartum women, and continuing clinical education through the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network. Members asked why the maternal mortality rate had declined in recent years; staff said the 2021 spike was tied to the pandemic and that recent declines likely reflected both that spike and the impact of interventions, though the small number of cases makes trends hard to interpret. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move suspension of the constitutional three-day rule.
• Senator Huffman moves suspension of the three-day rule.
• Senator Huffman, move suspension of the three-day rule.
• Senator Hall moves suspension of the three-day rule.
• It took like two days to pass this bill.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, approved the previous day’s journal, and received a House message announcing passage of HB 4 on public school accountability and assessment. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, adopted SR 520 honoring Rosser Coke-Newton Sr. for his biography of former Governor Richard Coke, and adopted SR 518 recognizing Texas Moral Injury Awareness Day, with remarks focused on the impact of moral injury on veterans and first responders. The Senate later adopted SR 395 honoring the ninth class of Governor William P. Clements, Jr. Scholars, and several other resolutions were adopted by voice vote, including college savings awareness recognition and other member-sponsored recognitions. The body then took up several bills and resolutions on the floor. HB 3307, allowing online continuing education for arbitrators in property tax appeals, passed unanimously after suspension of the rules and the three-day rule. HB 913, renaming and reorganizing certain state hospitals, and HB 2970, governing the Gulf Coast Protection District and coastal barrier design, also passed unanimously. HJR 1 and HB 9 advanced a proposed constitutional amendment and statutory change to raise the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000; both measures passed, with HJR 1 receiving one no vote and HB 9 passing unanimously after a clarifying amendment. The Senate also passed HB 1151, which limits child removals and termination of parental rights based solely on parental medical treatment decisions, and HB 116, which revises grounds for involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship by removing the “O grounds” and requiring support from financially able parents whose rights were terminated. HB 1899 lowered the age for pyrotechnic operator licenses and fireworks display permits from 21 to 18. SB 1285, as amended, passed to protect bats by prohibiting entombment while preserving removal options from unoccupied spaces, and SB 2847 passed to promote innovations in core curriculum for faster bachelor’s degrees. On criminal justice, SJR 87, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring denial of bail for certain repeat violent felony offenders, passed after two floor amendments clarifying due process and representation language; Senator Eckhardt spoke against it on final passage, arguing it lacked judicial discretion and a clear-and-convincing standard. SB 3073, requiring magistrates to make written findings in certain criminal proceedings, also passed. Later, SB 128, requiring hospitals to report suspected child abuse-related information to HHSC, advanced on a divided vote, and SB 2619 and SB 2972 passed on public school accountability and expressive activities at public colleges, respectively, with Senator Eckhardt opposing SB 2972 as too restrictive on campus protest rights. The chamber also heard extended debate on HB 21, targeting “traveling” housing finance corporations and their use of tax exemptions for apartment projects, with supporters arguing it curbs abuse of the tax code and critics warning about unintended effects on affordable housing; the discussion continued with questions but no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I go out and talk to health care professionals.
• But at the end of the day, our rural communities are where they are.
• They're compelled to take care of these individuals.
• Do my constituents want health care? Do they want this rural health care funding?
• But it gives them the ability to take care of their own and also to take care of their own within their

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disregulated at some point in the day. disregulated at some point in the day.
• ,</c> barriers to community- based care, barriers to community- based care, transportation,<00:08:00.240
• ><c> level</c><00:08:11.919><c> the</c> School-based care can also level the School-based care can also
• Um, you know, if you've got to go out to community-based care, you've maybe got to get child care for
• </c> talking to a colleague the other day talking to a colleague the other day that<01:00:18.160><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Ninety days resulted in a massive increase in calls to call centers.
• Ninety days resulted in a massive increase in calls to call centers.
• We have a much better streamlined system of care now.
• They work tirelessly day in and day out, including nights and weekends, to support this critical program
• That's why culturally grounded behavioral health care matters so deeply.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 991 Menjavar, residential care facilities for the elderly.
• SB 526, Perez, primary care clinics affiliate licenses, due pass.
• SB 535, Richardson, obesity care, holding committee.
• SB 28, Umberg, care court, holding committee.
• SB 1049, Weber-Person, health care claims reimbursement.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She is the executive director of student care and basic needs at Long Beach State University.
• She's been a longtime supporter of LGBTQ youth and inclusive health care access.
• And celebrates bold LGBTQ plus narratives while reaching millions of individuals every day.
• He talked to her, cared for her, and remained devoted to her until she passed away in 2013.
• I told him to say hello to my mom, to say hello to my nana, that I miss them every day.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the second day and the third day and the fourth day was remarkable.
• Guess me which day? This would be the day of the flood.
• And I know y'all got a long day ahead of y'all. I already had a long day.
• We don't care so much about the rules. Take care of the people.
• and days, right?

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as part of gender affirming care. as part of gender affirming care.
• Um, but at the end of the day, on.
• </c> the next couple of days. the next couple of days. &gt;&gt; So<01:50:56.960><c> approved.
• </c><01:51:51.840><c> CSU</c><01:51:52.400><c> Founders</c><01:51:52.800><c> Day</c> Founders Day.
• CSU Founders Day Founders Day.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Survivors would have to drive over an hour to receive care.
• Well, you might as well take care of it. The bill's being laid over, right?
• </c> that role I help synagogues schools day that role I help synagogues schools day camps<01:48:35.320
• This type of grant program is definitely needed in our day.
• program is definitely needed in our day program is definitely needed in our day I<01:56:39.000><c> wish

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a cornerstone of health care.
• It's been a long day.
• I'm very well engaged, and I really care. I think all of us do and care.
• So I'm very well engaged, and I really care. I think all of us do and care.
• I know it's been a long day of testimony.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with the largest portions focused on the Healthy Youth Act (S.340/H.656), comprehensive and inclusive curriculum bills (H.655/S.371 and related measures), climate literacy education (H.560/S.391), computer science coursework (H.534/S.362), arts education funding and STEM-to-STEAM proposals (H.561 and H.4297), and a homeschooling reporting bill (H.518). Supporters of the Healthy Youth Act argued it would preserve local control while requiring medically accurate, age-appropriate, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and regular updates to state health frameworks; opponents raised parental rights, age-appropriateness, and opt-out concerns, with some calling for fetal development content. Supporters of inclusive curriculum bills said they would improve representation, belonging, and civic understanding, while opponents argued they could undermine parental authority or promote ideological content. Climate, computer science, and arts advocates emphasized workforce readiness, student engagement, and the need for state support and funding to expand access and teacher training. Testimony on the climate literacy bill described increasing climate impacts in Massachusetts and argued that interdisciplinary instruction would prepare students for science, policy, and green careers; witnesses said the bill was not a mandate but a support and funding measure. Computer science supporters said access remains uneven, especially for girls, students of color, and students with disabilities, and urged stronger statewide requirements and AI-related standards. Arts advocates backed both the STEM-to-STEAM bill and the Lowell Mason arts funding proposal, citing research on student achievement, attendance, creativity, and the economic importance of the arts sector. The homeschool bill was supported by a homeschool advocacy group as a modernization of reporting requirements. The committee closed testimony on numerous bills where no one remained signed up or testimony had concluded, including several education, curriculum, and commission proposals. No votes were taken during the hearing itself. At the end of the session, the committee closed out the remaining testimony and adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dennis Clevis-Stromeda with the California Primary Care Association.
• I need to be careful on how exactly the CEC feels.
• and linguistically competent care.
• SB 1179 is about access to bilingual, culturally sensitive health care because health care is a human
• I'm sorry, Mahabuhi, my apologies, and Samuel Kinneha Day.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• direct primary care, or DPC.
• , no insurance middleman, no billing games, just quality care.
• care for Americans and for Texans.
• Called Texas Direct Medical Care. So this is an excellent bill.
• they can go to the primary care to get urgent care.

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We will turn it back to the dais now.
• We will turn it back to the dais now.
• A part of me died that day, and for the past 17 months, I relived that loss every day.
• Health care providers and health care workers continue to be the front lines between ICE and immigrant
• Warburton on the Care Act Working Group advises jail inmate health experts to file care petitions for

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> days a pay period. days a pay period.
• We operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• </c> operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• in these facilities day in and day<01:31:18.719><c> out.
• </c> day out. day out.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> encounter each other today and every day encounter each other today and every day beginning<00:05
• </c><00:39:05.080><c> staffing</c><00:39:05.640><c> of</c><00:39:05.760><c> the</c> then the day-to-day
• staffing of the then the day-to-day staffing of the equipment.<00:39:06.920><c> Yesterday,</c><00:39
• ,</c> health care, health care, uh<00:46:20.760><c> and</c><00:46:20.920><c> takes</c><00:46:21.200><
• </c> day tomorrow. day tomorrow.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who already have the trust of their patients and the clinical expertise to deliver safe, effective care
• So I think that it allows for access to care for those patients that are seeking that treatment as a
• You say access to care, but they're in business too.
• You could spend all day every day under this bill scheduling Botox treatments, and I can't get anybody
• This is something that should be a part of our dental care plan.

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• That is why she fasted and prayed for three days. King of Kings.
• And it's very well known that in our health care system, frequently individuals who are taking care of
• And it's very well known that in our health care system, frequently individuals who are taking care of
• You know, 40 to 50 days, if the Lord is willing, you'll have cucumbers. 60 to 90 days, corn will be standing
• Without objection, the Senate is now adjourned for the day.

Keywords: 998, house, all