Transcript Highlights:

• And then there are three there: the enhanced enterprise zone, the rebuilding communities, and the Missouri

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Duggan: I'm sorry, I zoned for a second. Would you repeat that?

Transcript Highlights:

• eliminating that fee will create a major loophole for one type statewide importance, and farmland security zone

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but with the family, we want that child to be in what I would call a comfort zone.

Bills: HB493

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: child advocacy centers, certification, funding allocation, Alabama Network, forensic evaluation, children's welfare, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Youth and Families Commissioner, Department of Health Commissioner, Vinshur Board, and Office of Emergency
• </c> Emergency Medical Services Director. Emergency Medical Services Director.
• And due to the fear of the domino theory, Laos was a neutral zone at that time.
• People like Brigadier General Harry Idahold, Colonel Beller, CIA operative leader Jerry Daniels, and
• </c><02:00:27.280><c> leader</c> CIA operative leader CIA operative leader Jerry<02:00:29.000><c> Daniels

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an operational reality. This bill solves a math problem by creating a human one.
• , watching sitting back in a two-3 zone, watching the<00:40:28.800><c> time</c><00:40:29.280><c> tick
• It's an operational theoretical.
• Instead, this is a major structural change with significant financial and operational consequences.
• Instead, this is a major structural change with significant financial and operational consequences.

Bills: SF0059 , SF0053

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: language proficiency, literacy education, reading interventions, dyslexia support, Montessori methods, individualized reading plans, amateur status, high school athletics, student eligibility, sports regulation, monetary compensation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> at MDH by maintaining their operating at MDH by maintaining their operating budget<00:01:54.399>
• </c> We've increased funding for emergency We've increased funding for emergency medical<00:02:13.280
• </c><01:44:03.119><c> medical</c> carveout of our non-emergency medical carveout of our non-emergency
• We go on to operation margin.
• </c> uh they helped with their operation uh they helped with their operation margin.<02:24:59.120><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that um so it's there there are two that um so it's there there are two things<03:13:28.080><c> operating
• there and the question things operating there and the question is<03:13:29.680><c> when</c><03:13:29.880
• Canaan, the largest of those communities, my hometown, does not have comprehensive zoning.
• ><c> only</c><04:29:18.359><c> requirements</c><04:29:19.040><c> we</c><04:29:19.319><c> have</c> zoning
• um the only requirements we have zoning um the only requirements we have are<04:29:20.520><c> the</c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in a work session on revenue estimates and reviewed updated spreadsheet pages for several tax categories, using prior agreements and new testimony to refine FY 2025-2027 estimates. Early discussion covered insurance tax estimates, where members reviewed a letter from the insurance commissioner saying he was comfortable with the numbers provided; the committee accepted those estimates without opposition. Members also discussed utility property tax, with testimony about recent infrastructure buildout, tariffs, depreciation, and the difficulty of forecasting future growth. After debate over whether to use the average of high and low estimates or lean lower, the committee unanimously adopted the utility property tax numbers. The committee then turned to real estate transfer tax and communications tax. For real estate transfer tax, members cited county input, housing market conditions, interest rates, lumber costs, and uncertainty about future policy; they agreed to use the averages and adopted those estimates unanimously. For communications tax, members noted the decline in landline-based revenue and the shift to data services. After discussion of whether to use the low estimate or the average, the committee settled on the average with a small rounding-down adjustment when the figure ended in .5, and adopted the numbers unanimously. The chair also clarified that these estimates remain subject to change until the final resolution is adopted. The committee next accepted interest and dividends estimates as presented, with members noting the decline in that revenue source and the lack of additional information beyond the department’s analysis. Finally, the committee began discussing tobacco tax revenue, with members noting long-term declines in smoking, offsetting effects from out-of-state sales, and a suggestion to take a slightly conservative approach by reducing the average by 0.5. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, so no final vote on tobacco is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do know that the resolution under which we now operate does say that we cannot subpoena during the
• We live in a big state with 254 counties that spans two time zones, and it is definitely very difficult
• Right now, Texans are dealing with record-breaking flooding and real-life emergencies.
• I would say this, though, that the census data that we're operating off of during this special session
• And it's also the same... ...the census data that we're operating off of during this special session

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met virtually for its West Texas regional hearing, established a quorum, and explained that the hearing was part of a series of statewide information-gathering sessions before any map was filed. The chair outlined the Zoom procedures, the two-minute testimony limit, and the availability of written comments through the committee’s public portal. Senators also discussed the logistics and transparency of the process, including the expectation that any proposed map or amendment would be made public once filed and that additional hearings would follow. Senator Blanco, whose district includes West Texas and the border region, said the area’s communities of interest should be kept together and warned against repeating the loss of representation that followed the last redistricting cycle. Senators Alvarado, Hinojosa, Miles, and others debated the value of virtual hearings versus in-person hearings, the number of people who had testified, and whether the committee could subpoena witnesses after the regional hearings ended. The chair said he was awaiting legal guidance and would consider a subpoena motion at a formal meeting the next day. A lengthy exchange also occurred over the tone of public testimony and the chair’s view that some comments directed at Republicans and the president had been offensive or historically inaccurate. Invited witnesses and public commenters largely opposed mid-decade redistricting and argued that any new map should reflect population growth, especially among Latino and other minority communities, and comply with the Voting Rights Act. Nina Perales of MALDEF said the hearings were not meaningful without a draft map and testified that Texas has a long history of discriminatory redistricting; senators questioned her about litigation, DOJ’s July 7 letter, and the 2021 congressional map. Tania Chavez Camacho, Luis Figueroa, and several El Paso residents emphasized that maps should preserve communities of interest, avoid cracking and packing, and be transparent and participatory. A smaller number of witnesses supported redistricting, including one El Paso resident who said the current districting leaves the area underrepresented and another who argued that some communities want to return to a map closer to the earlier District 16 configuration. Several witnesses also criticized the DOJ letter as inconsistent with the state’s position that the 2021 maps were drawn race-blind, while others said the current process was too rushed and lacked sufficient public input.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> hazards like landslides and fault zones hazards like landslides and fault zones um<00:10:06.640>
• So we have and we have a operations.
• </c> operating as efficiently as possible. operating as efficiently as possible.
• operates a little differently than the operates a little differently than the rest<03:25:34.640><c> of
• </c> have in statute to actually operating have in statute to actually operating like<03:25:43.439><c

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it lays out essentially how we operated.
• Fantastic overview of the operation.
• , but can you give us a ballpark operating estimate of the cost of the six months of the operation?
• This operation was in vain.
• , still in the middle of the operation.

Bills: SB100

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's the cost of operations, the cost of maintenance.
• I'm the Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations at Western.
• In fact, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission owns and operates the reservoir.
• There is a no-fail presidential call mission that the 27th Special Operations Wing has.
• Mark Martinez is my Executive Director of Operations. Ms.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, California already operates under two different language determination systems, as has been discussed
• SB 884 creates a buffer zone that, when polls are open, effectively becomes a safe haven where suspects

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 1, 2026, heard a full agenda of election-related measures, and took final votes on several bills and one resolution. The committee also adopted two consent items, SB 1429 and SB 1430, without opposition. Members and the chair repeatedly noted committee membership changes and the final meeting of the session, and the chair emphasized the committee’s focus on protecting democracy and election integrity. Among the bills heard, SB 1369 would shorten the signature-gathering period for judicial recalls in larger counties and require paid gatherers to disclose they are compensated; supporters argued it would protect judicial independence, while the chair and some members noted the need to balance recall rights with county differences. SB 900 would reformat campaign disclosure language on large print ads and billboards to improve readability while preserving transparency, with broad support from outdoor advertising, clean money, and good-government groups. SJR 18, which condemns Citizens United and urges action against corporate spending in elections, drew support from reform advocates but also concerns about the resolution’s focus and scope; it was advanced on a party-line split with some members voting no. The committee also advanced SB 1164, a major voting-rights measure expanding California protections against vote dilution and voter suppression, adding preclearance-style review for some jurisdictions, and directing courts to interpret election laws in favor of voting access. Local government representatives opposed it unless amended, citing uncertainty, loss of safe-harbor protections, and implementation concerns, while civil-rights and labor groups strongly supported it. SB 1360, which expands language-access requirements for voters with limited English proficiency and lowers coverage thresholds, was supported by voting-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups but opposed by elections officials unless amended; the committee acknowledged the need for further work on county-level implementation and data standards. The committee also approved SB 1418, which extends protections against seizure of election records and voting systems beyond voted ballots, and SB 884, which creates a buffer zone around polling places and vote-by-mail drop locations to prevent interference with voting and ballot custody, though sheriffs and police groups opposed the arrest restrictions. SB 46, which would give the Secretary of State clearer authority to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the ballot, and SB 715, which moves candidate ballot-designation challenge deadlines earlier, also advanced. Most measures were sent to Appropriations or otherwise held on call for absent members, and the meeting ended with final roll calls and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides relative to the allowable amount of promotional play offered by certain gaming operators
• think we were very careful and articulate to make certain that people would have found the comfort zone

Bills: HB146 , HB333 , HB517 , HB828 , SB87 , SB93 , SB98 , SB118 , SB125 , SB199 , SB277 , SB294 , SB306

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: sports wagering, gambling, elections, local control, revenue generation, inmates, housing, corrections, Department of Public Safety, local jurisdiction, criminal justice, juvenile justice, jury trial, felony offenses, crime of violence, sex offenses, correctional facilities, in-custody deaths, medical oversight, independent investigations

Transcript Highlights:

• So I appreciate that, and I'm sure you all do that at your own section where you operate on behalf of
• million annually to infrastructure and outdoor activity and capital projects, 4-H and outdoor retail operations
• Speaker and gentlelady, that oftentimes the practice could be that when we have an emergency or when
• Those rules will require them to look at emergency room visits, maybe family interviews, or even individuals
• Because otherwise they can't find their way into the end zone.

Bills: HB111 , HB61 , HB43 , HB156 , HB70 , SB3 , HB103 , HB109 , HB128 , HB247 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• So teachers shouldn't be in a war zone.
• conversation today because of the things we put in place, well-intended as they may be, has created a war zone

Bills: SB27 , SB226 , SB326 , SB570 , SB605 , SB870 , SB991 , SB1871 , SB1872 , SB1873 , SB1874 , SB1924 , SB1925

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Summary: The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order. SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward. Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Representative, it does seem like a little, you know, odd, twilight zone type issue, right?
• And to that note, how many third-party inspectors are you aware of currently operating within the state
• And to that note, how many third-party inspectors are you aware of currently operating within the state

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 702, which would amend Idaho’s Uniform Commercial Code provisions governing securities entitlements. The sponsor and a guest attorney argued the bill would restore investor priority over banks in the event of a major Wall Street failure, saying current law gives secured lenders priority when brokers or custodians pledge customer securities without consent. Several members questioned whether the bill was broader than described, whether it mainly affected margin accounts, and whether it should be handled at the state level at all. After discussion, a motion to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation failed 8-7, and the committee then moved to hold the bill in committee at the call of the chair while members sought more information and further discussion. House Bill 562, sponsored by Representative Sauter, would extend the notice period for property insurance nonrenewals and cancellations from 30 days to 60 days for both residential and commercial policies. The sponsor said the bill was intended as a consumer protection measure to give policyholders more time to find replacement coverage or resolve issues with their current carrier, and he noted it would not change the 10-day notice for nonpayment or the separate timeline for rate changes. Committee members asked about existing contract language and whether a longer notice period could discourage insurers from writing policies in Idaho; the sponsor said he had not heard that concern from carriers and was open to adjusting the effective date. The committee approved a motion to send the bill to general orders. The committee then considered House Bill 585, which would impose “shot clocks” on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections, similar to last session’s building inspection timelines. The sponsor said local governments would have 48 hours to complete inspections or refund the fee so a private third-party inspector could be used, and would have to provide written reasons for a failed inspection within three business days. Testimony from a third-party inspector and the Idaho Associated General Contractors supported the bill, saying it could save time and money and help keep projects moving. The committee adopted a due pass motion and sent the bill to the floor. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 545, which would create a pathway for certain military chaplains to become licensed professional counselors in Idaho based on their Master of Divinity, military counseling experience, and related clinical pastoral education. The sponsor and supporters said chaplains already provide substantial counseling in military settings and should be able to serve Idahoans, including veterans, while critics from the counseling profession argued the bill would bypass important counseling coursework, the national counselor exam, and existing gatekeeping standards. After extensive testimony from both sides, including questions about training, testing, supervision, and public protection, the committee had not yet reached a final disposition in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the land grants have zoning authority.
• land because right now it's one parcel, and I think you guys are looking at probably a short term operation
• they're going to be able to put in outside of what they're normally comfortable with doing or how they operate

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And the supplemental project update report found that there were ridership and operating revenue benefits
• To see something operating, something generating money likely, or some guarantee that they're going to
• from past operational reviews.
• One is I'm just going to talk about the operational review first, and you've got a one-pager in front
• Yeah, on that, um, that operational review of procurements, we looked at 28 different individuals that

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee held an oversight hearing on California High-Speed Rail, focusing on the authority’s supplemental project update report and the newly released 2026 draft business plan. Committee leaders emphasized transparency, the project’s funding challenges, and the need for clear answers on costs, schedule, and scope. The High-Speed Rail Authority said the project has made major progress in the Central Valley, including substantial construction completion, right-of-way acquisition, and railhead development, and highlighted over $14 billion in savings from a rebased project plan, plus an additional $2 billion in savings in the draft business plan. The authority also said it expects to begin laying track by the end of the year and continues to pursue private-sector partnerships and clean-energy opportunities. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Inspector General both raised concerns about whether the current funding plan is sufficient and whether the authority has clearly identified the timing of future expenditures versus revenues. The LAO said the project likely still faces a funding gap for Merced-to-Bakersfield once financing costs and the loss of $4 billion in federal funds are considered, and warned that cap-and-invest revenues are volatile and may not be well suited for borrowing without additional safeguards. The Inspector General said the authority still has not provided a precise funding plan, estimated the project is about two years away from lacking funds on hand to stay on schedule, and urged lawmakers to focus on financing costs, procurement timing, schedule risks, and distinguishing true cost cuts from scope changes. Members questioned the authority about proposed statutory changes, including CEQA and permitting streamlining, court resources, third-party process changes, sales tax exemptions on materials, and expanded land-use/value-capture tools. They also pressed the authority on the loss of federal funds, the withdrawal of litigation over those funds, and whether the project’s revised savings depend on moving station locations away from downtown Merced and Bakersfield and on other scope changes such as more single-tracking and blended operations south of Palmdale. The authority said it is still committed to Merced-to-Bakersfield, believes the business plan shows a path to completion with sufficient funding, and will work with the Legislature on any needed changes before the final plan is submitted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the supplemental project update report found that there were ridership and operating revenue benefits
• The private sector is going to want to see something operating, something generating money likely, or
• from past operational reviews.
• One is I'm just going to talk about the operational review first, and you've got a one-pager in front
• Yeah, on that, um, that operational review of procurements, we looked at 28 different individuals that

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all