Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Harris, Vice Chairman Martinez, and members, thank you for your service to Texas.
• Thank you for your service to Texas.
• Thank you for your service, and thank you for the opportunity to be here today. Thank you.
• We serve 2.5 million Texans and are growing by 65,000 people a year, just in our service area.
• We serve 2.5 million Texans and are growing by 65,000 people a year, just in our service area.

Bills: HB1523 , HB2109 , HB2694 , HB3525 , HB3898 , HB4646 , HB5188 , HB5219 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5655 , HB5659 , HB5662 , HB5672

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard House Bill 2109, which would remove certain long-proposed reservoir projects from the state water plan after 50 years without progress. Chairman Van Deaver and many landowners, local officials, timber interests, and conservation advocates testified in support, arguing that the Marvin Nichols Reservoir has burdened Northeast Texas landowners for decades with the threat of eminent domain, depressed property values, and uncertainty over homes, farms, ranches, schools, churches, and cemeteries. Supporters also said the project would flood tens of thousands of acres, require extensive mitigation, harm timber and agriculture, and that Texas now has better alternatives such as conservation, reuse, aquifer storage and recovery, and desalination. Several members expressed sympathy for the affected families and questioned whether a project could remain in the plan indefinitely without progress. Opposition came from North Texas water interests, including the North Texas Commission, Tarrant Regional Water District, and the Texas Water Association, who argued that the bill would interfere with the state’s long-term water planning process and remove needed future supply options for a fast-growing region. They said Region C faces major projected shortages by 2070, that conservation and reuse have already delayed the need for new supplies, and that reservoirs remain one tool in the state’s water-planning toolbox. TWDB staff explained the existing inter-regional conflict process and noted that the substitute would affect several unique reservoir sites, not just Marvin Nichols. After testimony, Chairman Van Deaver closed by urging passage of the bill, but the committee withdrew the substitute and left HB 2109 pending. The committee then took up House Bill 5188, a brackish groundwater bill. The author said the bill would reduce permitting burdens for wells in designated brackish groundwater production zones, and the committee substitute added requirements on monitoring, groundwater-rights ownership, and allocation of pumpage limits while removing some exclusions and export-fee provisions. Texas Wildlife Association testified against the bill, warning that the exemptions could weaken groundwater conservation districts’ ability to protect freshwater resources and surface-owner rights. San Antonio Water System testified in favor, saying brackish groundwater is a key future supply and that the substitute would help speed development of desalination and brackish projects. The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts testified neutrally but raised concerns about reduced district oversight, especially around injection-well exclusions and the loss of export fees, and said discussions on the bill were ongoing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services.
• Services. recommended for replacement by the Office of Information Technology Services.
• The OITS, or Office of Information and Technology Services, are asking, again, for a dedicated fund amount
• , developmental disability agency services, community support employment, and targeted service coordination
• services that's there, and we're not taking the program away.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the journal, then moved through committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several House bills amended in the Senate were routed back for further action, and a number of new bills were introduced and sent to committee, including measures on kratom, child care, medical education funding, gold and silver investment, campaign finance, stablecoins, and motor vehicle licensing. The chamber also received and processed multiple gubernatorial appointments and enrolled bills. The main floor action focused on a series of appropriation and enhancement bills. Senators debated and passed Senate Bills 1402 through 1409, covering the Department of Juvenile Corrections, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture, State Public Defender, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho State Police, and related budget adjustments. Debate centered on whether the enhancement budgets were necessary amid broader rescissions and revenue concerns; supporters emphasized operational needs, replacement items, staffing, and public safety, while some senators objected to new federal funds or to restoring spending after cuts. Most of these bills passed on recorded votes, with a few dissenting votes from senators arguing for deeper reductions. The Senate also passed House Bills 905, 906, 907, 908, 715, 742, and 658. These measures addressed higher education and community college funding, career technical education, military division funding, library board authority in city libraries, electronic vehicle titles, and cemetery district vacancy procedures. Debate on the education bills focused on the impact of budget cuts and whether the one-time restorations were sufficient, while the library bill drew a split between supporters of local elected oversight and opponents who warned against politicizing library decisions. The cemetery district bill was presented as a practical fix for governance failures at Joplin Cemetery and similar districts. In the 10th order, the Senate adopted House Joint Memorials 14, 16, and 13. HJM 14 urged future water storage development, HJM 16 supported seniors and Medicare-related oversight, and HJM 13 asked federal agencies to align waters-of-the-United States policy with the Sackett decision. The Senate then continued with additional third-reading bills, including House Bill 573, as the session moved toward recess and further floor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to make sure we recognize yesterday's Memorial Day for all of you and for the service of our
• We all are together in that effort, and they lead us, service providers.
• From the uh service provision stand, just to give you an approximate idea.
• Um, one is the advancement of technology and the ability to get convictions from it.
• Um, it would be nice to hear from the head of the juvenile justice Services at CYFD.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:14:56.320><c> improve</c> infrastructure, technology, improve infrastructure, technology, improve
• But to the point we made earlier, technology can do wonders.
• </c><00:42:16.960><c> So</c> earlier, technology can do wonders.
• So earlier, technology can do wonders.
• data analyst, something GI a technology data analyst, something like<00:42:21.920><c> that.

Bills: SB874 , SB2097 , SB2098 , SB2126 , SB2154 , SB2153 , SB2160 , SB2123 , SB2110

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: veterinary medicine, prescription, consumer rights, transparency, pet medication, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, food system resilience, grant program, Hawaii agriculture, agriculture, clean plant program, disease-free plants, plant propagation, small farms, midsize farms, sustainable farming, Hawaii, data analysis, market study

Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> their County Assessor veteran service their County Assessor veteran service organizations<00:03:
• </c> providing important Community Services providing important Community Services including<00:05:00.320
• Thank you for your service.
• Thank you for your service.
• Members, the Foreign Service pension system is a federal pension system for retired Foreign Service officers

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you see any more challenges from providing your services, dual credit services, to high schools that
• Do you see any more challenges from providing your services, dual credit services, to high schools that
• Technology, the school districts completed significant technology and safety and security upgrades, including
• Technology, the school districts completed significant technology and safety and security upgrades, including
• So those were kind of some of the high-level technology items.

Committees: Joint Education , Joint Education Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you see any more challenges from providing your services, dual credit services, to high schools that
• Technology, the school districts completed significant technology and safety and security upgrades, including
• Technology, the school districts completed significant technology and safety and security upgrades, including
• So those were kind of some of the high-level technology items.
• So it had a Target students who were not receiving other services.

Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on dual credit programs from North Dakota higher education leaders, a school superintendent, and teachers. Valley City State University described its dual credit model, emphasizing quality control through annual teacher training, syllabus and outcomes alignment, faculty qualification review, school visits, and pathways aimed at the College Studies Certificate. Members asked about teacher employment, course scheduling, revenue, scholarships, and whether a centralized model might improve efficiency; VCSU said most instructors are K-12 employees, online offerings are still small, and centralization could weaken local relationships and choice. Lake Region State College similarly stressed access and partnerships, noting about half of its headcount is still in high school, with both online and face-to-face dual credit options, district reimbursement arrangements, and support for rural schools. Lake Region also said dual credit helps students who might not otherwise see themselves as college-bound, but reduced tuition can still be a barrier for some families. Fargo Public Schools reported continued growth in dual credit, with 50 courses offered in partnership with several NDUS institutions and a 12.61% increase in participation. The superintendent highlighted a growing education pathway, including students completing Introduction to Education and field experience, and said the district is exploring a grow-your-own teacher pipeline. He also raised concerns about inconsistent institutional processes, teacher credentialing requirements, and transfer clarity, arguing for more aligned statewide systems. In response to questions, he said AP and dual credit can coexist, with AP often better for highly selective out-of-state colleges and dual credit better for students targeting North Dakota institutions, and he described some use of Arizona State online courses in earlier rural partnerships but said Fargo is focused on local institutions. Two teachers then testified on the classroom perspective. A West Fargo anatomy and physiology teacher said dual credit has expanded access, lowered costs, and prepared students well, but agreed that foundational science courses may be more effective when taken later in high school to reduce knowledge loss before college. A Drake-Anamoose English teacher, who has taught dual credit for more than 20 years, said the program has supported many students who went on to a wide range of careers and emphasized that small rural schools rely on dual credit to provide opportunities they otherwise could not offer. No formal votes or actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Passenger service to the state of Oklahoma.
• provide a higher level of service.
• So, solicitations are typically our professional services.
• They service the debt it took to build it.
• The service levels are I-35, I-40, the parts of I-44, 69, 412.

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also do natural gas service.
• We also do natural gas service.
• We also do natural gas service.
• We also do natural gas service.
• </c> customer services uh service customers. customer services uh service customers.

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Services.
• Services. recommended for replacement by the Office of Information Technology Services.
• OIT stands for Office of Information and Technology Services.
• , developmental disability agency services, community support employment, and targeted service coordination
• services that's there, and we're not taking the program away.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a free texting service. It uses AI. I should say, and guardians. It's a free texting service.
• So all of our pop-ins are co-hosted by TRIO, access services.
• Oftentimes, what I'm doing is walking them to an existing service. I'm not replacing that service.
• to the career and counseling services.
• I'm not replacing that service.

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee heard two work sessions focused on student access and retention, then held public hearings on gubernatorial appointments before taking executive action. Washington Student Achievement Council staff presented the Washington Completes FAFSA campaign, created by Executive Order 2508, describing its advisory board, outreach strategy, dashboard tracking, and progress toward goals of 46,000 FAFSA/WASFA completions and improved equity in completion rates. They also highlighted broader college access tools such as trainings, printed materials, completion events, Otterbot texting support, and the new “Changing the Narrative” report and College Toolkit, which emphasize multiple postsecondary pathways, relatable messengers, and short video content. The committee then heard from the Council of Presidents and Central Washington University and Evergreen State College on student support services. Presenters discussed retention data, FERPA-related limits on parent communication, and the impact of budget cuts on advising, tutoring, wellness, and other services. Evergreen described the Shelton Promise program, including recruitment, summer bridge, basic-needs supports, peer mentoring, texting outreach, and early retention results showing 52 of 53 students continuing. Central Washington outlined its learner access and support plan, including required advising, University 101, early academic alerts, peer mentoring embedded in coursework, the Students First Center, and a Paying for College Guide, while noting that budget reductions have limited some support offerings. In the public hearing, the committee considered Latasha Wortham’s appointment to the Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees and a panel of student appointees to various boards and councils, including Evergreen, Washington Student Achievement Council, the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, Edmonds College, and Western Washington University. Testimony emphasized first-generation and immigrant backgrounds, student advocacy, basic needs, and the importance of student voice in governance. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and gave Senate Bill 6325 a due pass recommendation to Ways and Means; the bill would shift certain higher education cost increases from tuition to state funds over time and direct a WSIPP study on essential student services. The committee also recommended confirmation for the listed gubernatorial appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• SERVICES REALLY.
• SHARED SERVICES IS OUR NEW VENDOR AND ITS ROLLING OUT.
• SHARED SERVICES.
• TWENTY FIVE HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE IS NOW REQUIRED FOR RAIN PARTICIPANTS AND THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE
• , WORKFORCE, AND SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pumped storage hydro is the most proven, efficient, and long-lasting long-duration storage technology
• It's a proven technology. That project is over 40 years old.
• So by having additional commercial technologies eligible for procurement, or procurement into the long-duration
• Assembly Bill 2518 has received no opposition and is strongly supported by SDG&E, which services San

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the privilege Dear Lord, we thank you for this day and for the privilege of gathering here in service
• She previously worked as a project manager for United Technologies for 10 years, and she currently serves
• as a public policy manager for Uber Technologies since 2021.
• And she currently serves as a public policy manager for Uber Technologies since 2021.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the privilege Dear Lord, we thank you for this day and for the privilege of gathering here in service
• She previously worked as a project manager for United Technologies for 10 years, and she currently serves
• as a public policy manager for Uber Technologies since 2021.
• And she currently serves as a public policy manager for Uber Technologies since 2021.

Summary: The Senate opened by approving the previous day’s journal, receiving House messages on House Bill 2487 and House Bill 1983, and transmitting signed Senate bills 5252 and 5858. It then read first-reading measures, including Senate Bill 6358, which was referred to the Law and Justice Committee, and engrossed House Bill 2487, which was referred to Ways and Means. The chamber also suspended Rule 46 to allow committees to meet during the floor session and briefly stood at ease. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8690, recognizing the contributions of the Chinook Tribal Nation. Senator Jeff Wilson spoke in support, emphasizing the Chinook people’s historical role in southwest Washington, their peaceful trade and diplomacy, and their continuing cultural and civic importance. After adoption, the Senate welcomed Chinook Indian Nation leaders and representatives who were present in the chamber. The Senate then considered gubernatorial appointments to the Washington State Women’s Commission. Allison F. Holub, Yolanda K. King Lowe, Malia Mullen, and Christina Cobbittish were each confirmed by roll call vote, with Holub and Cobbittish confirmed unanimously and King Lowe and Mullen confirmed on 30-19 votes. Senators also used points of personal privilege to recognize recent state basketball championships, including Colfax, Nia-Bay, Richland, and Lemmy Nation teams, before the Senate recessed for caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• child growing up, my late father, Joseph Eugene Hernandez, took me and my brother to Sweat Lodge Service
• It will allow government to address new and emerging contaminants and technologies while essential legal
• We'd be placing our hopes in a fictional technology to bring this temperature back down.
• I represent the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM).
• contexts where the legislation has not had the opportunity because of emerging contaminants or technologies

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, Elise
• Elise has dedicated her career to public service.
• I'm sure that one day Sam will look at this moment and Elise's future service with much to be proud of
• And he refused to meet with any Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, save the chairman. services
• I enjoyed working with you when we were on the House Space Science and Technology Committee.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to just take a moment to, President Reynolds, thank you for your years of service to California
• And we're grateful for your service, and I just want to wish you all the best in your next chapter as
• , transportation, and rail services.
• Will efficiency eclipse these projects and be replaced with newer technologies?
• The gas plants are still providing service to the system. ...use.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held an oversight hearing with leaders from the CPUC, Public Advocates Office, CAISO, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, and the Energy Commission. Chair Petrie-Norris framed the hearing around high utility bills, wildfire risk, grid reliability, clean energy buildout, and the state’s long-term decarbonization goals, and also noted it was CPUC President Alice Reynolds’ final week at the commission. Each agency gave an update on its role: the CPUC described efforts to reduce rate increases while maintaining reliability and clean energy procurement; the Public Advocates Office focused on affordability and the need to control underlying utility costs; CAISO discussed transmission planning, market operations, and the upcoming extended day-ahead market; Energy Safety reviewed wildfire mitigation oversight and inspections; and the Energy Commission highlighted clean energy growth, EV adoption, storage, efficiency, and gasoline price monitoring. A major theme was affordability versus the costs of the clean energy transition. Reynolds said the CPUC has lowered utility revenue requests, reduced utility returns, adopted a base services charge, and reworked net metering, while also continuing to manage wildfire-related costs and support resource adequacy and demand flexibility. Sarazawa argued that recent rate decreases may not be durable because billions of dollars in wildfire and other utility costs are still pending or unbilled, and she urged tighter use of general rate cases, lower-cost financing, program reform, and more equitable rate design. Members pressed the agencies on whether state policy is sufficiently accounting for labor, local economic development, and the cost impacts of transmission and procurement decisions, especially where out-of-state resources are being considered. CAISO and the Energy Commission emphasized that the state’s planning and market reforms are helping lower costs and improve reliability. CAISO said the Western Energy Imbalance Market has produced billions in benefits, the extended day-ahead market is on track to launch, and transmission planning is being aligned with long-term resource needs while reducing queue delays. The Energy Commission said California is now getting roughly two-thirds of its power from clean sources, has added massive amounts of storage and renewables, and is seeing strong EV and charger growth that can help spread fixed grid costs. Energy Safety reported thousands of inspections, hundreds of notices of non-performance, and a decline in reportable ignitions, while noting that major fires show more work is needed. Members also raised concerns about the SB 100 report delay, memo and balancing accounts, the future of battery storage, and whether decarbonization zone pilots will affect residential and commercial customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:45.160><c> has</c> month Joanne your unwavering service has month Joanne your unwavering service
• </c> raising funds for the military service raising funds for the military service monument<01:46:50.960
• Thank you for your service. I yield back.
• He has pastored throughout the 50 years of service.
• He has pastored throughout the 50 years of service.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 27, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or there's no service charge, and the customer pays in more than four installments.
• And how do they deal with customer service?
• in which this transaction or service is available?
• , education training, professional services, and home and repair services, and I'm sure you've encountered
• American Express card is not to be used for delivery service.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: 904, all