Transcript Highlights:

• from a systematic review of 26 studies... found that housing first programs decreased homelessness by 88%

Bills: HB1597 , HB2364 , HB2437 , HB3205 , HB3253 , HB3310 , HB3648 , HB3906 , HB4259 , HB5645

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: county jailer, jail training, veterans, Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, TCOLE, criminal justice system, county jail, law enforcement training, mental health training, jail standards, correctional officers, veteran services, veteran interaction, occupations code, jailer licensing, parking, county courthouse, infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I'm reluctant to just tell you what I'm 88% sure of on the dates of those certain conventions.

Bills: HB2139 , HB2253 , HB3632 , HB4171 , HB4309 , HB4508 , SB760 , SB1470

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It's around 86 to 88%.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fresno County is home to 1. 88 million acres of the world's most productive farmland, with agricultural

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's all of the birthdays we're celebrating. 85 86 87 88 89 You Members, we have several resolutions

Transcript Highlights:

• He's 88 years old, and I'm still scared of him. prisons, mental health, substance abuse, prisons, mental
• </c><00:10:35.920><c> He's</c><00:10:36.160><c> He's</c><00:10:36.560><c> 88</c> scared to death of my
• He's He's 88 scared to death of my dad.
• He's He's 88 years<00:10:37.200><c> old,</c><00:10:37.360><c> and</c><00:10:37.480><c> I'm</c><00:10:

Summary: The meeting was a discussion of fatherhood and a possible response to Senator Robby Mills’ Resolution 112, which had proposed a task force on fatherhood initiatives. After approving the June meeting minutes and confirming a quorum, the committee heard a presentation from Mark Ludwig, executive director of the National Council for Equal Shared Parenting, who argued that fatherhood is often left out of public policy and that stronger father involvement is linked to better outcomes in crime, education, substance abuse, and family stability. He cited Kentucky’s 50/50 shared parenting law as a model and urged fatherhood classes, employment support, mentoring, co-parenting education, and partnerships with community organizations, schools, and social workers rather than relying solely on state spending. He also said fatherhood engagement could save the state money by reducing incarceration and related costs. Members then raised concerns that the presentation did not sufficiently address structural causes of fatherlessness, especially incarceration, racial disparities, gun violence, poverty, housing, transportation, and sentencing policy. Senator Berg and Representative Kulkarni emphasized that Black and brown families are disproportionately affected by incarceration and violence, and questioned whether fatherhood programs alone can solve the problem without broader reforms. Ludwig responded that some fathers are pushed out by the court system or lack legal resources, and said reintegration programs and legal, financial, and community supports are part of the solution, though he had focused mainly on the need for fatherhood programming in this presentation. No bill was voted on and no formal action was taken beyond approving the minutes. The discussion appeared to be an initial policy conversation to gather ideas and perspectives for possible future work on fatherhood-related initiatives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the gentleman from Boone 66 filed a very similar bill, House Bill 88, early in the session.
• similar<01:43:56.159><c> bill,</c><01:43:56.480><c> House</c><01:43:56.719><c> Bill</c><01:43:57.040><c> 88
• ,</c><01:43:57.520><c> early</c><01:43:57.840><c> in</c> similar bill, House Bill 88, early in similar
• bill, House Bill 88, early in the<01:43:58.239><c> session.

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received committee reports on several bills. Reported measures included House Bills 1 and 2 from Appropriations and Revenue, along with bills on animal control officers, emergency services revenue, postsecondary education, proactive postsecondary admission, vehicle lights, motor vehicle operation, motor vehicle dealers, and machine gun conversion devices. The chamber also took up Senate Bills 52 and 124 for concurrence, and House Bill 1 was moved from rules to the orders of the day for immediate action. The House then considered House Bill 568, which would regulate public adjusters by prohibiting new licenses, allowing renewals for current licensees, imposing conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, capping fees at 5%, and barring adjusters from negotiating claims. Supporters described it as a consumer-protection measure responding to complaints and investigations, especially after recent storm-related exploitation. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 95-1. The House next debated House Bill 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program and authorize the Secretary of State to administer the state’s participation without using state general funds. Supporters argued it would bring federal scholarship dollars into Kentucky for K-12 students, including public school students, and could generate significant private donations for scholarship-granting organizations. Opponents raised concerns about shifting resources away from public education, the speed of the process, and a proposed waiver of Eleventh Amendment immunity. A motion to table the bill failed by a wide margin, and members continued debating the bill and its implications for public schools and state sovereignty.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Converse County in 2024, there were 88 reported stalking victims. Five of them were children.
• 13:50.160><c> were</c> In Converse County in 2024, there were In Converse County in 2024, there were 88
• </c><00:13:52.880><c> Five</c><00:13:53.120><c> of</c> 88 reported stalking victims.
• Five of 88 reported stalking victims.

Bills: HB0008 , HB0009

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we had taken over some square footage, and through the years as we've grown from 88 students to
• through the years as we've grown<03:53:07.359><c> uh</c><03:53:07.840><c> from</c><03:53:08.160><c> 88
• students</c><03:53:08.960><c> to</c><03:53:09.199><c> this</c><03:53:09.359><c> year</c> grown uh from 88
• students to this year grown uh from 88 students to this year 350 350 350 um<03:53:11.840><c> we</c><

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1334, which would remove the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization’s authority to approve “any other educational expense” under the EFA statute. The prime sponsor, Representative Porchelli, said the bill would narrow the law to the specifically listed qualifying expenses, avoid broad interpretation, and shift any questions to the Department of Education or the legislative oversight committee. In response to questions, she said she did not think the open-ended category had been needed and that the statute already clearly lists allowable expenses. A representative of the Children’s Scholarship Fund testified in opposition, saying the category is used rarely but is important for unusual cases, especially students with special needs, and that removing it could create unintended consequences. After testimony, the chair closed the hearing on HB 1334. The committee then heard HB 1513, which would move several EFA reporting and oversight requirements from administrative rules and the contract with the Children’s Scholarship Fund into statute. Representative Porchelli said the bill would consolidate existing requirements on timely responses to oversight requests, publication of expense reports by category and provider, and transmission of eligibility and enrollment data to the Department of Education. She described the bill as mostly a clarification and transparency measure rather than a substantive policy change. Members asked about the meaning of “timely access,” the 45-day deadline, whether the contract already covered these duties, and whether the scholarship organization had ever failed to comply. The Children’s Scholarship Fund said it had generally met the 45-day deadline, had not knowingly refused information requests, and that the quarterly reporting requirement could add cost; the sponsor said the DOE had provided guidance and was neutral. The hearing on HB 1513 was then closed. Finally, the committee heard HB 1256, which would repeal the state librarian’s authority to award scholarships for graduate library school attendance at American Library Association-accredited schools. Representative Drago said the law was unnecessary because the state does not currently have a state librarian, scholarships are not typically granted by statute, and he objected to the ALA accreditation requirement and what he described as the association’s political advocacy. In questions, he clarified that the bill targets the accreditation requirement rather than a specific school and said he did not think the state should direct taxpayer-funded scholarships toward ALA-accredited programs. A member raised First Amendment concerns, but the sponsor said the issue was not speech itself, only the use of taxpayer dollars and state law to support that direction. The transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on HB 1256.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so of our $88 million target, $73 million was reserved for the operating adjustments suggested by
• And so of our<00:18:21.919><c> $88</c><00:18:22.400><c> million</c><00:18:23.200><c> target,</c><00:18
• :24.160><c> 73</c><00:18:24.799><c> million</c><00:18:25.360><c> was</c> our $88 million target, 73 million
• was our $88 million target, 73 million was uh<00:18:26.240><c> reserved</c><00:18:27.000><c> for</c>

Summary: The conference committee met late on Friday evening to discuss the Public Safety and Judiciary budget agreement, beginning with a brief exchange among members about concerns that the executive branch had been delaying the committee’s work by waiting to approve legislative decisions. Members emphasized that the legislature should retain its independence while still allowing normal collaboration with the governor’s office. The committee then moved through several outstanding policy items and adopted them without opposition, including the A38 amendment addressing data-sharing concerns involving disability-related information, a study of firefighting services by the state fire marshal, and an A46 amendment governing access to unredacted portable recording system data in collision investigations, with guardrails on disclosure and use. The committee next reviewed the spreadsheet and budget targets. Fiscal staff explained the judiciary side of the agreement, including funding for court operating costs, a one-time Justice Partner Access Program appropriation, forensic exam rate increases, guardian ad litem funding, public defense, human rights, the competency attainment board, the cannabis expungement board, and fee increases for civil filings and motions. On the public safety side, staff described the target as well as the discretionary items funded, including nonprofit security grants, BCA staffing changes, fire marshal initiatives, a 10-year arson statute of limitations, prosecutor training grants, legal representation for children, E911 funding for critical infrastructure, Philando Castile Training Fund support, corrections-related savings from the Stillwater phased closure and sentence-to-serve elimination, a mandatory minimums task force, a victims of crime account transfer, a decommissioning study, in-service use-of-force training, and extensions of several expiring appropriations. The committee also noted a correction to a spreadsheet label related to the Stillwater closure item. After the spreadsheet walkthrough, the committee took testimony from Chief Justice Natalie Hudson and State Court Administrator Jeff Shorban on behalf of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hudson thanked the committee for its work and said the agreement covers some unavoidable costs, including insurance, lease expenses, forensic examiner pay, and the new access system, but argued it does not adequately address the judiciary’s most urgent problem: staffing and judicial compensation. She said court employees are leaving for better-paying jobs, judicial salaries are frozen for two years, and applicant pools for judgeships have declined, especially in greater Minnesota. She also said the judicial branch was not meaningfully consulted on the budget target and urged lawmakers to recognize the courts as a constitutional obligation rather than a discretionary program.

Transcript Highlights:

• In my district alone, there are four stations: KOJ, KFAI, Jazz 88, and Radio K.
• K</c><00:51:39.079><c> OJ</c><00:51:39.599><c> kfai</c><00:51:40.400><c> Jazz</c><00:51:40.720><c> 88
• </c><00:51:41.319><c> and</c> four stations K OJ kfai Jazz 88 and four stations K OJ kfai Jazz 88 and

Bills: HF1679 , HF1019 , HF2321 , HF1740 , HF2278

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The school sits on an 88-campus site, and we put in a ton of monitoring wells.
• the road of so the the school sits<00:23:48.279><c> on</c><00:23:48.400><c> an</c><00:23:48.559><c> 88
• 51.520><c> put</c><00:23:51.720><c> in</c><00:23:51.840><c> a</c><00:23:52.000><c> ton</c> sits on an 88
• campus we uh put in a ton sits on an 88 campus we uh put in a ton of<00:23:52.279><c> monitoring</c>

Bills: HF630 , HF1435 , HF1607

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: short-call substitute, substitute teacher, substitute teaching license, pilot program, teacher shortage, education workforce, school district, charter school, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, background check, paraprofessional, education support personnel, temporary license, substitute training, retaliation, teacher pay, daily substitute pay, Minnesota education law, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our veteran occupancy was 88% of that; 71% of those were disabled veterans. 41% was group use, active
• Our veteran occupancy was 88% of that; 71% of those were disabled veterans. 41% was group use, active
• Our veteran occupancy was 88% of that; 71% of those were disabled veterans. 41% was group use, active
• Our veteran occupancy was 88% of that; 71% of those were disabled veterans. 41% was group use, active

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• on the other thing to take into account is that, um, the threshold to be deemed a service animal by 88
• on the other thing to take into account is that, um, the threshold to be deemed a service animal by 88
• on the other thing to take into account is that, um, the threshold to be deemed a service animal by 88
• ><01:17:17.960><c> service</c><01:17:18.400><c> Animal</c><01:17:19.320><c> by</c><01:17:19.520><c> 88

Summary: The Agriculture and Environment hearing on January 27, 2025, took up multiple measures, beginning with a proposed constitutional amendment, HB 559, to recognize a right to clean water and air, a healthful environment, climate, native ecosystems, and beaches. The Attorney General’s Office testified with concerns that the amendment’s broad language could create challenges for future legislatures and environmental enforcement, while the Climate Commission and DLNR supported it. Environmental and advocacy groups, including Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, and others, strongly supported the measure, arguing it would strengthen decision-making and protect Hawaii’s natural resources. Committee members raised questions about how the amendment would interact with existing constitutional protections and recent litigation, and the AG’s office said the proposal could lead to broad judicial interpretation and possible liability issues. The hearing then moved on without a recorded vote on this bill. The committee next heard SB 552, which would establish a healthy soils program in the Department of Agriculture and require annual reporting and funding. The Climate Change Commission supported the bill, and the Department of Agriculture said it stood on its submitted testimony but noted existing commissions and the greenhouse gas sequestration task force already address similar objectives, suggesting SB 552 may duplicate current efforts. Agricultural and environmental advocates, including the Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and others, supported the concept of a consolidated healthy soils program, saying it would better organize existing efforts, improve access for producers, and support conservation practices. The Agribusiness Development Corporation said it would support either DOA or ADC administering the program, and committee discussion focused on implementation, program overlap, and whether the bill should better integrate existing compost reimbursement and related efforts. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was SB 678, which would create an Agricultural Development Food Security Special Fund, dedicate a portion of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to it, and appropriate funds equal to 3% of the state budget for agriculture. The Department of Agriculture strongly supported the bill, saying the funding would align with its goals and help support farmers and ranchers. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Department of Budget and Finance raised concerns that the proposed special fund may not meet statutory criteria. Farm and industry groups generally supported the measure but suggested changes, including adding uses related to local food sourcing, distribution, and biosecurity. Committee members questioned the scale of the appropriation, noting it could amount to roughly $250 million and a major increase in DOA’s budget, and discussed whether the department could realistically implement such a large program. The hearing ended with testimony counts noted for the measures heard, and the chair indicated the committee would reconvene later for any unfinished business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Conference Committee Report No. 12, final reading of Senate Bill 88, Conference Draft 1, relating
• SB 88 CD1 passes final reading.
• Conference Committee Report No. 88, final reading of Senate Bill 1323, Conference Draft 1, relating to
• Conference Committee report number<01:24:23.600><c> 88,</c><01:24:24.239><c> final</c><01:24:24.560><
• c> reading</c><01:24:24.800><c> of</c><01:24:24.960><c> Senate</c><01:24:25.280><c> Bill</c> number 88

Transcript Highlights:

• Lines 87 and 88 are appropriations for the Silver Bay Trail Head and the Redhead Mountain Bike Park.
• </c><00:13:40.959><c> Line</c><00:13:41.360><c> 87</c><00:13:41.839><c> and</c><00:13:42.160><c> 88</
• Line 87 and 88 are uh contain that.
• Their profit was $88 billion.
• Their profit was $88 billion.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• 888 that's been requested is there objection hearing gentleman has the floor to present House bill 88
• Hearing that gentleman has the floor to present House Bill 88. Just about caught me on that one.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you look at that, you'd have then from 98 down to 88, the top decile, would be the scores that
• And if you look at that, you'd have then from 98 down to 88, the top decile, would be the scores that

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to give some comfort lines 86 through 88 and ...and you mentioned it last year, too.
• I wanted to give some comfort: lines 86 through 88 and 186 through 188, I believe, protect the ability

Bills: S0484 , S0698 , S0706 , S0968 , S1118 , S1122 , S1134 , S1320 , S1342 , S1548 , S1614

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several housing, local government, utility, and transparency bills. SB 1342 on transportation infrastructure and land development regulations, by Sen. Rouson, was presented as a housing-affordability measure modeled on the Live Local Act for transit corridors. After adopting an amendment that removed the bill’s compelling-governmental-interest language in enforcement provisions, the committee heard testimony from local-government and housing interests both supporting and opposing the bill’s zoning preemption approach. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably CS/SB 1614, by Sen. Leek, which was amended to remove stormwater and code-enforcement spending provisions and to tighten restrictions on local governments seeking state appropriations after audits or without required affirmations. SB 1548, the next Live Local Act iteration by Sen. Claddie Ude, was also reported favorably; it expands where Live Local projects may be located and adds fair-housing protections. SB 968 on home backup power systems, by Sen. McLean, was reported favorably after testimony from builders and energy-related stakeholders, with the sponsor noting he was still working on amendments to refine permit provisions. The committee then approved CS/SB 698, by Sen. Martin, which allows building permits for single-family homes to be issued before septic permits are finalized if application has been made, while still requiring septic approval before occupancy. Builders testified that septic permit delays were causing lengthy project delays and contract cancellations. The committee also reported favorably SB 1320, by Sen. Martin, requiring county tax-increase referenda to include a Department of Financial Services spending analysis if available; the sponsor said the goal was to give voters more standardized fiscal information, while opponents argued existing law already provides similar transparency. SB 484, by Sen. Avila, on data centers, was reported favorably after an amendment adding a knowledge requirement to the foreign-country-of-concern service prohibition; the bill addresses local planning authority, nondisclosure agreements, utility tariff requirements, and water-use limits for large data centers. The committee also reported favorably SB 1118, by Sen. Avila, creating a one-year public-records exemption for data-center location and proprietary information, with testimony split between economic-development supporters and transparency concerns. Finally, the committee took up SB 706, by Sen. Mayfield, preempting naming of major commercial service airports to the state and designating Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to federal and trademark conditions; it was reported favorably after questions about local input and airport naming. The committee then heard extensive public testimony on SB 1134, by Sen. Yarbrough, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official actions related to DEI and would create penalties and a private right of action for residents. The sponsor argued the bill was aimed at preventing taxpayer-funded DEI programs and cited examples from Jacksonville and other jurisdictions; opponents said the bill was vague, overbroad, and would chill local programs, public education, and civil-rights-related activities. The transcript ends during continued public testimony on SB 1134, with no final committee action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 The following announcements, the clerk will
• Speaker, members, the six largest cities in Texas lost over 88 billion gallons of water in 2023.

Bills: HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29 , SB5 , SB262 , HB 11 , HJR72 , HB 106 , HB18 , HB48 , HB27 , HB37 , HB1481 , HB581 , HB1696 , HB2216 , HB 1035 , HB1633 , HB742 , HB754 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB2669 , HB391 , HB517 , HB 1024 , HB1607 , HB252 , HB1716 , HB1562 , HB4116 , HB1866 , HB1741 , HB2103 , HB2637 , HB2884 , HB503 , HB 1089 , HB2986 , HB972 , HB502 , HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty