Transcript Highlights:

• It could also depend on whether the hospital near the rural areas is getting close to closing down or
• Close. You're recognized. Thank you.
• Representative Shefflin, do you wish to close for your bill? Recognition to close the bill.
• Representative Dotson has closed the bill.
• Due to Tomlinckson, I'm not to close, but Representative Howe, would you like to close for your bill?

Committee: All BOYS STATE

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks to Arkansas Boys State delegates about leadership, public service, and the significance of the Capitol, followed by prayer, attendance, and announcements that both chambers were organized and ready for business. The House then considered House Bill 1001, which would have increased funding for rural health care through a 10% tax on people earning at least $300,000; supporters argued it would improve access and quality in rural areas, while opponents raised concerns about fairness, funding, and driving away doctors and taxpayers. The bill failed, 24 yeas to 51 nays. House Bill 1002, aimed at funding more teachers for rural school districts and limiting how many subjects a teacher could be assigned, drew debate over teacher burnout, funding, and whether it would improve outcomes; it passed after immediate consideration, 38 yeas to 36 nays, though the transcript later includes a conflicting note that it failed. House Bill 1003, the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2026, would let counties restrict data centers and impose a 10% tax for conservation; supporters emphasized local control and resource protection, while opponents warned about jobs, economic loss, and federal issues. It passed 62 yeas to 7 nays. House Bill 1004, reducing motor vehicle registration fees, was debated as a way to ease costs for families but criticized for reducing transportation funding; it failed, 20 yeas to 46 nays. The chamber then moved to Senate bills. Senate Bill 1 proposed incentives tied to SNAP benefits and healthier food purchases, including a Double Bucks-style program; supporters said it would help address food insecurity and obesity, while opponents objected to taxing junk food and burdening non-SNAP users. It passed 43 yeas to 27 nays. Senate Bill 2 would require reading tests in earlier grades and provide state tutoring for students who fail; supporters said it would address literacy problems early, while opponents wanted clearer provisions for older students and more detail on implementation. It passed 67 yeas to 6 nays. Senate Bill 3, the Freedom to Earn Act, would lower the individual income tax rate from 3.7% to 3.0%; supporters said it would help working families and attract business, while opponents argued the benefits would mostly go to corporations and wealthy executives. It passed 53 yeas to 15 nays. Senate Bill 4 created a zoning grant program to encourage mixed-use development in growing cities, funded by a 1% hotel tourism tax up to $50 million; supporters said it would promote housing, small business growth, and downtown revitalization, and it passed 51 yeas to 7 nays. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which carried.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will now close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• Speaker, I close.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will now close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• Speaker, I close.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call vote. Members then spent much of the morning introducing guests, including FFA groups from multiple counties, school officials, chamber leaders, veterans advocates, and other visitors. Several members also used personal privilege remarks to congratulate election workers and candidates following the previous day’s election. The chamber then took up committee reports and several bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3239, dealing with the workforce diploma program for adults seeking a high school diploma, was reconsidered after debate over its cost, eligibility, and relationship to other adult education programs. Supporters argued it offers a second chance and better outcomes than a GED, while opponents raised concerns about cost and diversion of K-12 funds. After motions for the previous question and reconsideration, the House ultimately passed HCS HB 3239. House Bill 1772, aimed at easing and encouraging adoptions and foster care permanency by helping cover legal costs and reduce delays, also passed with broad support. The House then passed House Bill 2096, which increases state matching funds for regional planning commissions and updates the statewide commission list, and later perfected House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2740, creating a pediatric disease task force in the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to track research, outcomes, and funding with annual reports and a sunset in 2030. Members emphasized the bill’s accountability and its personal importance to the sponsor and others affected by pediatric illness. House Bill 2422, which raises a recording fee from $4 to $5 to support the Department of Agriculture’s land survey program and adds rulemaking authority for related records and maps, was also perfected and printed after debate; an amendment to redirect the fee increase to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund was offered, discussed, and then withdrawn. The House then recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have two primary data sets.
• So we have two primary data sets.
• Again, timing, as we've discussed, is the primary limitation.
• And I think that very closely aligns with the grant program.
• As we mentioned, they’re closed.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Primary and Secondary Education Committee has met and reports House Bill 498 should pass with House
• To Primary and Secondary Education, House Bill 555.
• To<00:47:53.839><c> primary</c><00:47:54.160><c> and</c><00:47:54.480><c> secondary</c><00:47:54.960>
• <c> education,</c> To primary and secondary education, To primary and secondary education, House<00:47

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:09 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:59 Report of Committees 07:10 Orders of the Day 08:11 HJR 25 08:26 HB 66 11:58 HB 305 16:20 HB 432 22:44 HB 313 27:29 HB 44 30:26 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 34:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 42:07 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 43:38 ConC/Rules Report 47:26 Floor Amendments 48:25 Adjournment 48:54, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially the top priority is $500,000 for the second year to increase access to primary care up
• So essentially the top priority is $500,000 for the second year to increase access to primary care up
• increase $500,000 for the second year to increase access<01:04:32.079><c> to</c><01:04:32.400><c> primary
• ><c> up</c><01:04:34.640><c> in</c><01:04:34.960><c> the</c><01:04:35.200><c> north</c> access to primary
• care up in the north access to primary care up in the north country.<01:04:36.000><c> Vote</c><01:04

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will close the roll. There are 53 co-authors.
• Clerk will close the roll, tally the vote. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Clerk will close the roll, tally the votes. There are 53 co-authors added.
• My sister just moved back to be her primary caregiver.
• The clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. There are 62 co-authors added.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several Senate bills, notices for committee hearings, and a successful motion to suspend rules so ACA 20 could be taken up later in the week. The chamber also recognized former Assembly Member Christina Garcia and later moved into a Pride Month observance. The main ceremonial item was House Resolution 115 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Assembly Member Ward opened on the resolution, and multiple members from different caucuses spoke in support, highlighting Pride history, LGBTQ+ rights, and the contributions of LGBTQ Californians. Assembly Member DeMaio offered supportive remarks while noting policy differences, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 53 co-authors were added. The Assembly then held a Pride honoree ceremony recognizing 15 individuals and groups for contributions to the LGBTQ community. On the floor file, members also adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding co-authors: ACR 187 on Men’s Mental Health Month, ACR 157 marking the 50th anniversary of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, ACR 222 declaring Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month, and ACR 224 recognizing Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. Each drew personal testimony from members about the underlying issues, including suicide prevention, caregiving and dementia, mining reclamation, and harms to youth from social media. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 46 on mental health diversion by a 51-1 vote, and later adopted the consent calendar 66-0. The House adjourned until June 25, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Freiberg, would you like to close on your bill? Move favorable. Well, Rep.
• Would you like to close on your bill? Thank you. Thank you, committee members.
• Freeman, would you like to close on your bill? Did you say? Rep.
• Carver, would you like to close on your bill?
• Carver, would you like to close in your bill?

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 24, 2026, with a quorum present and announced that HB 690 would not be heard. The committee first advanced HB 350, which would extend the grades served by Ecole Ponashan in Terrebonne Parish from pre-K through 4th grade to 8th grade; members spoke in support of the school’s role in French immersion, Cajun heritage, and local educational access, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 434, which shifts certain probationary employment authority over school bus operators from school boards to superintendents, also received favorable passage without objection, with support from the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. The committee then considered HB 445 on the Louisiana STEM Advisory Council. The bill would move the STEM Commission from the Board of Regents to Louisiana Works, reduce and reorganize membership, and cut the number of meetings from four to two while keeping funding in place. Supporters said the change would better align the council with workforce needs and economic development, while members asked about the loss of some education representatives and the continued role of employers and K-12 stakeholders. After discussion, the bill was reported favorably. HB 386, which would allow local school districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own local education agency under district rules, was also reported favorably after extensive discussion of charter types, LEA status, federal funding, special education liability, and the difference between local and state authorization. HB 363, which would let students enrolled in virtual schools participate in extracurricular activities and athletics at their zoned public school, drew strong support from members and testimony from students and families. Witnesses described the bill as a fairness measure that would give online students the same opportunity to try out for sports and activities as home study students, subject to the same eligibility rules, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 256, clarifying that school employees are mandatory reporters and subject to existing DCFS training requirements, was also reported favorably, with members emphasizing child protection and the need to simplify reporting obligations. Finally, HB 272, which expands eligibility for the READ literacy program to students in D- and F-rated schools, was supported by the sponsor, Scholastic, and literacy advocates who cited Florida data showing improved reading outcomes and stronger family engagement; members raised questions about the fiscal note, parent literacy, and program overlap, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I said earlier, we currently oversee close to 300,000 Medicaid providers.
• , and they are mailed a 10-day advance closing notice.
• Eligibility closes.
• On average, we're referring suspected fraud, I think, close to 100 cases a year.
• That is a very important space that I plan to look into more closely.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 9 public testimony is closed.
• Public testimony is closed.
• If we have close to a record harvest, we will lose close to $80,000.
• If we have close to a record harvest, we will lose close to $80,000 just on our wheat crop, which is
• not our primary crop.

Bills: HB43 , HB519 , HB 1275 , HB1592 , HB2842 , HB3088 , HB3479 , HB4163 , SB823 , HB609

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, bovine producers, dairy farms, permits, bovine tuberculosis, public health, wildlife management, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, white-tailed deer, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with only four members initially present, so quorum was not established until later in the hearing. The committee heard several agriculture-, wildlife-, and food-labeling-related bills, including HB 3479 on expanding the Rio Grande vegetative management program beyond carrizo cane to other noxious vegetation, SB 823 on shrimp origin labeling and restrictions on misrepresenting imported shrimp as Texas or Gulf shrimp, HB 3088 on giving Texas Parks and Wildlife more flexibility to procure resale goods for park gift shops, HB 1275 on permits for non-bovine dairy farms in certain TB-affected areas, HB 519 on honey production and packaging rules, HB 609 on cleaning oyster cages in-bay with bay water only, HB 1592 on a voluntary AgriLife pest and disease alert system, HB 2842 on targeted urban deer depredation permits, and HB 4163 on limiting city requirements that agricultural operators maintain roadside rights-of-way. Testimony generally came from industry groups, agency resource witnesses, and affected producers, with most witnesses supporting the bills and several bills drawing questions about enforcement, labeling responsibility, and the scope of local authority. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 823, where Vice Chair Hancock and others questioned why wholesalers would be covered if they cannot relabel products. The bill author and restaurant association witness said the measure was intended to improve transparency and allow enforcement against intentional mislabeling, while preserving a good-faith defense and clarifying that the bill does not create a private cause of action. HB 519 also drew supportive testimony from beekeepers and a family farm, who argued that current rules treat honey extraction and bottling too much like food manufacturing and burden small operations. HB 609 was presented as a way to save time and resources for cultivated oyster mariculture by allowing cage cleaning in the bay without soaps or chemicals, and HB 1592 was described as a voluntary opt-in alert system for pests and diseases coordinated through AgriLife and other state agencies. HB 43 generated the most detailed policy debate. The bill would restructure and expand the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, update grant and loan programs, and create a pest and disease control depredation program. The committee substitute reduced some funding caps, changed references from predators to depredating animals, and made the financial provisions contingent on appropriations. Supporters from Texas Farm Bureau, cotton growers, grain and feed interests, and young farmers described severe drought, inflation, land loss, rising input costs, and shrinking infrastructure as major threats to agriculture, while one witness urged preserving priority for young farmers. After testimony, the committee adopted the committee substitute and reported HB 43 favorably. The committee also voted HB 519, HB 609, HB 1275, HB 1592, HB 3088, HB 3479, HB 2842, and HB 4163 favorably, with several recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 823 was reported from committee on a 6-2 vote after adoption of the committee substitute. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would tentatively reconvene Friday morning and then recessed subject to the chair's call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Close on the measure. Mr. Chairman, members, thank you.
• If you don't have any other questions, I close.
• If not, the chair recognizes Representative Flores closed.
• Thank you for your time, and I close.
• So with that I close.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought, "Man, you can't close this down.
• If you don't have any other questions, I close. So, um, yes.
• If not, the chair recognizes Representative Flores to close.
• Thank you for your time, and I close.
• If not, the chair recognizes Chairman Bell to close on the measure.

Bills: HB386 , HB1449 , HB1701 , HB2142 , HB2675 , HB2857 , HB3063 , HB3171 , HB3641 , HB3732 , HB4045 , HB4370 , HB4491 , HB4505 , HB4626 , HB5267 , HB5356

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million

Transcript Highlights:

• Ashby, I'm happy to answer any questions and reserve the right to close.
• I'm happy to answer any other questions, otherwise I can close.
• Representative Garibald, reserve your right to close. I reserve my right to close.
• If not, the Chair recognizes Representative Garrett to close on the bill.
• I reserve the right to close the bill, but let me ask you this question.

Bills: HB295 , HB824 , HB1579 , HB1581 , HB2189 , HB295

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: bullying, antisemitism, school policies, school discipline, education, education policy, Texas Education Code, hate speech, student rights, civics education, high school curriculum, government, voting process, elected officials, Texas Seal of Biliteracy, biliteracy, bilingual education, multilingual, language proficiency, high school diploma

Transcript Highlights:

• You're recognized to close your bill. Waive close.
• Any debate, any debate, Senator Gruters, you're recognized to close waive close.
• Senator Calatayud you're recognized to close on the amendment.
• I was so close. I knew it was coming. Senator, thank you.
• Please close on your Bill. >> Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For awareness, the Regional Engagement Division serves as the first and primary contact for local partners
• The Regional Engagement Division serves as the first and primary contact for local partners, businesses
• So we work closely with the organizations that are working with entrepreneurs.
• I don't pretend that, you know, anybody does at least follow what I say too terribly closely.
• homes or businesses that may not have been connected with these funds, that then at least they're close

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And slide number two is really just our priorities, and it focuses on the three primary categories that
• So quite often we work very closely with the LFC on this and the staff.
• And again, there are a lot of other issues that we're going to work very closely on.
• It's deeply appreciated, and we've been very proud to partner closely. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• This is money that is already there, so we're going to have to look closely at this.

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:10.879><c> with</c> prior will align more closely with prior will align more closely with
• </c> Dames for um closing thoughts. Yes. Dames for um closing thoughts. Yes.
• It's close to Minnesota. Um, a lot of them.
• It's close to Minnesota.
• It's close to population math.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not owned by a private equity firm, and because of that our primary motivation is not to maximize
• </c> and because of that our primary and because of that our primary motivation<00:48:54.400><c> is</
• 56:26.640><c> Medicare</c><00:56:27.240><c> and</c><00:56:27.400><c> Medicaid</c> Rebates are the primary
• </c><00:56:49.680><c> way</c><00:56:49.920><c> that</c> rebates rebates are the primary way that rebates
• rebates are the primary way that Healthcare<00:56:50.559><c> payers</c><00:56:51.000><c> reduce</c><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other tax base, which is the primary tax base and sort of the one we're going to focus on for the
• <00:09:43.959><c> the</c> 2nd the other tax base which is the 2nd the other tax base which is the primary
• tax base and sort of the one primary tax base and sort of the one we're<00:09:45.720><c> going</c><00
• The primary levy is on commercial and industrial property, and that is about $717 million each year.
• Levy is on commercial industrial primary Levy is on commercial industrial property<00:14:44.880><c>

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go ahead, since we haven't closed it, add the last two. Yeah, Reed and Self.
• I'll be honest with you, I did not realize that Wentworth had closed down.
• My earlier question was, Wentworth had closed down.
• I went to Kippur Military School Academy, which closed in the early 2000s.
• As long as they're close to oak trees. Oh. As long as they're close to oak trees. Oh. Okay.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Keywords: 959, house, all