Transcript Highlights:

• A school must excuse a student to participate in this program.
• It's a great program.
• We also have high school internship programs and high school summer camp programs that our association
• Programs like this help bridge that gap.
• Honors Program with a full tuition scholarship.

Bills: SB1798 , SB1835 , SB1319 , SB2942 , SB2928 , SB784 , SB1049

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: higher education, tuition rates, financial support, immigration status, Texas law, SB 1835, resident tuition, nonresident students, scholarship students, public higher education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Code Section 54.213, tuition waiver, in-state tuition, out-of-state students, higher education finance, enrollment cap, capacity limit, workforce development area, nonimmigrant visa

Transcript Highlights:

• So the programs that are being given by the university are all science-based.
• So that is our program. Thank you, Representative Mueller. Further discussion?
• </c><00:03:24.280><c> to</c> up with their own type of program to up with their own type of program to
• So that<00:03:49.280><c> is</c><00:03:49.400><c> our</c><00:03:49.480><c> program.
• </c><00:03:50.360><c> Thank</c><00:03:50.560><c> you,</c> that is our program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Maximized student athletic potential, along with a very strong academic program.
• At high school and their incredible running program, and these talented young men that are here today
• These four delegates are from the Youth Senate and Youth Assembly leadership for the program.
• The program is in its 78th year. Thank you.
• Welcome to our YMCA Youth and Government Program delegates.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a series of floor introductions and recognitions. Senators honored Jesuit High School’s 2025 CIF Division 2 boys cross-country championship team, noting it was the school’s 11th title, and also welcomed YMCA Youth and Government delegates, including a large Culver City Palms YMCA delegation in the gallery. Members spoke about the educational and civic value of the Youth and Government program and congratulated the student delegates on their participation. The chamber then took up the special consent calendar, which included Senate Resolution 73 and Assembly Concurrent Resolutions 71, 115, and 117. The consent items were approved on a roll call vote, with the record showing 38 ayes and 0 noes. No other substantive legislative debate or bill action was described in the transcript beyond the consent calendar approval. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournments in memory. Senators honored Superintendent Pastor Lawrence Champion Blake Sr. of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, San Jose community leader Joseph Anthony De Maria, and Marine Corps Major Tyler R. Bracone, each highlighting their service, faith, and community impact. The Senate then announced that the next floor session would be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 2 p.m., and recessed until later that day for adjournment motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, our bread and butter is performance audits, where we assess the performance of programs that
• So we provide an independent, objective analysis of program performance, which includes how efficiently
• and effectively programs are using State resources, which include State funds.
• </c><00:13:35.920><c> that</c><00:13:36.040><c> the</c> performance of programs that the performance
• and effectively programs are efficiently and effectively programs are using<00:13:47.399><c> State</

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And because California's public school system is a state-funded program, there is a shared responsibility
• But we've been doing a lot as a state trying to to increase funding for certain programs, helping our
• program flexibility.
• also be part of the semester program and that the curriculum, the program, was not approved.
• Same exact thing for the engineering program, a leading national program.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 78, Forest Health Grant Program.
• Is that is there I into this program."
• </c><00:21:30.799><c> and</c> fact that it's a cost share program and fact that it's a cost share program
• It's private-sector participation in these programs.
• It's private-sector participation in these programs.

Bills: HB0078 , SF0012 , SF0013 , SF0052 , SF0069 , SF0070

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 188 makes changes to the Public Employees' Benefits Program and Board.
• This revises provisions related to adoption assistance programs. Any further remarks?
• and for academic programming and building renovations at institutions within the system.
• In addition, the bill requires the Department of Education to establish a program to award grants of
• This makes an appropriation to the Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is still a very anemic program.
• he's on the T-CAP program.
• any other program.
• But are you aware of the program? I'm aware of the program, and if I can explain one...
• From the Compassionate Use program, that program is more in a controlled environment.

Bills: HB5

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: hemp, cannabinoids, regulation, occupational licenses, consumable products, marketing, criminal offenses, labeling requirements, health and safety, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program to the greatest extent possible. program to the greatest extent possible.
• The program is a success.
• Um this program has been credits.
• or if this qualify for this program or if this program<01:24:24.880><c> was</c><01:24:25.120><c> not
• of this program understanding of this program is<01:30:44.159><c> that</c><01:30:44.880><c> this</c>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:25.280><c> is</c> committed to help and whose program is committed to help and whose program
• Integrity team, PR, Program Integrity unit, and Medicaid Provider Audits and Investigations team, Program
• They provide free, high-quality educational programming for children, arts programming, current affairs
• ><c> affairs</c><01:18:50.800><c> program</c> Arts programming current affairs program Arts programming
• </c> the wonderful children's programming the wonderful children's programming that<01:19:43.280><c>

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that will be on CYFD's short-term stabilization pilot program. Please, thank you, Madam Chair.
• The pilot Program would serve eligible children in Dona Ana, Chavez, San Juan, McKinley, Bernalillo,
• For foster parents that participate in the Foster Care Plus program, the model that this legislation
• Yes, this model is drawn from a program in Oklahoma.
• So we have engaged those experts to design, develop, and help us. to oversee that program.

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the problem here is this bill doesn't define programs.
• So we are talking about a very large evaluation of a very large number of programs.
• This is an entirely new program for SAO, which we have no current source of funding.
• We have no audits directly of some of these programs or at irregular intervals.
• The other prong of that bill adds hate crimes to an existing program for...

Summary: The committee began by waiving the five-day notice rule for Senate Bills 631 and 5046. It then held public hearings on several measures. Senate Bill 6215 would require the state auditor to compile an inventory of audited state programs and an annual statewide high-risk list focused on fraud prevention; the sponsor said it would improve transparency, while the State Auditor’s office raised concerns about cost, scope, record retention limits, and the bill’s timeline. Senate Bill 6160 would eliminate or modify dozens of agency reporting requirements across state government; OFM and the sponsor described it as a government-efficiency measure, while some senators noted they wanted to preserve certain reports. Senate Bill 6313 would create a Capitol Centennial Stewardship Account to support repairs, remodeling, interpretive facilities, and public engagement at the Capitol ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2028. Senate Bill 6049 would exempt certain employee engagement survey responses and Healthy Youth Survey records from public disclosure; OFM, students, and other supporters argued the bill would protect privacy and encourage honest participation, while the record showed substantial opposition sign-ins. Senate Bill 6164 would exempt information submitted to Washington Technology Solutions for digital experience platform services from disclosure; WOTEC and some media representatives supported it as a narrow privacy measure, while one coalition opposed it as overly broad. Senate Bill 5046 would designate November 22 as Kimchi Day, which the sponsor framed as a cultural recognition bill, with little opposition noted in testimony. In executive session, the committee considered Senate Bills 6035, 5853, and 5888. It adopted a proposed substitute for SB 6035, which concerns an electronic ballot portal and tribal voting access, and sent it to Rules. It also adopted a proposed substitute for SB 5853, which shifts administration of a statewide emergency notification system for elected officials from the Secretary of State to the Military Department, and sent it to Ways and Means. Finally, it passed SB 5888, which removes Senate confirmation for members of the Washington State Women’s Commission, and sent it to Rules. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This credit is derived from free allowances from the cap-and-trade program that are given to utilities
• So, in summary, AB 745, on the reauthorization of the cap-and-trade program more broadly, provides an
• Lastly, AB 825 will complete a value-for-money review of ratepayer-funded programs that was initiated
• in order to ensure that energy programs are implemented effectively and responsibly.
• These are important affordability programs for our customers.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard two bills focused on electricity affordability and utility costs. AB 745, by Assembly Member Irwin, would restructure the California Climate Credit by shifting it from lump-sum payments to direct reductions in volumetric electricity rates and moving the credit to the summer months when bills are highest. The author and UC Santa Barbara economist Dr. Kyle Meng argued this could significantly lower summer rates and better help households during extreme heat. Supporters, including UCS, NRDC, and some labor representatives, favored the concept, with some urging that the gas climate credit also be redirected. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed 18-0 to the floor. The committee then considered AB 825, also presented as an affordability package aimed at reducing electric bills by addressing wildfire mitigation costs, transmission financing, permitting delays, and a review of ratepayer-funded programs. The bill would authorize securitization for undergrounding expenses, remove the first $15 billion in undergrounding capital investments from the rate base for return purposes, create a public transmission financing program using Proposition 4 funds and IBank support, revive the California Power Authority as a public sponsor, and establish a task force to review energy efficiency and demand response programs. The author and witness Matt Friedman of The Utility Reform Network said the bill could save ratepayers billions over time through lower-cost public financing and securitization. Testimony on AB 825 was mixed. Support came from several consumer and clean-energy groups, while utilities and labor raised concerns about the bill’s impact on utility financial stability, wildfire fund participation, liability, and whether the $15 billion securitization cap could discourage undergrounding. Some witnesses also objected to the task force’s potential effect on energy efficiency and demand response programs. Committee members discussed the need to balance affordability with utility creditworthiness and wildfire safety, and several asked for more analysis of market impacts and liability issues. Despite those concerns, AB 825 passed the committee 13-0 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is the bill we heard previously that relates to a pilot program.
• It's a program to provide Medicaid coverage to doula services by Vice Chair Emanuel.
• The program I'm here to discuss with you today.
• Our example for such a program is RxPASS.
• Well, every time we look at programs, they always start out small, just like taxation.

Bills: HB741 , HB 1199 , HB2070 , HB2402 , HB2542 , HB2665 , HB2789 , HB3096 , HB3396 , HB3595 , HB3747 , HB4116 , HB4127

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 1858 is the Market Bucks program.
• Part of this bill that's pertinent to this committee is that the bill will move the program from the
• MDH is already doing a lot of complementary work, like the SHIP program, where they partner with local
• And more pertinent to this committee, we would like to move the current healthy eating at home program
• </c> programs and and people really enjoy it. programs and and people really enjoy it.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The American Planning Program and as a winner from National Night Out.
• Members, today we recognize Spiral, the spring brand. program for improved reasoning and accelerating
• Impact Pasadena is a community leadership program within the Pasadena. Chamber of Commerce.
• Historical Commission of a program to identify and restore Rosenwald school structures referred to the
• HB 804 by Gervin Hawkins relating to the Creating Abbreviated Educator Preparation Program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are advocating for a full $100 million to fund the municipal reforestation program.
• Furthermore, our paid youth... ...programs to reach this crucial private land.
• I'm speaking in support of an act establishing the municipal reforestation program.
• The program builds on the success of the Greening the Gateway Cities program, which has planted more
• We need to scale up the programs and to make them permanent.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered several environment and natural resources bills focused on natural and working lands, forest protection, municipal reforestation, trail accessibility, and a park naming bill. Representative Moschino and Senator Comerford described the natural and working lands bill as part of the state’s climate roadmap, arguing that protecting these lands supports carbon sequestration, resilience, biodiversity, and helps prevent development pressure on the least expensive land. Senator Comerford also testified on a separate bill to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, saying it would build on the administration’s Trails for All initiative and create a permanent advisory structure and trust fund. Representative Consolvo and family members testified in support of H. 4259 to name the tennis courts at Wether Park in Roslindale after Kim O’Connell, describing her long community service and activism. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 952 and H. 953, bills to protect watershed and state forest lands as parks or reserves. Supporters, including environmental advocates, scientists, and organizations such as Standing Trees, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance’s opponents, debated whether state forests and watershed lands should be permanently reserved from logging and other active management. Supporters said the bills would improve carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity, flood and drought resilience, and would protect large acreages of public land at no cost. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, argued that sustainable forest management and a mix of reserves and managed forests are needed for climate, water quality, wildfire prevention, rural jobs, and carbon outcomes, and urged the committee to allow the administration’s existing reserve process to continue. The committee also heard extensive testimony on the municipal reforestation bill, H. 1013/S. 553, which would create a statewide program, advisory council, and trust fund to support urban tree planting and maintenance. Municipal officials and advocates from Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, the Mystic River watershed, and other communities said urban trees are critical for cooling, stormwater control, air quality, public health, and equity, especially in environmental justice neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high heat. Several witnesses emphasized that consistent funding is needed because trees take years to mature and many municipalities lack staff or watering capacity. Some witnesses asked that the bill be funded at $100 million and tied to the Mass Ready Act or environmental bond funding. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program, by the way... The businesses are the driving force.
• Food for needy Arizonans who need Sun Bucks programs.
• But we're going to give that up, a small Rely on the Sun Bucks program.
• We're reforming entitlement programs to get people who are ineligible off of those programs.
• You have failure with the program.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...leave you with this: Arts programs make a difference.
• A cost paid by our students, our teachers, and our programs. We had to make tough decisions.
• Fine arts programs improve academic performance. How?
• It happens in art, dance, music, and theater programs on a daily basis.
• Programs like the teacher incentive allotment are helping to change that.

Bills: HB2

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> So the bill creates a spending program. So the bill creates a spending program.
• </c> by creating a new spending program. by creating a new spending program.
• </c> program with a new tax. program with a new tax.
• This is a new tax program and programs.
• c> program.

Keywords: 981, all