Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the Iranian war is taking its toll on truckers, farmers, and then just the ordinary hardworking
• Chairman, the Iranian war is taking its toll on truckers, farmers, and then just the ordinary, hardworking
• So, members, you can see the concern here is as we go down the road.

Summary: The council opened with a prayer, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received the February 2026 Monthly Revenue Report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year to date, and said the updated forecast now shows a larger expected surplus. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fee fluctuations, inflation, and economic development incentives; Silva attributed several changes to timing, refunds, tax cuts, weather, and price volatility, and generally described the state’s revenue trend as positive. The Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Medicaid studies, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and other subcommittee reports were adopted. The Medicaid studies report drew extended discussion about DHS staffing and contract nursing costs at state hospitals and human development centers; DHS officials said they were working on a recruitment and retention plan, reported significant vacancies and turnover, and said the state was not at risk of overspending the contracts. Several members urged reducing reliance on contract labor and moving staff onto state payrolls. The Review Subcommittee report prompted questions about a Department of Public Safety aircraft maintenance item and a Department of Shared Administrative Services contract for Deloitte to implement performance and goals management software tied to the state’s new personnel system. After discussion, the aircraft maintenance item was held briefly and then withdrawn from the hold, while the shared services contract was explained as a one-time integration/configuration project for a system that will support employee evaluations and performance-based pay; the report and the separate contract vote were approved. The Personnel Subcommittee also heard testimony from Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald about reductions in force at the Division of Services for the Blind, which he attributed to funding shortfalls and fiscal mismanagement; members questioned the impact on blind and visually impaired clients, the status of board appointments, and whether federal funds could be at risk. The report was adopted with immediate consideration, and the meeting ended after filing the remaining APER report and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you can see what I do, that our schools aren't safe, and it's taking a toll on us and those who
• </c><00:09:15.760><c> it's</c><00:09:16.000><c> taking</c><00:09:16.240><c> a</c><00:09:16.480><c> toll
• </c><00:09:16.720><c> on</c><00:09:17.040><c> us</c> aren't safe and it's taking a toll on us aren't
• safe and it's taking a toll on us and<00:09:17.600><c> those</c><00:09:18.080><c> on</c><00:09:18.320
• Here's an example of one Ames toll. Here's an example of one Ames family<00:35:09.520><c> story.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Turnpike funds are monies collected on the toll roads in New Hampshire and are dedicated to their maintenance
• </c><01:48:10.480><c> roads</c> are monies collected on the toll roads are monies collected on the toll
• The highway fund revenue comes from the gas tax, known as the road toll in statute, and from fees for
• So I was just wondering our state roads.
• and how we get the funds to maintain our roads.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• When floods, storms, and blizzards hit our state, it is the Guard that rescues neighbors, clears the roads
• Perpetual deployment of Guard members from Massachusetts has taken a heavy and tragic toll upon their
• Massachusetts have taken a heavy and tragic toll upon their return.
• as I served in the late 90s and early 2000s in the Mass National Guard, hopefully it will pave the road
• as I served in the late 90s and early 2000s in the Mass National Guard, hopefully it will pave the road

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hybrid public hearing on seven House bills and seven Senate bills related to the Massachusetts National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserves. Opening remarks covered hearing procedures, livestreaming, testimony limits, and expected reporting dates, and chairs noted the committee’s focus on Guard and Reserve issues. Testimony then moved through several bills, including S. 2465 to expand the National Guard welcome-home veterans bonus to all deployed Guard members regardless of residency, H. 3876/S. 2462 to authorize military-style headstones for long-serving or deceased Guard members, and S. 2482/H. 3833 to establish a Massachusetts National Guard Museum in Salem. Supporters of the bonus and headstone bills argued they would correct inequities and better honor service; Senator Lovely described the museum proposal as a way to preserve the Guard’s history in Salem and potentially support federal funding for the project. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 3829/S. 2471, the “Defend the Guard” proposal that would bar Massachusetts National Guard deployments into active combat absent a formal congressional declaration of war. Supporters argued the bill would restore constitutional war powers, reduce repeated undeclared deployments, and protect Guard members’ mental health and state readiness. Opponents, including retired Guard leaders and current service members, warned it could conflict with federal law and Title 10 authority, undermine federal funding and training, and harm readiness, force structure, and unique Guard capabilities. Committee members repeatedly questioned the bill’s legal authority, constitutional basis, and practical effects under the Supremacy Clause and Title 10, and several witnesses were asked to submit additional written legal support. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3831, which would extend Chapter 115 benefits to currently serving Guard and Reserve members who do not meet federal veteran-status thresholds, and on related proposals to clarify Guard command structure and the duties of the Adjutant General. Supporters said these changes would improve access to benefits, reduce confusion in the chain of command, and strengthen discipline and responsiveness. Separately, the National Guard Association of Massachusetts backed H. 3860/S. 2458, the Guard Enlistment Enhancement Program, as a recruiting tool, while opposing the Defend the Guard bills. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the study of the texas department of transportation the construction maintenance in certain county Road
• district campuses or for the committee on public education HB 4679 by Perez of El Paso relating to the toll
• SB 4907 by Rodriguez-Ramos relating to the repealing of certain offenses involving toll violations for
• Road 1431 in Llano, Burnett, Travis and Williamson counties as the Gary P. Nunn Memorial Highway.
• devices and for the committee on transportation HB 5039 by ladder back early you know driving off the road

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• The self-sufficiency clause would mean that the bridge would have to be self-supporting from tolls on
• It would put the tolls in somewhere where it wasn't feasible.
• So removing that would allow it to be cross-collateralized and not have to have that level of toll.
• Do you, Andres, Representative, do you have an idea of how I guess where the toll would be when it comes
• So it wouldn't have it wouldn't impact any other toll systems. Will there be any further questions?

Bills: HB2445, HB2123, HB3048, HB3176, HB3239, HB3263, HB3794, HB3796, HB4265, HB4266, HB4317, HB4321, HB4322, HB3673

Keywords: HB2445, Route 66, Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Forward Commission, centennial, historic highway, preservation, tourism, historical society, scenic byway, National Historic Trail, Route 66 Alliance, Route 66 Association, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public-private partnership, sunset extension, commission extension

Transcript Highlights:

• Aguirre-Curry, sexual assault in prisons, do pass as amended to strike the four-year extension after tolling
• AB 1421, Wilson, road use charge, do pass with Republicans not voting.
• AB 1421, Wilson, road use charge, do pass with Republicans not voting.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, with 48 bills on the regular order and 53 bills on the suspense file. The committee first approved the consent calendar and suspense calendar, then heard presentations on several bills addressing bond funding implementation, housing, waste diversion, and behavioral health. AB 35 would exempt Proposition 4-funded programs from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed deployment of bond funds; AB 748 would establish pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939 would remove a 180-day resale restriction so nonprofit affordable housing organizations can more quickly acquire and sell income-restricted homes; AB 643 would allow certain diverted organic material processed into licensed agricultural fertilizer to count toward SB 1383 procurement targets; and AB 96 would remove the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. AB 1091, a presentation-only bill, proposed an eight-letter specialty license plate program to generate revenue for rural programs. Witnesses generally supported the measures presented, including coalition representatives, Habitat for Humanity of California, the California Building Industry Association, and local agency advocates. The Department of Finance offered general comments on the state budget outlook and noted it would provide fiscal analyses later in the process. Several bills were moved by motion and second, and AB 35, AB 748, AB 939, AB 643, and AB 96 were reported out of committee, with AB 939 receiving a B-roll call and some members voting no on certain measures. On the suspense file, the committee acted on 53 bills, holding some and advancing many others with amendments. Among the bills held were AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 623, AB 1366, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577. The committee reported 43 bills to the Assembly floor, often with amendments to narrow scope, adjust funding provisions, or require studies. The hearing concluded after the chair announced the suspense results and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Road and bridge crews began closing impacted roads and bridges.
• All roads to Hunt are two-lane roads and are all subject to flooding.
• and county roads.
• I'm not going to talk much about roads, but virtually every road in Menard County has major damage.
• county roads.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• to Boswell Road in Elmore County the Lamar S.
• of Alabama Highway 9 from<00:17:25.360><c> Mount</c><00:17:25.600><c> Hebrron</c><00:17:26.160><c> Road
• </c><00:17:26.640><c> to</c><00:17:26.880><c> Boswell</c><00:17:27.439><c> Road</c> from Mount Hebrron
• Road to Boswell Road from Mount Hebrron Road to Boswell Road in<00:17:27.839><c> Elmore</c><00:17:28.240
• The two largest movements within the supplemental appropriation are $387,500,000 from the Public Road

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By acknowledging the mental and emotional toll of this work, you have validated what so many have silently
• Chairman, last August, an illegal alien who could not understand road signs or traffic laws and didn't
• must be lawfully present in the U.S., hold a valid CDL license, understand and read English, follow road
• Chairman, last August, an illegal alien who could not understand road signs or traffic laws and didn't
• must be lawfully present in the U.S., hold a valid CDL license, understand and read English, follow road

Summary: The Fiscal Policy Committee met and first adopted a late-filed amendment to SB 774, which expands enhanced workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and others, and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 770 on forensic services for certain defendants, which would allow the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to consolidate secure forensic services for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed after incompetency findings. Members then considered several public safety, family, and workforce bills. CS/SB 86, which declares unauthorized aliens operating commercial vehicles an imminent safety hazard and imposes vehicle impoundment and a $50,000 penalty on motor carriers, was reported favorably after questions about impound procedures and cargo handling; one speaker opposed it. SB 1594, protecting veterans’ benefits for foster youth so the funds are reserved for postsecondary education, training, and after-care services, was reported favorably with supportive testimony from a former DCF attorney. CS/SB 760, creating a new offense for willful violations of no-contact pretrial release conditions in violent crime cases, was reported favorably despite criminal defense attorneys’ concerns about a provision allowing warrantless arrests without officer observation. The committee also approved a complete rewrite of the nonprofit corporations chapter in SB 554, a sickle cell continuing education bill (SB 844) after extensive emotional testimony from patients, advocates, and family members, and SB 1022 adding two children’s initiative programs in Bay County and Broward County. CS/SB 1246 broadened the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to include health science education programs and related workforce needs and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1230 restricting use and sale of certain firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS, and CS/CS/SB 128 directing DEP to mark Red Harris Spoil Island; both passed with favorable votes. Several senators later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific tabs, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a nonprofit based in Southern California working on road safety issues across California.
• One example of the toll these street takeovers have is Raymond.
• Road rage that we're not even, you know, really diving into deeply here.
• The algorithms regularly divert traffic off of state highways and onto local streets and roads, often
• Lives are being lost, and as a trauma surgeon, I see the physical toll of that delay every day.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s a huge district, which means I’m on the road a lot.
• It’s a huge district, which means I’m on the road a lot.
• It’s a huge district, which means I’m on the road a lot.
• It’s a huge district, which means I’m on the road a lot.
• It’s a huge district, which means I’m on the road a lot.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The financial toll is staggering.
• Housebun number 450, also known as the Road DE Act, aims to make Delaware's permitting process.
• The Roads Act encourages growth where infrastructure... ...and infrastructure our communities need.
• , schools, and infrastructure instead of consuming... ...roads, where there are existing roads, schools
• Today, ACEC strongly supports House Bill 450, the Road Delaware Act.

Bills: HB373

Keywords: infused beverages, THC, alcohol control, regulation, non-intoxicating cannabinoids, marijuana, legalization, taxation

Summary: The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee met in hybrid format and heard testimony on several bills. HB 373, as amended, would regulate hemp-derived THC-infused beverages by defining the products, limiting them to 10 mg of Delta-9 THC per container, restricting sales to package stores and licensed marijuana retail stores, requiring testing and labeling, and imposing a 50-cent per container tax; the sponsor said the bill is intended to create guardrails and protect youth, and a wholesaler representative testified in support. HB 398 would allow racinos to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and remove local authority to require earlier closing times; the sponsor and Bally’s representative said it would help Delaware remain competitive and increase revenue, and no opposition was heard. HB 433 would let municipalities and counties extend last call for bars, restaurants, and clubs from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.; a witness from Connect Delaware supported it as a competitiveness and retention measure, emphasizing that it is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 441, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks/crypto ATMs in Delaware and require existing machines to be removed within 90 days. The sponsor and supporters, including AARP, the Delaware Department of Justice, and the League of Women Voters, argued the machines are heavily used in scams, especially against older adults, and that regulation has not been effective. CoinFlip opposed the bill, saying it is a regulated operator, that the fraud statistics are overstated or incomplete, and that Delaware should instead adopt a regulatory framework and amendment. HB 465 would update the criminal code to formally define virtual currency and incorporate it into theft, money laundering, racketeering, and search-and-seizure provisions; the sponsor said it would align Delaware law with modern crypto-related crimes, and no opposition was presented. The committee then heard HB 467, which would prevent landlords from requiring renters to buy insurance from a specific company while still allowing them to require coverage meeting lease terms; the sponsor described it as a consumer-choice bill and there was no public opposition. HB 435 would require payment parity for certified registered nurse anesthetists and physicians when the same services are provided; the sponsor, nurse anesthetists, the Delaware Health Care Association, the Department of Insurance, and ChristianaCare supported it as a workforce and access-to-care measure, with no opposition. Finally, HS 1 for HB 450, the Road DE Act, would overhaul permitting and traffic-impact review, emphasize peak-hour traffic, set density standards in growth areas, create a transportation impact fee, and direct some revenue to open space, farmland, and coastal restoration; realtors, builders, environmental groups, engineers, and GEAR supported it as a way to speed permitting, reduce sprawl, and improve infrastructure planning. The committee adjourned after public comment; no votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, yeah, I think it got appropriated into the roads fund.
• roads.
• Senate Bill 1475 will designate the interchange of I-35 and Indian Hills Road to be known as the Toby
• This is for the interchange, I-35 and Indian Hills Road, so that is on ODOT property.
• This is the interchange, I-35 and Indian Hills Road.” “Further questions on the bill.”

Bills: SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Summary: The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee met during deadline week and heard several Senate bills. Senate Bill 1966, naming a bridge after Clyde and Grace Cook, was briefly explained by Senator Bullard and advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 1475, designating the I-35 and Indian Hills Road interchange as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, also advanced after members confirmed the family’s support and clarified it was separate from a prior turnpike naming resolution. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 175, which creates an uninsured commercial vehicle recovery reimbursement fund to pay wreckers for cleaning up abandoned uninsured commercial vehicles. Members questioned the use of existing fee revenue, possible overlap with prior weigh station funding, and the $10,000 per-vehicle cap. Despite concerns, the bill advanced on an 8-3 vote. Senate Bill 1950, as amended, would prohibit using ADS-B aircraft tracking data to calculate or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators; the author said the goal was to preserve state registration revenue while preventing private third parties from using the data for fee collection. The bill advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 2049, as amended, would require the Transportation Commission rather than staff or the Attorney General to approve the decision to call a contractor’s bond on ODOT projects. Supporters said it adds oversight and protects staff, while opponents argued it is unnecessary and could delay action; it advanced 10-1. Senate Bill 2052 would update DPS commercial motor vehicle enforcement provisions, increase fines, and route appeals through the administrative process and then district court; members discussed fine levels, appeals, and related weigh station funding. It advanced 9-2, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] e e e e e e e e e e e e e It really was bad this morning on the roads
• It's what people are making just down the road for us, right?
• Yeah, yeah, there's going to be a toll on that bridge pretty soon.
• Yeah, yeah, there's going to be a toll on that bridge pretty soon. I got a question for you here.
• Yeah, yeah, there's going to be a toll on that bridge pretty soon. I got a question for you here.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're going down the wrong road, and I, as you can tell, I don't like this idea at all, and you
• bad deal I think we're going down the bad deal I think we're going down the wrong<00:30:50.080><c> road
• and I as you can tell I I wrong road and I as you can tell I I don't<00:30:52.559><c> like</c><00:30
• So many of our students are juggling school and work and other obligations, and that can take a toll
• on you and sometimes you can take a toll on you and sometimes you just<00:54:10.960><c> need</c><00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the chair, we'll go ahead and start down the road.
• And so the solution may simply be just wording the statute to provide that there's a tolling during the
• In 85.025C have provisions for for tolling a protective order until the person gets out of prison.
• Could we be in a position years and years and years down the road whereby we're regretting that potentially

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the most emotionally draining and tolling parts of their lives.
• </c> most emotionally draining and tolling most emotionally draining and tolling parts<00:14:58.320><
• Chair Roads and assistants here with the committee. Good morning and aloha.
• Uh, Chair Roads. Uh, I'm Steve Honol, the prosecutor.
• Uh, chair roads. Uh, I'm Steve again. Uh, chair roads.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered three judicial confirmations for the First Circuit family court. The first nominee, Maria F. Penn, was introduced for confirmation to a six-year term as a district family court judge. Testimony from family law attorneys and the Hawaii State Bar Association was strongly supportive, emphasizing her courtroom demeanor, preparation, knowledge of family law, respect for litigants and counsel, and ability to manage emotionally difficult family court matters. Judge Penn also spoke about her background, including her legal career, prior service as a PDM family court judge, and her view that family court requires both legal judgment and empathy. The chair noted that the committee would not vote that day and would take up votes the next morning. The second nomination was Wilson Aunga for a district family court judgeship. Supporters described his character, community involvement, and suitability for family court, including testimony from the Honolulu prosecutor, longtime friends, classmates, community members, and others. Speakers highlighted his work with youth, his leadership in the prosecutor’s office, his calm and impartial temperament, and his commitment to education and public service. The chair reported 105 supporters, no opposition, and one comment from the Hawaii State Bar Association. Additional testimony continued from members of the public, including a speaker discussing mental health and personal support for Aunga. Throughout the hearing, the chair enforced a two-minute limit on oral testimony and explained that the committee was short on time and would recess as needed. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair announced that voting would occur the following day in the same room.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 122 so the secretary can go fix some roads and bridges. Ms. Champagne. Mr.
• The Senate is also doing their bill in honor to name the same portion of the road.
• And so we want to memorialize a section of that road and give honor to him.
• where his home is and where his wife currently lives, to honor him and rename this road.
• Chairman, again, this is a renaming of a road. The Falcons Band Highway.

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on Monday, April 27, and took up a series of Senate bills and resolutions, most of them memorial highway designations or prestige license plate measures. The committee first adopted amendments and reported Senate Bill 122, which directs the Department of Transportation and Development to plan, maintain, and report on bridge conditions statewide, with a focus on proactive bridge maintenance and public reporting. Members also reported favorably SCR 6 supporting an LNG facility at Port Fourchon, SCR 18 directing a study of commercial driver licensing privileges compared with neighboring states, and SB 50 naming the Bayou DeLarge Basque Bridge as the Elwood T. Brady Jr. Memorial Bridge. The committee then approved several memorial and honorary measures, including SB 70 for Officer Mark Brock Memorial Highway, SB 96 creating a Fallen Heroes prestige license plate, SB 460 naming a highway for Hayden Lane Mangum, SB 24 designating Interstate 49 as the Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway, SB 101 naming highways for Daniel Edward Didillo and Bill Blue Evans, SB 160 naming the Speaker Joe R. Salter Memorial Highway, SB 418 naming the Dick and Jacques Schuford Memorial Highway, SB 114 creating a prestige plate for the Foundation for Moral Law, SB 103 and SB 159 naming Franklin Parish highways, SB 412 naming a portion of Highway 13 for Roy Chaffin, SB 182 naming a highway for Mayor Billy Cobb, SB 104 naming the Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway, and SB 2 naming the Falcons Band Highway. Most of these items were reported favorably without objection after brief testimony from authors, family members, or supporters. One measure drew more discussion: SB 19, which changes the name and design of the state employee retired prestige license plate and redirects proceeds to a private nonprofit associated with retired state employees. Representative Schlegelhorn objected, but after testimony that the organization is a tax-exempt nonprofit funding scholarships and that no money had previously gone to LASERS from the plate, the committee adopted a motion to report the bill favorably by a 13-1 vote. The committee also adopted amendments to HCR 69, which urges DOTD to improve Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish with attention to drainage, flood risk, and evacuation resilience, and then reported it favorably. HCR 63, creating a task force to study whether certain active-duty military personnel can operate federally owned vehicles on state highways without civilian licenses, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after the agenda was cleared and a motion to adjourn was made.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you imagine the tolls? Seriously.
• And these are government agencies, the tolls that would be on all of these different departments in order
• counties, except for the fact they still have that township form of government for maintaining their roads

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 117-1 vote. Members then spent a long portion of the morning introducing guests and visiting groups, including schoolchildren, university visitors, county officials, business and civic groups, fraternity and sorority members, and legislative conference participants. The Speaker also signed several measures already passed, including Senate Substitute for HB 2061, HB 2641, Senate Substitute for HB 2423, and HB 2934. The main floor debate centered on HCR 48, which urges Congress to pass the federal SAVE Act requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Supporters argued it would protect election integrity and prevent non-citizen voting, while opponents said it would create burdensome, potentially disenfranchising requirements, amount to a poll tax, and interfere with state election administration. After extended debate and a successful previous-question motion, HCR 48 was third read and passed 92-43. The House then took up HCR 23, a federalism resolution reaffirming that states should control election administration; it passed unanimously, 137-0. The House also perfected and printed two bills. HB 2855, dealing with workers’ compensation funding increments for the workers’ compensation and second injury funds, was amended to allow finer 0.1% adjustments instead of 0.5% increments and then perfected. HB 1906, a simple county-government bill allowing township counties to offer annual, semiannual, or quarterly payment options for real and personal property taxes, also advanced without opposition. The chamber then moved to announcements and recessed until 2 p.m.