Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions to the committee?
• Hello, committee members.
• To the committee, absolutely.
• Any questions for the committee? Thank you for your testimony. Any questions from the committee?
• Any questions from the committee? Thank you so much. Any questions from the committee?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held its first hearing of the 194th session to take public testimony on 21 cannabis-related bills. Chairs Donahue and Gómez outlined hearing procedures and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Much of the hearing focused on the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), with Senator Mike Moore urging support for S. 90 to create an inspector general unit within the CCC. He argued the commission has suffered from dysfunction, workplace harassment allegations, delayed governance reforms, missed fee collections, and high legal costs, and said stronger legislative oversight is needed. Committee members largely agreed the CCC needs reform, though some expressed hope that new leadership would improve operations. A major theme was market structure and business viability. Representative Tyler testified for H. 183 to raise adult-use purchase limits from one ounce to two ounces, saying the change would reduce confusion and help retailers compete with neighboring states. Senator Payano supported S. 100, which would require a study of cannabis supply and demand to guide cultivation licensing, warning that oversupply is driving down prices and threatening cultivators. The Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition, represented by Ryan Dominguez, backed a package of bills aimed at increasing revenue, reducing regulatory burdens, attracting investment, and stabilizing the market, including higher purchase limits, simpler badge and testing rules, and a phased increase in the retail license cap. Attorneys Kevin Conroy and Mike Ross also supported raising the cap, arguing that the industry lacks capital and that more investment and exit opportunities are needed for provisional and distressed licensees. The most contentious issue was whether to raise the retail license cap from three to six. Supporters, including several business owners and industry advocates such as Peyton Shubrick, Tito Jackson, Armani White, Sean Burt, and others, said the current cap traps owners in declining businesses, prevents exits, and limits access to capital. They argued that many social equity and economic empowerment operators are struggling, that oversupply has pushed prices down, and that allowing more ownership could help businesses scale or sell. Opponents, including Senator Liz Miranda and several social equity operators, warned that lifting the cap now would let larger operators and multi-state companies dominate the market and harm equity-owned businesses. Miranda’s S. 88 would instead strengthen enforcement of ownership limits through audits, whistleblower protections, an anonymous tip line, and greater transparency. Another major topic was worker and consumer safety: Laura Bruno, Danny Carson, Al Vega, and others supported H. 194 after the death of Lorna McMurray, arguing for a CCC workplace and consumer safety department, better ventilation and PPE standards, stronger testing oversight, and retaliation protections for workers. The hearing ended without votes, with members thanking testifiers and indicating the committee would continue reviewing the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 6, the bill was referred to the Committee on Rules and
• </c> serving their committees. serving their committees.
• </c> pursuant to rule 40.7. pursuant to rule 40.7.
• </c> pursuant to rule 40.7. pursuant to rule 40.7.
• As a reminder, the Rules Committee will meet in room 123 about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ability to petition the Supreme Court or meet with the rules committee, or however it's done internally
• ability to petition the Supreme Court or meet with the rules committee, or however it's done internally
• ability to petition the Supreme Court or meet with the rules committee, or however it's done internally
• ability to petition the Supreme Court or meet with the rules committee, or however it's done internally
• ability to petition the Supreme Court or meet with the rules committee, or however it's done internally

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 148, a bill allowing classification by biological sex in limited settings such as multiple-use bathrooms, certain sports, and involuntary commitment facilities. Supporters said it was needed to protect privacy and safety, especially for minors, and argued it was consistent with recent federal and state developments. Opponents said the bill was poorly defined, unnecessary, and could create discrimination or confusion, especially because it did not define “biological sex” in the text. The committee voted 10-8 ought to pass, and the chair said a minority report would be written. The committee then considered HB 254, a bill concerning medical aid in dying. The chair moved ought to pass and described the bill as a matter of liberty for terminally ill patients within six months of death, arguing it should not be treated as suicide. Opponents raised religious, ethical, and policy concerns, including worries about a slippery slope, misuse by vulnerable people, and the effect on death records and public health data. The committee voted 11-7 ought to pass, and the chair said a majority report would be written with a minority report by Representative Perez. Finally, the committee turned to HB 611 with Amendment 2025-0638, a replace-all amendment dealing with recoupment of costs for appointed counsel. The chair explained the amendment would restore the law to its pre-2020 form, allowing the Office of Cost Containment to seek repayment from some recipients of appointed counsel services, including those found not guilty, if they had the ability to pay. Supporters said the prior change had sharply reduced collections and that the state should not treat indigent defendants differently from people who hire private counsel. Opponents argued the policy unfairly bills innocent people and children who were entitled to counsel. The transcript cuts off during debate on the amendment, before a vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and committee members.
• Committee, you have a substitute motion to return RS3-141 to sponsor with some changes from the committee
• Chairman and committee members.
• Chairman and committee members.
• The committee will now consider House Bill 504.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of standing committees.
• And again, Rule 19D. I'm sorry, Rule 2019A. A member shall confine himself to the question.
• The bills from the Committee on Rules are to be placed in the active calendar.
• I move that pursuant to House Rule 12, House Bills 2105 and 2177 be referred to an additional Committee
• Chair, your committee in Landtag Rule Affairs has to consideration HB-2158 and respectfully recommends

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several guest introductions and proclamations, including recognition of Dr. Victoria Tannenbaum as Doctor of the Day, Lutheran Day at the Legislature, a veterans treatment court judge, and Adrian Ace Stubbs Day. Attendance was recorded at 56 present, one absent, and three excused. The chamber then moved through communications, committee reports, and first/second readings before beginning a long third-reading calendar. Members considered and voted on a wide range of bills covering tax administration, groundwater and water rights, licensing timeframes, homicide, school employee transparency, mining, retirement system cleanup, utility regulation, AI and digital privacy, sexual extortion, adult protective services, salvage vehicles, veterinary board changes, geological survey reorganization, court fees, real estate licensing, probation, and several education-related appropriations and policy measures. Many bills passed on largely party-line votes, while others passed overwhelmingly or unanimously. Several members explained votes on issues such as superintendent contract transparency, ESA administration funding, mining reclamation, water supply and drought policy, motorcycle safety, AI and adult-content verification, and abortion-pill coercion. The House also passed multiple concurrent resolutions and memorials, including measures on election administration, Judea and Samaria, Route 66, and a memorial to rename State Route 69. Election-related debate was especially pointed, with supporters arguing for precinct-based voting and opponents warning of cost, reduced access, and logistical burdens. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to begin consideration of measures on Calendar No. 1, starting with HB 2174 and related amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so representatives of the members of the committee, Military and Veterans Affairs committees kind
• And so Representative Owen chairs the House Committee and Senator Bass chairs the Senate Committee.
• So we don't need rules for faxing. Okay.
• Clean it up when the Fifth Circuit rules.
• “I’ve been on that committee for eight years.”

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of bills, mostly from the Senate, covering military affairs, courts, veterans’ services, tobacco/vape regulation, and emergency alerts for missing persons with disabilities. Several measures were described as cleanup or modernization bills, including SB 317 adding the House and Senate military committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, SB 357 updating court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, SB 421 modernizing electronic records language, and SB 232 and HB 597 addressing judicial compensation and related funding/commission issues. The committee also heard SB 164, which would add public works employees to the definition of first responders, and SB 510, which would regulate certain licensed establishments that allow on-premises consumption of hemp/THC products and related age restrictions. These bills were generally presented as technical updates or alignment with existing practices, and the committee reported them favorably after brief questions and, in some cases, amendments. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 208, which revises Louisiana’s law on services provided to veterans after a prior version was struck down. Senator Kathy and LDVA representatives said the bill is intended to protect veterans from unaccredited “claim sharks” by limiting fees and creating state-level safeguards, while an opponent argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress and the pending appeal. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 34, which would create “Bryan’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities, including wireless alerts and responder training. Family members and disability advocates described fatal risks from elopement and drowning, and supporters said the bill would fill a gap between Amber and Silver Alerts; the committee moved the bill favorably. Another bill, HB 302, sought to restrict vape sales near schools; the sponsor and Alcohol and Tobacco Control discussed possible language changes, and public health testimony supported broader protections for youth. Several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and HB 374-1, and the committee adjourned after reporting the remaining measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules, and Administration, report that we have read and approved
• House Bills 572, 573, and 574 will refer to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for printing
• House Bill 518, by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, relating to human trafficking.
• House Bill 518, by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, relating to human trafficking.
• House Bill 522, by the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, relating to unmanned aircraft systems

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee will now take up RS 32925.
• Chair, members of the committee.
• Chairman, members of the committee.
• Committee, House Bill 607 is properly before the committee. Representative Haas. Thank you, Mr.
• We have House Bill 606 that's going to show up in the good chairman Skogs Committee and in the June Rules

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Connor Schiff, counsel with the committee.
• committee on the Public Records Act.
• Chair, members of the committee, Chair, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify
• According to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press— According to the Reporters Committee for
• Thank you, Madam Chair, members of committee.

Summary: The committee first heard staff and sponsor testimony on House Joint Resolution 4210, which would remove constitutional limits on the length of regular legislative sessions and instead let the legislature set adjournment dates by statute. Rep. Breonna Thomas and supporters said the measure would give lawmakers flexibility to set a sustainable schedule and improve working conditions, while opponents argued it would concentrate more power in the legislature and could lead to a year-round session. No vote was taken on the resolution during the hearing. Members then heard House Bill 2520, which would clarify that county governing bodies may hold emergency special meetings outside the county seat or remotely during true emergencies and may act at such meetings even if the public cannot first listen in. Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the bill was prompted by the Skagit Valley flooding and was meant to help local governments respond quickly in disasters. Testimony was split: counties and some others supported the clarification, while open government advocates urged tighter language defining “emergency” and limiting the bill to state or federally declared emergencies. The hearing was closed without a vote. The committee also took testimony on House Bill 2499, in proposed substitute form, concerning conservation district supervisors. The substitute would let conservation districts opt into the general election system under Title 29A, remove the landowner requirement, keep a farm-operator requirement for some seats, extend terms from three to four years, and require financial disclosure filings in some circumstances. Supporters argued the bill would modernize elections, increase transparency, and improve voter access; opponents warned it could be costly for small districts, reduce participation, and create unintended consequences. No final action was taken in the hearing portion shown. In executive session, the committee voted 7-0 to report House Bill 2408, a cleanup bill removing obsolete references to the Office of Financial Management, with a due pass recommendation. It also voted 5-2 to report House Bill 2435, creating a legislative office of Indian affairs, with a due pass recommendation; some members supported the bill as improving government-to-government relations with tribes, while others wanted a fiscal note before fully supporting it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now let's cover the ground rules for appropriate conduct.
• And it is an honor to be here with the committee.
• If not we will go to some substantive issues that were raised in the committee or in the committee presentation
• This is my first committee hearing. I'm an incoming member.
• This is also my first committee.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cassidy is sitting, chairman of this committee.
• Rand on the committee.
• Thank you for being here before the committee.
• His HHS issued a rule, a rule, so it's binding, requiring that every doctor in America, including pediatricians
• I don't set the rules here, but I ask the question.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And I believe you have a committee substitute? I do. There's a proposed committee substitute.
• And I believe you have a committee substitute? I do. There's a proposed committee substitute.
• There's a proposed committee substitute. I believe there's a committee substitute. Yes, sir.
• I believe there's a committee substitute. There is a proposed committee substitute.
• No committee substitute.

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government considered and voted on several bills, adopting committee substitutes on Senate Bills 1237, 1708, 1844, 1454, 2520, and 2541. In each case, the committee substitute was explained as narrowing or clarifying the filed bill, and the committee voted to report the substitute version to the full Senate, usually with a recommendation that the filed bill not pass. The committee also recommended each of those measures for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1237 concerned property tax exemption eligibility for charitable organizations; SB 1844 addressed annexation and disannexation limits tied to city services; SB 1454 clarified housing authority tax exemptions and agreements with districts; SB 2520 dealt with a school district tax ceiling comparison; and SB 2541 reduced the unused increment period from three years to two years. The committee then heard extensive testimony on SB 2354, which would allow developers to hire qualified third-party professionals for plat review, permit review, and inspections if local governments are delayed. Supporters included affordable housing providers, builders, Pew Charitable Trusts, housing advocates, and legal groups, who said the bill would reduce permitting delays, lower costs, and help housing production. A Corpus Christi representative testified as neutral, asking for amendments to preserve city final inspection authority, document sharing, and floodplain enforcement. Urban counties opposed the bill as written, arguing it removed too much local oversight, though they acknowledged work on a committee substitute. SB 2354 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2703, which would clarify that condominiums are not subdivisions for local platting purposes. Builders and a land use attorney supported the bill, saying it would reduce confusion and duplicative regulation; the bill was left pending. SB 777, dealing with firefighter collective bargaining and impasse procedures, drew support from Austin and Texarkana firefighter representatives and the City of Austin, who said the committee substitute reflected stakeholder agreement and preserved voter-approved local procedures; it was left pending. SB 2965, concerning annexation and emergency service district response obligations, drew support from ESD and fire association witnesses who said it would prevent service gaps after annexation, and opposition from local officials who argued it gave unelected ESD boards too much power and lacked neutral review; it was also left pending. The committee then recessed subject to call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1145, behavioral analyst committee regulatory authority. SB 1147, family courts.
• Report standing committees.
• Senator Rogers, how about you can take Government for committee announcements? Mr.
• I mean, I get it, but some things are, you know, we have to go by the rules here.
• I mean, I get it, but some things are, you know, we have to go by the rules here.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first order of business will be to adopt our committee rules. Do we have a motion and a second?
• Committee rules are adopted. Thank you. Okay. Committee rules are adopted. Thank you.
• File item number, or actually, let's start with the adoption of the committee rules.
• Let's start with the adoption of the committee rules. Bonta: aye. Patel: aye. Petri-Norris: aye.
• The file item number, or actually, let's start with the adoption of the committee rules. Banta? I.

Summary: The Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee met in person and established quorum after beginning briefly as a subcommittee. The committee adopted its rules and then heard several bills focused on economic recovery, housing, technology, retail theft, and utility infrastructure. AB 265 (Caloza) would create a $100 million state-funded small business and nonprofit recovery program for organizations affected by declared emergencies; it drew broad support from small business, nonprofit, chamber, city, and community groups, with no opposition voiced. AB 797 (Harabedian) proposed a zero-cost state financing structure using CRA-backed securities to help community nonprofits buy wildfire-damaged properties at fair market value and prevent predatory investor purchases; it was presented as a community stabilization tool and received support from the California Community Foundation, with no opposition. AB 940 (Wicks/Ellis) would establish quantum innovation zones to strengthen California’s quantum computing economy, and AB 949 (Shiavo) would create a retail theft grant program for small businesses to fund security improvements and theft prevention measures; both bills were supported by business and university witnesses, though one member said they would not vote for AB 949 due to concerns about broader crime policy. AB 1347 (Carrillo) proposed a pilot program to speed utility interconnections in priority growth regions, including allowing developers to trade expedited connections for upfront infrastructure cost recovery and use microgrids in some cases; it had no opposition in the hearing. Committee members generally expressed support for the bills, especially those aimed at disaster recovery and small business resilience. Questions on AB 940 focused on where quantum innovation zones might be located and how local governments and universities would coordinate; the author and witnesses said the zones should be open statewide and could build on existing research centers such as Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech, UCSB, UCLA, and UCSC. On AB 797, members discussed the need to protect homeowners from below-market offers after wildfires. On AB 949, the author emphasized that modest grants could help small businesses make security upgrades and prevent repeated theft losses. The committee voted to send AB 265, AB 797, AB 940, AB 949, and AB 1347 forward, generally on party-line or near-unanimous votes, with the bills reported out of committee and placed on call as needed. The consent calendar, including AB 254, AB 415, AB 655, AB 1232, AB 1254, AB 1477, and HR 27, was also approved. The hearing adjourned at 10:33 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Joint conference committee reports. Joint conference committee reports.
• Recognize that yesterday was, by our rules, the last day for Committee of the Whole.
• Recognize that yesterday was, by our rules, the last day for Committee of the Whole.
• Motion to suspend the rules to go into a committee of the whole is failed. 12 to 19.
• to go into a &gt;&gt; Motion to suspend the rules to go into a committee<02:22:14.560><c> of</c><02:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go ahead and vote out the bills that we heard. this committee the full committee we're
• Chair lays out, complete committee substitute, committee substitute.
• Chair lays out a complete committee substitute of the committee substitute for HB 18 is similar to the
• Chair lays out a complete committee substitute the committee substitute for House bill 879 corrects a
• members who have multiple committees.

Bills: HB44 , HB2200 , HB1612 , HB2747 , HB2038 , HB3717 , HB1431 , HB3800 , HB3801 , HB3560 , HB3246 , HB44

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• , the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Finance by March 1, 2027. ...and
• the Senate Committee on Finance by March 1, 2027.
• Committee when they heard the bill.
• I think this may be my first time before this committee this year.
• Thank you, members of the committee.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm staff to this committee.
• Do they have, or could you provide the committee, you don't need to know, but could you provide the committee
• Good morning, Chair Fey, members of the committee.
• Good morning, Chair Fey, members of the committee.
• Good morning, Chair Fey and members of the committee.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chopsky, who is with us in committee. Thank you. ...who is with us in committee. Thank you.
• All right, committee.
• this committee, but so many rules.
• this committee, but so many rules.
• Thank you, committee.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go through some rules first, housekeeping items.
• SB 735, 736, and 737, all by the Senate Local Government Committee.
• Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee.
• Chair and members of the committee.
• Any comments or questions from committee members? See none.

Summary: The committee opened the June 18, 2025 Local Government hearing with housekeeping rules, noting that testimony would be in person and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. Because a quorum was initially lacking, the committee proceeded as a subcommittee and heard several bills before later taking formal votes once quorum was established. The agenda included 15 bills, with eight placed on the consent calendar and one bill pulled by the author. The bills discussed included SB 333, which would let San Luis Obispo County voters consider raising the local sales tax cap for transportation funding; SB 390, a district-specific measure for South San Francisco to address a Mello-Roos/CFD issue affecting properties with conservation easements; SB 394, which would increase penalties for water theft and allow local agencies to recover damages; SB 611, which would restore protections for housing projects tied to adopted community plans while CEQA litigation is pending; SB 757, which would allow nuisance abatement liens or special assessments to collect cleanup costs for chronic nuisance properties; and SB 489, which would require public agencies involved in housing approvals to post application requirements online. Supporters generally framed the bills as tools for infrastructure financing, housing production, transparency, public safety, or deterrence of theft and blight. Opposition was heard on SB 757, with critics warning about due process, foreclosure risk, and displacement of low-income homeowners. After quorum was called, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 757, and later approved SB 489 on a 10-0 vote. The consent calendar bills—SB 74, SB 225, SB 272, SB 409, SB 558, SB 735, SB 736, and SB 737—were approved together. SB 333 advanced on a 7-2 vote, SB 390 passed 9-0, SB 394 passed 9-0, and SB 611 passed 10-0. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after all listed actions were taken.