Transcript Highlights:

• What y'all did see was Charles Perry walking over there to the rail when I was talking to my staff, and
• Senator, you know, of course, us, our staffs, and the Lieutenant Governor's staff, it's always about
• The office staff, my staff, both from the district and in the office, support me at every level.
• My staff understands that well.
• Senate staff, you know, down there, their diligent pursuit of protecting the integrity of the Senate.

Bills: SB27, SB30, SB293, HB4, HB2974, HB5138, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3045, SB3071, HB796, HB1523, HB5294, HB748, HB3395, HB180, HB3171, HB146, HB5596, HB5694, HB1135, HB3225, HB186, HB1449, HB3793, HB112, HB104, HB3336, HB3520, HB3320, HB5663, HB2399, HB111, HB3483, HB4580, HB3748, HB632, HB4730, HB5690, HB5689, HB3385, HB4359, HB5381, HB123, HB5606, HB1057, HB3664, HCR141, HCR40, HCR59

Keywords: judicial conduct, judges discipline, judicial compensation, retirement benefits, judicial transparency, SJR 50, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, securities tax, transaction tax, occupation tax, financial markets, broker-dealer, stock exchange, securities exchange, trading platform, clearing agency, transfer agent, FINRA

Transcript Highlights:

• So why don't we start with a briefing from staff?
• CRC ratios, so are currently four staff to eight children with no less than three staff to eight children
• CRC ratios are currently four staff to eight children, with no less than three staff to eight children
• I want to extend deep gratitude to our staff who are here.
• I know we were down one staff person this session.

Bills: HB2464

Keywords: detention facilities, law enforcement, reporting requirements, incidents, private detention, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue.
• Staff, please open the queue for a vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the queue for a vote.

Summary: The committee took up a series of health-related bills, beginning with House Bill 4124 by Rep. Fetgatter, which would make human ivermectin available over the counter on a permissive basis for pharmacies. The bill drew extended debate over whether the legislature should decide over-the-counter status, safety concerns, dosage, adverse effects, and federal law issues, but the author argued the bill would reduce political controversy and allow pharmacies to choose whether to stock it. HB 4124 passed 5-1. Rep. Schreiber’s HB 4200, creating a public-private forensic assertive community treatment (FACT) team approach for people with severe mental illness involved in the criminal justice system, passed unanimously 6-0. Rep. Blancett’s HB 4410, which would tighten disclosures and consumer protections for referral agencies working with long-term care and assisted living placements, failed 3-4 after questions about whether the bill was still needed and how it would affect compensation and disclosures. Rep. Cantrell’s bill on assisted living facilities’ rights and responsibilities also failed, 2-3, after members questioned whether businesses need a statutory “bill of rights” and whether the material could simply be posted under existing law. Rep. Pay’s HB 1912, the Corn Mossa Nutrition Enhancement Act, passed 3-2 after amendments and discussion about folic acid fortification, neural tube defects, and whether consumers should still have access to unfortified products. Rep. Stark’s HB 3930, requiring sellers of dog-related service-animal gear to notify purchasers that the animal is not a service animal, passed 5-1, and HB 3931, extending the time to amend death certificates, passed 6-0. Rep. Newton’s HB 4457, barring PBMs from owning and operating licensed retail pharmacies in Oklahoma with a transition for specialty settings, passed 6-0, and HB 4473, creating an advisory council to assist the Oklahoma Health Care Authority on dental care, passed 5-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At Daisy State Park, the $100 in camping drawer funds could not be located by park staff at the time
• Nicholas Stewart, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Corrections.
• I'm Wayne Ruthven, Chief of Staff, Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.
• I'm Wayne Ruthven, Chief of Staff, Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.
• And I'll now recognize another one of our staff, Charlie Camp, to present that report.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , staff, staff, &gt;&gt; uh,<00:54:07.440><c> curriculum?
• </c> the staff? the staff? &gt;&gt; Both. &gt;&gt; Both. &gt;&gt; Both.
• So, um, recruitment of staff, supervision, and evaluation of staff.
• of all the staff of the SAU, all the staff in the entire district.
• </c> of staff. of staff. &gt;&gt; Mhm. &gt;&gt; Mhm.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the October 15 minutes and a brief discussion of the committee’s report process, including the likelihood of a minority report and a deadline of November 1 for any separate report. Members then heard from Jod Adams of the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools, who gave an overview of charter schools in the state: there are 37 charter schools, with 6,034 students last year, and schools are formed by certified teachers, parents, or nonprofit organizations. She said charter schools receive about $9,180 per pupil in adequacy aid and charter school grant funding, must fundraise for additional money, and are governed by their own boards under their charters and bylaws. Members asked about admissions, governance, transportation, and special education. Adams said charter schools are open enrollment, not geographically based, and may use lotteries when applications exceed available seats. She explained that districts and charter schools coordinate on special education and busing, with the sending district responsible for special education coordination and certain transportation obligations depending on where the student lives and attends. She also said charter schools are public schools, not selective, and that each school’s board operates independently of the local district school board, though some schools may have special arrangements. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on funding and statutory obligations. Adams and members discussed how special education aid follows the student, while charter schools do not receive some district-level aid such as catastrophic aid; free and reduced lunch funding and Title funds can go to charter schools. Members also raised concerns that some state laws and administrative rules do not clearly specify whether they apply to charter schools, creating confusion and, in some cases, causing districts to perform services such as dyslexia screening for charter students without additional funding. Adams agreed that clearer statutory language would help and noted that charter schools are subject to many state requirements, including testing and reporting, even though not every public-school rule applies to them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every single staff position we have is essential. We don't hold positions vacant.
• Um, so, you know, again, every staff position is essential.
• And in addition to that, it takes Secretary of State staff resources and County Clerk staff resources
• So it's, uh, I think staff is always working to get things out.
• Uh, we'll ask staff to grab them.

Transcript Highlights:

• If staff um to be at the hearing table.
• </c> 50% of the staff time, resources, etc. 50% of the staff time, resources, etc. in<00:35:35.520><c
• overtime</c><00:52:08.120><c> to</c> Our staff are working overtime to Our staff are working overtime
• ><c> served</c><01:30:11.520><c> 3,082</c> that staff in WIC served 3,082 that staff in WIC served 3,082
• ><c> were</c><01:47:16.880><c> shaken,</c> Staff were shaken, families were shaken, Staff were shaken

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and allowing our staff and working on staff capacity surge strategies.
• our internal staff and uh allowing<00:25:33.279><c> our</c><00:25:33.600><c> staff</c><00:25:34.080>
• </c> staff caper capacity surge strategies. staff caper capacity surge strategies.
• ><c> recommended</c><00:54:26.000><c> two</c> committee staff had recommended two committee staff had
• Our staff has put that in billing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On all the bills, we have staff that's introducing the bills and go through.
• I just want to implore this committee and staff I just want to implore this committee and staff to actually
• Staff, the next bill is 4139 in the Senate bill. Go ahead. Mr.
• Staff, please pull up 4140. Mr.
• But we absolutely disagree that we need more staff to do this job.

Bills: HB4138, HB4139, HB4140, HB4141, HB4142, HB4143, HB4144, HB4145, HB4146, HB4147, HB4148, HB4149, HB4150, HB4151, HB4152, HB4153, SB1831, SB1832, SB1833, SB1834, SB1835, SB1836, SB1837, SB1838, SB1839, SB1840, SB1841, SB1842, SB1843, SB1844, SB1845, SB1846

Keywords: appropriations, education funding, health care, general fund, state budget, local funding, gaming, pari-mutuel, horse racing, regulatory assessment, first-time starters, budget implementation, federal funds, government services, budget stabilization, financial reporting, capital outlay, infrastructure, veterans services, highway construction

Transcript Highlights:

• reason that was so important was it's in our patrol districts, and you build relationships with the staff
• </c> and staff. and staff.
• </c><00:04:01.880><c> You</c> build relationships with the staff.
• You build relationships with the staff.
• in our state plus countless state staff in our state as<00:07:56.160><c> well.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What about staff?
• What about staff?
• What about staff?
• </c> out of respect to your staff members. out of respect to your staff members.
• </c> respect to our staff, ask for a no vote. respect to our staff, ask for a no vote.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's just for staff development.
• How are school staff, and not just social workers and counselors, but the staff and the administration
• </c> staff and the administration? staff and the administration?
• </c><00:43:20.319><c> about</c> get on the rest of the staff about get on the rest of the staff about
• When unexpected frontline staff.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a fair amount of staff watching.
• We have staff. We have cameras everywhere. We take it very seriously.
• We have staff. We have cameras everywhere. We take it very seriously. Representative, thank you.
• We may end up having to check with nonpartisan staff to that extent. Mr.
• We may end up having to check with nonpartisan staff to that extent. Mr.

Bills: HF1262, HF1741, HF472, HF1668, HF2055, HF1786, HF1876, HF1089, HF1121, HF509, HF1545, HF2027, HF642

Keywords: food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that there's some counties that don't have qualified professionals on staff.
• I think that there's some counties that don't have qualified professionals on staff.
• and they can review the project to staff and they can review the project to expedite<00:39:57.839><c
• the qualified staff then they gets<00:40:32.119><c> routed</c><00:40:32.440><c> to</c><00:40:32.520>
• Thank you, Jessica. so um that would take staff hours for so um that would take staff hours for somebody

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Housing Committee heard testimony on several housing-related bills. On SB 26, SD 2, relating to affordable housing, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development explained a prior transit-oriented development study that identified roughly 59,000 possible units and about 25,000 affordable units from known projects, and said the bill would help fill gaps by evaluating additional public lands for housing suitability and possible co-use with existing facilities. Members asked about the need for resources and staffing to do that work, and OPSD said it would need time and consultant support to carry it out. Testimony on the bill included support from state and county housing agencies and comments from planning and land use entities. On SB 66, SD 2, relating to housing and historic preservation review, SHPD and OHA both testified. SHPD said the bill would not override existing burial-site protections and that county staff with proper qualifications could make historic-property determinations locally, while OHA asked for clearer language requiring consultation when Native Hawaiian historic sites are involved and clearer procedures if an adverse effect is found. Committee members and SHPD discussed whether the bill should explicitly preserve existing Chapter 6E processes, whether counties have qualified staff, and how quickly a county would have to decide if it cannot complete the review itself and must use a third-party reviewer. Supporters said the measure could speed permitting and keep decisions local; one opponent argued it could rush approvals and strain infrastructure. The committee also heard support from housing, construction, business, and food-industry groups, and opposition from some preservation and community advocates. The committee then heard SB 332, SD 1, on foreclosure-related protections, with testimony focused on Lānaʻi and concerns about speculative real estate after the foreclosure moratorium ended. SB 414, SD 2, on restoring access to disaster-affected areas, drew support from HHFDC, DHS, and the Maui Chamber; HHFDC noted DOH plans for a temporary paved access road to the Kayola temporary housing site and said agencies were discussing which parcels would be needed. On SB 102, SD 2, relating to affordable housing and third-party historic review, SHPD said it would need to do more upfront screening and that the bill’s timelines and third-party provisions should be clearer; OHA said the measure should include a sunset and better staffing, and asked that the department fill positions to meet review demand. No votes or final committee actions were reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the chief of staff for the Direct Care and Treatment Agency.
• And in addition, with staff shortages, we need to at least meet the baseline.
• ,</c><00:36:57.040><c> our</c> a number of our field staff, our a number of our field staff, our workforce
• </c> certainly in working with our staff certainly in working with our staff internally.<00:47:06.560
• </c><00:47:55.440><c> are</c> sure that our employees and staff are sure that our employees and staff

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, would you mind briefing 2517?
• For the record, Elizabeth Runn, staff of the committee.
• Any questions for staff?
• Once again, Elizabeth Runn, staff to the committee.
• And that includes time savings for our procurement staff and our agency staff.

Bills: HB2313, HB2451, HB2298, HB2566, HB2517

Keywords: grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects

Transcript Highlights:

• Lily Smith, staff to this committee.
• Are there any other questions for staff?
• We are not going to do a staff briefing because we got a staff briefing yesterday on this bill.
• Rebecca Lewis, staff to the committee.
• We are not going to do a staff briefing because we got a staff briefing yesterday on this bill.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2275, which would create a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund and a new council to oversee utility wildfire mitigation, claims payments, and related administration. Staff explained that investor-owned utilities would be required to participate, consumer-owned utilities could opt in, and utilities would pay annual contributions and maintain approved wildfire mitigation plans to qualify for claims coverage. The prime sponsor, Rep. Christine Reeves, said the bill was intended to address wildfire liability, support prevention, and create a more comprehensive statewide approach to wildfire risk. Members asked about retroactivity to July 1, 2021, utility contribution limits, and whether the bill would lower rates or improve mitigation funding. Public testimony was split. Supporters included the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Department of Natural Resources, wildfire survivors, and several wildfire and insurance advocates, who emphasized the need for compensation, stable funding, prevention, and better resilience planning. Opponents included several utilities, utility associations, business groups, and public utility district representatives, who argued the bill would shift uncapped costs to ratepayers, lacked clear liability reform and solvency protections, and could be vulnerable to future fund sweeps. Some witnesses cited California’s wildfire fund as a model, while others said Washington needed a broader, more holistic solution focused on prevention and liability reform. No vote was taken on HB 2275; the public hearing was closed after testimony. The committee then moved to executive session on House Bill 2238, which directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy and adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring to the department’s duties. Four amendments were adopted: L-061, requiring consideration of regulatory cost metrics and periodic competitiveness reporting; L-062, directing the strategy to recommend legislative actions to make food more affordable and reduce food assistance need; L-060, adding people with lived experience of food insecurity and BIPOC small farmers to consultation requirements and focusing on root causes of hunger; and L-063, adding fuel and labor cost tracking to agricultural viability metrics. Amendment L-064, which would have required a consultant study on proposed agricultural labor legislation, failed on a 5-6 roll call vote. The committee then adopted the amended substitute and reported Substitute House Bill 2238 out of committee with a due pass recommendation by an 11-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's open the hearing on HB 2151 with a staff report. Good morning.
• For the record, Kelly Leonard, staff to this committee.
• I will defer to staff in terms of the fiscal challenges.
• I didn't know if it had a fiscal... if staff has a...
• Allison Ryan, staff to the committee.

Bills: HB2355, HB2151, HB2372, HB2472, HB2409

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, factory built housing, commercial structures, national standards, construction regulation, building safety, workers' compensation, benefits, employment, injury claims, insurance, liability, fire protection, sprinkler systems, licensed contractors, certified fitters

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any questions for staff?
• Are there any questions for staff? Seeing none, can we please have a staff report on 2264?
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote.
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote.
• Alison Ryan, staff to the committee.

Bills: HB2091, HB2105, HB2218, HB2107, HB2137, HB2243, HB2264

Keywords: public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, immigrant worker protections, immigrant rights, worker protections, I-9 audit, Form I-9, employment eligibility verification, workplace raid, federal immigration inspection, employer notice, anti-retaliation, retaliation, Attorney General enforcement, private right of action, labor law, workplace rights

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll have a staff report, please.
• Do members have any questions of staff?
• And we'll have a staff report, please. Again, this is Corey Patton, staff to the committee.
• Do any other members have questions of staff? Terrific. Go ahead.
• This, as staff pointed out, allows for Halloween costumes, satire, parody.

Bills: HB2165, HB2173, HB2203, HB2293

Keywords: peace officer, false identification, law enforcement, criminal penalties, public safety, face coverings, regulations, civil rights, emergency operations, reckless interference, offense, foreign entities, training, national security, 904, all