Transcript Highlights:

• That was imaginative. Yes, I'm sorry. That first name, N-A-T-C. And I apologize for my handwriting.
• </c><00:20:46.880><c> I'm</c> That was that was imaginative. Yes.
• I'm That was that was imaginative. Yes.
• </c> that's the purpose of the state library? that's the purpose of the state library?
• </c><02:04:46.560><c> at</c><02:04:46.800><c> William</c> the music listening library at William the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns. Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note. The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:57:12.640><c> that</c> is. and I would imagine that is. and I would imagine that you<01:57:13.680
• Senate Bill 535, Senator King, County Board of Library Trustees membership.
• </c><02:13:10.640><c> Trustees</c> King, County Board of Library Trustees King, County Board of Library
• Senate Bill 378, Senator Guzzone, education regional resource centers, county libraries funding.
• </c><02:17:34.080><c> Recognize</c> county libraries funding. Recognize county libraries funding.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Library Program.
• </c> enrollment in Dolly Parton's Imagination enrollment in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library<00:07:
• Imagine, Mr. Speaker, if that was your son who had been murdered.
• Imagine if it were you. That is not a judge, Mr. Speaker. That is an advocate.
• That is not a Imagine if it were you. That is not a judge,<02:19:51.680><c> Mr.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• employee in my county that has no say whatsoever in any of this and is just doing her job, but I would imagine
• requires that Health and Human Services, the Department of Aging and Disability Services, public libraries
• Um, what about libraries?
• So given the court's decision, it's difficult to imagine this bill surviving strict scrutiny if challenged
• I can't imagine somebody carrying a license to carry without also having a driver's license or state

Bills: HB304

Keywords: franchise tax credit, food desert, grocery store, healthy corner store, nutrition assistance, economic development, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would imagine she would find a different one after this.
• requires that Health and Human Services, the Department of Aging and Disability Services, and public libraries
• What about libraries?
• It's difficult to imagine this bill surviving strict scrutiny if challenged.
• I can't imagine somebody having a license to carry without also having a driver's license. license or

Bills: HB304, HB401, HB556, HB1475, HB1489, HB2259, HB2424, HB2773, HB2811, HB3323, HB304

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship proof, provisional ballot, election security, Texas, voting rights, deep fakes, misleading videos, election integrity, criminal offense, digital misinformation, deep fake, political manipulation, misinformation, artificial media, political influence, artificially generated media, election influence, Texas Election Code, healthcare reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Substitute Senate Bill 5961 transfers the Imagination Library from the Department of Children, Youth,
• The fiscal note specifies an indeterminate cost, as both the Imagination Library program and the early
• The fiscal note specifies an indeterminate cost, as both the Imagination Library program and the early

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on February 9, 2026, first hearing a staff briefing on Senate Bill 6346, which would impose a tax on individuals earning over $1 million. Staff described the bill’s revenue and spending impacts and reviewed a proposed substitute and 11 amendments addressing items such as public defense funding, charitable deductions, out-of-state tax credits, small business credits, diapers, constitutional issues, and a contingent constitutional amendment. The committee later took up the bill and rejected all of the offered amendments, then advanced the substitute bill with a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. Members supporting the bill argued it would help address tax fairness and fund public services, while opponents raised concerns about constitutionality, economic harm, and the effect on businesses and charitable giving. The committee also acted on a series of policy bills. It advanced a substitute bill on grocery store closures in food deserts after adopting a narrower substitute, despite concerns from some members about burdening grocers. It approved a substitute bill expanding voting access for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters, adopting a second substitute that removed a cybersecurity review requirement. The committee also advanced bills on tort claim arbitration against governments, victim and witness protections in sexual assault and domestic violence cases, JLARC review of student aid fraud, agricultural collective bargaining, labor relations if federal preemption ends, a cost-of-living adjustment for Plan 1 retirees, workers’ compensation and medical care access, line-of-duty death reimbursements, law enforcement background checks and eligibility, veterans’ discharge definitions, and extraordinary medical placement. Several of these bills had amendments adopted, including changes to tort claim oversight, victim-requested standby counsel, agricultural labor definitions, workers’ compensation penalties, law enforcement volunteer support, and extraordinary medical placement criteria. In the second group of bills, staff briefed measures affecting property taxes, housing, cannabis, disaster-related tax relief, technical tax code changes, aircraft fuel tax revenues, the estate tax, and a pesticide tax exemption. The committee heard that a substitute for the fire protection district bill would alter how city or town levy capacity is reduced and include consultation requirements and board-creation provisions. It also heard that the property tax relief expansion for seniors and disabled retirees needed a substitute to make the consolidated school levy revenue-neutral. Other bills would expand tax exemptions for low-income housing and nonprofit homeownership, authorize local cannabis excise taxes, extend disaster repair tax relief, expand housing-related local sales tax uses, make technical tax code changes, redirect aircraft fuel tax revenues to aeronautics, reduce the estate tax rate, and extend a pesticide tax exemption. The transcript ends during the committee’s consideration of Senate Bill 6346, with the committee debating and rejecting amendments before moving the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• It involves some of the most heinous things that you... ...can imagine happening to children within the
• Any violation of the law is about as broad a phrase as one can imagine, and as the last witness admitted
• It's hard to imagine every context in which a government employee or a specific manager... within a government

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• He built schools, libraries, and mosque.
• He built schools, libraries, and mosque.
• Under schools, libraries, and mosque.
• And yet, it is also the most American thing imaginable.
• . imaginable. imaginable.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So depending on the destination, you can imagine Phoenix's board is going to be diverse.
• So depending on the destination, you can imagine Phoenix's board is going to be diverse, much like what
• But do you imagine something that could be a little more... ...a special session.
• But do you imagine something that could be a little more... ...you know, send the amendment.
• But do you imagine something that could be a little more robust?

Bills: HB2091, HB2140, HB2320, HB2384, HB2398, HB2502, HB2780, HB2918, HB2939, HB2950, HB2999, HB4020, HB4026, HB4029

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• If that trained medical provider is on site, I cannot imagine that a reasonable... ...should.
• If that trained medical provider is on site, I cannot imagine that a reasonable teacher or principal
• If that trained medical provider is on site, I cannot imagine that a reasonable should.
• If that trained medical provider is on site, I cannot imagine that a reasonable teacher or principal
• shops, ...to parents meeting in homes, libraries, coffee shops, and other lawful spaces.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 206, which would require cardiovascular pre-screening and blood pressure testing for student athletes beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Chairman Miller said the bill was prompted by concerns about undiagnosed hypertension and sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, and Coach Marcus Scott testified about his own kidney transplant after years of untreated high blood pressure. Members asked about who would perform the screenings and how follow-up would work; the American Heart Association said existing athletic physical processes and referral networks could handle it. An amendment was adopted, and the committee reported SB 206 favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 305, which would require a publicly available statewide career-alignment dashboard showing how degree programs connect to workforce outcomes, including completion, employment, wages, and high-demand jobs. Chairman Edmonds and student task force member Cruz Cassard said the goal was to help students understand job opportunities in Louisiana and reduce the number leaving the state after graduation. Workforce and higher education stakeholders supported the measure as a transparency and workforce-planning tool. The committee reported SB 305 favorably. Next, the committee considered HB 624, a school safety cleanup bill updating references from crisis management plans to emergency operations plans and aligning school emergency language with national standards. Representative Johnson and the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools said the bill would not create new mandates or costs, but would clarify existing requirements. The committee reported HB 624 favorably. The committee then heard HB 1022, as substituted, concerning school-based health care services. Representative Jackson said the bill was intended to clarify that medical decisions in school-based health centers should be made by licensed health professionals, not school staff, while preserving parental consent. Testimony from school-based health center providers supported the bill, but several members raised concerns about consent, parental authority, and whether the language shifted too much responsibility away from schools; the Charter School Association suggested adding more collaborative language. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute and reported HB 1022 favorably by a 10-4 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• room probably 10:30, 11:00 at night, having some of the most horrible conversations you can ever imagine
• that's maybe deeper learning or inquiry-based or project-based, would they be held to this particular library
• that's maybe deeper learning or inquiry-based or project-based, would they be held to this particular library
• library of instructional materials<00:42:01.319><c> even</c><00:42:01.640><c> if</c><00:42:02.000><c
• I had a longer explanation of the bill, but I know we are short on time, so I imagine the committee would

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, a proposal tied to the Southern Regional Education Board’s crisis recovery network. Senator West and Dr. Puit explained that, for an additional $10,000 in dues, Kentucky would help create a network of 40 trained counselors in each of the 16 Southern states to provide post-crisis stabilization and psychological first aid after events such as the Marshall County shooting. They emphasized that the effort would be complementary to local and state response, would run through the school district, would not replace therapeutic services, and would allow districts to coordinate parent notifications and other protocols as usual. Members asked about parent involvement and whether pastoral counselors could participate; the presenters said local districts would remain in charge and that pastors could be included if properly credentialed. The committee then voted, and SCR 43 passed with the expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee next took up Senate Bill 207, the School of Innovation Act, with a committee substitute. Senator West described the bill as creating an optional path for districts to contract with an outside education service provider for a three-year school-of-innovation model, aimed at turning around low-performing schools or supporting other schools that want to innovate. He said the model would preserve core district functions such as transportation, facilities, and SEEK funding, while allowing waivers from certain statutes and regulations inside the school building. The committee substitute also added a high-quality instructional materials component, creating a vendor-supported repository of vetted instructional materials that KDE would still control, with testing data used to evaluate whether the materials were improving outcomes. Members questioned how the proposal differed from existing district-of-innovation law and what safeguards would exist for students. Senator West said the bill would repeal the unused district-of-innovation framework and replace it with a clearer process and guardrails, including KDE oversight, attendance rules, and authority to shut down a school arrangement for financial malfeasance. He also said the model could work with local partners, including superintendents’ associations, and could be used by magnet or other schools, not only low-performing ones. The discussion also touched on whether the bill would allow more flexibility in choosing third-party providers and whether it could support longer-term recovery and even philanthropy in schools. The transcript ends during the discussion of SB 207, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm<00:18:34.520><c> sure</c><00:18:34.679><c> you</c><00:18:34.799><c> can</c><00:18:34.960><c> imagine
• /c><00:18:35.480><c> showing</c><00:18:35.799><c> up</c><00:18:35.919><c> at</c> I'm sure you can imagine
• showing up at I'm sure you can imagine showing up at the<00:18:36.159><c> Department</c><00:18:36.480
• </c> 19th century classrooms and libraries 19th century classrooms and libraries this<01:19:30.400><c
• And I imagine that we will revise and adapt decisions we made in the past.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'd rather them be exposed to libraries and statues of heroes and so forth.
• I'd rather them be exposed to libraries and statues of heroes and so forth, murals of colleges, of where
• You can imagine, as an author, a very hard place to be where people wanted me to go further, and then

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, consumer protection, and sunset-review bills. Early items included SB 1148, which would let aspiring security guards complete all required training before a guard card is issued; SB 342, which would soften the penalty for contractors who were licensed during part of a project but had a brief lapse; and several sunset bills for boards and bureaus, including the Board of Registered Nursing (SB 1302), the Board of Naturopathic Medicine (SB 1303), the Respiratory Care Board (SB 1304), the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (SB 1363), and the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SB 1368). The committee also heard SB 1311, which makes various updates to DCA boards and programs, and SB 1314, which restricts new tobacco retailers from locating within 600 feet of schools or daycare centers and bans nitrous oxide sales and related paraphernalia. Testimony was generally supportive on the training, sunset, and licensing cleanup bills, though several measures drew “opposed unless amended” or neutral positions over scope and implementation details. On SB 1314, supporters including prosecutors and school administrators argued it would reduce youth exposure to tobacco, while gas station, convenience store, cigar lounge, pharmacy, and business groups raised concerns about impacts on existing businesses, transferability of tobacco licenses, and possible de facto limits on future stations; some public health groups shifted to neutral after amendments. On SB 1302, nursing groups supported the board sunset bill, while the California Medical Association objected to allowing out-of-state nurse practitioner transition-to-practice experience to count without a California attestation process. On SB 1304, health facilities and long-term care groups supported the board extension but sought broader clarification so LVNs could perform respiratory tasks consistently across settings. After quorum was finally established, the committee voted to send the consent calendar bills SB 1376, SB 1391, SB 1416, and SB 1315 to Appropriations, and then approved SB 342, SB 1148, SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1304, SB 1311, SB 1314, SB 1363, and SB 1368, all moving forward to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 1314 passed with some no votes, while the other measures advanced with broad support. The hearing ended after additional members were added on the record and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'd rather them be exposed to libraries and statues of heroes and so forth.
• I'd rather them be exposed to libraries and statues of heroes and so forth, murals of colleges, of where
• You can imagine as an author, a very hard place to be where people wanted me to go further, and then

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can imagine after even what you've seen just for a little while tonight, what they have to go through
• We have adopted increased support for libraries, civic severages, We have adopted increased support for
• libraries, civic severages, state parks, jail diversion.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a long series of FY26 budget amendments during debate on the Ways and Means budget bill. Early on, an amendment on debt service and the Debt Affordability Committee was rejected. A major education amendment offered by Senator Lewis and supported by Senator Comerford was then adopted; it directs DESE to begin a public process, with $200,000 in funding, to review and recommend updates to the Chapter 70 municipal contribution formula and related school funding structures as the Student Opportunity Act nears full implementation. Senators argued that school districts across the Commonwealth are under severe fiscal strain, citing rising special education, transportation, health insurance, and Proposition 2 1/2 pressures, and that the current formulas are increasingly out of alignment with local needs. The chamber also considered and voted on many other amendments, with several adopted and several rejected. Adopted amendments included measures on public payroll transparency, regional EMS, a small business group purchasing cooperative pilot, simplifying Medicaid eligibility determinations, and early education background checks. Rejected amendments included proposals on first-time homebuyer savings accounts, population change studies, competitiveness studies, emergency contract reform, natural gas cost containment, a $200 per pupil aid increase, regional school reimbursement increases, a Foundation Budget Review Commission-related study, special education service studies, welfare benefit audits, short-term capital gains, and an MBTA sustainability plan. Senator Durant also spoke in support of Amendment 766, which would create a crumbling concrete assistance fund for homeowners affected by pyrrhotite, with tax-exempt aid, federal funding applications, audits, and a stakeholder working group. Near the end of debate, Senator D. DiDomenico praised the Shannon Grant program for gang violence prevention, and the Senate adopted a final corrective amendment containing technical fixes and local earmarks. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and, after a roll call on engrossment, passed to be engrossed by a vote of 38-2. The Senate also approved a motion to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and recessed in memory of Yaron Lashinsky, Sarah Lynn Milgram, and Leslie A. Feeney.

Transcript Highlights:

• I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in that area, especially raising a young family.
• And so I can only imagine, well, we buy those really durable desks that are on wheels and, I can only
• imagine how wonderful that neighborhood, the International District, is going to continue to flourish
• You have worked so hard to build a brand new library there.
• I would Imagine the district will issue all the bonds in one tranche, certainly saving for the district

Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine that.
• Imagine for a moment a private school capital fund pledge, and here's the pitch.
• So, thank you for helping us make Library Day a great day. Representative Fetgatter, thank you, Mr.

Bills: SB378, SB985, SB1246, HB3720, SB1500, SB1984, HB4118, SB1644, SB1546, SB483

Keywords: bail bondsman, bondsman license, multicounty agent bondsman, surety bondsman, Insurance Commissioner, bail bond regulation, bond deposit, forfeiture, deposit ratio, writing capacity, license transfer, power of attorney, surety bond, bail industry, Oklahoma insurance law, financial solvency, administrative action, Oklahoma Local Food for Schools, school meals, local food procurement

Transcript Highlights:

• SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES INCLUDE LIBRARY VOLUMES, SPECIAL PROJECTS, MAINTENANCE, FACULTY PRODUCTIVITY,
• AS YOU CAN IMAGINE 28 PRESIDENTS WHO WERE NOT HIRED TO WORK FOR THE SYSTEM BUT THERE COLLEGE HAD TO GET
• IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A TIME WHEN WE WOULD NOT WANT TO WAIVE WORKFORCE BUT WE DO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's celebrations every year. libraries. So it is making a difference. libraries.
• </c><00:42:31.119><c> can</c><00:42:31.280><c> come</c> Library. um a library patron can come Library
• </c> back in the library. back in the library.
• So we have about 35 libraries<00:47:13.280><c> that</c> libraries that libraries that &gt;&gt; So<00:
• </c> to the library. Right. to the library. Right.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm imagining these cars cost money.
• How do you imagine this will increase protections?
• How do you imagine this will increase protections?
• the library blocked by chanting, 'Go Tigers, let's win, Tigers.'
• Finding your words, I can't imagine. Your testimony is very powerful.

Keywords: 959, house, all