Transcript Highlights:

• And although we are buying a few computers, the net effect this year is a reduction in the dedicated
• It adds $56,000 for data line charges and removes or reduces $94,900 in personal computer software fees
• This is a request for $35,400 for replacement of computer hardware. With that, Mr.
• It's computer hardware and computer software.
• We have the lowest crime rate, one of the lowest crime rates in the country, at one of the highest incarceration

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard prayer and the pledge, approved the journal, and received committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several bills and resolutions were moved through the calendar, including committee referrals, enrollments, and transmittals of already-passed measures. The chamber also received new first-reading bills, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, education, and endowment land leases. On the floor, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 117 recognizing Idaho’s ties with Italy and the opening of an Idaho office in Italy. The resolution was supported with remarks about historical Italian immigration to Idaho and wartime cooperation involving Italian POW labor in Idaho agriculture. The Senate also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 30, which directs the Medicaid Legislative Review Panel to study and provide guidance on implementing comprehensive Medicaid-managed care; that measure passed by roll call, 20-10 with one absent. The Senate then adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, adding a new joint rule to limit the number of bill drafts and RSs a legislator may bring in a year, with exceptions for budget bills, amendments, trailer bills, interim committee legislation, and leadership-approved exceptions; it passed 35-0. The chamber also adopted Senate Joint Memorial 115 urging federal action on pelican impacts to Idaho fisheries, and Senate Resolution 120 honoring State Police K-9 Kimber for her service. Later, House Bill 723 on child care licensing and protections for children in residential care facilities passed 32-3 after debate focused on abuse prevention, unannounced inspections, and a bill of rights notice for children. In the afternoon session, the Senate passed several appropriation bills, including Senate Bills 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, and 1386, covering the Endowment Fund Investment Board, Idaho State Lottery, Fish and Game, Veterans Services, Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Commission, and Pardons and Parole. Most were described as enhancement or maintenance budgets funded largely through dedicated or federal funds, with debate emphasizing small hardware purchases, program restorations, and agency operating needs. Senate Bill 1382 for Fish and Game passed 23-12, and House Bill 848, the legislative branch appropriation bill, was brought up for consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I work in computational tool development to help other researchers do better data analysis.
• I work in computational tool development to help other researchers do better data analysis.
• Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has recognized it and issued guidance.
• Treasury Department's financial crimes enforcement network has recognized it and has issued.
• My daily work consists of writing computer code and preparing reports to research groundwater movement

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing with about 43 witnesses and a 1:00 p.m. hard stop, and the chair repeatedly asked speakers to keep testimony to three minutes. Much of the hearing focused on S. 747/H. 1336, which would extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Supporters included legislators, union leaders, graduate workers from MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, UMass Lowell, and others, and legal advocates. They argued graduate workers perform full-time teaching and research work, pay taxes, and should not be excluded from basic safety-net benefits; several witnesses described personal hardships involving childbirth, serious illness, mental health crises, funding cuts, or fear of losing income. Testifiers also said the change would be revenue-neutral or revenue-generating and would not create major administrative burdens for universities, which already provide similar benefits to other employees. The committee also heard testimony on insurance-related bills. Christopher Stock of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported H. 1113 on public adjusters and H. 1345/S. 753 on flood-zone notifications for homebuyers, but opposed H. 4112, which would add a $2 surcharge on home insurance policies to fund fire cistern programs. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strongly supported H. 1345, saying flood disclosure is needed because Massachusetts lacks statewide flood-notification requirements and flooding risks are increasing. Karen Alvarado supported H. 4352 on travel insurance, and John Fielding supported H. 1186 on pet insurance; both said the bills would create uniform regulatory frameworks and consumer protections. Rep. LeBoeuf testified for H. 4061 on workers’ compensation premium fraud, describing the bill as a transparency measure to combat fraud in construction by creating a public certificate-of-insurance database and QR-code verification system. Joe Bright of the carpenters’ union also supported H. 4061, citing fraud, misclassification, and the harm to injured workers. The hearing also included testimony on H. 4112, a bill to create a statewide fire suppression water resource fund and cistern program. Rep. Hogan and a Stowe fire chief described drought, brush fires, and the need for dedicated cisterns in communities without municipal water systems, saying the tanks provide reliable water for firefighting and are relatively low-tech once installed. Committee members asked questions about tank capacity, siting, maintenance, and funding. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the future of computing itself.
• From retaining them is crime.
• Because of the crime that continuously happens in their buildings, they don't even report the crimes
• crime update.
• , to respond to the calls for crime and spend the time solving those crimes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was a new type of crime that emerged in fall of '24, and that's...
• This was a new type of crime that emerged in fall of '24, and that's...
• This was a new type of crime that emerged in fall of '24, and they were like dogs with a bone when they
• My personal belief is that this type of crime, identity theft, types of crime or fraud, are just bad
• could all decide to do their applications together at 1:30 in the morning from the same iPad or computer

Summary: The House and Senate Legislative Audit committee met to approve prior minutes and review four higher education audit reports. Staff first presented the University of Arkansas System report, which included three findings that had been certified and referred to the Governmental Bonding Board, the attorney general, and the appropriate prosecuting attorney: unauthorized purchases at UAPB totaling about $37,000, a fraud scheme involving falsified FAFSA/transcript records at East Arkansas Community College with about $66,000 in losses, and unallowable charges in the Veterans Upward Bound program at UA Fayetteville totaling $8,500, of which $6,700 was recovered. Committee members praised the institutions’ internal audit and management teams for identifying the issues and asked detailed questions about how the fraud was detected, especially the online student identity-theft scheme at EACC and the safeguards now being used to verify student identity and prevent similar cases. EACC officials explained that the fraudulent admissions involved online applicants using falsified transcripts and identity-theft tactics, that 39 suspicious students were identified, and that seven slipped through far enough to receive federal aid, resulting in a $2,500 reimbursement obligation to the university. They said the college now uses a cross-departmental student validity team, extensive red-flag protocols, direct outreach to high schools, ID verification, and other checks, and that the issue has been shared across the UA system and with other campuses. UA Fayetteville also clarified that no veterans were harmed by the Veterans Upward Bound finding; the program was closed and students were redirected to other veteran support programs in the state. The committee then deferred the Northwest Arkansas Community College report. Staff next summarized two additional reports, from Southeast Arkansas College and Southern Arkansas University Tech, which contained only financial statement misstatements corrected during audit fieldwork; SAU Tech also had a finding involving unauthorized withdrawals that the college discovered and recovered. With no further questions, the committee voted without objection to file the reviewed reports and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to present Assembly Bill 358, the Technology Reform for Access to Crime
• Thank you for the opportunity to present Assembly Bill 358, the technology reform for access to crime
• So if it was a document that somebody left behind in my home that delineated a crime or something like
• Aidan Downey, representing the Computer and Communications Industry Association.
• Aiden Downey, representing the Computer and Communications Industry Association, in opposition.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We all started to understand the complexities of this horrible crime.
• We all started to understand the complexities of this horrible crime.
• And there was a predator there on his computer. He had lured them with the computer.
• It touches upon Internet Crimes Against Children programs.
• It touches upon Internet Crimes Against Children programs.

Bills: S0164, S0656, S0892

Keywords: wrongful death, unborn child, civil liability, medical provider, parental rights, habitual felony offenders, violent crimes, enhanced penalties, criminal justice, recidivism, 999, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from State Attorney Catherine Fernandez-Rundle on human trafficking in Florida, especially in Miami-Dade. She described trafficking as a modern form of slavery driven by money, emphasized that most victims are local girls and young women ages roughly 14 to 24, and said recruitment increasingly occurs online. She highlighted several cases, including one that led to a law restricting tattooing minors without adult consent, and discussed Miami-Dade’s task force, shelter and medical partnerships, hotel and business training, and public awareness campaigns tied to major events like the Super Bowl and upcoming World Cup. Members asked about information-sharing with other states, school-based trafficking, warning signs, and technology used to identify online exploitation; Fernandez-Rundle said more training and better interstate communication are needed. The committee then took up CS for SB 656, which Senator Bradley said would codify FDLE’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program and rename and expand the online sting operations grant program to better support investigations, training, technology, and personnel. The bill drew supportive comments from Senator Wright, and it was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee also passed SB 892 by Senator Martin, which streamlines the designation process for habitual and violent felony offender classifications by clarifying clemency-related procedures and notice requirements; it too was reported favorably unanimously. The committee spent substantial time on SB 164 by Senator Grall, which would expand Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow parents to recover civil damages for the death of an unborn child at any stage of development. The sponsor said the bill is intended to recognize unborn children in civil law and align with existing statutory definitions, while opponents argued it is effectively a personhood bill that could affect abortion access, IVF, miscarriage care, and liability exposure for doctors, friends, family members, and businesses. Supporters from pro-life groups urged broader language and stronger protections, while opponents included medical, civil liberties, domestic violence, and reproductive rights advocates who warned of chilling effects on health care and possible abuse by rapists or abusive partners. The bill was not reported out during the portion provided, and the discussion ended with additional public testimony still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crimes involving firearms.
• Crimes involving firearms.
• All of those incentives out the window because someone says they reported a crime, two crimes.
• and those that are less than crime.
• Or it must be an illegal computer-related crime that is intended to intimidate, injure, coerce, or threaten

Summary: The subcommittee took up a long agenda of civil justice measures and claims bills. HB 1407, on commencement of civil actions under the Florida Civil Rights Act, was presented as a fix to conflicting appellate decisions about whether an EEOC no-probable-cause notice can start the clock for filing suit; the bill would allow an EEOC determination to suffice and permit filing within 18 months of the complaint. It passed 16-0. HB 1337, an estates bill reducing court involvement in decedent asset distribution by expanding personal representative authority over safe deposit boxes and increasing small-estate thresholds, also passed unanimously, 17-0. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1553, which would change what medical expense evidence juries may see in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with supporters saying it would clarify the law and let both sides present evidence, and opponents arguing it would roll back 2023 tort reforms and reintroduce inflated medical bills. After extensive testimony from business, insurance, trucking, and plaintiff-side interests, the PCS passed 13-4. HB 1423, dealing with negligent security in multifamily residential properties, would remove a presumption against liability when two or more specified crimes were reported in the prior 24 months; an amendment clarified that the crimes must have been reported to the owner or principal operator. Supporters said it would help crime victims and restore balance, while opponents warned it would undermine incentives for property owners to maintain security. The amended bill passed 14-4. Several claims bills also advanced unanimously: HB 6527 for Patricia Armini and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6531 for the estate of McKenzie Navarra and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6507 for L.E. and the Department of Children and Families, and HB 6521 for Jose Carrera and Miami-Dade County. Each was described as providing compensation for serious injuries or death after prior government negligence, and each was reported favorably without opposition votes. Finally, the committee heard HB 1471, a controversial bill on systems of law and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would bar enforcement of foreign or religious law over the U.S. and Florida Constitutions, create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations, and prevent state funds from supporting terrorism. Members raised extensive concerns about vague definitions, First Amendment and due process issues, and the lack of a predesignation hearing; public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with supporters arguing the bill was needed for public safety. The transcript ends during public testimony on HB 1471, before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• so, you know, you’re supposed to do work on sexual harassment and on sexual violence and on hate crimes
• . ...on sexual harassment, sexual violence, and hate crimes, and maybe human trafficking, too.
• Good morning, Naomi Padron, on behalf of the Computer and Communications Industry Association.
• That is the right place in some ways, but obviously students who are choosing to study computer science
• Students who are choosing to study computer science aren't the only ones, and maybe they're the ones

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> victims of crimes, victims of crimes, which<00:31:24.720><c> they</c><00:31:24.840><c> do</c><00
• </c> Our recoveries go back to the crime Our recoveries go back to the crime victims,<00:31:28.760><c
• </c> defraud them, or individual crime defraud them, or individual crime victims. victims. victims.
• crimes.
• Um crimes.

Bills: HF4207, HF4338

Keywords: housing aid, local housing trust, funding projects, income provisions, technical changes, human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review

Transcript Highlights:

• Please don't diminish white-collar crimes.
• Some white-collar crimes are really serious crimes where people have stolen thousands and thousands and
• There's been cases where people have been wrongfully convicted of a crime.
• There's something wrong with my computer. We know. Um, hold on.
• There's something wrong with my computer. Um, later. Okay. Thank you.

Summary: The committee approved the March 3 and March 10 minutes, then introduced RS 33592C1, a proposal for a state pilot program to study psychedelic substances for PTSD and traumatic brain injury, with the sponsor saying no state funding was requested. The committee also heard and advanced Senate Bill 1255, which would add tribal health care facilities and tribal police officers to Idaho’s involuntary commitment process so tribal members in mental health crises can be evaluated and held more quickly; tribal representatives and the sponsor said it would improve coordination without changing state funding or the underlying commitment standards. The bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1257 on foster care visitation and permanency. The bill would clarify that visitation can include in-person, video, phone, and written contact, limit in-person visitation after substantiated serious physical or sexual abuse unless a court finds it is in the child’s best interest, and allow courts to consider a parent’s likely long-term incarceration when deciding permanency and termination. Department officials, foster parents, adoptees, and child welfare advocates testified that the bill would protect children from re-traumatization and give courts clearer statutory guidance. Some members raised due process and parental-rights concerns, arguing the bill could expand agency power or reduce protections, but after a failed motion to hold the bill in committee, the committee approved it on a roll call vote and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also resumed testimony on House Bill 808, which would expand the Medical Freedom Act. County, hospital, city, business, and public health witnesses opposed the bill, saying it would create conflicts with federal health and accreditation rules, weaken school and child care immunization protections, reduce the usefulness of the IRIS immunization registry, and interfere with employer and public-safety decisions. Supporters argued the bill would strengthen bodily autonomy and parental choice and reduce coercion around vaccines. The sponsor closed by saying the bill was about protecting private medical decisions, but no final action on HB 808 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would also note that back in August of this year, you know, there were some crime statistics that
• statistics that were not were some crime statistics that were not reported.<01:35:10.800><c> Aaliyah
• </c> them to to make sure that we get crime them to to make sure that we get crime under<01:37:36.400
• </c> member who has been convicted of a crime member who has been convicted of a crime that<03:01:09.920
• ,</c> pharmaceutical, semiconductor, computer, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, computer, electronics.<

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• please tell me why you did not carve out services for seniors or after-school programs that reduce crime
• Representative Nixon: Crime goes up when people don't have anything to do, particularly young people
• Representative Nixon: That helps keep them occupied and not going into a life of crime because they're
• The vast majority of those are computer algorithm generated.
• It's literally called computer assisted mass appraisal.

Transcript Highlights:

• When a person is suspected of a crime and then is arrested, the first thing ...person is suspected of
• committing violence and other crimes, excuse me, against innocent Americans, and I support House Bill
• And when my officers could be out actually investigating crimes and responding to calls, they're going
• And I think that that creates extra training for officers and then creates interfaces for computers and
• I mean, it's not the crime of the century. Okay, Representative Church. Representative Church.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 660, which would require law enforcement agencies to record and publish biannual reports on the immigration status and nationality of arrested individuals. Sponsor Rep. Dale Hawkins said the bill was intended to give Idahoans and lawmakers clearer statewide data on how many arrested or incarcerated people lack legal immigration status and what that costs the state. Supporters from Secure Idaho argued the bill would use information already gathered during booking, improve transparency, and help policymakers manage immigration-related impacts. Opposition came from the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, whose representative said the bill would burden city police with extra administrative work, create confusion about which agency should collect the information, potentially require officers to ask citizens about nationality, and impose fiscal and operational costs. Questions from committee members focused on whether sheriffs already collect the data, whether the bill would duplicate existing booking procedures, and whether the fiscal note was accurate. The sponsor said he had not consulted local law enforcement before introducing the bill, but argued the reporting should occur at the jail booking stage and that software providers indicated the data entry would be simple. After public testimony and closing remarks, Rep. Wheeler moved to hold the bill in committee, but that motion failed 8-7. The committee then voted on the original motion to send HB 660 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and that motion passed 8-7. The chair noted there was interest in possible cleanup of the bill’s language, and the meeting adjourned with a reminder that the committee may need to meet again later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• We work closely with APD and their crime lab. And so the issue is not an unknown issue.
• Part of the issue was that it wasn't that these kits had made it to the crime lab.
• This feels like a crime. Not doing it right. And it feels like they don't care.
• This feels like a crime that people don't care about. I tell you who cares about it: it's us.
• The rest of the state comes here to Santa Fe to the DPS crime lab.

Bills: SB132, SM16, SM17

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 132, a Department of Information Technology modernization measure sponsored by Senator Padilla. The bill would update state IT statutes to explicitly include software and cloud-based services alongside hardware and equipment, with the goal of improving planning, procurement, security, and efficiency. Secretary Manny Budettas said the change would help modernize secure services, reduce emergency fixes, and better align state purchasing with current software-as-a-service models. Members asked about centralized integration across branches of government, cybersecurity protections, the revolving fund, and agency billing; the bill was reported out with a do pass on the committee substitute. The committee then considered Senate Memorial 16, which asks Higher Education to convene a task force on parenting students in New Mexico’s higher education system. Senator Harmeo and witnesses described barriers such as child care, transportation, flexible scheduling, and financial hardship, and said the memorial would gather data and recommendations rather than create a new program. Members discussed how the survey would be administered, whether it would include full-time and part-time students, and how online or out-of-state students would be handled; the memorial was approved with a do pass. Finally, the committee heard Senate Memorial 17, sponsored by Senator Lopez, directing DPS and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to study the current state of sexual assault examination kits. Witnesses reviewed the 2016 task force that addressed a backlog of more than 5,000 untested kits and said a new backlog of 1,419 kits is now beyond the 180-day testing target. Members expressed strong concern about the delays, asked about lab capacity, possible use of private or additional labs, and the lack of penalties for missing the deadline. The memorial passed with a do pass, and the committee then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two major crimes that are being committed.
• a 58% reduction in violent crime and a 25% reduction citywide in violent crime in Austin.
• More police in these high-crime areas reduces crime 100%.
• We work alongside crime survivors and over 15,000 members in our Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
• We work alongside crime survivors and over 15,000 members in our Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so basically, this crime of jugging is the preparation of robbing someone.
• This creates a crime for that and makes it a Class A.
• There was no crime on the books for that, right?
• I don't think that it is an issue per computer.
• The amendments are not appearing on our computer, so we haven't seen it.

Bills: HB200, HB541, HB1803, HB30, HB175, HB249, HB721, HB851, HB897, HB 1128, HB1904, HB1916, HB5560, HB3071, HB5627, HB5435, HB3913, HB2921, HB2695, HB2688, HB3045, HB3483, HB3673, HB4213, HB4226, HB783, HB4373, HB4735, HB5155, HB5057, HB4984, HB4944, HB4813, HB5339, HB5196, HB5033, HB4853, HB3486, HB4211, HB74, HB4670, HB4730, HB4743, HB4603, HB4463, HB3892, HB4139, HB4752, HB4520, HB4517, HB4486, HB4437, HB4426, HB4396, HB4263, HB3487, HB3418, HB2284, HB2266, HB2229, HB4912, HB2189, HB4506, HB5269, HB5224, HB5195, HB3317, HB4166, HB3947, HB3358, HB3370, HB4438, HB3745, HB3602, HB3697, HB2001, HB1968, HB3371, HB3909, HCR7, SB1744, SB1364, SB1316, HB2026, HB3302, HB3368, HB1639, HB5652, HB4655, HB5654, HB5658, HB5656, HB4894, HB4996, HB5088, HB5650, HB4464, HB3751, HB5665, HB5661, HB 1237, HB2802, HB5437, HB2703, HB5666, HB5667, HCR113, HCR86, SB2196, SB463, SB856, SB1245, SB1169, SB509, SB985, SB305, SB552, HB1535, HB 123, HB1804, HB426, HB1773, HB1871, HB2035, HB2492, HB1411, HB4753, HB4666, HB4529, HB1499, HB1610, HB2028, HB1506, HB886, HB3546, HB796, HB223, HB3556, HB2448, HB4638, HB 111, HB180, HB 1027, HB 1178, HB610, HB 1277, HB1615, HB1620, HB5342, HB4885, HB4751, HB4530, HB4488, HB2149, HB2071, HB2282, HB2248, HB2243, HB2522, HB2310, HB2513, HB2300, HB1902, HB1813, HB3719, HB4284, HB3743, HB3778, HB5153, HB5147, HB4877, HB4850, HB3261, HB3005, HB3033, HB2849, HB2967, HB3531, HB1768, HB333, HB2914, HB2613, HB3717, HB3704, HB2697, HB3801, HB3099, HB3488, HB3477, HB3466, HB3396, HB3469, HB2594, HB2776, HB2564, HB2298, HB5331, HB5646, HB5247, HB5323, HB4384, HB3896, HB4014, HB3627, HB3594, HB2524, HB510, HB561, HB5111, HB5446, HB 1181, HB3963, HB2785, HB1661, HB2460, HB200, HB541, HB1803, HB30, HB175, HB249, HB721, HB851, HB897, HB 1128, HB1904, HB1916, HB5560, HB3071, HB5627, HB5435, HB3913, HB2921, HB2695, HB2688, HB3045, HB3483, HB3673, HB4213, HB4226, HB783, HB4373, HB4735, HB5155, HB5057, HB4984, HB4944, HB4813, HB5339, HB5196, HB5033, HB4853, HB3486, HB4211, HB74, HB4670, HB4730, HB4743, HB4603, HB4463, HB3892, HB4139, HB4752, HB4520, HB4517, HB4486, HB4437, HB4426, HB4396, HB4263, HB3487, HB3418, HB2284, HB2266, HB2229, HB4912, HB2189, HB4506, HB5269, HB5224, HB5195, HB3317, HB4166, HB3947, HB3358, HB3370, HB4438, HB3745, HB3602, HB3697, HB2001, HB1968, HB3371, HB3909, HCR98, HCR92, HCR126, HCR7

Keywords: juvenile offenders, parole eligibility, youth justice, criminal justice reform, inmate rehabilitation, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, dentist, dental hygienist, interstate practice, licensure, compact privilege, public health, military members, disaster relief, tax rates, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyone with a phone and app, a computer, access to the internet.
• This funding provides a key safety net for victims of crime, and I thank you for your time.
• This funding provides a key safety net for victims of crime, and I thank you for your time.
• The gap in federal Victims of Crime Act funding.
• This funding provides a key safety net for victims of crime, and I thank you for your time.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:21:17.160><c> on</c><00:21:17.280><c> your</c><00:21:17.400><c> home</c><00:21:17.560><c> computer
• ,</c> putting them on your home computer, putting them on your home computer, there<00:21:18.960><c>
• don't think we can pretend for one second that this federal administration cares about victims of crime
• cares<00:36:50.320><c> about</c><00:36:50.600><c> victims</c><00:36:51.000><c> of</c><00:36:51.120><c> crime
• </c> cares about victims of crime. cares about victims of crime.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the Health Finance and Policy bill, and first adopted the A8 amendment, described as a set of technical fixes. Members then considered a large A9 amendment that bundled a wide range of Children and Families provisions, including child care licensing modernization, crisis nursery licensing, SNAP/MFIT-related language, child care provider self-reporting, a physical abuse recognition poster, child protection and welfare provisions, funding for parent support outreach, and forensic interview training scholarships. Supporters described it as bipartisan work with relatively small fiscal impact, while opponents said it greatly expanded the bill and should be handled separately; after a roll call, the A9 amendment failed 7-14. Representative Scott then offered the A11 amendment, raising concerns about new all-payer claims database language and whether it should have been heard in the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. Department of Health staff explained the data-sharing safeguards, de-identification process, fee structure, and enforcement provisions, but Scott remained concerned about privacy and the scope of the program and withdrew the amendment. The committee then moved to final bill discussion. Members and authors described HF 4466 as a lean health finance bill largely conforming Minnesota law to federal HR1 Medicaid-related changes, including work requirements, retroactive eligibility limits, cost-sharing, and home equity provisions. Supporters argued conformity was necessary to avoid major federal funding losses and noted a few additional member bills in the package; opponents criticized the federal changes as harmful, especially for vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Fiscal staff said the bill would save just over $2 million in FY 2026-27 and almost $98 million in FY 2028-29. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to compute law in April 2025. to compute law in April 2025.
• Um it's about computation. So it's about computation.
• Um it's about computation.
• Um it's about computation. So it's about computation.
• </c> computer. Yeah. computer. Yeah.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a career as a computer consultant.
• She had no computer, she could not afford the cost of internet, and she had few digital skills.
• I do computer classes, workshops, one-on-one help.”
• I do computer classes, workshops, one-on-one help.
• The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a national, century-old, not-for-profit organization.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy opened its hearing with testimony on several broadband, towing, and rideshare-related bills. The first major issue was H. 3470/S. 2259, which would add data privacy and integrity protections for transportation network driver information. Rideshare drivers and labor advocates strongly opposed the bill, saying it would delay implementation of Question 3, which Massachusetts voters approved to give rideshare drivers a path to unionize. Drivers described low pay, deactivations, harassment, safety risks, and the need for a union to negotiate fairer working conditions. Legal and labor experts testified that the bill was largely duplicative of existing law and regulations and would unnecessarily postpone drivers’ organizing rights. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on broadband affordability and access bills, including S. 2318/H. 3527 and related measures. Supporters, including legislators, digital equity advocates, senior advocates, and service providers, said low-income households need a permanent affordable broadband option after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ended. They argued that internet access is now essential for jobs, school, health care, housing, and daily life, and supported a flat-rate low-income plan around $15 per month with protections such as no installation fees or termination fees. Opponents from cable and wireless industry groups argued the bills would impose artificial price mandates, discourage investment, and reduce consumer choice, noting that providers already offer discounted programs. The committee also heard support for broadband deployment and pole-attachment streamlining bills, with providers and municipal broadband advocates saying permitting delays and pole access bottlenecks slow expansion and raise costs. Additional testimony covered H. 3566, which would exempt municipal broadband projects from surety bond requirements, and towing-related bills including S. 2235, H. 3507, H. 3516, and H. 3482. Insurance and anti-fraud witnesses supported stronger towing protections, saying some towers charge excessive fees and hold vehicles hostage, while one witness urged broader consumer safeguards. The hearing ended after the chairs shortened testimony to fit the room schedule, asked for final comments on remaining bills, and then adjourned by motion and voice vote.