Transcript Highlights:

• We have water districts that support...
• We have to do that on the front end and make sure it does support it.
• This bill obviously has strong local support. support from the communities and landowners.
• I mean, you know, I can't support this bill, but if the...
• Cyrus Reed, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, here in support of HB 1, as we were in support of SB

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I respectfully ask for your support.
• I'm the district attorney of Parker County, um, and I'm testifying in support of House Bill 2590.
• And so that's why we're in support of the bill and I'll be happy to answer any questions.
• My name is Lisa Van Gelder, and I'm here to testify in support of House Bill 1509.
• So I urge you all, please, please support the passing of House Bill 3231.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a lot of support from Judge Cliff Brown.
• We are in support. of House Bill 1363 because we believe implicit bias is real.
• should be bipartisan support.
• And so I fully support... Any amendment you'd like to make? Well, thank you.
• I'm here to speak in strong support of HB 2613.

Bills: HB 1181 , HB3704 , HB1363 , HB1610 , HB1615 , HB1620 , HB3223 , HB1317 , HB2884 , HB2176 , HB4027 , HB1664 , HB933 , HB2613 , HB3353 , HB2086 , HB4101 , HB3441 , HB4145 , HB3455

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: judiciary, judges, justices, retired, legal assignments, judicial conduct, notary public, criminal offense, education requirements, official documents, record retention, implicit bias, bias training, judicial training, judge education, court personnel, continuing legal education, CLE, state bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:20.320><c> your</c> are what supports your are what supports your program.<00:16:22.399><c
• We're encouraging them, and we're encouraging our nonprofit partners to support the derbies and help
• They'll call behavioral health services.
• Melissa White, Division Director for Learner Support, Department of Education.
• Today we come to you with one priority only, which is support for the tram.

Committee: Senate Capital Budget

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they support governments in 2024.
• Um we support the banking introduced.
• ,</c><01:29:53.520><c> protect</c> anti-competitive behavior, protect anti-competitive behavior, protect
• </c> I've come here today in strong support I've come here today in strong support of<01:40:23.280><c
• of 1658. in strong support of 1658.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support of Senate Bill 544. support of Senate Bill 544.
• We run family support programs.
• We run family support programs.
• </c><02:11:43.280><c> They're</c> supporting their friends. They're supporting their friends.
• </c> support of HB349. support of HB349.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill creates a narrowly tailored Class B misdemeanor for specific behavior, which is to harass,
• It was supported unanimously by law enforcement and locally uncontested in the Senate.
• I think this is the reason I would support this bill.
• Hence the reason I'm here today to testify in support of Senate Bill 1278.
• And to say, in conclusion, we just again strongly support Senate Bill 1278.

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would hope you would support the two amendments, or the lines 11 through 14. Thank you.
• So please support Division B. Division B. Representative Hoverson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• And one of the suggested uses of that money was to promote an initiative that the governor supports,
• And one of the suggested uses of that money was to promote an initiative that the governor supports,
• They're the ones that bear the burden of supporting those game.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then received a gubernatorial message listing numerous bills signed by the governor. The chamber also handled conference committee business, including appointing conferees for House Bills 1003 and 1169 after refusing to concur with Senate amendments, and adopting a conference committee report on House Bill 1053, which repealed a Century Code section related to the length of the state highway system. A major portion of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 2137, which would allow supplemental feed for hunting and include an expiration date. The House divided the proposed amendments into two parts. Division A, dealing with baiting limits and setbacks near livestock facilities, drew extensive debate over private property rights, enforceability, livestock protection, and hunting access, and failed 14-76. Division B, requiring chronic wasting disease surveillance and a report to Legislative Management, also drew debate over whether the reporting requirement was necessary or too late to be useful; it failed 44-46. With both divisions defeated, the House then passed the underlying bill 56-34. The House also laid over Senate Bills 2340, 2326, and 2289. Later, it defeated Senate Bill 2325, which would have created a process for non-federal easements on wetland areas, by a vote of 4-84. It passed Senate Bill 2210, directing a legislative management study on watershed-based water management, 85-3; Senate Bill 2387, establishing rights for sexual violence survivors, 89-0; and Senate Bill 269, allowing state agencies to satisfy legal notice requirements by posting on their websites if newspaper publication is missed, 72-17. The House then excused absent members and adjourned until Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> criminal behavior, criminal behavior, there's<00:17:03.680><c> some</c><00:17:03.839><c> concern
• I’m going to support this amendment, right? I’m convinced by that.
• <c> this</c><00:46:31.680><c> amendment,</c> I'm going to support this amendment, I'm going to support
• </c> support this effort today. Thank you. support this effort today. Thank you.
• I or I ain't going to support this bill.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• us today, we have Stephanie Slowly Little and Carla Kiraco to thank them for their ongoing work in support
• </c> awareness so that we can support awareness so that we can support Marylanders Marylanders Marylanders
• ><00:03:24.640><c> ongoing</c><00:03:25.120><c> work</c><00:03:25.280><c> in</c><00:03:25.599><c> support
• </c><00:03:26.159><c> of</c> for their ongoing work in support of for their ongoing work in support of
• </c><00:59:11.920><c> forest</c> forestry boards to support forest forestry boards to support forest

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the major ones is utility spending supported by ratepayers required by regulators.
• The third is offering financial support. We heard a little bit about that.
• We can provide loans, for example, in-kind support.
• Specifically, how do we support vulnerable Californians?
• to support those actions.

Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nico Vincent... ...support. Nico Vincent, I'm here with UC Davis Health and UCDH in strong support.
• Both in strong support. Kevin Guzman, California Medical Association, in support. Thank you.
• Thank you, in support. Paul Skillan at UC... Thank you, in support.
• Ernest Walker, with UAW 4011, in strong support. Hello, Arthi Sakar, UAW, in support.
• Lee Schuller, I support it.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills on June 9. SB 1023 by Senator Laird would require insurers that cover injectable HIV PrEP under the medical benefit to also cover it through the pharmacy benefit, with supporters saying the change would reduce reimbursement delays and expand access, while health plans opposed it as an unnecessary mandate that interferes with benefit design. SB 964 by Senator Smallwood-Quivas would limit prior authorization for certain dose or frequency adjustments to covered medications, especially for chronic complex conditions; medical supporters said it would prevent harmful delays in care, while insurers argued it weakens safety and utilization controls. SB 1323 by Senator Rubio, as amended, would strengthen protections for people in immigration custody receiving medical care by requiring hospitals and facilities to inform staff how to respond to requests and allowing patients to notify family members of their location; it passed with one no vote. SB 1099 by Senator Reyes would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state and local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA rules, with supporters saying it would reduce legal uncertainty for safety-net services; it passed, though one member later changed a vote to no on the add-on roll call. The committee also took up SB 895 by Senator Wiener, a proposed $12 billion science research bond for the November ballot that would create a California scientific research funding institute. Supporters from UC, UAW, hospitals, and advocacy groups said the measure would help offset federal cuts, protect research jobs, and sustain California’s leadership in biomedical and other research; there was no opposition, and the bill passed on a party-line style vote with two no votes. SB 944, also by Senator Wiener, would stabilize Medi-Cal coverage for acupuncture, which supporters described as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological treatment for pain and other conditions that has repeatedly been threatened in the budget process; it passed unanimously. The committee also approved consent items SB 918 and SB 1202, and later cleared the remaining measures on call after roll votes and add-on votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and this is support only.
• I'm representing the SFB Alliance, and I am in support. We are in support. Thank you.
• , this is support.
• Supporting farmers is not just about supporting one sector.
• In support of SB 1550.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I support the bill 4572.
• And so we're supportive.
• I'm here representing Epic Energy in support of House Bill 4572. Mr.
• Uh, so Julie Range with Commission Shift Action, uh, we support HB 4572.
• So, you know, that in summary is why we support the bill. All right. Mr. Mayor, any questions?

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. ...in support. Thank you. Megan Schoenway, Sacramento 350, in support.
• I'm representing the SFB Alliance, and I am in support. We are in support. Thank you.
• , this is support.
• Supporting farmers is not just about supporting one sector.
• In support of AB 1550.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met as a subcommittee and announced that all bills on the agenda had revenue impacts placing them on the suspense file, so none were eligible for immediate vote. The chair also reviewed procedural rules, including the deadline for position letters and the suspense-file threshold, and later established a quorum before proceeding through the agenda. Most measures were presented, heard, and then referred to suspense without committee votes. Several bills focused on tax credits or exclusions tied to housing and property. AB 1606 proposed a five-year tax credit for small businesses facing cleanup costs from illegal dumping and encampments; AB 1971 would clarify that home-hardening retrofits are not assessable for property tax purposes; AB 2394 would create a capital gains exclusion to encourage long-term homeowners to sell and downsize; AB 1714 would offer a credit for sellers who complete required repairs for CalHFA-assisted first-time buyers; and AB 2389 would extend the property tax exclusion for newly installed solar systems. Supporters generally framed these bills as targeted relief or affordability measures, while opponents raised concerns about revenue loss, policy effectiveness, or implementation. The committee also heard a series of agriculture-related bills. AB 2427 proposed a tax credit for qualified agricultural producers to offset labor, equipment, infrastructure, and production costs, and AB 2192 would extend the state’s farm equipment sales tax exemption to local sales taxes with a General Fund backfill for local governments. Supporters argued both measures would help preserve California agriculture, jobs, and food security amid rising costs and regulatory burdens; opponents questioned the need for the subsidies and the size of the fiscal impact. Both bills were referred to suspense. Other measures included AB 1611, which would end a tax break on capital gains from single-family home sales for large corporate investors to discourage investor competition with homebuyers; AB 2522, which would exempt over-the-counter medications from sales tax; AB 2444, which would add a state deduction for ScholarShare 529 contributions and align California law with federal Roth IRA rollover rules; and AB 1550, which would allow deductions for tips and overtime. Each drew support from sponsors and allied groups, while tax reform and local government representatives opposed several bills over revenue and policy concerns. All of these measures were also sent to the suspense file, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Teresa Hodge, support. Nicole Lindsay, support. Darsan Warren, support. Joy Jackson, support.
• Annetteary Ware, support. Bayers White, support. Anateri Ware, support. Reese Howell, support.
• Deidre Frantzaw, support. Kim Smith, support. Stephen Simon, support. Mark Avery, support.
• Mark Motel, support. Michael Greenan, support. Gordon Longhofer, support. Lisa Maserio, support.
• Carla Blaylock, support. Misty Ward, support. Gina Morella, support. Carla Blaylock, support.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy considered several bills and reported all of them favorably. SB 70-24, on state planning and budgeting, was presented as a modernization of the long-range planning program to simplify reporting, remove outdated measures, and focus on key data points and outcomes; it passed without opposition. CS/SB 166, on administrative efficiency in public schools, made broad changes to school accountability and operations, including lowering the stakes of certain student assessments, giving districts more flexibility on evaluations, contracts, certification, calendars, facilities, and VPK oversight. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying that Title I funds may be used for STEM services, and another refining how advanced degrees count on salary schedules. The bill passed favorably after testimony both supporting and opposing the changes, with supporters emphasizing flexibility and opponents raising concerns about teacher evaluation and instructional practice. CS/SB 164, on vessel accountability, was described as a measure to address derelict and at-risk vessels by improving owner identification, creating a free long-term anchoring permit program, increasing penalties, and authorizing grants for local governments in the FWC prevention program. It received support from marine industry groups and was reported favorably. CS/SB 472, on education and correctional facilities for licensed professions, would allow inmates to receive credit toward licensure for qualifying coursework; a strike-all amendment added coordination with DBPR and professional boards. The bill drew support from criminal justice, business, and policy groups and passed unanimously. The committee spent the most time on CS/SB 438, on food and hemp products. Senator Burton and co-sponsor Senator Davis argued the bill was needed to regulate intoxicating hemp products, restrict child-appealing packaging and signage, ban synthetic hemp products, cap THC content in edibles and beverages, and require hemp beverages to be sold through alcohol-style distribution channels. Supporters, including alcohol distributors and some public safety advocates, said the bill would improve testing, labeling, and consumer protection. Opponents, including hemp retailers, farmers, and libertarian advocates, argued it would harm small businesses, reduce consumer choice, and push sales to the black market. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on tab five, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Legal Defense Fund in strong support, and the UCLA Voting Rights Project in strong support.
• Community Foundation in support. Karen Stout with Power California Action in support. Thank you.
• I'm going to be happy to support this today.
• I'm going to be happy to support this today.
• Anybody in the room wishing to come on as support? Any primary witnesses in support?

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alliance waving in support.
• Carrie Stevenson waiving in support of Eric Stevenson waiving in support. waiving in support of Eric
• Stevenson waiving in support.
• in support next.
• in support.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of you to please support this bill. of you to please support this bill.
• </c> um I I hope have bipartisan support. um I I hope have bipartisan support.
• </c> encourage your support. encourage your support.
• And um, I encourage your support. support. support.
• Encourage your support. Thank you, does. Encourage your support.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We support and thank the author. Mr.
• We support this bill. Heidi Pickman with Cameo Network. We support this bill. Thank you so much.
• Jessica Hay with APSME, California, in support.
• Jessica Hay with AFSCME California in support.
• if amended to full support.

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Keywords: 987, senate, all