Transcript Highlights:

• We're also adding a new section four to read: any state agencies desiring to utilize exemptions from
• 02:24.800> agencies<00:02:25.280> Desiring<00:02:25.680> to<00:02:25.840> utilize
• state agencies Desiring to utilize state agencies Desiring to utilize exemptions<00:02:26.720>
• also com controller chair members Keith<00:27:37.120> comproller<00:27:37.520> R<00:27
• I have zero control of the website, so I have zero control of the timing for them posting it on the website

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing. During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• to help control the price. to help control the price.
• how could we offer our utilities how could we offer our utilities assurance assurance assurance
• confidence that if it's the utility confidence that if it's the utility industry<03:16:07.040>
• out to engineers from across the utility out to engineers from across the utility industry<03:29
• have control over polluting this land. have control over polluting this land.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it is a local control issue.
• Utilities use different names for their programs, application pathways are complicated, and utilities
• <03:29:39.160> from preventing the utility companies from preventing the utility companies
• information on utility websites, standardizes the PIP name across providers, requires utilities to notify
• Across investor-owned utilities, requires clear program information on utility websites, standardizes

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a large third-reading consent calendar containing many House bills, most of them dealing with appropriations, fund transfers, repeals of programs or cash funds, and related budget adjustments. The calendar included measures affecting broadband infrastructure, early childhood prevention services, school food programs, reading and assessment programs, higher education funding, human services funding models, disaster and transportation funds, public safety communications, and several other state cash funds and reserve requirements. Most of the bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from individual senators on specific measures. Before the consent calendar vote, Senator Catlin recognized a Montrose leadership class visiting the chamber. The Senate then adopted the consent calendar, with the clerk recording numerous individual no votes on particular bills. Among the more notable measures passed were bills related to the Healthy School Meals for All program, the state education fund, the Affordable Housing Financing Fund, kinship care, judicial discipline, public defender/prosecutor behavioral health support, public safety personnel health benefits, multimodal transportation funding, unclaimed property transfers, tobacco education funds, and preschool funding. Several bills were approved unanimously or near-unanimously, while others had more divided votes. The chamber then debated Senate Bill 90, which exempts critical infrastructure from the Consumer Repair Bill of Rights Act. Senator Snyder explained that the bill had been revised after stakeholder discussions with opponents, the governor’s office, and the attorney general’s office; the amendment L006 was described as narrowing and defining the exemption, giving the Attorney General rulemaking authority, and preserving district court review. Senator Carson supported the amendment and said it clarified that the bill focused on business-to-business and business-to-government equipment rather than retail consumer products. The amendment was adopted 35-0, and the bill then passed 22-13. The Senate also passed House Bill 1351 on the Healthy School Meals for All program, with Senator Kirkmeyer saying it repays money previously transferred from the state education fund and does not reduce program funding or transparency. House Bill 1353 on state-administered social studies assessments passed 25-10, and House Bill 1359 on school land mineral revenues passed 28-7. The final portion of the transcript shows additional House bills being read and passed, including measures on housing financing, reserve reductions, cash fund transfers, child welfare subsidies, kinship care, judicial discipline, public safety benefits, multimodal transportation, unclaimed property transfers, tobacco education funds, and preschool funding, with several senators recording no votes and Senator Kirkmeyer noting concerns about transparency in cash fund balances during the debate on House Bill 1405.

Transcript Highlights:

• You were seeing orthodontia inappropriate utilization going out of control.
• You were seeing orthodontia inappropriate utilization going out of control.
• We are not fully utilizing AI to the extent that we can.
• That's what utilization said.
• I don't think we're utilizing all the data that we have.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission would contact the electric utility directly to inform the utility of the unsafe condition
• service termination but the utility hasn't?
• I'm Mike Hope with the Public Utility Commission. Okay, my apologies.
• DPS does not control that. Thank you. Members, any other questions?
• For the airlines, they are utilizing it because of regulations overseas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > distribution utilities can support distribution utilities can support net<00:06:40.280> metering
• amount of time to notify your utility amount of time to notify your utility your<00:07:50.600>
• sorry, utility default energy service. sorry, utility default energy service.
• on on the company, on the utility. on on the company, on the utility.
• the utility to go into the market. the utility to go into the market.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Controller Hager has always been a big proponent of utilizing alternative technologies when feasible,
• You are seeking to amend section 660002 of the Utilities Code.
• The law is not that you have to own, operate, or control old facilities. That's not Texas law.
• Utility issues against Senate Bill 924. Welcome. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
• My office takes complaints from residents. ...on their utility companies.

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of it's in a wallet that basically no one controls, and they're kind of...
• Accountability is that no one controls the network like a central bank, in my opinion.
• Well, Bitcoin is technically controlled. It got 51% attacked by the validators.
• Agentic AI will probably control most of the utilities, using distributed ledger technology as that encryption
• those networks, control over the satellites, and the protection of those networks.

Bills: SB 21, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB764, SB842

Keywords: emergency alerts, weather alerts, public safety, local government, municipality, county, website posting, online notice, emergency management, disaster preparedness, evacuation, National Weather Service, NOAA, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, localized alerts, hazard warnings, severe weather, watch warning advisory, public information

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to have insight and actual some control over that. **Mr.
• Under the system we've got for each utility, does it handle itself?
• And for the **Public Utility Council**, on page... what is it?
• Utilities often will hire.
• being out of control for the premium payer.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't control the rest of our members here. I'm just kidding.
• We're for local control except for when we're not.
• On the private school side, they are restricted to being able to only utilize the...
• I can't really control that.
• I don't think our public schools have done a very good job of utilizing this program.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we're going to help to fund the development of the software, Minnesota companies who utilize the system
• <00:01:54.360> the Minnesota companies who utilize the Minnesota companies who utilize the
• farmers will gain certainty and control farmers will gain certainty and control over<00:04:55.800
• So, this could be a rebate utilized by several companies. And one last final comment, Mr.
• be uh utilized by by several<00:18:38.800> companies.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The tracking device or application on the person within the care custody or control.
• The animal control authority that 40 may euthanize the dog if the animal control 40 Alexa place the dog
• There is the pet insurance which Senator Jones I agree is a little crazy out of control.
• The Panda Rock Act would control have require animal control or the sheriff's department to intervene
• If you imagine every utility project, every sewer project.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently do not have online filing capabilities for the gas utility annual reports. approximately
• Everything after COVID got out of control on cost, and I expected it to.
• We'll move on to page 15. or 549 can sometimes be utilized in emergency situations.
• There's not a cure for it so our mission is to continue to control it.
• And they're getting under control now, but they still haven't got it. And y'all have been.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Main control over ERCOT is essential.
• The interconnection would be consistent with free market principles and does not bring control of the
• That this bill states it shifts away from local control. I am to my constituents.
• To help push us back in line and help get the lawlessness under control for anyone in...
• They're one of the three legs of our stool, along with property taxes and utility revenues.

Bills: SB324, SB1978, SB2139, SB2401, SB2587, SB2610, SB2858, SB3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, ERCOT, Texas electric grid, interconnection, Public Utility Commission, PUC, Public convenience and necessity, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, electric utility, transmission, generation facilities, grid reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, SERC

Transcript Highlights:

• But if we need to, Utility and the functionality that we're having there for shared use of this space
• When there's overt non-utilization, is there any sort of out for reconsideration of how we're going to
• The truck lost control, spun, rolled three times, and Julian was ejected. He died at the scene.
• now, and those controls tend to degrade over time.
• now, and those controls tend to degrade over time.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• immigration controls. immigration controls.
• And to the point of local control, local control is generally a good idea.
• And to the point of local control,<01:13:47.360> local<01:13:47.760> control<01:13:48.080
• > is<01:13:48.400> generally<01:13:49.120> a control, local control is generally
• a control, local control is generally a good<01:13:49.679> idea.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the October 21 minutes, and then heard a KO presentation focused on county jail funding pressures. KO leaders and county judges said jail costs have become a statewide crisis, noting that county general fund contributions to jail budgets have risen sharply since 2019. They said the organization’s sole legislative priority this session is to “reshape the shared responsibility” for county jails through three main proposals: incentivizing regional jails, clarifying responsibility for pre-trial felony detainees, and changing the model for housing state inmates. On regional jails, KO proposed one-time state construction help for new or expanded regional facilities, allowing former county jails to become 96-hour holdover facilities, changing regional jail authority boards so each participating county jailer can serve, increasing the closed-jail supplement, and offering a one-time payment to counties that close a jail and join a regional plan. On pre-trial felony detainees, Judge Mosley argued counties bear the full cost for people held before trial, sometimes for years, and said counties should be reimbursed for time served credit when those inmates are later sentenced. On state inmates, KO said the current per diem of $35.34 is below the average daily county jail cost of $63.44, and proposed a new contract model requiring the Department of Corrections to pay actual housing costs while counties provide agreed programming such as substance use treatment, cognitive behavioral programming, re-entry services, workforce training, and academic programming. Members asked about the fiscal impact of the package, the feasibility of regional jail population thresholds, and whether the proposal could affect counties’ ability to house federal inmates. KO said regionalization should remain a local decision, that a bill draft and fiscal note were being developed, and that only certain jails are eligible to house federal inmates under existing agreements. Representative Maddox also asked about social media comments by Judge Mosley regarding homeschooling; Mosley said the remarks were unrelated to KO and apologized for any offense. Senator Mills asked what counties would do with savings from jail costs, and judges said the money would likely go to local services such as roads, ambulance service, senior programs, parks, economic development, infrastructure, broadband, and water projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• it is required to notify the commissioner's Court of the county where certain proposed municipal utility
• We've also seen a very high increase and spike in crime in our different municipal utility districts.
• Yeah, people that we don't have control over who moves into the neighborhood.
• We need more control after the development, which this doesn't have anything to do with what's already
• Uh, we are, our member districts include municipal utility districts, water control and improvement districts

Bills: HB23

Keywords: property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest, county property tax, nonprofit-owned property

Transcript Highlights:

• Petitioners requesting the creation of a municipal utility district outside of a municipality corporate
• We've also seen a very high increase and spike in crime in our different municipal utility districts.
• We need more control after the development, which this doesn't have anything to do with what's already
• This does include design and construction. infrastructure projects in municipal utility districts.
• Our member districts include Municipal Utility Districts, Water Control and Improvement Districts, and

Bills: HB23, HB363, HB447, HB954, HB23

Keywords: third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, municipal utility district, petition, county clerk, water code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, traffic impact studies, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, extraterritorial jurisdiction, county authority

Transcript Highlights:

• 42.960> cost streamlines important utility cost streamlines important utility cost relief<00:17
• Thank you, 841, the Utility Relief Act. Thank you, Mr.<00:18:07.880> President.
• the control the control of<00:19:41.679> a<00:19:41.760> state<00:19:42.280> legislature
• We have to be honest ability to control.
• recognize that they still utilize recognize that they still utilize services<01:03:15.360> such

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 6, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, received an invocation from Pastor Shannon Watkins of Souls One Outreach Cathedral in Cumberland, and welcomed several guests and student pages. The chamber also announced the week’s schedule for the final days of session, including likely double sessions later in the week and a possible Saturday hold. Administrative items included the reading of House messages, a favorable executive nominations report that was special ordered for Tuesday, and the introduction of several House bills and Senate bills on the calendar. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 841, the Utility Relief Reducing Energy Load Information for Every Family Act. Senators discussed energy affordability, ratepayer relief, utility costs, data center growth, in-state generation, and the role of programs such as RGGI, EmPower, and the RPS. Supporters said the bill provides a comprehensive short- and long-term response, including consumer transparency and low-income relief, while critics argued it did not go far enough and should have included stronger relief or pauses on renewable energy mandates. After debate and several explanations of vote, the Senate passed SB 841 by a constitutional majority, 38-affirmative votes. Earlier in the session, Senate Bill 213 on state procurement transparency and procedures also passed with 40 affirmative votes. After SB 841 passed, the Senate took up House Bill 1532, a conforming companion to the utility relief measure. The committee offered an amendment to align HB 1532 with SB 841, the amendment was adopted without objection, and the bill then passed on third reading. Senators who explained their votes largely echoed the same themes from the SB 841 debate, with some emphasizing the need for more relief and others stressing the bill’s broader policy changes and regional energy-market constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. to have control over who manages their care.
• It's simply beyond their control. So, and we know evidence of this.
• The utilization in San Diego is actually almost mirrors the statewide averages, just in terms of utilization
• The utilization in San Diego is actually almost mirror.
• The utilization in San Diego is actually almost mirrors the statewide averages, just in terms of utilization

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.