Transcript Highlights:

• And that is to keep temporary contract workers, uh, in our offices, uh, and keep that staffing that we
• And that is to keep temporary contract workers, uh, in our offices, uh, and keep that staffing that we
• uh in our offices uh and and workers uh in our offices uh and and keep<00:14:32.800> that<00:
• and start shifting toward state workers filling those positions.
• and start shifting toward state workers filling those positions.

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:47 Maintenance 12:40 Approval of Minutes 12:55 Vehicle Regulation 21:08 General Admin and Highways 34:11 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum at first, then later approved the minutes once quorum was established. The committee heard presentations from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Jeremy Slinker, and Sean McCarnieran on maintenance, vehicle regulation, general administration, highways, and related capital projects. Hancock emphasized that maintenance is the cabinet’s most visible public service, especially for snow and ice removal and routine roadway upkeep, and said rising costs have outpaced funding. He cited a 61% increase in highway construction costs since 2020 and said maintenance spending was $488 million in FY 2024 and $511 million in FY 2025, while the FY 2026 baseline request was $483.3 million. The cabinet’s additional maintenance request would add $23.6 million in FY 2027 and $38.6 million in FY 2028, with expected impacts on litter pickup, mowing, vegetation management, and pothole repair if not funded. The cabinet also outlined five maintenance-related capital projects: additional funding for Ballard County maintenance/salt storage, Hopkins County maintenance/salt storage, Whitley County maintenance/salt structure, and the District 2 office and materials lab, plus reauthorization of the Breckinridge County maintenance and salt facility. Hancock also asked for budget language allowing the cabinet to use unexpected restricted and federal funds more quickly, similar to existing authority for federal earmarks. McCarnieran described the governor’s inclusion of funding for the ASHTOWare system, employee health exams, priority IT projects, and a District 7 office renovation request, noting that some items were not funded because they ranked low among competing projects. He also said the governor’s budget included a $7.5 million annual maintenance pool for the cabinet’s 1,200 facilities and requested additional restricted fund authority for Trimark and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Slinker focused on the Department of Vehicle Regulation, saying recent investments in staffing and equipment had reduced wait times and improved customer service in driver licensing offices. He requested $535,600 to keep temporary contract workers in place for the rest of the year, warning that without it regional office operations would have to be reduced. He said the surge in demand was driven by new 15-year-old licensing requirements, vision testing, and Real ID implementation, but believed the volume was beginning to level out. He also outlined FY 2027 and FY 2028 plans totaling $20.38 million and $19.85 million, including six new regional offices and a shift away from temporary workers toward state positions. Additional requests included $106,000 for debt service on the new driver’s license modernization system and operating costs of $5 million in FY 2027 and $2.5 million in FY 2028 to support the transition from the old system. Members asked about the cabinet’s funding sources, and officials said the road fund is the primary source, supported by motor fuels tax, usage tax, driver-related receipts, and some restricted funds; they stressed that the requests were not for additional general fund dollars. Questions also covered employee health exam reimbursements, the annual Trimark/Cumberland Gap contract, and the District 7 renovation request. No votes were taken on the budget items during the meeting, beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As was discovered in the Sunset Commission review, TDCJ staff lost 95 years of comp time in fiscal year
• As was discovered in the Sunset Commission review, TDCJ staff lost 95 years of comp time in fiscal year
• This means they work the equivalent of 95 years for free due to the inability to use the comp time that
• This means they work the equivalent of 95 years for free due to the inability to use the comp time that
• Thank you for the mitigation of heat monies and safety equipment for workers in TDC.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Brown used the as a wage for food service workers, um, the custodians, right?
• My best guess is many of those food service workers are less than that.
• And we likely can live with that, or there's other mechanisms, you know, workers' comp or whatever it
• in the school... a food service worker in the school district?
• Our food service worker, we start them out at $16.50.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Logan Howard and licensed master social worker, director of committee impact I'm Madam Chair
• I'm a licensed master social worker, director of community impact and public policy for Families and
• Social workers are the backbone of our organization.
• And we did hear about it, Madam Chair, at one point because we had forgotten social workers.
• There have been places where we've done that, I've said, in workers' comp specifically and other state-sponsored

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > packaging components brands that use packaging components brands that use those<00:33:27.519> comp
• components<00:33:28.440> and<00:33:28.559> some<00:33:28.760> folks those comp
• components and some folks those comp components and some folks that<00:33:29.159> recycle<00:
• and pharmacists to grow as well as cover the full amount that we would expect to provide to social workers

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to cesspools, Red Hill cleanup, water testing, environmental governance, and beverage container recycling. For SB 472, SB 501, SB 675, and SB 958 on cesspools, most testimony supported accelerating cesspool conversion and expanding Department of Health capacity, though the Attorney General flagged a single-subject issue on SB 472 and the Department of Health and others raised concerns about funding, program structure, and coordination. Supporters emphasized cesspools as a major water pollution source and urged earlier deadlines, while some testimony questioned the tax credit approach and asked for clearer grant and staffing language. For SB 639 on underground storage tanks and Red Hill cleanup, the Department of Health asked for clearer cleanup standards and noted limits on laboratory detection and sampling, while supporters argued the bill would create a binding legal standard for remediation and help prevent reopening of the facility. Testimony also stressed the need to remove all contamination to the extent practicable and protect aquifers and drinking water. SB 664 on water quality testing drew strong support from residents and water advocates, but the Department of Health warned the measure could duplicate existing authority and create significant cost; the Board of Water Supply supported the concept while noting it would expand responsibilities into private-property testing. SB 674 on environmental advisory council and waste reduction received mixed testimony: supporters said it would help address landfill siting and protect water resources, while industry groups requested changes to advisory council membership and exemptions for certain products, and one witness opposed the measure. For SB 1067 on deposit beverage container recycling, the Attorney General said the grant language may be constitutionally problematic because it lacks standards, while industry testimony both supported the recycling goals and asked for amendments, including broader representation on the advisory council and clearer treatment of compostable and packaging-related issues. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we feel that the best way to ensure that these workers are protected is to allow workers themselves
• Yesterday, I helped members navigate a workers' comp claim for being exposed to harsh chemicals.
• Maryland enacted an LPA law for casino workers.
• A worker in a dispensary in Boston would probably be at a higher starting rate than a worker at a dispensary
• A worker in a dispensary in Boston would probably be at a higher starting rate than a worker at a dispensary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held its fourth hearing, with opening remarks from Senate Chair Adam Gómez and House Chair Dan Donahue emphasizing the committee’s broad agenda, including retail modernization, labor protections, advertising rules, sustainability, and financial resources. Testimony began with public health advocates supporting H.157/S.9 to ban cannabis billboard advertising, arguing that billboards normalize use for youth and are linked to cannabis-related harms such as psychosis, addiction, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Witnesses cited research, family stories, and court decisions in Mississippi and Virginia upholding similar restrictions, while committee members questioned the scope of the state’s authority to regulate billboards on private property and the relevance of federal highway funding and federal cannabis law. The committee also heard testimony on H.175, a proposal to allow cannabis drive-through sales. A dispensary operator argued drive-throughs would improve access, especially for disabled customers and veterans, and said security and ID checks could be handled with cameras and staff screening. Committee members pressed him on how employees would assess impairment, whether drive-throughs could increase access for minors, and whether the industry should be treated like alcohol, with the witness responding that staff already refuse service to intoxicated customers and that education, not prohibition, is the better approach. Another bill, H.3982, would apply the bottle deposit law to carbonated hemp- or THC-infused beverages; the sponsor said the measure would standardize recycling requirements for products already sold in dispensaries and other markets, and members asked about container types and recycling compatibility. A major portion of the hearing focused on labor peace agreements, with UFCW representatives, cannabis workers, and Sen. Lydia Edwards supporting S.77/H.161. They said the bill would require cannabis businesses to remain neutral when workers seek to organize, arguing that unions improve safety, wages, benefits, and job stability in an industry they described as underregulated and prone to retaliation. Witnesses cited workplace hazards, wage theft, and the death of a worker at a Holyoke facility as examples of why stronger worker protections are needed. Committee members asked how the proposal differs from existing labor law, whether tying LPAs to licensing and renewal could create legal or administrative problems, and how other states handle similar requirements. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• With 78% of Eagan workers using private vehicles to commute to work, parking is a practical necessity
• The Met Council sort of oversees the metro area for comp plans and affordable housing goals.
• /c><00:49:58.319> metro<00:49:58.720> area<00:49:59.280> for<00:49:59.599> comp
• <00:49:59.920> plans<00:50:00.559> and uh the metro area for comp plans and uh the
• metro area for comp plans and affordable<00:50:01.440> housing<00:50:01.839> goals.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but in terms of maybe the workforce, can you share any trends that you've seen as it relates to workers
• Any trends that you've seen as it relates to workers in the workforce in this industry?
• many of my colleagues here, as well as the benefits and the quality of life that you all allow for workers
• the CPC, and all the stakeholders involved, but want to just point to those two issues around the workers
• They're not covered by workers' comp.

Summary: The hearing focused on transportation network companies in California, with the chair framing it as an informational hearing on the history, regulation, safety, climate, accessibility, and data issues surrounding Uber, Lyft, and smaller or autonomous TNC services. The CPUC described its decade-long regulatory role, including safety rules, background checks, insurance requirements, reporting obligations, and two major legislative programs from 2018: the Clean Miles Standard and the Access for All program. Members asked about complaint trends, data collection and disclosure, program implementation, and how the CPUC uses annual reports for policymaking, compliance, and program oversight. Uber and Lyft said the statewide framework has supported growth while providing safety and access benefits, but both companies emphasized that insurance is a major cost driver and argued that California’s UM/UIM requirement is unusually high compared with other vehicles. They said the Clean Miles Standard is pushing electrification but faces headwinds from EV affordability and charging infrastructure, while Access for All has expanded wheelchair-accessible service but still needs continued support. They also discussed transit partnerships, wildfire response, and the potential role of autonomous vehicles, with both companies saying human drivers will remain important and that future regulation should account for new technology. The final panel, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley researchers, presented evidence that TNCs have increased congestion and reduced transit ridership, especially in dense urban areas. They described prior research showing TNCs contributed to congestion growth in San Francisco and noted that this work helped spur local taxes on ride-hailing trips to fund safety and transit improvements. The panel also discussed the CPUC’s evolving data-disclosure decisions, arguing that public access to TNC trip data is important for understanding transportation impacts and informing local policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a little bit of background on workers' comp: last year we approved the 13th consecutive reduction
• in workers' compensation rates.
• background on workers comp so this year background on workers comp so this year or<00:43:26.559>
• 13th consecutive reduction in workers 13th consecutive reduction in workers compensation<00:43:33.440
• 65% reduction in our workers 65% reduction in our workers compensation<00:43:48.000> rates

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• chair<00:04:05.519> before<00:04:05.799> we<00:04:05.959> do ahead or Mr comp
• Mr chair before we do ahead or Mr comp Mr chair before we do that<00:04:06.519> I<00:04:07.239
• Comp? no comments, just technical amendments to the amendment.
• <00:04:42.639> no handed up Miss Nash or Mr comp no handed up Miss Nash or Mr comp no comments
• through<00:07:33.000> the<00:07:33.280> or<00:07:33.400> Mr<00:07:33.720> comp

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And not just know them, love them, you know, call them neighbor, call them co-worker, call them small
• And not just know them, love them, you know, call them neighbor, call them co-worker, call them small
• And not just know them, love them, you know, call them neighbor, call them co-worker, call them small
• , co-worker, co-worker, call<00:43:22.080> them<00:43:22.560> small<00:43:22.920> business
• <01:13:16.240> sports, Even in non-comp on non-contact sports, Even in non-comp on non-contact

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much. towns will lose the workers and families towns will lose the workers and families
• <01:20:24.679> compensation<01:20:25.159> grants<01:20:25.639> we've the comp
• compensation grants we've the comp compensation grants we've created<01:20:26.159> a<01:20:26.320
• <01:40:14.040> spent<01:40:14.400> time occurred one case workers spent time occurred
• one case workers spent time understanding<01:40:15.320> the<01:40:15.480> relatives<01

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also authorized to speak on behalf of Unite Here Local 17, representing 6,000 hospitality workers
• , and UFCW 663, representing 15,000 retail, grocery, meat-packing, health care, and more workers.
• testifiers I just want to remind the testifiers I know<01:16:28.600> this<01:16:28.840> comp
• this<01:16:29.360> is<01:16:29.480> a<01:16:29.679> complicated know this comp
• this is a complicated know this comp this is a complicated topic<01:16:30.800> and<01:16:30.960

Bills: HF10, HF27

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, permit to carry, concealed carry, handgun permit, firearm permit, pistol training, sheriff, application process, electronic filing, mail application, fax submission, certified mail, certified delivery, gun rights, Second Amendment, firearms regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• So we looked at, um, what are the direct staff worker wages and benefits, what are their salaries, what
• increasing reimbursement rates or comp increasing reimbursement rates or comp uh<00:39:43.240>
• will have the ability that the workers will have the ability to<00:51:36.119> uh<00:51:36.240
• My name is Jessica Brisbo, and I am a licensed clinical social worker and the manager of acute mental
• and the manager of acute social worker and the manager of acute mental<01:01:12.640> health<01

Bills: HF1005

Keywords: health insurance, medical assistance, behavioral health, reimbursement rates, primary care services, physician fee schedule, managed care, residential services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ribbon project, large-scale development projects which trade state preemption over local government comp
• while the remainder may be developed over 50 years in the towns and cities, regardless of underlying comp
• Over 50 years in the towns and cities regardless of underlying comp plan and land use allocations.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 330, by Sen. Bradley, clarified the heart disease presumption for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, including allowing a prior physical exam to count if a transferring officer is not given a new one; an amendment declaring the act an important state interest was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. SB 594, by Sen. Burton, would make mobile home residents eligible for local housing assistance programs such as SHIP for lot rent and home repairs; it received supportive testimony from manufactured-home advocates and passed favorably. SB 840, by Sen. DeSigley, revised hurricane-related land-use restrictions from prior legislation by shortening the affected area from 100 miles to 50 miles, ending certain temporary limits on June 30, 2026, and exempting some water, flood, and state/federal planning matters; it passed favorably after supportive comments from local-government interests and members noting the need to fix unintended consequences of prior law. The committee also approved SB 526, by Sen. Grawe, which addresses no-damages-for-delay clauses in public construction contracts, creates a uniform commercial permit application, requires permit fee reductions when private providers are used, and adds mitigation to statewide product approval categories. County representatives testified with concerns about the contracting language, unfunded mandates, and fee reductions, but the bill passed favorably. SB 504, by Sen. Burgess, creates a statewide framework for code inspector body camera use, and SB 506, its linked public-records bill, exempts certain sensitive content from disclosure; both passed favorably with support from the sponsor and no opposition in committee. The most heavily debated measure was SB 354, by Chair McLean, which creates a “blue ribbon project” framework for very large developments that trade state preemption over local land-use regulation for reserving at least 60% of the land for conservation, agriculture, recreation, utilities, and related uses. The bill drew significant testimony from environmental groups, counties, smart-growth advocates, and local residents who argued it could weaken local control, reduce public review, and allow sprawl or inadequate infrastructure planning; supporters argued it could help address housing needs and preserve large amounts of land. The committee adopted two amendments clarifying reserve-area easements and requiring certain easements to be granted without charge, and the committee then reported the bill favorably, with some senators noting they supported it in concept but wanted further changes before later stops.

Transcript Highlights:

• have loved my country in a way<00:04:51.199> that<00:04:51.440> some<00:04:51.759> comp
• <00:04:52.240> some<00:04:52.560> people<00:04:53.440> consider way that some comp
• some people consider way that some comp some people consider sentimental<00:04:55.280> and<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• imply that the, the taxpayers' uh, appeal based on equity is invalid, that they can only use other comps
• process or have not gone through the hearing process, and you can, you can decide which ones are good comps
• I'm here today to serve as a resource for you, and we stand ready to assist the Comp holders Property

Bills: HB148, HB203, HJR30

Keywords: HB 148, Texas Education Code, Texas Education Agency, TEA, artificial intelligence, AI, machine learning, automated scoring, constructed response, open-ended answers, student assessments, state testing, standardized tests, public schools, education policy, assessment instruments, school accountability, test scoring, 2026-2027 school year, ad valorem tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Brodeur: It is the purview of the local government to provide a comp plan.
• providing this bill is we provide an express preemption so we don't have anybody playing games with comp
• What happens if you have local governments who could sue or not do their comp plan that could hold up

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, our state workers' comp system discounts CRNAs by 15%, which is similar to what it sounds like
• And those rates were done in collaboration with the physician community, in that case, workers' comp
• to develop aggressive, life-threatening disease—men who are fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, co-workers

Bills: HB2176, HB2333, HB2435, HB2447, HB2617, HB2683, HB2686, HB2725, HB2726, HB2906, HB2953, HB2958

Keywords: health care, licensure, complaints, investigation, safety, patient care, regulatory compliance, prosthetics, orthotics, health insurance, Medicare, medical necessity, disability rights, coverage, reimbursement, internationally trained physicians, medical board, clinical training, provisional license, healthcare workforce

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several health care bills. HB 2726 would require Access contractors to cover diagnosis and treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea, including a new prescription tongue-stimulation device; supporters said it offers an effective, less burdensome alternative to CPAP and could improve adherence and outcomes, while Access was neutral and raised concerns about cost and bypassing its normal clinical review. The committee adopted the Bliss amendment and then approved HB 2726 as amended on an 8-4 due-pass vote. HB 2435 would create a pathway for internationally trained physicians to receive a provisional Arizona medical license, with a later amendment adding a four-year supervised rural practice requirement and automatic conversion to a full license if criteria are met. Supporters argued it would help address severe physician shortages in rural and underserved areas, especially for cardiology and other specialties, and several doctors testified about their experience and the need for more access. Opponents, including the Arizona Medical Board, said the state already has a case-by-case licensure process for foreign-trained physicians and warned the bill could weaken safeguards and allow insufficiently vetted applicants. After adopting the amendment, the committee approved HB 2435 as amended on a due-pass recommendation. HB 2958 would require Access to cover comprehensive dental care for pregnant women age 21 and older, with a $500,000 pilot program and reporting requirements. The sponsor and public health advocates said preventive dental care during pregnancy can reduce infections and improve maternal and infant outcomes, and the bill drew broad support from health and advocacy groups. The committee passed HB 2958 on an 11-1 due-pass vote. The committee also approved HB 2176, which changes criteria and timelines for health care institution licensing complaints and informal dispute resolution, with supporters saying it would improve transparency and predictability for hospitals while preserving enforcement authority. Finally, the committee heard HB 2447, which would bar insurers from paying certified registered nurse anesthetists less than physicians for the same anesthesia service; opponents argued it would interfere with contract negotiations and raise costs, while supporters said insurer reimbursement cuts are harming rural access and shifting costs to hospitals. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 2447, before any committee vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's state workers, municipal workers, county workers, fire and police.
• You know, you've got your pension, you've got your savings in the firm with deferred comp, and hopefully