Transcript Highlights:

• So what we decided to do was actually make a commission, not a study committee.
• So now the commission is going to bring all of those stakeholders that have done all of this intense
• So, now the commission<00:29:29.440><c> is</c><00:29:29.760><c> going</c><00:29:30.000><c> to</c><00:
• 29:30.159><c> bring</c><00:29:30.480><c> all</c><00:29:30.720><c> of</c> commission is going to bring
• all of commission is going to bring all of those<00:29:31.039><c> stakeholders</c><00:29:31.679><c>

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At some point, either, you know, as soon as P1 is secured or something like that, I think municipalities
• And basically, it allows for the State Bond Commission to issue non-cash line of credit for P5 projects
• So that's when we determine if something can happen sooner than the September Bond Commission.
• It's slated to be completed in February of 2026, with commissioning of the lab anticipated to take five
• The remaining amount, I believe, will need to be approved by the Bond Commission later in FY 27.

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, the state of Minnesota provides critical services every day for the security, benefit, and
• As you know, the state of Minnesota provides critical services every day for the security, benefit, and
• He said he is on his 15th year on the Legislative Audit Commission and has seen a lot of audits.
• Representative Quam then said that, in his 15th year on the Legislative Audit Commission, he has seen
• Representative Quam then said that, in his 15th year on the Legislative Audit Commission, he has seen

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you Chairman Gates and member of the Commission. My name is Hank Smith.
• I also used to work for what was then the Texas Water Commission, which is now TCEQ, where I regulated
• I worked for what was then the Texas Water Commission, which is now TCEQ, where I regulated MUDs.
• I worked as the, I ran the enforcement division for the Water Commission.
• I ran the Edwards Aquifer program, and I was the liaison between TxDOT and the Texas Water Commission

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Read a couple of passages from a study that the The Federal Trade Commission did in '07, quoting here
• To Healthcare delivery to some of the most vulnerable Texans in this state and it provides security and
• And we also pay their commissions.
• , um, so they don't get to keep that commission.
• Additionally, a set of recent reports by the Federal Trade Commission shined a light on the unethical

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• those who led the fight for equality and equity in sports, we think of lesbians Billie Jean King, who secured
• Billie Jean King, who secured equal pay at the U.S.
• and youth development, and currently serves as commissioner for the Los Angeles County LGBTQ Plus Commission
• In 2000, Judy played a pivotal role in securing approval of Madison Materials, a large transfer station

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session on floor recognitions and Pride Month observances. Members welcomed guests and honorees including APICA fellowship participants, the El Dorado Roses, retiring Loma Linda University Health president Dr. Richard Hart and incoming leader Dr. Anthony Hilliard, and Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Shrey Parique. The chamber also heard several personal and community tributes tied to LGBTQ+ Pride Month, including a long series of introductions of Pride honorees from across the state. The main legislative item was SR 116 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Senators Cervantes, Weber Pierson, Becker, Menjivar, Arreguín, Wahab, Ochoa Bogh, Wiener, and Laird, among others, spoke in support, emphasizing the history of Stonewall and other LGBTQ+ resistance movements, the contributions of Black, Latino, Jewish, women, and Asian American LGBTQ communities, and the need to oppose ongoing discrimination, violence, and attacks on transgender people. The resolution was adopted after a roll call vote of 28-0, and the Senate then proceeded to honor a large slate of Pride honorees from multiple districts and organizations. The Senate also adopted SCR 166 designating Soju Day, with support highlighting Korean American culture and soju as a symbol of hospitality and cross-cultural exchange. SCR 155, naming the State Route 52/Interstate 805 interchange in San Diego County the Officer Kirk Leeland Johnson Memorial Interchange, also passed unanimously after remarks honoring Johnson’s military and police service and the long effort by his partner to secure the memorial. In addition, the Senate confirmed Laura Capps to the Board of State and Community Corrections by a 27-9 vote and confirmed Danielle Munoz to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology by a 28-0 vote. The body also approved several Joint Rule 62(a) suspensions to allow committee hearings on short notice, moved AB 2294 to the inactive file, and sent SB 1189 back to the Assembly for further action. The session concluded with adjournment in memory motions for Judith Helene Ware, Huntley Gordon, and Adolfo Franceschi Colon, followed by announcements that the Senate would reconvene on June 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• those who led the fight for equality and equity in sports, we think of lesbians Billie Jean King, who secured
• Billie Jean King, who secured equal pay at the U.S.
• and youth development, and currently serves as commissioner for the Los Angeles County LGBTQ Plus Commission
• In 2000, Judy played a pivotal role in securing approval of Madison Materials, a large transfer station

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we fail to act, there will be less retirement security.
• If we fail to act, there will be less retirement security. Thank you.
• If we fail to act, there will be less retirement security. Guess what?
• Because a lot of times, I'm on the Transportation Committee, we commissioned a study on transit-oriented

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on engrossed second substitute Senate Bill 6026, which would prohibit certain GMA-planning cities and counties from excluding residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones and would limit local requirements for ground-floor commercial or mixed-use space, subject to numerous exemptions and a possible study-based off-ramp. The bill sponsor and supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, the governor’s housing policy advisor, Commerce staff, developers, labor/employer groups, and housing advocates, argued it would reduce barriers, reuse underutilized commercial land, and help address the state’s housing shortage. Cities including Bellevue, Kirkland, Bellingham, Redmond, Kent, Lacey, and Lakewood testified in opposition or with concerns, emphasizing local control, impacts on walkable neighborhoods and small businesses, implementation costs, and the need for more flexibility or clearer compliance options. Committee members asked about exemptions, the study process, and how the bill would affect existing local plans and incentives. The committee then moved to executive session on several bills. It rejected Representative Griffey’s amendment to Senate Bill 5820, which would have restored Clark County’s freight rail dependent overlay authority and added findings about greenhouse gas reductions from short line rail, and then passed SB 5820 out with a do pass recommendation. The committee also passed SB 5995, extending authorization for port districts to purchase zero- and near-zero-emission cargo handling equipment; SB 5552, directing rulemaking for kit home building codes; SB 5467, raising thresholds for water-sewer district surplus property sales; and SB 6189, removing the deadline for forming a public facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities. Each of those bills received a do pass recommendation, with some members noting support for housing, workforce, efficiency, or local flexibility and others expressing concerns about contracts, automation, or competitiveness. After executive session, the committee resumed testimony on SB 6026. Additional supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, Commerce, developers, the Washington Roundtable, Microsoft, and housing organizations, reiterated that the bill would unlock housing on vacant commercial land and preserve some local flexibility through exemptions and height incentives. Opponents and concerned cities continued to argue that the bill would weaken local planning, reduce commercial space needed for complete communities, and impose costs and implementation burdens. The hearing concluded without final action on SB 6026, with the chair noting more testimony and work remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona aerospace industry as a powerful and reliable engine of employment, innovation, national security
• And whereas the Arizona Space Commission was established to advance the state's leadership in space science
• exploration, national security, and commercial space activity by coordinating public and private sector
• in recognition of the aerospace industry's extraordinary contributions to the history, economy, security

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions and proclamations, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Nurses’ Day, Environmental Day, Teamsters Local 104, and Arizona Aerospace Day. Attendance was recorded at 57 present, zero absent, and three excused. The chamber also announced committee meetings, bill referrals, and later adjourned until Thursday, February 12, 2026. The main floor action centered on House Bill 2785, a taxation measure tied to federal tax conformity. Members debated whether Arizona should conform to federal tax changes, with supporters arguing it would validate current tax forms and provide tax relief, and opponents warning it would mainly benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations while reducing state revenue. The bill passed 32-26 with two not voting. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole for two calendars of bills. In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced HB 2190, HB 2206, HB 2396, HB 2442, and HB 2448, all on health and human services topics, with amendments adopted on the first three. HB 2206 drew extended debate over SNAP payment error rates and whether the bill would impose an unfunded mandate and make benefits harder to access; supporters said it would reduce waste and save money, while opponents said it would set DES up for failure. HB 2396, which would restrict certain SNAP purchases, drew testimony over whether it would improve nutrition or unfairly limit low-income families and create a “food police” system. HB 2442 and HB 2448 also drew criticism over added SNAP work requirements and limits on agency waiver authority during recessions. The Committee later advanced HB 2688, HB 2689, HB 2690, HB 2796, and HB 2797, including bills on government staffing, hospital immigration-status data collection, unemployment benefits, SNAP eligibility/redeterminations, and fraud reporting. HB 2689 prompted sharp opposition over fears it would deter immigrants and mixed-status families from seeking medical care, while HB 2796 and HB 2797 were criticized as adding administrative burdens and duplicative SNAP checks. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report, and a motion to amend the report to show HB 2689 failed was rejected 24-32.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona aerospace industry is a powerful and reliable engine of employment, innovation, national security
• And whereas the Arizona Space Commission was established to advance the state's leadership in space science
• exploration, national security, and commercial space activity by coordinating public and private sector
• in recognition of the aerospace industry's extraordinary contributions to the history, economy, security

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and other applicants eligible under rules established by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission
• information to advance their mass deportation agenda by sharing IRS data with the Department of Homeland Security
• information to advance their mass deportation agenda by sharing IRS data with the Department of Homeland Security
• But the encryption process involves a process called hashing, which is what the national security apparatus

Bills: HB1717 , HB1859

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, sales tax, housing programs, tax incentives, economic development, religious organizations, development, housing opportunities, land use, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and other applicants eligible under rules established by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission
• information to advance its mass deportation agenda by sharing IRS data with the Department of Homeland Security
• But the encryption process involves a process called hashing, which is what the national security apparatus
• But the encryption process involves a process called hashing, which is what the national security apparatus

Summary: House Finance heard testimony on two affordable housing bills. House Bill 1859 would expand an existing density bonus for housing on religious organization property by lowering the affordability threshold from 100% to at least 50% affordable units, requiring local policies to implement the bonus upon request, and creating a new state and local sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects with at least 50% affordable units maintained for 10 years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help projects on church-owned land pencil out amid high construction and financing costs, while a county association raised concern that the bill would create an unfunded mandate for local planning departments. Several witnesses also asked that homeownership projects be explicitly included, and staff confirmed the exemption would be administered through an exemption certificate. The committee then moved to House Bill 1717, which would authorize cities and counties to create a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing developments. Staff said the remittance would cover 100% of local taxes paid after project completion, with a 50% affordable housing threshold and 40-year affordability requirement, and the sponsor and local government and housing advocates supported it as a flexible tool to reduce development costs. Testifiers generally backed both bills, with some asking for more flexibility on income targeting and clarification on county-city interactions under HB 1717. No votes were taken; both public hearings were closed and the committee adjourned after a separate work session on the Working Families Tax Credit, where advocates urged broader eligibility, higher benefit amounts, and easier access, and a California researcher described data-linking methods used to improve tax credit take-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Post initial determination and a peer to peer is not a contractual requirement is in and secure way or
• These are teams of a Pierce peer specialist and master slow commissions responding in the community of
• The teen helped her secure first apartment that walked alongside or is she built the confidence to take
• She began rebuilding her life step by step over time she secure and stable housing, obtain full-time

Transcript Highlights:

• We did put over $17 million in capital outlay, including safety and security capital outlay, and then
• troubling situation right now because of the outlook, and so we need to give some sort of sense of security
• And cyber security, especially when we talk about the research, how that ties in, if they're able to
• The Tax Commission, right?

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• initiatives, infrastructure such as walls, roads, and surveillance systems have been built to enhance security
• Although crucial to our state's border security, it should not place an unexpected burden on property
• reasonable solution by ensuring that any increase in a property's appraised value due to the border security
• Thank you very much to the Chair, to the Members, and to the Members of the Commission.

Bills: SB2784 , HB23 , HB247 , HB1533 , HB2011 , HB2013 , HB2273 , HB2421 , HB2464 , HB3120 , HB3424 , HB3575 , HB3788 , HB4370 , HB4809 , HB5057 , HB5084 , HB5534 , HB5668 , HJR34 , HB23 , HB247 , HJR34

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: Somervell County, hospital district, board of directors, elections, local governance, staggered terms, third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this bill would promote safety and security by allowing the county to consolidate its justice justice-related
• pressure on them as a state, for them to bear the cost of the continued neglect to fix our, to, to secure
• under that mark, uh, or we get, we get pretty, we, we get penalized and, and, and we like, we like commission
• They have said that the food is better, the security is better, the facilities are better, and did you

Bills: HB153

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would promote safety and security by allowing the county to consolidate its justice-related
• putting major pressure on them as a state for them to bear the cost of the continued neglect in securing
• we get over that, we have no option but to stay under that mark, or we get penalized, like the commission
• Uh, and, uh, did you know that they have said that the food is better, the security is better, and the

Bills: HB153 , HB1410 , HB1461 , HB1760 , HB1762 , HB3261 , HB3773 , HB153

Committee: House Corrections

Keywords: education, funding, student resources, technology access, equal opportunity, veterans treatment court, mental health, criminal justice, rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, veterans, treatment court, military service, legislation, private prisons, inmate confinement, criminal justice reform, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, government contracts, inmate housing

Transcript Highlights:

• And I feel like I'm back on community affairs, otherwise known as the Super Miami-Dade County Commission
• The second point I want to make is that the ports, a controlled federally in this security is established
• These waters are secured by the U.S.
• Coast Guard with the respective security zones in place and enforces the said zones, please vote down

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have rare minerals that we harness for our American energy sector and security.
• When we had to sweep dollars back that were unspent by boards, commissions, and school districts because
• We would really love to have the security of battery storage during those occasional times when we experience
• partial day power outages to have the security of battery storage.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and more than 1,000 institutions licensed by the Commission
• plastics that are now out in the ocean, as well as looking at other impacts, aquaculture and food security
• And obviously its roles are in coastal and food security, environmental monitoring, clean energy, drugs
• And obviously its roles are in coastal and food security, environmental monitoring, clean energy, drugs

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee held its first meeting and focused on state university centers and institutes, with an overview from the Board of Governors on how the more than 500 centers and institutes across Florida’s public universities are categorized, overseen, and reported. The Board described three categories: state-level centers, legislatively established centers, and university-established centers. Members were told universities must maintain policies, notify the Board of changes, publish public inventories, and submit annual reports and compliance certifications. Senator Harrell asked about funding sources and whether underperforming centers are reviewed for elimination; the response was that funding varies by center and that universities decide whether to maintain or disband centers under their own policies, with annual reporting and audit findings shared with the Board. Four university presentations followed. Florida Atlantic University highlighted its Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, describing research in marine-derived drug discovery, genomics, imaging, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and ocean sustainability, along with spin-off institutes and partnerships that have generated significant grant and contract support. FIU presented its Center of Excellence for Hurricane Damage Mitigation and Product Development, emphasizing the Wall of Wind facility, hurricane and water intrusion testing, code and product innovation, insurance modeling, and future expansion toward higher wind speeds and flood simulation. Florida State University’s High-Performance Materials Institute described work in advanced materials, aerospace composites, sensors, nanocomposites, and AI-enabled materials development, along with patents, industry partnerships, and new facilities tied to economic development. The University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning outlined its work on teacher professional learning, literacy, New Worlds Reading, tutoring, and mathematics supports, including microcredentials, statewide book distribution, and early results showing improved reading confidence and growth. Members generally praised the centers for their research, commercialization, workforce development, and education impacts. Senator Jones and Senator Harrell commended the Lastinger Center’s literacy work and the broader return on investment from these programs, while Senator Berman noted the value of the synergies across institutions. The chair emphasized that future funding requests should clearly show measurable success, commercialization, and statewide impact. The committee then adjourned without any formal votes on legislation.