Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, at times when, When I was there, we had employees in San Antonio had to cover their computers with
• a tarp when they left at night in case the roof leaked so it wouldn't damage their computer equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• The computers, I came out with them recently. We're going to utilize computers in our cattle.

Bills: SB 384, SB 503, SB 565, SB 616, SB 740

Keywords: hunting license, fishing license, donation, operation game thief fund, wildlife conservation, livestock, electronic registry, marks and brands, Texas Animal Health Commission, animal identification, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water and Agriculture and Rural Affairs convened under the leadership of Chairman Kelly Hancock, who opened the meeting with a prayer in remembrance of Chairman Perry, who was absent due to a personal loss. The session focused on the discussions surrounding SB384, which aims to support the longstanding initiative known as Operation Game Thief. Senator Flores presented the bill, emphasizing its essential role in the fight against poaching through public support. The operation has a successful track record of convictions but is currently dependent on donations and merchandise sales for funding. The committee aimed to vote on multiple bills during this session, contingent on achieving a quorum. Notably, discussions also revolved around fiscal notes on two bills that were set aside for later consideration, indicating the committee's intention to carefully manage their legislative decisions. The meeting showcased a productive atmosphere, with committee members actively engaged in the review and potential advancement of key legislative measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• senior member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories, working on trapped ion quantum computing
• Power up computer. I still don't know. One is even beneficial. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• three years, and we had a lot of extra computers.
• So we went out one day to donate our computers and monitors.
• <02:24:24.640> to could donate a lot of our computers to could donate a lot of our computers
• and um we had a lot of extra computers. and um we had a lot of extra computers.
• Yeah, we have a computers and monitors.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, is it going to impact my ability to run my air conditioner, to run my computer, and all
• And, you know, is it going to impact my ability to run my air conditioner, to run my computer, and all
• And, you know, is it going to impact my ability to run my air conditioner, to run my computer, and all
• And put your computer on silent. You don't have it on your keyboard. Speak over there, okay.
• <00:33:45.600> on H and put your put your computer on H and put your put your computer on

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up an amendment to a bill dealing with digital assets, zoning, utilities, and noise. Members discussed removing the “private key” language, clarifying that the bill would prohibit state or local governments from treating digital asset mining differently from other industrial uses, and narrowing several provisions based on feedback from the Municipal Association. There was also discussion about electricity use, rate schedules, and whether the bill would allow payment of electric bills in Bitcoin; members clarified that bills would still be paid in dollars and that discriminatory rates were not allowed. The amendment was approved on a straw vote, and the committee then voted 7-1 to adopt the amended bill. The committee then considered a separate bill related to a paint stewardship program. The sponsor explained that the amendment would remove references to a fee structure that had troubled him in public hearing, while still preserving the plan and oversight by the Department of Environmental Services. Members discussed whether the bill’s liability and disclosure language affected antitrust concerns, and a representative from the American Coatings Association testified that the program’s environmental management practices and liability provisions were intended to ensure responsible handling and cleanup. The committee ultimately voted 7-1 to adopt the amended bill. Later, the subcommittee moved to liquor-related business. It first voted unanimously, 7-0, to retain a cannabis-related item. It then discussed a tavern license bill that would create a 21-plus tavern category, with the Liquor Enforcement Division explaining that the restriction was tied to alcohol-only venues and the potential for late-night entertainment and nightclub-style operations. Members raised concerns about local control and public safety, and the discussion referenced existing cocktail lounge rules and the possibility of towns opting into such a license. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on that item is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• to play a game of poker or blackjack from your phone or from your couch, in your home, from your computer
• for the legislature to decide how it wants to spend that revenue. couch uh in your home from your computer
• couch uh in your home from your computer whatever<01:03:32.480> um<01:03:33.480> in<01
• <01:12:45.960> that<01:12:46.080> is synthesized by a computer that is synthesized
• by a computer that is exactly<01:12:46.880> designed<01:12:47.320> to<01:12:47.560>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do not foresee this requiring like new computer systems or anything.
• :11:33.600> requiring<00:11:34.320> like<00:11:34.640> new<00:11:34.959> computer
• foresee this requiring like new computer foresee this requiring like new computer systems<00:11:
• So any course they are being taught, computer literacy and logic and rhetoric will be taught.
• use and digital essentially computer use and digital literacy<01:01:10.559> and<01:01:10.880>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are those cell phones, computers, or are they like a coffee machine? What are they?
• Are those cell phones, computers, or are they like a coffee machine? What are they? >> Miss L.
• This process stops until your paperwork is in the computer," the better.
• I think there were computers from the Palente era that were still present in there.
• I think there were computers from the Palente era that were still present in there.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the legislative auditor on a performance audit of the governor’s office and lieutenant governor’s office covering July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. The audit reviewed receipts, inventory, payroll, and non-payroll expenditures and found 12 findings, concluding the office generally did not comply with the criteria tested because of internal control deficiencies. The auditor said four of five prior findings that remained relevant were not fully resolved, and that the problems were widespread across financial operations, creating opportunities for waste and fraud, though no evidence of wrongdoing or misuse of funds was found. The main findings involved weak segregation of duties, late vendor payments, inaccurate reimbursements and vendor payments, missing documentation, and poor receipt management. Auditors said one employee handled purchasing, receiving, payment processing, and inventory functions without adequate oversight; vendors were often paid late, resulting in more than $1,000 in late/reactivation fees; reimbursements and some state airplane payments contained errors; and many vendor payments, reimbursements, and purchasing card transactions lacked required support. The office also failed to collect about $12,000 for events at the governor’s residence, did not fully process several deposits, and lacked documentation for some billed or deposited amounts. Members reacted strongly to the repeated control failures and the lack of documentation, with several saying the issues were pervasive and concerning even if the dollar amounts were not large. Questions focused on whether the problems reflected different treatment of vendors versus employee expenses, whether restitution was being sought, and whether legislation was needed. The auditor responded that the state already has the necessary policies and procedures, and that the issue is implementation and oversight by the governor’s office, not new legislation. The auditor also said the governor’s office had been receptive and had begun taking steps to address the findings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both relate to a computer science appropriation that was included in House Bill 2 from 2023.
• Both relate to a computer science 1180H.
• Both relate to a computer science appropriation<00:56:48.559> that<00:56:48.960> was<00
• So the choice is, you know, help me with my narrative here, either implementing this computer science
• <00:58:54.640> science<00:58:55.040> educator this computer science educator this computer

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first revisited HB 781, the cell phone bill, after previously retaining it. On reconsideration, members moved to OTP the bill, and it passed unanimously. The committee then moved into the budget tracking packet and adopted an amendment to HB 2 to add the same cell phone policy language, also unanimously, and separately reduced HB 1 by $1 million to match the policy change. Members noted the cell phone language had already been stripped of grant funding language in the House version and that the policy and funding pieces were being aligned across the budget bills. The committee then took up a Department of Education technical amendment to HB 2 on charter school grants, which made timing and administrative changes without altering grant amounts, and adopted it unanimously. Members also discussed but held other education-related items, including adequacy grants, pending broader decisions on overall education funding. Another HB 2 item concerning E-911/state police radio communications prompted a longer discussion about whether E-911 surcharge funds were being used for purposes that should instead be general-funded. After debate over whether to leave the current practice in place or split the funding 50/50 between E-911 and general funds, the committee adopted a joint HB 1/HB 2 change to shift the funding source to a 50/50 split and delete the HB 2 language authorizing the prior use; the motion passed 7-0. The committee also discussed but did not act on several lottery-related provisions, including the video lottery terminal amendment, the increase in maximum ticket price from $30 to $50, and related tax split changes, with members planning to hear from the Lottery Commission on Monday. The meeting ended with the committee beginning review of new amendments in the tracking packet, including a Department of Education request related to Public School Infrastructure Commission grant administration, but no action was taken on that item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had success in creating an indigenous computer science program.
• science program our indigenous computer science program our students<03:46:40.880> have<03:46
• We’re asked to continue to build computer science in our DOE schools across the state.
• We’re asked to continue to build computer science in our DOE schools across the state.
• <04:13:19.359> science<04:13:19.680> in to continue to build computer science in to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I went to my computer and I printed off a statement of what they billed me for the year.
• We gotta have the management company print it off on the computer. Okay, I'll play along.

Keywords: 964, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it a computer system? Is it up? Can you just sort of expound on that? Is it a computer system?

Summary: The Legislative Auditing Committee heard several local-government audit requests and unanimously approved each one. The first item was Baker County, where county commissioners asked for an operational and financial audit because of repeated late audits, concerns about the finance office, and lack of confidence in county financial reporting. The county clerk supported an audit but argued it should be countywide and include all constitutional officers; she also described a dispute over access to the county finance system and pending litigation. After brief questions, the committee adopted a 9-0 motion directing the Auditor General to perform an operational audit of Baker County’s financial operations and records, with scope to be finalized during the audit. The committee then approved an audit request for the Concord Estates Community Development District in Osceola County. Senator Arrington said residents alleged excessive board compensation, large unexplained spending, missing financial reports, and refusal to provide records or hold open meetings. Residents and a board member testified about rising assessments, deteriorating amenities, and lack of transparency. The committee voted 10-0 to direct an operational audit of the CDD. It also approved, by 10-0 votes, operational audits of the town of Melbourne Beach, based on allegations of fiscal and operational improprieties and lawsuits that had cost the town more than $150,000, and the city of Apalachicola, where Senator Simon said longstanding water utility failures, grant issues, and consent-order problems warranted review. The final request was for a financial and operational audit of Cape Coral’s Building Department. Representative G. Lombardo said building-fee revenues appeared to be transferred for non-building purposes, permit processing was inconsistent, and the department relied heavily on a private firm while the building official had prior ties to that firm. Industry representatives testified that building funds were being diverted, service levels were suffering, and private-provider inspections were not always reflected in fee reductions. The committee adopted the motion 10-0. After completing all agenda items, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I was a computer engineering professor, and I got my job based on my degree, but I don't know that
• When we were just coming out, when we had the rudimentary computers, uh, desktop, and Microsoft had some
• Engineering professor and I a u Computer Engineering professor and I got<01:14:19.360> my<01:
• uh desktop and Microsoft had computers uh desktop and Microsoft had some<01:14:52.600> credentials
• hospital as a nurse, may have been an auto technician, maybe a graphic designer working at their computer

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 295, which would make school building aid funds non-lapsing/non-APS. Representative Cahill said the bill was intended to keep any unused building aid money available for future projects, potentially helping move projects up the priority list or provide a little more funding for school construction. Members asked about how much money has lapsed in past years, whether the education trust fund and building aid are separate, and whether any lapsing dollars could be used to pay down debt. Department of Education official Jim Carney said about $29.1 million would be available if building aid is funded to the $50 million maximum in FY26, confirmed that the fund currently lapses, and said the department would gather historical lapse data. Committee members also discussed whether a dedicated fund structure could achieve the same goal, and the chair noted that the education trust fund statute includes school building aid as one of its uses. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee said it would later hold a work session after receiving more information. The committee then took up HB 237, introduced by Representative Dan McGuire, which would prohibit the use of special education state funds and differentiated aid for students not receiving special education services. The New Hampshire School Boards Association, through Becky Wilson, opposed the bill as written, saying it was unclear, potentially unnecessary, and difficult to implement because adequacy and differentiated aid are distributed as part of a districtwide lump sum rather than as student-specific dollars. She explained that special education costs are embedded across district budgets, including staffing, training, transportation, and instruction, and that some staff and services benefit both special education and general education students. Wilson also said differentiated aid is not tied to a specific pupil and is used at the district’s discretion, though it is intended to support students with greater needs. Committee members pressed on whether the bill would require districts to track money by individual student, whether it could conflict with federal special education law, and whether it would affect least restrictive environment requirements. Wilson said making the funds student-specific could create privacy and accounting problems and could make it difficult to staff inclusive classrooms, though she did not give a definitive legal opinion on federal compliance. She agreed that students who are not eligible for special education would not be included in the separate catastrophic/special education aid reimbursement program. The discussion continued into the second section of the bill, with members exploring how adequacy aid and differentiated aid are used in practice, but no action was taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over to the data computers.
• I had one of your guys try to explain how much that was, and it didn't compute. Thank you.
• You can't afford the computer.
• I had one of your guys try to explain how much that was, and it didn't compute.
• You can't afford the computer.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have information on my computer.
• Computer.
• If not, we also have it online on our own computers. Okay.
• Curry, if you don't get it working, we have it on our own computer screens. So it's okay.
• We have it on our own computer screens downloaded, so it's okay. I apologize for that.

Summary: The Judiciary Interim Committee met to begin its study of charitable gaming and the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations, a study directed by Senate Bill 2334. Legislative Council gave an overview of the constitutional and statutory framework for charitable gaming, site authorizations, rent limits, proceeds, and recent legislative changes. The Attorney General’s Gaming Division then clarified the financial flow of gaming, explaining that in fiscal year 2025 North Dakota had about $2.5 billion in gross gaming proceeds, with roughly 88-90% paid back in prizes and about $256 million available to organizations after taxes; most of that activity came from electronic pull tabs. Members asked for more detail on winnings, replays, rent, and the breakdown of manufacturer/distributor revenues, and the AG’s office agreed to provide supplemental information. The committee also heard from the League of Cities and the Association of Counties about local site authorization. Cities said they have a limited role in approving gaming sites, can adopt policies after public hearing, may charge up to $100, and can set certain conditions, including local nexus requirements, but cannot require donations or force a specific charity or site. The League said it had worked with stakeholders on a model policy to provide more consistency, though members raised concerns that local requirements could become too restrictive for charities serving broader areas. Counties said the issue is mostly a city matter, with little county involvement beyond minimal site fees and general site approval. The North Dakota Gaming Alliance testified in support of the study and provided IRS-related material suggesting charities may use asset diversification, while emphasizing it had not taken a position on whether charities should own bars. Members questioned whether bar ownership is being used for site stability or to channel charitable gaming dollars, and whether city policies might disadvantage charities with broader missions. The committee also discussed the relationship between gaming organizations, manufacturers, and distributors, including restrictions on incentives and interference, and asked for more information on those entities and their ownership. Later in the meeting, the Racing Commission gave its regular update on live racing, pari-mutuel wagering, ADW providers, purse and promotion funds, a new TRPB contract, and concerns about cease-and-desist actions from other states. Finally, the State Hospital superintendent briefly reported on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s support services, including the SORT team, training, and security assistance for the hospital campus.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:18.280> we<00:48:18.480> wanted<00:48:18.840> a<00:48:18.920> computer
• open, we had we wanted a computer open, we had we wanted a computer adaptive<00:48:19.920> assessment
• If we would have adopted<00:48:21.840> the<00:48:22.000> computer<00:48:22.359> adaptive
• <00:48:22.880> assessment adopted the computer adaptive assessment adopted the computer adaptive

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the city including the funds under subdivision one and that the bonds are not included in the computation
• that the bonds are not included in and that the bonds are not included in the<00:03:58.800> computation
• > of<00:03:59.720> any<00:04:00.160> debt<00:04:00.560> limitation the computation
• of any debt limitation the computation of any debt limitation applicable<00:04:01.960> to<00:
• The bonds, as I mentioned, are not used in computing the overall debt limitation applicable to the city

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that as part of their medically accurate sexuality education, students must watch a high-quality computer-generated
• What is the threshold for this high-quality computer-generated animation?
• that the state should not be dictating to local school districts that they must show a high-quality computer-generated
• districts that they must show a high districts that they must show a high quality<01:36:59.679> computer
• <01:37:00.159> generation<01:37:01.440> or quality computer generation or quality computer

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for all 99 municipalities, but when we're talking about a central accounting system, how do the two compute
• With, I put GoToMyPC on their PC, so I'm able to log into their computer while they're sitting at their
• computer and help them real time with their problem that they're having.
• So, if you happen to have your computer, you can read them now or you can read them later when you have

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Californians know if I buy Microsoft Excel and I ask for them to send me a disk and hope that my computer
• it’s a tax on software, and software is defined as a set of coded instructions meant to cause a computer
• And so, just like a college student would pay sales tax on buying a computer or buying software...
• So just like a college student would pay sales tax on buying a computer or buying software, if he or

Keywords: 987, senate, all