Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your time. variety of books for all ages. Thank you for your time.
• I'm a parent of a broad. I'm I'm telling you, I'm a parent of a Broward County students.
• of parent is vague.
• Do Broward parents and follow up chair Brown or their Broward parents in your school district who who
• This new poll is being exploited override legitimate concerns from parents concerns from parents SB 1692

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We see it all the time.
• We see it all the time.
• We see it all the time.
• And a parent has the ability at any time to take their child out of district if they chose to anyway.
• The parents.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Haven't done that in a long time, but would that get parents engaged? I don't know.
• So, as a parent, this has come up many times where we blame the parents.
• , A lot of times, the feedback that I get from our community parents is that even if they were to have
• Ask any parent at Any time, what's the number one goal, Madam Chair?
• But there's so many people who haven't had the luxury of having parents, you know who had the time to

Transcript Highlights:

• So in explaining these rights to birth parents, they're going to think that they have time and that they
• I understand the heart behind this change, ensuring birth parents have time and support to make decisions
• I testified at that time. So I've been around a long time.
• If the time to relinquish parental rights is extended beyond the 48 hours, a birth mother after leaving
• The second part is that it takes time for the other parents to prepare a nursery, adjust their jobs,

Bills: HB163, HB216, HB721, HB2035, HB2038, HB3057, HB3153, HB3233, HB3595, HB3801, HB3812, HB4076, HB4129, HB4377, HB4535, HB4666, HB4730, HB4743, HB4903, HB5149, HB5155, HB1534, HB163, HB216

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• Hit the beams one more time.
• , SEC Coach of the Year six times, and regional coach of the year nine times.
• Well, it's a timing issue.
• I appreciate y'all's time.
• I said it's all time.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is left pending at this time.
• And librarians are not substitute parents.
• Reading books takes time and reviewing books takes time.
• Thank you for considering our perspective and parental rights of all Texas parents, and I'm available
• We have about 50 kids each week that come with their parents to our Wednesday story times.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB 1130

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is long past time we have said that aloud.
• We hear time and time again from those pushing these bans that the federal government... should stay
• At this time, we're going to open up the microphone for public comment, same as last time, with everybody
• I, along with my husband, Scott Hildreth, and members of our parent support group for parents of transgender
• I'm a parent, and I support this bill. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public school parents or private school parents? I can't answer that question. All parents.
• know, you need parental support.
• You have to have parental support.
• Time is of the essence.
• time when it may work.

Bills: SB211, HB96, SB215, SB257, SB13, SB13

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment, postsecondary education, apprenticeship programs, high school students, educational commitments, education intervention, State Superintendent, local boards, provisional release, subpoena authority, compliance, educational operation control, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• - assigning eligible pregnant parent- assigning eligible pregnant parent- parenting<00:51:32.040>
• I speak with parents all the time at work, at events, in the neighborhood.
• all<01:12:27.440> the<01:12:27.560> time<01:12:28.280> at I speak with parents
• all the time at I speak with parents all the time at work,<01:12:28.960> at<01:12:29.160>
• of time, we're a little bit over time. of time, we're a little bit over time.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When that stopped, we had trouble manning two EMS people in the truck from time to time.
• <00:11:14.040> all<00:11:14.279> the<00:11:14.800> time time to time doesn't
• happen all the time time to time doesn't happen all the time uh<00:11:16.279> sometimes<00:11
• <02:06:22.280> full parent parents would have a full parent parents would have a full spectrum
• try to again stay as close to the time try to again stay as close to the time time<02:46:42.000>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:50.560> to right I don't know if you had time to right I don't know if you had time
• It’s an awfully long time.
• being reviewed at a different time being reviewed at a different time that's<00:18:48.720> just
• <00:27:53.120> international and issues of our times international and issues of our times
• Again, at that time, though the parent reissues their request.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents are harmed, too. Parents are harmed, too.
• I, too, am a parent, and many of us who do oppose this bill are parents.
• parent.
• At the time, foster parents were only expected to provide seven days' notice when requesting that a child
• At the time, foster parents were only expected to provide seven days' notice when requesting that a child

Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the time, it was the FCAT. He could not pass the FCAT.
• Let's talk and bring your parents. And we did that.
• I can pull my kids at any time for any reason.
• working with parents.
• And thank you for your time. Quick close.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met during Budget Week and first considered three member bills. House Bill 1111, by Rep. Valdes, would eliminate the option for students to leave high school with a certificate of completion instead of a standard diploma. Valdes said the bill was inspired by students who met credit requirements but could not pass a required assessment, and argued the certificate does not provide access to college, trade school, or military service. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. CS for House Bill 127, by Rep. Kendall, would support students with disabilities by using existing Florida Department of Education curriculum to create micro-credentials and coordinating with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA on workplace safety. Goodwill, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida PTA, and others supported the bill, which also passed unanimously, 15-0. House Bill 1367, by Rep. Booth, addressed chronic absenteeism by requiring statewide definitions and more uniform attendance reporting, along with rules for excused and unexcused absences and early identification of chronically absent students. Testimony emphasized inconsistent district policies and the need for clearer data and interventions. The bill passed 13-0, with some members noting concerns about implementation details and future rulemaking. The committee then took up PCB-P-PKB-2501, the proposed conforming bill for the fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget. The chair said the bill was designed to align statutes with budget and scholarship funding procedures, especially around the Florida Education Finance Program and scholarship payments. The PCB would require Florida student ID numbers for scholarship students, standardize cross-checking against FTE survey data, set quarterly payment dates, and use one data source for both reporting and withholding scholarship-related FFP amounts. It also would reduce certain add-on weights by 50%, remove the budget stabilization program, and repeal the educational enrollment stabilization program. Several members raised concerns that the add-on weight reductions could hurt career and technical education, AICE, IB, and CAPE programs, while the sponsor argued the data showed too much spending in an “other” category and that the reductions were aimed at aligning funding with actual program costs. Public testimony was mixed: some supported tighter accountability and clearer payment rules, while others warned against undermining expensive career-readiness programs. The PCB passed 11-2. After the conforming bill, the chair presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget, totaling just under $21 billion, about $400 million below the current year. She said the budget reflects a need to slow spending growth and includes $20 million for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, $7 million for security grants at Jewish day schools and preschools, $14 million for public school transportation stipends, an overall FEFP increase of about $747.7 million, $100 million for teacher salary increases, and increases in the base student allocation and funds per student. The committee did not vote on the budget recommendation at this meeting; it was distributed for review and will move to the Budget Committee next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a parent, I worry about bullying every time my six-year-old daughter wants to wear a Jewish-themed
• Parents and students have timely access to important accountability performance ratings.
• What parents have been asking for for a long time and that's to move on from the start because one thing
• And it's also things that as a parent, when I look back on my kids' time in school, and some days I wish
• Our parents are not receiving that timely. specific feedback on where their children are throughout the

Bills: HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24, HB4, HB54, HB775, HB850, HB 1122, HB 1249, HB1405, HB2336, HB2757, HB3372, HB3622, HB4442, HB4687, HB4893, HB5089, HB5515, HB5606, SB10, SB24, HB1573, HB3369

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• time restrictions, and access the account at any time.
• There's no time to cure.
• I was just trying to explain what a time to cure would be. So is there a time to cure?
• I think the bill says the parent shall do this, but what if the parent does not do that?
• You can't what-if the parents...

Keywords: 964, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We see it all the time.
• all the time who want to get clean. all the time who want to get clean.
• are parents.
• This isn't for every parent.
• else to add at this time? else to add at this time?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 122, which would allow certain defendants who are caretakers of dependent children to ask a sentencing court to consider parenting classes and family counseling as part of an alternative sentence, alongside existing options like probation and treatment programs. Representative Nick Wilson, the House sponsor, said the bill was aimed at helping families affected by the opioid crisis, especially in Appalachia, and described it as a way to support parents who want to get clean and rebuild family stability. He emphasized that the bill would apply only on a defendant’s motion, would not be automatic, and would exclude violent offenders, domestic violence-related cases, child-victim cases, and cases where probation or similar relief is otherwise prohibited. Committee members raised concerns that the bill could create a two-tiered system of justice or add unnecessary procedure because judges already consider family circumstances through presentence investigations and sentencing discretion. One senator said he would support the bill but worried it privileged defendants with children over those without. Another member argued the bill was unnecessary because judges and prosecutors already have these options available and because it could add another hearing to an already overloaded court system. Supporters responded that the family unit should be given greater weight and that the bill would simply make that consideration more explicit. Judge Julie Ward, joined by Judge Jeremy Maddox, testified against the bill as written. She said judges already receive presentence reports, hear offender statements, and consider caregiving responsibilities, and that family court already addresses children’s needs when custody issues arise. Her main objections were that parenting services are not available in all communities, may cost money, and that the bill would require evidentiary hearings and potentially create equal protection problems by giving preferential treatment to caretakers. She urged the sponsors to work on revised language instead of passing the bill in its current form. Senator Wheeler said he would vote for the bill and noted that a floor amendment would be offered to address access to confidential juvenile “J cases” in presentence reports, since probation and parole do not have that access. He said the amendment was intended to make sure sentencing judges have the information they need. The discussion ended without a final committee vote in the transcript, but the bill remained under consideration with possible amendment and further revision.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, lunged at parents, yes. And parents have been threatened, yes, publicly.
• Thank you for your time. Thank you.
• Thank you for your time. Thank you.
• That's my job as a parent.
• Same time frame. One minute. Okay. Thank you. Same time for him. One minute. Okay.

Summary: The committee first considered the appointment of Michelle Whitworth to the Florida Commission on Offender Review. Whitworth described her 30 years of criminal justice experience, and the committee voted to recommend her confirmation favorably. The committee then took up SB 1692 on material harmful to minors, adopting a delete-all amendment that shifted the focus to K-12 instructional materials and objections by parents or residents. Supporters argued it would create clearer standards and protect children from pornographic content, while opponents warned it would worsen book bans and remove consideration of literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. After extensive debate and public testimony, the bill as amended was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on several criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 1422 increased penalties for certain drone-related offenses near critical infrastructure and for weaponized drones; SB 1360 clarified xylazine’s veterinary use while creating stronger trafficking penalties; and SB 1732 increased penalties for animal cruelty involving minors and for contributing to a minor’s delinquency. SB 776 added an aggravating factor for the assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, and SB 984 added aggravating factors for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for religious, school, or government activities. SB 1640 made domestic violence lethality assessment forms confidential, and SB 1268 updated FDLE operations and increased reimbursement for retired police dogs. All of these bills were reported favorably after brief debate and mostly supportive testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1084 on sexual cyber harassment, with a strike-all amendment addressing digitally forged intimate images and extending prosecution time limits. SB 1654 updated sexual offender and predator registration rules, including definitions of residence and online reporting for in-state travel, though one witness raised concerns about vague language and employer privacy. SB 1774 created a rebuttable presumption in certain second-degree murder cases when the victim had a controlled substance in their system, drawing criticism that it could devalue victims who used drugs. Finally, SB 1838 strengthened protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, with an amendment adding magistrates, hearing officers, and related staff; defense attorneys warned the tampering language could inadvertently reach zealous advocacy. Each of these measures was ultimately reported favorably, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:57:53.359> And that mentions parents several times.
• And that mentions parents several times.
• It is time that we as a body come together and support families, support parental rights to protect their
• It is time that we as a body come together and support families, support parental rights to protect their
• It is time that we as a body come together and support families, support parental rights to protect their

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as their true parents.
• We appreciate your time. Early childhood. They need a foster parent.
• I've asked a couple of times.
• The parent doesn't need full-time, but anything over 29 would be considered full-time. Very well.
• We were estimating at the time 12,000 kids at the time.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So those aren't time sensitive.
• I mean, if one parent lives in, you know, Key West and the other parent lives in Anchorage, Alaska.
• to be a domiciliary parent.
• All this bill is simply saying is that the default is that both parents should share equal time, physical
• So that's less time.

Keywords: 974, senate, all