Transcript Highlights:

• And all of them were passed almost unanimously. There were very few negative votes.
• zoning, secure expert guidance, evaluate what we're missing, and assess what the DOER model bylaws fail
• to take into account for where What the DOER model bylaws fail to take into account for rural towns,
• I hope that you will grant or pass this bill or report it out favorably so that this can be enacted.
• I hope that you will grant pass this bill or reported out favorably so that this can be enacted.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused mainly on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. The committee heard from legislators and local officials about S. 3026, which would give equal voting access in a six-town regional school district process. Testifiers from the Sixth Town Regional Planning Board and local select boards said the current voting setup is unfair because one town can vote during normal polling hours while others have a narrower voting window, and they argued the bill would ensure equal voter opportunity for a major regional school decision amid declining enrollment and financial pressure on the districts. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year solar moratorium. Worthington officials, residents, and advocates said the town is facing multiple large-scale solar and battery storage proposals and lacks the staff, legal resources, emergency response capacity, and technical expertise to evaluate them. Witnesses raised concerns about fire risk, groundwater and drinking water impacts, forest and wildlife impacts, decommissioning, and the effect on rural character and farmland, while emphasizing that the moratorium was framed as a planning tool rather than opposition to clean energy. Several speakers said the state’s solar siting and approval process is too complex and top-down for small rural towns, and that volunteer boards are being asked to manage industrial-scale projects without adequate support. One witness from a statewide group said Worthington’s situation reflects broader problems across western Massachusetts and urged the committee to address solar siting more broadly in a future session. The hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions, with no votes or final actions taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion fails. All right. So, >> Okay. Motion fails. All right.
• The House passed fairly easily.
• The House passed fairly easily.
• </c> I will move that we do pass that. Okay. I will move that we do pass that. Okay.
• . fails. fails.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grover and said, well, what do you think an average pass is?
• Grover and said, well, what do you think an average pass is?
• And then along came Salmon, Idaho, who couldn't pass a bond for 13 times—failed the bond 13 times.
• This one passed the floor 66 to 3, and I would ask that you could pass it on to the Senate.
• This one passed the floor 66 to 3, and I would ask that you could pass it on to the Senate.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved unanimous-consent requests to print two RS measures, including RS 33-510, a resolution asking the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop proposed school funding formula legislation, and RS 33-484. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1290, the PROM Act, which would let homeschool students voluntarily obtain a social access pass to attend certain school-sponsored social events such as dances and college fairs without enrolling in public school. Supporters said it would improve community integration and expand opportunities for homeschool families, while opponents from Homeschool Idaho argued it was unnecessary, could create administrative burdens, and might blur lines between homeschool and public-school systems. Committee members raised concerns about fees, liability, discipline, and whether the bill could be used for field trips or other activities; after discussion and proposed amendments, the bill was not advanced immediately but was held at the call of the chair for further work. The committee next considered House Bill 608, which clarifies and revises the school facilities cooperative funding program created to address unsafe school buildings. The sponsors explained that the bill streamlines prior law, adjusts when districts must run bonds before seeking state assistance, clarifies supervision and repayment provisions, and ensures unused funds can still be used for safety-related projects. No one testified against the bill, and it was sent to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. House Bill 635 also passed with a due-pass recommendation; it requires the Professional Standards Commission to report complaints involving suspected criminal behavior to law enforcement while leaving its existing licensing and disciplinary role unchanged. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 636, which would allow school districts and charter schools to use remaining school district facility funds for lease-purchase agreements after bond and levy obligations are met. The sponsor and West Ada Superintendent Derek Bubb said the change would align the statute with existing facility-funding language, support debt reduction, and give districts more flexibility for future facility needs. The committee approved the bill and sent it to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation before adjourning and announcing the next meeting for Monday at 3 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> because</c><00:43:19.400><c> people</c> because you failed, but because people because you failed
• These entrepreneurs did not fail their community. External circumstances failed them.
• </c><01:07:37.160><c> their</c> entrepreneurs did not fail their entrepreneurs did not fail their community
• </c> Um external circumstances failed them. Um external circumstances failed them.
• </c> It just guarantees more businesses fail. It just guarantees more businesses fail.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would ask that you send this to floor with a due pass recommendation.
• We have a motion to send House Bill 873 to the floor with a due pass.
• We have a motion to send House Bill 890 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
• We have a motion to send House Bill 890 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
• I'd move to send House Bill 900 to the floor with the due pass recommendation.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House State Affairs Committee approved the minutes from March 13, 2026, then heard several bills related to elections, procurement, state property disposal, insurance claims, and transparency. House Bill 873, a cleanup elections bill, would align soil and water conservation district supervisor elections with other local offices, restore mail-ballot timing to 45 days, and standardize canvassing deadlines; it was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 889 proposed a broad update to state purchasing and procurement law, adding definitions and procedures for best and final offers, multiple-award contracts, scoring criteria, prior performance standards, federal approval timing, confidentiality of vendor information, debarment, a one-year cooling-off period for certain officials and employees, protest bonds, and reporting of procurement-related expenditures over $50; it also received a due pass recommendation. House Bill 890 would repeal a vague surplus property disposal section and return the process to existing code with clearer deadlines and notice requirements; it too was advanced with a due pass recommendation. The committee also considered House Bill 900, which would create a clearer process for state property damage or insurance claims of $100,000 or more, including a confidential report, possible separate appraisal, agreement between the Department of Administration and the affected agency, Board of Examiners review if needed, and a public meeting if the claim leads to a change in operations or sale of property. Members asked about where insurance proceeds would go, and the sponsor said they would generally return to the affected agency or dedicated fund for repairs unless the property had been declared surplus. The bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, Senate Bill 1321 would strengthen enforcement of existing transparency requirements for agency agreements, MOUs, and contracts by requiring written notice from the state controller, a 30-day cure period with a possible 60-day extension, and reporting noncompliant agencies to the legislature; it was also advanced with a due pass recommendation. No testimony was offered on the bills, and all motions passed without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pass-through entity. pass-through entity.
• I urge you to pass this bill.
• </c> to pass this bill. Thank you. to pass this bill. Thank you. Thank<00:45:14.359><c> you.
• </c> pass House File 4616 for our children. pass House File 4616 for our children.
• </c> failed so many times before. failed so many times before.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to pass this bill.
• Motion failed to pass. Okay, that motion failed. Speaker Weisz. Speaker Weisz. Thank you, Mr.
• Motion failed. Oh, that was close, too. Motion failed. Oh, that was close, too. 10-7 fail.
• Okay, committee, so we've passed, give us the numbers. Pass six and defeated two.
• Motion failed. Oh, that was close to? 5, 6, 10, 7. Okay, that motion failed.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call and a review of special-session procedure: bills would be heard in filing order, with related school-lunch bills grouped together, and any bill advancing would require a motion, second, and majority vote to be introduced. Members also discussed that the committee was functioning much like a delayed-bills committee, with final referral to either Appropriations or Policy depending on the bill’s fiscal impact. The first major proposal was Senator Schibley’s bill to create a narrow, statewide Bank of North Dakota bridge-loan program for struggling nonprofit medical facilities, prompted by Jacobson Memorial Hospital’s financial crisis. He argued the hospital and surrounding EMS services could close without short-term help, while committee members questioned the added language, the population cap, the $10 million fund with $5 million per applicant limit, and whether the program could open the door to future requests. Representative Headland then presented two cleanup bills from the prior property-tax session: one to fix notice and tax-certification issues for local taxing districts, and another to correct how the primary residence credit is applied so taxpayers receive the full benefit rather than counties retaining part of the reimbursement. Members asked about township hearing timing, the estimated $10–15 million annual impact, and whether the credit issue could be fixed retroactively; Headland said the bill was intended to correct the problem going forward. Three school-lunch bills drew extensive discussion. Representative Vetter proposed a small administrative appropriation to add an FTE to help eligible families enroll in the existing free/reduced lunch program, saying the goal was to ensure needy children are signed up and that the state should not subsidize meals for wealthy families. Representative Nathe offered a broader bill mirroring the pending initiated measure but placing the program in statute instead of the Constitution, moving implementation up a year, and funding it with a one-time $65 million from the strategic investment fund; he said this would preserve legislative flexibility and avoid constitutional entrenchment. Representative Dressler proposed raising the state-funded eligibility threshold from 225% to 300% of poverty, arguing it would expand access while still preserving federal reimbursements and encouraging better enrollment systems. Members debated costs, future budget pressure, whether the bills set a precedent for responding to ballot measures, and whether the program should include breakfast and other operational details. Other proposals included Senator Powers’ bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen board and support rural access to hyperbaric chambers for wounds, concussions, PTSD, and other conditions; Representative Tolman’s reporting-requirements bill to force new or expanded programs to justify purpose, alternatives, evaluation methods, and full implementation costs; Representative Frelich’s bill addressing the ongoing redistricting litigation and what happens if the Supreme Court or lower courts alter the current map; and a bill requested by the Public Service Commission and ITD for FERC litigation support and ADA website/document compliance. The committee also heard a rural-health eligibility bill from Representative Twait aimed at steering federal rural health dollars toward rural providers, with questions focused on whether the mileage limits would exclude some communities. One Holocaust education item was deferred until the sponsor could be located.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both of those fail will Both of those pass, we'll work through the financials of it.
• So it doesn't go without fail that it does.
• I passed legislation to create. I appreciate that.
• I passed the legislation.
• Give me a precursor to do the bill that you passed two years ago.

Summary: The committee met to review budget and fiscal items, beginning with a roll call and a reminder about severe weather and the need to keep the meeting brief. Members first received the January fiscal status statement and certified the prior-year surplus at $577,073,871, with no changes from the prior month. The fiscal status statement was approved without objection. Staff then reviewed the five-year baseline budget and continuation/standstill budgets, noting projected imbalances in later years driven by revenue declines, including the redirection of motor vehicle sales tax, and by rising costs such as inflation and Medicaid adjustments. Representative Amadee asked about Medicaid growth and SNAP administrative costs, and staff explained that the SNAP federal match change is separate from Medicaid. The governor’s executive budget presentation focused on a third year of standstill budgeting, efficiency savings, and the impact of one-time reductions and agency reorganizations. Officials said the budget avoids recurring spending from nonrecurring revenue and incorporates savings from prior efficiency efforts. Major items discussed included funding for LA Gator vouchers, the high-impact jobs program at Louisiana Economic Development, DCFS modernization, corrections overtime and offender costs, Angola population growth, nursing home and MCO adjustments at LDH, and additional support for the MJ Foster Scholarship and Board of Regents systems. Members also discussed the distinction between state general fund and federal funds, the effect of inflation on specific purchases, and the use of surplus dollars, including deposits to the Budget Stabilization Fund and UAL paydown. No formal action was taken on the budget presentation. Later items included the FY27 expenditure limit calculation of $20.1 billion, up $953 million from FY26, and the annual comprehensive financial report, which received an unmodified audit opinion. The committee approved a BA-7 increasing federal funds for the governor’s office by $2 million for U.S. DOT-related infrastructure and rural transit work. It also approved Facility Planning and Control requests to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects and to combine two Baton Rouge Community College projects. CPRA received approval to extend contracts with Coastal Estuary Services and Access Sciences for monitoring and records-management services. The committee also approved a legislative intent clarification for a $500,000 appropriation to the New Orleans Recreational Development Foundation. The final major discussion was a presentation on a weighted caseload study for appellate and district courts. Judicial officials explained that the study updates an outdated formula used to assess judgeship needs, incorporates specialty courts and commissioners, and is intended as one tool in a broader collaborative process with the legislature. Members raised concerns about the number of judges, court funding, and how Louisiana compares with other states. No vote was taken on the study, but the discussion emphasized future collaboration on judicial resource allocation and possible structural changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Contracts and in return they are failing our students.
• Please do the right thing and pass HB 1405.
• We already passed this bill last session.
• We have a failed system, and that's just one.
• not only our students, but it was failing our teachers and it was failing our parents because those

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:

• Hanama Bay shows can fail to rebound.
• Please pass us. Let's not make it worse. Please pass this<00:31:14.240><c> measure.
• :54.880><c> then</c> bill is not passed, then bill is not passed, then the<00:36:57.520><c> aquarium<
• 27.200><c> without</c> should not pass legislation without should not pass legislation without doing<
• Recommendation to pass with HB 21101. Recommendation to pass with amendments.

Bills: HB2101

Keywords: aquatic life, commercial aquarium purposes, Hawaii, environmental protection, sustainability, Native Hawaiian values, marine resources, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water and Land heard testimony on House Bill 21101, which would ban or otherwise end commercial aquarium collection. Chairs opened the hearing with a short time limit for testimony and noted they would move to decision-making before the next committee meeting. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it appreciated the bill’s intent and stood on written testimony, while the Office of Hawaiian Affairs strongly supported the measure as part of its legislative package, citing community calls to ban the practice. Many other organizations and individuals also testified in support, including environmental, Native Hawaiian, and community groups, with arguments focused on reef protection, public trust, cultural concerns, and the view that the trade is extractive and not sustainable. Supporters repeatedly cited declines in yellow tang and other reef fish, especially on West Hawaii and Oahu, and argued that reef recovery has not occurred where collection pressure existed. Several testified that legal aquarium collection has not occurred in West Hawaii since 2017 or on Oahu since 2021, and that the state should not reopen an industry that has been effectively shut down for years. Others said the program is fiscally inefficient because permits generate little revenue compared with the cost of administering and enforcing the program, and that aquaculture or other alternatives could provide jobs without removing wild fish. Native Hawaiian speakers and civic club representatives emphasized traditional and customary practices, community stewardship, and the need to protect resources for future generations. Opposition testimony came from aquarium fishers and related advocates who argued the fishery has been shown sustainable, that the EIS process was completed, and that the bill would unfairly target one user group over another. They said the trade provides livelihoods for local families, that management is solid, and that the legislature should not ban a fishery after requiring compliance with environmental review. Some opponents also argued that fish populations have increased in recent years and that the issue reflects broader user conflict rather than science. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair continued taking testimony, including on Zoom, as time allowed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pass it now on to my co-prime. pass it now on to my co-prime.
• </c> in place because they'll probably pass in place because they'll probably pass even<01:27:25.760>
• </c> not what we're passing as legislation. not what we're passing as legislation.
• I asked for a most likely passing.
• </c> committee report passes. committee report passes.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I may pass that case to tomorrow and leave a small bond so that we can pass the case to, like, the next
• I may pass that case to tomorrow and leave a small bond so that we can pass the case to, like, the next
• </c> failed to appear. failed to appear.
• failed<01:34:49.360><c> to</c><01:34:49.520><c> be</c><01:34:50.159><c> failed</c><01:34:50.400><c>
• to appear are held failed to be failed to appear are held accountable<01:34:52.719><c> um</c><01:34:

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 Recognition of New Members: 00:01:17 Disaster Response: 00:01:41 Pretrial Discussion: 00:31:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 7, 2024 meeting, and then heard an update on disaster response and courthouse recovery efforts after the April flooding. Representatives from the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Franklin County Circuit and District Court Clerk’s office, and the Franklin Circuit Court described damage in Perry, Hardin, and especially Franklin counties. Perry County had limited roof and water infiltration issues with no operational impact. Hardin County’s justice center basement took about 18 inches of water, affecting court records and mechanical/electrical equipment, and court operations were briefly suspended. Franklin County’s courthouse was far more severely damaged, with about four feet of water on the first floor, forcing relocation of court operations to temporary sites, including AOC space and the regional jail for custody proceedings. Witnesses said damaged files from Hardin and Franklin counties were removed, sent to an out-of-state vendor for drying and remediation, and would be returned or destroyed as appropriate. They estimated combined costs for file restoration, building repair, and remediation at about $11 million, with insurance through KCOJ/KO expected to cover only part of the losses and FEMA reimbursement still pending a federal disaster declaration. They also said the Franklin County courthouse’s first floor remains gutted, electrical panels and HVAC systems need major replacement, and the second and third floors may be used temporarily once power and data are restored. Members asked about roof damage in Hardin County, the status of FEMA applications, digitization of court records, and whether Senate Bill 25 restricted funds could be used to cover the funding gap; staff said the funds cannot be spent without General Assembly authorization. The committee also discussed broader record-retention and e-filing issues, with members noting the limits of paper filing and the need for better digitization as a backup in emergencies. AOC staff said they are working with the Supreme Court and state law librarian on what records can be digitized and how long hard copies must still be retained. After the disaster-response presentation, the committee moved on to a separate informational presentation on pre-trial services, with introductions from the executive officer of pre-trial services, the president of the Kentucky District Judges Association, a circuit judge, and the manager of pre-trial services, who began explaining how the pre-trial system works for newer committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to pass the amendment. to pass the amendment.
• </c> button to pass this amendment. button to pass this amendment.
• </c> recommendation of bill ought to pass. recommendation of bill ought to pass.
• </c> that the bill ought to pass. that the bill ought to pass.
• </c> pass as amended for Senate Bill 33. pass as amended for Senate Bill 33.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forty-one yeas, 42 nays, and the resolution fails to pass.
• Clerk will close the machine. 41, yeas, 42 nays, and a resolution fails to pass.
• the resolution fails to pass.
• Seven yeas, 89 nays, and the resolution fails to pass. Madam Clerk. H.R. 369 by Rep.
• The clerk will close the machine. 41 yeas, 45 nays, and the resolution fails to pass.

Bills: HB410, HR310, HR314, HR316, HR317, HR321, HR275, HR276, HR279, HR282, HR286, HR289, HR292, HR295, HR302, HR319, HR307, HR273, SCR59, SCR61, SCR62, SCR68, SCR69, SCR70, SCR54, SCR55, SCR64, SCR75, HCR32, HB776, HB42, HB119, HB159, HB302, HB1017, HB1028, SB217, SB283, HB953, SB208, HR74, HB998, HB901, HR20, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB646, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, SB97, SB123, SB237, HB36, HB74, HB75, HB258, HB259, HB414, HB459, HB784, HB848, HB956, HB1095, HB1220, HB1252, SB469, SB479

Keywords: recording, privacy, notification, direct conversation, law enforcement, first responder, penalties, oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• It is critical we pass Senator Moore and Rep.
• Four, in just seven months, New Hampshire passed a law to investigate wireless harm.
• Please pass these bills.
• You must pass these bills so that you do not do a disservice to yourself and consumers by failing to
• So I'll pass to Jeremy now. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a range of energy, utility, broadband, and municipal infrastructure bills. Representative Powell supported H 3466, which would create a task force to study public ownership of utilities and alternatives to investor-owned electric and gas systems. Representative Therber supported H 3574, which would use RGGI funds to reimburse cities and towns affected by power plant decommissioning, citing lost jobs, tax revenue, and service cuts in communities such as Somerset, Plymouth, Salem, and Everett. Several witnesses from municipal light plants and related organizations testified in support of mutual aid bills, including H 3486/S 2252 and H 3330/S 2277, saying the measures would clarify protections and liability coverage for MLP workers assisting in emergencies and non-emergency work. Jim Leiden of EMWIC opposed H 3514/S 2295, saying the proposed board and governance changes would reduce local control, add burdens, and weaken confidentiality protections. A committee member asked whether the mutual aid bills had been reviewed for municipal impacts, and the witnesses said they had done due diligence. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H 3551/S 2306, the smart meter opt-out bills. Supporters argued that smart meters emit harmful wireless radiation, that some residents have developed health problems or electromagnetic sensitivity, and that opt-outs should be available without fees or penalties; several witnesses urged notification, consent, and non-transmitting analog meter options. The committee also heard testimony from municipal officials and the Massachusetts Municipal Association in support of H 3462/S 2250, which would strengthen municipal authority to enforce timely removal of double utility poles, citing safety, accessibility, and construction-delay concerns. Derek Leffert of Gateway Fiber opposed H 3450, saying it would improperly shift broadband deployment costs to competitors. At the end of testimony, the chair closed the hearing by motion and vote, with members voting aye and no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I passed this last session unanimously.
• It passed both chambers; I believe it passed the Senate 31-0 and the House 133-2.
• I believe we passed this unanimously, and this is just the House version.
• We did pass this bill as a Senate bill as it was leaving the committee and about to be.
• Shortly after O was passed, I had a case where I challenged O as unconstitutional.

Bills: HB18, HB37, HB116, HB18, HB37, HB116, HB388, HB879, HB913, HB1151, HB2216, HB2358, HB2809, SB577, SB1590, SB1782, SB1887, SB2744

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• Pass this bill. Thank you. Thank you. Pass this bill, thank you. Thank you.
• Pass this bill. Thank you. Thank you. Pass this bill, thank you. Thank you.
• If you can pass this, it's going to pass.
• If we, if you can pass this, it's going to pass.
• If and when it passes, If you can pass this, it's going to pass.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeals process by allowing additional medical evidence submitted in court to be sent back to the medical director for review and a new opinion. The Attorney General’s office explained the bill, noting a 30-day deadline for the medical director to act before the case returns to court. The bill drew support from injured workers and several business and labor groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments and then reported the bill favorably without objection. House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage starting at $12 in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation, prompted extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, and the AFL-CIO, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind living costs, that many workers remain in poverty despite working, and that higher wages would help families and local economies. Opponents, including NFIB and several members, argued that the market is already setting wages above the federal minimum in many jobs, that a mandate would raise costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or jobs, and hurt small businesses. After discussion, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported Senate Bill 383 favorably with amendments. That bill expands the incumbent worker training program by increasing funding flexibility, shortening the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allowing unobligated funds to roll over. Members and the Louisiana Works secretary discussed workforce training, outreach, and how to connect workers to existing training programs and high-demand jobs. The committee also reported Senate Bill 382 favorably, which repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and began hearing House Bill 422, the “Behind-the-Counter Safety Act,” aimed at workplace violence protections for retail and food service workers, including signage, reporting, and enhanced penalties; the sponsor explained it was intended to address attacks on frontline workers and to give businesses a tool to warn against violence.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that certification is simply passing a test.
• However, members, BSO failed to complete a thorough child protective investigation, failed to ensure
• This bill should have passed last year with flying colors and it got caught up in politics.
• Bruce Bartlett: So we're asking for y'all to pass this.
• CS for HB 359, as amended by the yellow form, has passed favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• If a School of Hope fails, what is the succession?
• If a School of Hope fails, what does the succession plan look like?
• How does it look if they do fail? You're recognized. Thank you, Chair.
• So the alternative for those students is to remain in an empty and failing school, which, I mean, I'm
• But if a public school is empty and failing and is about to be gone, then what's the alternative for

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee heard and advanced three bills. CS/HB 1267, by Rep. Boussada, would require school districts to allow Schools of Hope to use vacant or surplus facilities or co-locate in schools with capacity, with non-instructional services handled through a pro rata agreement and a performance-based agreement requiring Schools of Hope to meet expectations within five years. Supporters argued it would better use underfilled public schools and help students in the bottom 10% of schools statewide; opponents raised concerns about local control, funding, and the effect on public schools. The bill passed 13-2. The committee also heard CS/HB 1115, by Rep. Valdes, which would require sharing certain discretionary sales surtax revenues with eligible charter schools based on enrollment, create a standardized charter school monitoring tool, and align Schools of Hope sponsoring-entity rules with charter school processes. Supporters said it would improve consistency and accountability; critics questioned fiscal impacts and district flexibility. That bill passed 13-2. The final bill, CS/HB 1213, by Rep. Alvarez, would create a K-12 School Route Optimization Pilot Program using five counties to test AI-assisted analysis of school bus routes and walking conditions, with the goal of improving child safety for students who currently walk long distances. Members discussed hazardous conditions, possible use of safe-school transportation funds, and the bill’s lack of fiscal impact. Public testimony included support from education and parent groups. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate has failed to pass any individual appropriations bills, and this is what we have to do to
• The Senate has failed to pass any individual appropriations bills, and this is what we have to do to
• The Senate has failed to pass any individual appropriations bills, and this is what we have to do to
• The Senate has failed to pass any individual appropriations bills, and this is what we have to do to
• Failed to pass any individual appropriations bills, and this is what we have to do to be able to pass

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 3, 2025, 1012, house, all